"I heard that you ran away after your training at Teikoku Academy. Was it because the intensity scared you?"
She didn't reply.
"I can assure you that training on God Eden will not be as lenient. Though, of course, you don't need me to tell you that. You've seen it all first-hand."
She had.
"And I'm sure you're also aware of what'll happen if you try to run away."
Her eyes narrowed.
"That's right. If you miss even a single session, we'll consider your contract terminated. If that happens, then punishment of betraying Fifth Sector will be brought down on Tsurugi Kyousuke himself. You will no longer be considered his representative. You wouldn't want your precious best friend to get hurt, now, would you?"
His words replayed in her mind like a broken record. Not a single day had gone by since she arrived on the island that she didn't think of that one-sided conversation. It was always on her mind, and the memory was especially clear while she was training.
Every time she came close to giving up, every time she came close to breaking, those words would be there to remind her how much she couldn't afford to.
And as if that wasn't enough, he was constantly reminding her of that fact in the present too.
"Get up, Kimiko. You still have one last set to complete. Or would you rather the younger Tsurugi brother take your place?"
Those words were repeated every day.
Most times, she could barely gather enough energy to get up. Her whole body shook, and the moment she got into an upright position, she'd feel like falling again. But as soon as the words were said, she'd immediately snap out of it. She'd force her way through the pain, and complete her regiment.
Which was why, when her eyes opened that day, she panicked.
She was in the medical ward, meaning she had passed out during training.
Meaning she failed, and that the contract would be nullified.
Meaning―
"I see you're awake."
The voice made her jump. Or it would've if her body wasn't still hurting. Turning her head, she found her superior sitting on a chair right next to her.
"How are you feeling?"
"Shuuy... Shuuji-san... Where's Kuroki-san?" She decided to avoid the question. Though, even without giving the answer, she's sure he would know it.
"He left the island under Senguuji Daigo's orders." He replied.
She blinked. Wait, then that means... "It's... It's over...? The punishment stops there?"
He nodded, but before she could bring up a smile, he continued. "But Raimon is currently on this island, your friend included."
Her whole body stiffened. "What...?"
"Kibayama made the order to bring them here. They've already been obliterated by Unlimited Shining, or rather, Hakuryuu alone, but they were saved by Endou and a handful of others."
"T-That happened while I was asleep?!"
He nodded again. "And in three days, they'll be coming here, to God Eden Stadium, to play against Zero."
Her hand subconsciously clasped the pendant on her neck. "They'll be playing against each other..."
"Worried?"
"No, not really..." She sighed. "I'm mostly glad they won't be training in the facilities. I'm sure they'll train hard, but at least they won't get hurt. And as for the match itself..." She gave a single shoulder shrug. "Whatever happens, happens."
"I see." He seemed to want to say more, but stood up instead. "Use this time to rest, Kimiko. Come join me on the day of the match, and after that, we'll go home."
"Alright."
As long as they'll be safe, she's fine. And as for the match...
A smile escaped her lips.
'Things will work out somehow', right, Tenma?
~~~~~
Before heading up to meet the man, she went to pack all of her belongings. There wasn't much, so she only had to bring one bag. After changing, she headed for the stadium,
"Kimiko."
And was stopped by Hakuryuu.
She laughed slightly. "This feels like deja vu, but hello to you too, white dragon."
It was a title he earned for himself a long time ago, one that she had taken a liking to using as a nickname for the boy. Usually, it would be met with a proud smirk, but this time, his serious expression greeted her.
"The day has come. Today, we, of Team Zero, will destroy Raimon and the revolution they hope to bring." His eyes narrowed. "And today's the day I'll show Tsurugi just how weak he's become."
She returned the gaze. "Be careful, Hakuryuu. Raimon's not one you should underestimate. They may have been completely powerless against you last time, but they grow stronger with every loss."
"Three days can't possibly be enough time to grow past us, who had been at this from the very beginning."
There's no getting through him. She sighed before turning to the other boy stalking in the shadows behind him. "And what about you, Shuu?"
They've crossed paths a few more times since her first day, but not a single word of that night was ever mentioned. It became exactly as he said. Like nothing ever happened.
But the smile he always had was no longer present. His expression was mirroring Hakuryuu's. "Unless you're strong, you're worth nothing. This match will prove which one of us that is... And it won't be us."
"...I see. Then, I'll be looking forward to seeing Zero in action."
With a bow, she left.
~~~~~
The first half was a total loss, but Raimon managed to regain a point with the help of Tenma's new keshin, Majin Pegasus Arc.
That was when she spotted her superior pull out his phone. "Isn't it about time you got started? ...I've had enough entertainment from this show."
She frowned when Zero brought out five of their keshins before the whistle even blew while Raimon dove into the fray with three of their own. But it eased when the defense moved up to take two of their opponents out of commission, letting it be a three-on-three battle.
