The morning was still.No birds.No car horns.Just the slow, steady ticking of the clock.
Liam lay wide awake.Staring at the ceiling.His mind wasn't racing.It was locked.Focused.
Today was the first round of qualifiers.The beginning of something new.Something real.
6:30 AM.Way too early, but he couldn't sleep anyway.
His fingers were cold.Palms slightly damp.He wiped them on the bedsheet, chuckling under his breath.Get it together.
Across the room, his SNM jersey rested on the chair.Sleek black with neon green edges.The team logo sharp and bold.
He picked it up.The fabric felt heavier than usual.Not because of weightBecause of meaning.
This wasn't just a dream anymore.It was happening.
Liam slid the jersey on, tugging it into place.He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror.
This wasn't the same kid from weeks ago.This was someone ready to fight.To prove himself.
He gave a small smile.Not smug.Not excited.Steady.
A fighter's smile.
Bag packed.Gear checked.Mouse? Keyboard? Headset? Snacks? Water?All there.
He zipped it up and slung it over his shoulder.
Outside, the sun hadn't fully risen yet.The sky was brushed with orange and pale blue.The air had that early-morning biteCold, crisp, almost electric.
He slid in his earphones.Hit play.No lyrics. Just beats that made his chest feel bigger.
He needed that feeling.Invincible.Untouchable.
The street was empty, but Liam didn't feel alone.Each step felt heavier than usual.Like walking toward something he couldn't turn back from.
Twenty minutes to the cafe.Each one ticked slower than the last.
Then he saw it
Outcasters Gaming Cafe.
The neon sign flickered like always.Today, it felt like it flickered just for him.
Matt stood out front, arms folded.Messy blond hair.Eyes sharp as ever.No smile, but no nerves either.
Liam pulled out one earphone."Morning."
Matt nodded."You ready?"
"As I'll ever be."
Matt bumped his fist lightly."We've got this."
One by one, the rest arrived.Clara.Daniel.Ava.
All quiet.All tense.All pretending not to be.
Clara offered a thin smile.Daniel passed out water bottles like he was handing out shields.Ava bounced slightly, nerves masked by energy.
Coach Nolan came last.Black jacket, coffee in one hand, duffel in the other.He didn't speak.Just walked past them and inside.
They followed.Single file.No one spoke.
Inside, the cafe buzzed softly.Monitors humming.Chairs creaking.Smell of old coffee, fresh plastic, and quiet adrenaline.
Their room waited.Six PCs, lined like a firing squad.
Each one took their seat.Like clockwork.Like ritual.
Gear in.Mouse secured.Headsets on.
Liam took a breath.Let the outside world fade.Only the screen mattered now.
Coach clapped once loud, sharp."Circle up."
They stood.Jerseys black and green.Five players, one coach.
Coach Nolan paced once."You've trained. You've scrimmed. You've trained for this."
Eyes locked on him.
"Round one or Finals doesn't matter. We play every game like it's the last."
They nodded.Not out of fear.Out of belief.
"Strategy. Nerve. Mastery," he said."Our name isn't just a cool acronym.It's who you are."
Matt stepped forward.Held out his hand.
One by one, hands joined his.Palm over palm.Tension buzzing between fingers.
"For SNM!" they shouted.
The sound echoedSharp.Proud.
They sat.PCs lit up.Lobby loaded.
Team Mercy appeared on the enemy side.
Liam's stomach coiled.He forced it still.Breathe in.Out.
Character select.
Matt picked his go-to damage hero.Fast, aggressive, punishing.Clara chose the healer.Daniel locked in the tank.Ava picked her favorite hybrid—flexible and fiery.
Liam hovered.Scout.
Quick.Precise.Lethal.
Click. Locked.
The map loaded.
Neon District
A maze of rooftops, alleys, and glowing signs.
The perfect playground.Or the perfect trap.
"Stick to the plan," Matt said."Early control. No hero plays."
"Sniper on their side likes rooftops" Clara added.
"I'll draw fire" Daniel said.
"I'll clean house" Ava grinned.
Liam said nothing.Just nodded.
The gate countdown ticked.10...9...8...
Liam's heartbeat matched the timer.But his hands?Rock steady.
3... 2... 1...
Match Start.
The gates slid open.Team SNM surged forward.
Liam broke right, slipping into the alleys.Eyes wide.Ears sharper than ever.
He spotted movement.Right alley.A flanker creeping in.
"Enemy flank, right side" Liam said.
Matt and Ava turned immediately.They set the trap.
Gunfire.Short burst.
+1 Kill.
First blood.Their side cheered.Small. Controlled.But it mattered.
They advanced.
Daniel took point, absorbing hits.Clara healed from behind, her rhythm steady.Ava danced between roles, damage and defense.Matt's shots were cleanForced Team Mercy to scatter.
Liam stayed mobile.Scouting.Pinging targets.Relaying everything.
"Two on top-left balcony."
Matt responded instantly.Shots fired.Two down.
+2 Kills.
Momentum was theirs.
But Mercy wasn't weak.
They regrouped.Launched a surprise mid-push.Explosions rocked the map.Flashbangs.Smokes.
Liam blinked through the light.Shouts filled voice chat.
"Fall back!" Matt ordered.
They obeyed.Retreated fast, precise.No panic.
Daniel blocked the rear.Clara spammed heals.Ava picked off a chaser.
+1 Kill.
Coach Nolan's voice buzzed in."That's how you hold."
They regrouped.Reset.Calm returned.
Time bled away.Each second felt like a coin being spent.
The score was tight.SNM barely ahead.
Final push.Two minutes left.
Matt exhaled slowly."We end this now."
Liam spotted an opening.A weak point in the defense.A crack.
"Left flank. Small window."
Matt didn't wait.Darted through.Daniel charged the front.Clara and Ava covered perfectly.
Liam picked off two escaping defenders.
+2 Kills.
The killfeed lit up.
+3. +4. +5.
One by one, Team Mercy fell.
The timer hit zero.
VICTORY.
Team SNM - WINNER
The cafe erupted.Chairs squeaked.Voices cracked.Fists flew into the air.
Ava whooped.Daniel grinned wider than Liam had ever seen.Clara whispered, "Nice." Like it was the most satisfying word in the world.
Matt stood and turned to them."One down."
Coach Nolan smiled."Good start.But this is only the beginning."
Liam leaned back.Let the moment wash over him.
The first round was theirs.Not just a winA statement.
They belonged here.And he, Liam, wasn't just some new kid anymore.
He was SNM.And this was only the first step.