Chapter Text
Chapter 15
The bus door opened.
For a moment, Neil didn’t move.
There were thousands of people. A million voices. So many buses. Too many eyes. And camera flashes.
The Nest had been a cage, but at least he had known the shape of the bars.
Strangers were calling his name. Nathaniel Wesninski. Wesninski. He looked around in panic, searching through the mass of bodies, wondering if his father was somewhere among them. With that smile on his face.
So many clicking sounds from high heels. He wouldn’t be able to locate Lola immediately.
A woman stood in front of him with her hair tied in a brown bun. His mother always wore her hair like that too.
His chest tightened.
He couldn’t breathe. Even though he had wanted to enjoy every second of the open air.
Jean noticed immediately.
“Neil.”
Neil didn’t answer. His fingers curled around the edge of his sleeve, finding skin, pressing his fingernails deep into it. It didn’t help. Then he scratched the inside of his palm beneath his sleeve.
“Look at me,” Jean said quietly.
Neil forced himself to look at him.
“You’re with me. Follow Me.”
Neil stood so close to Jean that the only thing in his field of vision was the wrinkled fabric of Jean’s suit on his back.
Riko clapped him on the shoulders, and Neil stumbled into Jean. He had to grit his teeth to keep himself from freezing, screaming, or laughing.
The worst thing about moments like these, Neil always thought, was that he never knew what his own body would do
The journalists kept taking pictures, flashes going off constantly. Neil immediately hid his face behind Jean.
“What, scared, Nathaniel? You should get used to it. You want to make it big, don’t you?”
Riko’s laughter followed Neil for what felt like forever, until they finally reached an entrance area that was quieter, but brightly lit. White tiles. Pale walls.
So many people, like fish in a river. Once, as a child, after Exy practice, he had watched countless fish scatter when he threw a stone into the water.
He felt like the stone. An intruder in a beautiful place.
And the people kept floating past him.
Up a staircase, through enormous double doors. Forward and back. Forward - back - and forward again and -
Jean held onto him, his hands firmly gripping his shoulders.
Neil felt dizzy.
He saw Jean’s big blue-gray eyes in front of him.
He must have said something several times already, judging by the intensity of the way he was looking at him.
“Are you back?”
Neil frantically wiped his entire face with his hands. It felt wet.
Saliva? Tears? Or was it actually river water?
His “yes” was barely more than a whisper, but Jean nodded, checking to make sure he was ready to keep going.
The hall they were supposed to walk through was too enormous.
Even if their PR management wouldn’t like it, Neil clenched one fist into the fabric of Jean’s jacket at his back. He let himself be guided.
Just follow Jean. That was what he had told him.
Neil didn’t look left or right.
Just one foot in front of the other.
Like Jean.
The Ravens silently followed Tetsuji.
*******
The Foxes entered the hall in high spirits.
They smiled, laughed, greeted reporters, and posed for photographs without hesitation. Kevin led the way, shaking hands and accepting congratulations as if he had never belonged anywhere else.
Allison laughed as she tossed her long blonde hair over her shoulder, her arm linked with Seth’s.
Nicky blew air kisses to practically everyone he saw.
Renée lifted the hem of her long dress slightly and smiled warmly, greeting people with an easy nod.
Dan and Matt laughed, cheered, and whistled as they made their way through the hall.
Andrew and Aaron were noticeably more reserved. Aaron, clearly uncomfortable with so much attention, rubbed the back of his neck.
Andrew brought up the rear, looking as though he had already seen everything there was to see and would much rather go home and spend his time on something more worthwhile.
The teams were instructed to take their assigned seats. As they searched for their tables, the announcers’ voices echoed through the enormous hall, introducing each team to the crowd.
The Ravens were announced first.
Every Fox instinctively looked at the others.
They searched for Table C. Once they found it, Andrew immediately claimed the seat at the end of the table - the best spot for eating, observing everyone, and making a quick escape if necessary.
