Aside from seeing the other teams less, their preparation days were just the same as the first. Infuriatingly.
"Um... Tsurugi?"
"What is it, Fei?"
"Uh... I was just wondering... Did you and Kimiko have a fight...?"
"What makes you think that?"
"Well... you look like you've been annoyed by her lately... More than usual, I mean."
He cast a side glance at the girl in question, who was chatting with Midori without a care in the world, before turning back to him and the girl who sat between them. "Fei, Kinako, let me ask you two. Do you think there's a limit to stupidity?"
"...Eh?"
"I, for one, am convinced there is none. Every time I think that idiot has hit rock bottom, she just keeps proving me wrong."
"Huh...?" The brunette girl blinked. "W-What's this about exactly?"
"How could I ever regret meeting the one I love?" He only realized what he said when he felt her shoulders stiffen. "I-I mean―!"
Unexpectedly, she started laughing. "Haha! I never thought I'd ever hear you say that!"
"H-Huh?"
"Since you say so, I guess I shouldn't give in so easily after all."
... What.
"You're such an angel, Kyou. Really, this is why you're my most precious friend. You always manage to cheer me up... Thank you."
The navy haired boy stared at his teammates for a while, contemplating if he really should mention how she still can't realize his feelings for her despite his choice of words that night. Eventually, he decided against it. "Forget it. Nevermind. Don't worry, it won't affect my plays."
"W-Well... If you say so..."
At that moment, their coach came in and the briefing began. It was rather short seeing as there was no available data on their opponents. Kidou suggested that they used a plan that lets them observe them first.
"If we lack the opponent's data, then we will have to use this strategy to achieve victory."
"Yes, sir!"
"Then, rest up for tomorrow."
With his focus turning back to the match ahead of him, he couldn't stop the worries from returning. Why did Coach Kidou choose me as this team's captain?
"Kyou?" He snapped out of his thoughts and found his friend staring down at him. "You're not going?"
He blinked and looked around, finding all the seats empty. Kidou and Masato seemed to be discussing something in the corner, with Wondeba sulking on the ground beside them.
He turned back to her with a nod and the two went back to his room.
"So... Are you going to tell me why you've been giving me the stink eye since our previous night time talk, or...?"
"You haven't read my mind?"
"Do you want me to?"
"No." He laid down on his bed with his back turned to her. "I just can't believe you sometimes."
"About?"
"... Forget it. Get back to your room. I want to think alone for a while."
"Huh... Well, okay, I guess...? Good night then."
"Night."
Only when the door closed did he let himself sigh.
Should I even be thinking about her right now? With the match tomorrow and me as captain...
He turned to lay on his back and glared up at the ceiling.
No... There's no time for doubts.
"We'll win, and protect soccer. For everyone in the present and future... And the 'nii-san' that gave up his existence for me."
~~~~~
The seats were filled with people all supporting El Dorado. She figured she shouldn't be surprised. If the enemy could crush them completely in front of their supporters, hope would diminish in an instant.
Suddenly, that commentator appeared again. "A packed stadium! Yashima Yousuke is here to bring you commentary once again!"
"El Dorado sure loves him..."
"What?"
"Nothing, Midori-san."
The two teams were lined up face to face on the pitch while all the others had special VIP seats around the stadium. Their team wore a color-inverted version of the Raimon jersey. The strange thing was that their opponents were wearing cloaks.
"The soccer tournament to decide who will rule the world, Ragnarok, is ready to begin!" Suddenly, the open stadium was covered by a dark sphere, most likely by the SSC's powers, and holograms appeared. "A holographic clip plays above the field to symbolize the fierce fight that is about to follow! It's a battle between two swordsmen!"
One was small and orange while the other was big and blue. After only a momentary clash, one of them was run through.
"Oh! The smaller swordsman wins!"
"That's one way to indirectly provoke people..."
"Provoke?" The other manager asked her.
"Yeah. The bigger swordsman is meant to represent El Dorado, or maybe even the normal humans in general. The smaller on represents the SSC, who are smaller in numbers, but are confident will win because that's just how much better they believe they are."
When Yashima declared that the opening ceremony was over, the enemy team threw their cloaks away.
Kimiko felt her jaw drop. "Zanark?!"
Not only was he one of them, but he was also wearing the yellow captain's mark.
"Why are you here?!" Nishiki asked, pointing at him.
"I thought you'd say that." He said. "I was never a part of El Dorado to start with. So now, I'm the captain of Feida's Team Zan."
She leaned back on the bench. "Oh my god... Our powers have the same properties... They grow more powerful the better we get at soccer... Of course he's one of them." Her eyes then narrowed. "Wait then... What about the rest of Zanark Domain...?"
It's fine to use her powers again just this once, right?
I will beat Raimon. That's the only reason I'm here. Among them is you, Nishiki... I owe you a large debt. After I flatten you, I'll steal away my victory.
She blinked. So... He doesn't care about ruling the world or all that? He just wants to have a rematch with Nishiki-san?
"Zanark! Being able to fight with you again burns me up!"
And it seems Nishiki felt the same way.
