Ben's Absence

The day of the first scrimmage was here. Once school day was over, the club gathered at the bus station alongside their advisor, Ms. Stone.

"I wish they paid me extra hours for this," Ms. Stone muttered under a heavy sigh. "Everybody here? One, two, three... You're missing one. Where's Ben?"

"Should be on the way," Vincent said. "I haven't heard anything-" Loud orchestra music interrupted his words. It lasted for just a couple of seconds, but that was more than enough to leave an impression. "Oh, I got a message. Let's see here..." He fiddled with his tablet.

"Ben is... not coming," Vincent wore a difficult expression.

"Seriously?" Yuel couldn't believe this guy. Just when Yuel started thinking that maybe Ben was alright because the guy has been staying extra hours during training, Ben went ahead and pulled this nonsense. Seriously, what was his problem?

"So, we're just going to ignore this?" Yuel asked.

"Nothing else we can do," Kai averted her eyes pulled down her black cap. She was visibly frustrated by this development as well, yet she chose to let this crime slide.

What was so special about Ben that let him get away with these repeated offenses? Kai wasn't the type to keep quiet about such things, yet she acted all meek about it. This was so puzzling.

[It can't go on like this.] Yuel decided. [I have to get to the bottom of this tomorrow. Either Ben is part of the club, or he isn't. I don't know what lingering attachments he got for the basketball club and, frankly, I don't care. If he wants to continue being a part of the club, he has to act like a proper club member.]

Missing practice from time to time was still fine. Ben made up to it by being one of the hardest working individuals on the days he was present. He always stayed until the very end and he never lazed around, unlike a certain sleepy girl who always dozed off at 3 pm.

That's why Yuel was fine with Ben's misconduct for the most part. Ben exhibited enough seriousness about Classmancers to pass as a club member, even with all his unexplained absences.

However, missing a scrimmage was a whole different story. This club was small. With only seven members, it was easy to rotate players around and let everybody play a couple of matches in one scrimmage. In case Stratus gains an early lead, Yuel planned to let Ben play Top Lane in his stead, to let Ben gain some partial experience like the rest of them.

Besides, the team might legitimately require Ben's help this match. Based on past years, Taurus wasn't an opponent to sneeze at. They will surely pose a challenge, maybe even enough to make Kai surrender Bot Lane to Yuel and Lars.

If that happens, Vincent will take Top. He was a decent all-rounder Top Laner, but Ben's defensive playstyle was better for certain matchups.

Not to mention, Vincent was currently the better Top Laner in part due to the differences in their experience. Vincent was a senior, so he spent more years playing Classmancers. Therefore, a scrimmage would've been a great opportunity for Ben to accumulate plenty of experience at once and take a step closer toward becoming the team's main Top Laner, or at least become a reliable situational sub. As it stood, Ben was neither.

"Don't be so mad, dude," Lars patted on Yuel's shoulder.

"I'm not mad."

"Nah, you totally are. I know dat look of total disappointment. It's like ya thinking dude committed the worst crime in the world and now you've lost all faith in humanity and stuff, haha."

"I'm just disappointed," Yuel sighed. "Despite all his unexplained absences, I thought he was a part of the club. But, now he pulls this."

"Hey, Ben is a nice dude. I'm sure there's a reason behind it."

"Reason, huh." Was there really such a thing? It's the excuse Kai and Vincent have been feeding Yuel since day one. The more time passed, the harder it became to swallow. Things couldn't go on like this. Yuel will have to sort this out after the scrimmage.

Unknown to Yuel, until a very short time ago, Ben had every intention to come to the scrimmage. In fact, he was giddy about it.

[Today is the big day.] Ben took a deep breath. The mere thought of playing on a real stage gave him the shivers. But, it wasn't just anxiety, it was excitement too.

Playing on a big stage at ProCenter was like having one leg in the pro scene. ProCenter even hosted some real pro matches, it was that kind of serious place. And, their small middle school team was going to play there too. It was amazing!

[I just hope we don't mess up.] Ben gulped as he made his way to the bus station. [Well, we got strong players this year, so we should be fine. I'd like to play too, but I'm not as good as Yuel and Vincent yet. I need to practice harder.]

Practice. That one word stabbed him like a knife. How many club practices has he missed over the past few months? He missed at least one day every week without fail, out of the three practice days they had. So, he worked about 30% less than everybody else. It was unfair towards them.

Even though he regularly practiced at home after school, it didn't make up for the amount of missed club activity. The level of experience he gained in the club was invaluable. He got to play alongside high-level teammates and faced strong opponents. No amount of solo training could make up for it.

At home, he mostly played alone. Sometimes Vincent joined in with voice-call and they played together, but that's about it. The friends Ben used to play with no longer played Classmancers. And, it was largely his fault. He made them quit. It was a sin he had to bear for the rest of his life. They had no intention of ever forgiving him for it. Speaking of the devil...

