Because it was unprecedented, people weren't even sure what standard to use to judge him. Still, for now, everyone was thinking the same thing.
'We've hooked a big one.'
While he was still clearly far from the professional level, Dwayne Moi Stone proved in his first-ever football game that he was "out of spec" for the division.
15 pass attempts. 11 completions. An average of 16.7 yards per pass. Out of those 11 passes, 3 were touchdowns. He recorded zero sacks and zero interceptions.
Beyond that, he advanced 38 yards on the ground by himself. When he squeezed between the opposing guard and tackle, overpowering them with raw strength, the scouts let out a collective gasp.
A perfect debut.
His scorecard for the three quarters he played was the definition of perfection. . .
▷ GAME SET Leilehua: 13 (00 03 03 07)
Kahuku: 49 (14 14 14 07)
Just before the game ended, people who had moved down to the sidelines rushed toward the Kahuku High School head coach. They vied to hand him their business cards. The goal: Recruiting.
To bring a specific player to a university, you must leave a good impression not only on the player and his family but also on the high school coach.
Surrounded by people, Gavin Travis felt a surge of superiority.
"I'm from USC."
"Moi will be a star in Washington."
"Michigan is the perfect fit for him."
"Stanford is the optimal choice."
"All of Louisiana will go crazy for him." "Clemson."
Amidst the diverse courtship based on school prestige and the scout's personality, a Fox Sports camera—having hit the jackpot—approached Dwayne Moi Stone. Reporter Shannon Spake stood beside Moi with a microphone.
Before the formal interview began, Shannon asked a question.
"This was really your first football game?" "Yes. My first game ever."
"Wo—ow. Can you see that over there?" she asked, gesturing toward the crowd of scouts. "Of course. I think it's only natural."
"Wow. You're overflowing with confidence. I like it."
"Well, I am the quarterback."
Originally, Fox only planned to broadcast Kahuku's home games, but they couldn't resist the temptation of Dwayne Moi Stone's debut, taking the exceptional step of scheduling two games. This was the first time in national sports history that a high school team's games were confirmed for consecutive national broadcasts on Fox Sports.
Internally, there were loud voices of concern. At first, it seemed like a losing business deal. Not many companies wanted to sponsor a national high school football broadcast. Consequently, Fox Sports set specific conditions: differential sponsorship fees based on viewership ratings—an incentive-based proposal.
It turned out to be a massive hit.
A peak rating of 12.3%. An average rating of 8.5%. This wasn't just recouping the investment; it was a guaranteed commercial windfall. Dwayne Moi Stone was the goose that laid the golden eggs. Media attention would only grow from here.
'It's going to get noisy.'
Alabama's Nick Saban put his sunglasses back on and left the stadium with a smirk. Alabama didn't approach Gavin Travis today. Saban didn't see the point in doing it just yet. Instead, unlike the others, he planned to stay in Hawaii for two more days.
He climbed into his rental car. Destination: Honolulu Airport. From there, Nick Saban would hop on a flight to Paia on Maui.
Vrrr-vrrr.
'Hm?'
On the way to the airport, Saban's phone rang.
The message was from Bill Battle, the Athletic Director for the Alabama football team. Thanks to Bill Battle, Nick Saban was able to take time away from the team for scouting trips like this. Saban pulled over and turned on his hazard lights.
Blink. Blink.
After a moment of thought, he sent back his honest impression.
The football world was currently in an unprecedented uproar following Dwayne Moi Stone's intense debut.
# August 15, 2016
#-1. Oahu, Hawaii
#-2. Honolulu, Kahuku CDP
#-3. Kahuku High School
"Hi~"
"Hi~"
All throughout the past weekend, I listened to my grandmother explain the meaning of "Gwangbokjeol" (Korean Liberation Day). I also ate Korean food. Gimbap and bulgogi suited my palate quite well. So did the beef soup (miyeok-guk/yukgaejang).
Thanks to that, I gained another kilogram. This is driving me crazy.
Click.
Rattle.
"What's this?"
When I opened my locker with Marcus, a heap of items spilled out. At a glance, it was a pile of letters. Marcus started making a scene.
"Damnn--!! What the hell is this?!!"
What do you think it is, you idiot? They're love letters. Wow, though. The first love letters of my 56-year-long life. Well, the first ones received at school, anyway.
"Don't just stare, help me pick them up." "Damnn, do I really have to be doing this shit?!!"
"Shut up and just pick them up."
"The proud Lombards don't usually do this kind of thing, you know?"
"Don't give me that bullshit."
