Chapter 10 — Team Fracture
The tension in the team didn't happen overnight.
It simmered.
A pot left on low heat, bubbling more violently each day.
Blake's shove.
Blake's glare.
Blake's near-miss throw.
It all built up, invisible cracks forming between teammates who didn't know how to handle conflict at their age.
Kids whispered.
Parents muttered.
Even Coach Ramirez looked like he slept one hour too few.
Zach felt it.
Tyler felt it.
Even the system felt it.
The System's Warning
That morning, as Zach laced up his cleats, a gentle chime echoed.
Ping.
"Event Trigger: Team Fracture (Stage 1)."
Risk Level: Medium."
Advice: Strengthen your bonds with teammates."
Zach chewed his lip.
Bonds…
He could do that.
He poked his head into the living room where Priscilla was fixing her apron.
"Mom?"
"Yes, honey?"
"How do you… make friends stronger?"
Priscilla blinked. "…by being kind? Honest? Helping them when they're sad?"
Zach nodded, thinking very deeply for a five-year-old.
"Okay," he said, "I'll try that."
Priscilla smiled. "You always do."
Practice Begins — A Different Energy
When Zach and Priscilla arrived, the field was already buzzing with… something.
Kids huddled in small circles.
Parents whispered like they were at a courtroom, not a baseball diamond.
Tyler jogged up to Zach. "Dude, did you hear?! Parents complained!"
Zach blinked. "About what?"
Tyler flailed his arms. "Everything! You pitching, you catching, you breathing—basically your whole existence!"
Zach frowned. "But… I'm not doing anything wrong."
Tyler patted his shoulder. "I know that. Coach knows that. Ethan knows that. But some parents don't like when their kids get outshined."
Zach stared at the dirt.
He didn't want any of this.
"I just want to play baseball," he whispered.
"And you will," Tyler said. "We all will."
Tyler's smile made Zach feel a little better.
Coach's Uneasy Announcement
Coach Ramirez blew his whistle sharply.
"Team! Over here! Now!"
Everyone gathered, Blake dragging his cleats as slowly as possible.
Coach looked… tired. Angry tired.
"Listen up," he said. "I've spoken with some parents. And I want to make something VERY clear."
He held up a baseball.
"This game rewards effort. Not age. Not size. Not who's been here longest. Hard work wins. Always."
Kids looked around nervously.
"Zach has been working hard," Ramirez continued. "He has earned his position through discipline and dedication. Nobody is losing their spot. But everyone is pushing each other to be better."
His eyes landed on Blake.
"This is a team. We lift each other up. Understood?"
Most kids nodded.
Blake did not.
Ramirez sighed. "Alright. Split into groups."
Fielding Drill — and the Breaking Point
Today's practice focused on fielding coordination.
One coach hit grounders.
Another tossed pop flies.
Kids rotated positions.
Zach and Tyler ended up together, as usual.
"Ready?" Tyler asked.
"Yes!" Zach chirped.
Tyler sighed. "Of course you are."
But across the field, Blake simmered.
His jaw clenched.
He watched Zach scoop grounder after grounder with perfect ease.
When Blake's turn came to field a ball at third base, he didn't try.
He just… let it roll by.
Kids murmured.
The coach frowned.
The next ball—Blake didn't even move.
Ramirez barked, "Blake! Move your feet!"
Blake glared. "Why? Zach's the golden boy now. Let HIM do it."
Ramirez stiffened. "This isn't about him."
Blake threw his glove down. "YES IT IS! Everything is about HIM!"
The field froze.
Even birds paused.
Zach felt his stomach drop.
Blake Explodes
Blake stomped toward the mound, shouting:
"He pitches better than me! He catches better than me! He even gets FREE GIFTS from random adults!" Blake jabbed a finger at Zach. "I work HARD! My dad trains me EVERY DAY! And I'm still losing to some little kid!"
Zach opened his mouth. "I'm not trying to—"
"SHUT UP!"
Zach closed his mouth instantly.
Tyler's fists clenched. "Hey! Don't—"
Blake whirled on him. "And YOU! You used to be scared of every ball! Now you act all brave because he's your friend!"
Tyler stepped forward. "I AM braver because he's my friend!"
That struck Blake—right in the insecurity he'd been hiding.
Ramirez stepped between them. "Blake. Enough. Sit out."
"No!" Blake shouted. "I'm done with this stupid team!"
Gasps rippled through the field.
Blake grabbed his bag, stomped off, and kicked the dugout bench so hard it rattled. He stormed to his dad's truck.
His father, embarrassed and furious, followed after him, apologizing loudly but clearly blaming Zach with his glare.
The Fracture Becomes Reality
Coach Ramirez pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Alright… everyone take five."
Kids scattered.
Zach stayed frozen.
He stared at the grass, head low.
His throat felt tight.
Tyler stepped beside him.
"Hey. Don't listen to Blake. He's just jealous."
"I don't want him to be mad," Zach whispered.
"I know," Tyler said. "But you can't control other people's feelings."
Zach looked up. "Tyler… am I hurting the team?"
"No!" Tyler said fiercely. "You're making us BETTER. Even Coach says so."
Zach swallowed hard.
System Activation — Major Unlock
A soft, deeper chime rang in Zach's head.
Ping…
"Major Ability Unlocked: Team Insight (Level 1)."
Effect: Shows emotional states of nearby teammates during tension."
Range: Close proximity."
Zach gasped.
Above Tyler's head appeared a faint emotion bubble:
"Protective • Worried • Loyal"
He turned toward the other kids:
Some bubbles showed "Confused"
Some showed "Nervous"
A couple showed "Jealous"
One kid showed "Excited (for drama)"
Zach blinked.
This… was new.
He looked toward Blake, who was now inside his father's truck.
A faint bubble hovered even from this distance:
"Anger • Embarrassment • Fear • Inferiority"
Zach whispered, "He's scared…"
Tyler frowned. "Huh?"
Zach didn't answer.
But he finally understood something important:
Blake wasn't just angry.
He was hurting.
Coach's Decision
Coach Ramirez returned after speaking with another assistant.
He gathered the team again.
"I'll speak with Blake and his father privately," he said. "For now, we move forward."
He rested a hand on Zach's shoulder.
"You did nothing wrong."
Zach nodded, though his stomach still felt heavy.
"Team," Coach continued, "Zach is staying. His positions are staying. But so is Blake—if he wants to work with us."
Kids murmured.
"That means we support each other. All of us."
Tyler raised his hand. "What if someone tries to intentionally bean another person again?"
Coach sighed. "Then they sit out games."
Tyler nodded. "Good."
Zach felt Tyler's loyalty bubble again:
"Determined to protect Zach."
Zach smiled slightly.
He wasn't alone.
Day Ends — The System's Final Word
As everyone packed, Zach felt mentally drained.
Not physically—thanks to his minor boosts—but emotionally.
Walking home with Priscilla, he got one final chime:
Ping.
"Team Fracture: Stage 1 Complete."
Outcome: A teammate has temporarily left."
Next stage: Attempt reconciliation OR allow rival path to deepen."
Advice: Strengthen friendships with Tyler and other teammates."
Zach looked up at the sky.
"Mom?"
"Yes, sweetie?"
"…How do I fix something that broke?"
Priscilla looked down at him with tender, tired eyes.
"You don't fix it alone," she said softly. "You start by being kind. And patient. And true to yourself."
Zach nodded slowly.
He didn't know how to help Blake yet.
But he knew one thing:
He wasn't going to give up on being a good teammate.