Chapter 24: Come and Go

Santi's surprise appearance took everything on a different turn.

Chiko's body was still shaking due to the impact after receiving the ball and it was only thanks to the support of Gantes that he was still standing at the moment.

Chiko could not believe just how much power such a very small and light ball actually has. Despite its soft and light texture, for some reason, Chiko felt like it was shot as it came from a cannon.

"S-Santi!?"

"What is the takraw God doing here?"

Rino and his team could not believe it themselves, seeing the living legend actually standing again in front of them just gives them goosebumps. Not to mention, the latter just showed a terrifying spike that almost broke Chiko's hand!

The Star Pointer players and Mr. Gaje on the other hand were gulping a mouthful load of their saliva. Santi's cold gaze sweep over them and they all felt like they lost the strength on their feet.

Then finally, Santi's eyes locked at the ball on Chiko's hand.

"I was wondering why my people are not reporting to me. It turns out you guys were having fun without me."

Hearing his words, Mr. Gaje quickly rushed over with bowing heads and explained in a hurried tone,

"I-its not what it looks like sir. You see, we were just meters away from our hotel room a while ago when we realized that one of your Santi balls was missing. So we hurriedly came back to take it only to find these egg-stinking bastards claiming it to themselves. Not to mention they-"

But before Gaje could continue, Santi interrupted him with a wave of his palm and walked forward. Fu Chin, Diros, and Jin-Woo quickly moved to meet him and was about to explain their sides as well when Santi also signaled for them to stop.

Chiko watched Santi coming closer with wary eyes. Unlike the rest of them, Chiko's gaze towards the takraw God was cold and unwelcoming.

"How is it? Your hand. Still intact?" Santi's cold snapping voice came with a cold mocking gaze to Chiko.

Hiding his swelling palms and shaking arm, Chiko rose his head and stood eye to eye before speaking with the takraw God using his trying hard-English,

"Are you here to pay for the broken balut damages? If not, you can go back to your country.

Hearing him, Santi scoffed, "Cold. Is that how you treat your country's visitors? You know-"

"What do you want?" Chiko quickly interrupted.

Smiling confidently and changing his tone, Santai spoke calmly,

"I can see that you have good potential to become a sepak takraw pro player. How about joining my pool of new talents?"

Hearing the takraw God inviting Chiko himself, Rino and everyone else dropped their jaw. Especially Gaje.

One must know that Santi does not just casually ask anyone to join his talent pool. In order to receive his invitation, sepak takraw geniuses have to prove their worth with a private duel against Santi himself. No cameras to pressure the player, just straight-up one on one battle.

The passing score was just a single point. Though it sounds easy, when facing against a fully prepared Santi, it becomes plainly impossible. One needs to be extremely talented in ball control, reveal his incredible reflex, and show a remarkable performance against the latter.

The moment Santi approves of the player's ability and point, they, in turn, will receive a special takraw ball exclusively made for Santi himself.

Also known as the world's most durable and expensive sepak takraw ball; the Santi ball is given to the new Star Pointer player as a form of acknowledgment and is expected to receive exclusive training from the takraw God himself.

Rino and his team could not help but imagine themselves to be in Chiko's position. They probably have broken their necks from nodding!

Unfortunately, Chiko's word snapped them out of their fantasy,

"Sorry but no thanks. I already have a team." Chiko said before turning around to face Gantes and Yang.

"Let's go guys."

And as if expecting the answer, Santi just turned around and left as well. Leaving the ball in Chik's hand while smiling with a small hint of excitement.

"What!? Did he just!? DID HE JUST IGNORED THE TAKRAW GOD!?" Rino almost exploded on the spot.

"Not only is he stupid. That vendor boy is the king of BOBO!" Kurt quickly added; he himself was fuming in anger as well.

"Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" John could not believe it as well.

Seeing Santi leaving ahead, Mr. Gaje hurriedly chased after.

Fu Chin on the other hand looked at Diros and Jin Woo. They both nodded at her signaling that they should also leave as well.

They all briefly stopped in front of Mr. U-bear, bowed in appreciation and respect, before leaving.