For the record, Marcus's ancestors were Italian. Among the Italians who flowed into the U.S. in the past, quite a few came to Hawaii, and he inherited that blood. Marcus's roots are a mix of Black and Samoan ancestry as well.
"Fuck this. Life is so unfair."
"I'm glad you finally realized it."
"Yo. Bro."
"No. I'm not doing it."
"Shit... you didn't even hear what I was gonna say?"
"It's obvious. You want me to introduce you to one of them, right?"
"How the hell did you know?!"
Please, Marcus. a 10-year-old could read your mind. Of course, I didn't say that out loud. It would hurt his feelings. For now, I stuffed all the letters into my bag.
"Damnn-! This rumor is gonna spread instantly--"
"I guess so?"
"Then it'll reach Stephanie's ears too..."
"Ah... shit. I didn't think of that."
Last Friday, Stephanie had been making a huge fuss to "mark her territory" on me. To an outsider, it looked suspicious enough that even the Fox reporter asked me about it.
Naturally, I recoiled in disgust and said absolutely not.
Fortunately, situations like this were relatively common in high school, so I didn't think it would cause a major scandal. A brainless cheerleader obsessed with a quarterback—the reporter seemed to view it that way. And that was the reality.
"Damnn, nigga."
For some reason, Marcus often treats me like I'm Black. Of course, I don't use that word back.
"But isn't someone like Stephanie a total catch?"
There's one thing I want to say here. Back in March, there were definitely pretty girls. But not now. I think they were all in the graduating class.
It sounds a bit much, but the wives I married in my past life were all beauties. I was a successful NFL coach, after all. A movie star, a TV actress, a model, and the last one was a beauty pageant winner.
Looking at it from my perspective, unfortunately, the girls at Kahuku High don't even register. Not that I'm disappointed or anything. In fact, it's better. I can focus entirely on football. I can date once I get to the mainland.
To Marcus, Stephanie is a beauty. To me, she's below average. And then there's her personality.
"Anyway, I'm not interested."
"Looking at higher places, huh?"
"Something like that."
Walking through classes on Monday, I realized there were people at school who doubted me. But after the first game, those doubts vanished. Now, not only the girls but also the guys started looking at me with eyes full of admiration.
Today, I stood at the very top of the food chain in the world of freshmen. It didn't feel bad at all. In fact, it might feel pretty good.
"You really became a 'Moi'."
"Cut it out."
The name my father gave me—specifically my middle name, Moi.
"Why? You really became a King."
"I did not."
In the native Hawaiian language, Moi means King. But I'm not ready to admit that yet. This is just high school. My eyes are still...
"I've still got a long way to go."
"Long way to go?"
"Yeah."
Looking at that high place far above.
# August 16, 2016
#-1. Oahu, Hawaii
#-2. Honolulu, Kahuku CDP
#-3. Kahuku High School
#-4. Football Field
Classmates weren't the only ones whose attitudes changed after the weekend. My football teammates changed too.
First off...
"...Hey."
"...."
Sioele, the eldest of the three Huamatu brothers, and Atamu, the youngest, chose to simply ignore me. They didn't go out of their way to pick fights like before. Because of that, the defensive team fell into an awkward spot, having to walk a tightrope between Sioele and me.
On the other hand, Loto—the middle brother and center for the offensive line—started treating me normally like everyone else. Consequently, Sioele treated Loto like a traitor. Loto didn't seem to care; I guess their brotherly bond wasn't as thick as I thought.
"Yo, Moi. Warrup dawg."
"It's hot, man," I replied to Marcus.
I stuffed my bag into the locker and started changing into training gear. Marcus kept talking beside me.
"The coach has gotten crazy busy, hasn't he?" "Yeah?"
"Yeah. That guy is definitely enjoying it."
A high school coach with a prospect that every university in the country is drooling over gets an immense amount of attention. But I was even more special. I'd been in the spotlight since I was eight. Back then, it was as a track prospect, though.
Anyway.
When I was heading into high school, nearly 200 football teams tried to recruit me, and Gavin Travis ended up the winner. In reality, I was the one who chose him, but the public doesn't know that. They just think the coach did a great job.
The media, who previously only cared about where I'd go to school, began hounding the coach after last week's game for the "untold story" of my recruitment. Interviews will keep pouring in. It must feel like a whole new world for the coach.
In my past life, I saw several amateur coaches who lived off young talents to hide their own incompetence. Coach Travis isn't one of them. He's competent and diligent. If he weren't, I wouldn't have picked this place.
While it's true that Kahuku is the most famous and competitive place in Hawaii, other schools in Honolulu County were on my shortlist. Saint Louis is our biggest rival in the division this year. If I had gone there, I would have made sure Kahuku never even got a look at them. But I didn't like the coach there.
