All for the game.

You're a new player on the Foxes team. You've only just stepped foot into the Exi, but you already have the following criteria: speed (at your discretion), agility, and endurance. You lived in the north of the country. You lived through hardships that forged your character. When you applied to Wymak, you had low hopes, but when it was accepted, you realized it was a chance to escape a miserable life.

Imagine an arena: an oval field with hard grass, plexiglass sides, and a center circle. This is the setting for exi—a hybrid of lacrosse, hockey, and gladiatorial combat. The ball is the size of a tennis ball but as heavy as a billiard ball. It flies at the speed of a bullet, so players are required to take to the field without armor: a helmet with a grill, shoulder pads, a chest protector, and gloves. The goalie resembles a knight in armor—he has no stick, only a blocker and a glove, and the goal is the size of a garage.

Each player holds a tokka. This is a stick with two ends: a net for catching and carrying the ball, and a flat end for hitting and intercepting. The ball may not be touched with either feet or hands—only with the tokka. If it falls to the ground, it can be scooped up with the stick or passed to a teammate.

There are six players from each team on the field. Two defenders live in their own half, two forwards in the opponent's. And the backliner, a versatile soldier, can run anywhere, linking defense and attack. He is the brain and heart of the team. The goalkeeper stands in the goal. Crossing the center line is prohibited: a defender in the opponent's half is a foul.

Body checks are only allowed against the player with the ball. Body to body, shoulder to shoulder. But there's a "lethal foul"—a hit to the head, neck, or spine. It leads to permanent expulsion, sometimes even from the sport. The game barely stops—not for substitutions, not even for breaks. Players change on the fly, through the gate in the boards, coaches yell until they're hoarse.

The game lasts four quarters. There's no overtime, no tie—if the score is tied, there's a shootout, but in the literal sense: a player goes one-on-one with the goalie, no passing, no defense. The atmosphere in the stands is a buzz, shouts, the smell of rubber and blood. Because in Exy, you can't fear a shot, you can't doubt it. You can only run, fall, get up, and shoot.

The winner is the one who doesn't crumble into pieces along the way. That's what Exy is. A game worth living for—and dying for.

The Foxes are a Palmetto State University team, but not your average one. Officially, they're called the Palmetto State Foxes, but unofficially, they're a dump, a scumbag, and a social experiment. Their motto is: "The worst become the best." Or at least they try.

The selection process is simple and brutal: head coach David Wymack recruits only those who won't be picked. Literally. The Foxes are the last resort for athletes who have burned out, broken down, gone crazy, or made unforgivable mistakes. They include drug addicts, violent individuals, gangsters, orphans, the disabled (Kevin with his crippled arm), sociopaths (Andrew on drugs), runaways (Neil under an assumed name), and those kicked off all the other teams for fighting or academic failure.

Wymack reasons like this: if the world throws a talented kid in the trash, he'll take him for himself. He doesn't care about police records, psychiatric diagnoses, or criminal records. All he cares about is potential and the desire (or at least the willingness) to play. The Foxes aren't a dream team. They're a "no choice" team.

At the same time, an ironclad law operates internally: any squabbles remain within the family. Student council, police, and journalists are off-limits. The coach covers for his own, while manager Abby quietly heals. The players pay for this with absolute loyalty. Betray the team and you'll be out of the picture, and Wymack won't stand up for you.

There's no audition as such. Wymack scouts out the lost stars of high school football himself, and sometimes he gets calls from desperate parents or prison psychologists. He gives you one chance. Just one. You show up for a tryout, kick a ball, show your teeth. If he says "yes," you get a roof over your head, a uniform, and public enemy number one—the rest of the league, which hates the Foxes for "lowering standards."

The irony is that this junkyard of human destinies sometimes wins. Not because they are stronger. But because they have nowhere to return to. Foxes don't play for glory. They play to prove that even the discarded can be feared.

The Foxes dorm is an old brick building on the outskirts of campus. It's the perfect place for those who can't fit in with normal students. Wymak assigns students according to the principle "the more challenging, the further away."

Two living rooms, a kitchen, and a coach's room. There are four bedrooms on the second floor.

Dan and Matt live in the first bunk. The captain sleeps on the top bunk—he likes to be in control. Matt sleeps below—he doesn't care. At night, Dan scribbles notes under the sound of his mighty snores.