Directly across from them stood Table D. A small table sign, written in elegant italic lettering, read:
The Ravens.
Kevin had gone deathly pale. He dropped into the seat beside Andrew and grabbed his arm.
“This has to be intentional. Who the hell was responsible for the seating arrangement?”
His eyes stayed fixed on the table across from them.
“Do you think Jean and Neil - ”
As the Ravens slowly approached their table, Kevin could only see Jean at first.
Andrew followed his gaze.
He could only see Jean, too.
It wasn't until the first Ravens sat down that Neil slowly peeled himself out from behind Jean's back, like a pearl emerging from its shell.
Neil let go of Jean’s suit jacket and quickly sat down beside him. His trembling hands kept pushing his bangs back, only for them to fall forward again.
He repeated the motion over and over, as if he were grateful for the distraction his hair gave him.
Andrew tilted his head. The confidence Neil carried on the court was nowhere to be found. His eyes stayed glued to the table in front of him.
Jean greeted Kevin with a small nod from across the room. Neil gave a timid smile, first to Kevin, and then his gaze drifted to Andrew.
They both knew they would have to wait until after the awards ceremony and dinner before they could speak.
Riko flashed Kevin a smug smile and deliberately mocked Neil’s wave when he noticed Neil watching him out of the corner of his eye. Kevin did nothing but stare at Riko.
When all teams were seated, the lights dimmed, and the conversations throughout the ballroom gradually faded.
A spotlight swept across the stage as the massive screens flickered to life, showing highlights from the first half of the Exy season - impossible saves, game-winning goals, roaring crowds.
The applause grew louder with every clip.
Then the host stepped onto the stage, smiling as he adjusted the microphone.
“Good evening, everyone, and welcome to the annual NCAA Exy Winter Banquet! "
The ballroom erupted in applause.
“Tonight, we celebrate the players, coaches, and teams who have defined this season so far. From breakout rookies to veteran stars, from unforgettable saves to breathtaking goals—this game continues to prove why it captivates us all.”
Another wave of applause rolled through the room.
"So, Let’s begin.”
He smiled toward the audience.
“The decisions for tonight’s awards were not easy. This season was defined by incredible plays, unexpected surprises, and major changes. I can promise you all that tonight will be a memorable evening.”
“So let’s begin with our first award of the evening : Rookie of the Year.”
The audience erupted into Applaus and cheers.
“This year has been an incredible one. So many new students have discovered Exy, and so many of them have surprised us all.”
The presenter smiled as the crowd quieted slightly.
“But I think one of them in particular completely blew us away.”
The room already knew.
A few voices called out before the announcement.
“Wesninski!”
The chant grew louder.
“Wesninski!”
The presenter laughed, looking around the ballroom.
“Yes, that’s right, everyone!”
The screens behind him came alive.
A highlight clip played.
Neil’s speed.
The impossible angle.
The shot that sent the ball straight into the corner of the goal.
The crowd roared with excitement.
“And the Rookie of the Year award goes to... Nathaniel Wesninski, Edgar Allan University Ravens.”
The room exploded.
Half the audience was already on their feet.
Including Kevin.
He stood and applauded harder than anyone around him, unable to hide the pride on his face.
The cameras immediately turned toward the Ravens’ table.
Neil froze.
The attention hit him before he had time to prepare for it.
Then the spotlight found him.
For a brief second, he looked almost startled, caught between instinctively wanting to disappear and knowing thousands of eyes were on him.
Then he remembered where he was.
He straightened slowly.
And when the camera focused on him, Neil let a small, confident smile appear.
The crowd loved it.
"Please come up, Nathaniel, and receive the trophy you rightfully earned.”
Jean still had a wide grin on his face as he leaned over and whispered something into Neil’s ear.
Then Neil stood up and made his way toward the stage.
Andrew thought the dark wine-red suit looked annoyingly good on him.
