Chapter Five: No Miracles Allowed

Rampart remained standing, his expression darkening. “The play that saved Nova—what did it take?” “The memory of my sister seeing me off.” Rampart punched a locker. “So while we celebrated, you were forgetting why you came here?” “I still remember why.” “Don't give me that. Ash used to say the same thing.” Two years earlier, Ash had failed to recognize the apartment he and Rampart rented during their first championship run. Rampart assumed exhaustion. Later, Ash began avoiding risky fights, and the two had argued bitterly. “He isn't injured, is he?” Ferry asked. Nova answered for Lin Zhou. “For now, one rule: no one asks Lin Zhou to reroute the future.” “Not enough,” Rampart said. “He isn't allowed to volunteer either.”