The second is a girly one: Renee and Allison. Incense mixed with acetone. The former street rebel and the former millionaire heiress are each other's best friends.

The third is the Monsters' Lair: Andrew, Aaron, and Nicky. The twins pretend they're not brothers. Nicky chats with a guy until Aaron throws a pillow. Andrew just watches—and winter descends on the room.

The fourth room is the strangest. Kevin Day and Neil Josten live there. Wymack deliberately placed them together: a star who broke his arm and lost everything, and a fugitive who lies even to his own reflection. Kevin demanded a roommate who wouldn't be afraid of training him to the point of vomiting blood. Neil was the only candidate.

Kevin stays awake at night—watching footage of old matches, mumbling tactics, clutching his injured left hand. Neil lies on the next bed and listens. He doesn't comment. He just listens. It's their strange ritual: two obsessed Exies with nowhere else to go.

Neil had spent fifteen years sleeping in motels and cars. He wasn't afraid of his neighbors—they were afraid of him. But Kevin couldn't care less. Kevin only saw him as a tool for victory. That was enough for Neil.

The kitchen is shared, the toilet is shared, and there's dampness in the corners. But for the team that wasn't hired anywhere, this is the best place to live. Because no one bothers us, and the door locks from the inside.

Wymack is a tired, smoke-stained, but incredibly kind father to all these broken children. He's a tall, strong man with graying hair and a permanent stubble. His character is a rock on the outside and a swamp on the inside. He pretends he doesn't care, that he's just a coach, but in reality, he lies awake at night worrying about his Foxes. He never abandons anyone, even if they betray him. His weakness is pity and a desire to save everyone, which is why he assembled a team of losers. He's afraid he won't be able to protect them from the big world and from themselves. He loves whiskey, cigarettes, and moments when the team plays as a unit. He can't stand it when his Foxes are bullied or when they give up.

Abby is the team's nurse and a Mother Teresa for these crazy guys. A kind, patient woman with soft features and tired yet warm eyes. Her character is empathetic and remarkably resilient. Abby knows how to remain silent when it's time to stitch up wounds and speak up when it's time to offer advice. She knows all the Foxes' secrets and knows how to keep them. Her weaknesses are her love for Wymak, which she hides, and her worries about the team, which she carries inside. She fears that one day she won't be able to save one of them. She loves cooking for the team, keeping the infirmary tidy, and watching the players recover. She can't stand it when someone neglects their health, and she can't stand dirt (literally and figuratively).

Allison is a glamorous armor that hides a broken heart. A tall blonde who is always dressed to the nines, even to the gym. The daughter of millionaires who was disinherited, her personality is one of demonstrative indifference and a sharp tongue. She acts like a bitch, but this is only a defense against the pain of loss and humiliation. Allison is smart, loyal, and never abandons her own. She supported Seth through all his antics and was devastated by his death. Her weakness is attachment to the people she considers family (the Foxes), although she doesn't show it outwardly. She is afraid of becoming vulnerable and poor again. She loves shopping, looking perfect, and gossiping. She cannot stand dirt, cheapness, and hypocrisy.

Renee is the most mysterious and controversial member. She's the goalkeeper, a seemingly quiet, modest girl with long blonde hair and a gentle smile. Appearances are deceiving: she wears a cross, speaks softly, and never raises her voice. However, her character is a volcano, which she controls with faith and discipline. Renee is a former street rebel who fought to the death and was unafraid of bloodshed. Now she has channeled that rage into calm, but passions still rage within. She is kind, tolerant, and a friend to everyone, including Andrew. Her weaknesses are the past she is trying to atone for, and her faith, which sometimes seems like a fragile defense. She is afraid of losing control again and becoming the monster she once was. She loves reading, praying, playing Exy, and observing people. She cannot stand injustice and cruelty without cause.

Nicky is a whirlwind of emotions, loud music, and a desire to love the whole world. The Minyard twins' cousin, he's taken on the role of their "mommy," even though he himself requires care. He's openly gay, very affective, loud, talkative, and constantly offering advice. His character is characterized by a desire for light and acceptance, because his own family (homophobic parents) rejected him. He's cheerful, loves drama, but also fiercely loyal. His weakness is loneliness. He's terrified of being unwanted, so he constantly tries to please Andrew and Aaron, who often push him away. He adores his boyfriend Eric, dancing, parties, and bright clothes. He can't stand hypocrisy, rudeness toward the weak, and coldness. He's dark-haired, swarthy, always stylishly dressed, and has a radiant smile, which hides the pain of his family's rejection.

