The next two days were like an easy breeze, but at the same time it was like I was at Teikoku again. The hard training was good and all, but it wasn't really helping me be worried about the finals...
On the day of the match, mom had chosen to ride with us instead of taking the usual car. I sat next with her of course, and so did Kuroi...
After the motivational speech from Coach Hibiki, everyone else was fired up. But for the first time, I wasn't. I was really worried that my brother, and the rest of the team, would start hating me. Worst of all, Nina was still there, in my place what was once mine.
"Rena, you'll be fine."
I looked at my mom. "Jirou will understand that you chose this. And besides, didn't Yuuto already tell you that they weren't mad?"
"I know, I know..." I mumbled. "But Nina---"
"Ignore that blondie, we'll be the ones standing victorious!" Someoka exclaimed.
"Yeah, she's gonna eat her words!" Kurimatsu added.
"You guys..." I looked at them.
"If you want, Someoka can sub out, and you'd be in his position." Shuuya suggested. "We talked about it yesterday, and he agreed to it."
"Rena, don't be so nervous! If you see my brother or yours, and they ask, just answer! Not like they're gonna kill you!" Kuroi exclaimed.
"Yeah... so I wonder how Masaru and Jimon are doing..."
"Nope. Stay away from them at all costs." Kuroi panicked.
"Kidding, kidding."
"Hey!"
-------------------------------------------------
"Mom, I'm gonna look around, if that's fine."
"Be back soon."
I closed the locker room door and headed for Teikoku's locker rooms. Kuroi was busy checking traps with Coach Hibiki and the others, and Otonashi was gone right after we arrived.
I saw the locker room door. I was about to knock, but I hesitated. What if Nina was behind that door, and would give out something to humiliate me once I do? Or what if my brother would open door, then just close it once he saw me?! Or---
"Rena?"
I snapped out and saw the door already opened; Koujirou opened it. He looked surprised, worried, and sad at the same time... was it because I left? "I didn't... expect seeing you here... Get in; I'm alone."
I nodded and he led me inside. There was a chair for two people, so the both of us sat down in awkward silence. I admit, I missed Koujirou these past weeks, and I'm guessing he felt the same... I think.
"Rena, you didn't come here to gloat, didn't you?" He asked.
"No... I came to wish you guys a good luck before the match started." I said.
"Oh... then, good luck to you too..."
Another awkward silence, then he spoke up again.
"Listen, Rena, we're really sorry that we took you off." He started. "All that Nina said to us, we thought was true. Then Kuroi had told me everything that happened to you; You found yourself, and you stood up for yourself. I thought you were mad at us."
"I was, at first." I said. "Then I realized, the anger will turn into sadness, and I also realized that I was going to do the same mistake again." I sighed. "Sorry if I left you guys..."
YOU ARE READING
The Copy Cat (old version)
Fanfiction"Soccer is played freely, no matter what gender or race you are." That was the motto Sakuma's twin sister had lived by, though, no one would ever understand, since people believed that, "What's for boys are boys and what's for girls are for girls on...
