158 - Containment Plan

Half an hour later, with most of the bus plunged into a silence broken only by the dull rumble of the engine and the rain against the windows, Lucas got up from his seat and walked over to where Kader was sitting. She gestured for him to settle down next to her.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Lucas asked, keeping his voice low.

Kader took a deep breath before answering. "Tanaka, you're one of the most respected players on the team. Everyone looks up to you as a leader, and you're the captain now. And that's exactly why I wanted to talk to you. Something isn't right, and I think you feel it too."

Lucas didn't reply immediately. He knew exactly what Kader was talking about. The team had been playing well for most of the games, but the collective energy seemed different. It wasn't just tiredness; there was something deeper.