Mirai POV
Kakuma: The second half is about to start. Raimon has benched Kirino with no replacement and changed the whole defense line! Gassan Kunimitsu kicks off the second half!
The fans started turning on immediately and the cyclones appeared.
Tenma: "There it is!"
Kakuma: Gassan Kunimitsu cleverly used these cyclones in the first half as well! What will Raimon do?
Hayami: "We can't see them like this!"
Kakuma: Gassan Kunimitsu uses the cyclones like a wall to overpower Raimon!
When I went to get the ball from Shibata, he immediately passed.
"Crap!"
Tsukishima got it and then passed it on. Kariya almost fell but quickly got back up and went to Ichimonji.
Kakuma: It's Kariya's impressive mobility again!
Kariya: "Hunter's Net!"
Ichimonji: "Ugh!"
Kariya passed it to me and I quickly kicked it up in the air.
Shinsuke: "I'll get it!"
Shinsuke headbutt it towards Kai. But then Kariya quickly got in front of Kai and got the ball.
Kakuma: Kariya has it again! Raimon is keeping the ball in possession amongst its defense! Oh, a cyclone is coming!
Kariya: "I've been watching you guys use the cyclones for quite a while now. It's ours now!"
Kariya kicked the ball into the cyclone.
Kakuma: Kariya kicks the ball into the cyclone!
Kariya: "The cyclones in the second half are Raimon's eleventh player! Tenma-kun it's yours!"
Tenma: "Got it! Spiral Draw!"
Kakuma: Matsukaze uses a hissatsu technique! He's jumped into the cyclone himself! The cyclone moves freely! No one knows when the ball or Matsukaze will come jumping out!
"Amazing..."
I put a hand to my chest.
There's so much excitement.
Tenma: "Mach Wind!"
Kakuma: Matsukaze uses the cyclone to make a shoot!
Hyoudou: "Giant God Gigantes!"
Kurama: "It's mine!"
Hyoudou: "A shoot chain?"
Kurama: "Sidewinder!"
The ball was too quick for Hyoudou and it went in!
Kakuma: Raimon ties the score! Matsukaze assists Kurama! The shoot chain using the power of the cyclone makes it in!
Kariya: "You've gotten really good at using the cyclones."
I turned to see Kariya and Tenma were talking.
Kariya: "Kirino-senpai threw the defense's balance off in the first half. Coach was right to bench him."
Tenma: "Eh?"
Kariya: "He made it obvious who's necessary for this team and who isn't."
Tenma: "...Really? No one can decide who isn't necessary. We're a team because we have all sorts of people on it."
! ...No one can decide... who isn't necessary...
Tenma: "Soccer must be feeling a bit lonely when you say that."
Shindou: "You two. Get back into position."
Tenma and Kariya: "Okay!"
I looked down. While remembering Tenma's words.
Kakuma: The score is a 1-1 tie! Gassan Kunimitsu resumes the match with a kickoff! The cyclones aren't coming! The match has reached a new devlopment!
Hyoudou: "Attack formation phantasmagoria! Tactics Cycle!"
"What..."
Shindou: "Hissatsu tactics?"
Hamano: "They've changed their formation!"
Hayami: "They're fast! Way too fast!"
Kakuma: Gassan Kunimitsu's hissatsu tactics! They've speeding up with back passes as they dive into Raimon's camp!
"What is this? Shinsuke-san, let's go!"
Shinsuke: "Okay!"
! They changed it again?
First is was a diamond and now it was a straight line.
Kakuma: The formation changes! And this vertical line keeps speeding up!
It's fast!
Mirai and Shinsuke: "Ugh!"
Kariya went and tried stopping it too but...
Kariya: "Ugh!"
Tenma: "Kariya!"
Sangoku: "Kariya, leave it to me!"
Kariya: "I won't let them push me over! I'll get the ball from them no matter what! Hunter's Net!"
Kai: "It's useless!"
Kariya: "Ugh!"
