David laughed.
The sound echoed through the stadium—bright, genuine, completely unprofessional—and the crowd fell silent. 200,000 people waiting to hear what was so funny.
He chuckled again. Wiped an imaginary tear from his eye. Shook his head like he'd just heard the dirtiest joke of his life.
"Sorry, sorry—" He held up a hand, still grinning, mic close enough that his breath hissed through the speakers. "I can't help it. This next one is just… you'll see. You'll all see."
He turned toward the sideline tunnel—different from the one where Phei would emerge—and his grin turned wolfish, eyes glittering with the kind of mischief that got people expelled (and then quietly forgiven because his family donated enough to name a building after him).
"Ladies and gentlemen, before we get to the main event, let me introduce the Academy's official cheerleading squad!"
The crowd erupted.
Because of course they did.
The Ashford Elite cheerleaders weren't just cheerleaders.
