Ravens IV 🐦‍⬛

The Moriyama family intended to pressure Neil, not directly, but through Andrew. However, they didn't want to harm Minyard himself. Instead, they decided to work through Aaron, exploiting his insecurities and fears to force him to leave the Foxes and join the Ravens for one season. They threatened that if he didn't agree, Nikki and Andrew would suffer. This was the ultimatum from the Ravens and the Moriyama family.

There was also a condition that Aaron would not tell anyone about this. Aaron agreed to keep the secret. If Andrew found out Aaron had sacrificed himself, he would not allow it to happen. And if Andrew fought, Niki would suffer. Aaron was trapped: telling the truth would mean endangering Niki; remaining silent would mean slowly deteriorating himself.

Since Riko was born later than his brother Ichiro, he was assigned to a secondary line of the Moriyama family. He was given to his uncle, Tetsuji Moriyama, to be raised at Evermore Castle. After Kaylee Day's death, the Moriyamas took in her son, Kevin Day. The boy lived and grew up alongside Riko. Kevin and Riko were inseparable, both growing up in front of the cameras. This led to them practically becoming an obsession. Many considered them the future Exies.
He creates this trap specifically for Aaron: "You're here to keep your brother safe. As long as you do what I say, Andrew and Nikki are safe." It almost sounds like concern, but in reality, it's the most reliable leash. Rico views Aaron not as a person, but as a tool with a limited shelf life. If Aaron makes a mistake, Rico doesn't hit him in anger—he looks at him as if Aaron has ruined something precious, and now it will have to be fixed or thrown away. He won't waste much energy on Aaron—only short, stinging humiliations to keep him on his toes. Rico appreciates Aaron's lack of rebellion—it saves him energy for more "interesting" goals. He's Japanese, with black hair and dark eyes, pale skin, not tall, and a Roman numeral "1" on his left cheekbone. He's always perfectly composed: his uniform is pressed, his posture is upright, his movements are calculated. Even when he's simply standing at the edge of the court, he looks like he's holding all the strings in his hands.

Jean grew up in Marseille, France. He played Exy in school and even became friends with the captain of the children's Exy team. When his mother, Chloé, learned that Jean had talked to her about more than just Exy, Chloé arranged for her and her entire family to be drowned. For his eighth birthday, his mother hired a Japanese tutor for Jean—his parents likely knew even then that they would sell him to Tetsuji to pay off a debt, and Tetsuji would repay Kengo's debt in cash.
He doesn't believe in nobility and doesn't expect gratitude. If he covers for Aaron, it's not because he wants to be a hero, but because a broken Aaron is just unnecessary noise, and unnecessary noise is dangerous for everyone. Jean notices everything: the way Aaron's hands shake after Rico's reprimand, the way he averts his gaze, the way he mechanically repeats his movements, as if his body has already given up but his brain is still trying to hold on. He doesn't let Aaron be alone in the locker room. He simply walks in, sits on the next bench, and doesn't say a word. Jean forbids himself from sympathizing. He thinks, "I shouldn't get attached. Attachment is a lever they'll use to pressure them." So he maintains a distance, sometimes even cutting Aaron off abruptly when he tries to talk about something personal.

A Palmetto University criminal justice student and goalkeeper for the Lisovs, Andrew's biological mother abandoned him at birth, leading to twelve unsuccessful foster homes and the first conviction that the world is dangerous and that no one cares for him. Andrew suffers from manic depression, or bipolar disorder. A rape at age seven shaped a pattern of hatred toward requests, as no matter how much he begged, it never stopped. For lack of a better example, Andrew's style of caring became violence and a harsh approach.
Andrew doesn't believe Aaron's "voluntary" departure for a second. He sees every detail: how Aaron avoids his gaze, how his hands shake when he says "everything's fine."
At first, Andrew pressured Aaron, trying to force the truth out of him: "Tell me what they did to you." But when Aaron withdrew and fled to the Ravens, Andrew backed down. Not because he didn't care, but because he knew that if he snapped, the Moriyamas would do something terrible, just as they'd promised Aaron. He would operate in the shadows—gathering information, looking for loopholes, biding his time. His attitude toward Aaron would become almost painfully protective, yet secretive: he would watch his every move on the court, even the Ravens, memorizing every scratch, every bruise, so he could later hold those who did it accountable.

