(AN: Afternoon everyone. Just before work too, I was able to get this in. Well, here we are, the chapter I've been teasing for quite some time is finally now here. I expect there to be some strong reactions, and that's fair, I knew it would likely be the case. I shouldn't hold things up regardless, this chapter I think is even longer than the Vandalism incident chapter, so be sure to set some time aside to read the whole thing. Here's your sole wearning before we continue:

cw: general queerphobia)


It was around midway through a review lesson for the Advanced English Literature midterm that Monday when Valdez entered the lecture hall late. Some of the students turned around when the blue chameleon opened the door, including Vector and Espio. The blue chameleon put his bags and tablet next to Espio, pulling up a chair near where the two reptiles usually sat.

"Valdez-san, you're a bit late again. Was it hard to return from Gojo again?" Espio asked.

"No," Valdez shook his head. "I had met with one of the transfer students also a part of the same program you're a part of in regard to classes for next semester. I'll be quite busy this next week with all those meetings, which reminds me that we need to pick your classes for next semester. When you have free time, I'll take you to my office so I can help you decide."

"I understand. Did you go to Gojo?"

"Of course. What makes you think I didn't? I not only have your mother's scroll, but I have a few things for you as well."

Espio perked up upon hearing this. Does this mean Valdez finally fulfilled his promise?!

"I can see that look on your face, and don't worry, I'll give it to you after class. Your midterm for Advanced English Literature is this Wednesday. For now, just concentrate, okay?"

"Okay!'

Turning back to the study guide, Rouge proceeded to turn around in her seat. "Excuse me, boys," she said. "You wouldn't mind having another person to study with you, do you?"

"Not at all, Rougie!" Vector replied. "It's frankly a lil' borin' just going through this, all these pages and chapters, uuuughhhhhh…"

"Rougie? Oh you REALLY sound like that knucklehead, Knuckles. It also sounds like you got more important things to take care of."

"I do! Today's the day of the semifinals of the Winter Playoffs!"

"Oh, I'm aware. I actually am planning to go since Volleyball practice isn't until Thursday. I think you all need all the moral support you can get. Yes, even that echidna knucklehead too."

"Well, I'll be sure to let him know yeh were worried 'bout him. I'm sure he'll be super excited to hear-"

"Don't you dare, Vector! I rather this not be a sign that he has a chance with me cause it isn't happening!"

Vector raised up his hands. "Okay, okay… I won't tell, I promise… Got mah word on it."

"Vector…" Espio said, looking at the crocodile and bat. "Study."

"You've been on Vector's case about studying, Espio. Are you treating him like you're his tutor?" asked Rouge. Espio nodded.

"Yup! Espio's who's been helpin' me study as well as get on track with homework since football has kept me SUUUUPER busy. But uh…"

Vector turned around to see Valdez looking cross at him.

"…we should get to studyin'. How far did ya get on the study guide?" he continued.

"Argh, I nearly finished it, but I'm missing a few answers from Chapter 9, here, help me with the answers, will you two boys?"

Just then, another voice spoke up. "U-Um… hey, Espio? Do you mind having another partner study with you guys?"

It was Thorn, who had moved her chair over next to Rouge's. The lop placed the chair down as she sat down, opening her book.

"Sure, I ain't got an issue with that," Vector said. "Besides, I'm sure Espio doesn't mind either, right?"

"You can study u-with me," Espio replied.

"I sure hope you can keep up, Thorn honey," Rouge replied. "I'm going to need quite a bit of help with this."

"O-Of course! I'd be happy to help, Rouge!" the lop replied. With that, the four got started on where they needed to study and continued until the rest of class.


After class, the two reptiles walked out of class before Vector turned around, facing Espio.

"Say, I gotta go to class in five minutes, Espio. Tell me, are ya able to come to the game tonight?" he asked, holding his hands together. Just then, Valdez came up to the chameleon.

"Good job on keeping up with your studies, Mr. Vector. I know it's very hard to focus on both that and football, but Espio had said you've been studying well. Remember that your midterm is this Wednesday," said the blue chameleon.

"Heh, I know! I just wanted to ask Espio if he's able to go to the game tonight. PLEEEEEASE, Mr. Valdez? Espio's been talkin' 'bout wantin' to go all week since bringin' it up, and I know yer strict on Espio studyin', but can ya make an exception just this once? Besides, he's… he's kinda mah…"

Vector turned around, realizing he wanted to say "good luck charm", but how awkward would that be to say in front of his friend's tutor? Trying to come up with the best thing-

"It'll be a treat fer him to be there."

Valdez nodded as he turned towards the chameleon, speaking to him softly in Japanese, though Vector could hear their conversation.

"Itsumodori o hahaue-sama o motte kimashitaga, konkai wa kuwae ni ihyou no okurimono ga ni-tsu mo aru," Mr. Valdez began, speaking Japanese to the transfer student as he handed Espio some yellow rolled up parchment.

Espio turned his head. "Hontou?…" He then suddenly gasped. "M-Matte… masaka!"

"Montokurea-kyouju kara shakaishokagaku no chuukan shiken no saiten ni tsuite no ī gensetsu o kiitashi, zengetsuchuu kimi to Bekutaa ga ganbatte itatomo wakarushi, dakara sa…" Valdez held up two strange looking things in front of the chameleon, both red and gold with all kinds of flashy patterns on it. "Mazuwa, motometa mono o hirotta."

"Mochikaetta ka! Hoshi gatte ita sono

"-omori o ryouhou? Hai, itta toori kaiun to gakugyou jouju o, douzo..."

Valdez handed the chameleon the two strange objects, who held them in his hands grateful for his gift.

"I dunno what that is, but it looks cool, Espio!" Vector replied, moving to get in a better look before Espio pocketed the strange things in his haori. He then suddenly fixed his posture as perfect as possible.

"Barudezu-san, arigatou gozaimashita!" Espio replied, bowing before returning up and turning towards the crocodile. "Sassoku watashite age"

Valdez waved his hand. "Isshun matte, madamada desu. Saigo ni mouhitotsu nanoha? Maa… shiken no taihan wa shuu no kouhan de, ashita wa daijina kadai wa souzou kaiga no kansei-hin no teiji nomida to kouryo ni irete…" Valdez opened up his bag as the two reptiles looked confused as to what was going on. When he suddenly brought out two maroon tickets though...

"M-Mr. Valdez! That ticket, it's-!" Vector said, realizing that it was one of the tickets for tonight's game against the Grand Metropolis Metallics.

"Ikagadeshou?" Valdez asked, turning his head towards Espio. "Amefuto no shiai ni ogoru yo. Bekutaa ga yoku mieru ī zaseki o mo itadaita."

Espio gasped as he grabbed the ticket with shaking hands. "Ba-Barudezu-san! Kore wa… kansha wa shi kirenu! Kono ongi o dou mukuireba ī ka wakarimasen!" By this point, Espio was on his knees and bowing towards Valdez, a strange action Vector had never seen Espio do before.

"Toriaezu benkyou wa tsudzuki nasai. Kore wa kako suushuukan o sou sugoshite ita go houbi ni suginaishi ne. Sorenishitemo, kyuukei ni ataishimasu yo, Esupio-kun."

Espio got up from the floor and wiped his clothes with his hands, continuing to hold the ticket in his hand. Vector could notice the stars in his eyes look that the transfer student had as he looked again at his ticket, flipping it back and forth.

"I'm really glad yeh two are comin'!" Vector said, giving Mr. Valdez a thumbs up. "This'll motivate me to do better tonight! I'm gonna make sure me and the team are gonna give yeh two the show of yer lives!"

"Of course, we're both looking forward to it. This is the first game from you guys that I've seen since I first started working here. But for now, head to class first, okay?" Valdez replied in English.

"No prob, bob!"

"…Vector, you know my name is Valdez."

"It's a figure of speech, Mr. Valdez!"

"Oh… I didn't know that…"

But before Vector left, he stopped once more.

"Hey, by the by, what was it that ya called football earlier when ya were talkin' to Espio?"

"Ah, that… Amefuto is what I called it."

"Ameh-futoh?"

"Modern Japanese often uses shortenings for certain phrases, usually for nouns. In this case, amefuto is a shortening of American football."

"Ah, that makes sense! Although…" Vector rubbed his chin. "I've always been so confused… I get the football part, but… what the heck is American? Why do we call it that and can't we just call it football?"

"I wish I knew the answer, Mr. Vector. Now please, you only have… two minutes to get to class. We have to head to the A building as quickly as possible ourselves."

"Right right, NOW fer real I'll see ya durin' lunch later today!"

With that, Espio and Valdez split with Vector as the crocodile started to make his way to his Biology II class. It was going to be yet another review day for the Midterm, yet another time he would likely fall asleep and-

Suddenly, Vector's phone buzzed as the crocodile stopped. Who on earth was texting him? It couldn't have been the team group chat or Knuckles or Mighty…

Grabbing his phone from his pocket, the crocodile unlocked it as he saw that it was a message from Scrambler. It was upon reading the first couple of words that the crocodile's eyes widened.

"Oh shit, I forgot about that!" he said to himself, opening the message as he figured that Professor Morgan wouldn't be TOO mad if he was late today.

"Hi there, thanks for the offer," the message read. "The phone is 120 mobiums, comes with the phone charger and a 16gb SD Card. It's just this price since this is kind of an old model, but I don't plan to haggle. Is that okay with you?"

Dodging quickly out of someone's way, Vector typed away as he continued to make his way towards the B building for Biology II, now late by a minute.

"Yeah sure, when can we meet? I have a really busy week ahead and I wanna know when's the best time I can pick the phone up before Christmas," Vector replied back.


After Algebra I, Mark and Espio walked together towards the dining hall for lunch, the chameleon having the jitters the entire time.

"You look really excited, Espio," Mark said. "Say, is it cause Christmas is coming up? I actually need to go shopping this week… I might actually do it this Wednesday. I don't have any midterms that day, and it's all just review days… I need to get gifts for mom and dad, Norris, Hacker, Dave, our Crypt Master for DotC, maybe a few online friends I can gift them money to buy PC games, and… well… you."

Espio turned towards the tapir. "What?"

"Well… you're my friend, and I wanna get you something nice for Christmas. I just dunno what I could get you… I'll think about it though, you seem like the type who is appreciative of anything you receive. I just wouldn't be able to take you though, I want it to be a surprise."

The chameleon didn't quite understand, but he did hear that 'Krismas' word again… Mark celebrated it too… does that mean he was going to do something just like Vector was going to when he talked about how he wanted to return home? Whatever it was, it sounded interesting, and he wanted to know more. But when Espio pried for more information…

"Sorry Espio, it's as I said: it'll be a secret! You'll like it though, I promise!"

Just as the two left the A building and walked down the steps to the back campus, the two could see the Mercian transfer students continuing their Christmas caroling just outside the tree in front of North Hall.

"Man, those guys are dedicated," Mark said. "I passed by them a few times since yesterday, they really got the energy. You know, I heard that you were there caroling with them too. Someone posted a video on Scrambler and I happened to see it. I didn't know you could carol, but I thought you did well!"

"A-Ah… thank you, Mark," Espio replied. As much fun singing with Bow and his friends was, the chameleon was hungry, and he wanted to see Vector before he headed out to the game tonight. So, the two simply walked off, but not before Alan noticing them and waving, with Espio returning the wave as Mark soon found himself shaking hands with Buck, who had left him with a 'blessing from Solaris'.

"You know, I dunno if it's the small town I'm from," Mark said after the two left. "But I always got the assumption that Solaris worshipping people were the biggest hypocrites on the planet. That guy was actually really nice! Didn't think you knew them either before watching that video, but I guess I'm not surprised you seem to be familiar with many different characters on campus."

The two entered the K building, where immediately there was a crowd of people surrounding multiple tables. Espio noticed a wall containing various things that Manic had given him the other week, with people behind tables grabbing money and handing out objects back and forth.

"Oh, isn't today another football game?" Mark asked. "I never keep track with it, I just know that when the Beta Gamma or whatever frat boys and sorority sisters come out, it usually means there's a game later tonight."

But Espio made his way to the booth. He wasn't sure why he was going, as he had a ticket, and Manic had given him enough freebies as is, but… he just wanted to look.

With Mark following behind him (feeling VERY out of place), Espio got on his tip toes as he looked to the people running the stands, noticing two familiar faces: next to the frat boys selling clothing was Sonia, Sonic and Manic's sister who he hadn't seen in some time, and examining the line while holding a stack of posters was…

"Oh, Espio! Please get in line if you want to purchase something!" Jewel said as she fluttered towards the chameleon. "I've been trying so hard to get this line organized and it's to no avail. It's always SO crazy when it's a game day. It… also doesn't help when the Gamma Zeta Beta frat boys ENCOURAGE negative behavior like crowding around tables like rabid Dark Chao…"

She sighed. "I've been busy outside of classes, studying for exams, signing up for classes as well as scholarship work, sooo many things doing stuff like helping out the school with setting up events for the past few games. The university makes a lot of sales from merchandising and ticket sales, and they're expecting about 87% of the students to attend tonight's game. We're swamped as you can tell. But the fraternity is happy for the help, and anything to help out, no?"

"A-Ah… yes," Espio replied.

"How have you been? Are you excited for the art show on Friday? And that's not even including the fact that we're presenting our final project tomorrow! Oh, I can't wait! I've stayed up until 2am last night doing the finishing touches!"

Mark continued to play the third wheel for the two as they continued to talk, with Espio soon having a way to reach the booth.

"Anyway, when you're done purchasing a ticket or merch, the fraternity is also handing out a free advertising poster too! Here, you have one!"

Jewel handed the poster to Mark, the tapir looking confused at both the ad and at Jewel's perkiness.

"U-Uh… thanks…" he said.

"Wait a minute… oh… you're that guy who I blew up on a few months back. Hey I… I just wanted to say I'm really sorry for how I treated you," Jewel looked down at her feet. "For me to judge you on a bunch of stereotypes… it was rude of me, and I apologize. I don't expect you to forgive me but… I wanna make the effort of letting who I once was die. And that includes being… like that to anyone not like me. I hope you understand."

"Ah… well… thanks I suppose… you do mean it, right?"

"O-Of course! I know it doesn't seem very genuine but… I wanna make progress step by step, learn from what I did rather than just rush and pretend I've 'learned' anything. That isn't like me."

"I suppose you're making an effort, which is a start… Keep at it, okay?"

"Yes, uh…"

"Mark. It's Mark. And I was Espio's first friend besides Vector!"

