After our first loss of the season, a slight change occurred. My teammates became more focused during practice and more aggressive during games. And the results were...
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▷ 2016.09.24. GAME SET
Moanalua: 00 00 00 00 – 00
Kahuku: 21 10 14 14 – 59
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▷ 2016.09.30. GAME SET
Kaiser: 00 00 00 00 – 00
Kahuku: 17 28 07 10 – 62
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It was pretty damn good.
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# October 3, 2016
#-1. Oahu, Hawaii
#-2. Honolulu, Kahuku CDP
#-3. Kahuku High School
As the new month began, photos of girls started appearing all over the school hallways. It was "Queen Selection" season—the time to pick the school's Homecoming Queen.
"Moi! Moi!"
"What?"
Whenever Marcus runs toward me this frantically, it usually means he's up to something useless.
Sure enough...
"Who are you betting on? The odds are juicy." "What?! Get lost. Don't waste your—"
"Why? It's fun!"
"You know that's grounds for being kicked off the team, right?"
"?! Re-really?"
"Dumbass."
My friend is a genuinely nice guy, but he's a bit dim, he didn't realize that what he was doing could get him booted from the team. Betting on who will be Queen is gambling, and organizing the whole thing is strictly against the rules. If the school found out, it would be a disaster, and he'd definitely be off the team.
"I'm out."
A terrified Marcus unfastened the money pouch from his waist, giving me a look that asked, What do I do with this?
"What do you think? Give it back to the owners."
"It's almost $1,000, though?"
"Damn, Marcus! How many people did you take money from?"
"About... 50?"
That's a lot. Whatever, man. Deal with it yourself.
"If you don't return it, I'm telling the coach." "Shit. If I knew this would happen, I wouldn't have started."
"What do you think that rulebook we were given is for? Decoration?"
He obviously shoved it somewhere without reading it. I told him to handle it before lunch ended. Marcus walked away with his head hanging low. Jeez, what a moron.
After watching my kind-hearted but somewhat pathetic friend for a while, I remembered I had somewhere to be. Ms. Macy had sent me a message during second period asking me to stop by her office.
Knock knock—
"You called for me?"
"Oh, yes, Moi. Come in, sit down."
"Should I close the door?"
"No, that's not necessary."
I sat on the sofa next to her with the door open. Why did she call me? I haven't done anything worth being summoned for. My teammates get called in constantly for failing grades, but I only get called in for favors like, "Could you help your friends with their studies?"
"Actually, someone from Washington was just here."
"...The Huskies?"
"Yes."
TheHuskies. The football team of the University of Washington. They're in the Pac-12. Last year they weren't great, going 7-6. But this year, their sophomore QB, JakeBrowning, has awakened, and they're currently undefeated in the Pac-12.
But why them? Why now?
"They were asking very detailed questions about you."
"Really?"
"Yes. Your grades, your friendships, your daily life at school, your attitude. You're smart, so you know what this means, right?"
Of course. This is recruiting. An offer is coming.
"I expect this to keep happening, but I realized we've never talked about your career path. Washington asked me several questions, and there was one I couldn't answer."
"What was it?"
"Are you going to the SEC?"
NCAA Division 1 Football consists of ten conferences. AAC, Big Ten, Pac-12, etc. But the most prestigious and popular is the SEC. Even the current top team, Alabama, is there.
"I can't believe I'm having this conversation with a freshman. Anyway, I'll likely get similar questions in the future. I have to keep doing this job, and I don't want to give college recruiters a bad impression. Do you understand?"
"Of course. 100%."
"My goodness. You really don't act like a 14-year-old."
"I hear that a lot."
I understood her situation perfectly. If I only wanted the SEC and she told recruiters otherwise, her credibility would be shot. The damage would fall on the Kahuku football team, and Ms. Macy would lose her reputation and likely her job as an AAA (Academic Athletic Advisor). This was a serious matter.
"Well... could you tell them I haven't decided yet?"
It might sound indecisive, but I really haven't thought about it yet. I understand the colleges' perspective—if I commit now, they can use it as a massive leverage tool to recruit other 2020 graduates by saying, "Don't you want to play with Dwayne Moi Stone?"
But I hate that. It feels cheap. Why should I make their lives easier? Regardless of my desire for the NFL and Division 1, I've never liked the NCAA itself. It's one of the most absurd and corrupt organizations in America.
"It would be great if you could make them sweat a little."
"Haha. Are you giving me the upper hand?"
"I like you, Ms. Macy. You always work hard for us."
"Oh, Moi."
As she touched her chest, looking touched, I stood up to leave. By the way, if Washington makes four...
"Is that the fourth one?"
Since the Bishop Gorman game, four schools, including the Washington Huskies, have made offers. Additionally, 17 high schools, including Bishop Gorman, have suggested a transfer rather than an enrollment, subtly offering under-the-table cash ranging from $100,000 to $400,000.
Of course, they tried to give the money to my parents, not me. And naturally, my parents rejected them flatly. They asked if the recruiters thought we were beggars. One guy even got kicked out—literally. No joke.
