Cue the Champion: Opening Play 1
Overview
- Stage Cost: None
- First Clear Rewards: None
Guide
- Hover to view spoiler content.
Script
Pool Club
Hearing your opponent's quiet cheers, you stand by the table and stare stubbornly at the remaining two balls for a long time.
You: (If I had noticed that there was another ball on the path during the shot before, the situation wouldn't have become such a mess...)
You silently review that critical mistake and go over it multiple times in your head, imagining what the game would have been like without that slip-up.
Even though you know that mistakes are inevitable in this kind of setting, you can't help but feel a little upset.
You: (The game is over. There's no point in going over it again and again...)
You take a deep breath and finally look away from the table. You look around but don't see Artem.
You: (The next game will start soon. Has Artem gone outside?)
You: (Could there be something wrong...?)
You: (Even though we just lost, nothing really went wrong during the game. Maybe Artem just had to step outside for something. Maybe I'm just on edge right now.)
Watching as the audience constantly files in and out during the intermission, you push down your uneasiness and return to wait at the round table set up for participants to rest.
When you bend down to pick up your glass of water on the table, you realize that the glass is already empty.
You: (I sure do drink a lot of water when I'm nervous... Time to get some more water.)
Artem: Is something the matter, [Player]?
You: You're back! I'm fine. I just ran out of water.
You: I could ask you the same... Did something happen?
Artem: I saw that your water glass was empty. The game was a bit intense, and you were a little tired, so I went to buy a cup of coffee.
Only then do you realize that Artem has a cup of coffee in his hand. He hands the coffee to you and takes the empty glass from your hand.
Artem: I saw that you were still focused on going over the game earlier, so I didn't tell you where I was going. Did I... make you worried?
You: Nah. I know that even if something goes wrong, you'll be able to handle it.
You: I just... We just finished such a difficult game. I kind of wanted to... see you right away.
Artem laughs and nods solemnly.
Artem: Okay, next time, I will wait until you finish the review and we'll go together.
Artem: By the way, you were looking at it so intensely. Were you still thinking about the shot you missed?
You: Yeah. I think if I looked a little more closely before I made the shot, the situation wouldn't have played out like it did.
Artem: Mistakes like that are common even in professional competitions, so don't beat yourself up over it.
You follow Artem and sit down. Lowering your head, you take a sip of the coffee as it warms your hands.
Artem: But it looks like you might have found a way to overcome it?
The warm coffee slips between your lips and flows into your stomach. It eases your feelings of irritation, and dissipates the fatigue caused by the long game.
Its heat reaches the bottom of your heart, just like Artem's gentle yet firm question. With it, you gain a resolute confidence.
You: Yep! Next time this kind of thing happens, I'll go over it in my mind a few more times to make sure the path is clear.
You: Don't worry. I won't make the same mistake again!
Artem: I have full confidence in you.
Artem: The next game will be against the same opponents again, and it won't be easy. Let's rest for a bit.
The aroma of the coffee sticks to your lips, and you silently lick it away. You then grab onto Artem who is about to turn around and get some water.
Artem looks at you, surprised, and you bring the coffee to his lips.
You: Okay. If you want to rest, let's rest together. Don't keep running around trying to do stuff!
You: There are only a few games left. We'll be fine against our previous opponents or even better teams!
Summary