On stage, Neil responded with a polite “thank you,” accepted the trophy, and smiled at the audience again.
Andrew caught sight of the dimples in Neil’s cheeks. Then he quickly returned to the safety of the table.
The presenter waited until the applause finally settled.
The screens behind him changed.
Defensive highlights filled the room.
Perfect reads.
Players who stopped attacks before they could even begin.
“Defense is not always about being noticed."
He pause.
“Sometimes, it is about making sure everyone else gets the chance to shine.”
The presenter looked toward the audience.
“Few players understand the court like this one. His awareness, precision, and discipline have made him one of the most feared defenders in the league.”
Clips of Jean were shown on the screen behind the stage.
"And the Defensive Player of the Year award goes to… Jean Moreau, Edgar Allan University Ravens!"
The camera moved again, to the Ravens’ table.
Neil whispered a laugh into Jean’s ear.
Jean stood tall, his back straight and a charming smile on his face. The crowd whistled and cheered.
Kevin watched him, and there was no hiding the pride in his expression.
The chant grew louder.
The applause followed him as he walked toward the stage.
Andrews eyes moved to Neil.
In a room full of people, Andrew kept finding his eyes drawn back to Neil.
Neil was smiling as he clapped along with the crowd.
The applause for Jean slowly faded as he returned to the Ravens’ table.
The presenter waited until the room had settled again.
“And now, we turn our attention to the players who make everyone else sweat." The crowd laughed." Offense is about more than scoring.”
The audience grew louder.
The presenter looked dramatically toward the screen as Neil’s speed was shown.
The footage captured him leaving opponents behind, stealing the ball mid-run, and sending it straight into the goal.
The crowd erupted into cheeres as Nathaniel's highlight played across the screen.
The presenter turned back toward the audience, letting the moment linger.
“And the winner of the Offensive Player of the Year award is... Nathaniel Wesninski, Edgar Allan University Ravens!"
The entire room exploded.
The announcer laughed with the crowd “Wow, everyone, this guy is stealing the show tonight! And rightfully so. Just look at that...”
While the presenter continued praising Neil’s performance, the camera shifted toward the Ravens’ table.
The spotlight found them, revealing Riko sitting beside Neil.
Riko pulled an ugly grimace toward the person next to him and was clearly saying something angrily in their direction. It was obvious he had expected to hear his own name.
Kevin was already on his feet, looking prouder than anyone had ever seen him. He shouted across the table, “Yeah, guys, look at that!”
Nicky asked, not exactly quietly, “Is there an award for the hottest player? Because then he can just stay up there.”
A few people at the table laughed.
Jean clapped harder than before.
Neil looked briefly uncomfortable, then straightened in his Chair.
“The Ravens, once again, are taking home a large share of the awards this year.”
Neil accepted the second award a little too quickly, as if moving faster would make Riko forget about it sooner.
“Now, we honor the players who stand between victory and defeat.”
The screens behind him changed.
Impossible saves.
Last-second reactions.
Goalkeepers throwing themselves across the court when everyone else had already given up.
“The goalkeeper is the final line of defense - The one player who has to stay calm when everything else falls apart.”
The audience grew quieter.
“Some players rely on size. Some rely on strength.”
The screen showed Andrew’s highlights.
The camera moved toward the Foxes’ table.
Andrew sat calmly, arms crossed, looking as if the entire ceremony had nothing to do with him.
Aaron glanced at him.
Nicky already looked far too excited.
The presenter smiled.
“And the award for Best Goalkeeper of the Year goes to... Andrew Minyard of the Palmetto State Foxes!”
The room erupted.
Nicky was the loudest.
Kevin clapped Andrew on the back and said something to him.
Andrew let a one-sided smile creep onto his face.
Jean whistle. Neil smiled and looked at Andrew.
“The winner of the Best Goalkeeper of the Year award goes to... Andrew Minyard, Palmetto State Foxes!”
