Chapter 17 — Throwing the Ball Through the Rain

After the win, the field was more crowded. Some people came just to take pictures with the scoreboard, some people asked An if she was the girl who took the exam in the city. Bap was about to answer, but An stopped him. She wrote a sign: "Ask about today's match first, ask about old stories after being agreed." Bap looked at the board and said it wasn't as attractive as the rumors. An said the rumors do not need the team's support.

Mai Chi accepts an interview invitation for a school newspaper article, but asks to see the transcript first. She said her family did not want her to be portrayed as a girl who was against studying. The reporter agreed. Vy asked if she could add the team's class schedule to the article. Appreciating the data, Bap said that his class probably didn't have Tran, because she joined the group after being introduced at an open house.

The team prepares for the second match against Minh Tan. Opponents have fast defenders, often pressing close to the touchline. Ms. Hanh let An practice escaping by using her back to block the shadow. Phong placed colored tape in the yard to simulate dangerous areas. An lost the ball many times, but each time she made it clear where she was wrong. Courses from the bench only supplement, do not replace.

Bap discovered a comment saying the women's team won thanks to the referee's pity because Nhien was injured. He wanted to respond with a video of the entire match. Tran asked if the video contained people who had not given consent. Bap fell silent, then created a table to review each frame. A viewer was clearly visible in the frame, so Bap asked for permission before posting. The viewer did not want to appear, so Bap cut that corner.

Phong fixed the whistle and checked the scoreboard wires. He found an old circuit in the warehouse, with the signature of a former student on the shell. Ms. Hanh looked at the signature and realized it was the person who worked as a technician for Thu Ha's final match. She didn't know if that person was related to the jump scoreboard or was just a machine repairman. The team records the information in the section that needs to be verified, without assigning doubt.

Before the match, Nhien gave An a piece of paper: "If you think it's too noisy, look at my hand." An asked why she didn't say anything. Nhien said it was because the sound would echo in the gym. The two of them practiced signaling until they no longer needed to look at each other for long. An realized that Nhien did not award the captain position with words, but with details that helped his teammates stand on the field.

During the warm-up, An saw an opponent wrapping his wrist too tightly. She didn't know if she should say anything, for fear of being interpreted as provocative. Nhien said asking through the referee, not touching himself. The referee called the medical staff, and the opponent loosened the bandage. Before the match, the opponent thanked An. She doesn't see it as an advantage, just the right thing to do.

The sound of the gymnasium resonates in many layers. The sound of our team's shoes sounds like another team's, the sound of the fans is prolonged. An looked at Nhien's hand. A circle means slowing down, two fingers means changing direction, a fist means holding the ball. Mai Chi and Vy also studied. Bap put up a small board in the technical area so there wouldn't be any mistakes.

Lam Giang played strongly, but An did not try to compete. She pulled the defender to the left, letting Mai Chi run to the right. Vy received the ball, was blocked, and passed it out. Bap kept a record every time the team changed plans. Phong checked the scoreboard at halftime, not letting an equipment error become an emergency.

Nhien received news that the doctor would not allow the exam for another two weeks. She read, put away her phone and continued to watch the game. An saw her biting her lip, but didn't ask before the ball died. After the round, Nhien said to herself that she was sad and needed a few minutes alone. An nodded, not trying to make her happy. The team learns that care also includes not forcing others to speak right away.

At the end of the match, An passed to Mai Chi, then Mai Chi passed back to Vy. The ball didn't go in, but Bap wrote "correct decision, wrong result". Ms. Hanh said that sentence is not used to comfort herself; it is used for analysis. They review the video, looking for a corner that needs fixing. Nhien sent a signal through the rows of seats, An understood and nodded.

The team entered the next round with a win, but the team didn't see it as proof they were perfect. They know the arena, the noise, the scoreboard and injuries can still throw things off. So they continued to write, ask and correct.

On the day off after the match, An did not go to the field. She stayed home to do her homework, wash her armband and review the signal map. Mom asked her if she was sad because she couldn't practice. An said taking a break is part of the schedule, but she still misses the sound of the ball. Mom said remembering doesn't mean you have to come running right away. An puts the tape on the hook, letting it dry completely.

