The morning of the tournament had arrived. My alarm clock blared at the ungodly hour of 6:30 AM, and I groggily reached over to silence it. Despite the early hour, my heart was already racing. Today was the day.

The house was unusually quiet, the calm before the storm. Moya, for once, was already up, his presence betrayed by the faint clatter of pots and pans in the kitchen.

"Making breakfast?" I asked, poking my head into the kitchen.

"Figured you'd need the energy," Moya replied, his back to me. "Big day and all."

"Thanks," I said, smiling softly.

He turned around with a plate of toast and eggs, setting it down on the counter. "Don't overthink it, alright? Just play the game like you've been training."

I nodded, appreciating his words. Moya could be a pain sometimes, but in moments like these, his support was exactly what I needed.

When we arrived at the tournament venue, the energy hit me like a wave. The place was packed with players, fans, and commentators buzzing around. The arena was decked out with bright lights, massive screens displaying the brackets, and booths from sponsors showcasing gaming equipment.

As Moya and I made our way to the team's designated area, I spotted Sitetampo waiting with Relyh and Tensai.

"There they are," Tensai called out, waving us over. "Thought you two bailed for a second."

"As if," Moya shot back, rolling his eyes.

Sitetampo stepped closer to me, his expression softening. "Hey, you good?"

"Yeah," I said, though my voice wavered slightly.

He leaned in just a bit, lowering his voice. "You're going to crush this. Remember, we've got your back."

His words warmed me, and I managed a smile. "Thanks."

Relyh handed each of us our official team jerseys, the sharp black and red design with our gamer tags in white. I ran my fingers over the letters of my name: Y/n.

"Alright, team," Relyh said, clapping his hands to gather our attention. "Our first match is in an hour. Let's run through the game plan one more time."

"Alright, here's how this is going to work. First match: Tampo, Tensai, and me. Second match: Tampo, Moya, and me. Finals: Y/n, Tampo and Moya."

The First Match

As the first match began, I stood with Moya near the sidelines, watching the team take their positions. The bright lights of the stage bathed them in a golden glow, and the roar of the crowd was deafening.

"Alright, stay focused," Relyh's voice came through the team comms, projected the game on the big screen above.

Sitetampo and Tensai worked seamlessly with him, their strategies sharp and their movements fluid.

"Tampo, watch the left!" Tensai called out, his quick reaction saving the team from a potential ambush.

"Good call," Sitetampo replied, landing a critical hit that secured their control of the match.

It was exhilarating to watch them. The synergy between them was incredible, and their victory felt inevitable.

When the match ended with the victory screen flashing, I cheered loudly, clapping along with the rest of the audience.

"That's how it's done!" Tensai said as they returned to the lounge, grinning widely.

The Second Match

It was Moya's turn to step in, and I stayed back to help the team prepare.

"Alright, Moya," I said, handing him his headseat. "No pressure, but you better not embarrass us out there."

"Please," he shot back with a smirk. "I'm carrying this team."

Tensai laughed. "Alright, let's see it."

The second match was against a tougher opponent, their strategy aggressive from the start. Sitetampo, Moya, and Relyh worked hard to counter their pushes, but the pressure was intense.

"Moya, cover mid with me!" Sitetampo called out, narrowly avoiding a critical hit.

"On it!" Moya replied, his focus razor-sharp.

Their teamwork shone in the final moments, with Moya securing a clutch defensive play that allowed Sitetampo to deliver the winning blow.

When the match ended, the crowd erupted into cheers, and I couldn't help but feel proud of my brother and the rest of the team.

After the second match, we retreated to the team lounge. The breakroom was a flurry of activity, with teams discussing strategies, sipping water, and shaking off the tension of the stage.

"You guys killed it out there," I said, handing Moya a bottle of water.

"Obviously," he said, grinning. "That last play was all me."

Tensai rolled his eyes. "Sure, keep telling yourself that."

I laughed at their banter, the nerves slowly fading.

As I glanced over at Sitetampo, he caught my gaze. "You ready for the next one?"

"Absolutely," I replied, my determination renewed.

While we regrouped, I noticed a group of reporters near the lounge entrance. Their cameras and microphones aimed in our direction, and a sinking feeling settled in my stomach.

"Y/n, how do you feel about not playing in the first two matches?" one of them called out.

Before I could respond, another jumped in. "Do you think you're holding the team back?"

Moya stepped forward, his voice firm. "That's enough. If you're not asking about the matches, don't bother asking at all."

The reporters hesitated but eventually left.

The final match loomed ahead, the biggest challenge yet. Despite the doubts, the pressure, and the noise from the outside world, I felt ready.

As we headed to the stage, Sitetampo walked beside me, his presence steadying my nerves.

"You've got this," he said, his voice low and reassuring.

"Because I've got you," I replied, smiling.

He grinned, the tension in his face easing for a moment.

And as we took our positions for the final match, set to begin in half an hour, I felt a deep sense of unity with my team. No matter what happened, we were in this together.