Andrew stood up calmly and made his way toward the stage. He could feel Neil’s eyes on him the entire time.
On stage, he accepted the award without much reaction.
As he walked back to the table, his eyes met Neil’s again.
For a moment, neither of them looked away.
A wave of cheers moved through the room.
The room was still buzzing from the previous awards when the presenter returned to the stage.
“Now, we arrive at the award every player dreams of.”
The screens behind him changed.
Season-defining moments.
Game-winning plays.
“The Most Valuable Player award.”
The audience grew quiet.
“This award is not only about talent.”
A pause.
“It is about influence, leadership, and the ability to change the outcome of a game.”
The presenter looked down at the envelope.
“The winner of the Most Valuable Player award is…”
A moment of silence.
“Riko Moriyama - Edgar Allan University Ravens.”
The applause was deafening.
The captain.
The star.
The face of Ravens Exy.
Riko stood immediately.
Neil was clapping.
Jean was watching quietly.
Kevin’s expression was harder to read.
Because everyone knew Riko deserved the award.
But everyone also knew something else.
For the first time in years, the spotlight of Ravens Exy was no longer only his.
Riko accepted his award with a smug, confident smile, as if the crowd below the stage existed only to admire him.
As the crowd slowly settled down, the presenter continued.
“Now, we recognize a quality that cannot be measured by goals or statistics.”
The screens behind him changed.
Team huddles.
Players encouraging each other.
Captains standing beside their teammates through victories and losses.
“A great captain is not only the person who leads from the front.”
A pause.
“They are the person who makes everyone around them better.”
As the audience waited eagerly for what would come next, the presenter continued.
“And the winner of the Best Captain award is…”
A few voices already started calling his name.
“Knox!”
The presenter smiled.
“Jeremy Knox - California Trojans.”
The ballroom erupted.
The Trojans’ table immediately celebrated.
Jeremy laughed as his teammates pushed him to stand.
He looked genuinely surprised.
The spotlight was on the person who made everyone else shine.
Jeremy spent more time high-fiving people than actually walking as he entered the stage.
He happily held up his trophy and thanked everyone.
The applause for Jeremy slowly faded as he returned to the Trojans’ table.
The presenter stepped forward again, a more serious expression crossing his face.
“Now, we come to an award that represents something bigger than statiscs. Exy demands everything from its players.”
A pause.
“But sometimes, the greatest victories happen before the game even begins.”
The room grew quieter.
“This award honors the player who overcame the greatest challenge and returned stronger than ever.”
The screen changed, showing Kevin Day standing beside the Foxes, a moment that marked his return to playing with his right hand after such a long time.
“The Comeback Player of the Year -
Kevin Day — Palmetto State University Foxes! "
The ballroom screamed.
Kevin stood up, looking unmistakably proud.
The Foxes exploded into cheers. Glasses clinked together, and Nicky was already crying without the slightest bit of shame.
Andrew looked up at him, proud too.
Kevin walked toward the stage, accepting the award with a look of quiet satisfaction.
“Kevin Day’s return to the court was more than a Comeback. Itwas a reminder that talent can survive even the hardest setbacks.”
The applause grew louder.
Neil and Jean watched him with quiet smiles, sharing the moment from their table.
Riko watched the stage, his chin resting in one hand. A brief smirk crossed his face when a camera turned toward him too.
“Now, we recognize the people who stand behind every team.”
The screens changed.
Coaches on the sidelines.
Locker room speeches.
Moments of strategy, trust, and leadership.
“Players may be the ones who step onto the court. But great teams are built long before the first whistle.”
The presenter looked over the audience.
“These coaches have shaped their teams through challenges, pressure, and change.”
“The winner of Coach of the Year is…”
The presenter raised his hand, and the entire room seemed to hold its breath.
“David Wymack - Palmetto State University Foxes.”
The hall burst into cheers. The Trojans were all on their feet, applauding and laughing so loudly that they drowned out the presenter, who was still attempting to continue.