Anyway, since the Vegas trip, I've become seriously famous. People on TV even debate who was more famous: me or 15-year-old Justin Bieber. If I lived on the mainland, it would be exhausting. Being in Hawaii gives me some breathing room.
"Hey~"
"Hey, Britanna."
"Listen, Moi. Could you give me a little push?" "You mean for Queen?"
"Yeah."
On my way from Ms. Macy's office to my third-period class, every single Queen candidate I ran into asked for my endorsement. I just told them I'd think about it to get away. Apparently, the frontrunners are the cheerleading captain, Stephanie, and a freshman girl who recently had a major "glow-up."
Whatever. I need to get to class.
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# October 5, 2016
#-1. Oahu, Hawaii
#-2. Honolulu, Kahuku CDP
#-3. Kahuku High School
#-4. Football Field
The atmosphere at practice lately is incredible. Everyone is locked in.
"Move faster!"
"Don't let your legs rest!!"
"Push harder!"
A few days after the Bishop Gorman game, major sites like ESPN, 247Sports, and MaxPreps updated their high school recruiting rankings. Sioele moved up from 174th to 130th (5th in his position). Loto jumped over 200 spots to land at 98th, entering the Top 100.
But the biggest jumps belonged to others. Royce Pao, Sekope Latu, and Kaluna Nihipali. Royce, who was originally unranked (outside the top 2,000), hit 590th thanks to his two impressive touchdowns. Our tight end, Sekope, was ranked 883rd by Yahoo with a review saying he "served as Kahuku's motor."
But the most surprising was KalunaNihipali. He's now 205th. He held his own in terms of speed against Tyjon Lindsey (ranked 50th overall, 8th as a WR), stopping two receptions. These visible results are the driving force for the team.
"Everyone, gather 'round!!"
After practice, the coach called us together. For the record, the regular season is over. We went 7-0 in the OIA Blue Division. The loss to Bishop Gorman only counts toward the overall season record, affecting the final rankings. It's due to the unnecessarily complex NFHS regulations. High school team rankings are arbitrary anyway—not objective data at all.
Anyway, we knelt on one knee and waited for the coach to speak.
"We have become a damn good team!"
"...."
"But this isn't the end! The playoffs! We have to beat that damn St. Louis in the Open Division tournament! Only then can we go to the national tournament and become champions! Do you understand? We are aiming for the championship! RED RAIDERS!!"
"OORAH!!"
Coach Gavin Travis is now openly talking about a national championship. We need five more wins to get to the national stage, and it's almost certain our final boss in Hawaii will be St. Louis.
Before we dismissed, the coach called me aside.
"Moi? I'm sorry, but I'd like you to stop doing extra training from now on."
"Why?"
"The school has become too famous."
"...."
It's true that more people have been loitering around lately. Some of them probably don't have good intentions. Even though we try to be careful, it's true that someone could find a way to nitpick or report us for violations. It's disappointing, but I have to follow the coach's orders. I told the guys, and they were shocked.
"What? Seriously?"
"Yeah. If someone snitches, we're done." "Shit. I feel anxious if I don't train."
"Which is why..."
If we can't train on the field, we can train indoors.
"Weight training for two hours at 9:30 PM? Are you serious?"
"Yeah. Three times a week. What do you think?"
Royce and Kaluna have cars. Loto's rental house is a three-minute walk away. Marcus and Kaonohi can stay at my place. It's cramped, but it's enough for three people. I'll just sleep on the floor.
"Better than nothing, right?"
"And from now on, let's have meetings." "Meetings?"
"Yeah. Strategy meetings. Reviewing the old stuff."
"Damn—I'm down for that."
"You always come up with the craziest ideas." "So, you in?"
"Hell yeah—"
Back in my past life as a coach and manager, there was something I told young players every year: If you want an excuse, you can find anything. If you want to train, you can find anything. I used to say this to the guys who thought team practice was the end of it; I was the one who pushed them into the weight room or the meeting room to make them better players.
It's a shame we can't use the field, but there are many ways to grow as a football player.
"Let's rest for today."
"Wanna go to Giovanni's for the first time in a while?"
"Sure. How about everyone else?"
"I don't have money."
"Forget it. It's on me today."
Treating Royce Pao like a king for his generosity, we washed up and headed to Kahuku's most popular spot, Giovanni's.
"Oh my goodness! Look who it is! Moi!"
"Hey. Do you have a table?"
"For Kahuku's star? Even if I didn't, I'd make one. Come in. The food's on the house, so eat as much as you want."
At the owner Giovanni's words, the guys who were following Royce immediately started treating me like royalty.
"Oh~ our King (Moi)."
"Shall I get you some water?"
"Damn. Look at how fast they flipped." "Hehehe."
Plate after plate of massive portions hit the table. This feels exactly like being at Grandma's house.
"...Doesn't this feel like your grandma's style?" "I was just thinking that."
"Wow. Better prepare our stomachs for this."
