Chapter Text
Kevin's POV
"I think this is a mistake, Kevin," Wymack concluded, leaning back on the chair, clearly embracing himself for the discussion they're about to have.
"This is the only way to make things right," Kevin replied, although privately he agreed with the Foxes' coach.
It wasn't just a mistake; it was fucking insane. It was a suicidal plan, and they were most likely going to take down the Foxes with them if things went wrong. It was reckless and bold and, of course, it was proposed by Neil.
After Kevin left Evermore in secret, he had expected Nathaniel and Jean to loathe him for abandoning them with Riko; he expected curses and angry threats when he picked up Neil's call a couple of days ago, but Kevin would never have expected Neil's support.
According to Nathaniel, he made another deal with the Head of the Moriyama's family (Kevin couldn't help thinking that the fact that Nathaniel could talk to him at all and Riko couldn't was as painful for Riko as the tortures the Japanese came up with to make up for his disappointment). The agreement involves Kevin, Jean and Nathaniel himself joining the Foxes that season and winning the championship. That would prove Tetsuji and Riko's methods were being oversold and costing more to the family than the men's worth as their members.
It was insane to think the three of them would be enough to make the worst team of the class 1 Exy win against the undefeated champion, but the reward was too great to ignore: if they won, they wouldn't have to obey Riko or the Master, or play for Edgar Allan ever again. They'd only have to send part of their salaries back to the main family and would be free to live however they wanted otherwise. Well, almost free. Nathaniel would never really have his freedom.
"Coach, I already told you about the Ravens, about Riko, and about the Moriyamas... We can't just leave them there to fend for themselves," as if he hadn't already done so a while ago, Kevin thought with the familiar taste of self-loathing at the back of his throat. "Everyone already agreed to formalize it as a marketing campaign about the influence of the Perfect Court, so you won't have to worry about a backlash similar to when I signed the contract. The Master himself is going to make a statement, so the fans won't riot."
"Can you really believe no one will cause trouble for us for taking the Perfect Court out of Edgar Allan?" They both knew he couldn't. "Not only the riots, even if this is going to be just some marketing stunt, we'll still have to swallow our pride and let them all say the possible improvements to our team are only thanks to the fucking Perfect Court, as if the rest of our players are just dead weight for you lot. It will be a damn mess all over. I can't put everyone in that spot like this, Kevin, it's not that simple."
Kevin knew he was asking too much, but he seriously considered begging on his knees for it.
Please, do it. Please, for me. For my Mom. I'm your s…
"I thought the Foxes were all about giving players a second chance," he said weakly. He already said more than he should to outsiders; what was a little more? Kevin raised his left hand. "You gave me a second chance when Riko broke my hand. I wasn't the first and won't be the last. If we don't take them in now, they'll die, coach... They just want to survive, so please give them a chance."
Kevin saw Wymack make a face, and he knew he had won the argument when the man sighed deeply. "I better not regret it... I'll talk to coach Moriyama about the details and inform the team."
"Thank you, coach! I'll call Neil to let them know they can start packing soon." Even as Kevin said that he knew they had little to pack and many more problems to settle before leaving Evermore.
"So, we're getting two more backliners?" Andrew's voice came from the entrance, his mocking grin making it difficult to tell what his medicated mind actually thought about the topic.
"No." With Andrew on the goal, they only needed one trustworthy backliner. Kevin's injured hand hindered him on the offense, and Seth… that one was out of salvation. They needed support on the attack, someone fast with good aim and more bold than any other player in the league... "One striker and one backliner."