Wymack barely had time to react before his Foxes swarmed him. He laughed along with them, reaching out to ruffle a few heads.
Andrew gave him a firm pat on the shoulder.
He stood slowly, adjusting his suit as he smiled toward the audience.
The applause followed him.
Wymack accepted his award with a slightly uncomfortable look, but the happiness on his face was impossible to miss.
The ceremony finally came to an end, and the lights in the ballroom brightened slightly.
The presenter thanked everyone once more before the stage faded into the background.
The tables filled with conversation as servers began bringing out the food.
Players loosened up.
“You know,” Nicky said, still grinning, “I think that might have been the best award of the night so far.”
Wymack looked over at him.
“You basically raised us,” Nicky added while stacking his plate.
Wymack huffed.
Dan smiled, resting her hand on Wymack’s shoulder. “You deserved it.”
Wymack looked away, clearly uncomfortable with the attention, but he didn’t argue.
Andrew leaned back in his chair. “They’re unbearable when they’re emotional.”
*******
He watched the Ravens’ table from across the room.
Jean was quietly offering Neil different bowls and trays filled with different dishes.
The only thing Neil took for himself were the fruit skewers.
When they landed on his plate, Neil stared at them for a long moment.
He didn’t eat.
He just watched the others.
Jean reached for another plate and began adding food to Neil’s.
A little chicken, Some pasta.
A bit of sauce.
A little of everything.
Neil’s eyes followed Jean’s Hands.
Jean continued calmly, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.
Neil didn’t stop him.
Andrew noticed that.
He nudged Kevin’s shoulder and nodded his chin toward the Ravens’ table, indicating that Kevin should watch.
After a moment of observing, Kevin noticed that everyone had already started eating, but Neil only took a single bite before looking toward Tetsuji again.
He leaned closer to Andrew and whispered, “The food situation is... difficult.”
Andrew leaned on his elbows and stared intently at Kevin.
“What kind of cult is this, and why is it not burning yet?”
Andrew’s mouth twitched.
“I know... "
******
After dinner, the teams started mixing and talking among themselves, and Andrew was already in desperate need of a cigarette.
He signaled to Kevin that now would be a good time to go collect his “birdies.”
Jean and Neil stood in a corner, engaged in an intense conversation. To Andrew, it looked less like a conversation and more like a strategy to avoid the interviewers.
Andrew’s suspicion was confirmed when they immediately made their way toward the exit after Kevin gave them a hand signal.
Andrew was already waiting with a cigarette between his lips, watching as they hugged.
Kevin expressed how proud he was of the awards they had earned.
Jean looked at him and said, “Your award means so much more, Kevin.”
Andrew rolled his eyes. “Exy is all you ever think about.”
Just as he was about to take a drag, Neil suddenly stood in front of him. His blue eyes were even brighter up close - much brighter than they ever looked in photos or in dimly lit hallways.
Can I have a drag?” Neil asked in a low voice with the faintest rasp.
Andrew raised an eyebrow. “Well, what a surprise. Do they have cigarettes in the Nest?”
Before handing him the cigarette, Andrew deliberately exhaled a mouthful of smoke straight into Neil’s face.
Instead of flinching the way Andrew expected, Neil stayed exactly where he was. He even tilted his head back slightly, as if trying to catch every bit of the smoke, before letting out a quiet laugh.
Andrew briefly found himself wondering whether blowing smoke into someone's face could somehow count as foreplay.
It sure as hell felt like it.
He handed Neil the cigarette and lit a new one for himself.
Andrew wasn't convinced his carefully maintained reputation as the indifferent one would survive sharing a cigarette filter with Neil.
In the background, Jean and Kevin were still deeply absorbed in their Exy discussion as Neil took a long drag from the cigarette without coughing.
Andrew stared at him for a moment, cigarette hanging between his fingers.
“That’s your survival strategy?” he asked, taking a drag. Whether he was referring to the banquet or the zombie apocalypse scenario was up for interpretation.
