In a large rectangular hall comparable to a Football World Cup stadium, the center stage is about the size of two volleyball courts combined. The stage is surrounded by tiered bleachers extending several meters outward filled with countless people.

The applause and cheers of the crowd echoed throughout the stadium. The lighting in the room was dim, with only the stage illuminated by bright white, red, and blue lights. On the stage, there were two sets of computers, each consisting of five units placed opposite each other in appropriately sized soundproof rooms. Behind the stage is a large high-resolution screen. At the center of the stage was a rectangular pedestal holding a large, beautiful golden championship trophy.

(In English)

Host: Here's the champion of the ___ competition! Please give a big hand to Esports Team "___"!

Five athletes and their coach walked up to the stage, forming a line. All athletes wear black jackets with white stripes along the sides, each bearing their national flag on the right chest and left sleeve. From left to right were the flags of the USA, Brazil, Japan (two people), and finally, Poland.

Host: This is an independent team that does not represent any specific country. Members combined from various nations. Now, I would like to invite the coach to stand beside the champion's trophy and share a bit of story about your team's journey.

The female coach stepped out from the line. Her jacket was devoid of any national flags on the chest and sleeves; instead, the Thai flag was horizontally placed across her upper back. She slowly approached the microphone handed by the host and gently tapped it.

Coach: (in Thai) Ah-Ah- hello test 1 2 3.

Coach: (in English) Alright...Ah Ok...Hello everyone. I’m ___, the coach of this team. Many of you here both in the stadium and from home might know me from my livestream where I show all of my skills. After that, several top teams approached me with offers worth millions of dollars if I joined them. But as you know, I refused all of them, otherwise, I wouldn’t be standing here as a coach today. Hehe... Many people criticized me, being rude to me, and saying I was foolish and arrogant. Some even questioned, "Why are you the coach of this stupid team? What a waste." Looking back again, maybe I actually was a foolish, but I'd rather be a foolish than  leaving my students for money. And now, here I am, with this so-called stupid team, standing on this stage. I have two things to say: First, even you are thirty but you can still fabulous. Second, my students, my kids, they are amazing. Our journey has been long and challenging. Would you like to hear our story?

And this is a story of a boy who wanna be an Esports athlete to find money to pay off the debt that's from treating his mother's paralysis, Riku Nakai.

Riku Nakai (Riku Naka-i)

15 years old

172 cm. tall

A funny and kind boy who is talkative and always smiles. He loves playing games and isn't one who gives up easily.

Naoko Nohara (Na-ō-ko Nohara)

15 years old

160 cm. tall

A quiet and shy girl who has had a bad and hard time in her life at her old school. She doesn't like to stay alone but she doesn't know how to make a friend.

(This story is fictional, all characters, organizations, and some places aren't related to reality)

(This is a Shōnen novel the main characters slowly improve their skills, not MC OP)

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In a junior high school in Ibaraki, Motoyama city.

Konnichiwa! I’m Nakai Riku, a 3rd year junior high schooler. Today’s the first day of the new term, and we've just kicked off with math class since the first peroid. So here I am as you see, I'm totally zoning out, staring blankly at the board. Plus, my best friend's transferred to another school already. I'm so damn super lonely. This year, I randomly ended up sitting next to this girl. I think she is... Nohara? I’ve never really talked to her before... Maybe? Why I feel like her face is similar to someone I was seeing... Hm, forget about it. Since we’re sitting together, should I say hi or something to her?

The school bell rang, signaling the end of math class. After the first teacher left, they were waiting for the next one to come in. Riku look at the girl next to him on his right, who is busy drawing picture with her pink mechanical pencil on a small notebook. She seemed pretty quiet, doesn't chat to anyone or scrolling through her phone. Definitely looks like someone who's hard to approach.

- Riku: Uh, hi. You're Nohara right?

She replied Riku with a monotone voice without looking at him while she's still drawinging away.

- Naoko: Yeah... Nohara Naoko.

- Riku: Nice to meet you Nohara. Since we’re sitting next to each other this year, let’s get along!

- Naoko: Mhm

- Riku: So...you don’t wanna go talk to your friends or something else?

- Naoko: I don’t know what topic to talk about, you know? The stuff that my friends like to chat about is something that I don’t really get it. And the things I know, they don’t understand.

- Riku: I see... So what do you usually do when you're alone?

- Naoko: I just draw what I see or play games to pass the time.

Naoko fell silent and keep focusing on her drawing again. Riku leaned in to see what she was sketching with his curious. It turned out to be a robot from a popular PC game called Bladecore Lockdown.

- Riku: Whoa, Nohara! You’re really good at drawing!

- Naoko: Nah, it’s just... doodling.

- Riku: Can I take a look at your sketchbook?

- Naoko: Huh?! But...

- Riku: I promise I won’t do anything. Just wanna look at it.

- Naoko: M-mhm... it’s not that good...

- Riku: Thanks!

Riku flipped through Naoko's sketchbook, admiring her robot drawings from the first page.

- Riku: So, Nohara, you play this game too?

- Naoko: Ah... Yeah... a little. Why?

- Riku: The robot you drew looks just like one from the game I'm playing. Is this Firestorm?

