Against the Algorithm

Chapter 56: Flawless Execution, Flustered Consequences

Summary: Match day begins with precision and ends with steam—both from the hotpot and a certain captain's relentless smirk. As plans are tested and lines are drawn, Yao doesn't just hold the team accountable, she holds her ground. And when an old shadow reappears, it isn't strength or noise that defines the moment. It's a choice. Quiet, steady, and hers alone.

Notes:

Author's Note: Tiny Boss Bunny!

Chapter Fifty-Six

Thursday morning.

Match day.

The ZGDX base stirred with the low hum of movement, early but purposeful. The light outside was soft, filtered through a pale sky as the sun struggled past the early haze.

In the kitchen, the overhead light cast a warm glow as Yao stood quietly at the counter, stirring a spoonful of honey into her tea. The steam rose in slow, delicate ribbons as she reached for the thick folder beside her, a neatly organized printout of LAN's draft behavior, rotation pacing, and timing breakdowns she'd prepared over the last three nights. She sat at the table, cross-legged in the chair, her laptop already open beside the folder. A smaller tablet flickered with player movement overlays as she scrolled through, double-checking the final sync between LAN's vision placement and jungle shift windows.

Near her chair, Da Bing lounged silently, his thick white tail brushing against the leg of her chair with slow, deliberate movements. His head was up, posture regal, ears flicking only once in acknowledgment when the fridge clicked softly behind them. On the other side of the kitchen, Xiao Cong pawed dramatically at the leg of the dining table, then gave a chirp of disapproval when his antics went ignored.

The soft rhythm of footsteps approached.

Sicheng stepped into view, already in uniform, ZGDX jacket half-zipped, phone in hand, the sharp focus of match day already on him. His gaze swept the room once, resting first on her, then the cats, before he crossed the space toward the table. "You've been up long?" he asked, voice low, still edged with sleep.

Yao shook her head, eyes still on the screen. "Not long. I just wanted to tighten the vision counterframes for their support. If they're still defaulting to a mirrored map split, they'll tilt if we force the same collapse twice."

Sicheng gave a short hum of agreement, leaned slightly, and picked up the open folder she'd annotated. His eyes skimmed it quickly, midlane hover patterns, bot-side aggression, support roam windows. "No holes?" he asked.

"None that I can see," Yao replied, fingers brushing over the tablet. "I've got contingency notes loaded on my drive. Just in case."

He set the folder back down and reached for her mug without asking, taking a sip before setting it in front of her again. "I told the others to be packed before seven," he said. "Coach is already downstairs."

Yao nodded and stood, smoothing her sleeves as she slipped the tablet into her bag. She reached down, brushing her fingers over Da Bing's thick fur. He leaned into her hand once, then let her go with a soft chuff. Xiao Cong stretched like he'd been summoned, tail high, trotting after her toward the hallway.

Sicheng watched as she moved to grab her jacket and backpack, still silent as she zipped it. The quiet wasn't heavy. It was steady. Focused. This wasn't nerves. It was preparation. They were ready. The team would head to the arena. And Yao, carrying her notes, her calm, and her watchful eyes, would be right there—just behind them, exactly where she was needed.

The low buzz of the arena's crowd didn't quite reach into the ZGDX team lounge, but the pulse of it was still there, behind the walls. It hummed through the floor if you listened for it.