"What did you just say?" the coach snapped, his irritation rising. He squared his shoulders, eyes narrowing at Adrian. "Who do you think you are, barging in here and criticizing my coaching?"
Adrian didn’t flinch. "I’m just saying—have you ever considered why your players quit?" His voice was calm, measured, but the weight behind it was impossible to ignore. "It’s not because they lack skill or can’t handle the competition. It’s because you’re their coach. Maybe the problem isn’t them—it’s you."
A few students murmured in the background.
The coach scoffed, crossing his arms. "Oh? And you think you’d do better?"
"I didn’t say that." Adrian smirked slightly. "But let’s be honest—you haven’t exactly built an environment where players want to stay."
Elleri stepped between them, looking mo