- Naoko: Uh, yeah... D-don’t look too closely! It’s not that nice... The legs's length doesn’t even match...

- Riku: No way, it looks awesome to me! Honestly, I struggle just drawing an apple.

- Naoko: It’s really not that hard. Just start with a stick figure, then add square blocks for arms and legs, and fill in the details. But I can’t make it look pretty...

- Riku: Nah, you're great. Wait, is this Ion Wave? It looks super similar from the game!

- Naoko: Really? When I drew it, I really didn’t like it. I thought it didn’t look like the one in the game, so I kept erasing it for a hundred times...

- Riku: You’re way too hard on yourself! Your skills are amazing!

- Riku: Ballistina! I love playing her! The combos are so fun, and the damage and impact sounds are super satisfying!

- Naoko: She’s strong but too slow and too squishy. Dashing into fights burns so much stamina.

- Riku: But she has that passive that she will speeds up by 50% after dashing for 3 seconds. I think she’s pretty fast!

- Naoko: How fast is her base speed though? Even with the buff, she’s not that quick and her full sprint is just only 10 seconds. It’s hard to catch up to the backline.

- Riku: This is Reaver! I didn’t see it much in ranked anymore.

- Naoko: It got nerfed pretty hard. Back in the day, it was so OP by doing easy things just dash and punch, and it was tanky too. Now it got nerfed in speed right?

- Riku: Yeah, they removed the dash and turned it into a short stun skill.(dizzy effect)

- Riku: By the way, what’s that little black line on the right?

- Naoko: That’s a person...

- Riku: Oh I see! Whenever the robot’s about to blow up, I never manage to launch out in time. I totally forget that this game has pilots too!

- Riku: Dimension Blaster? I’ve never tried that one.

Naoko: Tanky and slow, but it’s a sniper. I don’t know what the game developers were thinking when they made this guy. It's too OP and so unfair.

Riku: But it takes ages to charge each shot right?

- Naoko: But when it hits, the target is really hard to survive.

- Riku: For real? I guess I’ll have to try it out!

Naoko lightly poked Riku’s arm and pointed toward to the front of the classroom to let him know that the next teacher had arrived. Riku quickly closed the sketchbook and give it back to Naoko.

After school at 4 PM, most students were packing up to head home. Riku and Naoko gathered their books and chairs.

- Riku: Ugh... I can’t believe it’s just the first day of school, and I’ve already dumbed.

- Naoko: Yeah...

- Riku: But still, I’m really glad that I made a new friend! Talking to you was a so fun like the time runs so fast!

- Naoko: Wait, you know what did you just say?

- Riku: What? I just meant that chatting about games with you is so fun! Plus, I really like your drawings! No matter what you say, I think they’re awesome!

- Naoko: (slightly embarrassed) Uh... thanks...

- Riku: So, see you tomorrow!

- Naoko: Ah, hey, Nakai.

- Riku: What’s up?

- Naoko: Can I get your Chatcord ID? Maybe we could talk to at here.

- Riku: Sure! Mine is RikU#3897.

- Naoko: And um... today, there’s no any homework today, I was wondering if...you wanted to play game together? I’ll message you. I’m Diamond IV, so we should be able to team up.

- Riku: Totally! I’m free!

After their talking. Naoko stepped out of the school and turned left, but then stopped when she heard Riku calling her name. She turrned back to see him.

- Riku: Nohara! See you later!

- Naoko: Man...you just said that like ten minutes ago!

She turned back and hurried home, bringing her right hand up to pinch her own cheek.

- Naoko: (thinking) No way! I have a friend now!? I can’t believe this is real... Why did we click so well, though?

Naoko: Tadaima. (I'm home)

- Naomi (Naoko's older sister) : Okaeri~ (Welcome back)

After Naoko has already arrived home at 5 P.M. in the evening, she carried her bag into her room on the 2nd floor and then sat in the kitchen to wait for the dinner that her sister was preparing. Today's dinner was one of her favorite menu: Karaage chicken. (Japanese fried chicken)

- Naomi: Mom said that she won't be coming back home for a while. She's busying with some work in America.

- Naoko: Oh, that's good.

- Naomi: Sometimes you don't have to say exactly what you're thinking...

After Naomi washing her hands, she joined Naoko at the dining table and place a small bowl of miso soup next to Naoko's plate.

- Nao: Hm?

- Naomi: Miso soup. If you just eat fried chicken, your throat will get dry. And I won't have to make breakfast much for tomorrow if you leftovered it.

Naoko took a spoonful of the soup and tofu. She chewing it slowly while staring blankly.

- Naomi: Tasty?

- Naoko: Mhm.

- Naomi: You chubby-cheeked cutie, what are you thinking about? Seems like you found something really good.

- Naoko: Nothing.

- Naomi: You can't hide it from your big sis. (She poked Nao's cheek with her finger.)

- Naoko: Onii-chan !!!

- Naomi: Haha, what an adorable reaction. Anyway, I'm going to read books. Don't forget to do the dishes, check the sink and gas, turn off the lights. Oh, and the bathwater's already heated now, so eat quickly and go to take a bath, I'll use it after you.

