Chapter 7: The Match Concludes! The Winner Is?

FYI

: Speech

(Tone/Context):

- Thoughts

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Kousuke- The smoke is still coming off of Arashi? Does his ability take longer to be able to use after using it? So the recharge increases with each use?

Hirata: What's our plan of attack?

Kousuke: That Arashi guy still has smoke coming off of him so it seems like his ability gets a longer and longer wait time the more it's used.

Hirata: Yeah but did you notice?

Kousuke: Notice what?

Hirata: He was a bit faster this time, not by a lot but I was able to notice it.

Kousuke: So each time he uses it it gets stronger and so also has more that he has to wait for longer for the smoke to dissipate?

Hirata: It's just a theory but yeah.

Kousuke and Hirata fist bump.

Hirata: Lets do this!

Kousuke: Yeah!

Kousuke and Hirata rush forward passing between their teammates as the enemies attempt to block their paths forward.

Arashi- Damn it every time I use my Explosion Augmentation the time it takes to get rid of the smoke increases by 5 minutes. It seems like I'm still bad at this ability but really do love it!

Kousuke: Everyone on the offense. Pull back till we can steal the ball!

The whistle blows as Kousuke as Hirata retreat to a defensive position to lock up their opponent's options.

Kousuke: Just hold out guys!

Team B Defender 1: Stop them no matter what!

Kazuki passes a teammate who gathers it and shoots the ball at the goal but Kousuke blocks the shot with his Aura surrounding him as a Team Red Defender gathers it but Kousuke falls to the ground with a headache and Hirata rushes to him.

Kousuke gets up ready but suddenly he falls to his knees.

Hirata: Kousuke are you alright?

Kousuke gets up.

Kousuke: I'm alright, just a bit spent.

Hirata: How much longer can you last?

Kousuke: After using my Aura so much? Not much longer.

Hirata: You've probably been able to use it for this long because you only activate it while shooting or receiving a critical pass.

Kousuke: Yeah.

The Team B Defender passes the ball to Hirata to dribbles forward as Kousuke runs forward as sweat drips off of Kousuke's head.

Hirata: Don't overdo it! I'll score for myself this time!

Kousuke- He's finally figuring this out it seems. Alright let's put my faith in him.

Kousuke moves up in a position to receive the ball but Hirata without any hesitation shoots the ball but a Team A Defender blocks the shot from going in as the ball fall towards Arashi who has smoke coming off of his hands and feet but Kousuke goes shoulder to shoulder with him turning on his Augmentation as he tries to make a shot but Arashi unbalancing him as the ball soars over the goal.

Kousuke- Damn it! I still haven't recovered from using it yet.

Hirata: Damn it! It was going in!

Kousuke: Shake it off! It's alright! We gotta focus on the game!

Hirata: Yeah but they've got possession.

Kousuke: We're just going to have to rinse and repeat till we get that last goal.

Hirata: Yeah.

Team A Goalkeeper: Arashi, Kazuki. Let's do this.

The ball is handed to the Team A Goalkeeper.

Arashi- Damn it with this Augmentation. If I could tell when the smoke was completely gone I'd never even have to wait for even longer than I have to.

Kousuke- Why hasn't he used his Explosion Augmentation yet? The smoke is still coming off of him.

Kazuki- Arashi still isn't used to his Augmentation yet. But I wonder how amazing he'll be when he is.

Kousuke: Alright! We need to recover the ball!

The Team A Goalkeeper passes the ball to Kazuki who receives it and moves forward. as Kousuke and Hirata move to steal the ball as Hirata slide tackles as Kazuki flicks the ball up to prevent losing it.

Hirata: Kousuke! Do it now!

Kousuke jumps and tries to steal it off of the flick of Kazuki's ball.

Kazuki: Arashi take it!

Kazuki taps the ball with his ankle as the ball as it flies towards Arashi but a Team B Defender blocks it but it is still sent to Arashi but this gives Kousuke just enough time to charge with Arashi head to head to try and stop him as Kousuke notices that the smoke coming off Arashi's hands and feet fades away.

Kousuke- So he's now ready to use that! Hell no! It won't matter if I try to get in front of him since he'd just use it in his hands to speed up. I got it! Let's return the favor! Let him think he's free to shoot and...

Arashi readies a shot but Kousuke turns on his Augmentation as he shoves Arashi with his shoulder as he times it perfectly to the moment slightly before Arashi had started his explosions causing Arashi's shot to fly off course as it lands outside of play.

Kousuke- ... and screw up his shot!

Arashi- Damn this bastard! He unbalanced me to screw up my shot!

Kousuke- Just barely.

Hirata: Nice one Kousuke!

Kousuke: Just barely.

The Team B Goalkeeper throws the ball to Hirata who pushes forward to attack dribbling past multiple opponents and passes to Kousuke.

Kousuke (shouting): Let's push through together! Let's go!

Hirata: Yeah.

Kousuke passes the ball back to Hirata as the 2 continue towards the goal as Kousuke pushes into a position where he can score a goal as Hirata makes a pass to him but a defender blocks Kousuke's shot so he is forced to disengage. Due to a moment of weakness caused by Kousuke trapping the ball instead of using a direct shot Kazuki is able to Slide Tackle the ball away as it lands on the ground to Arashi who has smoke still coming off of him.

Kousuke- He's done for this match! So we won't have to worry about his Explosion Augmentation.

