Chapter 02 - The volleyball team's test match

He was standing there with his arms folded. And thanks to the hood and cap he was wearing, Jake couldn't tell precisely what he was looking at. 

But just the fact that he was there was enough to bother the alpha. I mean, he wasn't afraid because of the rumours Matheus had told him earlier, he just thought it was strange that he was there. He didn't seem to have any involvement with the volleyball team from what he'd understood earlier.

In any case, Jake wouldn't pay too much attention to the masked boy since he was there in the gym on the sly.

He wanted to go unnoticed by the coach and the team, which was why he had asked Matheus and the others to keep his return a secret. At least for the time being. All for the sake of surprising them!

While he waited for training to begin, Jake hid behind the stands and watched the people. There were unfamiliar faces among those wearing the training clothes of the university team, Rapoxia. And instead of warming up to go onto the court, they sat on the first benches of the stands, seemingly watching a huddle of people without standard team uniforms line up on the court.

Among them was the familiar blond-haired guy.

It was the boy from before. The one who was accompanying the Joker!

It was him!

Jake looked over his shoulder in the direction where the masked boy was standing.

— So that's why you came, huh?

— All right guys, I'm Coach Santiago and I'll be in charge of your test today. I'm asking you to split into two teams and choose which side of the court you're going to stand on.

Ah, so it was a test. 

Considering it was the beginning of term, the coach would open up a few places, as there were always some players graduating. It also reminded him of the time he had tried out for that team when he was in his first year at university. He had been slightly startled by Coach Santiago's serious attitude. 

The alpha was huge and burly, so that the scowl on his face was enough to frighten any newcomer. It was as if it was written on his forehead that feeling fear was the basic requirement to be considered a minimally competent player in his eyes.

Well, Santiago wasn't a bad person. From what he knew, it was likely that he revelled in the fear of newcomers, while at the same time being able to use it to assess them. 

So Jake snuck around the stands until he reached the last few rows, where he could sit down and cross his legs, watching with interest as the students organised themselves into two teams.

The alpha noticed that some of them seemed lost and followed the lead of whoever took the lead. The other team, on the other hand, had quickly organised their positions. Only in that preparation had the difference between the two teams become clear.

Following the blond hair, Jake noticed that the boy was playing as a libero for the disorganised team. And when the whistle blew in the gym, his concentration was unrivalled. He followed the ball, positioned himself well at the back of the court and was able to make good receptions. Even though the other team's attack was aggressive and fast at times, the blond could handle it.

But there was a problem with his team. 

The guy who took the lead couldn't read the other team's game well, and his co-ordinations were too risky. There were players in positions that didn't seem right. 

One of them was the left winger, who reflexively went to the right side of the court out of position. Although the poor guy soon realised it and stayed in place, his game was messed up as a result.

Jake nodded when he realised that the blond had gone from following his lead to playing the game as it should have been, ensuring that some lost points were recovered. As a libero, his game was clean and beautiful to watch. He wasn't afraid to throw himself on the floor to receive the ball from his opponent, to do somersaults on impact and even to take a few shots to the face. 

However, his autonomy seemed to irritate the supposed captain, who kept shouting at him.

— Hey, get it right or we won't be able to get up!

That would be a real mess, Jake thought.

Glancing round at Matheus, Ricardo and Junior, who were watching the test with the rest of the team, Jake wondered if this test was going as they had hoped. At decisive moments, or when the set had a discrepancy in the score, the true face of the player would emerge. 

The face of his competitive, bad loser side. 

His friend was smiling even though his arms were folded, a sign that the captain of the official team seemed to be enjoying seeing such a mess.

On the other hand, the team in front was making the most of the mess. The supposed captain signalled behind his back, called out the player's name when he was about to lift him, and even used this to create decoys and anticipate the block. In this way, the block would mark the player called, while the ball was being lifted to another player, who was free to score.

It was a forced deception and a cheap shot. But it worked pathetically.

Only trickery like that was enough to give them the lead.

That little match continued in the same way until the final whistle. The blond boy's team lost the game, leaving the students fearful about their performance in the test. It was so clear on those abandoned puppy faces that Jake stifled a laugh.

Some took the game seriously, knowing when to show their potential and skills, as well as contributing to their improvised teammates. However, some missed the chance to play well. Frustration and anxiety only seemed to build up on one side of the court.

Although there was a certain blond boy who didn't seem that worried.

The coach whispered something to Matheus and the rest of the coaching staff. It only took a few minutes of conversation before Santiago took the lead among the players being assessed.

— It wasn't a very interesting match. I could see that most of you have no experience of the sport, which is a bit of a problem. 

Jake squinted his eyes and cracked a thin smile when he realised that the coach was taking his words lightly. Taking into account the way the alpha had been trained in his first year, he imagined that this gap in ability would mean that the poor bastards wouldn't be able to cope with training and matches. 

He himself had trouble getting used to Santiago's routine.

— The teamwork of some of you also proved very disappointing. Bearing in mind that our team always takes part in championships, this kind of behaviour from you could ruin our performance. However, even in such a horror show, we were able to see the ability of each and every one of you.

First the scolding and then the praise, took the hope out of those poor boys and then gave it back. Jake shook his head, unsurprised. Even he, who had only been watching from afar, felt pressured by the result, let alone those being assessed.

— And how long do you intend to hide in there, kid?

Jake shivered when the coach looked in his direction. Okay, his wits weren't so low that he didn't notice his presence. 

The rest of the students turned to the last benches where Jake was sitting alone. Opening his usual charismatic smile, the alpha nodded to the coach.

So much for your plan to go unnoticed until you make a triumphant entrance.

— And I thought I could give you a fright.

Regretting the failure of his own plan, Jake remained seated with his chin resting on his hand and his legs crossed. He wouldn't move until he was invited to do so. He had already made his move to return to the gym and, now that his presence had been noticed, all he needed was a simple invitation so that he could talk about his return.

It wasn't that Jake was a great strategist, or that people were too obvious. He was more like a dog that ran away from home when the gate was opened and now came back ashamed of what it had done. 

He would only return if he was allowed to.

Santiago stared at him for mere seconds before sighing and turning away.

— Humph. Get down from there and come to the court, you know how things work round here.

Giving an excited smile, the alpha looked at his friends and made a victory sign for his small, and somewhat shameless, comeback plan. Getting up from the stands, Jake took off his sweatshirt and walked down to the court.