"We will win this match no matter what! I swear on the name of the strongest of the galaxy, Faram Orbius!"
"Yeah!"
As the match resumed, Aoi couldn't tell if she wanted to smile at Tenma's motivation returning, or frown at Tsurugi's words. She involuntarily turned her head to her fellow manager, who didn't seem the least bit bothered.
"Kimiko?"
"Hm?" She responded without looking away from the match.
"Do you know what Tsurugi is planning? Why is he doing all of this? What would he gain if Faram wins?"
"You're asking me to read his mind."
"If you don't mind..."
She shrugged. "I've done it already actually. He's just completely focused on the match. Nothing else is going on in there."
"Can't you dig deeper into his memories?" Shinsuke asked, now paying attention to their conversation as well.
"I could, but..." She hummed a bit in thought before finally turning her head to them. "Wouldn't you rather ask him yourselves?"
She and Shinsuke exchanged glances at that. Without another word, their attention returned to the match.
~~~~~
"It's a succession of fierce plays, baby!"
Sakura had the ball, and just before one of Faram's defenders could get to her, she ran even faster. A blue light surrounded her and a pink-furred serow appeared in her place, charging over the opponent.
Kamoshika. Kimiko nodded to herself, noting its name. She roughly recalled that she had first unleashed it back on Ratoniik like Manabe did, but as she had gone out of control, she wasn't able to pay proper attention to her at the time.
Barga unleashed his own Soul, something akin to a yellow triceratops, and charged at her, taking the ball back easily. He passed the ball to Hilary, who followed suit, and turned into a blue phoenix to get past Manabe.
"Tsurugi!"
The navy haired boy caught it, eyes only on the goal. "We'll make the first point!"
"As if!"
He did a normal shot and Ibuki deflected it with a punch. However, Tsurugi was able to jump and kick it back. The keeper used a foot to push himself off one pole to punch it away again, but still the striker was able to get to it. Ibuki landed on a hand to keep balance as he pushed himself up, but once his right foot hit the ground, he couldn't help but wince from the injury he got.
"I knew it. His ankle...!" Shinsuke's soft muttering came from beside her.
Yet Tsurugi, ruthless as ever, used Bicycle Sword to take that point.
"GOAL!!! Faram Dite wins the first goal with Tsurugi's shoot!"
Tetsukado sighed. "That guy shows no mercy!"
Kusaka could only smile wryly. "Well, you could say it's the best hospitality he can offer us."
Ibuki, despite being hurt and having a point stolen off of him, got up with his usual cocky smile. "Nice. This is how the finals should be! We're not done yet! They're not getting another point from me!"
"Guys..." Tenma grinned. "That's right! We're still not done yet!"
Hm... Somehow, you're a lot meaner here than you were as a SEED.
Hurting him wasn't my idea, but since it's happened, I took advantage of it.
Exactly what I mean. What would you do if Yuu-san saw?
He can ground me for as long as he likes. This is the only way Faram's going to keep their trust on me.
But you're also enjoying yourself, aren't you?
It's soccer. Of course I am.
What a bully.
Yeah, yeah. Now, get out of my head!
The only thing she found annoying about this situation is that he can't make any faces for her to laugh at, but she'll settle for the jokingly-angry tone he had in his head.
The next round began with Tenma and Matatagi's kickoff once again, but the latter was quickly blocked by the Baran Brothers. Ryugel passed to Rodan, who immediately went for the goal with Kazanrai.
Ibuki crouched down, his right fist glowing in a bright blue aura (the color almost making her think it was a new way to use a Soul). He then jumped high, the aura swirling into a dragon-shaped tornado.
"Gekirin Dunk!"
Slamming his hand down, the volcanic energy in the ball was suppressed as the dragon practically ate it.
"You did it, Ibuki! Amazing! You're amazing!" Shinsuke cheered.
He seemed proud of himself, as he should, but the expression dropped when he saw most of the people he could pass to were being blocked. Then, he smirked and began dribbling.
In the basketball way.
"Ibuki! Not again!"
"No, let him."
To Tetsukado's surprise, Shindou was the one backing him up. "What?!"
The keeper's eyes remained focused as he continued to dribble on the spot.
"Is that guy joking around?" Gandales asked, his posture easing.
Shindou took the chance to run, and Ibuki grit his teeth and jumped, throwing the ball with all his might. Shindou deflected the ball to Matatagi, who used Parkour Attack, scoring before the other keeper could react.
"Got it in!"
"Matatagi!"
"You did it!"
"Nice shoot!"
"Earth Eleven brings the score to a tie! The game is back on even ground, baby!"
