*Timeskip*
Shirabe POV
Kakuma: Raimon fans, thank you for waiting! The Holy Road's district prelims will finally be wrapping up! Today, at the fully-seated Holy Road Stadium, Kanto's district prelim finals of Kaiou Academy versus Raimon Jr. High!
Kirara: "Wha~ it's finally happening!"
"Yes, it is... speaking of... Kaiou Academy's team is all Seeds right?"
Kirara: "Yup! Very loyal ones too."
I look towards Kaiou's team.
Namikawa: "Ready, scoundrels?!"
Kaiou: "Yeah!"
*sweatdrop*
"S-Scoundrels?"
Kirara: "It's a thing."
"If you say so."
Kirara: "Oh? Raimon has more reserved players?"
I look towards Raimon's bench.
"You're right... ah, Mirai isn't playing I guess."
Kirara: "Hm~ too bad."
Kakuma: Both teams are in position! Kaiou starts the game at kickoff! Kaiou Academy makes a fast attack and heads up on the dribble!
Shindou: "Tenma!"
Kakuma: They've passed Shindou and Matsukaze!
Yoshimine: "Kaizu!"
Kaizu: "Touga!"
Touga: "Nagisawa!"
Nagisawa: "Wanda!"
Kakuma: Now Kaiou is on a passing spree!
Kirara: "Aw, they're having fun with them."
"Fun isn't the right word..."
Kakuma: It's a tough fight for the ball!
Kirara: "A fight between two Seeds, I never thought I see the day."
"It can't be helped. No one would have thought Tsurugi would double-cross us."
Tsurugi was able to steal the ball but then was stopped by Murakami.
Murakami: "Yoshimine!"
Kakuma: His path is completely open!
Yoshimine: "Flying Fish!"
Sangoku: "Burning Catch! ...U-Ugh!"
Tenma: "Sangoku-senpai!"
Kakuma: It's in! Kaiou mets the first goal not long after the starting whistle!
Sangoku: "Damn it!"
Namikawa: "We will protect Fifth Sector's managed soccer! We swear it in both name and pride as Seeds!"
Shindou: "It's still one point! The match is just beginning!"
Kirara: "Quite positive isn't he?"
I look down at Shindou.
Risking everything to save that one soccer... is it really worth it?
Kakuma: Raimon is abruptly pulled behind!
Shindou: "Tsurugi! Tenma! Bring up the passes!"
Tenma: "Okay!"
Kakuma: The match resumes with Raimon's kickoff!
Kurama: "Shindou!"
Shindou: "Tsurugi!"
Tsurugi: "Matsukaze!"
Kakuma: Raimon passes up the field!
Tenma: "Kurama-senpai!"
Kakuma: Raimon's pass connects!
Kurama: "Here it comes! Sidewinder!"
Fukami: "Hydro Anchor!"
Kakuma: Kurama's shoot is blocked!
Kurama: "What?"
Fukami: "We're in a whole other class from you guys."
Ide: "Touga!"
Kakuma: Kaiou moves up this time with an angry wave of attacks! Raimon doesn't even get a chance to touch the ball!
Kirara: "Hm...."
"What's wrong?"
Kirara: "It's just, this is too easy."
"Too easy?"
Kirara: "Raimon must have something up their hand no? I mean they always do."
"Perhaps... it's..."
I look down at Matsukaze.
Maybe his Avatar will awaken in this match...
Shindou: "Tsurugi! Kurama! Tighten the defense!"
Kakuma: Raimon is bringing their forwards back to secure their defense! And now, Hamano moves in to defend! But Hamano is given the slip! Two move in to stop him! Shindou dodges by making a touch! There's Amagi and Nishizono's defense! Raimon's fervid defense continues!
Kirara: "This is getting boring!"
Kirara leaned back into her chair.
"It can't be helped. What do you expect when they're playing against a team of Seeds?"
Kirara: *pout* "All they're doing is defending! Plus even if they do keep defending they'll still lose points."
Kakuma: Yoshimine slips through their defense!
"Huh?"
I saw Matsukaze heading towards Yoshimine.
Tenma: "Spiral Draw!"
Kirara: "What?"
"That's..."
Yoshimine: "What... Ugh!"
Kakuma: Matsukaze uses a new hissatsu technique!
Tenma: "Yes!"
"That's the technique he was practicing with Tsurugi last time..."
Kirara: "That?! I don't know what it was but it crazy!"
"Hm... not that crazier than other things we seen."
Kirara: "... Good point."
Tsurugi: "Matsukaze!"
Tenma: "Tsurugi!"
Kakuma: Here he passes to Tsurugi! Raimon counterattacks! Tsurugi sidesteps Saruga!
Tsurugi: "Death Drop!"
