Can I leave our ranked trio without making the friendship feel ranked too?

After our third loss, Dan posted a clip of me reloading in a doorway to the group chat. "Thirty seconds of homework," he wrote. It was a bad reload. I could see that without the red circle he'd added around my character.

We used to play whatever was fun after work. Now Dan and Priya want to climb the ranked ladder, and I want the ninety minutes when we talk about something other than work. I've said I want to improve, which is true. I've also laughed at the clips instead of saying that being reviewed in a chat with six friends makes me dread joining.

Priya is frustrated too, but she asked privately whether we could practice together. That sounded helpful. Dan says I'm taking the game personally when he's only explaining why we lost. I'm not asking him to enjoy losing, and queuing with me does affect his evening.

I suggested one casual night and one ranked night without me. He replied, "So we have to play the worse mode to hang out?" I don't know whether to try a proper practice session first or hold to the casual invitation. How can I be honest about wanting their company without pretending I want the same competitive commitment?