The day before the Raimon girls won their first game against Forest and were in the club cabin about to go out to train. What they didn't know is that that victory had put them in the spotlight. After a while of chatting while waiting for the coach and Celia to go to the Ribera field, the girl arrived with some papers in her hands.
-Girls! You are not going to believe it. I have two news, one bad and one just as bad, but it doesn't affect us.
-Well, start with the bad one that doesn't affect us. -Annie suggested.
-They have destroyed the Forest Institute.
-WHAT?! -Everyone was surprised to hear this, because it was strange that after their defeat they destroyed their institute.
-Exact. -He started reading the article, after putting on his glasses- As it says here, they did not have funds to be able to maintain the building and its classes so they have torn it down to build a factory. Although it is not very credible to say the least, I was investigating and it was an almost prestigious institute, which means that they would have plenty of money.
-Do you think it was because of yesterday's game? -Cammy questioned.
-That's not possible, is it? -Silvia said, while everyone was thoughtful.
-If that were so, this tournament hides something big behind it. -Sierra intervened and everyone turned to look at her.- That is to say, her attitude was not the best, her coach seemed strange to me, they "guessed" our first meeting and also... -She stopped, because she did not want to reveal what she thought- Well that's my theory.
At that moment the coach entered, avoiding an awkward silence.
-Good afternoon, girls.
-Good afternoon, coach. -They greeted in unison.
-It's good that coach is here! I have to tell you the bad news.
-Well, let's listen to it Hills.
-The Riverside field is under construction. They want to remodel the entire field, put in a booth, a port, even change the stairs!
"Wow, how inconvenient..." said the coach.Tsuyoaka, knowing what would happen.
-And now where will we train? -Lucy asked.
-Well, near my house there is a large field with a soccer field and a small room where we can store the balls.
-Yes, I remember it well. -Amber smiled, it was the place where he challenged her for the first time.- It's not far, coach.
-Well, there's nothing more to talk about.
The esplanade was surrounded by buildings and a small slope led to a street. It had no vegetation and "the field" was drawn with what looked like chalk or paint. The goals were made of large, fat dark wooden sticks and that little room that Silvia had mentioned was almost in ruins, although it didn't look like it was going to fall down anytime soon.
-I like it, it could be useful. -said Celia with a slightly false smile.
-Well, it is our last hope. -Rai intervened quietly.
-We can call it that! The field of hope! -Annie got excited, taking his hands and raising them.
-Sure and we can make some arrangements -Adara joined.
-It's perfect, so hope to the field, team! -Tori said going down the ramp.
-Yes captain!
-I'll make a quick call and come down, Tori! -Annie told him from above.
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-With what field of hope, eh? I'm going there Ann.
In front of the Raimon Institute stood a handsome boy of about twenty years old. He was tall and had very pretty green hair, also a little messy but that made him look good. After those words he hung up the call and put his phone in his pocket. He was dressed in a white shirt and a yellow tracksuit jacket, his pants were long and black.
A little before this boy arrived at Raimon's door, some somewhat peculiar girls interrupted the soccer club's training. These were none other than Sue and her team, Osaka's Triple C. Before asking what she had to ask, the captain hugged her favorite player, Erik. Although she was not the only one who hooked up with a boy because Lilly Willow, forward, did not hesitate to put her arm over defender Nathan, making him quite uncomfortable and the quiet Sand approached Willy, who was on the bench.
-HONEY!
-Wow, Sue, what brings you here. -He asked without much encouragement.
-Well, we want to play a game with Tori and her team.
-Hello, Sue! -the captain of the Raimon approached him with joy- They have gone a while ago to a field near Silvia's house.
-Alright let's go, girls! -without letting Mark finish speaking, she gave the country magician one last hug and left the institute with her friends.
When he was at the door he realized that he didn't know how to get there.
-Look how stupid you are, aunt!
-Yeah, I know... Let's ask that guy who's walking. -They approached the boy mentioned before to try to find out where his friends were. -Hello, excuse me! Do you know how to get to an open field with a soccer field here, we want to see our friends from Raimon.
-You've been lucky, girls.
-And so much. -Some players on the team who were further away, like the goalkeeper and some midfielders, were laughing and whispering, because the young man was very handsome.