"Of course, Mark. I'll definitely remember it next time we meet. Oh, you two should head in line!"

With that, the two walked up to the table as Jewel turned around and attempted to get the line in order. The tapir looked at her.

"Is it just me or does she seem weirdly aggressive about wanting to be nice?" Mark asked. "She doesn't need to make a giant song and dance about it, just an acknowledge you screwed up is fine enough as is."

"Jewel is nice."

"Well, I'm not gonna say you can't hang out with her or anything, I just... I'm just a LITTLE salty seeing her turn around and change her act after what she called me. I've dealt with WAY too many people like that in Middle and High School. But don't take my word like it's all divine, at least she's making an effort compared to that horse dude we dealt with."

Espio nodded, realizing that he was going to see Connery on the field whether he liked it or not tonight. He just hoped the horse would put aside his contempt for him just for tonight on the field, especially with how much Vector was making it into a big deal.

As the two walked towards the table, with Mark checking his phone the entire time, Espio found himself in front of Sonia, who gasped upon seeing him.

"Oh wow, Espio! I didn't think you were gonna be here! What's going on?" she asked before turning to her friends in the sorority. "Gals, gals! You gotta come over here! This is him! This is the guy that's been teaching me all those Japanese phrases and stuff!"

A multitude of girls that the chameleon didn't recognize soon surrounded the pink hedgehog as they all clamored around Espio, admiring the chameleon in front of them.

"Wow, look at him! He looks so adorable in those clothes!" one of them said.

"Soooo cute!" another said.

"I just hope he isn't too cold! We got plenty of sweaters and we should be getting replicas of letterman jackets the Badniks are wearing that're available for purchase at the school store!" yet another one said.

That and a multitude of comments were made as Espio was looking for the words to say. Mark looked genuinely surprised himself.

"I didn't take it that you'd be a girl magnet, Espio," he said, grinning. "Then again, has Sakura Taisen maybe helped you learn a bit about romance?"

The chameleon looked at his friend. He was mentioning Sakura Taisen, alongside… romance? It sounded like that one word that was used in the anime quite a bit, 'Romanchikku' if he remembered correctly. It wasn't a word he was familiar with before watching the DVD, but it seemed to mean love or something related to it. Did these girls love him? Espio found it hard to believe, as not only did he not only not know of them, he… wasn't really sure just what 'love' was like personally. It was a very strong word that no one in Gojo used, and the most he had seen in regard to love were the stories of gods and goddesses, or the legends he would hear from his mother or the nanny passed down from generation to generation.

"Espio, they're talking to you," Mark said, looking up from his phone.

"So, what'll it be, Espio?" Sonia asked. "Make a quick selection, we're gonna be MASSIVELY swamped, especially around the lunch period."

Espio squinted his eyes as he looked at the wall of merchandise behind the girls, looking at what they had. A lot of it didn't really catch his eye, or he didn't know what to do with it, until-

"That," Espio pointed at a foam hand mitt, it blue and white with the Badniks logo on it. Mark was surprised at Espio's choice.

"Do you know what that does, Espio?" he asked. The chameleon shook his head.

"Tiara, can you grab that please?" Sonia asked as the brown cat got up from her chair and jumped into the air and grabbed the foam mitt, handing it to Espio as he looked at it with intrigue. He held it in both hands, wondering what to do with it.

"Okay… will that be all?" the pink hedgehog asked as she rang up the price. "We're looking at a total of 2 mobiums for the total."

Mark tapped Espio on the shoulder. "Hey, do you have money? I don't think they accept your meal card at all."

Espio looked up at his friend. He thought it over for a few seconds before shaking his head.

"Alright…" the tapir said before getting out his wallet. "Here, I'll pay for it."

"Thanks so much!" Sonia replied as she grabbed the two mobiums. "The ticket booth is right next to the frat boys, remember that if you want to attend tonight's game at the Federation Dome in the northern part of Central City, just by the Thorndyke Tower, you NEED a ticket."

"Ah… sports aren't really my thing…" Mark said, shaking his hands. "But thank you gals…"

"No prob, dude! Hope he enjoys the mitt!" Sonia said, smiling. "Next!"

With that, Espio and Mark got out of line as the chameleon continued to hold onto his mitt.

"Do you know how that works, Espio?" Mark asked. Espio looked up at the tapir suddenly put his hand into an opening below it. The chameleon was shocked as Mark began to shake the mitt.

"You're supposed to wear this during an event and just shake it around, it's a way to show support. See? Like this."

"Ah!" Espio replied, following the shaking mitt.

"Anyway, since this isn't my place, I'm gonna go grab lunch. If you're getting a ticket, you don't have to wait on me or something, it's fine! I'm gonna see you later this week, okay? Or unless you wanna join me for lunch! Either way, I'll see you later!"

With that, Mark started to walk off as Espio shook the mitt to himself, finding it fairly amusing that the Outside World had such commodities, but he knew his omamori would mean more to Vector than this… strange thing.

…even if it was fun to wear.


However, as Espio began to walk away to get lunch, Tiara looked from afar at the chameleon dressed in the funkiest clothes she had ever seen in her life. As such, with some of the other girls attending customers, the cat reached over to Sonia.

"Sonia, that guy, that chameleon guy, that's the one Julie's been really suspicious about!" she said. "You seemed to know him too!"

"Of course I know Espio! I met him while being with my brothers, since they're friends with Knuckles on the football team, who's in turn friends with Vector and Espio," Sonia replied. "But she's suspicious of Espio? I still don't get why. He's such a harmless guy! He wouldn't do anything to hurt anyone!"

"Julie's been wanting to patch up her relationship with Vector, but he doesn't give her a chance at all and she thinks it's because of him. You've seen him around campus, Sonia. He always follows Vector around everywhere, and usually if you do that to him if you're not Knuckles or Mighty, he gets annoyed by it. So this time, it's different?"

"I'm sure it's nothing too serious, girl. Look, Julie has nothing to worry about when it comes to Espio. He's a really sweet guy and I'm sure he's not the reason why Vector is cranky towards her. I'm sure eventually he'll give her a chance! If anything, I think Julie could take a few pointers from Espio so they can eventually make up! You know I don't like to see her sad at all."

But Tiara closed her mouth as someone came up to the booth to purchase something. The way that Julie talked about that person named 'Espio' didn't seem like it was as simple as Sonia put it, because if that was the case, why was she constantly thinking of ways to take him out of the picture and, in her own words, 'let her have Vector all to herself'?

She shook her head. The cat knew there was more to this chameleon than met the eye. No wonder why rumors were slowly flying underground, rumors that her and Mina had heard from Julie about Vector and that small roommate of his…


After a lunch with the Badniks, with many of the people in the dining hall either cheering out to the team for support or coming up to members wanting autographs, Vector and Espio returned to the dorm a quarter 'till 4 with their classes done for the day. The sound of snow and ice crunching under their shoes was loudly heard as the two reptiles shivered.

"Ugh, as excited I am fer tonight…." Vector said. "Playin' in tonight's weather is gonna suck. The weather report said tonight we're expectin' sleet, so make sure yeh and Mr. Valdez are bundled up too and ya stay safe while drivin'."

As the crocodile had his headphones on, listening to his usual mix of loud music, he hadn't noticed as Espio had stopped moving. It was only seconds upon not getting a response from the chameleon and moving forward that Vector turned around, seeing Espio looking up at the sky.

"Hm? What's wrong, Espio?" Vector asked as he walked up towards his friend. Seeing what he was looking at, Vector looked up to see an airplane flying past the Mobius U campus, red and white lights flashing from above.

"Huh… didn't think planes would not only be flyin' in this kinda weather, but around campus too. The Central City airport is on the other side of the city, and usually they dun pass by the campus… Wonder what's goin' on?"

However, Espio didn't pay too much attention to Vector as he continued to stare at it. Vector took notice of this.

"First time seein' a plane, right? Usually, I dun hear or see them too often and when I do, it's usually when we're in class," he said. What Espio said next, however, surprised him.

"H-Haiiro ryu…" he said softly. Vector turned his head.

"Huh? Whaddya sayin', Espio?"

The chameleon quickly turned his head back towards his friend as the airplane flew past the campus and began to get audibly quieter. He simply shook his head and continued to move forward. Vector continued to look confused but paid no mind. Not like he could have understood what the transfer student was saying in that moment. So, letting it go, Vector caught up back to Espio as they continued their way back to the dorm.

Once finally inside the dorm, the two reptiles put their bags down by the desk and got to work for as long as they could. Sharing a chair together, they began by reviewing some English work before Espio's ESOL midterm on Thursday and before Vector had to leave to head to the bus for tonight's game, with time passing quickly as they reviewed different subjects.

"Okay, so one of the things that Professor Longclaw told me the other day was that one part of yer midterm is gonna be verbal work. Meanin', yer gonna actually have a full-on conversation with either her or Mr. Valdez," Vector explained in the middle of Espio reviewing conjunctions. "Since we're here, we can do a practice conversation real quick before we continue."

Vector got up off his knees and walked around the dorm before turning around and pointing at Espio. "Yooo, if it aintcha, Espio! It's been a long while since we last saw each other. How ya been, man?"

Espio looked confused, wondering what Vector was doing.

"Erm… this is where you respond, Espio," the crocodile continued, rubbing the back of his head. "Maybe ya can say, 'Oh, I've been fine', or, 'I haven't been the best. What about you?'. And then I'll respond, 'I've been real great! I just found out the job I applied for called me back and told me I'm hired! I wanna take ya out to dinner to celebrate!'… or, somethin' like that… So here, let's give it a shot."

Vector cleared his throat and continued as Espio got up from the chair, looking at the crocodile.

"Excuse me, I'm lookin' fer directions. How can I reach the Federation Dome?" Vector began. Espio turned his head until he continued. "From here…"

"F-Fu… from here…"

"Walk another two blocks…"

"Wo-walk… another… two blocks…"

"And then-"

Suddenly, there was a sudden 'BEEP' as the door opened. The two turned towards the door as Vector stopped, seeing Valdez come into the dorm.

"Ah, there you two are," he said.

"How's everythin', Mr. Valdez?" Vector asked.

"Well, I have about two more students I need to meet with about classes for next semester. Espio being one of them, and another being a transfer student from Apatos. But that's besides the point, am I interrupting anything?"

"O-Oh! Uh, we were just doin' a bit of verbal practice fer Espio's English exam. Longclaw told me there'd be a verbal part of the exam and to practice with him fer it."

"That's PROFESSOR Longclaw, Vector. But that's good to hear you're practicing with him just before your game tonight. Don't you have to leave soon?"

Vector walked over to the desk as he grabbed his phone, unlocking the screen and checking the time and seeing it was 4:19PM.

"Oh snap, didn't realize we've been at it fer so long," he said. "Yeah, I do gotta start headin' out now. I think a good time fer yeh guys to arrivin' should be 'round 5. We'll be arriving at the Dome at that time too, but I'm sure it'll be a MASSIVE pain to find a place to park if yeh guys arrive late. Ya might have to wait a bit more if ya arrive early, but more reason to watch the pre-game show, huh?"

"Of course, we're both excited for it. Ne, Esupio-kun?"

Espio nodded, realizing that the two were talking about tonight's game.

"Well then I'm hyped if yeh are!" Vector said as he began packing his duffel bag. "Are ya guys gonna get dinner after the game?"

"We'll see about it," Valdez replied. "Did you wish to join us?"

"All depends on how late I get, as well as how I'm feelin'. I'm REALLY confident in winnin' tonight's game. We need to make up fer last year's failure and it all depends on reachin' the finals."

"I'm confident you will. You've been training very hard, Vector."

"Heh, well thanks, Mr. Valdez!" Vector zipped up his duffel bag then put it over his shoulder. "Hey, before I leave, I got a really quick question fer ya, Mr. Valdez."

"Hm? What is it?"

Vector stared at the ground as he continued to hold his duffle bag. "Well, when Espio and I were returnin' to the dorms after classes were done fer the day, Espio started… starin' at the sky. At an airplane exactly."

"An airplane?"

"Yeah, and he said something too. I dun remember what it was, something like… ryu, or somethin' like that. I tried askin' him what it was, but he just shook his head and ignored me, so I just let it go. I was a little curious if ya know anythin' 'bout that, especially since stuff like drones and blimps pass by the big leagues' stadium."

Valdez shook his head for a moment before finally realizing. "Ah, I see… you're seeing how the average person of Gojo reacts to planes."

"What? They know about planes in Gojo?"

Valdez shrugged. "Well… in a SENSE… as I'm sure you know, Gojo has no access to modern technology. But the only exposure the people of Gojo and the citizens of the Historic District has to modern society are the airplanes coming to and from Yurashia or even passing by the region that pass above the village. It's something that causes almost everyone to stop in their tracks, and even children to become afraid by its loud noise and its appearance."

"Appearance?"

"In Gojo, the villagers refer to the airplanes as Haiirou ryu, Grey Dragons, due to its appearance matching that of the dragons that appear in many of our legends and myths. Many citizens of the Historic District believe modern day airplanes to be descendants of the dragons that lived near the mountains of Yurashia from long ago, so that's why much of the population of the Historic District fears them."

Vector felt his mind being blown upon hearing this. All his life, he was so used to being around airplanes. The ones that would pass by over his house or the ones that he could hear while at school, the airplanes he took as a four year old whenever he and his family moved from Downunda to Central Mobius, or even the ones throughout his childhood and adolescence he took whenever he and his family took vacations… It really reminded Vector that despite Espio's long-term exposure to this world, the chameleon still wasn't truly used to everything yet. Still, it was incredible to think that was what people of Espio's village thought of with something as innocent as an airplane.

"I didn't really know… it's a bit interestin' if ya ask me, since I'm more than accustomed to planes," Vector said. "Still… a dragon? And when we got actual dragons at this university too? Fascinatin', ain't it?"

"As I said, that's what Espio's held to believe for many years. Trust me, I was just as shocked too when I took my first airplane to travel from Northern Mobius to Central Mobius," Valdez added.

"Ha, I'll say! Well, all this chattin' was fun, but I think that the busses should start arrivin' now, and we dun have much time to board. I gotta head out now. See ya guys durin' tonight's game!"

With that, the crocodile got everything he needed, and was making his way towards the door. But before he could even reach just a few feet from the door.

"Esupio-kun, Omamori o watasu tsumori janakatta no?" he heard Valdez say. Vector suddenly heard Espio gasp.

"A-Ah! Vector, pl-please wait!"

