Chapter 475: Authority


    ?


    Those bunches, despite having left the pitch quite earlier, still lingered around the locker room. It was as if they had intentionally stayed behind to find more trouble with Hiro.


    Well, earlier they had been cut short due to Nanami''s intervention. So, seeing those bunches hanging around in the locker room wasn''t surprising.


    As he had done earlier, Hiropletely ignored their presence. And so did his friends. They weren''t impulsive enough to find trouble.


    But the same couldn''t be said about those bunches.


    They shared a different feeling.


    After all, the matter from earlier was still far from over. And they were still hung up in it.


    However, just when they were about to bring up the matter again, Kenji made his presence. Seeing him, all of them kept to a halt.


    Though he wasn''t anybody special, he had quite the reputation in the team. After all, he was one of the veteran yers on the team. And if he were to speak this matter to the coaches, it wouldn''t end well for them.


    Smiling, he addressed those yers who were scheming against Hiro a moment ago, "You guys are still here? What interesting thing are you guys talking huh?"


    How were they supposed to respond?


    They couldn''t possibly tell the truth. So, his question made them feel slightly ufortable. "You guys aren''t still upset about the result, are you?" seeing their unresponsiveness, he took the initiative to address the issue.


    "No, no, why would we be upset about such a small matter"


    They nervously denied his ims while forcing a nervous smile on their faces.


    Either way, he would retire soon. So, why get on his bad side? That was the thought they had in their mind. Hence, despite his poking questions, they could only bring themselves to smile.


    Hearing their response, Kenji brought intoughter as he said cheerfully, "Hahaha..., That''s great to hear. After all, we are a team. So, we shouldn''t fight among ourselves."


    Then he walked to them and patted one of their shoulders, "Being the older yer in the team, we should set an example to the younger yers. After all, it''s our responsibility to guide these younger yers. Don''t you agree?"


    As he concluded, he deliberately put more emphasis on his final sentence.


    More than a suggestion, it seemed like a threat. It was like if they answered otherwise, it wouldn''t end well for those bunches.


    At this moment, it urred to those bunches that staying here would only put them in danger.


    Though he appeared to have a neutral stance regarding the issue, he leaned more toward Hiro''s side. They could tell.


    But what they couldn''t tell was when Hiro gained his favor. Just when did he gain his favor? It hadn''t been that long since he met him. So, when did he befriend him?


    Staying there any longer would only put them at a disadvantageous spot. Hence they nodded their head in approval as they tried to squeeze out of the room.


    "Indeed, you''re right Kenji-san"


    "We''re sorry about the earlier matter Hiro"


    "Yeah, please forgive us"


    How could they be so shameless? Do they not have any ounce of pride?


    Until a moment ago, they were criticizing him. They were even nning devious measures to eliminate him. Yet now, under the pressure of someone with more authority, they were shamelessly apologizing to him without any guilt?


    It was quite surprising to see them apologize.


    But what surprised Hiro wasn''t their apology but the authority of Kenji. Just a few words from him had brought them to their knees.


    Was he the same person with whom he was conversing casually some moment ago? Though Kenji appeared quite gentle and amicable to others, it wasn''t the case with those bunches who were facing him at the moment. To them, he was rather domineering.


    "That''s how teammates are supposed to bond," Kenji remarked, smiling.


    After apologizing those bunches immediately ran away.


    They were like dogs running away with their tail tucked behind.


    As they ran away, the yers left behind couldn''t refrain from theirughter any longer. Hence the locker room burst intoughter.


    "Did you see them running away? Hahaha..., it was so hrious."


    "Exactly, hahaha..., they were like please forgive us, Hiro. Hahaha..."


    Tatsuki and a few others began to make fun of them.


    As for Hiro, he kept a poker face. It didn''t matter to him whether they apologized to him or not. After all, he could tell that their apology wasn''t even genuine.


    But it was a little hrious to watch them ask for an apology.


    While the locker room was still cheerful, Kenji approached him, wearing a gentle smile on his face. Then he looked at himcently, his smile fading away.


    "Be careful kiddo. They''ll definitelye after you," he said in his husky voice, his toneced with concern.


    Though he didn''t need him telling something so obvious nheless he appreciated his concern. Thus he nodded his head deeply before thanking him for stepping up for him,


    "Thank you"


    "You don''t need to thank me, kid. Just watch out your back," he said concernedly in a low


    whisper.


    For some while the locker room remained chaotic as theyughed and joked. Then as they got dressed they left the locker room together, heading for the shower.


    After getting to his room, Hiro immediately opened his phone.


    He had been nning on analyzing the final data from the test. But due to the earlier fuss on


    the field, he couldn''t bring himself to do so.


    But now that he was all alone, he finally had the time to analyze.


    "I wonder how urate the results will be," he murmured, his eyes glistening with


    excitement.


    While there were people who were scheming against him, here he was excited about the test result,pletely unbothered by the ill motive of people around him.


    It was quite ironic to see him so carefree.


    Well, it would have been rather concerning if he were to get worried over such matters. After


    all, he was the type of person who got excited over matches and training. So, him remaining so coolheaded wasn''t anything new.