Chapter 18 — Middle Road Rules

Although Bảo Châu temporarily extinguished the fire of anger at the Gymnasium, the consequences of her identity being revealed were inevitable.

That very afternoon, news about the former Shadow player competing in the student tournament spread at breakneck speed on social networks. Thousands of malicious comments flooded Hoàng Diệu school's fanpage. Public pressure was so great that the school Board of Directors had to hold an emergency meeting.

In the Supervisor's room, Mr. Trần frowned as he looked at the computer screen displaying the headline: *"Hoàng Diệu School harbors fixers - Smearing the school e-sports scene?"*

Hải Đăng stood straight in front of the supervisor's desk. No longer wearing a hoodie or mask, he faced his famous strict teacher with a surprising calmness.

"Teacher, I understand that my appearance is negatively affecting the school's reputation," Đăng said, placing a handwritten letter on the table. "This is an application to withdraw from the E-sports Club. I will voluntarily withdraw from the tournament. Please only allow the remaining four members and Manager Bảo Châu to continue competing in the Semifinals."

Teacher Trần picked up the application, pushed up his glasses to look at Đăng. "Do you think running away will solve the problem? People will say the school forced you to quit to get away with the crime."

"But that's the only way to protect HD E-sports," Đăng bit his lip. "They have put in a lot of effort. I can't take away their opportunity because of my bad past."

*Bang!*

The door to the Supervisor's room was pushed open. Bảo Châu, followed by Hùng, Tuấn, Kiên and Nam, sweating profusely, rushed into the room.

"Teacher! We don't agree!" Châu breathed heavily, pointing at the form on the table. "You cannot approve that application!"

"What are you guys doing here? Who gave permission to barge into the Supervisor's room?" Teacher Trần slammed the table and shouted loudly.

"Teacher, if Mr. Đăng is forced to withdraw from the tournament, all of us will also withdraw!" Hùng 'Gaur' took a step forward, loudly patting his chest.

"That's right! We are a team. We will not abandon our Captain just because of some nonsense online rumors," Tuấn 'Compass' and Kiên '3G' said in unison. Although 'Cowardly' man's legs were shaking, he gritted his teeth and nodded repeatedly.

Đăng was stunned and turned back to look at the four boys he once called "the panthers". Just a few days ago, they were arguing and exchanging responsibilities, but now they dared to stand up and confront the Supervisor to protect him.

"You guys... stop causing trouble," Đăng frowned. "This is no joke."

"We're not joking," Châu stepped forward, pulled Đăng's application form from the supervisor's desk and tore it in half before everyone's surprised eyes.

She turned to Mr. Trần, regaining the sharp tone of a class disciplinarian. "Mr. Trần. You once said that if we reached the regional semi-finals, you would provide more funding and keep the computer room. Now, we have done it. We competed completely transparently, with our own sweat and tears. In terms of legality and tournament rules, Hải Đăng did not violate any laws. Why should the school be afraid of those who throw hate on social networks?"

Teacher Trần was silent, his fingers tapping on the table. His eyes swept across the tense but youthfully enthusiastic faces of the group of students.

During his twenty years as a supervisor, he saw countless students quarrel, fight, or skip school. But this was the first time he saw a group of students willing to bet their passion and greatest opportunity to protect the honor of a friend.

He sighed and pulled out a file from the drawer. That was the rule book of the NHEC tournament.

"Article 4.2," Teacher Trần read aloud. "Participating members must be full-time students at the registered high school. There is no limit on professional competition history as long as they are not under a legal ban from competition by a competent authority."

He closed the law book and threw it on the table.

"According to the law, Mr. Trần Hải Đăng has never been banned from competing by the Court or the National E-sports Federation," Teacher Trần stood up, hands on hips. "I am the Inspector, I protect my students in accordance with the Rules and Laws. The school will not withdraw. No one will have to leave the team."

The entire HD E-sports group was so happy, they wanted to scream in celebration, but were interrupted by Teacher Trần's glare.

"However!" Teacher Trần pointed at Hải Đăng. "Tomorrow is the Semi-final match. Mr. Đăng, your hand is injured. The school requires a medical certificate from the doctor allowing you to play. If your hand is not healthy, you will be forced to sit in the coaching chair. Mr. Châu will have to play."

Đăng nodded, his eyes shining with determination. "Yes, teacher. I understand."

"And those guys," Teacher Trần turned to Châu's group. "Since you've accidentally declared war on public opinion, tomorrow you'll have to calm down and fight properly. If you lose miserably and bring shame to Hoàng Diệu school, I will personally lock each of you up and throw you out of the computer room. Do you understand?"

"YES MASTER!" Five mouths shouted in unison, the atmosphere resounding throughout the corridors of the Principal's building.

Stepping out of the Supervisor's room, Hải Đăng slowed down, falling behind with Bảo Châu. He bent down to pick up the torn pieces of paper from the withdrawal application, crumpled them up and put them in the trash.

"Thank you, Châu," Đăng said softly, not looking at her.

Châu smiled softly and gently nudged her shoulder. "Is that just thanks? Captain, even if you can't hold the mouse tomorrow, you still have to lead us to the Finals. If not... I'll show the video of you collapsing in front of my tower in the middle of the school."

Đăng burst out laughing. A rare smile of relief. For the first time in half a year, he felt that the darkness of the past was no longer so scary. Because beside him now, there were real teammates.

That evening, when he got home, Đăng saw his mother waiting in the living room, holding the phone with an article about this afternoon's press conference in her hand. She said nothing, just looked at him, her eyes mixed between worry and something akin to pride.

"Aren't you going to tell me about this?" she asked, her voice not reproachful.

Đăng sat down next to his mother, was silent for a moment, then began to tell - not the shortened, safe story he told every time he was asked, but the whole truth: about Lê Hoàng, about the fake evidence, about the fear that had kept him in hiding for the past eight months. His mother listened without interrupting, only holding his hand tighter when the story reached the most difficult part.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" she asked when he finished, her voice choked.

"Because I'm afraid mom will make me stop playing," Đăng replied honestly. "I'm afraid mom will see me as a failure."

His mother shook her head, pulling him into a rare, awkward hug. "I'm just afraid that you have to bear it all alone. From now on, you have to tell me everything, do you hear?"

Đăng nodded in his mother's arms, feeling that an invisible burden he had been carrying for the past half a year was finally laid down, even if only a small part.

Before he went to the bedroom, his mother called him back. "Ah, tomorrow I'll come watch the Semi-Finals. You don't mind, do you?"

Đăng stopped on the stairs, turned down to look at his mother, a bit surprised. "Mom... do you really want to come see?"

"Why not?" She smiled, her eyes were rare and gentle. "My son is fighting for something decent. I don't want to miss that moment anymore, like I've missed out on so many things before."

Đăng stood silent for a moment, not knowing how to respond. For the past eight months, his mother had always avoided mentioning anything related to E-sports, considering it a wound that should not be touched. Now, the fact that she proactively offered to come watch him compete had a greater meaning than any words of encouragement. It was a silent declaration that she was ready to walk with her son through the door she once feared, just to see him shine in his own way.

Back in his room, Đăng lay down on the bed but did not fall asleep right away. He looked up at the ceiling, thinking about the strange journey that had taken him from someone hiding from the world to preparing to enter the Semifinals with the support of both his family and teammates. Perhaps, he thought, this was the true meaning of "returning" — not returning to the old heights of fame, but building something new and more sustainable from the ruins of the past.

"Thank you, Mom," he said softly, then turned back to his room, filled with a warm feeling he had never dared to hope to have again.