Locking In With My Life System

Chapter 30: Glass Canon

Aiden ducked, barely evading the ball that streaked overhead.

Just as quickly, he moved to the side as another whizzed past him, his gaze laser-focused on Kevin’s next throw.

Yet, despite realizing he had the opportunity to get in a throw, he held back, allowing Casper to go on the offensive instead.

This was a team game, not a solo play.

Right on cue, his buddy’s arm whipped out, the ball blitzing to the other side.

Stepping to the side a bit, Kevin skillfully arched his body to the side, allowing for the ball the blonde-haired youth threw to easily fly past him.

Then, without missing a beat, he targeted Aiden again.

Narrowly, Aiden dodged the throw yet again, beads of sweat flying off his face and onto the grass.

As the spectators on the side watched the genuinely entertaining match-up, one of the boys on the football team couldn’t help but mutter audibly;

"The hell is going on? This shouldn’t even be that intense..."

"They’re not actually going to beat Kevin, are they?" one of the girls on the cheerleading team uncertainly asked.

"Yo... Aiden’s absolutely locked in..." Clyde on the other hand remarked softly, he, Larry and Benjamin sharing similar expressions of mild bewilderment.

Even Coach Ramirez was just as bewildered, albeit his eyes kept following their match intently.

That said, Aiden believed that the only major thing he’d learnt while working at Haute Cuisine over the summer break was how to effectively converse with people, and also how to manage working under stress.

Yet, he couldn’t have been more wrong.

Nimbleness.

Positioning.

Balancing.

Spatial awareness.

Those were all skills he’d subconsciously picked up when he began picking up orders and serving customers amidst the frequently packed dining area of the restaurant.

Though it didn’t equate to the skill level of an athlete like Kevin, it certainly made it hard for the star quarterback to get a single hit on him since they’d begun the last round... especially since the spunky and very energetic Casper was keeping him occupied.

And for Aiden, it was working perfectly to his advantage as Kevin’s stamina continuously ticked down while he micromanaged the little he had left.

"Leeroy! Hit, one!"

No sooner had the ball bounced off Kevin’s lower torso, courtesy of Casper’s throw, Coach Ramirez gestured in sync.

Immediately, the athlete’s expression slowly phased from competitive to utterly focused.

Without thinking twice, he prioritized Casper, opting to eliminate the troublesome one first.

In the next minute following that, he managed to throw a ball so fast, Casper reacted a tad bit too late.

Before he could narrowly dodge it, it struck the side of his lap with a light slap that echoed across the field and bounced off him, rolling to a slow stop on the grass.

"Callaghan! Hit, three! Out!"

"Oh, come on! We were this close!!" Casper let out in playful exasperation, both of his palms gesturing exaggeratedly.

As for the boys in his grade hate-watching and spectating, they immediately erupted in shared joy;

"Yeah!"

"Buzz off, man!"

"Go cry in your wittle Daisy’s arms!"

Without even acknowledging their faux hate, he placed both of his palms on Aiden’s shoulder and said, his expression serious;

"It’s all up to you, now. If you don’t win, you’re gay."

"The fuck?" Aiden let out in evident perplexity, his words barely above a whisper.

Before he could ask Casper to take it back though, the youth had already jogged off to the side to spectate much like everyone else, a mischievous smile on his lips.

At the same time, everyone was already looking on like the match was over.

Afterall, for as well as Aiden had been doing thus far, Casper had been the one on the offensive. He was also the only member of Group B who had a comparable level of athleticism and energy to Kevin.

And for the clearly, less athletic Aiden to be up against someone of that caliber, there was no need to even bother thinking the coal-haired youth would win.

It was just the clear, logical conclusion.

Which was why,

"Welp. It’s been a great match guys." one of the guys in Group A cockily said to those in Group B who couldn’t help roll their eyes in defeat, some of them even looking on in resignation.

"Aiden’s been really good today. Sucks that his streak ends here." Daisy on the other hand said to the girls around her who equally nodded in agreement.

