Chapter 74: A Mentor’s Dilemma
Wayne Rooney sat on the plush couch in his spacious Derby home, eyes half-closed as the noise of running feet thundered through the house. His four boys, a rowdy squad aged 11 to 4, were in full chaos mode, racing around the living room and shouting at the top of their lungs.
"I’m Naruto! Rasengan!" one of the twins bellowed, spinning wildly with a pillow in hand.
"No way! I’m Luffy! Gomu Gomu no..." another shouted, leaping from the couch with impressive vigor for an eight-year-old.
Wayne groaned as he caught sight of the vase tipping over from the twin’s landing. He lunged forward just in time, grabbing it before it smashed. "Oi! Oi! Enough! You lot are going to destroy this place!"
The boys ignored him, the imaginary battle raging on, complete with sound effects and fake injuries. Wayne rubbed his temples. "Right, that’s it. Sit down, all of you! Now!"
The authority in his voice worked like a charm. The boys begrudgingly plopped onto the couch, exchanging mock glares as they waited to see what would come next. Wayne grabbed the remote and switched the television on.
"Alright, Naruto it is," he said, scrolling through the episodes until he found their favorite. The screen lit up with the iconic opening sequence, and within seconds, the chaos subsided. The boys leaned forward, engrossed in the action.
Wayne exhaled, his shoulders sagging as he walked toward the bedroom. His wife, Coleen, was already there, sprawled on the bed with her hair loosely tied back. She looked every bit as exhausted as he felt, her eyes closed as she tried to relax.
"Finally got them settled," Wayne muttered, collapsing onto the bed beside her.