Chapter 437 A different version

Chapter 437 A different version

The god might have deprived him of talent. But that didn't stop him from advancing. He had made it this far with sheer determination alone and he'd continue to do the same.

But if only he were to be aware that he wasn't entirely talentless, what kind of expression would he make? Would his perception of players with talent change? He possessed dormant potential which he could only unlock through determination and efforts.

'I'll show them,' he thought, a spark of defiance igniting in his chest. 'I'll outwork everyone. I'll train harder, longer, until my body breaks if I have to. Talent isn't everything.'

As he thought so, he stood up abruptly, startling a nearby teammate.

Is he still bothered about the game? Or is it too much for him to handle? Well, he did provoke their player, and now he has made a fool out of himself. If I were him, I'd have probably died of humiliation. Don't fret it, Tominaga. You've played well.

His teammates gave him a complacent look as he stood up abruptly. But none stepped in front to confront him.

Tominaga then squared his shoulders, adopting the tough exterior he wore like armor.

"We'll get them next time," he declared, his voice carrying a bravado he didn't entirely feel. "This is just a setback. We'll come back stronger."

His words left his teammates utterly stunned. It wasn't what they were expecting of him. They had expected him to lampoon, or lash out. Instead, he accepted his defeat graciously. Was he the same Tominaga they knew? Or was he an imposter?

Perhaps the defeat was so shocking that it affected his mind.

They couldn't help but look at him with a mixture of surprise and hope. Some even felt sympathetic.

Tominaga however didn't flinch. It didn't matter to him how they looked at him. He swept his gaze as he met eyes with his teammates, channeling every ounce of confidence he had mustered. Inside, doubt gnawed him, but he refused to let it show.

He was the ace, and he couldn't afford to let his teammates down.

So, he started to feel a little grateful for the setback. It wasn't right of him to think so, but he couldn't help it.

That arrogant lad had suddenly matured a lot today. Who knew that there was such a side of him? And, Kenji couldn't help but see him in a different light.

Kenji nodded as he turned to leave. Just before he left, he said, "Might I ask you a favor?"

"A favor?" Tominaga repeated.

"Take the interview today," Kenji said straightforwardly.

The way he put it in words, it didn't sound like he was asking for a favor. But rather it sounded like he was leaving it to him whether he liked it or not.

"But.., how can I?" Tominaga refuted.

But Kenji couldn't care less about his refusal. He simply waved his hand as he dumped the matter to him and left the room without responding.

Now, Tominaga had no option but to accept it. So, he inhaled deeply as he tried to steel his heart to face the media.

"Just what kind of captain are you? You take all the winning interviews and bail out when you face a troublesome one?" Tominaga complained.

Despite his attempt to calm himself, he got irritated when thinking about the loss. For sure, the reporters would bombard him with unreasonable questions. He wasn't even trained. So, how was he supposed to answer their questions?

What if he messes it up?

That'd probably tarnish the reputation of the club.

It wasn't because Kenji didn't want to take the interview. Or he was bailing out because of the loss. But today, he had seen something different in Tominaga. So, he had faith in him that he'd do well. That's why he left the interview to him.