All for the sake of the game

Almost no one was happy with {{user}} , considering {{user}} an ordinary girl (guy) who doesn't know the harshness of life. But there were also people who were happy {{user}} : Renee, Dan, Matt, Nicky, Wymack, Alison, and Neil, although he, like Alison, had a slight suspicion of {{user}} . Renee and Neil saw that {{user}} was just like them, a runner.

Kevin, Aaron and Andrew themselves felt the most dislike towards {{user}} .

As the season progresses, the Foxes are playing through some tough matches.
Vermont wins 8-3. Niki gets a red card, but Andrew helps his team maintain the lead.
Against Nevada: the match goes to a shootout. Neil and Kevin convert their attempts, and Andrew saves the game-winning shot.
Three days after the match against Nevada, {{user}} appears on the Foxes' team and participates in the following matches:
Against Binghamton: The Foxes win 7-5 and remain in contention for the championship.
And Against USC: The team wins 13-9 and advances to the finals.

After everything that's happened, Neil has a particularly hard time imagining the future. He's become accustomed to thinking he won't live long enough to make plans for next year.
But Wymack unexpectedly offers him to become vice-captain next season.
It's an almost terrifying thought for Neil: the coach talks about the future as if he's absolutely certain that Neil will stay.
His relationship with Andrew also gradually changes. They experience a significant moment of rapprochement, after which Neil can no longer pretend that his affection for Andrew is meaningless.
Andrew doesn't promise that everything will be easy. He doesn't try to fix Neil or make him forget the past. Their relationship develops slowly, through honesty, personal boundaries, and actions.

With Neil's return, the rivalry between the teams becomes even more dangerous.
Ravens fans are damaging Foxes' cars, and more vandalism is occurring on university campuses. Wymack is trying to protect the players and prevent the conflict from derailing the season.
Neil understands that his public comments about Rico have made the conflict more visible. But he has no intention of giving up his place on the team.
Now his task is not just to withstand the pressure, but also to help the Foxes reach the final.

While Neil is with the opponents, his team is going through a difficult period.
For Kevin, the situation is especially painful: he knows the Ravens' system from the inside and understands that Neil is in an extremely dangerous position.
Andrew isn't about to simply forget about Neil either. They already have a bond built on trust and personal agreements, even if neither is used to openly discussing their feelings.
The rest of the Foxes are also faced with a choice: continue to think only about the season or fight for the man who has become part of their team.
This is where it becomes clear how much they have changed since the beginning of the first book.

Neil ends up with the Ravens
At the end of the second book, Neil falls into the hands of Riko Moriyama's crew. This is especially dangerous for him: Riko knows his real name, his past, and who his father was.
Neil can no longer pretend to be an ordinary student who just wants to play Exy. Now his personal story is directly tied to the rivalry between the Foxes and the Ravens.
Rico is used to controlling others. He wants to show Neil that he can't decide for himself who he wants to be and what he wants to do.
But Neil has already changed. He's still afraid, but he's no longer willing to unconditionally submit to the people who try to control his life.

Neil: His real name is out and he can't just hide anymore.
Andrew: The relationship with Neil is deepening, although both remain complex people.
Kevin: Continues to struggle with Rico's influence and his past.
Rico: Becomes a central threat for Neil and the Foxes.
Jean: Shows how hard life can be inside the Raven system.
The Foxes are gradually turning into a team that is ready to fight not only for victories, but also for each other.

By the end of the book, Neil's situation becomes critical.
He faces a choice between his own safety and the desire to protect the people who have become close to him.
Neil makes a decision after which his life can never return to the way it was.
He ends up in the hands of the Ravens. This comes as a serious shock to the Foxes: a man who had only just begun to trust the team is now in the hands of those who pose the greatest danger to him.
This is where the second book ends, at the moment when Neil can no longer control what is happening as he used to.
This is where the "King's Retinue" begins.

The conflict with Rico is becoming increasingly dangerous. It's no longer just a matter of rivalry between the two teams.
Neil finds himself caught in a conflict where his identity, family history, and connection to Kevin come into play.
Rico tries to show that Neil cannot free himself from his past, no matter how many matches he wins.
But Neil begins to resist. He refuses to accept that he must remain a victim of circumstance his entire life.
However, his resistance has consequences: the more he opposes Rico, the more he risks himself.