The crocodile turned around in confusion. "Huh? What's wrong, Espio?"

Just then, Espio ran over to his bag and opened up the flaps, frantically scourging around for something. Vector turned his head in confusion as Espio suddenly grabbed something. Looking at it closer, it appeared to be the red and gold object Mr. Valdez had given Espio earlier after Advanced English Literature. He then ran over to Vector, holding the object.

"This is… for you," he said as Vector opened out his large hand, putting it into his palm as the crocodile looked at the object in question. It seemed to be some kind of necklace with what… looked like a bookmark. It was entirely red, with several floral patterns and gold outlines all over the strange object. Feeling it in his hands, it seemed to be made of wood too, definitely carved and painted by hand.

"Uh… thanks!" he said. "What is it?"

"This is co-called… Omamori."

"Ohmah-what now?"

Valdez walked up to the two. "Well, be thankful I'm here, Vector. What Espio gave you was an amulet called, just as he said, Omamori. It's an amulet sold in shrines all around the Yurashia region of Northern Mobius, the region that, I'm sure you know, Gojo and the Historic District shares with the modern day Yurashia. Devoted to the religion that Espio and the people of the Historic District follow and their kami, these are amulets of luck and protection meant to be worn."

Vector held the omamori by its string, looking at it with intrigue. "Woww… it has that much power?"

"Constantly using it shows that you rely on the blessing of our gods to go through life with divinity. So, don't worry about it being broken. Just be sure not to open it, okay?"

"Two questions: First," Vector pointed to the painted gold kanji. "The heck does this say?"

Valdez looked over to the amulet, pointing at the kanji.

"Generally, omamori tends to have the name of whatever shrine it came from. See here? This kanji reads as, character by character," Valdez's finger moved down….

施 "Shi-

"jin-

"-jin

社"-ja, which combined together, reads as Shijin Shrine."

"Huh… interestin'… and second… what did Espio wanna give this fer me for?"

"He wanted two, one specifically for education, and the one you have in your hand. This one, called kaiun, is a specific amulet meant for very good luck and fortune. He wanted to give this to you in preparation for the rest of your football games, wanting our gods to bless you and your team and provide luck. And if you think that just the amulet will be enough, when I got this at our local shrine in Gojo, the head priest, upon hearing that Espio wanted it, brought it inside for a special ritual to be performed on the amulet. So, not only do you have the amulet's blessing, but our priest's too, Vector."

Vector continued to look at the omamori. Espio… really did all this… for him? He really was such an amazing guy, putting all his faith in something like this so he could win… One thing was for sure, he was GOING to win tonight's game, and the Badniks were going to take home that trophy if all for Espio's sake.

"Espio… I dunno what to say. This… it's too kind of ya…" Vector said as he grabbed the amulet by the string. "I guess all I can do is…"

With that, the crocodile put the amulet over his snout, then his head as he placed it over his neck, letting the amulet rest right in the middle of his chest.

"…how do I look?" he asked. Espio nodded.

"Good," he replied. Vector smiled before checking the time on his phone.

"Awh crap! I spent way too long here! I gotta hightail it to the bus! We leave in… f-four minutes?! Sorry ya guys, would love to stay and chat! Gotta go now! And thanks fer the ohmamory thing, Espio!"

With that, the crocodile bolted out of the dorm as loud, quick footsteps were heard down the hall as the two chameleons watched Vector leave West Hall.

"We should get ready ourselves. It won't be long until we leave as well," Valdez said. "Thankfully, you don't have any assignments this week, but it would be for the best if we practice English before we leave, Espio-kun."

"I understand," Espio nodded as the two closed the door to the dorm.


With only two minutes to spare before the bus left, Vector was one of the last Badniks players to get on the bus as Coach Augustus looked at him crossly.

"What's the big idea, Vector?!" he scolded. "I was beginning to think you were gonna be late! And during the semifinals too?!"

"S-Sorry coach! I got a bit caught up with somethin'!" the crocodile held up his hands.

"Well, you sure are gonna be 'caught up with something' if you don't take a seat! You know we leave at 4:30 on the dot!"

"R-Right… my bad…"

Lowering his head thanks to some of the snickers he heard from the other players, Vector saw that towards the back, Knuckles was by himself. The echidna looked up as Vector placed his duffle bag above the two's seat.

"There you are, dude! I was beginning to think you weren't gonna show up!" Knuckles said.

"Sorry, Knux. Kinda got caught up on some stuff. Who's missin'?"

"Just two guys after you, that's it. We only got a minute before we head out, was surprised you were kinda late. Don't tell me you're getting slower, are you?"

"A-Ah, shuddup, Knux! Ya know that ain't true! I've been bustin' mah ass off runnin' every mornin', and that's includin' the fact that I'm cold-blooded!"

"Well, I know you've been taking training really seriously, dude. Look at you. You've turned into a giant wall of muscle that could rival Connery!"

"Pff, thanks but I know I CAN'T beat him, horses like him sure got good genes. But dun sell yerself short either, it also looks like you grew as well, primarily bulkin' up, right?"

"Considering how strong some of the guys playing in the semifinals are? I think I kinda have to dude, but thanks. Admittedly, kinda fitting into my shirts I brought at the start of this year is a LIL hard, but hey, there's nothing a girl likes than guys with tight shirts that show off their hot bods, huh?"

"Primarily in the summer, I bet," Vector stretched, raising his arms above his head as he spread his legs under the chair below him. As he did, Knuckles took notice of the omamori around Vector's neck.

"Huh? Hey, dude, what's that?" he asked. The crocodile turned towards him.

"What's what?"

Knuckles pointed at the Omamori. "That. What is that?"

"This? Oh, this is what was holdin' me back," Vector held up the omamori. "It's somethin' Espio gave me from his village. I'm not sure quite what it's called. It's somethin' like… oh-mah-mory?"

"Ohmamory? Looks kinda like a bookmark to me."

"That's what I thought too, but Mr. Valdez described it as an amulet meant to provide protection and luck. Espio wanted to give it to me as a good luck charm fer the rest of the Playoffs season, it seems."

"Are you gonna wear it? It looks really pretty… but it also looks like something I wouldn't wanna break either."

"Mr. Valdez told me it was fine to let it wear out as it's a sign that I rely on it rather than let it collect dust I bet. I do wanna wear this, but I dunno… it's made of wood, and havin' wood slam on mah body from under mah jersey while on the field, plus the fact that necklaces aren't allowed…"

"I'm sure you can find something to do with that. Must have been really nice of him to do that for you."

"I told mahself I wasn't gonna lose, and that we were gonna win this season fer his sake… it's the least I can do fer how kind he was to get this fer me."

Vector continued to look at the omamori once again, closing his eyes and smiling as he held the amulet to his chest.

"Just ya wait, Espio… I'm gonna give ya the game of yer life tonight…" he thought to himself.

Unbeknownst to him, at that moment, Vector and Knuckles were being watched by someone a row down from their seat on the right, their eyes lowering as they overheard the conversation and watched Vector hold the omamori to his chest and smiling.


LATER…

It was around 5:13pm when Espio and Valdez got into the blue chameleon's car, then about another minute later when the car was pulling out of the parking garage blocks away from the Mobius University campus. The chameleon, looked at the window, wondering how long they would take to arrive to the Federation Dome while being very excited internally about finally going to an away game. On his lap was the foam hand Mark bought for him earlier in the day.

"Thank goodness I somehow got today off. It's a miracle compared to all the other times they wanted me to stay on campus during an away game. I do feel bad for everyone who likely has to clean up back on campus," Valdez said. "Are you excited, Espio-kun?"

"Yes, very much," Espio replied. "I am just wondering when we will arrive. I want to see Vector as soon as possible."

"We'll be there in fifteen minutes according to my phone. However, it likely will take longer since there will be a lot of traffic on the way to the dome. Remember, they're playing not in the stadium back at Mobius U, but the biggest football stadium in Central City, which can fit almost ten thousand people. Which is why I also brought…"

Valdez scourged the front of his car, pulling out two plastic bags containing…

"These are called earplugs. If things get too loud for you, Espio-kun, I'll help you put these on, okay?"

"What do these do?" Espio asked as he grabbed one of the bags.

"They block out very loud noises; which that stadium will be VERY loud. Even louder than the games back at Mobius U. Just so you know."

"And they are very loud… the people of the Outside World do like to show their excitement in such ways."

"And yet I've heard you've indulged yourself sometimes in this. Ha, imagine the Bride seeing you be as excited as you are seeing Vector make a touchdown…"

Espio stared down at the floor of the car, remembering that his mother was never supposed to know about what he was doing. He had so many stories about his experience in the Outside World, yet he was expected to do the same things day in and day out to "prevent corruption from the Outside World". And yet… he didn't feel like it was corruption at all. If anything, the Outside World started to feel like a second home in a way…


MEANWHILE, SOME TIME LATER…

At the Federation Dome, the Badniks were currently reviewing their game strategy as Vector and Coach Augustus stood in front of a white board, drawing out the field and the planned players for the first half of the game.

"…finally, Monk and Knuckles, yeh two are gonna be really important to tonight's game. Since the Grand Metropolis Metallics have apparently REALLY stepped up their game since Thanksgivin' Classic, with word from other teams bein' that their defense is gonna hit HARD, we need to rely on yeh two to play offense as best as ya can, 'kay?" explained Vector, holding a dry erase marker to the board.

"You don't need to tell me twice, dude!" Knuckles replied, giving the crocodile a thumbs up. "Right, Monk?"

The purple gorilla, however, was much more quiet than the echidna. "I suppose it must be that way. I just hope you know what you're doing…"

"AD Sommersby, Vector, and I all discussed this for a long while yesterday morning. I'm fairly confident in this plan, and as long as your throws have improved, Bull, and you two, Rotor and Rudy, make sure you two back up Knuckles and Monk, we have this in the bag!" Coach Augustus replied.

"So, ya guys got any questions?" asked the crocodile. There was silence from the team as most of them looked ready.

"Well, if you all understand, then I think we're ready for a fair, clean game, no? You boys have been doing one HELL of a job, and Vector, I'm especially proud of how well you've been as our quarterback this year. I knew Avery made a damn good choice in picking you to be the Badniks' next quarterback. This entire team is depending on not just your playing skills and physical strength, but your leadership capabilities. And remember, what are you doing this year?!"

"Winnin', coach!"

"I wanna hear that from the rest of you, too! What are we doing this year?!"

"WINNING, COACH!"

"Come on you lot, all together now!" Coach Augustus held out his hand. The entire team walked forward and all put their hands on top of one another.

"BADNIKS… ATTACK!"

Raising their hands into the air, the team's slogan was all the Badniks needed to get themselves hyped for the game. Vector stared at his team as they all returned to their lockers, finishing up getting dressed and placing their equipment on as they waited for the game to start at 6. Just then, Coach Augustus placed his hand on Vector's shoulder.

"Make me proud out there, kid. I haven't seen you bust your ass off all month for no reason, right?" he said. The crocodile nodded.

"Ya got it, coach! Besides, I told mahself that tonight I HAVE to perform the best that I can!"

"THAAAAT'S what I like to hear! Make sure the rest of your team is just as motivated as you, I'm not gonna take any slackers!"

"Ya got it!"

With that, Vector walked past the polar bear and around the locker room, checking up on several members of his team to make sure they were motivated for tonight's game. With the loud burst of noise coming from outside the locker room via the audience in the stands, the crocodile knew he nor anyone could get stage fright.

"Ya dead set on winnin' this, Brawny?" Vector first asked the warthog, pointing at him as he sat on the stone bench in front of the lockers. He then got up, beat his chest with one first, and grinned.

"You bet I'm gonna blitz you the best I can, Vector! And you got me for pass protection too! Make sure we give the other team hell, okay?!" he replied.

Turning around on the spot, Vector spotted Rotor and Thrash, both already fully dressed sans their equipment. He then proceeded to point at the walrus and Tasmanian devil.

"Rotz, Thrash! Tell me, ya dead set on winnin' this?!"

"DON'T GOTTA TELL ME TWICE!" Thrash yelled back, Rotor covering his ears.

"Jeez, no need to be THAT hyped up, Thrash!" the walrus shot back. "But yeah, I heard ya, Vector! Monk and Knuckles are who I'll be looking out after!"

"And I'll catch every forward pass from you! You and Connery better make sure you don't miss a catch from me though, cause like you and Coach told us, you two are my main target!"

"Great to hear that ya got the lesson, and what about ya-"

Just as Vector turned around again, he was suddenly face to face with-

"Is this really what you should be doing?"

It was Axel, looking slightly cross at the crocodile.

"A-Axel..."

"I know what I've had to do since the start of this season: defend Thrash and the rest of our receivers, and general defend against passes from the other team's offense. My question is; is this song and dance really what you should be doing? Shouldn't you be more concerned about yourself?"

"W-Where's the sudden hostility comin' from, dude? I'm tryin' to make sure no one's got cold feet before tonight's game!"

"If they have cold feet, they have no one to blame but themselves. Frankly, you should be making sure you YOURSELF doesn't get cold feet."

Axel shrugged his shoulders. "Just a suggestion. A suggestion you REALLY ought to consider, no matter how much you think you don't need. I can see it in your face…"

With that, the water buffalo walked off to finish putting on his jersey as Vector, Thrash, Rotor, and Brawny watched him walk away as one of the tight ends on the Badniks, an Overlander, walked past the four.

"Man, what is it with Axel today? Ever since we got onto the bus, he seemed kinda… out of it today," Rotor asked. "Like, more complainy than usual."

"Just ignore him, dude," Thrash replied. "I always tell you that, don't I? But… now that I think about it, I did notice it a bit going on the bus too. Is something going on?"

"I'm sure it's nothin', and that people are just wantin' to stay in their own world before the game. Besides, we got an entire audience to play in front of. Not just that, we're apparently on all the major sports networks, journalists and photographers are EVERYWHERE, as well as recruiters too. The major leagues are pullin' the big cards fer the rest of the Playoffs," Vector explained.

"Oh boy, all of THOSE? Maybe I'm not as brave as I thought I was…" Rotor said before Brawny slapped him alongside the head.

"Oh, you'll be fine, Rotor! Don't think like that, dude! Besides, if you fuck up, there's gonna be another ten other guys who'll also fuck up just like you. Hell, maybe Vector will fuck up at some point tonight!" the warthog said.

"Sh-shaddup!" Vector retorted. "I'll show ya what this croc can do!"