"Hey, Meatball!" A cheery voice called out to him. Oh no. Please no...

"H-Hi..." Ben replied timidly, but he didn't stop to greet the speaker. He kept walking toward the bus station.

It was a Slenderman situation. If Ben turns around, he's dead. On the other hand, if he reaches the bus station first, he might still have a chance. It'll be harder for these guys to pull anything in a crowded area.

"Hey, Meatball. He just called ya, didn't he?" An arm wrapped around Ben's shoulder, like a snake entrapping its prey. It was over. They caught him.

"What's with the cold treatment?" The first boy, Mike, caught up. "That's how you treat your friends?"

"S-Sorry, I was in a hurry..." Ben mumbled. His forehead broke out in cold sweat. [Please, just let me go...]

"Heh," The boy holding him, Larry, chuckled. "Hurrying to your girlfriend or something? Haha."

"Pft, as if this fatso got any chance of scoring with anybody," the third boy, James, shook his head. All three of them were here. They were Ben's "friends".

"So?" Mike, the leader, interrogated. "What's the hurry? What's so important that you don't have time to turn around and greet one of your homies?"

"Um, I got a scrimmage today..." Ben answered timidly while trying to wiggle out of Larry's tight grip. It was no use. They trapped him.

"A scrimmage? Whew," James whistled. "Makes our Mancers club sound like a big shot."

"Yeah, a big shot with zero wins in its entire history," Larry added with a mean giggle.

"So, you're playing today?" Mike demanded.

"Um, maybe..." Ben answered honestly.

"Wow, wow, would you look at that! Somebody is turning into a pro over here, khaha!" Larry laughed in his usual coarse voice. "I heard they're holding 'em scrimmages at ProCenter and all."

"No shit?" James's eyes popped. "They get to enter for free?"

"Yep. A great deal, right? Too bad we couldn't make it into the club."

"Yeah, too bad," Mike agreed with a stern tone. "If only we weren't screwed over by some hyena."

"Ah..." Ben's gaze naturally fell onto the ground. His friends didn't get into the club, but he did. It's all because he was selfish. He wanted to get into the club so badly that he ended up betraying his friends. He was the worst. A total scum. He was the type they burned in hell for all eternity.

"Well, a scrimmage is a big deal," Mike said. "Guess we have to let him go."

"R-Really?" Ben blinked. He was expecting the worst, but they'll let him go? Just like that? Really?

"Yeah, ain't gonna hold you up," Larry released Ben out of his unbreakable grip.

"T-Thanks," Ben smiled. Turned out they were still his friends after all! [I'm so glad. Maybe they'll forgive me if I perform well today. I'm the only one who made it, so I have to prove to them I deserve to be here. Maybe that'll make them feel a little-] "Guh!?" Sharp pain traveled into his abdomen.

"Ugh!" Ben crouched on one leg. His insides burned. [W-Why did he...?]

"Hey, hey, what's wrong, Meatball?" Larry asked in a joking tone. "Not feeling well? Man, get a grip."

"I-I'm fine," Ben endured the pain and slowly stood up.

"Here, lemme give ya a hand," Larry came closer and pulled Ben up. At first, it really seemed like he came to help. However, the next moment...

"W-Whoa!" Ben found himself falling backward, crashing into the ground! Gah! Pain traveled across his back.

"C'mon, Meatball. You're so clumsy," James snickered. "All that weight is too much for your poor legs, doncha think? Can't even lift yourself, haha." They all laughed.

[I should've known.] Ben pursed his lips. His "friends" won't just let him go.

This was his punishment for betraying them. They'll never forgive him for it, no matter what he does or how much time passes. Even if he becomes a pro player, they'll still resent him for what he did last year.

"You don't look so good," Mike said. "Here, lemme help you get to the nurse room."

"N-No need, I'm fine," Ben jumped on his feet and did his best to stand straight. He'd be lying if he said none of this hurt, but he had to stand firm. He knew all too well they had no intention of bringing him to the nurse. It was just an excuse to drag him away.

"Hey now," Mike's eyes turned sharp like a blade. "Here I am, going out of my way to help a friend, and you gonna spit in my face like that?"

"N-No, I didn't mean to..." Ben trembled. It was hopeless. The moment this gang captured him, there was no escape. [I should've left earlier for the station. I don't think I can make it anymore...]

"Then c'mon, let's go," Larry pushed from behind, almost making Ben dive into the ground again. "Let's get you checked and all that, hehe."

"You should be thankful for having such caring friends," James added with a mean smile.

"Y-Yeah, of course I'm grateful," Ben forced the words through his dry throat. It was all over for him. He won't make it to the scrimmage today.

As the pack of wolves dragged him away, all he managed to do was send Vincent a single message.

『Sorry, I can't make it today』

And so, Ben was absent from the team's first scrimmage...