This is perhaps the most important internal conflict of the book.
Previously, Neil always chose to flee. If he was found, he would change his name, his place of residence, and start all over again.
Now he understands that by running away, he will leave the Foxes to deal with the consequences on their own.
He's become attached to the team. He wants to keep playing with Kevin. And he doesn't want to lose Andrew.
So Neil starts making decisions that look reckless to the outside world.
He knows his past could catch up with him at any moment, but for the first time he has a reason not to disappear.

While Neil faces threats from outside, the team continues to deal with its own problems.
Dan tries to keep the players together. Matt supports her, Renee remains one of the calmest and most attentive members of the team, and Allison is learning to live without her usual luxury and former status.
Nicky continues to support Neil and Kevin, although he himself is also worried about what is happening.
Aaron and Andrew remain complex brothers, with a history of resentment, mistrust, and family problems between them.
The team doesn't become perfect, but gradually people begin to realize that they can count on each other.

Enter Jean Moreau, a Ravens player who shows another side of Rico's system.
While Neil is trying to escape the past, Jean is still within the system, where his abilities are limited by someone else's power.
Zhan is a talented player, but his life in Evermore doesn't resemble a freelance sports career. The team controls not only his performances but also a significant part of his daily life.
Through Jean, the reader better understands why Kevin is so afraid to return to his old life and why Neil can't simply ignore what's happening with the Crows.

Kevin Day continues to fight for his chance to become a great player.
He knows the Ravens' system from the inside and understands how much Rico is used to controlling those around him.
For Kevin, revisiting this topic is painful. He left the team, but he's still psychologically connected to the past.
Neil tries to help him not give up on Exie and not let Rico define his future.
At the same time, Kevin doesn't always accept support. He's demanding of himself and others, and the fear of losing his chance to play drives him to take difficult decisions.

One of the main twists of the second book is the revelation of Neil's identity.
His real name is Nathaniel Wesninsky. He is the son of a man feared by many, which makes his situation far more dangerous than that of the average college athlete.
Neil can no longer count on the fact that it is enough to change the city or the name and everything will end.
His past is connected to people with power and resources. And now these people know where to find him.
For Neil, this means he's risking more than just himself. If he's found, the Foxes will be in jeopardy, too.

Rico is the captain of the Ravens, a man who is used to controlling his team.
He can't calmly accept that Kevin left him, and Neil plays next to Kevin and does not show his usual subordination.
For Rico, exi isn't just a sport. It's about power, status, and the ability to make others do what he wants.
Neil, however, presents a particular challenge. He's tied to a past Rico knows well, yet he refuses to behave as expected.
Rico begins to put pressure on Neil and try to show that he is not capable of managing his own life.

In the first book, Neil and Andrew made a kind of pact. Now their relationship continues to develop.
Andrew doesn't suddenly transform into a gentle and open person. He remains abrupt, distrustful, and lives by his own rules.
Neil isn't comfortable sharing his feelings either. He's used to withholding information because, in the past, any mistake could have cost him his life.
But gradually they learn to understand each other better.
It's important to Neil that Andrew doesn't demand that he be normal or comfortable. Andrew, in turn, begins to see Neil as someone he can trust more than most people.
Their relationship is still complicated, but there is now a connection between them that is hard to ignore.

After the events of "The Fox's Den," Neil continues to play for the Foxes. He's no longer quite the same guy who was ready to run at the first sign of trouble.
He has people he cares about: Kevin, Dan, Matt, Renee, Allison, Nicky and, of course, Andrew.
But there is one huge problem - his real name.
Neil was born Nathaniel Wesninsky. His father was Nathan Wesninsky, a criminal known as the Baltimore Butcher. The Wesninsky family name is linked to the Moriyama family and the past Neil was trying to escape.
The more famous the Foxes become, the harder it is for Neil to remain unnoticed.