Returning to where his locker was, the quarterback saw Knuckles putting on his cleets as the echidna smirked.

"Well, looks like you've been having fun ignoring your high school best friend for everyone else," he said.

"Oh, ya know I'm just tryin' to motivate everyone, Knux. Course, seems like not EVERYONE wants it."

"Are you talking about Axel? I overheard your conversation."

"I just hope that we just mainly focus on tonight's game. I'm sure Rotz is just puttin' it in his head, but I would rather not like tonight to be fucked up. We got a semifinal to win, as well a championship PERIOD. I ain't gonna let us lose that title."

"Glad to hear it, dude. Better make sure you pray to whatever divine being you worship. With how much you've been describing how much better Grand Metropolis has gotten, we got a giant mountain to scale."

Vector nodded as he opened his locker, making sure he had everything. His helmet, as well as shoulder and elbow pads, and mouthguard were all in the locker, ready for when he needed it. A jar of eye grease also sat in the locker with his duffel bag hanging at the top with his normal clothes in it. However, on top of the jar sat…

"The ohmamory…" Vector said, realizing that he almost forgot to wear the amulet Espio had given him. After all, he had given it to him specifically for tonight's game for good luck.

Picking it up, Vector remembered that the Central Mobius College Football Sports Code stats that jewelry of any kind is forbidden. However, this technically WASN'T jewelry…

However, he didn't want to risk being fined, despite how much athletes like him got paid. But he wanted to keep Espio's word…

"Argh, fuck the system…" he said, placing the Omamori over his snout, his head, and then his neck as he hid it under his jersey. Thankfully, it was a perfect fit, and it was almost unnoticeable from afar. Smiling, he was happy that his plan was going to work.

"Espio… cheer me on, will ya, bud? Yer gonna be an even bigger good luck charm than this amulet…" Vector thought to himself, closing his eyes.


Valdez and Espio held their arms closed to their bodies, shivering from the cold as they walked past the very crowded parking lot of the Federation Dome. It was filled with mobians and Overlanders who either wanted to participate in Tailgate parties or watched on the large projected screen near the dome. The transfer student looked around all over, trying not to slip on the icey parking lot or drop his foam hand as he began to smell the distinct smell of meat cooking as the two chameleons passed by multiple people crowding some sort of device that looked like a very long binkake.

"Valdez-san!" Espio had to yell past the very loud noise. "What are they doing?!"

"They're participating in a sort of celebration, I think it was called… argh… I know Coach Augustus explained it to me years ago when I first started working at Mobius U… Tail… gating?"

"Tailgaiting?"

"It's when people eat food and drink alcohol before Football games, Augustus explained to me that it was a VERY common practice here in Central Mobius."

"People willingly drink so much alcohol?"

"It's not as strong as sake, but they DO drink a lot!"

Espio never noticed whatever all this was since he went through the student entrance to the stadium at Mobius U. It seemed he still had MUCH to learn about the Outside World…

Just then, he saw a group of Overlanders as well as two white rabbits rushing past the two chameleons as they had their entire bodies painted in light blue and white. A good chunk of the people around them cheered as another chunk of the people booed the rushing crowds. He then turned his head to see a group of canines standing on their cars, holding up a dark blue and black flag and screaming out, 'FUCK MOBIUS U! FUCK MOBIUS U!'

"Valdez-san… the people here are far more different than the ones I know at the school…" Espio commented.

"Well, this is just part of the experience learning about the Outside World. There still are people who love to show their wild side. But it's all in good fun for the most part… at least, I hope most people treat it that way," Valdez replied.

"Mother would refer to all of these people are one giant batch of hooligans and would have them punished for acting like this…"

"Frankly, I think ALL of the Brides would faint from shock if they saw what went on here. If they think of the other parts of Yurashia as lacking morals, I would hate to see their reaction to this place… Conquering Storm's rage could likely silence this entire parking lot."

It was times like these that Espio remembered that, by all accounts and measure, he WASN'T supposed to be here… And yet, that didn't stop him from going to football games before this. This time though, it felt so different because the people celebrated MUCH more aggressively than he thought you were supposed to. Even after feeling accustomed to football, the chameleon realized right then and there that he was still an outsider to this sport from the Outside World.

"Well, we can't stay here for too long. We're not here to participate in Tailgate parties after all. The game begins at 6, and it's…" Valdez checked his phone. "…5:44 right now. Provided that we can still pass this crowd, we can get inside and show our tickets to be let inside and still have enough time for the pre-game show before the main game starts. Come, Espio-kun."

Espio nodded as he continued to stay close to Valdez, looking behind him to see the people of the crowd that his mother would no doubt refer to as 'hooligans'. Just then, they reached four different white ticket stalls like the ones he passed by back on campus. Unfortunately, there was a bit of a line, so Valdez had guided him to the back of one of the lines. With that, the two chameleons waited in line, all the while hearing yells from the crowd, roaring from fans, the sound of food being cooked, and the occasional comment he heard such as, 'What the hell is that guy wearing?', or one incredibly rude person painted in all dark blue and black yelling at him from afar, 'AY, AY AY AY, THIS AIN'T A FUCKIN' ANIME CON! TAKE OFF THAT NERDY GETUP!', to the amusement of his friends.

"Goodness, Valdez-san… I didn't quite realize people could be… this passionate…" Espio commented.

"It's very common with sports, not to worry. I say just ignore them. Besides, we're here to see Vector and his team, not care about what negative things others think about us, right?" Valdez replied. The fuchsia chameleon nodded in response, proceeding to look at the towering building above him.

"When will we be inside?"

"When the line shortens, Espio-kun. Just be patient, okay?"

Espio sighed softly, wanting nothing more than to see Vector. It was about another ten minutes later when the line finally had moved enough to where the next inline was him and Valdez. The two chameleons walked up to the booth.

"Hi there, I already pre-purchased my tickets in advance," Valdez said, holding up the maroon tickets.

"No problem," said the overlander in the booth. "I'll just need to scan them in first for verification."

Valdez handed over the tickets to the Overlander who scanned it, nodding his head.

"Okay… you'll be in row 11 at section C136… and this has confirmed that you have purchased it. Thank you and enjoy the game, sir!"

"No problem."

With that, Valdez walked forward as Espio followed behind, his geta clacking on the floors of the stadium as they passed through a lit hallway with advertising for a team he hadn't seen before. After passing through the hallway, Espio gasped as the two were now in the stands, seeing rows of lights, people, advertising, etc. He stopped to turn around to take all of it in, mouth agape.

"Amazing, isn't it? But we have to hurry, Espio-kun. There's only five minutes until the game starts," Valdez said.

"Y-Yes!"

With that, Espio followed Valdez as they walked past multiple groups of seats, walking past billboards for things he hadn't seen before, and at one point, Espio stopped as he started to smell something… good. Turning to his left, the chameleon looked to see an array of mobians cooking so many things that smelled so good. He watched as popcorn was being popped, a large cat was dunking those 'fries' Mark liked into multiple metal containers as they all made noise, just to name a few. There were so many things going on at once, yet they so mesmerizing.

"Amazing…" Espio said to himself.

"Espio-kun…" Valdez said as the transfer student turned to face him. "I know it looks good, but we still need to find our seat. If you're that hungry, you should have ate before you left."

"I-I'm sorry, Valdez-san," Espio bowed in response out of remorse. "I was just so excited to go, I didn't want to eat…"

The blue chameleon sighed. "Alright… well, perhaps I'll get you something from here during half-time. Now please, keep up with me."

With that, the two chameleons continued to walk as Valdez soon found section C136. Espio followed behind as Valdez found row 11, walking into the row and finding the perfect seat as Espio sat next to him.

"Finally…" Valdez said. "Now, let's just sit and enjoy a nice game, okay?"

Espio nodded happily as he looked at the field, seeing many of the girls dressed in rather short clothing that Vector called, 'cheerleaders', raise their arms up and down, cheering; 'GO GO GO GO, MO-BI-US U! MAKE 'EM MADNIKS, TO SHOW WE'RE BADNIKS…'. All the while, there was loud music being played behind the girls by what Vector called, 'the Marching Band'. They played various instruments that Espio had only ever seen during these games, all while a group of five people on both sides of a very large taiko were beating on it w ith a mallet. Vector explained this after his first game of the season that the large taiko was a very old Mobius U tradition, despite Espio's surprise upon seeing it. He also noticed Egg Pawn the Badnik, Mobius U's mascot, bouncing around and joining the team on their cheers.

"I still remember my first time seeing that mascot," Espio said. "When I saw it during Vector's first game, I was almost horrified at how it looked. It felt so very unnatural, even the person next to me said I looked tense. But now, it's almost like it's a fun symbol that I enjoy seeing."

"The point of mascots is to give an aura of identification to your school, as well as provide moral support to your team. You might be surprised just how much they bring to a place like Mobius U, Espio-kun," Valdez replied.

Just then, as the cheerleaders finished off their pregame show and tradition, with them ending off with them running in place and all the taiko players quickly hitting their mallets against their taiko, the girls ended with, 'GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, BADNIKS!"

With that, the audience from the Mobius U side of the stadium all clapped and cheered as the other side of the stadium booed and hollered. Valdez began to clap as he nodded, eyes closed as Espio waited with baited breath on seeing-

"Ladies and gentleman, children of all ages, the clock has now hit six o'clock as it's time for the moment you've been waiting for!" a sudden voice said as the crowd roared to life. "With huge thanks to our sponsors, including Chao Cola, proud sponsors of the Central Mobius College Football Winter Playoffs and supporting the work of athletes with their brand-new Electro-thirst Sports Drink, with 0 calories and sugar, and made with all-natural vitamins and supplements for energy and muscle building to keep athletes working out! Thorndyke Industries, also proud to sponsor this amazing twenty-three day event with brand new computers that help keep everything from the stadium, to the TV and radio broadcast, heck, even keeps the concession stands running during icy weather like this! Finally, we would like to thank Central Mobius Football League for allowing this event's games to be played in the Federation Dome! We know the big leagues have been dying to get their field back, but even they gotta let the kiddies play sometimes!"

There was loud laughter all around the stadium as Espio looked confused, not sure what the voice was saying.

"With tonight's game starting the first of two rounds of the semifinals, four teams will be competing today and tomorrow for the chance to be named finalists for this year's Playoffs, but only two will get that honor! Will it be the Mobius University Badniks, fierce in their attack as their army of football playing robots face off against the Grand Metropolis Metallics, coming back from a weak start of the season to being one of the best teams this season as they show the Badniks what football in a futuristic city is truly like? We'll find out quickly as the field clears… and the coaches appear on the field…"

From afar, Espio could see Coach Augustus walking towards someone the chameleon only recognized from the Thanksgiving game he watched when he was staying with Valdez, a large black orca who was just a couple of centimeters taller than the polar bear. They shook hands and stared into each other's eyes as several more other people came onto the field, many of which Espio didn't recognize.

"Now, with everything ready, it's time we begin this little shindig!" the voice continued. "Tell us, do you think that this team does their training in cyberspace, or do they do it in a futuristic field too? Cause they're about to show us how football works from a super high tech city works! Ladies and gentleman, for the third time in this playoffs, give it up for the GRAND METROPOLIS UNIVERSITY METALIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICSSSSSSSSS!"

Just then, a large machine from the right side of the field shot out a large metal rail that extended rather far. Just then, many players from the Metallics began to enter the field by grinding on the metal rail with their cleats. The other side of the stadium was going wild, with cheering, hollering, and the hitting of shoes against the floor of the stadium booming throughout as the other side chanted, 'GO GO, METALLICS! GO GO, METALLICS!', only to stop as the Grand Metropolis U marching band began to play and singing was heard that Espio couldn't make out.

It was a different story for the Mobius U side, where everyone was booing and yelling, some even yelling, 'GET THEM OFF THE FIELD! YOU KNOW THEY'RE GONNA LOSE!'

"That's the other team, right, Valdez-san?" Espio asked.

"Correct," Valdez nodded his head. "Vector will be out in a minute. I promise."

"I know. However, I do not want this team to win."

"They won't. You've seen how hard Vector and his team has been training. Plus, when you have Augustus as your coach, you can be sure-"

Valdez found himself interrupted as the voice continued. "Making up for their performance last year, all their games have gone perfect in their eyes! Let's hope they keep this up as Egg Pawn the Badnik now carries Mobius University's famous, 'Piko-Piko Hammer' to release them from their capsule…"

Espio remembered this from the game he briefly saw before playing that game with Mark and his friends. The mascot would then run to the left side of the field, run up to a large machine-like thing, lift the hammer above his head-

"…and let them unleash their power as an army, because here comes the MOBIUS UNIVERSITY BADNIIIIIIIIIIIKSSSSSSSSS!"

Slamming the hammer down on a button at the top, the 'machine' burst open as members of the team all came running out from the remains of the capsule. Espio opened his mouth open in awe. He had already seen this sight before, but seeing it in person like this… it was almost indescribable! He saw people he recognized, like Bull Bones, Connery, Knuckles, Rotor, and…

"V-Valdez-san! Valdez-san, look! It's… it's Vector!" Espio almost yelled excitement as he pointed to Vector, who had now run onto the field. The chameleon could only watch in absolute bliss as the crocodile got into that usual pose he did every game he did, ending with him putting his fist in the air as the entirety of the Mobius U side of the stadium cheering on the quarterback and his team. Espio could only clap to himself with a happy face, being possibly happier than he ever had before in his life. Valdez could only watch in silence, nodding to himself as he saw just how excited the chameleon became upon seeing this site.

"Valdez-san, please tell me I can quickly see Vector! I want to see him before he plays!" Espio said.

"Unfortunately, you can't. If you get on the field right now, you'll be kicked out for trespassing. I'm sorry, but I'm sure Vector knows you're here and that he'll be very excited to see you in the audience. Plus, you gave him the omamori. He'll be fine, I promise."

Espio hung his head down. He was a little disappointed, but perhaps there was not much he could do. But still… his friend was… right there. And with all the lights, the roar of the crowd, and how he looked against that snowy pasture, it didn't just make Vector look good… it made him look incredible.

Suddenly, the taiko of the Mobius U marching band began to play as people all around the two chameleons began to rise. Espio realized what was going on, as this hadn't been the first time that this happened when he watched a game. Perhaps tonight he would finally get his answer…

"Valdez-san, what is everyone doing?" he asked as the audience and the Badniks all began to sing.

"Whatever we win, whether fame or fortune

For our College days, we shall sit and sigh…

We shall cherish our Alma Mater,

Our dear old home, Moo~bius U!"

