Eighteen-year-old Neil Josten is riding to Palmetto State University with Nicholas “Nicky” Hemmick, Aaron Minyard, and Kevin Day. Black and orange streamers cover the campus as a tribute to Neil’s Exy teammate Seth Gordon. Seth died from an overdose only days earlier. Neil disliked Seth and does not mourn him.

Seth’s death has intensified existing tensions within the Foxes team. Following a violent brawl between Aaron’s twin, Andrew Minyard, and Matt Boyd, Coach David Wymack has split the team. The upperclassmen are staying with the team nurse, Abby Winfield, while the Minyard twins, their cousin Nicky, and Kevin remain in the dorm. Neil is sleeping on Wymack’s couch.

Seth’s death means that the team is now the minimum size to qualify for NCAA Class I Exy. At the stadium’s locker room, Aaron and Kevin rearrange the furniture to reflect Seth’s absence. Aaron insists that Neil’s new place is on the couch between Kevin and Andrew. Kevin, who is used to being the team’s outsider, is uncomfortable with the arrangement but gives in. He recalls the deal he made: Andrew will protect Neil from his father (a crime lord) in exchange for Neil joining his group and keeping Kevin, a former Exy champion, on the team.