The next day, after practice, they all changed and headed back to the dorms the elders had provided for them.
Or at least, that's what they were supposed to do.
As they regrouped with their own friends, the building began to shake violently. Before they knew it, the scenery around them changed to a nearby park. No one had any time to ask as Chairman Toudou and Coach Sakamaki started running in the direction of the El Dorado building. Seeing as they wouldn't be getting any answers by staying, they followed them.
By the time they got there, the sun was setting, and the El Dorado building was completely obliterated.
Stepping into their view was a group of children, a white haired boy with goggles standing at the very front.
"Hey there." He greeted.
"You're the guy from that time!" Tenma suddenly said. "Saru, you're a Second Stage Child?!"
"That's right. I'm the emperor of Feida, who rules the Second Stage Children." He said proudly.
"The emperor... You mean, you're Feida's leader?"
"Yep, I am Feida's leader. And soon, I will be the world's leader. It'll do you well to remember that, Tenma." He kept his smile up as he continued talking. "Did you enjoy the opening ceremony for Ragnarok?"
"Weren't you going to fight us with soccer?!" Shindou asked.
"We will from here on, of course. In the final battle that will change the world, Ragnarok. Now, time to move into preparations." He raised a hand to the sky and all the ones behind him followed suit. They then began to glow in a purple aura.
All the debris remaining from the building's fall began to lift into the air. They watched as the rubble slowly turned into a whole stadium.
"All done." Saru said, presenting it. "Here is the stage of the final battle, Ragnarok Stadium. This place will be the starting point of the new world!"
"This is the power of Second Stage Children..."
"We have to fight against monsters like these?!"
"T-There's no chance we can win!"
Monsters, is it? Do you think the same?
Tsurugi's attention went to the girl pulling on his sleeve. It was clear that the term made her uncomfortable. He turned back to the newly built stadium before giving his honest thought. If they're going to use their abilities to hurt us, then yes. But right now, they're just a bunch of children with abnormal abilities.
Are you trying to comfort me?
Maybe.
...It's working slightly... Thanks.
"I made sure to provide a place for you guys in this stadium where you can feel comfortable." The enemy leader continued to explain. "Living quarters, training facilities, and the like, which you may use as you please. Use them as your meeting rooms for El Dorado while Ragnarok is ongoing."
"You reshaped this place using the ruins of El Dorado's building you destroyed, so it's not like it belongs to you to begin with... Acting all superior..." Just as Kariya finished muttering, Saru glared at him, making him take a step back.
"Well, the first match is tomorrow." The white haired boy's smile returned. "Make sure you're well prepared. Not that it would make a difference."
"You don't know that!" Shinsuke said.
"Hah!" Another boy with long wavy hair smirked. "Instead of putting it off 'til tomorrow, let's give these guys a beating right here and now!"
They narrowed their eyes at him, but unexpectedly, it was Saru who grabbed his arm. "Garo."
"O-Okay..."
Saru turned back to them. "I promise you. In Ragnarok, we won't use our powers. We'll prove to you that even without using our powers, the Second Stage Children are far superior than you! I look forward to tomorrow."
He began to walk away, but then turned back with one last smirk. And suddenly, Fei fainted.
~~~~~
The living quarters seemed to have been spread out across the stadium, meaning that different teams would take quite a bit of energy if they wanted to visit each other. The other members of Raimon reluctantly decide to leave Fei with his own team, as they had their own things to take care of in their own sections.
Luckily, it didn't take long for him to regain consciousness. After assuring them all he was fine, they all let out sighs of relief.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Ichino asked one last time.
"The SSC didn't use their superpowers on you or something, did they?" Aoyama asked.
"No." His reply came a little too quick for her liking. "Saru said it himself, didn't he? He said they would fight us without using their powers."
"As if!" The three members of Protocol Omega on their team was suddenly at the door. Guara was the one who spoke. "I find it hard to believe they'll keep that promise!"
"Saru doesn't lie." Fei defended.
"You trust what those Second Stage Children say?"
"Yeah... Saru doesn't lie. I just get that feeling."
Kimiko blinked. A feeling like that... even though they've never met before...? Could it be...
Gaura clicked his tongue. "Trusting the enemy... That's rubbish!"
Watching them leave the tense atmosphere, Kinako tried to keep her cheery mood up. "A-Anyway, this is great! Oh, I know! I'll go find you something to eat!"
"Then, we'll go get it." Kurumada volunteered. "You stay here with him, Kinako."
It made sense that he would. After all, she was the one most worried for him when he collapsed.
"Thank you!"
Kurumada took Sangoku with him to find the food, insisting the others should go about their own business. And so, Kimiko followed her friend into his room taking a seat on his bed while he sat by a desk.
"I heard my brother paid you a visit last night." She began, smiling slightly. "Did he say anything weird?"
"Define weird."
"Anything without context. You know, like childhood stories no one asked for."
"Nope."
"Then, what did he talk to you about?"
"Tried to give me advice about being captain, but it was something I already planned on doing, so..." He shrugged before scanning over her. "What about you? You look tired again."
"Yeah... It's a little hard to sleep when you've just figured out you could die sooner than you think."
Ah... right. He forgot about that.
She looked up at him with an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I'm getting cranky again."
He frowned. "I don't blame you. Frankly, I'm surprised you can smile like this, no matter how strained."
"There's not much else I can do." She sighed. "I'm going to die within a maximum of 8 more years... I never thought about what age I ideally want to die at, but... I don't want it to be this soon... Even so, I can't do anything about it, so I might as well make sure I don't have any regrets, right?"
"You're giving up just like that?"
"Do you have any other suggestions?"
His eyes narrowed. "I won't accept it. There has to be something. Maybe if you stop using your abilities you could live longer? Or maybe there's some kind of cure someone can make?"
"That second one sounds nice. And I guess I can give that first one a try too while at it." With her smile never leaving her face, she reached out and tugged on the hem of his shirt. "Can you come closer?"
When he did, she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face on his stomach. Getting over the surprise, one of his hands held her shoulder while the other patted her head.
Despite her strong front, she was still afraid.
"Hey, Kyou..."
"Yeah?"
"When I said I was going to take back what I said... I didn't mean it."
He blinked. "What are you talking about?"
"I love you."
"Wh―?!"
"Always have and always will. You mean more to me than anyone else in my life ever did."
"W-W-Where's all this coming fr―"
"You're my first and best-est friend."
... Ah.
"I don't want to make you sad or see you get hurt. Ever." Her arms tightened around him. "So if... if I really am going to..."
No. He broke free of her grasp and sat beside her before pulling her into a proper hug. "I don't want to hear it. You are not going to die. We will find a way to save you."
"... Even so..." With her lips so close to his ear, he could feel her warm breaths with her shaking voice. "Even so, promise me... that no matter what happens, you'll never forget me... and make sure that those memories... won't ever cause you pain."
He shook his head. "No. If I promise that, you'll just give up. I won't let you."
"Kyou..."
I won't, I won't, I won't. I will never let you―
"Kyousuke... Just promise you won't regret meeting me."
Something inside him snapped. The next few words came out without thinking.
"How could I ever regret meeting the one I love?"