"Alright man, get ready to put the fries in the bag!" Kevin too called out while gesturing from across the line with widespread arms, taunting and certain of his victory as a relaxed smile played on his lips.

"Eh. It is what it is." Aiden casually shrugged it off, a light smile on his lips as one of their peers came over to arrange the balls at the centerline for the last play.

Yet, in his mind, the youth was already planning to go full glass canon and employ all of his stamina in one fell swoop.

To him, it was all or nothing, especially since Kevin had it better than him by every metric possible. So, the only way he felt he could win, was to catch the star quarterback completely off-guard.

A minute after, Coach Ramirez checked in with both of them.

Ensuring they were ready, he then blew his whistle, his arm whipping down to signal the start of the last play!

Quickly, Kevin rushed towards the center, his hand reaching to pick a ball.

Yet, just as he did, he watched with dilated pupils as Aiden’s hand whipped over to snatch the very same ball, his form already retreating.

By the time he’d managed to pick up another and simultaneously retreat while getting into a throwing posture, the slight stinging sensation of a gator ball hit his waist.

"Leeroy! Hit, two!" Coach Ramirez immediately called out!

Unfortunately for Kevin, it had all happened so fast, he’d released his own throw halfway into settling into a throwing form.

Fortunately for Aiden, the ball came at a much slower speed than usual, he managed to catch it mid-air and send it right back with all the strength his arm could muster!

It took no less than a few seconds before another light slap echoed mildly across the field, the gator ball hitting Kevin squarely in the chest!

For the briefest of moments, not only were all of the seniors in the grade stunned, but even Coach Ramirez looked much the same... only for him to declare while blowing his whistle!

"Leeroy! Hit, three! Out!"

Then, without so much as a flourish, he added;

"Group B. Victory!"

No sooner had Aiden heard that, he slowly raised his head to the sky, his chest heaving tiredly as he let out breaths that were more spirit than steam, a certain notification in his field of view.

-

[Ding!]

[Exclusive Quests Updated!]

⸢Exclusive Quests

› Nah, I’d dodge.

└ Win the dodgeball match – [1 LP Awarded!]

-

Yet, at the very same time, a fulfilled smile spread across his lips as his buddies alongside his group members exploded onto his side of the field in thrilled exhilaration!

"That’s what I’m talking about! That’s why he’s the MVP!! That’s why he’s the GOAT!! The GOAT!!!" Casper continuously pumped his fists as he ran up to him, his voice booming across the pitch in unrestrained fervor.

"Fuck yeah! That’s our boy!!!" Larry followed up without the slightest hesitation while vigorously shaking his shoulders, as did Benjamin and Clyde!

At the same time, as some of the members of Group B kept hailing Aiden, the others had turned all their attention to Group A;

"Fuck you guys! You just got served!"

"Y’all better go get your McDonald hats!"

"Yeah! Put some fries in the bag while you’re at it too!"

As one jab after the other rolled out from the group, practically the entire grade burst into another round of genuine laughter again.

This time, Coach Ramirez simply allowed them be as he said to himself, a thin smile of amusement tugging on the edges of his lips;

’One minute. I’ll give them one minute.’

Given that there were still several match-ups to go before the PE session was over, the broad-shouldered man was already being very generous.

That said, for a dodgeball match had only been ten minutes in total, it sure as felt like it had gone on for over an hour to the students solely based off of how intensely exhilarating it had been.

Then, as if to round up the entire thing in spectacular fashion, the underdog ended up winning against not just their grade’s established dodgeball ’champion’, but also their school’s star quarterback at what should’ve essentially been a cinch for him?

There was no way in hell they weren’t gonna celebrate that. Even Kevin was simply clapping at the moment, a genuinely impressed smile on his lips as he nodded in acknowledgement.

It was also why it didn’t take long before Aiden--the man of the hour himself-- began cackling alongside everyone else...

...well, everyone else asides Theo whom was currently lying face first on the field like an abused doormat.

But even then, he managed to let out a single muffled word under his breath amidst the noise everyone else was making;

"Yay..."