Fukami: "Hydro Anchor! Ugh!"
Kakuma: It's in! Tsurugi's tying goal! Raimon brings the score up to 1-1!
Mirai: "Great job, Tsurugi!"
Kirara: "Oh? Tsurugi has a little cheerleader hm~"
*sweatdrop*
Kakuma: The match resumes with Kaiou's ball!
Namikawa: "Let's go, you scalywags!"
"Scalywags..."
Yoshimine: "Wanda!"
Kakuma: Kaiou makes an abrupt, quick attack!
Wanda: "Playtime's over. Sonic Speed Barius!"
Shindou: "An Avatar!"
Wanda passed through Matsukaze and Shindou.
Shindou and Tenma: "Ugh!"
Kirino: "Shindou!"
Shinsuke: "Tenma!"
Wanda: "Namikawa!"
Namikawa: "Come out! Sea King Poseidon!"
Hamano: "He can use an Avatar too?"
Namikawa: "Take this!"
Sangoku: "Ugh!"
Kakuma: It's in! The score is now 2-1 with Kaiou Academy in the lead once more!
Kirara: "Wow~ now they turn serious. Why so early in the game though?"
"Because you Seeds are impatient."
Kirara: "... Fair enough."
Kurumada: "Dash Train!"
Kakuma: Kurumada takes the ball!
Kurumada: "Shindou! Tch... Tsurugi!"
Kakuma: Kurumada can't pass the ball!
Namikawa: "We know you two can use Avatars!"
Wanda: "We're not letting you use them!"
Kurumada: "Tch..."
Tenma: "Kurumada-senpai!"
Kakuma: Raimon's pass connects!
Ide: "You guys think you can get past me?! Elite Solider Pawn!"
Shinsuke: "A third Avatar user!"
Tenma: "I won't lose!"
Shirabe and Kirara: !
Tenma: "Ugh!"
Shinsuke and Aoi: "Tenma!"
Ide: "Yoshimine!"
Yoshimine: "Flying Fish!"
Sangoku: "Burning Catch! ... Ugh!"
Kakuma: It's in! An additional point that weighs heavily on Raimon! There's the whistle! The score is 3-1! The first half ends with Kaiou Academy in the lead!
His Avatar is close to unleashing...
"Hm..."
I listened on to their Raimon's conversation for the second half.
Everyone: "Eh?! Put in Tenma as goalkeeper?!"
"W-Wha..."
Endou: "Kirino, you fill in for Tenma's position."
Kirino: "Y-Yes, sir!"
Endou: "Sangoku, you're left-back."
Kurumada: "Why are you doing this? Why make Tenma goalkeeper when he's never played goalkeeper before?"
Endou: "To win, of course."
Hamano: "T-To win....?"
Everyone became silent.
Sangoku: "Let's do as Coach says."
Kurumada: "Sangoku!"
Sangoku-senpai walked over to Matsukaze.
Sangoku: "I'm counting on you, Tenma."
Tenma: "Sangoku-senpai..."
Sangoku: "Bring me a spare uniform."
Aoi: "O-Okay!"
Tenma: "Ah!"
Midori: "Don't make that face! Since this is how it ended up, you just gotta do it."
Tenma: "But!"
Midori: "You're going to protect soccer, aren't you?"
Shinsuke: "It'll be fine, Tenma! We'll be there to defend with you! We won't let them shoot!"
Tenma: "Shinsuke..."
Kirara: "This is an interesting turn of events!"
Shinsuke and Tenma: "Eh?"
Everyone turned around to see Kirara smiling at them.
"... Eh?"
I turned to the side and then quickly looked back at where Kirara was.
When did she?!
Tenma: "K-Kirara-san?!"
Shinsuke: "Wh-When did you?"
Kirara: "Aw come on! You really think I'd miss the finals?"
Tenma: "Um.. well, no?"
Kirara: "Exactly! Now, go out and there and show me what you can do!"
Kirara smiled brightly.
Tenma: "O-Okay!"
After everyone started to get ready, I hid behind the wall and watched.
Kiri-chan what on earth are you doing?
Tsurugi: "What are you planning?"
"Eh?"
I peeked out behind the wall to see Tsurugi came up behind Kirara.
Kirara: "Eh~ planning? I'm not planning anything~"
Tsurugi glared at Kirara.
Kirara: "Aw~ Kyou-Kyou is being hostile~ You've grown quite close with Raimon haven't you?"
Tsurugi: "... Enough."
Mirai: "Tsurugi!"
Mirai ran up to Tsurugi.
Mirai: "F-For now, let's focus on the match!"
Tsurugi: "... Tch."
Tsurugi walked away from Kirara. With Mirai following behind him.
Not just close, really close with Raimon.