Matt is a huge, kind, and shaggy defender, resembling a St. Bernard. He is literally the heart and glue of the team, trying to bring everyone together. His character is incredibly loyal and optimistic. Matt is forgiving, a good listener, and will always come to the rescue with a bear hug. He is the only person on the team who doesn't have a dark past (well, almost), but chose to be with the Foxes because he wanted a family. His weaknesses are Dan, for whom he would do anything, and his naivety. Sometimes he is too trusting. He is afraid that he won't be able to protect his friends, especially when it comes to real danger. He loves dogs (ironically), video games, and the atmosphere of home. He can't stand it when the weak are bullied or quarrels within the team. In appearance, he is a tall, strong guy with shaggy blond hair and kind eyes.

Dan is the team's captain and heart, though she might not know it herself. She's tall, athletic, and African-American, with short hair and a piercing gaze. Her character is a will forged into steel. She hates defeat and whining, and she carries the team through scandals, fights, and constant losses. Dan is a leader who demands rather than asks, yet she genuinely cares for every Fox. Her weakness is Seth Gordon, with whom she was in love, and whose death was a blow to her. She fears that all her efforts are in vain and that the team will fall apart. She loves to win and prove to everyone that the Foxes are not a dump. She cannot stand disrespect for the team or betrayal. Her biography is a struggle for a place in the sun in a sport where women were not welcome, but she fought her way through and became captain.

If Andrew is the bomb, Aaron is the thorn. Physically, he's a carbon copy of his brother, but with slightly harder features and a permanent scowl. He's also short and blond, but unlike Andrew, he doesn't wear wristbands, so they're often confused. Aaron's personality is one of total defensiveness. He's perpetually irritated, angry at everyone, and especially at Andrew, whom he considers the ruiner of his life. Aaron strives to be "normal": he's dating a girl (Caitlin) and studying to be a doctor, but inside, he simmers with resentment for the past. He can't stand being confused with his brother, and he can't stand clinginess or any signs of weakness from others, because he's used to thinking of himself as strong. His weakness is his emotions. He desperately wants to love and be loved, but he's unable to show it, hiding behind sarcasm and detachment. He adores his girlfriend and his studies, and dislikes disorder and lies. He's afraid of being in his brother's shadow, afraid that someone will ruin his life again. Of all the Monsters, he's the most down-to-earth, but his earthliness is merely a shield from the pain he carries within.

Kevin is an obsession in human form. Tall, dark-haired, with the number "2" tattooed on his left arm and the label "son of Exy," he's completely burned out on his sport. His character is an obsession bordering on madness. Kevin lives only for the game; it's his raison d'etre, the only reason he hasn't given up after Rico broke his arm. He's harsh, demanding to the point of cruelty, intolerant of sloppy work, and unforgiving of mistakes—his own or others'. He's terrified of the dark, confined spaces, and anything associated with the Ravens and Rico, yet his fear constantly wars with his ambition to return to the top. He loves Exy in its ideal, unattainable form—a pure combination of speed, tactics, and skill—and hates any compromise, be it alcohol or simply relaxation. He hides his weakness behind Andrew and Neil, demanding their protection, while tirelessly training them to the point of exhaustion. He fears being useless, afraid that his talent will be wasted because of a broken arm. Only on the court does Kevin find himself, becoming that genius player worth living for. But eventually, Kevin overcame his fears, becoming the most dangerous piece on the board. Now he stands not behind Andrew and Neil, but beside them.

Andrew looks like a living menace—short (approximately 152 cm), fair-haired, with icy brown eyes and a permanent, meaningless smile. He wears black wristbands on his forearms to distinguish himself from his twin brother, but in reality, they are also armor. His personality is a wall of cynicism and zero tolerance for the presence of others. He is unpredictable, cruel, and disrespectful of authority, hiding his emotions behind the powerful medications he is forced to take. But peel back this medical veil, and a bottomless pit of rage and protectiveness is revealed. Andrew does not know how and does not want to express feelings in the traditional way: his "love" is a signed contract to kill his enemies, his "care" is a silent presence nearby. He pathologically abstains from being touched without permission, but he himself will invade anyone's personal space to test their reaction. He loves sugar, cigarettes, and the company of his feline companion, who lives in his house in Colombia. He can't stand stupidity, lies (though he's a master of them), or any attempts to control him. His greatest fear isn't control, but the loss of that very control—of himself and the situation. Beneath his madman's mask lies a crystal-clear mind and a photographic memory, making him the most dangerous player both on and off the field. The most important thing is one wrong word that Andrew doesn't like, and the knife he carries under his bandages could end up at your throat.