No one dares to take the extremely expensive Santi ball back. The fact that Santi himself came and offered the invitation was enough proof of Chiko's potential and rights to have the ball for himself. In fact, It was such a great honor that Chiko failed to appreciate due to his circumstances.

Seeing their leaving figures, Yang finally composed himself and asked Chiko,

"Chiko are you sure you want to decline his invitation? I think you don't really get just how much benefit you can get if you join his team. I pretty sure know how much you love to save money. With him, you should be able to save lots of money while also-"

"He insulted my balut." Chiko's reply was direct and honest.

"Are you sure you can't forgive him? You should know you are missing this opportunity big-time dud." Gantes added.

"I will earn my money thru my own hard work. I won't beg from such an ignorant and mata-pobre guy. Much worst seeing his egg-head face every day."

Then suddenly, Chiko's face turned from serious to a monkey.

"Hue hue hue, as long as we can sell this ball, we gon' be a millionaire!"

Unfortunately, Santi who happens to be the rightful owner of the ball turned around and said,

"By the way, I am giving you the ball with the intention that it will be used for your training and to nurture your peak potential. The moment I learn that you are planning to sell it, I will be more than happy to take it back right away."

"What!?" Gantes and Chiko's face warped. They both looked like wet chicken after cold water was dumped straight to their weird faces. They have plenty of words and complaints to shout but Mr. U-Bear stopped them as the latter moved at the front to face the leaving Santi.

"Rest assured, it is our honor and privilege to be able to take hold of one of your precious ball Mr. Santi. I will make sure to use it properly and train Chiko to his greatest potential and-"

Mr. U-Bear panned his gaze to Gantes and Yang just standing behind Chiko and added,

"and possibly make a whole team of legends in the future."

"It seems you really are confident with your new regu of chickens," Santi commented.

Mr. U-bear raised his palms in helplessness. "They are just unpolished gems. But pretty soon enough, you should be able to see them as eagles, soaring with their kicks and strong enough to compete against your Star Pointers."

"I would love it if they can reach my level. You should know how lonely it feels to be on top.."

Mr. U-bear looked at Santi with strange eyes before turning back to his gentle smiling mood,

"Very well. I will do my best."

Chiko, Yang, and Gantes fell into silence. Why does Mr. U-bear have so much confidence in them?

Santi smiled meaningfully and proceeded to the exit door with Mr. Gaje and the rest of the Star Pointer players,

"I will look forward to properly play with them in the future. Good luck."

"Thank you." Mr. U-bear replied while bowing his head.

Meanwhile, everyone else watched Santi and his crew leaving the gym with mixed thoughts. Their backs were leaving behind a trace of dominant shadows.

Even Chiko knows, that if only they happen to play an official match against one of those Star Pointers, it will be a total stomp. He was lucky that he got Gantes and Yang's back on that crucial moment.

But the question remains, will he continue to be a newbie?

"Alright let's get to the point." Mr. U-bear turned back to Chiko and the rest.

"As what you have heard from Santi himself, this ball is not going to be sold."

The face of Chiko and Gantes were gloomy.

"But." Mr. U-bear continued, "Since you have good potential for sepak takraw, how about officially joining our team? Not only will you get to study in college for free, but you will also get free accommodation and monthly allowance!" He said while smiling gently.

As expected, upon hearing the word 'free', 'scholarship', and 'allowance', the faces of Chiko and Gantes lit up. Yang on the other hand just smiled excitedly.

"Yes!" Gantes happily shouted.

"We accept!" Chiko replied as well while dragging Yang who is still wearing his school janitor uniform. Mr. U-bear knew he has to start recruiting a new janitor.

Seeing the three new players accepting his offer, Mr. U-Bear smiled happily when a gloomy voice came from behind.

"Uhm.. Mr. U-Bear, I would like to tell you that we will be transferring to a new school starting tomorrow."

U-bear turned around to face the source of the voice- it was from Rino who is standing together with his team. Their mocking faces are now long gone. Their knees seem to have weakened and their eyes were outcasted by their gloomy shadows.

They seem to have lost their confidence in themselves.

Rino, and his team could not take the damage in their ego after witnessing Chiko and his team actually scoring against the Star Pointers and getting a Santi ball in return.