"Moi, Moi!"
"What?"
After training ended and I finished tidying up, Marcus approached me.
"So, there's this senior named Litia..."
"Forget it. Not interested."
"Dude! She's the prettiest sophomore!"
"Not interested. I'm going to the library."
How do you manage to bring up a potential date every single day? Are you obsessed with girls?
"Fuck yeah, obviously!"
With that much confidence, I didn't even want to argue. I just waved him off and left. I had to stop by the house first to get my books.
As I approached the house, I heard a pounding sound from a distance. Tamati must be up to something again. Ever since he brought over that pecan pie on the first day, Tamati has been building things in and around the house whenever I'm away. Right now, he was sawing a piece of wood.
"Hello, Tamati."
"Oh, hello. School finished just now?"
"Yes."
Without even asking what he was doing, I went inside. I changed my shirt and grabbed my study books.
"Heading to the library again today?"
"Yes. I think my history is a bit lacking."
"I've seen a lot of student-athletes, but you're a first. If only the others were half as diligent as you."
"Haha. Then the world would be a better place."
"You can say that. Anyway, have a good day." "Oorah."
It's become a habit. Now "Oorah" pops out at every moment. I said it without thinking over the weekend and had to quickly take it back. Grandma asked me, ["Are you planning on joining the Marines too?"] No way. I respect soldiers more than anyone, but everyone has a job that suits them.
"Moi. Oh, hi?"
"Hi. Reading books again today?"
"Y-yeah."
There's a librarian named Lua Niu at the school library. She's a sophomore. I know Lua likes me, but I keep a proper distance and maintain a friendship. Well, according to my standards.
"How was... today?"
"Same as always. Classes, training, and here." "I think you're really different from the other guys."
"Haha. Really?"
"Yeah. You're mature and... cool."
"You're diligent and cool too, Lua."
"?!"
After giving a bright smile and a wink, I sat by the sunlit window and prepared to study. I thought about what Lua just said.
Mature. Of course. Since I left my family and became independent early, my experiences from my past life are definitely having an influence. I still dance weirdly to songs when I meet Aunt Mel, but that's a tradition between us and has nothing to do with being mature. Is it because I started football? Who knows.
"Whew—so, where were we?"
I opened the history book and began studying. To be honest, high school level is a piece of cake. Despite appearances, I had a full four-year academic scholarship in my past life. And that was absolutely not because of sports. At Columbia, I was the smartest guy around.
I don't remember exactly why, but back then, I studied harder than anyone out of a massive sense of responsibility. After graduating, I earned two degrees while working for the New York Jets and was recognized enough to be headhunted by several corporations.
However, the history of this life was completely different from my previous one, which is why I'm studying frequently like this. The fact that it's interesting is a bonus. Different people and stories from the history I know—it feels like reading a fun alternate-history novel. I'm digging deep into the subject.
Maybe I'll major in history in college. It wouldn't be bad to get a degree, right? Hmm—that sounds good. Just now, a new goal has been added.
# August 17, 2016
#-1. Maui, Hawaii
#-2. Paia
#-3. Restaurant Aloha
For months now, Restaurant Aloha has been feeling the void left by Dwayne Moi Stone.
Ting-ting.
A long-time regular customer opened the door and sat in his usual spot. The waitress approached with a somewhat listless expression, ready to take the order.
"Loco Moco. Add fried bacon."
"Yes~"
Seeing the usually bright waitress sighing constantly, the regular customer ended up worrying about the staff. Jessica Stone, watching from the kitchen, decided this couldn't go on. After the morning shift and before preparing for lunch, Jessica called all the staff together.
Then, she said this:
"Let's go see Moi this Friday."
"Really?!"
"Are you serious, Jessica?"
Seeing their faces brighten instantly at the mention of seeing her son, Jessica Stone shook her head as if it were absurd. But she was smiling too.
"Yes. I'm serious. We'll close the shop and go see Moi."
Life bloomed in the faces of the cheering staff. Jessica Stone approached Iwai, who was the happiest of them all.
"So, Iwai."
"Yes, boss."
"Do your work properly. Got it?"
"Hai!"
Thinking that there might be many more days the shop would be closed in the future, Jessica Stone sent a message to her husband.
Sunday, the day of Kahuku's home opener. The Stone family is heading to Oahu.
And.
"We're going to see that fake Samoan."
The Huamatu are also heading to Oahu.
The people of the families with complicated histories are set to face each other this Friday at Kahuku High School.