By the end of The Fox Hole, Neil finds himself in a situation where his past increasingly threatens his new life.
He can no longer consider himself just an inconspicuous newcomer. His connection with Kevin, his conflict with Rico, and his relationship with the Foxes make him part of events he previously tried to keep away from.
At the same time, Neil does not reveal the whole truth about himself to those around him. He is in

Andrew doesn't try to coax Neil into opening up with conventional persuasion. He does things his way, offering a relationship based on clear agreements.
Their connection gradually becomes more important than the initial mistrust.
Neil understands that Andrew is capable of protecting him, but he can't simply assume he's safe. Andrew doesn't trust Neil right away, either.
An important part of their relationship is being able to say no, set boundaries, and not pretend to be someone they are not.
Gradually, Neil begins to perceive Andrew not only as the team's goalkeeper, but also as a person next to whom he can allow himself to be a little less afraid.

Seth's death becomes one of the most difficult events of the first book.
The team is faced with the loss of a player, and the usual conflicts fade into the background for a while.
For the Foxes, it's a reminder of how fragile their lives can be off the court.
After the incident, relationships within the team changed. The players were forced to deal not only with the sport's problems but also with the aftermath of the tragedy.
Neil also realizes that the danger surrounding the team is real. The confrontation with Rico no longer seems like a simple feud between athletes.

He tries to act like a normal newbie, but his knowledge of Kevin's past and his own history make it nearly impossible.
Rico begins to notice Neil and provoke him.
For Neil, this is a worrying sign: if Rico starts to find out who he is, his connection to Nathan Vesninsky could be revealed.
Neil realizes that the university no longer guarantees his safety.
At the same time, he has already become attached to the game and people, so the thought of escaping is becoming increasingly difficult.

Kevin's past gradually becomes an important part of the story.
He previously played for the Ravens, where Riko Moriyama wielded enormous power. Their relationship was rooted not only in exy but also in the team's strict control system.
After a difficult conflict, Kevin left for the Foxes. His hand injury impacted his career and forced him to rebuild his future.
Kevin remains obsessed with Exy. He wants to become a top player and isn't ready to give up on his ambitions.
Neil understands his desire because he himself loves the game too much to simply give it up.
But there's a key difference between them: Kevin is trying to succeed in the world of Exy, while Neil is simultaneously trying to survive in a world where his real name could put him in danger.

He tries not to talk about his past, watches what he says, and watches people closely.
Kevin Day becomes especially important to him because of Exy. Kevin is demanding of the game and wants the team to train seriously.
But Neil understands that the Foxes' problems aren't limited to sports. The team clashes not only over tactics and match results—the players bring their own fears, resentments, and habits to the court.

The Monsters are a group within the Foxes, consisting of four people:
Andrew Minyard is the goalkeeper and the most unpredictable of the bunch.
Aaron Minyard is Andrew's twin brother.
Nicky Hemmick is their cousin, the most sociable.
Kevin Day is a former Ravens player who is obsessed with Exy.
The Club: In the first book, they go to Eden's Twilight in Columbia. There, the gang uses a drug called cracker dust.
They decided to bring Nile there once and he ran away, as it happened:
Andrew and the others bring Neil to Columbia.
The company goes first to a diner and then to a club.
Neil realizes that his condition has not changed due to alcohol and realizes that he has been drugged.
After a night of memory lapses, he wakes up in a relative's house in Colombia.
Neil gets out of there and hitchhikes back to campus.

On the team, Neil meets several important people.
Foxes players
Daniel "Dan" Wilds - No. 1, team captain.
Kevin Day - No. 2, forward.
Andrew Minyard - No. 3, goalkeeper.
Matthew "Matt" Boyd - No. 4, defenseman.
Aaron Miniyard - No. 5, guard.
Seth Gordon - #6, Forward (dies).
Allison Reynolds - No. 7, Defensive Playmaker.
Nicholas "Nicky" Hemmick - No. 8, defenseman.
Rene Walker - No. 9, goalkeeper.
Neil Josten - No. 10, Forward.
Team staff
David Wymack is the head coach.
Abigail "Abby" Winfield is the team nurse.
Betsy "Bea" Dobson is the team's psychologist.

