The next morning, I woke up feeling slightly lighter after the heart-to-heart with Moya. While the doubts still lingered, his support had sparked a small flame of determination within me. If I was going to prove those people wrong, I needed to put my full focus into preparing for the tournament.

I got ready and headed to the training headquarters, arriving just as the rest of the team began to filter in. The usual buzz of energy filled the room as Relyh set up the equipment and Tensai argued with Moya about their breakfast choices. Sitetampo caught my eye and smiled, a warm, reassuring look that made my heart flutter.

"Morning," he said as I walked over to him.

"Morning," I replied, smiling back.

"How are you feeling?" he asked softly, his voice low enough that the others wouldn't hear.

"Better," I admitted. "Thanks for checking on me."

"Always," he said, a flicker of protectiveness in his tone.

Before we could say more, Relyh clapped his hands loudly to get everyone's attention.

"Alright, team, listen up! We've got the official schedule for the tournament," he announced, holding up his tablet. "It's happening in two weeks, so we've got to make every training session count. Let's focus on refining our strategies and working on coordination. Got it?"

We all nodded, a chorus of agreement filling the room.

"Good. Y/n, you'll be in charge of mid-lane control for most of our matches. We'll need you to focus on holding territory and providing backup when needed. Got it?"

"Got it," I said, nodding.

"And Tampo, keep working on synergy with Y/n. You two will be a key duo in this tournament," Relyh added.

Tensai snickered from his seat. "Key duo, huh? Is that what we're calling it now?"

"Shut it, Tensai," Sitetampo said, rolling his eyes but not denying it.

The teasing brought a flush to my cheeks, but I quickly shook it off, focusing on the task ahead.

We started the day with a series of practice matches. Relyh paired me and Sitetampo together as usual, while Tensai and Moya handled the other side of the map. The goal was to improve our communication and ability to adapt to sudden shifts in gameplay.

"Y/n, push left! I'll cover the center," Sitetampo called out during one match, his voice steady and clear.

"Got it," I replied, quickly moving to block an enemy from gaining ground.

We worked seamlessly, trading off roles when needed and staying hyper-focused on the match. With each game, our synergy grew stronger, and I could feel myself gaining confidence in my plays.

"You're doing great," Sitetampo said during a quick break between matches, handing me a bottle of water.

"Thanks," I said, smiling. "It feels like we're finally clicking."

"We always clicked," he said with a teasing grin, his words making my cheeks warm.

After a few hours of training, Relyh called for a team meeting to discuss our progress. We gathered around the main table, reviewing footage from our practice matches.

"Alright, here's what I'm seeing," Relyh began, pointing at the screen. "Y/n, you're holding your lane well, but you need to work on reacting faster when the enemy shifts. Sometimes you're a step behind, and it costs us valuable time."

I nodded, taking his critique seriously. "I'll work on it."

"Tampo, you've got great coverage, but don't overextend. Stay close to Y/n to keep that support role tight," Relyh continued.

"Got it," Sitetampo said, his tone confident.

"And Moya," Relyh added, turning to my brother. "Stop trash-talking during matches. It's distracting."

Moya smirked. "No promises."

The room burst into laughter, breaking the tension and reminding me why I loved this team. Despite the pressure, we always found a way to keep things lighthearted.

After the meeting, I stayed behind to review some extra footage, wanting to pinpoint the areas where I needed to improve. The room had mostly cleared out, except for Sitetampo, who lingered nearby.

"You don't have to stay, you know," I said, glancing at him.

"I know," he said, sitting beside me. "But I want to."

I smiled, grateful for his presence.

"How are you holding up, really?" he asked after a moment of silence.

I hesitated, then decided to be honest. "It's hard. The pressure... sometimes it feels like it's too much."

"You don't have to face it alone," he said, his voice gentle. "We're a team, Y/n. I'm here for you."

"Thank you," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

He reached out and took my hand, his touch warm and reassuring. "You've got this. And if anyone says otherwise, they'll have to deal with me."

I laughed softly, the weight on my chest lifting just a little.

That evening, as I walked home with Moya, he glanced over at me.

"You were solid today," he said, his tone surprisingly genuine.

"Thanks, Moya," I said, smiling.

"But just so you know, I'll still call you out if you mess up during the tournament," he added, smirking.

"Of course you will," I replied, rolling my eyes but feeling lighter all the same.