"Hey, is this gonna be okay?" Midori asked.
"Well, it kind of helps to know the playstyle of even just one of our opponents, I think." Kimiko chuckled nervously. "But since it's Zanark... He's too unpredictable, so I can't really say..."
~~~~~
The match started with El Dorado's kick off. Tsurugi and Nishiki used their MixiMaxes right off the bat, while Fei and Kinako were meant to just watch how the opponents react and act accordingly.
Nishiki moved up with the ball, expecting to clash with Zanark, but the enemy captain didn't move. Neither did the others.
"Nishiki-senpai!" The senior snapped out of his confusion and passed to his own captain.
The reason I was chosen as captain... The currently-purple haired boy ignored the sneers of his opponents as he ran past them. All I can think of is my emphasis on offensive strategy. The head formation in scoring goals. Do you want me to score points?
"Then I'll make the goals!"
He made a power shot, but it was stopped by a single hand.
So that's why the others just stood by, huh... In that case...!
Fei made a pass cut, but seeing the opponent not moving, they must've wanted them to have the ball back.
"Fei!" The green haired boy passed it back to their captain, who was still standing in front of the goal. "I'll score it this time! Kiku Ichimonji!"
But the goalkeeper merely held his arms out, catching it easily. His MixiMax timed out.
Darna made another pass cut.
"Pass it to Ward!"
"You can't boss me around just because you're captain!" The girl snapped back. "Aoyama!"
Just as the ball reached his senior's feet, he called out to him. "Aoyama-senpai!"
With the ball back by his feet, he called out his remaining option. "Kensei Lancelot! Armed!" I'll score the goal. I'll score it and take back soccer and Coach Endou!
He made another power shot, but the enemy goalkeeper summed a keshin, Shinen no Agiraus. It used Gigabyte Screw to stop it.
His Keshin Armed depleted. He made a mistake to spend so much energy so quickly, but with how strong their opponent was, he had little choice. Still, it was also times like these that he felt grateful for his training at God Eden. His stamina level was far above the rest. He could still do more.
"I have to score the goal!"
That was when the keeper gave him the ball on purpose. His eyes narrowed as he moved up again. What are they up to―
A defender was suddenly in his path. He smirked, and without warning, brought his shoulder forward and slammed him with it.
"Tsurugi!"
He was pushed back along with the ball, but managed to keep his stance. His left hand held the opposite shoulder that stung from the impact.
"Nice. You don't fall even after taking on my charge. Looks like the prey for today is worth hunting." He said before pointing upwards. "But how will you handle this?"
Three silhouettes appeared above him. "Break Attack!"
The blonde stood up abruptly, not a single word able to fall from her lips. She could only stare as her best friend was taking kick after kick from all sides by just three people.
It's not even a hissatsu tactic... They're just beating him up...!
To make matters worse, there were no referees in the match, so no one could do anything about their foul plays.
"Kimiko." She jumped at the sudden call, finding the team's coach behind her, holding out a first aid kit. "Go to him."
Without second thought, she took it and ran to the field, skidding on the fake grass while he sat up. As she kneeled down by his leg, they were joined by the others. Or rather, Raimon.
"Are you okay, Tsurugi?" Nishiki asked, perhaps not even realizing he's still in his MixiMax form.
"Stretch your leg out and let me pull your sock down." She ordered, keeping her voice as steady as she could.
He did and the sight shocked them. There was already a large swell on his shin. His right shin.
"That's terrible..." Kinako summed up all of their thoughts in just two words.
As she tried to care for it, Fei turned to the bench, wanting to switch him out, but those there could only stare back and shake their heads.
"I can still play..." He suddenly muttered. "I can still play!"
"No... No." She grabbed his shoulders and shook him. "Don't you dare. Don't be stupid, Kyousuke!"
Kinako nodded hurriedly. "Listen to her, Tsurugi. You can't―"
"I can!" He snapped back. His eyes were begging them to let him, despite his pained expression.
"Okay." Nishiki finally said. "Let's fight together, Tsurugi!"
"Yes!"
She bit her lip as she closed the kit. "You're really starting to piss me off, you know that?"
"I have to do whatever I can to protect soccer." He shot back, pulling his sock back up.
"Protect yourself first, idiot." She hissed, standing up. "This is going to be... No, it's already worse than the match with Zanark Domain. And we're only half way through the first half!"
"That doesn't matter. I'm not quitting until I hear the final whistle."
"You― Oh, why do I even try..." She sighed, knowing he wasn't going to listen anymore. "Just... Just make sure it doesn't get any worse. How do you think Yuuichi-san would react if you got into a wheelchair right after he got off of his?"
"That won't happen." Before she could retort, he added, "Because I'm doing this for him too."
She gave him a look but said nothing more before heading back for their bench. There was nothing else to say. Not to that face.
"The injured Tsurugi chooses to continue playing!" Yashima yelled into his mic. "But he can hardly stand! It doesn't look like he'll be very active! The striker for El Dorado Team 01 is injured! How will they fight back?!"
"I don't like this."
She nearly stopped in the middle of the field. ...Zanark?