-I'm heading there.
-Perfect, we will accompany you! What is your name?
-I'm Anthony. -he said proudly.
-Well, we are...
-CUTE! -said defense Hellen Hearth
-¡CHIC! -continuaba Lilly
-COOL! -spoke another striker named Mary Moor
-That's us soccer girls. -said Daisy, the caretaker.
-The Triple C Academy, C C C The Osaka women's soccer team! -Hellen finished while her classmates made poses and applauded.
-Ehh yes yes, of course. -poor Anthony began to walk, quite surprised.
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-Adara to Tori! Very well cut Celia! Now to Sparks! -On the Esperanza field, the girls followed the coach's instructions while they played a small game among themselves.- Mabushii defends! Mabushii! -Amber was running towards her with a threatening look in her eyes, which gave off insecurity. He stood in front of her but when he got closer he turned his back and moved away, causing Silvia to score a goal.
-Well, one more goal for the collection. -Adara told Tori, because between the team's great forward line and the poor defense they had, they were 3 to 1, since Nelly was also able to score a goal against the goalkeeper. Tori approached Rai, empathetic. His self-confidence was evident.
-Rai, why are you running away from the ball? -This question surprised Rai, run away from the ball? She doesn't... or does she?
-I-I didn't, I wasn't going to be able to stop Amber, she's very good.
-We won't know that until you try it. You must trust yourself, Rai, that fear you have must go.
"Go away..." she muttered to herself, as she watched Tori go to her position.
-Hey Mabushii, -Sierra called her, a little serious- I'm not a phenomenon in football either -Nor giving advice, he thought - but if you don't look at the ball straight ahead, it will hit you from behind. -Not even the girl herself knew what he had told her, but she hoped that at least it gave her something to think about.
The coach had realized, that girl had to grow up, she had to face her fears. Before Annie could give her friend another pep talk, a figure she recognized appeared next to the small, rickety wooden bench from which she stood.Tsuyoaka I watched the team. The boy greeted the coach, explaining his arrival a little and asking for forgiveness for interrupting training. The girl couldn't help but gasp and then run and hug the young man. His entire team stared in bewilderment, except Rai who already knew he would arrive.
-Anthony! I've missed you!
-And I to you, Ann! -He told her, hugging her back and starting to laugh with her.
-This is rare. -Celia commented to Nelly.
-Do not even say it.
Annie stopped hugging the boy to clarify doubts.
"Sorry, girls," he addressed them with a smile. "This is my brother, Anthony Brez."
-Charmed!
-Ahhh now it makes more sense. -said the blue-haired girl.
-A pleasure. -the captain spoke for everyone.
-How long, Rai! -The boy approached, then picked her up and hugged her like his sister. The defense let out a small high-pitched scream in surprise. She felt a little uncomfortable, it's not that she didn't trust Anthony but that all her new friends saw her in that situation. "Come on, don't make that face," she said, lowering her face with a big smile, "to me you're like another sister." -he whispered in her ear.
Flashback ⇀⇀⇀⇀⇀⇀⇀⇀⇀⇀⇀⇀⇀⇀⇀⇀
Annie was about five and a half years old when she moved to Japan from Italy with her family, specifically to the city Inazuma. There they were very well received and they hardly had any problems learning the language since they had learned to speak it since they were little thanks to their grandparents. A few days after their move, a very friendly neighboring family came to introduce themselves. There were three members, Mr. and Mrs. Mabushii, who were very open and their little daughter Rai, who despite her parents' attempts was very quiet and scared, had no friends and no intention of making them.
-Good morning neighbors, we are the Mabushii from two houses down the road. How was the move? We have brought you some welcome gifts. -This impressed the woman who was at the door because she was not expecting it.
-Oh, delighted, I'm Mrs. Brez, come in. Hello baby. -He said to the girl with big black eyes. This small show of affection made the little girl hide further behind her mother's dress.
-Sorry, she's a little shy. -Mrs. Brez smiled kindly.
-Amore, new neighbors have come to introduce themselves.
"Thank you for coming, I'm Mr. Brez," he extended his hand to his neighbor. "Wow, hello girl." -he spoke to Rai- I will introduce you to our children, you will see that you will become friends. -He left the room to call them.