After finishing her meal and doing her chores, Naoko went taking a bath. She lay in the hot water, staring at the ceiling with a blank expression for a while.

(Naoko's thinking)

- Naoko : What time is it now? Am I too late? Is he waiting too long? Hoping he didn't start playing before me because he couldn't wait...

- Naoko (thinking): Should I add him after finishing this? Or is that too hurry? Will he know it's me? What should I apologize if the notification bother him while playing?

- Naoko: And then I have to message him, right? What should I say? "Are you free?" "Hello." "Do you remember me?" "Let's play a game." Ugh, no idea... Why am I so nervous? I finally have a friend but why do I have to stress like thi- *bubble sounds*

A knocking noise on the door broke her thoughts.

- Naomi: Hey, you still in there? It's already been thirty minutes now. If you take too long, you might be faint.

- Naoko: Ah, sorry! I'll get out now!

After finishing her bath, Naoko changed into her pink pajamas with the bunny pattern and turned on her computer. She opened Chatcord to add Riku as a friend, typing in his username: RikU#3897.

After sending the friend request, Nao anxiously bit her fingernail.

- Naoko: (thinking) Sent it! Will he accept? Will he see the notification? What if he doesn't see it until tomorrow?!

About five seconds later, she received a notification that he accepted.

(Chatting)

- Naoko: (thinking) No way! He accepted so fast?! Ahhhh I need to say hi. Maybe I'll send a waving sticker.

- Riku: (Replied her with the same sticker)

- Riku: Hi, is this Nohara?

- Naoko: Yes, how did you know?

- Riku I don't usually give my Chatcord to anyone.

- Naoko: I see...

- Naoko: (thinking) No, no, can't let it fall silent. What should I say next?

- Riku: Are you free to play now?

- Naoko: Ah, yes.

- Riku: You wanna call? It'll be easier to talk while we play.

- Naoko: (thinking) Call? No, it might disturb onii-chan. And doesn't people voice change while they make a call? If he hears that, how embarrassing it is!

- Naoko: Okay.

- Naoko: (thinking) Why did I just say that?!

Shortly, a call notification popped up on her computer with Riku's profile.

- Naoko: (thinking) He's calling for real!? Wha-What should I say?!..... Calm down, calm down, don't panic. He'll hear it.

- Naoko: (answers the call) *Ahem* Hi.

- Riku: Hi, sooo should we start playing now, or do you need to do something first? I can wait for you.

- Naoko: No, I didn't have anything to do, let's play.

- Riku: Ok, how about a 3v3 mode? We can get used to each other's playstyles.

- Naoko: Sounds great. This mode ends quicker than normal mode too.

- Riku: I'll create a party in the global chat. My IGN (in game name) is Onigiri.

- Naoko: Okay, I've already online now.

Upon seeing Riku's invite in the global chat, she joined immediately, and the third player comes in, lnwzaSutSakorn.

- Riku: Who's that?

- Naoko: I don't know. Let me check his profile.

Naoko checked the player's profile, and she saw that the current rank of the stranger was Diamond V, but the highest rank was Champion with 251 stars in season 7, 9th place ranker on the server and holding The Diamond Shield of Silent Flash (mecha name).

- Naoko: A smurf!?

- Riku: Maybe he hasn't played for and his rank dropped after being reranked? Should we play with him?

- Naoko: Hmm... Okay, let's ask him first.

(English Chat)

- Naoko: Uh, hello? Do you have any placesyou wanna play?

- lnwzaSutSakorn: If you don't mind, can I play Silent Flash?

- Naoko: Sure, but that mecha is....

- lnwzaSutSakorn: Don't worry. It's not that bad as the pros say.

(Japanese call)

- Riku: Nohara, what's Silent Flash?

- Naoko: The slim katana guy, F tier mecha that I drew at noon.

- Riku: Hmm...

- Riku: Oh, the red one. No one uses it anymore. What can it do?

- Naoko: Not sure. Something about stacking speed and damage and parrying everything. But it's so hard to play so no one uses it.

- Riku: Was it free mecha from the jigsaw event last year?

- Naoko: Yeah, but in the first season, it had to buy a package. People didn't buy it because it was expensive.

After matching, they were on the skill and equipment selection screen. After that, they chose their mechas. The smurf chose Silent Flash as expected.

- Naoko: (thinking) He likes playing Ballistina, right? I'll try it too.

- Riku: (choosing Silent Flash) Ah! Yabai !

- Naoko: Nakai, why did you choose that guy?!

- Riku: I meant to choose Hades Sentinel, but it's next to it, and I clicked wrong!

- Naoko: (thinking): Oh no.

The match began. Each team entered the arena. The enemy team had Ion Wave, Reaver, and Firestorm, while Riku's team had two Silent Flashes and a Ballistina.

Notes

- 3v3 mode has only one rule that's defeat the enemies.

- Each team can select same mechas up to two. Some mechs have combo moves with specific mechs or their same mecha.

- Shield ranks:

- 500-251: Bronze

- 250-101: Silver

- 100-51: Gold

- 50-2 : Ruby

- 1: Diamond