At Connie's, it was breakfast time.
"Mike, you have mail again." Connie came in from outside, holding a delicate envelope in addition to the monthly bills.
"Which school is it this time?" Mike asked casually, as he ate his breakfast sandwich.
It had been a week since Medford's last football game. Due to Mike's excellent performance in the Summer League, many school football teams had been extending invitations to him during this period.
Among these schools, there were quite a few highly-ranked private high schools.
However, Mike, who had no intention of continuing his football career, had been declining all those invitations. Moreover, having just gotten used to Medford's campus life, he had no plans to transfer schools again during high school.
"This time it's Green Hill Academy," Connie replied, glancing at the sender's name on the envelope.
"Green Hill..." Mike mumbled, then realized, "Didn't they send me an invitation last time? Why are they sending another one?"
Green Hill Academy was an excellent private high school, with its overall strength probably ranking among the top ten in Texas.
"I don't know either, let me see..." Connie said, skillfully opening the letter.
Previously, when Mike was too lazy to read letters, this task was always left to Connie.
"Oh..." Connie said with a smile after reading the letter, "This time it's their school's basketball team inviting you."
In America high schools, it was common for those who couldn't make it in football to switch to their school's basketball team. After all, these individuals already had the physique, and with a little training, they could adapt to the physicality of the basketball court.
Apparently, this time, the coach of Green Hill Academy's basketball team had taken a liking to Mike's physical qualities.
"Basketball team... not interested... you can just dispose of the letter for me." Mike said, walking out after finishing his sandwich.
"Got it." Connie replied, watching him leave.
Meanwhile, after leaving the house, Mike happened to run into George, who was about to drive to school.
"Hey, Mike. Get in the car!" George called out, and it was clear he had been in a good mood lately.
And indeed, the school had clearly expressed its intention to increase George's salary. So, he was currently in a period of great success.
The car moved steadily forward, and in the back seat, Georgie kept dozing off as if he hadn't woken up yet.
In the front seat, Sheldon, who was looking at twelfth grade study materials, suddenly turned around during a traffic light stop: "Mike, I won't lose to you in the next exam."
"Hmm, good luck to you!" Mike encouraged him again. Then, he also found a comfortable spot in the back and started to nap.
Mike was aware that Sheldon had started studying twelfth grade textbooks recently. However, with enough foundational knowledge, he was not afraid of the other party's challenge.
"Hmph—"
Seeing Mike's indifferent expression, Sheldon grumbled, "I will definitely reclaim the first place in the next test."
In other aspects, Sheldon might be more magnanimous, but when it came to intelligence tests, he had an almost fanatical obsession.
Upon arriving at school, Mike, as usual, got through his morning academic classes. Then, at lunchtime, he walked towards the school cafeteria, surrounded by a group of girls.
After a period of adjustment, Mike had basically gotten used to being very popular with the girls at school.
Of course, Lina also played a part in this.
The girls currently surrounding Mike were all members of the Mike Fanclub. Although they were very enthusiastic, they would absolutely not interfere with Mike's personal life.
In the cafeteria, Regina, who was sitting in the very center, saw Mike again, surrounded by a group of girls, heading to the back seats.
The ignored "Queen Bee" let out a displeased sneer.
It turned out that Regina's judgment last time was wrong. Even if Mike lost the aura of the football team's winning streak, he still attracted the school's girls with his handsome looks.
Meanwhile, Mike, after having lunch with Lina and others, leisurely walked towards the football field.
Today was the day he planned to apply to George to leave the team.
"Mike, this is bad. Georgie was called away." On the field, Georgie ran over anxiously as soon as he saw Mike appear.
"Called away? What's going on?" Mike was a bit bewildered.
It was entirely because of Georgie's current overly excited state.
"The team sponsor talked to dad..." George explained.
Although Medford was a public school, due to funding issues, some projects that required more training equipment still needed sponsor support.
"What's wrong with the sponsor? Isn't the school planning to give George a raise?" Mike became more and more confused.
Logically speaking, the football team's performance this year was good, so even if the sponsor came calling, there was no need for Georgie to be so agitated.
Looking at his current expression, one might think George had encountered some big trouble if they didn't know better.
"You don't understand, those sponsors don't know what they've taken, they're planning to dismiss dad from his head coach position," Georgie said.
"What? There's such a thing. Lead the way, let's go see..." Mike frowned.
In Mike's opinion, George's coaching level was not low, and he was absolutely capable of serving as the school's head coach. Moreover, the team's performance this year was good, so there was no reason for those sponsors to target him.
Soon, led by Georgie, the two arrived at the school's large conference room.
"George, it's because your work wasn't done properly this year that the team lost the chance to compete for the state championship..."
Upon reaching the door, Mike heard a familiar voice. If he wasn't mistaken, the person speaking was Sam's father, Greer.
This guy, for some unknown reason, had managed to get into the sponsor's group.
"How was my work not done properly?" George stood at the front podium, a look of annoyance on his face.
George, who had been waiting for a raise, was suddenly called in by the sponsor. And Greer, who had some friction with him last time, immediately started to accuse him with an overbearing attitude.
"As far as I know, before that last game, you didn't collect any information on the opponent. And during the game, you even let someone who had never been a quarterback lead the team..." Greer seemed to have prepared well, he continued, "Also, the team's wide receiver is your son. Everyone saw his terrible performance on the field."
"I admit that it was my dereliction of duty for not seriously collecting information on the opponent before the game. But on the field, I know how to employ players. I dare say I am more professional than you..." George was very displeased with the other party's meddling. He continued, "Moreover, the team's performance is the result of the collective efforts of everyone on the entire team. Even if we lose, we cannot simply blame it on one player."
George specifically explained, which was a way of defending his eldest son.
"What, you still want to shirk responsibility?" Greer challenged, "Do you really think that losing is the fault of all the players?"
"That's the fact." George replied affirmatively.
The overall strength of the Medford Team was not strong. If it weren't for Mike and Aaron leading the way this year, the team might not even have made it into the top ten in the state.
The last game against Austin High further exposed the shortcomings of the entire Medford team.