The little girl pulled her mother's dress to make her bend down and say something in her ear. "I don't want to, let's go." -he said with his sweet voice. Without his mother being able to answer him, loud noises began to be heard in the house.
-Don't worry, it's nothing, just the whirlwinds are coming. -As if it were a storm, the Brez children entered, a boy of about twelve years old and a girl the same age as Rai. The girl was riding a piggyback on her brother while he was dressed in an apron, which had turned black over time, trying to get her little sister to get off.
-Anthony and Annie! -The father said firmly, making his children stand next to each other and bow.
-We are sorry for our behavior, we are Anthony and Annie Brez, thank you for coming. -They spoke in unison and, without having even raised their heads, they began to laugh softly and look at each other in complicity. Their parents sighed, at least this time they had not broken or burned anything.
Annie raised her eyes a little seeing a girl her age with short, straight purple hair, looking like a doll of hers! I definitely had to talk to her.
-Ahh! -The little Brez girl scared her with amusement, causing Rai to startle strongly- Jijijiji is now ours. -The girl had unconsciously released her grip on her mother's dress and Anthony had grabbed her from behind and taken her down the hallway that led to her rooms. Before following her brother, Annie addressed the adults. - We will return her to you safe and sound, don't worry, we will become very good friends. -He ran into his brother's room, where at the moment the two of them were sleeping in a trundle bed (that is, a set of two beds), it was a small but cozy room. She opened the door behind her and approached the girl who couldn't move from the small plastic chair with a cartoon vinyl where Anthony had sat her.
He was afraid and tears were about to come out of his eyes.
-Hey, why are you going to cry? We just want to be your friends. Even though it seems like we want to kidnap you to cook you and feed the ogres under the bed. -Rai looked at the older man, who blurted out such atrocity as if it were nothing, and began to cry without barely making a sound.- Eh... sorry, sorry! -He tried to console her but got a withering look from his little sister.
-Go make the focaccia you were saying before, please Anthony. -The boy left with his hand on the back of his head, a little embarrassed. Annie approached the girl curiously, trying not to scare her. He smiled at her, making her stop crying. - Hello, what's your name?
-I -I'm Rai. -she said shyly
-I'm Annie! -she shouted excitedly, but upon realizing her reaction she spoke in a calmer tone- And I'm Annie. -He gave her a short hug, something that Rai liked- Are we friends? -The girl didn't know why she did it but she nodded. Annie then clapped her hands together with her open fingers. - Hey hey, I've already made a Japanese friend and you've made an Italian one. That's great. -He pulled her arm and lifted her up.- We have decided we will be best friends forever and ever. Promise? -The little girl with the messy hair raised her little finger and with her other hand she raised Rai's little finger to hold it with hers.- See? Now we are permanent super friends.
-Yes -Rai smiled and they laughed together. For a while they talked about everything and nothing until a noise followed by a scream was heard. The girls ran to the living room, but Annie was already afraid of something.
-Heh heh, I made focaccia. -Anthony appeared with a tray with what was supposed to be bread and well burned.
-Anthony Brez! What have I told you about using the kitchen without supervision! -The father took the tray and took his son to clean up the mess.
-Mother! -I called her Annie- Rai and I are now friends forever! -The Mabushii couple looked at each other, they looked up at their daughter, she wasn't crying, she was smiling.
-Rai... is that true? -His daughter nodded very happily.
From that day on they were both the closest friends and spent afternoons together at each other's house, when they went to Annie's house they did crazy things and played soccer with Anthony, better or worse, in addition to cooking and at Rai's house, more than usual. Sometimes even Anthony came home. They coincided in primary school and now also in secondary school.
Fin del flashback ⇀⇀⇀⇀⇀⇀⇀⇀⇀⇀⇀⇀⇀⇀⇀⇀
-Ah, I was leaving! I'm not coming alone! -Going down the ramp, Osaka's Triple C entered the field.
-Sue! -Tori hugged her friend- Here again?
-We have a game in Iwate soon and we have thought aboutthrow a friendly here before we meet in the tournament.
-For my own good but...-He looked at the coach who nodded with a smile- Done.
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-Here Charlotte Horse broadcasting the Raimon Girls match against Triple C Osaka, at Esperanza Field! -The girl appeared behind Anthony, scaring him.
