It's been a total of a year being in this school. Chia and Clario would wait for each other on a street since the walk to their house are the same except for a split on this street.
"You're late today," Clario waited on the sidewalk, his face ever so serious with barely a glimpse of emotion, Chia remembered the one time he smiled, it was when we were faced off against our seniors who stopped his shoot repeatedly, that was when Clario hauled Chia over to a park to practice his new hissatsu "Diamond Ray". And that was when Chia thought that they have become friends, she felt excited (the next target is the whole school). But Chia also made sure she isn't falling behind, so as she trained with Clario she found a new hissatsu technique: Melodic Dance.
"Aha, I slept through my alarm so I kinda had to rush through everything," Chia gave Clario her bag and he carried it while they walked, she did her braid quickly and applied her lipgloss then Clario returned the bag. This tends to happen, through unspoken conversations, it even happened on the field, all they did was make eye contact and nod to each other, and there you go, a goal scored.
The whole walk was quiet as how they liked it, sometimes Chia would spark a story, not a conversation since she knows that Clario is a listener and not a speaker. Most of the time Chia would put on earphones and listen to music, she would also 'dance walk' and even skip to the music, at first Clario was embarrassed to walk by her now he doesn't care and is used to it.
---
When they arrived at school they immediately rushed to the change rooms and get their soccer uniform on, proudly wearing number 12, Chia wrapped her long braid that reached her hip into a bun so the hair won't interfere with her practice.
The soccer club: Barcelona Orb, only has afternoon practice, not morning, mornings are practising stamina and physical strength so it doesn't count as soccer practice. But then again, she is practising with the ball, but not really with her teammates, more of her own practice time. Chia doesn't like the physical training, she's a flexible girl and not a muscle guy, either way, each teammate has a personalised regime.
There is a board with all the member's names down along with instructions on what to do, once you've done the instructions then they get a whiteboard marker and cross the instructions completed.
"Chia Romanio (12)
30x laps around the field
10x handstand pushups
30x laps with dribbling around the field ONLY looking ahead
Juggling the ball with blind folds for 30 minutes"
...excuse me?
"Hey Clario,"
"Yes Cherry?"
"Does your regime look a bit... Different? Weird?" Clario looked back to his regime on the whiteboard and tilted his head slightly.
"It does," Chia checked Clario's regime.
"Clario Orvan (10)
30x kicks on a sandbag
15x Sprint up and down the length of the field
20x jumping squats with the ball
Learn how to curve the ball in 30 min"
The regime is a bit the same based on how many times they do each, but the instructions are different from what they normally receive.
The coach blew the whistle signalling all the players to gather around. What took them by surprise was an audience, a bunch of first years with their parents behind the coach.
"Today the regime is catered to each of your weaknesses and what I expect you by the end of this week, the regime will stay the same and your goal should be achieved. Will help the team grow in time for the Spain tournament, understood?"
"Yes coach," all of them said in unison.
"Now today is a bit different," the coach stepped to the side to reveal all the families with children brightly gawking at the members, Chia felt flattered, "we only started open days this year, it's where parents of the first year and the students themselves have a tour of the school and their interest, this is why only the people in clubs are here today. These children are interested in pursuing soccer therefore you will your them around and answer their questions. Now I shall pair you up, you shall do your regime's tomorrow instead."
This is why the school felt empty, Chia thought.
Chia was paired up with the Regult family, with their son Bergamo questioning her about soccer.
"Did you know I joined this school because of you?" the little boy (not a very little boy because of the 1 year age difference) said to Chia as his parents were behind taking photos of every corner of the school, Chia felt very giddy.
"Aw really? Why so?" Chia got herself ready to receive compliments, on how she thrives in the spotlight.
"You were really fast! And when you steal the ball it looked like it was nothing to you! It's because you looked graceful on the field. But not only that your duo with Clario carried the team through the Spain tournament and won!" Despite Bergamo trying to look cool by placing both of his hands at the back of the head, he had an inner child with his fanboying.
The rest of the tour was Chia conversing with Bergamo and creating a new friendship, his parents from time to time asked questions of the school, "what grades does he gave to get to stay in the team?" "what are the process for Bergamo to get into the team?" "how harsh is the training?"
Chia had added a new close friend to her list, he should tell him to call her Cherry from now on.
---
"How was your tour?" Chia and Clario we're walking home together, this time Chia only had one earbud on for music, and the other ear is listening to the conversation.
"It was ok,"
"Who did you get paired up with?"
"Luther,"
"Did anything special happen?"
"Luther was confident like you, but a bit arrogant, he challenged me to a match and lost, now he said that he's going to challenge you to a dribbling match next,"
"Oh? Ahahaha! I like him already, we should be friends!"
"You befriend anyone who breathes,"
"Exactly,"
"YOU!" Chia was taken aback by the sheer volume in the distance. Clario and Chia turned around to spot a boy with red spiky hair. "FIGHT ME!"
"What?" Chia was confused about this boy pointing at her. A fight? Chia can't even punch, what do you mean?
"Luther not now," Clario's voice dropped slightly, Luther froze but walked slower towards the duo.
"Chia! Dribble competition with me! I can beat you!" this was the first time Chia saw Clario disappointed. Clario made eye contact with Chia and shook his head, but Chia didn't listen, and Clario knew that.
"Sure! There's a park nearby!" Clario has never face palmed so loudly. Chia dragged Clario by the arm over to the direction of the park and signalled Luther to join.
---
15-0, in Chia's favour. Luther has never been demolished this bad, even Clario went easy on him (mostly because Luther's parents are watching). The defeated boy laid on the ground, sweating and breathing heavily. Chia stayed standing and fixing her hair, reapplied her lipgloss, and fixed her skirt (she was relieved when she wore shorts under her skirt).
"Chia we should head to our homes, it's getting late." Clario picked up his bag and handed the heavily decorated bag to Chia, he also got Luther's bag and gave it to him.
"HOW?" Luther wasn't finished, "I- how? You're only one year older than me!"
"But that one year can earn many experiences," Clario was not amused, interested in a new challenger, but not overjoyed.
"It's ok though! You can get better... Sooner or later," Chia cackled while walking away, Clario followed and Luther was left there to contemplate his actions.
"I'LL CHALLENGE YOU AGAIN I SWEAR!" Luther's voice was carried across the empty park, birds scattered by the volume, followed by Chia's cackling laughter, "SURE!"