Chapter 18 — Throwing the Ball Through the Rain

Minh Tan opened with two long throws. An was pressed close, the first pass flew out. Mai Chi didn't scold, just pointed to the space on the right. The team switched to slow play. Vy kept the ball under the basket and was blocked by a taller opponent, but she did not try to score but instead passed it out. The ball passed through four people before entering Mai Chi's hands.

In the middle of the half, a Minh Tan player kicked Nhien's foot on the sideline and laughed. Bap checked, but the machine did not turn on. Nhien told him to omit that part if he did not agree. Ms. Hanh said the behavior needs to be reported to the referee, not turned into content. Nhien clearly stated the situation, the referee reminded both sides. The match continued, the women's team did not retaliate with a collision.

An began to hear the sound of the audience echoing from the ceiling. Nhien's hand appeared at the end of the field: two fingers, then a circle. An understood that she had to change direction. She didn't look at the scoreboard, just looked at Mai Chi's shoulder. An unexpected combination helped the team regain the lead. Bap notes the time in the notebook instead of taking a close-up shot.

In the last round, Nhien's pain increased. The doctor advised her to go home, but she wanted to watch the entire match. Ms. Hanh asked An if she needed Nhien to stay. An said she needed a signal, but she didn't need to endure the pain. Nhien agreed to go out, leaving the diagram on the board. The team adjusted and won 52–49.

In the dressing room, Mai Chi discovered An shaking. An said she was afraid people would expect her to always pass exactly like the previous match. Mai Chi said that if so, she would miss a few throws to balance the score. Vy said she would try to help. Bap gave An a bottle of water, saying each person only needs to do their part, leaving the rest to the ball.

After the match, the school reporter asked about the out-of-bounds foot touch. Nhien refused to give details, saying the match was resolved on the field. Ms. Hanh recorded the internal minutes and sent them to the organizing committee. Understanding that transparency does not always mean telling everything to the public; Sometimes it's about writing in the right place, the right person, and the right responsibility.

Mr. Vinh sent a congratulatory message, with a reminder that the field would be re-inspected after the final match of the group stage. An put down the phone. The team has one game left, and the old story is still there, but each victory now is creating a new answer.

The win made the school chat group noisier. Some people posted pictures of the scoreboard, some people wrote Vy's name wrong, some people asked why the women's team didn't let men participate from the beginning. Tran prepared the Q&A session, but did not immediately respond to all comments. She categorizes questions into information, comments, and attacks. Bap wanted to delete the attack. An told him to keep a log of the treatment so he would know when to report to the teacher.

One comment said Nhien only became captain to cause pity. Nhien read it and decided to leave the group. An asked if she wanted the team to respond or if she wanted to quit the network. Nhien chose to rest. Tran posted a short sentence: "Nhien has agreed to share her role within the match; speculations about personal health are not subject to public rights." The comments are still there, but the team did not drag Nhien into the controversy.

Phong created a page to post the yard schedule, with a section listing who is on duty and announcing closures. Mr. Vinh requested that his personal phone number not be published. Tran uses the school's email and sets a response time. A friend sent a request wanting the yard to open after eight o'clock in the evening. The group replied that it was not possible because of security, but suggested a weekend slot. That person accepts.

An and Mai Chi organized a throwing instruction session for the sixth grade. Mai Chi said teaching made her understand that she often stands too close to the rim. A kid asked her if she was the best player. Mai Chi replied that she was a student. An listened and remembered the saying about one missed mistake not deciding one's life.

At the end of the session, Ms. Hanh received an email from the school board requesting a more detailed report. They need to know the number of people using the yard not only on open days but in each time frame. Tran suggested that from next week, we would use a simple registration form where even sitting people could check. Bap asked if everyone had to give their name. Tran said no, necessary data does not mean collecting all information.

Heavy rain makes the final match of the group stage in danger of changing the field. The team prepared two plans, one for an outdoor yard and one for a multi-purpose house. Nhien calls it playing on two sides of the field at the same time. An finds that statement true for her whole life: she both protects her home yard and prepares to move to another yard.