Arashi is closer to Team A's Goal as Kousuke rushes down the field as Arashi follows behind dribbling the ball.

Arashi- This should do it.

Kousuke turns on his Augmentation visualizing the shot course but before he can react an explosion comes off of Arashi's foot as the ball flies into the goal.

Kousuke- Bastard! He used his Augmentation even though it would injure him.

Arashi falls back to the ground bleeding from his heel as his face contorts in pain and he is whimpering in pain.

Arashi- It hurts so god damn much!

The whistle blows and the match is over with as score of Team A (3) [Arashi, Arashi, Arashi] : Team B (2) [Kousuke, Kenji]

Announcer: And it's over! Such an intense match as well.

Kousuke (completely exhausted): I... failed. Why would he do that not even knowing what could happen to him?

Hirata: We were so close damn it!

Kenji: Yo truly are the fool of this match aren't you?

Kousuke grabs Kenji by the collar.

Kousuke: What the hell is with you? Who the hell are you to call me the fool?

Kenji: The fool with no Instinct will eventually drown under the waves of such passionate Football.

Kousuke: I really don't get what you're going on... about...

Kousuke falls unconscious, then to his knees and then face first to the ground unable to move.

Hirata: Kousuke!

Announcer: What's this? A player from Team B has collapsed!

A team of medics rushes over to put Kousuke into a stretcher as they carry him away from the field.

Arashi has a bandage wrapped around his foot by the Doctor but tries to get up.

Doctor: Hey don't get up yet. You're still not...

Arashi is about to fall but Kazuki catches him as he helps Arashi who walks towards Hirata.

Arashi: Well if it isn't for this match's useless pawn.

Hirata: What kind of nerve do you have to brag like this with the state that you are in right now!

Arashi: I'm in the state that is called being the winner so of course I'll brag as much as I want.

Hirata: You certainly don't look like it.

Arashi: Why you...

Arashi readies his fist but Kenji grabs his arm before the intent behind the slight and small motion could even register as malicious as Kenji puts his arm over his shoulder.

Kenji: Let's quickly head to the infirmary before your condition worsens.

Kenji and Kazuki lead Arashi off-field and through a set of doors.

Arashi: What's this? Why are you stepping in for?

Kenji: It's nothing of the sort. I am simply interested in facing off against you now. I would prefer if you were in better condition for that day given that it is impossible today.

Arashi: So confident for the one who lost the match today.

Kenji: I'd say the same for the one that might have lost his foot today.

Arashi and Kazuki- Lost my foot. He doesn't mean that does he?

They then enter the infirmary and Kenji and Kazuki help Arashi sit down.

Kenji: I think you should act a bit more cautiously next time.

Kazuki: Hey Kenji ... thank you for the help.

Kenji walks off without responding.

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After a while the Doctor enters Arashi's room.

Arashi: How is my foot Doc?

Doctor: You taken severe damage to your bones. The force of the explosion you used cracked the bones of you heel. It also seems that the heat deformed you heel.

Arashi: Hold on. I don't really...

Doctor: No more using your Augmentation on you right foot.

Arashi: Huh?

Kazuki: You're crazy! If he can't do that then he...

Doctor: He can no longer shoot with his dominant foot.

Kazuki: But if he can't shoot with his right foot then how will he be able to...

Arashi: Kazuki. That's enough. I really don't want to hear anymore of this. I need time to think about this more.

Arashi holds a truly horrified look on his face.

Arashi- I... what am I supposed to...

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Kousuke slowly gets up to see his family waiting next to him all asleep except his mother.

Hiyori: Kousuke don't get up to fast!

Kousuke: Mother?

Hiyori: Just take your time to rest. You really overworked yourself in that match.

Kousuke: Were you...

Hiyori: We were all there. Me... your father and Haruka.

Kousuke: I see.

Hiyori: How are you feeling?

Kousuke: Fine. Just a bit drained.

Haruka wakes up and jumps towards Kousuke

Haruka: Big Brother!

Hiyori catches her before she can land on him.

Hiyori: No Haruka... Your brother is exhausted... You need to be gentle with him.

Haruka pouts because of this and the commotion wakes Kyojuro up who is surprised but happy to see Kousuke awake.

Kyojuro: Hiyori, he's fine right?

Hiyori: Yes.

Kyojuro: The votes have come in.

Kousuke- I wonder how I did.

Kyojuro: You came in dead last.

Kousuke: Dead last? How many votes?

Kyojuro: You received only 3% of the votes.

Kousuke- Well that figures. I mean my ability isn't exactly all that flashy or anything.

Kousuke: How many people voted?

Kyojuro: About 945,000 people. But 45,000 of the votes were voided because the players who received them didn't break the 25,000 vote bare minimum.

Kousuke- I did way worse than I thought I would. I only survived due to 3,350 people.

Kousuke: What about the others?

Kyojuro: Only 5 people passed. There was a boy named Katsuo with 9% of the votes.

Kousuke- 9%? He's triple my amount. Wait... but that's 85,050 people!

Kyojuro: There was another boy named Arashi with 13% of the votes.

Kousuke: 13% huh. The Top 2 must have a huge amount of votes.

Kyojuro: Then there was Ashina who had 25% of the votes.

Kousuke: 25%? Wait that means...

Kyojuro: There was the one named Tasogare Haruto who got 50% of the votes.

Kousuke- 50% of the votes?

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To Be Continued

Next Chapter- The Next Match Is Decided! The Second Stage Of The First Test Begins!