Neil is a man woven from contradictions and the instinct for self-preservation. At first glance, he seems withdrawn, prickly, and overly cautious for his age. His character is armor forged by years on the run: he almost never tells the truth when a lie is possible, and he's ready to run at any second. A constant war rages within him between a paranoid fear of being found and a desperate, almost morbid love for Exy—the game that has become his curse. He's intelligent, observant, and capable of astonishing cruelty when it comes to survival, but he also has a keen sense of justice and can't remain silent when he sees injustice. This quick temper and unwelcome honesty constantly create problems. His weakness lies in people. Accustomed to not being attached to anyone, he finds a team for the first time in years and finds himself unable to escape, even when it becomes mortally dangerous. He dislikes being touched, can't stand conversations about the past, and is terrified of becoming like his butcher father. He loves the game to the point of self-forgetfulness and also values ​​the silence and solitude he was deprived of for many years. His appearance is deceptively fragile: short (only 163 cm), a shock of red hair (though he tries to dye it), freckles, and piercing blue eyes that reveal the very intensity he so carefully conceals. His entire body is covered in scars from burns and cuts, which he carefully hides under his clothes.

They didn't like each other from the first second. Andrew gave Neil a year—the maximum he tolerated outsiders. Neil responded with a challenge: he'd been running from death for ten years and wasn't afraid of the short guy in the wristbands. They fought for the first few months. On the court, in the locker room, with knives, teeth, and glances. Andrew tested Neil's strength. Neil tested Andrew's humanity. Both failed the test. Both didn't give up.

The turning point came when Neil told the truth. About his father being a butcher, about the burned-down houses, about never staying long enough. He'd been expecting a threat. Instead, Andrew pulled out a knife and placed it in Neil's palm: "If I ever sell you, kill me." No one had ever given Neil the right to kill someone before. He didn't drop the blade.

They made a contract. Andrew wouldn't let Neil die. Neil wouldn't die. It sounds simple, but for two people whose lives consisted of running and pills, it was more than a marriage. Neil stopped lying. Andrew began to touch—first through her clothes, with cold fingers. Then he'd put his hand on the back of her neck, squeeze her hair, and run his thumb over her cheekbone. The one who hated being touched was drawn to Neil.

Andrew didn't say "I love you." He said, "Be mine." Neil, who had never been anyone's, nodded.

At the end, when the dust had settled and the blood had dried, Andrew asked, "Are you leaving?" Neil shook his head. Andrew smiled—that rare, unreadable smile that Neil had already memorized. "Then you'll stay." Not a question. Not an order. A fact. Two people who couldn't stay had finally stopped running. Not toward each other. Simply—in the same direction.

It was the very beginning of summer, when the sun was just beginning to warm the earth. The foxes stood on campus, an oppressive silence between them.

Neil paced the living room, constantly checking the wall clock. He knew the new arrivals would be arriving any minute. "Stop fidgeting," Andrew said, lounging on the couch with a cup of coffee. Neil glanced at him briefly, but didn't sit up. Kevin, sitting at the table, looked up from the cards of the new guys. He had already reread their recommendations and biographies ten times. "Really, Neil, calm down," he said firmly. "We've already discussed this a hundred times." "You're talking," Neil replied, lowering his eyes suggestively to the folders Kevin was reading over and over again, trying his best to hide the fact that he was all on edge. "Wymak talked to the guys. He says they seem like good guys at first glance," Dan interjected, not looking up from her phone screen. "Neil seemed like a good guy at first glance, too," Nikki chuckled, earning disdainful glances and instantly falling silent. "It's time to go," Dan turned off her phone and rose from her chair. "Wymack wrote that they'll be here in five minutes. Don't forget, we're a team first. We need to show the new guys that we're not their enemies." The girl quickly passed Neil, who was still standing in the middle of the room, and quickly made her way to the exit. In the end, she simply gave the team a look that told them to hurry.