While eating, some tourists who were nearby for golf recognized me and asked for autographs. This happens a lot lately. But wait... my plate looks very empty. There was definitely something here a second ago...
"Hey! Where'd my shrimp go?"
Marcus quickly looked away, chewing with his hand over his mouth. This brat is the culprit. I immediately put him in a headlock.
"Mph—! Mph!"
"Spit it out, you brat! Spit it out!"
"Too late. It's already in my stomach."
"Then bring it back up! Do you know how hard I worked peeling that shrimp?"
"Ack! That hurts! I'll peel a new one for you! I will!"
"I don't want a new one!"
"Then what do you want?!"
"Give me that specific shrimp back, you little shit!"
At some point, whenever Marcus and I play(?) like this, our friends just watch us like they're watching a sitcom.
"You two are a total 'Dumb and Dumber' pair." "What?! Why are you grouping me with him?" "That's just how it looks. What do you want me to do?"
"...."
There's an old saying: An eagle doesn't fly with pigeons. Because even an eagle looks like a pigeon when it's in a flock of them. This thought suddenly hit me, and I pulled away from Marcus. I took my plate and sat as far away as possible.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Get lost. This is the distance we're keeping from now on."
"Yeah, right."
"Fuck off."
"You fuck off."
Ah, damn it. This isn't it. Before I knew it, I was bickering with Marcus again.
"Hehehe. See? What did I tell you? Dumb and Dumber."
"Damn it. Don't even talk to me anymore." "Being so petty over one shrimp..."
I don't know who said it first, but I think he was a great sage. What am I talking about? The person who first realized that men remain children no matter how old they get. I lived 40 years in my past life and almost 15 in this one. So why is this so fun? It's a mystery.
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# October 7, 2016
#-1. Oahu, Hawaii
#-2. Honolulu, Kahuku CDP
#-3. Kahuku High School
#-4. Principal's Office
When I heard the Principal wanted to see me, I was sure it was about recruiting again. But I was wrong.
"Something I need?"
"Yes. I'll give you whatever you want."
"...."
Principal John Haggerty told me he'd buy me anything as soon as I sat down. He didn't seem to realize how dangerous a statement that was.
"Am I getting under-the-table money?"
"What? Heavens, no! Absolutely not."
"Then could you explain in more detail?"
At my question, the teachers looked at each other. There was someone there who wasn't a teacher, too. Why is the school accountant here?
"If I tell you the truth, can you keep a secret?" "As long as it's not illegal."
"Oh, it's definitely not."
"Then I'll keep it."
"Good."
The Principal looked at the Vice Principal once more and slid a document toward me.
"You know Under Armour sells your jersey, right?"
"Yes. Of course."
"The revenue from that came to the school." "Really?"
"Yes. But the thing is..."
"?"
"It was a lot more than we expected."
"How much?"
"Take a look at the document."
I nodded and picked up the paper. Let's see... the number written there was...
And the unit was...
"$4 million?"
"...Isn't it incredible?"
Oh my god. It really is incredible. A high school football player sold $4 million worth of jerseys. No—this is the payout. The actual sales must be double that. So, roughly $8 million. The important thing is that this won't be the end. This is likely just the first payout.
"So, we've decided to invest about $1 million of that $4 million into you. We can't give you cash, but we can provide things you need. We can even build new housing."
"Ah, in that case..."
"?"
"I have a favor to ask."
As I mentioned before, the school doesn't have dorms. Students who come from far away pool their money to rent houses near the school. But that's only for kids from families that are somewhat well-off. The poor kids stay in terrible places that look like temporary slums.
"Please build a dormitory behind the school." "I'll discuss it. I think it's possible."
"And if there's money left, you know the weight room? Replace the equipment with new stuff. And if there's still money left... the bus. Replace the bus. A used one is fine, just something a bit bigger."
I wasn't sure if all that could be done with $1 million. Fortunately, the Principal agreed.
"We'll start with the weight room."
"That's great."
"You are changing our school. So from now on..."
"I'll play football well and stay out of trouble." "Haha. You're so smart, I trust you."
I came in wondering what it was, but it was purely business. The school will earn income through me in various ways and they're trying to sustain that income by meeting my demands. After all, if I play football well, the money will keep rolling in for four years. Well, it's a deal where no one loses.
"Can I go now?"
"Go ahead."
"Yes, Sir."
As soon as I stepped out, Loto spotted me and approached with a grin.
"What did you do wrong to be coming out of there?"
"Shut it. You think I'm you?"
"Hehehe. Then what was it?"
Looking up at Loto, who put his arm around my shoulder familiarly, I gave him a meaningful look.
"Hey."
"?"
"Get ready to worship me again soon."
"Yeah, right."
"Wanna bet?"
Loto's disbelief did a 180-degree turn when he saw the weight room on Monday after the weekend.
"How is it? Huh?"
"...Holy shit. It's so fucking good."
"I told you. Who am I?"
"Moi. Our King."
"Correct."