"Mike, are you sure you want to leave the team?" George's face was filled with regret.
It had been a week since the new school year began. Next up was the Football Team's Spring Invitational.
Having won the State Championship in last year's Summer League, the Medford Team now had the right to challenge strong teams from other states.
In George's view, this was an opportunity to further expand the team's reputation.
And he thought that if Mike could lead the team to good results again, his future career path would only be smoother.
If handled properly, his starting point would at least be "Star Player" level.
Then again, what coach doesn't want to train a star player?
For this, George had even decided to sacrifice some of the team's interests to give Mike the most "perfect" Performance in the upcoming invitational.
It was just a pity that football was only one of Mike's many hobbies. Moreover, he had no intention of becoming a professional player.
Therefore, Mike, who had already accumulated enough sports credits, had no interest in participating in the team's State Invitational anymore.
He preferred to free up time to accompany Mia rather than running around to attend invitationals.
After all, it was a buy-one-get-two deal, allowing him to enjoy three times the happiness simultaneously.
And Mia had already decided to return to Genovia after high school graduation to help Connie build the kingdom.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Mike would be parting ways with the girl in half a year.
"Yes, I've decided," Mike took out the captain's armband and placed it on George's desk.
Seeing that the other party had made up his mind, George wanted to persuade him but didn't know how to start.
"Actually, Coach, you don't need to worry. The team's current hard strength isn't bad, and there are many talented players. For example, Bill, if he's well-trained, he's definitely a good prospect for captain," Mike analyzed the team.
Mike could actually tell that a large part of George's reluctance was fear that without him, the team's strength would drop significantly.
This was a sign of a lack of confidence, which would make one overly concerned about gains and losses.
However, the truth was that after more than a year, the Medford Team had developed its own foundation, and its overall strength had greatly improved.
Even without Mike leading the team, this team was definitely a strong state-level team.
Among them, Bill must be mentioned. He was a new player who joined the team last year after hearing about it, and his talent was a comprehensive version of Aaron and Sam.
Although he still couldn't compare to Mike's monstrous talent, he was more than enough to be a high school captain.
Moreover, there were two or three other newcomers like Bill on the team. So, as long as George was willing to train new players, the Medford Team would not face a situation of lacking successors.
"I know the team's situation… I just feel sorry for your departure…" As an experienced coach, George's judgment was not bad.
Precisely because of this, he felt even more regret, unwillingness, and pity for Mike's withdrawal.
He even felt a bit of anger at his lack of ambition.
"No need to feel sorry. Everyone's choices and pursuits are different," Mike said, "I will be responsible for my own choices."
"Alright, I respect your wishes." Considering Mike's excellent performance in academics and the stock market, George tacitly accepted the other party's choice.
For adults, life is not a true or false question.
Afterward, in the following weeks, while Mike enjoyed his time in the tender embrace, the school football team also began its journey of external competition.
Under George's deliberate cultivation, Bill, who had good football talent, quickly became the team's new "leader."
And he achieved good results in matches against teams from other states.
Due to the popularity of football, Bill became another top figure on campus after Mike.
"Mike, what are you writing?" In the warm-toned big house, Princess Mia, who had recovered some of her vitality, walked behind Mike, who was concentrating on his creation.
The messy room behind them had clearly experienced a major battle.
Mike, whose gun attribute was maxed out, was naturally the victor. And the small team of three girls, Mia, who were soft and crumpled, belonged to the conquered side.
"This is a new song for The Plastics," Mike, who had just enjoyed emperor-level treatment, did not hide it from the girl.
"'Unstoppable' is a strange song title, but it looks pretty good," Princess Mia, proficient in music theory, gave a fair assessment.
"Miracle Records is preparing to transform The Plastics, and this is a specially commissioned song, so the quality definitely has requirements…" Mike briefly explained.
Yes, The Plastics, with down-to-earth labels like sweet and lovely, and country girl, welcomed its transformation period just one year after its debut.
This turning point was a crucial step for The Plastics to move from immaturity to maturity.
Considering the characteristic of rapid development in all aspects in this era, Miracle Company also conformed to market needs and prepared to create a new persona for The Plastics, mainly focusing on resilience and striving.
They attempted to make The Plastics a new era label.
It can be said that Miracle Company's move had an element of gamble, but it was indeed very bold and visionary.
And after witnessing Mike's creative ability in the girls' previous album, Miracle Company specifically sent Mike a new song invitation for the group's development.
And their sincerity was ample.
After offering a considerable song creation fee, to ensure song quality, Miracle Company also promised Mike some performance-based shares from the new album.
With both face and benefits, plus profitability, Mike immediately took on this business.
"By the way, Mike. Your title of 'Most Popular Guy' at school is about to be snatched away. What are your thoughts?" Princess Mia, who had no particular fondness for the entertainment industry or The Plastics, looked at Mike's handsome profile and found a new topic.
At school, as the Football Spring Invitational was halfway through, Bill, who had led the team to impressive results, was gaining more and more prominence.
"It's just a false title, whoever wants it can take it," Mike, who had won the campus's most popular title for two consecutive terms, declared in a humblebragging manner.
It wasn't Mike's narcissism; with his handsome face, as long as he was still at school for one day, no one could shake the title of "Most Popular Guy" on campus.
Although Bill was also sunny and handsome, compared to Mike, he was not in the same league at all; there was no comparability.
"Why do you make me so fascinated with you?" Princess Mia couldn't help but caress Mike's cheek.
The girl was not disgusted by Mike's humblebragging; having been nourished by love and tasted its sweetness, she found herself becoming more and more dependent on him.
It was just a pity that the two were destined to part ways after high school graduation.
Just as Princess Mia was feeling emo, the little maid and secretary, who had recovered behind them, had already consciously cleaned up the "battlefield."
Sensible, beautiful, and not clingy.
It must be said that becoming a live-in prince in the Kingdom of Genovia was equally attractive to Mike.
…
"George, how many times have I told you not to litter!" In the evening, Mary, who had returned home from church, looked at her husband sprawled on the sofa drinking beer and felt inexplicably annoyed.
"I…" George, who had been in high spirits because of the team's recent good results, lost a good half of his good mood when faced with his wife's darkened face.
However, for the sake of family harmony, George ultimately chose to endure.
Actually, Connie was also in the living room, drinking beer with Old Man George.
Both loved beer and were both very lazy, but to say they littered was unfair to them.
At this time, apart from a few empty beer bottles, there was nothing amiss in the living room.
"George, did you upset Mary recently?" After watching her daughter go to the kitchen to make dinner, Connie turned her head and asked curiously.
From the perspective of an experienced person, George and his wife's interaction just now clearly had a big problem.
"How would I know?" George expressed a bit of grievance.