Tenma: "Kariya!"
Kanehira and Kai: "Rocket Head!"
Kakuma: Gassan Kunimitsu scores again! It's 2-1!
Tenma: "Kariya, you okay?"
Kariya seemed to ignore him and went back to his position.
Kakuma: There it is again! Gassan Kunimitsu's Tactics Cycle!
Their tactics blew Shinsuke and I away again. But when they tried kicking it in again, Sangoku-senpai punched it out. Then the whistle blew.
"Huh?"
Kakuma: What's this? Raimon is bringing back the defender Kirino!
"Kirino-senpai..."
Kirino-senpai went up to talk Kariya about breaking the tactics.
I hope nothing goes wrong...
Kakuma: The match resumes with Raimon's throw-in!
But when Shindou passed it, Gassan Kunimitsu quickly stole it.
Gassan Kunimitsu: "Tactics Cycle!"
Kirino: "Now, Kariya! Go after #8 before they line up!"
Kakuma: Kariya dives in! Will he be able to break through Tactics Cycle? Kariya doesn't make it! The ball is in front of Minamisawa!
Kirino: "I won't let you!"
Minamisawa was forced to passed back to Kai but Kariya stole it!
Kariya: "There! Is that good enough for you?"
Kirino: "All right! Tenma!"
Tenma: "Okay!"
Kakuma: They broke through the Tactics Cycle! Kariya and Kirino make a magnificent combo play!
Tenma: "This will finish it! Demon God Peagsus! Go!"
Hyoudou: "Giant God Gigantes! A shoot like that will not get past my Avatar Gigantes! Gigantic Bomb!"
The two fought against each other's avatars.
*breathes* "Tenma! Go!!"
Tenma: !
Then the ball hit back and went through!
Kakuma: Matsukaze's shoot ties the score for Raimon!
Shinsuke: "All right! Tenma!"
Shinsuke ran up to Tenma and Tenma nodded back to him. Tenma looked back at Kariya and smiled at him. Then he looked at me.
Tenma: "Mirai... thank you for that cheer..."
Things are still awkward between us but...
I walked over to him and patted him on the head
Tenma: "Mirai?"
He looked at me and I smiled.
"Good job."
Then I leaned down and whispered in his ear.
*whisper* "You made me remember something important. Even though this is my last match, I want you help you all continue. So don't be sad okay?"
I moved away from him and looked at him.
"Bring real soccer back."
Tenma: ! "... Okay!"
I smiled at him.
Shirabe POV
!
"... That's your real smile, huh?"
Aoi: "Eh?"
Akane: "I've never seen that smile on Mirai-chan..."
*click*
Akane took a picture.
Midori: "Yeah... but it's a nice smile isn't it?"
"Yes..."
Aoi: "..."
Akane: "What's wrong?"
Aoi: "Mirai-chan's smile... it looks familiar somehow..."
Midori: "Does it?"
"So you thought that too?"
Aoi: "Yes... I can't put my finger on it though..."
Kakuma: Gassan Kunimitsu resumes the match with their kickoff!
Minamisawa: "Shibata!"
Kakuma: Will Gassan Kunimitsu connect their pass to Minamisawa? But Kurama steals the ball!
Kurama: "Too slow!"
Hamano: "Kurama!"
Minamisawa: "Tsukishima!"
But Tsukishima couldn't stop Hamano.
Shindou: "Move up, Hamano!"
Kakuma: With the score tied, Raimon surges forward for the attack! Hamano gets past!
Kidou: "The fragility of administrated soccer has come to light."
Aoi: "Fragility?"
Endou: "Yeah. Gassan Kunimitsu is a strong team, there's no mistaking that. But... By only playing games according to Fifth Sector's orders, they have never faced any real hardship."
I felt myself getting a bit angry.
Kurumada: "And now they have!"
Aoyama: "So that's why Gassan Kunimitsu is moving slower."
Kidou: "A team's real worth is known upon seeing how they act in the face of adversity."