"They're singing the song of our Alma Mater," Valdez replied.

"…Alma mater? Song?"

"An alma mater is where you went to school, and many schools and universities make songs devoted to them for people to sing during events like this."

"Should we sing them too?"

"If you want to. I'd be happy to help you."

Espio nodded as Valdez began.

"O' joy, o'joy, dear Mobius U

We shall win your honor

To spread your good name.

From highh~, to loww~,

Dear Mobius U,

Our wise and great selves,

Shall make you prooooud!"

Espio tried his best to follow along, but as usual, just like when he was caroling with Bow and his friends the other day, it was a bit hard to follow. When the song came to an end, everyone around him began to clap and cheer once again as the players began to get onto the field. Vector, Connery, Monk, Knuckles, Rudy, Thrash, Axel, Bull, and several others were playing the first half as the rest of the team were on the bench waiting for their time to be on the field next. Getting into position, Espio saw Vector crouch behind the bulldog as Bull Bones had his hands outstretched, standing in front of the Grand Metropolis Center player.

With one blow of the referee's whistle, the match began as Bull immediately attempted to grab the ball but was thwarted by the other team. The Metallics' Center player passed the ball to their quarterback as the Badniks tried to follow suite, all the while attempting to stop the Metallics players on their backs. Immediately, as the Metallics quarterback passed the 50-yard

,meter of the field, Knuckles grabbed him by the waist and brought him to the ground, causing the ref to blow his whistle. Everyone dispersed as Espio watched, mesmerized.

"I hope the game isn't like this…" Espio said to himself as the teams got back into position. This time, when the whistle was blown, Bull was able to grab onto the ball as Monk and Knuckles got to attacking the Metallics' defense. He then threw the ball towards Thrash, only for the ball to be intercepted by the wide receiver of the Metallics, who thankfully crossed the boundary and reset the position again.

For the most part, the first couple of minutes began like this until 4 minutes in, where after getting closer and closer to the Badniks' goal, despite an attempt from Rudy to stop the wide receiver of the Metallics, the other team got their first touchdown of the game as Espio looked disappointed. This wasn't how things were supposed to be going… what about Vector's training… or, or the Omamori… wasn't it supposed to be working?

"It's okay, Espio-kun!" Valdez yelled as the crowd partially cheered, partially booed. "This is still the beginning! There's plenty of time for our team to catch up!"

But it didn't really help Espio feel better.


And things didn't get better as most of the first hour and thirty minutes of the game continued like so. Despite there only being one touchdown that game, the Badniks were still at 0 while the Metallics were at 10, scoring a goal through the goalpost just 30 seconds into the 4th fourth quarter of the second half. Espio was getting beyond worried at this point, becoming VERY scared at the idea of seeing Vector fail when he promised he would win tonight's game for him…

It was possibly the first time in his life that he watched a sport with such intensity. Before, whenever he watched the sports performed by the people of the villages of the Historic District, he didn't pay much mind as the athletes back home were often more concerned with their performance in front of the four Brides. But now… it felt entirely different. The game was at a standstill, likely because of how strong both teams were. But now, the Badniks NEEDED to catch up if they wanted to win.

Just as the half-time show began, being performed by the Marching Band and cheer squads of both schools, Valdez got up from where he sat.

"Espio-kun, stay where you are. I'll be right back, okay?" he asked. Espio nodded as the blue chameleon wriggled through the crowd, the fuchsia chameleon returning his eyes back to the field as the Mobius U band roared to life with percussions that he had heard before, all while the beat of taiko drums played alongside the percussions. The band all moved around the field, all the while, Egg Pawn the Badnik marched around the field for the Mobius U performance. Espio watched with curiosity as the band did something he hadn't seen them do before: they all moved around in synchronization, all making different symbols out of each person in the band.

The first was the face off Egg Pawn, but the band would come apart and make another symbol. There was a bee, a crab, a caterpillar, a bird, a ladybug on a wheel, a strange device with a propeller, a snail, another strange device with swords on its arms, and finally, a large egg-shaped person holding a large weapon in one of its hands. Strangely enough, it looked oddly like Headmaster Robotnik…

After the marching band was finished overall and the Mobius U cheerleaders came onto the field with their performance before halftime was fully finished, a minute into the girls' performance, Espio felt a tap on his right shoulder and looked behind him to see Valdez holding multiple things in his hand, namely food.

"Hungry? I told you I'd get you something to eat. Plus, it's almost getting to be closer to 8pm," Valdez said as he sat down next to Espio. He handed him a container with a strange thing he had never seen before. "Here you go. I figured this would fill you up more than popcorn would, and I'm still respecting that you aren't supposed to eat meat too. But I think you'll like it either way."

Espio looked at the strange food item he hadn't seen before and grabbed it, only to be burned. "Ow!" he said, shaking his head. "Valdez-san, what is this?"

"This is called a pretzel. It's bread baked into a shape like this and served in many different ways. I got you one that had parmesan cheese on it and marinara sauce on the side."

"...What?"

Valdez held up a finger and got out his tablet from his bag. He began to type on it for a bit before turning it towards Espio, two lines of very clear katakana on the screen.

"Pa… pa-ru… me-za-n… chii-zu?" he said, reading out each kana individually.

"Yes…"

"And… ma-ri-na-ra… soo-su… right?"

"It's a type of crushed cheese that's put on different foods in the outside world. I figured you might be able to handle this more since you're still not too used to dairy products and it's much smaller. Oh, and marinara sauce is sauce often mixed with pastas or even pizzas. In fact, you know that red sauce on pizzas you've had with Vector? That's marinara sauce."

"Wow… is it really?"

"And I got you a drink too, not to worry. If it's too much, let me know and I'll make sure to save it for you when we get back to the dorm."

Handing him a drink cup, Espio placed it by his feet and the pretzel in his lap before bowing.

"Thank you very much, Valdez-san… how odd of me… I didn't refuse this despite how generous you were to give this to me," the transfer student said.

"Perhaps you've learned that in the Outside World, there's no need to refuse someone's generosity. I hope you do enjoy it, Espio-kun."

Espio watched as Valdez held a container with a sandwich similar to the ones at Sub Station II, only there were three balls in the sandwich that was covered in cheese and that 'marinara sauce' he mentioned, alongside several orange and brown colored slices of… something. Whatever it was, Valdez was certainly enjoying it…

The sudden blow of a whistle diverted Espio's attention back to the field as he saw that a few players on the Badniks team had changed. Notably, Rotor was now on the field, alongside another person he didn't recognize and two others from the first half was now on the bench. Looking down at his pretzel, the chameleon before anything else, held his hands together and bowed.

"Itadakimasu," he said before grabbing the very slightly hot container from his lap, grabbing the oily pretzel with his hands before realizing just how much oil it left.

"Honestly…" Espio thought to himself, feeling disgusted as he had a look of clear dissatisfaction on his face. "Can the Outside World commit to eating without resorting to using your hands for once? Chopsticks would make this far much cleaner…"

Looking at the pretzel, the chameleon then took his first bite from it, not sure what flavor to expect. Upon his first chews, it was very much like eating bread, something never eaten back home. Before coming to Mobius U, his only exposure to bread was... well, never. It was something that was never taught in Gojo. After all, his senseis and his mother all said the same thing at a young age: 'Only the mountains and the sea exist outside of the Historic District'. He never thought he would ever have bread, let alone even be aware of its existance had it not been for his arrival to the Outside World but here in the Outside World… well, it was a bit of an acquired taste at first.

This pretzel on the other hand… it was both sweet and soft, a very good taste compared to what he had in terms of bread. He nodded his head as he turned to face Valdez.

"It's good," he said as the blue chameleon nodded back.

"I'm glad you like it."

And such, the chameleon continued to eat while watching the game, soon also realizing that the cup of marinara sauce was meant for putting the pretzel into it to add more flavor, which Espio very much enjoyed.

What Espio DIDN'T enjoy, on the other hand, was how the game was coming along. Once again, for about twenty minutes, the game was at another standstill as the Badniks would make treks into the Metallics' side of the field, and vice versa, all with no end results. Espio was going back to getting nervous, to taking sips of his drink to quell his nervousness, to looking at Valdez to see if his family friend had any suggestions. However, during the 3rd quarter of the 3rd half, there was yet ANOTHER goalpost score as the Metallics were at 13 and the Badniks at 0. The booing from Espio and Valdez's part of the field only grew more intense as the chameleon spotted how many of the Badniks looked, from Augustus kicking the ground, Connery wiping the tip of his snout, and…

"Vector…" Espio said as he watched the crocodile put his hands over his face and rub downwards. The chameleon felt bad, knowing there was nothing he could do from where he was.

"Can we really win?" Espio asked.

"Well… we are getting closer and closer to the end of the game, Espio-kun. It's not impossible… but it's certainly much harder than the team shall realize."

The transfer student hoped Valdez was right.


Then, something changed.

During the final quarter of the 3rd half, everyone got in their usual places as Bull was the first to grab the ball. Almost immediately, Knuckles, Monk, and Connery blocked as Vector ran forwards. Bull handed the ball to Connery, who then threw it towards the crocodile, who was already running towards the endzone of the Metallics. Despite two members from the opposing team on his tail, one almost even grabbing it, Vector caught the ball and finally touched the endzone. Espio gasped and smiled as everyone around him began to cheer and clap, realizing that Vector made a touchdown.

"He did it! Vector did it, Valdez-san!" Espio excitedly said as Vector ran back towards his team, celebrating alongside them as the fuchsia chameleon jumped up and down with the rest of the audience, clapping as Valdez watched Espio enjoy himself before he sat back down.

"I haven't seen you with much life, Espio-kun. It's such a stark difference to how I'm used to you," Valdez said.

In truth, the blue chameleon had a point. Something about the crocodile awakened a fiery spirit within him. No longer he felt afraid to defy what he was taught all his life, no longer did he feel he had to act like how his mother or his home wanted him to act like. So what if he was being a hooligan right now? Judging from everyone around him… in a place like this, being a hooligan was okay, so what was the harm in indulging himself for just a little bit?

"You know how to awaken me, Vector…" Espio thought to himself, softly laughing as he imagined how the people of Gojo or the Shinobi clan would react if they saw him like this. He knew best to not let it follow him when he returned home, but for tonight… maybe it was okay.

While there was another standstill for some time, something changed once again during the 2nd quarter of the fourth and final half. The Badniks had cornered the Metallics to their side of the field, in between the 10-yard marker and the end zone of the Away team's side. Espio, with bated breath, watched as Bull immediately grabbed the ball, threw it behind to Vector, and with everyone focusing on him, he threw it behind to Connery, who quickly dodged one of the Metallics members and crossed onto the endzone, earning the Badniks another touchdown.

Once again, the Badniks side of the audience grew to life as Espio once again stood up and celebrated. Sure, Connery was the one to score… but that didn't matter, as the two teams were now neck and neck, both at 13. Could it perhaps be that the Omamori was now finally working and giving the Badniks the luck they needed? Espio wasn't sure, but whatever the case, he WANTED the team to keep scoring and to win.

But as the field went back to their usual positions, Espio was confused as Rotor was in front of the ball.

"What's going on?" he questioned until the walrus punted the ball, getting it into the goal as the audience cheered even harder. Espio gasped, turning to Valdez.

"What happened?"

Valdez shrugged. "I'm not too sure, Espio-kun… but right now, the Badniks are winning."

"What?!"

Sure enough, the Badniks were at 14 to the Metallics' 13. Espio didn't join in the cheering this time, but he knew he was going to once the Badniks won.

"Please… which ever of the seven Lucky Gods can hear me…" he prayed to himself, holding his hands together as he closed his eyes. "Continue your blessing on Vector's team and answer the Omamori he carries, blessed by the Shijin Shrine and our priest…"

The minutes continued to count as more quarters ended. Finally, it was the final quarter of the final half, and with just twenty-four seconds on the clock and the two teams in between the 20 and 30 yard line post on the Badniks' side of the field, after that initial whistle blow from the referee, the Metallics Center player grabbed the ball and threw it behind to their quarterback. As he rushed along the other side, Rotor defended and tackled him to the ground, but not before the Metallics quarterback threw the ball to his running back. However, Thrash managed to intercept the ball, and as Axel managed to grab one of them to the ground, the purple Tasmanian devil ran as the offensive tackler of the Metallics came rushing towards him. Espio could see Knuckles run next to Thrash, who he then passed the ball to before Thrash was then knocked into the boundary line.

With the Metallics chasing Knuckles, Vector, with all the energy he could muster, ran as fast as he could as the echidna threw the ball over to him. Espio stood up as he held his hands to himself, but not before yelling alongside the rest of the crowd…

"VECTOR, D-DO ITTTTT!"

Not sure if he grabbed the attention of Vector, or the people around him, Espio closed his eyes out of fear that the crocodile dropped the ball. But once he heard a very loud cheer, the chameleon opened his eyes as he saw Vector on the Metallics end zone, throwing the ball on the ground and running back to his team in open arms all while Coach Augustus celebrated to himself in the background. Everyone around him was going wild, and that's when Espio saw it.

"HOME

21

AWAY

13

0:05"

That was it. The Badniks had won… No matter what, they had won…

Espio's face turned from concerned to happy in a matter of seconds, with the teams returning to their positions, the whistle blowing, and just a couple of movements made before a barrage of whistles and a loud buzzer was sound. Everyone around him cheered, roared, jumped up and down, so much noise… noise that Espio didn't want to drown out. Being in that moment, watching Vector be as happy as he possibly could, alongside the rest of his team… it felt like nothing he had ever seen before in his life.

Just then, so many people began to crowd onto the field. Espio gasped as he realized that many of them were Mobius U students, with security attempting to stop the potential stampede out of fears of safety. In that moment, Espio, high on adrenaline, knew he couldn't just stay in the stands to celebrate.

"Valdez-san, please stay here! I wish to go see Vector!" Espio said as he began to run off, with Valdez standing up.

"E-Espio-kun?! Espio-kun, get back here!" he said, attempting to chase after the chameleon. But to no avail. Espio ran as fast as he could down the steps of the stadium, his geta clacking as more and more Mobius U students and other random people all attempted to get on the field to celebrate with their team. While some were stopped, Espio wasn't, and he was able to jump past the gates and onto the field. He heard the frantic commentary of Wes Weasley and Sam Speed by him, the weasel saying, "By Gaia, Mobius U students and the like flood the field with their presence, beyond joyed that their team is heading straight to the finals! Ladies and gentleman, there's just nothing like this out of all the time's we've been commentating for the Central Mobius College Football Winter Playoffs!" Sam then following up with, "This will go down in the history books as one of the best comebacks in all of Central Mobius College Football history!"