Neil shrugged, completely serious. “Running would be mine. What about you?”
Neil’s gaze dropped briefly to Andrew’s arms and lingered there a little too long.
Andrew huffed. “Flying away, you mean?”
Neil let out a quiet snort.
Andrew considered that. “Would be effective.”
“You think so?” Neil asked, a small smile tugging at his mouth.
“My survival strategy would be punching everyone in the face.”
“That would work,” Neil said. “With arms like yours.”
Andrew looked at him. “You’re very focused on those.”
Neil’s mouth twitched.
Andrew took another drag from his cigarette and looked away, hoping he looked annoyed and not turned on.
Kevin and Jean suddenly appeared beside them. Jean looked at Neil with an amused, knowing smile.
Kevin looked at Neil as if he had caught a toddler drawing on the dining table.
“You can’t smoke, Neil! We leave you alone for one minute, and somehow you two are already a bad influence on each other!”
Andrew replied in a monotone voice, “Pull your Exy stick out of your ass, Kevin.”
Neil, to his own surprise, burst out laughing.
Kevin groaned. “Oh no. You two actually get along?”
Jean struggled to hold back a laugh. “Kevin thought he had to save Andrew from you before you made him cry.”
Neil’s eyes lit up.
“Kevin,” he said. “I was hoping you’d find other hobbies once you were finally free.”
Jean winced slightly at the comment, but Andrew caught the sarcasm.
“Oh, he does. Lately, it’s been singing.”
Kevin raised his hands in surrender and turned halfway away. “Oh, come on, Andrew.”
Neil looked at him with a grin that was becoming a serious inconvenience for Andrew.
He looked away before his face could betray him.
Neil suddenly looked up at the sky and exclaimed, “Oh, a shooting star!”
Andrew watched Kevin’s face twist through a complicated series of expressions as he tried to hold back a sad comment. He couldn’t stand looking at it.
“Quick,” Andrew said, looking at Kevin. “Make a wish. Maybe you’ll finally find a hobby that isn’t Exy.”
Just as Neil was about to say something, the back door opened. Neil startled, the reaction immediate and instinctive.
“Wesninski. Moreau. Inside. Immediately. The Master is waiting for you,” the bodyguard announced.
As they followed the man, Neil looked back over his shoulder one last time and mimed a phone call with his hand.
Andrew watched Neil disappear from view. He even shifted a step to the right, unconsciously trying to keep him in sight for a little longer.
Kevin watched him, almost fascinated by what he was seeing.
“You’re painfully obvious, Andrew.”
****
When Kevin and Andrew stepped back into the hall, the atmosphere was completely different.
The room had erupted into chaos. Reporters rushed toward the corner where the Ravens and Foxes were gathered, cameras already raised and recording.
They caught sight of Riko trying to grab Neil’s arm. Neil yanked himself free, but immediately more people stepped in, blocking his way. Jean had both hands buried in his hair, looking like he was already regretting every decision that had led to this moment.
Neil glanced around for another exit. There wasn’t one.
So he chose the most Neil-like option possible.
He climbed onto the Ravens’ table.
“Fuck you, Riko,” he called out cheerfully before kicking his way across, sending plates, glasses, and food flying in every direction.
The people surrounding the table barely had time to react before they were covered in food and wine.
And then Neil laughed.
He jumped down from the table and sprinted toward the nearest exit. Very fast.
Tetsuji stood beside Riko, his cane raised slightly as he gave the command. The bodyguards moved immediately, taking off after Neil.
Riko quickly masked his shock and turned toward the nearest reporter.
“Nathaniel still needs some public relations training,” he said smoothly.
The teams stood frozen around them, a mixture of shock and fascination on their faces.
Nicky stared with his mouth open. “Has anyone ever been thrown out of an Exy banquet before?” he asked.
Jeremy immediately recognized the rebellion against everything the Ravens stood for.
