Basically the reason why ML was kicked out from MC’s team in the first place is because somebody spilled to MC that ML is online betting. MC was raised as a rich child and thinks that this is against his principle and felt betrayed. So he kicked out ML without discussion.

Not long after MC found out that ML was online betting to raise money for his terminally ill mother. (There is a scene where the mother literally beg on her knees to give the betting money to MC). However he was conflicted with his inner feelings. So he just kinda block ML’s number and basically ignored him since.

THEN ML’S MOM DIED.

Usually, to keep characters forgivable and likable, authors make the Big Mistake reversible. The mom would’ve survived either with MC’s secret donations or something else. But not only ML’s mom died, the author made a point to say that if MC had talked to the manager they could’ve “made a big thing small” and not kick out ML at all in the first place.

Honestly I read the whole story not moving on from that.

The things that is in MC’s side in the story regarding this situation are these:

Look, all this comes down to, is that I think MC neither apologises enough nor did he receive enough retributions for the relationship to be as good as it was. Like, it’s not completely his fault, but somebody’s mom still died and I feel like it’s not given the gravity it needed. I feel that ML is more sorry for them becoming “enemies” than MC for making that choice. Moreover, MC teammates are constantly asking ML to apologizefor trolling back then? Even though they knew what happened? Like... uhhh.

MC is seemed to be written like the author wanted to make him a round character. Like him constantly realising the faults of his own characters. But I don’t think MC changes at all at the end of the story except for him having a boyfriend? Like, ML and MC doesn’t even make nice because of anything MC does. ML just realised he fell in love and wanted to take care of him.

when I found out that the ML got kicked out of the team for gambling in order to earn money for his mom’s hospital bills, I really sympathise with him. That sympathy turned into shock when I found out that the MC kicked him out without even considering this unfortunate circumstance that the underage ML was forced into, just mercilessly ousting him. Add on the fact that the ml’s mom died shortly afterwards, which might have been prevented if they talked it out and the MC lent money for treatment.

I understand that MC may not be able to empathise because of his privileged upbringing but I still find it hard to stomach his actions. Furthermore, throughout the story, it was constantly the ML doing everything for the MC, while the MC barely out in effort into their relationship. Of course, I may be overgeneralising but it just felt very imbalanced to me.

on another note, I would say that the extras are really just that. Extras. I found them boring, and the side couple plot just felt very bland, with little chemistry.

When MC prepped to top but got topped LOL

ML went back to the Zero team; like it felt a bit unresolved how the missed opportunity wasn’t ‘rectified’ and they were back to the same team. Although they did play together as a team in another competition, I wanted more. They also did try to explain how they liked the two kings fighting in the field, but I was waiting for it after they mentioned how ML wanted to let MC go back to his previous play style early on.