Now running to where Vector and his team was, Espio and the Mobius U students all crowded around the Badniks, circling around them and jumping up and down, chanting, 'MO-BI-US U! MO-BI-US U!"

"VECTOR! VECTORR!" Espio called out as he jumped around the people around him, hoping that the crocodile would recognize him. Just then, the chameleon bumped into someone unexpectedly.

"DUDE, IT'S ESPIO! HE'S HERE!" Manic yelled out, with Sonic and Mighty turning to face him.

"S-Sonic! Mighty, a-and M-Manic!" Espio said. "Y-You are…"

"FUCK YEAH WE'RE HERE, DUDE!" Sonic yelled back. "I MEAN, TALK ABOUT A PERFORMANCE!"

"KNUX! YO KNUX, OVER HERE!" Mighty called out as the echidna turned to face him. Just then, he tapped Vector's side and pointed to where the four where. Espio could see Vector's face change as he saw the chameleon specifically, pushing some of the people and his team aside as he let Espio, Sonic, Manic, and Mighty some room to be near him.

"Y-Yeh guys!" Vector yelled out, trying drown out the noise of the crowd and the sound of camera shutters.

"Vector, cong-congratulations!" Espio said, clapping his hands and looking very happy for the crocodile.

"E-Espio…"

"Dude, you kicked fucking ass tonight!" Manic said. "And look, you guys are pretty much bona fide champions already! Look what's coming your way!"

Espio couldn't see what was coming in the middle of the roaring crowd, and even Sonic and Manic celebrating and cheering near him, with Mighty too also putting his fist against Knuckles' and smiling with him as he held the echidna. However, someone soon got close enough to Vector to hand him what appeared to be a football, designed in what appeared to be rich metals. Espio thought it looked incredibly pretty, but the crowd even more so as they went even more wild not just around the chameleon, but also in the stands too.

"Ladies and gentleman, look above you as the Mobius University Quarterback holds the Crystal Football, recognition of victory in the playoffs and the key needed to enter the Finals of this event! Now all we need is to see who'll win tomorrow's event: the Empire City University Dingoes, or the Mobodoon University Steeds?!" the voice from earlier in the event said. Espio continued to celebrate alongside everyone else as Vector looked down at his friend.

"HEY, YO ESPIO!" he yelled. I'M GETTIN' SWAMPED BY PEOPLE LEFT AND RIGHT! I'LL GIVE YA A BOOST ON MAH SHOULDERS, AND WHEN I DO, I WANTCHA TO SHOW OFF THIS THING AND LET EVERYONE KNOW WHO'LL BE THE WINNER THIS YEAR!"

Espio was a bit confused as to what the crocodile meant, but he then crouched onto the ground. Just then, he was suddenly being grabbed.

"U-Uwahh! W-What are you doing?!" Espio yelled in his native tongue out of surprise.

"C'MON, ESPIO!" Knuckles yelled. "YOU HEARD VECTOR! GIVE THIS CROWD A BIGGER REASON TO GO WILD!"

"YOU GOT THIS MAN!" Mighty added, grinning. "WE'LL HELP YOU! ON THREE, KNUCKLES! ONE... TWO... THREE!"

With Espio protesting, the echidna and armadillo got Espio's on both of Vector's shoulders as the crocodile raised himself up. There was a sudden crowd silence as the crocodile handed the chameleon the Crystal Football. Espio was almost surprised at how heavy it was, quickly realizing that the eyes of thousands, and the cameras of dozens of people were all pointed at him. But before he could say anything, his arms were being lifted by Vector as he held the Crystal Football above his head. The crowd went even more wild as more and more pictures were taken and the voice came back.

"WHAT A SHOW OFF FROM THE MOBIUS UNIVERSITY QUARTERBACK, USING THIS STRANGER FROM THE AUDIENCE IN THIS WEIRD, FUNKY NORTHERN MOBIUS-LIKE GARB TO SHOW THE CROWD… NO, THE WORLD THE GAME THAT TRANSPIRED TONIGHT!" he said, now getting into the hype of everything around him. Espio looked around him as the crowd all cheered, "BADNIKS ATTACK! BADNIKS ATTACK!". He wasn't sure what to do anymore. Was he to keep holding this thing above his head? After all, Vector DID give it to him...

In that moment, the chameleon looked down at Vector as the crocodile slowly turned in place to show off the chameleon around the entire crowd. He... softly smiled as he felt the eyes of the world on him. Normally, he would have hated all this attention… but as he again looked down at Vector to see the crocodile grinning and closing his eyes to give him a very toothy smile, Espio knew that everything was okay. He knew that he was here for a reason, to be here with Vector in this moment in such a way that no one else could understand. In that moment, it felt like the two reptiles got closer than they ever had before as it felt like world cheered on the names of him and Vector, even if they didn't know who Espio was.

Everyone, but two people.

Because from afar the giant circle of people, feet away from where Espio was standing on Vector's shoulders, displaying the Crystal Football above his head, only two Badniks didn't celebrate alongside the rest of their team and the Federation Dome audience on the Badniks' side. They only grit their teeth, growling to themselves and breathing heavily through gritted teeth and boiled blood as they stared daggers at Vector and Espio, the two reptiles oblivious to how angry Connery and Monk were looking at them.


It was almost close to 9:30 when Valdez and Espio were driving back to Mobius U, the fuchsia chameleon still having bits and pieces of his adrenaline high. Carrying the foam glove in his hands, the chameleon stared out the window towards the main part of Central City.

"I'm hoping you had a good time, Espio-kun," Valdez said. "However, I am not very pleased with how you were when you got out of your seat and onto the main field. Honestly, Espio-kun! I told you that going onto the field wasn't allowed, and you should be thankful that the crowd of students was too much for sercurity, otherwise you would have gotten in trouble again!"

Espio turned towards his family's friend. "I... just wanted to support Vector... I... I am so very sorry..."

Valdez sighed. "Well, I just want you to be well behaved, especially now that I still need to hear back from your attorney about letting you visit Gojo. We can't let the Bride suspect that you've been interacting with the Outside World, and how you acted just now... frankly it would make your mother faint."

There was a feeling of pang when Espio thought about going back home for New Year's. He thought back to how he wouldn't be able to tell anyone from Gojo about the Outside World, he couldn't tell them about tonight's game, or anything. He was expected to be the same, obedient son of the Bride as he's always been. He wanted to see his family and his people, sure, but considering that it'd been quite some time since he had seen them all and he was so much more used to interacting with the Outside World, he didn't know how well he would adjust to the sudden change back to how things used to be.

His thoughts were interrupted however, when Valdez's phone began to ring. The blue chameleon looked at his bag, then at Espio.

"Excuse me, Espio-kun," he said. "Can you open my bag for me and answer my phone? I'm driving right now."

"Yes."

Reaching over towards glove department, the transfer student grabbed the bag and…

"Valdez-san… how do I open this?" he asked.

"Pull the zipper down."

"Zi… pper?"

"Do you see something sticking out from a part of what looks like a chain?"

Espio looked closely at the bag and noticed something particular: a string wrapped around some sort of lock. This was definitely much more different than the bag he had brought back home from Gojo…

"This one?" Espio asked.

"Yes, that's the one. Pull it… no, not like that, Espio-kun. Like… there we go, down like that."

Espio audibly awed as he unzipped the bag on his own, being proud that he was able to do it on his first try even if he did need help. Just then, he reached his hand into the buzzing, ringing phone and held it towards Valdez.

"Thank you very much, Espio-kun," the blue chameleon said before clearing his throat and grabbing the phone. He swiped on the screen and held it close to his ears. "Hello, Valdez speaking."

Espio turned back to look outside as he listened in on the blue chameleon's conversation, even if he could only make out certain words he was familiar with.

"Ah, nice to hear from you, Starline. Is everything…" There was a bit of silence before Valdez spoke up again. "Wait, what?!"

Espio turned slowly towards Valdez. What happened?

"What do you mean there was a sudden mass email? And now they want ALL of us to gather our information for any exams and classes students are entering for next semester? I haven't even gotten them for all the transfer students in my program! The Headmaster needs to talk with the Head Dean of the Cental Mobius College Education committee about this. There's no way why they would need this from all of us… Just a precaution? For what?!"

Valdez sighed as there was another bout of silence before speaking up again. "I thought I was going to be free tonight… and I just left with Espio to see tonight's football game… ugh, look, who's with you right now?... Wow, that many? I didn't realize it was that dire. Okay, listen, I'm on my way back to Mobius U right now. I'll drop off Espio at his dorm and then I'll join the rest of you at the ST building's lounge. Nate and Longclaw are definitely going to need me there anyway. Okay, I'll try and be quick. Tell the others that, okay? Thank you, Starline. I'll see you all later."

Valdez sighed as he placed the phone back into the glove department, returning his attention back to the road.

"What happened, Valdez-san?" asked Espio.

"The committee in charge of all College Education departments across all of Central Mobius said apparently they're suspecting fraudulent exam scores so certain colleges can gain more funding so they're asking EVERY college around the country to submit not just any midterms and class signups for all students next semester, but to do so by tomorrow morning at 6am, even if not every student has submitted their classes for next semester or class has taken some sort of exam before the winter holidays. They said that it's just a precaution, but it's something I can't ignore, as the committee is part of the Central Mobius government. If we don't do it, we'll be under suspicion of fraudulency," explained Valdez as they stopped at a red light. "Quite a lot of us professors and staff are crammed into several empty rooms filling stuff out, and since many of us are in charge of overseeing certain departments with majors, for example, not only am I charge of foreign exchange students such as yourself, I'm also in charge of students majoring in foreign language study, I need to be back on campus as some professors will need info on students such as yourself and the other exchange students I'm overseeing this and next semester."

"That sounds very complicated. Almost sounds like something mother would take care of."

"Well, once you settle back down to Gojo in the summer, I won't be surprised if she does assign you to handle work like this. You'll still only be a co-ruler until Shami-chan is old enough."

Espio went back to staring out the window, remembering about what was to occur when his time at Mobius U was up. He wasn't going to lie, while his family, his nanny, and the people of Gojo reminded him about this more and more once he turned 16, it was only now for the very first time that he was starting to consider the idea more and more rather than accepting that it was only natural. Everything at the game just now had showed him just how much Espio had become adjusted to the Outside World. And was someone like that fit to rule Gojo alongside his mother?

Shaking his head, Espio knew it was just silly, and likely a product of overthinking. After all, it's just as he thought, it was only natural that it would occur. Just like it was only natural that he would marry upon his return...

And yet, in that moment, Espio didn't think of his future back home.

"Vector... I cannot wait to see you again..." the chameleon thought to himself as he cleared his mind from distracting thoughts.


MEANWHILE

It wouldn't be until almost 10:30pm when the Badniks finally returned from the Federation Dome field to the locker rooms. They had been busy for almost two hours since the end of the games, doing interviews with MSE, sports journalists, and the like. By this point, the flash of a camera had pretty much registered nothing to Vector's eyes, and it didn't even bother him anymore.

By the time the team returned to the locker room, Coach Augustus stopped the team before they went to shower and dress back into civilian clothes to head back to Mobius U.

"Listen, I want each and EVERY one of you to understand," the polar bear began. "You boys couldn't have made me prouder than you have tonight. I get that I've been all toughass all month, and trust me, I'm not gonna deny it. But it's victories like this is why I give you all tough love. But don't think of this as me taking all the credit. All of you out there? You performed even better than I expected you, and this?"

Augustus held up the Crystal Football. "I didn't earn this. You boys did. Don't forget that as we head to the finals on Friday. Because once we finally lead as champions, you boys got no one to congratulate but yourselves. And by damn, are you boys gonna make yourselves proud or what?!"

"YES COACH!" the Badniks all yelled back in unison.

"That's what I like to hear! Now, why don't we head back to Mobius U to a victors welcome?!"

There was a loud cheer as everyone returned back to their lockers and Augustus went into the office used by Home coaches who use the Federation Dome. Meanwhile, the rest of the Badniks were all in a loud, celebratory clamor as they all were answering texts from friends and family, celebrating with their fellow teammates, high fiving or bumping fists, the like.

In the crowd of Badniks, Vector had already taken off his gear when he checked his phone from inside his locker, seeing the large sea of notifications including several texts, almost several thousand interactions from Scrambler, and a few missed calls. First, he sent out a message on Scambler.

"Couldn't be happier with MobiusUBadniks tonight with how well our game went! You guys all rock, and the Finals are gonna be amazing!" he typed before sending the post.

He then checked his missed calls, seeing that the first one was from his parents. Quickly pressing the call button, Vector sat on the stone bench and waited for his mother to answer his call. In just a couple of seconds flat...

"Ma? It's me, I'm back," Vector said.

"Oh, Vector honey..." she said. "By Gaia, I'm so happy to hear your voice. Your father and I watched the entire game from start to finish and we're so proud of you for winning. You've made not just us very proud; you've made your school and your peers so very happy, and I couldn't be more blessed to have a son such as yourself."

"Aw, stop it, Ma..." Vector rubbed the back of his head, rubbing his sweaty scales. "Yer embarassin' me, especially in the locker rooms..."

"Oh don't say that, hun. I saw you play harder than I've ever seen you before in my life. You deserved that win more than anything in the world. I would pass it to your father right now, but he's been calling all his work buddies since 9, including some he's made bets with to brag about how 'his son won tonight's game'."

Vector laughed. "Ha, sounds exactly like pops! I'll call him tomorrow, it is gettin' pretty late and I bet yeh two work tomorrow, right?"

"Of course, sweetie. You know that. But we stayed up tonight just to watch you. There's even a still flipped bowl of chips on the living room floor from when your father got up from his seat and spilled it all over when your team won. I was going to clean it just now since we've been on a bit of an adrenaline high. I'm just so happy to hear you're doing okay. By the by, I wanted to ask..."

"Hm?"

"Your father didn't catch it because he was pretty much jumping all over the house, but I noticed that there was this strange person on your shoulders holding that crystal football thingy. Who was that?"

"Oh, that's mah roomie! Ya know, the one I've told ya 'bout?"

"O-Oh... oh! Oh! That's him?! That... Es... Espu..."

"Espio?"