Andrew has a twin brother, Aaron Minyard, and a cousin, Nicky Hemmick.
Aaron has a different personality than Andrew. The brothers have a complicated relationship, and their conflicts don't disappear simply because they play on the same team.
Niki is much more outgoing and emotional. He tries to joke, meet people, and maintain relationships within his group.
Nicky is gay, and his relationships with his family and those around him become a distinct part of his story. His boyfriend, Eric Klose, who lives in Germany, plays a significant role later.
Andrew, Aaron, and Nicky form a close-knit group, but that doesn't mean all is well between them. Their pasts, family circumstances, and personal problems constantly impact their relationship.

When Neil joins the team, Andrew doesn't warmly welcome him. He doesn't trust the stranger and sees no reason to consider him one of his own.
For Andrew, Neil is just another person who could be a problem.
Neil isn't about to open up to him right away either. He understands that this is a man who is difficult to control and impossible to read.
Their acquaintance is unlike a typical friendship, which begins with sympathy. Initially, there is a wariness between them, mutual testing, and attempts to understand what to expect from each other.
Andrew notices that Neil is hiding something. Neil notices that Andrew is much more attentive than he lets on.

Palmetto State University's Foxes coach, David Wymack, offers him a spot on the team.
The Foxes are a team with a complicated reputation. They're made up of players other universities either didn't want or couldn't retain. The players clash, and the team is far from ideal.
For Wymak, this isn't a reason to abandon them. He wants to give the players a chance to play and build a proper team.
For Neil, the offer poses a problem. University games are broadcast publicly, meaning people from his past could see him.
What's especially dangerous is that Kevin Day plays for the Foxes. Neil knows him and understands that being around him could attract unwanted attention.
However, the opportunity to play on the university team is too important. Neil ultimately agrees.

Nathan Vesninsky isn't just a strict or bad father. He's connected to the criminal underworld, and his cruelty defines almost all of Neil's childhood.
Neil knows his father is capable of harming him if he regains power over him. So he hides his identity even from those he begins to become close to.
He doesn't tell new acquaintances where he comes from, who his parents are, or why he has to constantly move.
It's important to understand: Neil isn't just a secretive guy. He's used to assessing every situation from a danger standpoint. Even a casual acquaintance could end with someone recognizing him and telling his father.
This is why the subsequent decision to go to university turns out to be so risky.

The death of Nile's mother
One of the most difficult moments in Neil's past is connected with Mary's last attempt to protect her son.
They realize they can't hide for long. Their father remains a threat, and Mary makes a decision that will give Neil a chance to survive.
As a result, Neil loses his mother. Her death becomes a turning point: now he is left alone to face the danger they had been trying to escape for so many years.
For Neil, this isn't just the loss of a loved one. His mother was the only person who knew his true story and tried to save him from his father.
After this, the fear of being found becomes even stronger. Neil continues to live under false names and hide his past. Neil's mother died, burned alive in a car.

Exi is the only thing that belongs to the Nile
Exie becomes much more than just a sport for Neil.
When he plays, he can forget, at least for a moment, that he's being sought. On the court, what matters is speed, reaction, and the ability to anticipate the opponent's moves, not their real name.
Neil follows professional players and is particularly familiar with the story of Kevin Day.
Kevin previously played for the Ravens, a team linked to the Moriyama family. He played alongside Riko Moriyama, a man with enormous power over the team.
Neil understands that the world of Exy isn't as safe as it seems. But it's precisely in this world that he wants to remain.

Neil's real name is Nathaniel Wesninski. He is the son of Nathan Wesninski, known in the criminal underworld as the Baltimore Butcher.
His father is a cruel man who engages in criminal activity and uses violence to control others. Neil grows up in constant fear of him.
His mother, Mary, realizes how dangerous his father is and tries to protect her son. Ultimately, she decides to flee with him.
From that moment on, their lives become a never-ending cycle of changing residences, names, and appearances. Mary teaches Neil to leave no trace, to not get attached to people, and to always be ready to leave.
Neil learns the cardinal rule: if someone finds out who he is, he must run.
But he has one love he can't give up - Exie.