It was Faram Dite's turn to do the kickoff. Almost immediately, Tenma caught up to block Tsurugi, and he nearly succeeded, but the striker was able to slide the moment the ball was taken from him to get it back.
He passed it to Ryugel, who tried to pass it to Gandales, but Tetsukado headbutted it to Sakura, who kicked it far up the field for Tenma to catch up to. Just as he jumped, so did Tsurugi, which led to him taking back the ball. Manabe and Minaho teamed up against him, but he was able to react fast enough to jump before they got to him and kicked another power shot. This time, Ibuki caught it.
"They stopped him!"
"The defense made sure to block his course!"
Close call!
What did I say about going in my head when the match is still on-going?
I'm not sorry.
She could see him clicking his tongue before chasing after the ball again, his focus back on the brunette that had it.
While still connected to his thoughts, she could see the flicker of memories from his first day of school playing in his head.
It was that day when our fates began to run together.
Hilary managed to cut Tenma's path, and she smirked as she made a back pass that just barely missed him. The navy haired boy was right behind him, a similar expression on his face.
The ball landed on the ground right by his leg, but Tenma was quick to block it right then and there, the two forces pushing fiercely against one another.
"I..."
"... will not..."
"... lose to you!"
The energy became too much for the ball, the feedback knocking them both back and sending it into the sky. Even from the bench, they could feel it in the form of a strong wind.
Kimiko's eyes widened. I've felt this before...
Her eyes involuntarily went to her second student, who had just barely missed his chance to take Kusaka's pass. Her thoughts flashed to her own memories of her time training him.
It's the same kind of energy I felt whenever I sparred against his Lion... Was that Life Energy?
If it was, then she couldn't tell if she was glad or worried. On the one hand, it means that Souls weren't the only source for it, just like he said... But on the other hand, if more and more clashes like that happen, people can get seriously hurt.
She cursed under her breath. Not that anyone cares. All they're thinking about is 'having fun' or saving the planet or galaxy or whatever.
She watched as everyone involved in the match were using their techniques more and more often. Every clash seemed to be more powerful than the last.
Rodan had an opportunity to score, but Ibuki was fast enough to punch it away. However, his struggle to stand didn't go by unnoticed.
"Tsurugi." Her head turned to the other bench, finding their ex-coach standing. "Do it."
"Tsurugi. Break him down."
Her eyes widened when both the past and present seemed to overlap within the single second. Just like all those months ago, she had to hold herself back from lunging into the field.
However, unlike back then, he didn't make any moves. Instead, it was the five Shitennou who were all smirks as they continuously went after the white haired keeper. Specifically, his twisted right leg.
While it was commendable how hard he kept fighting despite it all, she couldn't help clenching her fists at how cruel they were being. Had it only been attempts at scoring, then she might be able to give them a pass as it was the keeper's own choice to keep using his leg to block it. However, when the brothers hit him with a double slide tackle, and when Rodan purposely let his entire body fall on it, it took everything she had in her to not just fling them off the pitch with her abilities.
The warning look her best friend was giving her wasn't helping either.
Gandales was set to do the corner kick, and while Ibuki was able to jump to stop it, Rodan was faster with his tiger-like Soul. Faram was once again ahead in points.
Or so they thought.
The referee determined it to be a no goal. Just as Ducksgun commentated as such, the main monitor lit up with a bird's eye view of the field taken by a satelite, replaying what had just gone on.
"Oh! The ball slightly crosses over the goal line at one point! The goal is invalid! As expected from Grand Celesta Galaxy's finest judgement system! Not even the smallest mistake goes unmissed! It's the coolest!"
A whole satellite to oversee the match...
Set up by the galactic-federation-people no doubt.
Amber eyes finally allowed themselves to turn her way. You think something is suspicious about it too?
There's no way to tell for sure yet, but it never hurts to be more careful.
Got it. I'll keep my guard up.
No need. I have your back if anything happens.
... Heh, yeah. I'll hold you to that.
~~~~~
Most of Tenma's focus had been on Ibuki since he noticed his injury, but as soon as the keeper admitted to it at half-time, and Shinsuke promising to back them all up in his place, his attention was caught by how silent the blonde manager was being. She had her arms crossed and her eyes closed. If he didn't know her better at this point, he probably would've thought she fell asleep.
Instead, his eyes wandered over to the other bench, where his and, first and foremost, her best friend was standing.
After being given orders by the coach, he had moved to stand at his usual spot. Leaning against the outer wall of the bench shelter, his standoffish manner radiating similarly to her. Arms crossed, eyes closed, face devoid of any emotion.
He wondered if they were communicating.