[ noa would argue there is no greater purpose than to assert one's existence. kaiser and him have very different things to prove through their play, but it comes down to that same root, the same point of origin. only those who come from nothing, and were told and reminded every day they would never be anything, understand how quickly they could lose everything. even more so in athletics, football or otherwise, where you're loved one day and scorned the next. it's why noa never cared about how his team did more than himself. if the team won, it would be because of him. if they lost, the record would show he did everything right.

kaiser digs his nails in and noa keeps his end of the squeeze firm as if it didn't happen. he feels 'pain' as a sensation and absorbs it. acknowledge, and move on. ]

Noble? No. You and I don't play for anyone but ourselves. That's how it should be. [ the ones who get the furthest are the ones with the greatest egos. there's nothing honorable about being a football player. a meaningless emotional concept. ] And as for gratitude? From you? I'm not holding my breath.

But by the time I'm done with you, you'll understand that the path you're on was built by my hands. That I showed you the way forward. And you won't be grateful, but you will know.