Tetsuji Moriyama Quotes

“Kevin wouldn't really go back," Neil said, disbelieving. "Not after what Riko did."
Wymack gave him a pitying look.
"Tetsuji never former adopted Kevin. Do you know why? Moriyamas don't believe in outsiders or equals. Tetsuji took Kevin in and took over his training, but he also gave Kevin to Riko - literally. Kevin isn't human to them. He's a project. He's a pet, and it's Riko's name on his leash. The fact he ran away is a miracle. If Tetsuji called tomorrow and told him to come home, Kevin would. He knows what Tetsuji would do to him if he refused. He'd be too afraid to say no."
Neil thought he'd be sick. He didn't want to hear anymore of this, he'd already heard to much. He wanted to run until it all started making sense in his head, or at least until the ice left his veins. [...]
"What if Coach Moriyama told him to stop playing?"
Wymack was quiet for an endless minute, then said, "Kevin only had the strength to leave because Riko destroyed his hand. That was finally one injustice too many. Because of that I'd like to think Kevin would defy Tetsuji, but it's just as likely we'd never see him with a racquet again. But the day Kevin stops playing forever is the day he dies. He has nothing else. He wasn't raised to have anything else. Do you understand? We cannot lose to the Ravens this year. Kevin won't survive it."
"We can't win against them," Neil said. "We're the worst team in the nation."
"Then it's time to stop being the worst," Wymack said. "It's time to fly."
"You don't really think we can," Neil said.
"If you didn't think you could, what are you doing here? You wouldn't have signed the contract if you'd already given up on yourself.”
― Nora Sakavic, The Foxhole Court