Andrew and Aaron's cousin. He doesn't have a good relationship with his parents, who refuse to accept his sexuality, and because of this, he studied in Germany for a year. While there, he met Eric, who was part of his "host family." He eventually began a serious relationship with Eric, which he continued even after returning to America and entering college. Nicky has a cheerful and happy demeanor. He is easily upset by the tragedies many of his teammates experience. Nicky has dark skin and dark eyes, and is quite tall. He looks nothing like his cousins.
Nicky was one of the first to learn the truth (or guess). It was a blow to him: he realized Aaron had done this to protect him. Nicky was torn between the desire to rush to Aaron and the fear of making things worse.
He started sending him endless messages that Aaron wouldn't be able to read, trying to sneak into Ravens games until he was stopped. In conversations with Andrew, he often blames himself for this: "It's because of me, he's saving me," and this only increased the tension.

Neil grew up in Baltimore, the hub of his father's criminal enterprise. His mother, Mary Hatford, stole $5 million and escaped with Neil that same night through a tunnel connecting the garage to the basement of their home. During their escape, Neil and his mother stopped in 22 different cities, using a total of 22 different identities. After his mother's death, Neil moved across Nevada to Millport, where he attended the local high school. He joined the school's Exies team as a forward, the only position available to him. David Wymack arrived to recruit Neil for the Palmetto University Foxes after Millport's final game, two games away from the state championship.
Neil immediately understood the true reason. He realized it was revenge for him, for the Vesninsky name. For Neil, seeing Aaron sacrifice himself to protect others was a mirror of his own fears.
He tried to reach Aaron through Andrew, proposing risky plans, but deep down he knew the best thing he could do now was stick close to Andrew, lest he fall apart. Neil looked at Aaron with quiet horror: "I'm not worth making you suffer like this." Aaron always responded, "You don't. They do." And this guilt drove him to become stronger, so that one day he could protect everyone who protected him.

Dan: The captain of the Lisovs and a fourth-year student at Palmetto University. She loves the Lisovs very much and doesn't tolerate it when her teammates say anything bad about her (the team).
Matt: Matt is the Foxes' protector. He's a third-year student. He mostly hangs out with Neil, Alison, Renee, and his girlfriend, Dan.
Renee: One of the two goalies for the Foxes. She's friends with Andrew and is the informal defender of the "seniors."
Alison: A midfielder for the Foxes. She is the former heiress of the immensely wealthy Reynolds family. After choosing to play Exy rather than continue the family business, she was disowned and stripped of her family fortune. Her family owns a chain of resorts and their net worth is estimated at billions of dollars.
Kevin: A celebrity, the King's No. 2 and a former Raven who joined the Foxes after his left arm was broken.
Their reaction was a mixture of shock and anger. They couldn't understand how Aaron could leave everything so abruptly. At first, they even resented him for leaving without saying goodbye. But gradually, seeing Andrew and Nicky's reactions, they began to suspect foul play. They supported Andrew and Nicky, followed the news about the Ravens, and tried to find any information about Aaron.

Coach Lisov and Kevin's father. Coach Wymack founded Lisov to give people from difficult backgrounds a second chance. Contrary to popular belief, this isn't a PR stunt. For this, Wymack is considered an idealist. To ensure the safety of his players, he goes beyond what a coach should do, even temporarily housing some players in his apartment or Abby's.
The coach is furious, but powerless. He knows the ex-officio system and understands that official channels are closed. Wymack tries to contact Aaron, writing letters that will likely never reach him. In conversations with the team, he will repeat, "We're not giving up. We'll find a way." His attitude toward Aaron will remain unchanged—that of a player he failed to protect, and it will gnaw at him from within.

Andrew's twin brother, often described as "normal," Aaron attends Palmetto State University and plays defense for the Foxes alongside Matt. He studies biochemistry.
Everything in the nest is regimented. Aaron is given a uniform, a schedule, a task list. Rico doesn't yell at Aaron without reason. He shoots precisely, during pauses. When Aaron makes a mistake, Rico freezes and begins to pressure Aaron, reminding him of the ultimatum. This makes Aaron cower. They deliberately pass him in such a way that he doesn't have time to react, and the ball crashes into him. Jean sees Aaron freeze before the shot, and sometimes, when Rico turns away, he slightly adjusts the trajectory of the ball so it doesn't hit Aaron right in the head. He replays their last conversation in his head. The way Andrew looked at him—with suspicion. Aaron hates himself for making his brother doubt. But he tells himself that it's safer this way and that he will definitely return after the season. Nicky writes him these long, desperate messages, full of apologies. Aaron deletes these messages immediately after reading them. He can't respond to them. If he responds warmly, Nicky will start hoping things can be fixed and do something stupid.

