Chapter Three: The Abandoned Fall Back Into Formation

Lin Mo seized his wrist and put the coach’s hand beneath theirs. “Then earn it by winning.” At 6:40 a.m., they stood at league registration. The official frowned at Emberstar’s submission. “Lin Mo was removed from the starting five. Reinstatement requires signatures from the captain, coach, and club.” The manager signed. Xu Duo signed. Zhou Yan’s right hand trembled too badly to hold the pen, so he wrote his name with his left. “Once this roster locks, it cannot change,” the official warned. Lin Mo accepted his new credential. The boy in its photograph looked cold and certain, as though one person could calculate every victory. He pinned it to his chest and turned to the four teammates waiting in a line.