Huddle Up ! || Nichojoo

The game started with both teams fired up, the air thick with the anticipation of the rivalry. The Decelis players, fueled by their aggressive tactics and trash talk, were ready to prove themselves after losing the previous match. Their captain, Heeseung, rallied them with a fierce speech before the whistle blew.

On the other side, Nicholas and Euijoo shared a quick look, an unspoken understanding between them as they geared up for the challenge ahead. Nicholas could feel his heart racing in anticipation, the weight of the game pressing on him more than he had expected. But he wasn't about to let that stop him. This game was personal.

The whistle blew, and the game was on.

Right off the bat, Decelis came out strong. Jay, their trash-talking forward, came in hot with a brutal hit on Yuma. The crowd groaned as Yuma struggled to get back up, his face scrunched in pain, but his resolve unwavering.

"You alright?" Nicholas asked, as he ran past him during the play.

"I'm fine, don't worry about me," Yuma grinned, shaking it off. "Let's get these guys."

Nicholas shot him a smile and nodded, then turned his attention back to the play unfolding.

It didn't take long for Decelis to score the first touchdown, with Niki making an insane run down the field. Maki's opposite had just as much talent, if not more, and he was proving it by weaving through the defense like a blur.

On the sidelines, Euijoo's stomach clenched as he watched the scoreboard shift. This was the team that had pushed them to the edge before. They needed to get their act together quickly.

"Get it together, guys!" Coach barked from the sideline. "We've trained for this!"

Euijoo caught Nicholas's eye, and they exchanged a wordless promise—no way they were going down without a fight.

The game continued, with both teams pushing and shoving, each gaining small advantages only to lose them moments later. The rivalry was thick, every player desperate to prove themselves. But despite their best efforts, Decelis continued to hold a slight lead, their aggressive tactics giving them an edge.

Then came the turning point.

With the clock winding down and the score tied, the Decelis coach called for a timeout. The players huddled on their side, Heeseung barking instructions. But the tension was palpable. Nicholas's breathing was heavier now, the adrenaline fueling him but also taking its toll. He wiped the sweat from his brow and glanced over at Euijoo, who looked back at him with the same determination.

They knew this was it.

The play started again with a fierce kick from Decelis, but something felt different this time. Niki, the young freshman star, came out harder than ever, tackling everything in his path, taking risks, and breaking through tackles with ease. At first, it seemed like another brilliant play, but then—his moves were too sharp, too reckless.

"Something's off," Jungwon muttered from the sidelines as he watched Niki go at it again, not giving any room for error.

"Niki, cut it out," Heeseung shouted, but Niki didn't listen.

In the heat of the moment, Niki's aggressive play caused a massive shift. He barreled through the defense, pulling off a series of illegal moves—late hits, holding, and shoving—pushing past players who were clearly in pain from the impact.

That's when the whistle blew, the referee calling the game to a halt.

The crowd murmured in confusion, but the officials were already huddling, and the Decelis coaches were arguing heatedly. Nicholas looked up, squinting in confusion. What was going on? He exchanged a look with Euijoo, who was just as perplexed.

Moments later, the referee walked over to Niki, standing tall as he addressed the Decelis team. "Niki, you're out."

"Out?" Heeseung snapped, marching over to the referee. "What do you mean out? He's just playing hard!"

"No," the referee said firmly. "This player was using illegal moves throughout the game. And not only that—he's ineligible to play."

The words hit like a bombshell. The entire Decelis team froze, all eyes on Niki. There was silence on the field as the players looked between the referee and their teammate.

"Check his grades," the referee continued. "He isn't passing his classes. He's ineligible to play."

The silence stretched long. Niki stood frozen, his eyes wide as the reality of the situation sunk in.

"What?" Jake's voice was barely a whisper, but it carried over the field. "You didn't—"

"I didn't want to let you down," Niki muttered, his voice cracking.

"He didn't want to let us down?" Jay scoffed, marching toward Niki with a furious glare. "You cost us the game, Niki. You're done."

"Get off the field," Heeseung ordered, his voice cold, all traces of his earlier anger now evident. "You've ruined this for us."

Niki's shoulders sagged, and without a word, he walked off the field, his head hanging low.

The stands erupted into cheers. The crowd, knowing exactly what had happened, began to chant and jeer at the Decelis team.

"Cheaters! Cheaters!"

"PHHHFTT!! Decelis sucks!"

"Losers!"

As the game continued, the atmosphere shifted. Decelis was rattled. Their captain was angry, their team fractured. Meanwhile, Nicholas's team rallied, sensing the opportunity for victory.

Nicholas could feel the shift. With Niki gone, the Decelis team seemed out of sync, their once-intimidating defense now weak. This was their moment.

With only seconds remaining, Nicholas sprinted toward the end zone, narrowly dodging a desperate tackle from Sunghoon. He could feel the rush of wind as he made his move, seeing Euijoo perfectly positioned in his peripheral vision. He juked left, faked right, and then, in one smooth motion, broke free.

The ball was thrown, landing perfectly in Nicholas's hands as he dived for the end zone, crossing the line just as the clock hit zero.

The crowd erupted, their cheers deafening. The victory was theirs.

As the team flooded the field, celebrating, Nicholas didn't hesitate. He turned toward Euijoo, the one person he had counted on this entire time. Without a second thought, he ran to him, throwing his arms around him in a tight hug.

"We did it!" Nicholas exclaimed, laughing breathlessly.

Euijoo's heart raced, his face flushed with excitement and relief. "Yeah, we did."

Their eyes locked, and for a brief moment, the world seemed to slow. The noise around them faded as they shared a quiet moment, the weight of the game and the victory settling into something more—something personal.

Nicholas pulled back slightly, a teasing grin on his face. "Told you I could do it."

Euijoo laughed, his voice soft. "Yeah, I'm proud."

Nicholas's smile softened, his gaze lingering. "Good thing you were here."