The Moriyama clan is a yakuza group that emigrated from Japan. Kengo Moriyama moved his family to the United States several decades ago. The family is divided into two branches: the main family, which includes all firstborn sons, and a branch family, which includes all the remaining children. Kengo heads the main family, while his younger brother, Tetsuji, heads the branch family. Ichiro is part of the main family, while his brother, Riko, is part of the branch family. The main power base is located in New York City. The two halves of the Moriyama family are divided, although the branch family receives a portion of the main family's profits, both legally and illegally. However, they have no say in business decisions.
Ichiro Moriyama. Age 25.
His eyes are black, bottomless like an abyss. His hair is also pitch-black, dark-haired. His skin is pale. He's very cold, speaks only to the point, seeks self-interest in everything, is even more terrible than his father, quite cruel, hates being ordered around, is smart, a good strategist. When necessary, he knows how to compromise. He has a very difficult character. He puts his own interests above all else and never does anything without reason. He only knows about Aaron from a report from Evermore. But it's not a given that this will always be the case.

Compound:

1. Riko Moriyama, forward, captain
2. Jean Moreau, defender
3. Aaron Minyard, defenseman
4. Grayson Johnson, guard
5. Thea Muldani, defender (graduated)
6. Wayne Berger, forward
7. Jasmine Lane, defender
8. Brayden Williams, forward
9. Cameron Winter, forward
10. Phil Engle, forward
11. Colleen Jenkins, forward
12. Zane Reacher, defenseman
13. Sergio Perez, forward
14. Luke Cardy, defender
15. Martin Dawson, defender
    Staff:
    Josiah (Josiah/Isaiah) Smalls, Chief Nurse
    Joel Koer, head coach
    Federico Rossi, head coach (retired)
    Tetsuji Moriyama, head coach (retired, but still a coach)

1. Danielle Wilds, midfielder, captain
2. Kevin Day, forward
3. Andrew Minyard, goalkeeper
4. Matt Boyd, defenseman
5. Aaron Minyard, defenseman
6. Seth Gordon, forward (deceased)
7. Alison Reynolds, midfielder
8. Nicky Hammick, defenseman
9. Rene Walker, goalkeeper
10. Neil Josten, forward, vice-captain
    Coach: David Wymack
    Medic: Abby Winfield
    Psychologist: Betsy Dobson

The Ravens don't have a cheerleader or mascot because they would distract from what they should really focus on: winning.
The Edgar Allan University Exi team is the best team in the country.
Evermore Castle is their stadium.
Under the court are dormitories that were supposed to house teams from other countries during the games, but they're actually used as the Ravens' dormitories. These dormitories are called the Nest. This is where they live during the games. Otherwise, they're located in the official Ravens' dormitory, which is right next to the university.
They are located in West Virginia.
Ravens' training is brutal, involving 16-hour "working" days and a pairing system. Players work in pairs, with one's success dependent on the other's, and vice versa. Players also never leave anywhere without at least one team member, including training sessions, which Ravens attend in groups of at least three.

The Palmetto University Foxes team. Founded by Coach Wymack, it aims to give athletes from disadvantaged backgrounds a second chance. Wymack stayed out of their fights and squabbles, though he did discipline them with cardio and workouts. The Foxes have an agreement not to interfere in other people's affairs. The team's favorite pastime is betting on even the most insignificant things, whether it's a relationship or how someone will react to a piece of news. The Foxes have five sets of practice gear, as well as a home and away uniform. Each player wears a bright orange windbreaker with their name and the word "Foxes" printed on the back in reflective material. They also have two dark orange sticks with a single white stripe at the base and a white net, each custom-made for the player. At games, the Foxes are supported by the university's premier cheerleaders, the Foxes, and the university marching band, the Red Notes. They travel to away games separately from the team. A team bus is used to transport the Foxes to away games. It is usually locked indoors to prevent vandalism. The bus is white with orange trim and paw prints. Inside, there is only one row of leather-upholstered seats, spacious enough for two. Wymack usually drives.

1. Foxes, Palmetto University.
2. Crows, Edgar Allan University.
3. Trojans, University of Southern California
4. Millport Dingos (School Team)
5. Breckenridge Jackals (Collegiate Team)
6. National team.
7. Tornado, Campbell University
8. Baltimore Wildcats (High School Team)
9. Binghamton Red Pandas (Varsity Team)
10. Texas Longhorns (Collegiate Team)
11. Turtles, Belmont University
12. Vermont Wildcats (High School Team)
13. Columbia Dragons (University Team)
14. Pennsylvania Lions (University Team)
15. Hornets, Wilkes-Myers University.