“Go, Nathaniel, go!” he shouted, raising a hand in support - only to lower it again when his teammates quickly nudged him.
They had all seen the murderous looks on Tetsuji’s and Riko’s faces.
The Foxes just stared for a moment.
Then Aaron slowly turned toward the others.
“Did he just...”
Matt let out a laugh. “Nathaniel just escaped a room full of Ravens, climbed over a table, destroyed their dinner, and ran.”
“Sounds accurate,” Allison said.
Dan covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. “I can’t believe he actually did it.”
Kevin looked toward the door Neil had disappeared through, a mixture of horror and admiration on his face.
“That was incredibly stupid.”
Nicky shook his head, grinning. “He is not only hot. He is feral hot.”
Andrew glanced at him, then looked back toward the door.
The reporters were busy surrounding the Ravens.
Jean was stopped from running after Nathaniel as microphones were pushed into his face.
“What do you have to say about your teammate’s behavior?” one of them asked.
Jean had to practically force his way through the crowd, trying to get past them.
Riko was still wiping food from his suit with a napkin, his expression carefully controlled.
Andrew was already moving toward the exit before he could question why. He told himself he just needed to make sure Neil was safe.
“Andrew! Andrew, wait!” Kevin shouted.
But Andrew was already through the second door.
There, a bodyguard had Neil pressed forcefully against the side of the bus, one hand holding his head in place. Another was already tying his hands together.
Neil was still laughing.
“Well, that’s unfortunate. I was hoping the reporters would get to see this part too,” Andrew drawled.
He held up his phone and pressed the record button. With his other hand, he pulled a cigarette out of his suit pocket
Andrew lit his cigarette, completely calm.
“You’re going to let him go. He’s going to his room. Everyone goes back inside, and nobody makes this more complicated.”
He glanced at the recording screen.
“I wasn’t planning on becoming a headline tonight. But I suppose ‘Andrew Minyard exposes Raven abuse’ has a nice ring to it.”
The bodyguards finally let go of Neil.
He rubbed the back of his head, still laughing like none of this had been serious.
Kevin looked absolutely horrified, his gaze shifting between Andrew and Neil.
Then Jean burst through the door behind them, Tetsuji and several others right on his heels.
Tetsuji’s eyes moved over the scene, quickly assessing what had happened.
“Wesninski. Get on the bus. Now. Tomorrow, you will issue a public apology.”
Riko stepped beside Andrew, his smile never reaching his eyes. "What a nice reunion, isn’t it, Kevin?" Then his eyes slowly shifted to Andrew.
“Delete the video.”
Andrew didn’t look at him.
“Or?”
Riko turned his attention back to Kevin.
“Or people might become curious about what happened before Kevin Day lost the use of his hand.”
A disgusting smile pulled at his mouth.
Kevin swallowed.
Andrew tilted his head back and exhaled a cloud of smoke. He didn’t say a word. Instead, he slipped his phone into his pocket.
Then he glanced sideways at Riko and deliberately tapped the pocket where his phone had disappeared.
Andrew finally looked at him.
“Make sure Nathaniel gets on that bus unharmed.”
He crushed his cigarette under his shoe.
“Because if he doesn’t, this video stops being insurance and becomes evidence.”
Neil was escorted onto the bus, and Jean followed right behind him without hesitation.
Tetsuji called all the Ravens together for the ride home.
By now, all the Foxes had gathered behind Kevin and Andrew.
As the Ravens’ bus engine started, Wymack folded his arms.
“Andrew,” he said slowly, “did you just threaten a Moriyama?”
Kevin was still staring at him, Whispered in awe:
“You threatened Riko Moriyama because of Neil.”
Wymack sighed, rubbing his forehead.
“I don’t even want to know what kind of trouble you are going to bring into my life.”
Andrew looked toward the departing Ravens’ bus.
Kevin nodded slowly. “Definitely a lot.”