Ichino: "We can win this game!"
Kurumada: "Yeah, as long as this keeps up."
Shindou: "Hamano!"
Hamano: "There!"
Kurumada: "All right! He's totally free!"
Kakuma: Minamisawa cuts for the ball! Kurama and Matsukaze move in to stop him! He gets through!
Mirai: "No you don't! Honey Crystal!"
Multiple honey colored crystal appeared around Minamisawa. It kept him trapped and the ball rolled away. Then Shinsuke took the ball.
Minamisawa: "Tch! I won't let you!"
Kakuma: Minamisawa chases after him without a pause! Minamisawa steals the ball back with a sliding! Now with a heading! Minamisawa bodily protects the ball!
Aoyama: "Those are the plays of that cool-as-a-cucumber Minamisawa-san..."
"Cucumber?"
But then ball was taken away from Minamisawa by Kirino and he started heading to the goal.
Kanehira: "...Osafune!"
Osafune: "Yeah!"
Kanehira and Osafune: "Twin Mixer!"
Everyone: !
Hyoudou: "Men! We'll win this game at all costs!"
Gassan Kunimitsu: "Roger!"
Kanehira: "Move up!"
Kakuma: This time it's Gassan Kunimitsu's turn to strike back!
Kurumada: "What's going on? Their agility suddenly came back!"
Endou: "It's Minamisawa. His plays have unified the team."
Aoyama: "Minamisawa-san's plays?"
Shindou: "Hayami!"
Kakuma: Hayami steals back the ball! This has turned into an incredible game! Neither side is giving in! The score stands at 2-2!
The atmosphere has changed in this game.
Kidou: "Endou..."
Endou: "Yeah. Their desire to win is making both teams strike each other at full force. This is soccer!"
Kakuma: This evenly matched game continues as each side advances and retreats like a wave! Only minutes remain! Who will score first, Gassan Kunimitsu or Raimon?! Here Kariya slips past!
Minamisawa: "Kai! Tsukishima!"
Kakuma: Two of Gassan Kunimitsu dive in to stop him! He evades them! Will Kariya be the one to make the shoot?!
Kurumada: "No, he's gonna be stopped!"
Kirino: "Kariya!"
Kariya: "... Tch!"
Kariya passed to Kirino and then Kirino passed to...
Kakuma: ... Raimon makes their pass to Tsurugi!
Tsurugi: "Sword Saint Lancelot!"
Hyoudou: "I will protect this goal! Giant God Gigantes!"
Tsurugi: "Lost Angel!"
Hyoudou: "Gigantic Bomb!"
Tsurugi: "Ugh... Go, Lancelot!"
Hyoudou: "Ugh!"
Kakuma: It's in! There's the end whistle! Raimon makes a last-minute victory! They beat Gassan Kunimitsu at 3-2!
Tsurugi: *sigh*
Mirai: "Tsurugi!"
Mirai ran up to Tsurugi with a smile.
Kirara: Now this isn't good.
I'll say.
Mirai POV
As I cheered happily next to Tsurugi, I saw Minamisawa-senpai go up to Shindou.
Minamisawa: "Shindou."
The two looked at each other.
Minamisawa: "... For me to realize it now after all this time..."
Shindou: "Eh?"
Minamisawa: "Shindou. I finally understand what you guys were trying to do."
Shindou: "Minamisawa-san..."
Then Minamisawa-senpai looked at Tenma.
Minamisawa: "Keep doing your best... Tenma!"
Tenma: "Eh? Okay!"
Minamisawa-senpai nodded and then started heading back to his team.
Shindou: "Minamisawa-san!"
Minamisawa-senpai looked at us.
Shindou: "Gassan Kunimitsu might need someone like you on their side... But we'll always be waiting."
Everyone in Raimon went behind Shindou and smiled at him.
Minamisawa: ! "... Thank you."
Kakuma: Within the thunderous applause praising them for their efforts, Gassan Kunimitsu leaves Cyclone Stadium!