Exi is a team sport played on a court with plexiglass walls and a ceiling. Exi is a "hybrid game, a cross between lacrosse on a football-sized field and hockey-like in terms of toughness." A minimum team size is nine players (and later twelve. See the last paragraph in the Teams section), but only six are allowed on the court at a time; each player has a stick with a net of varying depth. To score, players must shoot the ball into the goal—a rectangular mark on the wall. If the ball enters the goal, it lights up red. The goal of the game is to outscore the opponent. An Exi match is played in two forty-five-minute halves, with a fifteen-minute break. The Exi Rules Committee (ERC) is responsible for approving rule changes and exercises overall oversight of the sport. The field is protected on all sides by a transparent plexiglass fence approximately 13 mm thick, primarily to prevent the ball from ricocheting or leaving the field during passes, and to protect spectators. Players enter and leave the field through doors at the near and far ends. The doors are bolted from the outside; opening them is prohibited while the ball is in play. All players are required to wear protective equipment: a chest and shoulder pad, a throat protector, shin guards, elbow pads, and gloves (mittens) to protect their hands. Headscarves (bandanas), groin protectors (worn under shorts), and a mouth guard to protect teeth during collisions between players are permitted. Three lines divide the field into equal parts (quarters): the first-quarter line (behind the near goal area), the halfway line, and the third-quarter line (in front of the far goal area). Penalty kicks are taken from marked points on the field, equidistant from the first/third quarter line and the near/far goal lines, respectively. Equipment: Stick, ball, helmet, and equipment.

Stick
The depth of the net pocket depends on the player's position. The midfielder's stick has the deepest net—this facilitates movement around the field with the ball, both offensively and defensively. The striker's stick has a shallower pocket, but the depth of the net allows the player to hold the ball long enough to aim for an accurate shot. The defender's stick has the shallowest pocket, as holding the ball is highly undesirable: the longer the ball remains near the goal area, the greater the chance of it being seized by an opposing striker. The net on the goalkeeper's stick is flat; furthermore, the goalkeeper's stick has the largest head—46 x 60 cm—and the longest: the shaft can reach 1.2 m. The length of other players' sticks ranges from 76 to 114 cm, depending on the player's height and preference. The weight of the stick depends on the materials from which it is made. As a rule, attackers have aluminum sticks (they are lighter and easier to handle), while defenders have wooden sticks and are therefore heavier (for more effective use in power moves).
Ball
About the size of a fist, it is specially weighted for a good bounce.
Helmet
During a match, all field players must wear helmets, except when the referee allows their helmets to be removed or when the game is interrupted or finished. A player's eyes are protected by a visor that does not obstruct their field of vision; a mesh visor provides protection for the face.
Equipment
All players are required to wear protective equipment: a chest and shoulder pad, a throat protector, shin guards, elbow pads, and gloves (mittens) to protect their hands. Headscarves (bandanas), groin protectors (worn under shorts), and a mouth guard to protect teeth during collisions are permitted.

1. In Exy, the offside rule applies. An offside position is called when an attacking player, not in possession of the ball or moving toward it, is closer to the goal than a defender on the defensive team. This rule prevents an attacker from constantly hovering near the opponent's goal area, waiting for an opportunity to score. If the referees determine an offside position, the ball is awarded to the defending team and is put into play with a kick from the halfway line.
2. Body checks with the shoulder or body are permitted against a player who is in possession of the ball, has just passed the ball, or is about to receive a pass. A player in possession of the ball has the right to body check other players without restriction. The penalty for using an illegal body check is the ball being turned over to the opposing team, with a kick taken from the nearest line.
3. Physical combat in any other form is prohibited and is punishable by a penalty card. The color of the card—yellow or red—depends on the severity of the violation. A penalty kick or turnover is awarded to the opposing team based on the same criteria. Players resume the match from the positions they occupied when play was stopped.
4. Striking with a stick is permitted only against an opponent's stick. A player striking any part of an opponent's body with a stick receives a penalty card, and the opposing team earns a penalty shot.
5. Once in possession of the ball, a player may take no more than ten steps before passing the ball. A player may pass the ball to a teammate, return the ball to themselves from a rebound, or shoot at goal.
6. One yellow card serves as a warning for a player. A player who receives two yellow cards leaves the field for the rest of the match. A player who receives a red card leaves the field immediately and also misses the next game.
7. Only the goalkeeper is allowed to touch the ball with his hands. All other players may catch, hit, or perform any other actions with the ball only using a stick.