Triple C Osaka: CAP. DL Suzette Hartland Nº10
DL Lilly Willow Nº11
DL Mary Moor Nº9
MC Bela Bluebells Nº6
MC Natalie Sunrise Nº7
MC Hillary Bush Nº8
DF Alexia Sand Nº2
DF Hellen Hearth Nº3
DF Rose Pinkpetal Nº4
DF Esther Greenland Nº5
GK Daisy Fields Nº1
GK Dell Closeout Nº12
DF Amy Spires Nº13
MC Peony Cash Nº14
MC Gayle Revel Nº15
Coach:Mrs. Hartland (not present)
Training:2-3-3-2
M.M L.W
N.S S.H H.B
R.P B.B E.G
A.S H.H
D.F
Bench: D.C, A.S, P.C, G.R (not present)
Raimon Girls: CAP. MC Victoria Vanguard No. 8
MC Adara Snowtorch Nº2
MC Lucy Snowtorch Nº3
MC Celia Hills Nº14
DF Camellia Travis Nº12
DF Sierra Range Nº4
DF Rai Mabushii Nº6
DF Annie Brez Nº9
DL Nelly Raimon Nº 1O
DL Amber Sparks Nº11
GK Silvia Woods Nº1
Coach:Samyueru Tsuyoaka
Training:4-4-2
N.R. A.S
A.S. L.S
C.H. T.V.
A.B C.T. S.R. R.M
S.W
Without bench.
-It begins with a serve by the visitor! Ball for Hartland! We have a duel between captains! -Both girls smiled, determined to have the ball.
-PRIMA DONNA! -the forward shouted, surrounding Tori.
-You can't with me Sue. -He jumped and stole the ball. -Yours Celia! -The girl sent him the ball and he received it correctly. She found herself face to face with the three midfielders surrounding her.
-ILLUSION BALL! -Different balls flew around him, allowing him to escape and passing the ball to Nelly. The redhead shot hard, making the goalkeeper unable to stop it.
-One to zero for Raimon, thanks to the assistance of Celia Hills and her new super technique!
-Celia, was that...? -Amber approached and she nodded happily.
-My little brother and I have trained together! -Adara gave her a hug and she returned it.
-It has been fantastic!
"So Jude Sharp has his kind and tender side," Sparks thought.
-Fields throws the ball to defender Alexia Sand! Lucy approaches menacingly! -The neighbors, especially the elderly, from the buildings surrounding the field looked out of the windows and balconies to watch the friendly match, thanks to Charlotte's comments and her microphone. Everyone was happy that that old wasteland finally had a use. Many of the players noticed this and couldn't help but laugh.
-Come on Raimon! -They encouraged.
-But what are you talking about, Juan Antonio. -He hit him in the belly. An elderly couple was watching the game sitting on some plastic chairs on their balcony. - Those from Osaka have a cuter uniform.
-And what do you tell me, Pilar, the Raimon goalkeeper lives next door and always greets me when she walks down the street.
-It's true, the little girl gave me cookies once. He gave it to both of us but I ate them.
-So?,well me now I'm going with Osaka.
-Like this? Well, Cheer up Raimon!
Lucy had stepped forward to steal the ball from Sand. She climbed onto the ball and dodged it, causing Snowtorch to become furious. After having had possession for a while and dribbling past Raimon G, the ball was now in Mary Moor's possession, forward, who was preparing to score a goal. Before he could do anything Sierra swiped the ball away from him, letting out a proud, mocking smile. The ball was received by Tori, although Esther Greenland took the ball.
Lily and Sue approached the goal with the ball until...
-BUTTERFLY DANCE! - Silvia didn't have time to finish her super technique when they were already tied.
-Take out Camellia from Raimon who surpasses the Osaka forward! Hillary steals the ball!-Bela was close to the goal and when the ball was going straight to her she hit a header but Silvia was able to stop it.-For very little!-The whistle blew for half-time. Among the spectators of the game was a girl who had already researched Raimon and the other teams in the tournament. She was with the owner of the house watching from a window.
-Jill, are you enjoying the game? It is the first time there is one here and it is from the sport that you like so much.
-Actually, yes, grandpa, I'll go down and say hello later.