Still, even with all the injustice he faced, Haruo was not someone who could remain idle and whine all day without taking any action. Before he entered the court for the third set, he slapped his cheek hard, waking himself up from the depressed mood that had infected him by his teammates.
"Okay, even though the coach doesn't like me and has already deemed the game a lost cause, the most important thing is my attitude. Even if less than half of the supporters still remain, they are willing to spend their time watching our game. I cannot disappoint them more than this."
This was the kind of professional attitude that would help any player enjoy a long career. Although his fate was always tied to the management and the coach, if he had the backing of the supporters, half of his problems could be solved easily. After all, at the end of the day, money would come from the audience; so the more he was loved by the audience, the more secure his career would be.