In the afternoon, Nhien sent a copy of the examination results to Ms. Hanh, only the necessary parts. She didn't want the team to know the medical details. An read the general announcement that Nhien took another week off, without asking why. Bap accidentally tried to ask in the group and then deleted the message. Tran responded with an approval symbol, without adding any text.

Mai Chi writes an article for the school reporter, but asks questions before answering. She wanted the article to be about how the team operated, not just about the winning shot. The reporter asked who the star was. Mai Chi replied that there was not one person, and if he needed photos, he would use the whole yard. The draft is longer, less sensational, but every name that appears is confirmed.

Test the sound warning system for the hearing impaired with a small light on the technical panel. He borrowed equipment from the laboratory, asked the teacher's permission and clearly stated that it was not to be used for any other purpose. One person tried it and said the light flashed too fast. Phong slowed down and asked again. An recorded the approach test in the report, does not call it an achievement until it is complete.

Bap held a review of the match without comment. Everyone has the right to stop, rewind and take notes. There was a part where An thought she had made a mistake, but the video showed that she made a mistake herself. An was embarrassed for a moment, then pointed it out on the screen. Ms. Hanh said admitting her mistakes in front of the team does not make her smaller; it helps others learn faster.

At the end of the session, the team made a list of things they would not do: do not post photos of people who did not agree, do not call the injury an inspirational story, do not use old matches to attack anyone, do not promise that the field will last forever. An read the list, found it long but calmly. A team that knows its limits will have more room for others to step in.

The “don't do” list is placed next to the “will do” list. The team will check the field before the game, score points in parallel, ask who shows up, respond within the time limit and publicize the cost. Bap asked if we should add "not eating all the team's bread". Tran said it was a separate income and expenditure rule, but it was still recorded in the meal book. Nhien laughed, saying a healthy team needs both nutrition and ethics.

A sixth-grade classmate came to ask why I wasn't allowed to take close-up shots of my face while I was playing. An explained that she could change her mind, and the full field photo was still enough to see the match. I thought and chose the green card only in that time frame. Tran writes the deadline right next to the code name. Please check again before posting, because yesterday's approval does not automatically last today.

Phong brought a device to measure the volume. The multi-purpose house is too noisy, giving some people headaches, so the team tries to reduce the speakers. One viewer said the low sound took away the atmosphere. Ms. Hanh asked others, some of them spoke more clearly. They chose a medium level, allowing viewers to go outside. An noted both opposing opinions and did not choose the most favorable sentence.

Nhien participates in meetings from a chair, does not stand for too long. She said the limited list saves her from having to protect herself by appearing strong. An listened, then added the item "don't turn sick people into symbols". Bap asked if it could be used for articles. Nhien said no need, she just wanted the team to do it.

At the end of the day, the team locks the rules board in a backup cabinet and keeps the door hanger. If one board fails, one copy remains. An saw that the way they save rules is the same as the way they score points: it doesn't depend on just one place.

Bap asked what if both villages got wet. Phong pointed to the plastic bag placed in the toolbox. Tran added a large text for people with poor vision. Ms. Hanh said backing up is not to fear an accident, but so that when an accident happens, everyone knows the first step. An wrote that sentence in her notebook in blue ink, next to the list of things to do before the match.

In the evening, the group called to test the signal with a short meeting. The person in the yard said a sentence, the person in the hallway repeated it, and then the person in the multi-function house confirmed. The first time, the sound of the vacuum cleaner was half hidden. They don't blame the speaker, just change position and reduce the volume. By the fourth time, the information goes full circle. An heard her voice in the speakers, slightly distorted but clear, and understood that a good system does not require perfect hearing; it needs a way to detect when information is broken.

Phong removed the backup battery and put it back in the labeled box.

Tran added an instruction sheet in large letters to the lid of the box. Huyen tried reading it and discovered that the third line used words that were too difficult. Ms. Hanh told the children to correct in the language of the person who will use it. Huyen changed "emergency power off" to "turn off the power and call an adult". Sentences are shorter, but not less precise. An looked at the new piece of paper and saw that they were learning how to keep knowledge from being higher than those who needed it.