The outdoor patio plan includes a checklist for drains, skid lines, entrances and covers. The multi-purpose house plan features sound, lighting, scoreboard and seating. Phong glued two boards next to each other, using different colors so as not to make mistakes. Bap asked what if the organizers changed the course at the last minute. Tran said the announcement would be sent through the public group, not to let one person spread word of mouth and then get the wrong time.

Mai Chi asked for a day off to study more, but the whole team did not object. An took it upon herself to practice the signals, but Nhien asked her to give it to Vy. Vy panicked because she had never called the whole team. Nhien sat next to me and guided me to write three short sentences. Vy tried to speak, her voice still shaking but without hesitation. An stood outside and listened, realizing that the team was creating more people who could hold the tempo.

A class asked to use the field before the game, but didn't know it would rain. Ms. Hanh suggested that they move their activities to the hallway and the equipment support team. A few students were disappointed, but after seeing how slippery the field was, they agreed. Bap did not film people leaving; He wrote down the number of people notified and the time of the schedule change. An adds data to a shared plan.

Mr. Vinh came to ask why the team did not call on parents to protest the parking lot. An said they are gathering needs and will present both the benefits and difficulties of the project. He asked what if the council still chose to build. An replied they would ask for alternatives to sports activities, not just say no. Mr. Vinh was silent, then asked if he could attend an open meeting. An can speak, as a listener and responder like everyone else.

The night before the match, the rain caused electricity to flicker. Phong checks the socket and turns off unnecessary equipment. Ms. Hanh closed the yard early. Some people messaged asking if the match was cancelled, Tran replied that there was no decision yet and would update. No one guessed. The next morning, the organizers announced that the competition would take place at the multi-purpose hall.

The team reads the second plan, changes shoes, checks signals and moves. An couldn't see the yard under her feet, but the green string was still on the bag's handle. She understands a team is not defined by a single pitch; it is defined by how people carry each other.

Multi-purpose halls have higher rows of seats, making it difficult for people sitting at the back to see the board. Tran suggested sharing points by hand in each round. Bap is in charge of holding up the sign, but must stand outside the running path. Phong booked a replacement if Bap had to score. Ms. Hanh checked the distance, then let the team try before the opponent arrived.

Mai Chi, at the recruiting session, sent a short video showing how to read the new yard line. She didn't want to post it publicly, just send it to the team. An watched and realized the shooting angle changed because the basketball board was a little higher. Vy practices from a new position, misses and then adjusts. Lam records the distance, Phong marks it with peelable tape.

A group of spectators arrived early, wanting to take team photos. Hand out colored cards and short explanations. One person doesn't want to wear a tag, just wants to watch. An said it was okay, no one needed to prove they agreed. That person sat at the end and was not questioned further.

The referee tested the whistle, the sound echoed strongly. Nhien suggested using hand signals in the technical area, while people on the field just looked at the referee. Ms. Hanh agreed, to avoid letting the noise make the team misunderstand. An saw that the things they practice at home are helping strange places become less strange.

Before the match, Phong received news that the yard's sewer had been cleared, but the roof was still being repaired. An asked who was on duty when they left. Tran sent Lam's name and the teacher in charge, along with the time. You don't need to call constantly to check. She knew the system could run when she was away.

The team entered the warm-up period. Different court lines, white lights, the sound of the ball bouncing high. An looked at Nhien in the row of chairs and circled from her hand. An nodded. Two pitches, same team.

The friendly match started with a foul pass. Lam apologized, but An told him to call the recipient's name and do it again. The opponent realizes they are using hand signals and tries to change the rhythm. Mai Chi pointed to the empty space from the bench and Huyen passed it on. An does not immediately run after the ball; She waited for the third person to open the way. A combination that was slower than planned but avoided a collision in a blind corner. She heard the sound of her opponent's shoes stopping, then the sound of Ms. Hanh's applause from the sideline.

During the break, Nhien did not analyze the score. She asked everyone if there was any place where it was difficult to see, hear, or breathe. Vy said the light reflected on the floor, Bap said the scoreboard was covered, Phong said the microphone wire was loose. Three things are written on three lines. When they returned to the field, the team wasn't much more perfect, but knew what they were fixing.

The whistle blew, and An called the first song very slowly.