"Yes! That's that Espio person? You mentioned that he wore very traditional clothing, and you weren't kidding. It even sounded like the people on the TV were very confused about why he was suddenly on your shoulders showing off that football."

"Yup, that's him! Knuckles and Mighty helped him get on mah shoulders. That, to me, was the highlight of tonight."

"Well, I'm glad you two had a great night. Anyway, I need to get back to cleaning up. Make sure you have a great rest of the night and that your bus gets back to campus safely, okay?"

"'Course, love ya, ma."

"And the same to you too, sweetie. Bye!"

Vector's mother hung up as the crocodile smiled, looking up to see Knuckles staring back at him, the echidna in the middle of taking off his compression pants.

"Well, looks like our star quarterback was just interrupted in the middle of being a mama's boy," he said, grinning.

"Argh, shut it yeh..." Vector replied. "Yer just jealous and ya know that."

Knuckles had flipped off the crocodile as he stripped down completely, grabbing a towel to his side.

"Say, I wanted to mention something to you," the echidna continued as he wrapped the towel around himself. "Mighty just texted me and said that there's gonna be a huge welcome home party at the K building like there usually is. I know you likely aren't gonna go, but he figured that you'd wanna know."

Vector stared back at the echidna as he thought about it. A welcome home party... hm...

"Ya know what?" the quarterback said. "I haven't been to any of the victory parties at all this semester. But... this time? I think I'll go."

Knuckles quickly turned his head towards Vector. "Whoa... did you just say you would go to a party?!"

"Oh, dun get yer dick all excited, Knux. I just figured tonight was important and that if I didn't go, I'd lose any kind of cool points I'd have with the entire school."

"Ha, I bet you would. Okay, I'll text Mighty then and we can go."

"Heck, maybe I'll bring Espio too!"

"Funny you should mention that, apparently 'Chameleon Guy' is trending on Scrambler. No one seems to know who Espio is or why he was on your shoulders, but they seem to like him even if no one can figure out why he's wearing super traditional Northern Mobius clothi-"

"It's Yurashian."

"I mean, is there a difference?"

"...yeah? Yeh of all people should know that if yer majorin' in Geology."

"Look, I choose to focus on the more important things in my life, Vector. On that note, I'm about to head and shower. Try not to go so slow, I know people want you back on campus. Besides, it seems like all four of us got a party to go to with our names on it!"

With that, the echidna turned around as the crocodile went to take off his grimy, dirty clothes. Taking out a towel from his locker, his jersey, cleats and tube socks, the omamori he wore under his jersey, and finally, his compression pants and jockstrap all sat on the floor next to his helmet and protective gear as he wrapped his towel around his waist.

"Man, tonight was hard..." he thought to himself. "But headin' back to campus to a hero's welcome... winnin' that Crystal Football... it was all worth it. And most importantly... seein' Espio again after showin' him off to the world is gonna be the thing tonight most worth it. Heh, bet he's gonna be super popular tonight."

He turned back to look at the omamori on the floor and smiled. "Couldn't be more thankful for that thing. Bless yer heart, Espio," Vector thought to himself before grabbing his phone and placing all the things he left on the floor in his locker before locking it up. The crocodile began to head to the showers as several members of the team were coming in and out of the area. He passed by Thrash drying himself, Connery and Monk standing behind the doorway that connected to the locker rooms meant for cheer squads and marching band members, among a few others.

Checking his phone one last time before finding an empty shower, the crocodile picked the one at the end of the showers and got inside, disrobing as he placed the towel over the shower curtains and turned the shower valve on. As hot water immediately hit his scales, the crocodile sighed in relief as he raised his head up.

"Sure could use somethin' to help me relax even more at a time like this..." Vector said to himself as he grabbed the phone he left on the soap stand above him, turning around to not get it wet. He opened up his music app and scrolled for a bit, wondering what song he could put on aloud to help him relax before he washed his grimy scales.

"Let's see... am I in the mood fer rap... metal, or rock..." he said as he passed by multiple songs of each genres. "Eh, I've listened to a lot of rock this month while trainin'. Rap it is then."

With that, the crocodile placed on a song by acclaimed hedgehog rapper Snoop Hogg, and he turned back around and listened to the drum and bass beat as he felt the hot water touch his scales as he slowly crouched. He began to picture how the scene at Mobius U was right about now, with a heavy amount of flashing lights and loud music coming from the heavily crowded K building.

"And to think that's where I'm gonna be once I get washed up and back on campus," Vector thought to himself. "Yeah, it's gonna be a TOTAL kickass party. Me, and Knux, Mighty, the team... and... and Espio. Yeah, I bet he's gonna have a good time. We'll both be the big men on campus tonight, and I'm gonna introduce him to everyone who doesn't know who he is by this point. They're gonna see how totally awesome he is."

Smiling, Vector stayed in the shower for that brief moment, the sound of his music and the running water being the only things he could hear as he daydreamed about the party, daydreamed about everyone fawning over the Badniks, daydreamed about Espio hopefully being the first person tonight to wish a congratulations to him. It was all pure bliss in that moment as he pictured the chameleon's face, now finally up close since he had only seen the chameleon before he came onto the field via the stands, as much as he couldn't do much about it like personally wave to him.

It would have been a moment of peaceful serenity, a moment where the only noise was his music and the shower...

Until it suddenly wasn't.

Because in that moment, there was a loud crash from outside the showers, and the yell of, "WHERE IS HE?!"

Vector gasped as he quickly opened his eyes, getting up from the floor. Completely shocked by the sudden noise, the crocodile grabbed his phone and turned his music off, only to realize who's voice it was.

"M-Monk?" he said to himself, wondering what happened to the gorilla. In that moment, another voice rang out.

"There's only one person I can think of who can play that putrid music at a time like this."

"And Connery too..."

Vector didn't quite know what to do, but judging by the voices from the gorilla and the horse, they were NOT happy. He wasn't sure who they were looking for, but his question was answered as Vector suddenly noticed a pair of purple feet and black hooves from under the shower curtain.

"Vector, we know you're in there! Get out of there right now, we need to talk!" Connery demanded in a serious voice.

"What did I do?..." Vector asked, both to play dumb and out of genuine curiosity. They won tonight's game so... why were they mad?

"Don't play dumbass with us!" Monk retorted. "You know EXACTLY what you did! Get out here NOW!"

"I really dun know what yer talkin' 'bout!"

"How much more do I have to repeat myself? Do we have to drag you out of there?!"

Vector groaned, realizing they weren't going to leave him alone. Out of anger, he pulled back the curtains to show only his head.

"Look, Connery!" the crocodile retorted angrily. "Whoever just did the sequel to the Shavin' Cream Incident from last year, I PROMISE I had nothin' to do with it this time!"

Connery sputtered, looking surprised. "W-Wha... THIS time?!"

The quarterback felt his eyes shrink, realizing that he had just revealed something he shouldn't have to Connery. "N-Nothin'... ya heard nothin'!"

The horse lowered his eyes before shaking his head. "Forget it. We have more pressing issues at hand. Vector... what was that?"

"What was... what?"

Connery groaned, pinching his forehead. "Are you that much of a dunce, Vector?!"

"Well, I dunno, are ya gonna TELL me what I did instead of sayin', 'Ya know whacha did' and expectin' me to just know what yer talkin' 'bout?"

"Back in the stadium when we were all celebrating our victory. It should have been a momentous occasion, but no, you feel the need to celebrate by showing off your little friend to the rest of the world!"

Vector groaned. Gaia, not THIS again...

"Is it not enough that we won tonight that just cause I wanna celebrate with mah friend that suddenly EVERYTHIN'S now ruined?" he questioned.

"Not when you feel the need to act like the way you did. Look at yourself, Vector!" Monk said, brow furrowing. "Do you not see how utterly embarrassing you were acting?! You think this is middle school football?!"

"Uhhh... huh," Vector simply replied, not getting where the gorilla was going with this argument.

"You now feel the need to tout criminals in front of not just our school, but pretty much the entire nation and ruin the reputation of our team once people get curious and want to know who your little roommate is!" Connery added. "And it's almost like you don't care about what you did! You're our quarterback for Gaia's sake! The fact that you don't even care about the image of our team speaks VERY loudly to me that you care little about our image! Well, I hate to break it to you Vector, but that's something a quarterback does! Makes sure that the image of his team is very important!"

"So that's why yer pissed? Cause Espio was on mah shoulders? Must be real nice havin' him live rent free in yer head."

"It isn't about just that," Monk added. "Celebration is one thing, but it's another to act in the way you did out there!"

Realizing that this was going nowehere, Vector pretty much had enough of this conversation.

"Uh huh... yeah, I'll forward yer message to someone who actually cares."

Pulling back the curtains of the shower, Vector turned around as he heard Monk growl.

"Damn it Vector, enough with this hiding! Connery and I are getting annoyed with how much you do this! It's almost like you want to run away from the truth!"

"What truth? Just go fuckin' shower and cool off."

Grabbing his bottle of scale cleaner and shiner, the gorilla only continued as Vector poured the cleaner onto his hand.

"Why you continue to defend him! All this from you... it's like you know we're onto you and you won't accept it! Admit it, Vector, the only reason you continue to run off when we ask questions is because you're sticking that damn tongue of yours down that chameleon's throat!"

Vector stopped in that moment, letting the bottle of scale cleaner crash onto the ground. He... heard that... right?

Turning around slowly, he ever so slightly opened up the curtains and peered out.

"...what?" Vector flatly asked.

"Don't try to play stupid anymore! I've figured out your little game..." Monk growled, anger clear on the gorilla's face. "The way he follows you around day in and out like a clingy Chao, the way both of you look at each other, interact with one another, all of that! It's become sickening to watch! I've even seen how you two have been training each morning, and the more I watch you, the more things have been ever so clearer to me!"

"He even does that too?" Connery shook his head. "Of course. What else should I have expected?"

"Where are ya goin' with this?" Vector asked.

"Where I'm going is that you won't fess up the truth! That you're probably bending that little reptile over your desk day in and out..."

Vector sputtered. "W-Wha... what? D'ya not even hear yerself, Monk?! Is it apparently criminal to have, ya know, FRIENDS?!"

"There's a difference between friends and a degenerate, Vector. And from what I'm seeing, you've crossed the line of degeneracy."

"Whaddya mean?"

"Look around you, Vector. We pretty much are surrounded by this LGBT degeneracy every day. Think about how many of those rainbow flags you pass by each day, that club they have on Club days that Connery here has told me about, hell, think about all the pro athletes 'coming out' lately. Our sport is one of the very few bastions of masculinity left in this world, and us athletes are the only one who can preserve traditional masculinity no matter what degenerate agenda they want us to follow."

Vector could only lower his eyes, wondering where THIS rant suddenly came from. "Uh... huh..."

"I mean, give me a break. Pretty soon, they'll start expecting us to start calling sodomy okay, and it'll be one giant slippery slope until all the things in their agenda comes true. But I refuse to ever follow the rules of a bunch of sodomites and homophiles..."

"Monk," Vector replied, sternly.

"...they have all this pride shit too, I mean, what is there to be prideful about?! It's suddenly okay to show how off perverted you are, how much you want to radicalize a society and indoctrinate minors into your cult while you hold all the power and yet, simultaneously whine about how oppressed you are..."

"Monk," Vector now replied, even more stern than before.

"...while we have to sit around and be muzzled and watch things change as a result of a bunch of activists. You see how it is now! Now they want to have, Gender neutral bathrooms and whatever crap they're pushing now! Pretty soon the next part of their agenda is expose kids to their disgusting sexual fetishes, and they've already started with their little parades and signs of 'acceptance'-"

"That's neato," Vector interrupted. "Hey, uh, MONK, just a quick question. I'm sure this is some REALLY HUGE important issue that I'm sure we're all DYIN' to learn how we can solve, but I got a GENUINE question fer ya... What in the absolute FUCK does this have to do with me?!"

Monk stopped for a moment and pondered for a couple of seconds before it finally hit him.

"W-wh... what does this have to do with you? What does this have to do with you?! It has EVERYTHING to do with you! Because of your little relationship with that chameleon, it's clear that behind your little mask is a degenerate who thinks to go against natural order! You're pretty much telling the world that it's okay if our team gets destroyed on the inside by the degenerates and their agenda! You're our quarterback for Gaia's sake, do you not know how many kids and families we play in front of each game?! You're showing me that you're okay with the degenerate community's shit like expecting 8 year olds to pick from 23 different genders, allowing boys into girls locker rooms, letting drag queens in public libraries, and emasculating sports all for the attention of a bunch vile soy guzzling people who want to see the destruction of the biological imperative of preservation!" the gorilla yelled back. However, in that moment, Connery turned towards Monk, looking confused.

"Monk... you DO know I eat soy-based products, right?" he questioned.

The gorilla quickly turned his head towards the horse. "W-What do you mean?!"

"I've told this team so many times to stop eating all this processed shit they eat and turn to pure, organic based foods in their diet! I don't eat meat, dairy, all that stuff, and instead, I eat replacements that have soy in it! And the last time I checked, I don't follow that community at all!"

"Don't be stupid, Connery! You know how much estrogen is in soy-based stuff! How can you even argue that it's good for you when we know soy turns men into weak, whimpering degenerates?!"

Vector turned his eyes towards the horse and gorilla, wondering if this mini-quarrel could be used to run off.

"Do you see me as one of those, Monk?! Well, do you?!" Connery raised his hands up, mane shaking. "Argh, that's besides the point! Look, we can respectfully debate this later. Right now, I think we have MORE important things to discuss..." he said, turning his head towards Vector.

"As much as I hate to overlook that..." Monk added. "I'm inclined to agree."

"I have my own opinions on what Monk is talking about, but for the most part, I agree with what he's saying. MY own two cents on this issue, Vector," Connery continued. "...is that you're letting that criminal overtake your entire life. It's starting to feel like you care less about this sport and more about him."

"Do ya fuckin' not hear yerselves?!" Vector questioned, grabbing his forehead. "Like, really! Do ya NOT hear yerselves?! I've had to listen to what sounds like a buncha conspiracy talk fer what feels like 5 minutes! All just cause I happen to be good friends with someone, NOW yer accusin' me of bein' gay and all this shit like... really!"

"There's a difference between accusation and truth, Vector. Why don't YOU prove that you aren't a homosexual and that you aren't trying to push smut and perversion onto the audiences of families and children we play in front of!" Monk questioned.

"That's...!" Vector stopped, not even sure HOW he could even do such a thing.

"Ha, no answer. Typical."

