Best Substitute [Esports]

[Written after finishing "Beg the Princess to Forgive You and Then Open..."]

At first, most spectators thought the fight for the starting mid-lane position at CL Club would be the league's most cutthroat palace drama.

The starting mid laner is Lin Yi, whose tournament ID is Star, inspired by the idea of brilliant starlight. His hand injury is severe, and he is preparing to retire. He's a star player in the league and the apple of CL management's eye, but he has plenty of dirt on him too. He once drove the previous substitute to terminate his contract overnight and flee to Europe, where he eventually became a major threat to their region. He's known in the scene as CL's Crown Prince and the Team Wrecker. He's also sharp-tongued and loves making snide remarks.

The substitute player, Li Xu, has the tournament ID Alkaid, named for the star Dubhe, one of the Big Dipper's seven stars. He showed off his talent after getting into the game in middle school, turning down tryout invitations from several clubs. Then he mysteriously disappeared for three years. This summer, he suddenly returned to the game, soon reaching the top of the Korean server rankings before trying out for CL Club and signing with them.

On the day the club announced him as a substitute, a massive thread appeared on Hupu.

"Prize for the best guess: How long can Alkaid survive against Star?"

Even their IDs are so confrontational and at odds with each other. Surely they'll get into a fight at the club.

*

During the time he spends with Li Xu, Lin Yi has conflicting feelings.

From, "He said I was his mentor, but now he's here to take my starting spot. Interesting."

To, "Being nice to the substitute is just being cruel to myself. But come to think of it, he's so good and obedient, and he's great at acting cute."

Then, "I criticize him because I care about him. If a professional player can't handle criticism, he might as well go work in a factory tightening screws. Wait, why is he crying?!"

And then, "Can the people shipping us get out of my livestream? Stop grossing me out. Let me make this clear one last time. We're close because I'm his godfather, got it? Do you understand what pure father-son affection means?"

Finally, after their relationship is exposed, Lin Yi faces a screen full of comments repeating the words he'd once eaten crow over. His reaction shifts from gritting his teeth to angry embarrassment, and finally to shamelessness.

"Anyone who spams that gets a ten-year mute."

"Did I say shippers should leave my livestream? You must be remembering it wrong. Mods, back me up here. I clearly said people who don't ship us should leave."

*

The most outrageous things Li Xu has ever done all seem to have something to do with Lin Yi. He got into the game "Sacred Relics" after watching a video of Lin Yi winning a championship and receiving his medal with the national flag draped over him. He quit the game for three years in high school, then came back after his college entrance exams.

His college entrance exam scores were excellent, but he gave up university to become an esports player and serve as Lin Yi's substitute.

He's recognized throughout the league as a good-natured person, yet when the previous substitute deliberately tried to provoke Lin Yi, Li Xu couldn't stand it and challenged him to a match where the loser would delete his account.

He thought he wanted to get closer to Lin Yi simply because he admired his idol. But later, when a friend asked him about it, he said, "I want him to love me."

Many years later, during an interview, he is asked about the meaning of his ID, Alkaid. Lin Yi has already retired by then.

Facing the camera, he replies:

"Lin Yi will always shine like the stars, and I am willing to be the star in the farthest corner, watching him forever."

"I want to be his best substitute."

*

A dog trainer who excels at snark and acts tough but is soft-hearted x a loyal puppy who is protective, jealous, and a master at wagging his tail and acting cute.

Reader's Guide

1. Both leads are each other's first love, their feelings are mutual, and every first in their romance is with each other. They're locked in. No breaking them up or reversing their roles.

2. The bottom really is sharp-tongued and loves making snide remarks. "Teasing, humiliating, mocking, and ridiculing" are the story of his life.

3. The original MOBA game "Sacred Relics" is based on Greek mythology, with reference to popular games of the same genre, such as League of Legends and Honor of Kings. The tournament format is mainly based on the LPL and KPL, with some original rules.

4. This is a true substitute story. If one of the two leads is in the starting lineup, the other will be watching from the bench. Their relationship is one of competition and succession.

5. None of the characters are based on real people.

Theme: Esports, fight your way to the top.