She couldn't suppress the smile she had when Kensei Lancelot won the clash against Seijuu Shining Dragon.
Raimon took the ball and, using a purple haired boy's Extend Zone as a feint, a ponytailed one's keshin, Sengoku Bushin Musashi's hissatsu shoot scored.
"What do you think of this match so far?" Her superior suddenly asked.
"It's interesting, I guess." Her frown returned when she spotted Zero changing six of their players with adults. "But it's starting to look ridiculous."
He chuckled. "I can see where you're coming from, though I do hope you'll bear with it just a little longer."
It's not like there's anything else I could do... She bit her lip as she watched them take out the whole team. Once they're all down, Kibayama passed to Shuu, who scored using Black Ash.
And yet, her superior still had a confident smile on his lips. "What will you do, Endou?"
Raimon switched out six players as well.
Endou Mamoru, Kazemaru Ichirouta, Kabeyama Heigorou, Fubuki Shirou, Fudou Akio,
And Kidou Yuuto...
She pushed down the sudden urge to run, and turned all her attention back to her friend. He stood at the front of the team alongside Fubuki, getting through the pain like all the rest.
When the whistle blew, Shuu managed to steal the ball and passed it to Kibayama. But the man was blocked by Kabeyama's The Wall. It got through their opponents with Kazemaru's Shippuu Dash, and Fubuki's Eternal Blizzard made a shoot chain with Kidou, Fudou, and Kazemaru's Emperor Penguin 2-Gou.
But it didn't head for the goal.
Instead, it curved and destroyed the cage Aoi was trapped in. She lost her balance out of surprise, but two boys from the bench managed to soften her landing. She recognized them being two of Raimon's second team's members that her friend destroyed not too long ago.
The ball was back in Zero's hands. The adults tried to score with Fu Rin Ka Zan Destroyer, but it was easily blocked by Endou's God Hand V.
The match resumed, but this time, the new Raimon was taking the field. The adults on their team seemed to be giving advice to each of them to help make the best team plays they could. Shinsuke stole the ball under Kirino's orders, who then passed it to Shindou, then back to Shinsuke, to Tenma, and to Tsurugi.
Fudou was beside him, telling him something. Shindou caught up to him as well.
He passed the ball to his captain and jumped. Shindou then brought the ball upwards as he flipped. They both boosted it further upwards, engulfing it in a bright blue light and dark lightning. They went up higher and kicked the ball of chaos down to the goal.
"Joker Rains!"
It made the tying goal. The match was at 3 to 3. Her superior called the adults back to the benches. They had a chance to win.
... So why wasn't she happy?
Tenma's Majin Pegasus Arc got them a lead with his new hissatsu, Justice Wing. Shuu brought it back to a tie with his Ankoku Shin Dark Exodus' Maou no Ono. Hakuryuu got in front of Raimon's goal, using his teammate's power to help him call out his keshin again, a technique called Keshin Drawing. Shuu was at his side, and their auras fused, forming a single keshin, Sei Kishi Arthur. They gained a lead with Sword Excalibur.
Taking a page from their book, Tenma, Shindou, and Tsurugi found their own way to use Keshin Fusion. Majin Pegasus Arc, Sousha Maestro, and Kensei Lancelot fused into Matei Gryphon. The two fusions clashed fiercely, but the Raimon trio was able to gain an upper hand with Sword of Fire, and scored another tying goal.
There was a short pause in the game as both teams conversed, but as soon as it resumed, there was a different air to them than before. Hakuryuu and Shuu's Zero Magnum was stopped, and so was Tenma, Shindou, and Tsurugi's Evolution. It was clear to everyone that the five of them were the ones having the most fun out of anyone else on the field.
The whistle blew, signaling the end of the match. The entire stadium was cheering for both teams. They all shook hands with each other, a light atmosphere engulfing them.
But none of that mattered to her. None of it even registered in her.
Because the second the match ended, she had left the room.
Joker Rains... Evolution... Matei Gryphon...
Two combo hissatsus, and a Keshin Fusion. It was proof of how strong their bonds had gotten.
It was proof of how strong his bonds to them had gotten.
"Not fair... It's not fair!" She yelled into the empty hallway. "We were supposed to come up with a combo technique a whole year ago! So why did you make one with them first?!"
But deep down, she already knew why. The metal walls around her showed her blurred reflection, almost as if they were mocking all her faults.
"Pathetic... You're so pathetic, Kimiko!"
She swung her fist right into the face of her reflection. Her pent-up rage activated her ability, and the wall was destroyed.
Realizing what she had done, she quickly looked around and made sure no one had seen her. Fearing that she'll get caught if she stayed, she used her teleportation ability to get to the restroom, and headed to the helipad from there.
She didn't notice the camera that caught everything.