"Let me tell you instead what you can do," Connery added. "Cut all ties with that roommate of yours and prove that you care about your school, your team, the sport you've devoted your entire life to. That chameleon is nothing more than an ungrateful parasite who hates our country and its laws, sucking out your devotion to other things all so you can focus on him, meanwhile our Radical Leftist university and its dictators simply lets him STILL do whatever he wants. I think now it's time we put an end to that."

Vector shook his head. "Yeh two frankly are a bunch of fuckin' clowns. Why doncha fuck off and find somethin' else to get mad at. I'm done entertainin' ya."

Turning around and closing the blinds, Vector's rage and blood was boiling at this point, but he didn't want the horse or gorilla to see. However... Connery growled.

"Argh, I'm getting SICK of this, Vector! I'm done with all of this running away, all this hiding! You WILL respond to me with what we're asking of you!" The horse then forced the curtains opened. "Now get out here right now and stop this foolishness-"

In that moment, Connery grabbed Vector's elbow and the crocodile stopped. It felt like a light switch was turned on as the quarterback stared at the running back with murder in his eyes.

"Get. Yer hands. Offa me..." Vector snarled.

Forcing Connery's hands off his elbow, Vector, angrier than he had ever been in months, closed the curtains again as he grabbed his bottle of scale cleaner. He had enough of the two by this point, and they had crossed MULTIPLE lines.

But it wasn't enough for Connery.

Connery's brow lowered and his moustache formed into a scowl as he opened his mouth again. "Damn it, Vector! What is it going to take for you to stop acting like a child and face what we're talking about like a MAN?!"

Once again, he had opened the curtains again, but as Connery grabbed Vector's elbow again...

The crocodile snapped.

"I said... get YER FUCKIN' HANDS OFFA ME!"

Pushing Connery back, the crocodile and horse fell onto the ground as Monk slid out of the way. Vector climbed atop of the horse and began to beat onto the side of his chest. A few of the teammates around the two began to gasp as they crowded around the two.

"Holy shit, Vector and Connery are fighting!" Bull Bones yelled out as he ran out of the showers and towards the locker room.

"Little... piece of shit! I'm gettin' sick... of all the ways yer treatin' Espio!" he said in between punches. Vector however, was suddenly kicked in his stomach by Connery's hooves as he stumbled back, the horse quickly getting back up as his towel fell off from his waist and pinning Vector against the wall.

"You've brought this to no one... but yourself!" Connery yelled back, head locking Vector as the crocodile attempted to bite the horse's elbow. By now, as Vector tried to shake Connery off, he could see several of his teammates recording the fight as more of them piled into the showers to watch what was going on. The crocodile attempted to punch Connery's stomach, however, it was to no avail, so Vector attempted to flail Connery around him in an attempt to get him off.

"You know I'm stronger than you... boy! Quit with all this resisting!" Connery snarled.

Vector however, was able to get the upper hand as he bit Connery's elbow, the horse yelling out in pain as he sunk his sharp teeth into Connery's elbow. However, just then, the crowd of players stepped aside as Coach Augustus ran up to the two, pulling them apart.

"Get... in my office," he said in a deep voice, grabbing the two by the shoulder.

"Coach!" Connery said, holding his bleeding elbow.

"Get the hell in my office!" the polar bear continued, marching the two against their will.

"Coach!" Vector added.

"GET THE FUCK IN MY OFFICE!"

The rest of the Badniks simply watched as Vector and Connery were led away from the scene, their towels left behind and a small trail of blood trickling from where Connery was walking. Knuckles could only look on in horror with the rest of the team at what happened, some of them lowering their phones and furiously texting friends in complete silence. All while Monk continued to stand where he stood, eyes lowered at Vector now showing him who he truly was.


Crocodile and horse were forced into the makeshift office after Coach Augustus personally bandaged up Connery's wound, the two still in the nude as the polar bear returned to the desk. Instantly, the two began to speak up.

"Coach, I've been tellin' Connery all semester to stop with all this shit, even personally talkin' to ya 'bout it-" Vector said.

"Vector was the only one escalating this situation, just as violent as his little friend! He was the one who attacked me first, you even see the wound he's left me with-" Connery added alongside Vector before Coach Augustus slammed his fist on the desk.

"ENOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUGH!" he screamed out as he got up from his chair. "I HAVE HAD IT, UP TO HERE, WITH BOTH OF YOU!! I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES THIS SEMESTER I'VE HAD TO PUT UP WITH YOU TWO, TALKING TO YOU PERSONALLY, AND DOING EVERYTHING TO MAKE YOU STOP WHATEVER QUARREL YOU TWO HAVE. AND... YOU STILL! WON'T. LET. THIS. GO!"

Silencing Vector and Connery into pure submission, the polar bear only breathed heavily as he stared at the two.

"Now that BOTH of you have your mouths shut, here's what we're going to do. I've given you frankly far too many chances this semester, and it seems the message hasn't gotten to your heads. Normally, I would be contacting AD Sommersby, the headmaster, AND campus security, but because I'm such a LOVING, caring coach, I'm going to give you... ONE. LAST. CHANCE."

He walked around the two, staring at them, not even caring that the two were completely without clothes in front of him.

"I, alongside AD Sommersby, have to go back onto that field and give a speech to reporters about the finals this Friday for press related reasons. While I'm going, I expect BOTH of you to decide what you're going to do with your little issue. I don't care what you do, how you do it, WHATEVER! I expect that you come to a conclusion, and by Gaia's sake, I expect you two to be back on that bus, away from each other when I get back to this office!"

"But Coach-" Vector said before Coach Augustus pointed his finger.

'ZIP IT! If you're gonna start a game of he said she said, I don't frankly give a shit about who said what or who started it, GOT IT?!"

Vector simply lowered his head. "Back to what I was saying... If it's too hard for you, well that's okay. Then I'll FORCE AD Sommersby to get in here and have him to come up with a solution for you two, WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT! We'll treat you like a bunch of children if we fucking have to, seeing as how that's how you two want to act like!"

Vector could feel his legs turn into jelly as he felt himself getting smaller and smaller the more he looked at the polar bear.

"And if you don't want that outcome either, yet it's too hard to come with a solution..." Coach continued in a softer voice. "Then that's perfectly fine. I'll tell you two what you can do."

Slamming a piece of paper and a pen on the desk in front of Vector and Connery, he stared back at them.

"You can write down your student email, wait for me to send the official letter of resignation, sign it, and have it back on my desk on campus by Wednesday, and FUCK OFF THIS TEAM! I'll find a new quarterback and running back by Friday if I have to! And by Gaia, don't you even DARE think I won't do it! So, I suggest you two start coming up with a solution..."

He began to walk out of the room, opened the door, and turned towards the two one last time.

"...STARTING NOW!"

He then slammed the door behind the two, Vector wincing as the loud boom of the door made his eardrums ring. He simply only stared at Connery, the horse doing the same in that moment.

"So... what's our solution?" Vector asked, finally breaking the silence.

"What solution?" Connery added.

"Ya know what I mean! This way yeh've been towards Espio, actin' like a real bigot this semster-"

Connery scowled. "Argh, there you go with that word! Why don't you admit that you want to spread your leftist agenda just like the rest of your little roommate's friends?! That liberal girl, Jewel and that lardy socialist tapir friend of his, and finally you... it's a perfect trifecta of privileged liberals patronizing me for being free thinking! No wonder you fit in so perfectly with them, you're too blindsided to see the truth; rather it's easier for you to call me a bunch of buzzwords when you know I know more about this issue than you..."

Vector could only stare back at Connery with lower, angered eyes.

"Ya can think whatever ya want 'bout me, I dun give a shit. Maybe I am one of those 'liberals' ya constantly fear so much even if I dun give a fuck 'bout politics. Who gives a shit. But it's another when ya start to go after one of mah friends over somethin' so trivial. I've told ya time and time again, I dun give a shit if ya dun like Espio. Fair, fine, whatever, I ain't expectin' everyone to like him. But it's another thing when ya wanna open yer mouth and spout off shit that ain't true."

"It's ONE thing to tout a bunch of lies, it's another to show you the kind of person he really is. So what if he's your friend? He's still a criminal who has pending charges, and all the while, still continues to think he has a place in a society far more advanced than his savage brain will ever comprehend. If that boy thinks that he can solve all his issues with violence, maybe it just goes to show there's a reason I have issue with him continuing to be on campus."

"It ain't even 'bout all that shit from last month anymore! Yeh've done nothin' but... but politicize him! Like, not just him bein' a student at the school just... his entire existence is somethin' fer yeh to make into a political issue!"

"When you deal with a criminal from out of the country, it unfortunately becomes a political issue when you show that you have no standards for allowing people into Central Mobius! It makes a complete mockery of our immigration process for people who actually work hard to come to Central Mobius if we just let it be infested by people like him."

"So..." Vector crossed his arms. "What's yer solution then?"

Connery simply continued to stare at Vector, not moving. "My ultimatum in this? It's quite simple, Vector. Until you've completely cut off that chameleon from your life, never letting him get involved in our sport, our university, our society, or your life period, then you and I are done. Outside of football, we have NO cordial relationship period. You will not look at me, expect me to acknowledge your existence, anything like that."

"I ain't gonna stop bein' friends with Espio if it means appeasin' yeh."

Connery simply looked forward. "Then it seems that you would rather burn bridges with your team than accept the truth. Fair enough, I didn't expect you to take the mature way out. But let me tell you one last thing."

He then proceeded to turn and walk towards Vector, staring at him in the eye.

"I know your little roommate's trial is coming up next month. What were the charges? Assault and evasion of police on foot?"

Vector continued to stare back into Connery's eyes, chest rising up and down out of fury.

"Well, let me be the first to say..."

And then, Connery... began to smirk.

"...that when the day after his trial comes, I'll be sitting at our usual table that morning, very gladly reading the paper announcing his guilty verdict."

With that, Connery walked away and left the office as Vector simply stood there in silence. However, hot, seething rage built up inside him, especially from his last comment. With one very loud roar, the crocodile slammed the side of his fist into the file cabinet next to him, causing a large dent to form from where he punched it. The quarterback simply grit his teeth, heavily breathing as his urge to attack Connery again built up inside him.

"Damn him... damn him damn him damn him damn him!" he said to himself, thinking of the horse as nothing but dead to him. He wanted to stay there in that moment... but knew he had to leave eventually.

Leaving the office with his head hung, the first person he saw upon getting out was...

"Monk..." he said.

"Don't look at me with those diseased, homophile eyes of yours..." the purple gorilla snarled. "You've done more than enough to show me how vile and sick you are..."

The gorilla walked away as Vector's expression softened, not feeling as angred but... hurt. For the first time, Vector felt... rejected...

And it only continued when Vector saw the next person.

"I warned you, didn't I?" Axel said, staring at the crocodile. "I told you we had to stop all this discord before the Playoffs. But no. You didn't listen to me. And now look what's happened. Don't try to look for an excuse, you have no one to blame but yourself."

The water buffalo walked pass Vector as the crocodile only felt hurt once again. He knew the others wouldn't be like Connery, or Monk, or Axel, but as he walked pass some of them, their stares were enough to hurt the crocodile.

Simply wanting to finish his shower, Vector returned back to the showers as a now dressed Bull, Thrash, Brawny, Rudy, and Knuckles, stood in the shower room.

"Yo... Vec?" Thrash asked as the crocodile walked past the five of them.

"I... I ain't really in the mood..." Vector said as he went back to his shower. Knuckles could only stare at his friend as he adjusted his letterman jacket.

"Poor guy..." he said.

"I'm sure Vector will be fine, guys," Rudy said. "I just need to check on Connery and Monk and make sure they aren't dying."

"Do you really need to go check on them?" Thrash asked. "They've been acting like real assholes since we got back here. Tch, what a piece of shit. And I even idolized Connery too."

In between the group's discussion, there were two people looking afar from the conversation. One of which was a mysterious person who quickly closed the door behind them that connected to the cheer squad and marching band's locker rooms, the other was... Rotor. The walrus sadly looked on the conversation ensuing, his mind repeating what had just occurred over and over again.


It was almost midnight when Espio heard the familiar BEEP of the dorm room door. He had been laying on his bed on his side, expecting Vector's return and not wanting to go to bed unitl he came back. As soon as he heard that beep, the chameleon quickly raised his body up and saw the door open.

"Vector! You are b... back!"

He then climbed down off the top bunk of the bed and to the floor, running up to his friend. But as he did...

"Vector?" Espio asked, noticing Vector's tired, solemn face

"Hey Espio," he said in a somber tone. "Sorry I... I ain't really in the mood right now."

He placed his duffle bag on the floor, took off his shirt, and walked past Espio and got into bed.

"V-Vector... what happen?"

"It's... a long story. I dun really wanna talk 'bout it. It's a lot. I'll be okay though, I promise."

Espio simply frowned as he watched the crocodile. "Say," he continued. "Thanks fer comin' to the game tonight, yeh and Mr. Valdez. That omahmory thingy really helped out a lot. I just wanna..." he then yawned. "...wanna forget tonight. Can ya turn off the lights?"

The chameleon turned to face the light switch, then at Vector one last time.

"B-But..." Espio said.

"Just do it... please?"

Walking over to the switch, he turned the lights off.

"Thank ya... make sure yer in bed too, okay?"

However, Espio simply stared at the crocodile from afar, still frowning and upset seeing Vector the way he was.

"Vector... what happened to you? Who... did this?" the transfer student asked in his native tongue as he simply watched the crocodile from where the bulletin board was, upset at the idea that someone hurt his friend.


MEANWHILE...

At the same time, in a dorm in East Hall, a lone Connery sat by himself in bed, the covers pulled up over most of his body as he looked at his phone while the TV was on for background noise. He had just gotten done telling the members of CCOCC about what had occurred in the locker room earlier, and many of them were sending messages of support.

"I'm so sorry you had to deal with that, Connery!" one texter replied.

"It would be the radical left to resort to violence. You did nothing wrong, Connery," another replied.

"Be sure to watch yourself. You know how much sports have become woke nowadays. They may try to boot you off the team. If they do, resist every effort and don't fall for their grifting,"

Still feeling his phone buzz with texts from the CCOCC members, Connery put his phone down on the nightstand, sighing as the light of the TV light up his face, his sheet, and his shirtless chest.

"Damn you, Vector..." he said to himself. "I've told you time and time again... and look where we've ended up. But you'll see the truth soon enough... and when you do, I expect you to make the right choice this time..."

END OF CHAPTER 19