The days following the miraculous win against Plymouth were a golden haze of calm and confidence.
Ethan's two worlds had finally found their equilibrium.
His shifts at CostMart were no longer a chore, but a pleasant, grounding part of his routine, made infinitely more interesting by the playful, tactical banter he now shared with Maya.
His home life was peaceful, his mother's recovery a source of quiet, profound joy for the whole family.
And in the virtual world, Apex United was a well-oiled machine.
They followed up the nine-man miracle with two more professional, controlled league victories, solidifying their spot at the top of the table. The training sessions were sharp, the morale was sky-high, and his young wonderkids were developing at a terrifying rate. Life was, for the first time, perfect.
But the quiet hum of the league season was about to be interrupted by the roar of the cup.
