Chapter 8: The Next Match Is Decided! The Second Stage Of The First Test Begins!

FYI

: Speech

(Tone/Context):

- Thoughts

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Kousuke: Are you sure he got 50% of the votes? How could he...

Kyojuro: He wasn't using any kind of ability as far as I could see. So he was kind of like you.

Kousuke- He's similar to me and yet he's in first place with insurmountable lead while I'm in last place. Why? What am I doing wrong?

Kousuke: So how did his match go?

Kyojuro: It ended 3-0. He scored each goal.

Kousuke: Huh? You've got to be kidding me.

Hiyori: Tell him about the other matches.

Kyojuro: Oh yeah. The Midfielder played after your match and the game ended 3-1. But we didn't really see that match.

Kousuke: Oriyamaru Ashina's team huh.

Kyojuro: Then was the match with Tasogare Haruto's team. After them the defender played against each other and the game ended 1-0.

Kousuke: Only 1 goal? Did you recognize his ability?

Kyojuro: No. I couldn't make out what it was.

Kousuke- Damn.

Kousuke gets up but his legs feel weak.

Hiyori: Hold on.

Hiyori forces him back into bed.

Kousuke: How long have I been out?

Hiyori: About 1 week.

Kousuke: A whole week?

Hiyori: Rest. Wait for the doctor to tell you when you can get up.

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Kousuke enters his team's Locker Room as he walks up to Hirata.

Hirata: Welcome back. We've been hard at work training while you were gone.

Kousuke: Good.

Hirata: There was a meeting while you were out of it. 

Kousuke: What was it about?

Hirata: It was about the next matches. The order is Midfielder Team A Vs Defender Team A, Winger Team A Vs Us and last is Defender Team A VS Striker Team A.

Kousuke- We're going up against the Number 1 spot so soon?

Hirata: Kousuke... What do we do?

Kousuke: This is a good chance to prove ourselves. We win the match and people will flood in to vote for me and you will all gain an opportunity to show off your skill as well.

Kousuke leads his team by training with the for the entire month and goes through various drills and exercises.

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Kousuke, Hirata and their team sport their Red Jerseys as they enter the field as their opponents enter the field sporting White Jerseys.

Announcer: Today we have Striker Team B whose Augmenter is their lone striker and Captain Nozotsuki Kousuke.

Kousuke walks up to the Kick-Off line.

Announcer: And on Winger Team A we have their Augmenter and winger Tasogare Haru and their Captain and Center Back Sasaki Ichiro.

Kousuke and Ichiro shake hands and the referee states the rules of the match which are the same as Kousuke and Hirata's fist match.

Kousuke- So he's the Captain huh.

Announcer: Mr. Yoshino has decided that the team with the least interest surrounding it's players will start first which means that Striker Team B will start with the ball.

The ball is put at Kousuke's feet.

Hirata: We have to be careful Kousuke. This guy is worth more that both of us combined and he hasn't even shown off his Augmentation yet.

Kousuke: It'll be fine. Afterall we've been training this entire time haven't we?

Hirata: Yeah I guess so.

The whistle blows as Kosuke passes the ball to Hirata as they rush through Winger Team A' defenses until they are just outside of the penalty box.

Kousuke- What the? They didn't even try to stop us. Why would they?

Suddenly Ichiro appears in front of Hirata who has the ball who passes to Kousuke but the ball is intercepted by Haru.

Haru: It's really pathetic how you always look for an open pass to Kousuke, you damn trash.

Haru races up the field with the ball.

Hirata- Why do I always look to him like this? Damn it!

Hirata follows after Kousuke who rushes back down as he catches up to Haru and Kousuke tries to force him backwards with his arm.

Haru- He caught up to me? He's pretty fast. Perhaps he was on track and field before joining his school's Football Team? But still no matter.

Haru passes the ball to his teammate as he breaks off from Kousuke.

Kousuke-Damn it!

Kousuke tries desperately to pursue Haru but Haru's physical abilities seem to be much superior to Kousuke's as Haru gets inside the penalty box as his teammate kicks a pass to him with Striker Team B's defenders failing to intercept the ball. Haru extends his leg backwards getting ready to kick the ball with a direct shot right as it lands on the ground. In response the goalkeeper desperately jumps preemptively to try and block his shot but Haru traps the ball against the ground with his foot and then rolls the ball into the goal slowly. The whistle blows as the crowd cheers in shock and amazement. The scoreboard is then displayed to be Striker Team B (0) : Winger Team A (1).

Announcer: Goal! Tasogare Haru scores at the 3 minutes & 6 seconds mark! He did it with such ease as well.

Kousuke- This guy is a monster! No wonder he has so votes...

Hirata: Damn it.

Kousuke: He's it. He's the guy I got to beat no matter what!

Hirata: Kousuke what are you saying? Did you just see the goal he pulled off? All without using his Augmentation? This guy. We can't beat him so let's just do our...

Kousuke (annoyed): Hirata when has Football ever been all about Augmentations?

Hirata: Kousuke...

Kousuke: Just don't worry about that. Just play like your life depends on it. We'll probably lose today but not without scoring at least two goals.

Hirata (unsure): Kousuke?

Kousuke: Just trust me.

Hirata: What's the plan then?

Kousuke: We're going to be swapping positions. You'll be the Striker and I'll be the Midfielder.

Hirata: Eh? Are you sure about that?

Kousuke: Just trust me.

Kousuke- I'll be able to access the field and help us win easer that way. Come to think of it. aren't I more suited to this position as opposed to the Striker position?

Announcer: What's this? Nozotsuki Kousuke and Kinoshita Hirata have exchanged positions.

Kousuke: Just relax Hirata.

The Ball starts at Hirata's feet as the whistle blows as Hirata passes the ball to Kousuke as he rushes through the field. Kousuke sees arrows that point a path through the opponent's defenses. Kousuke follows the path as he makes passes between his teammates.

Ichiro: Cut off his path! Tighten the defense! Defense Formation A!

Kousuke- Sasaki Ichiro, he's the Captain and Center Back right? He managed see spot his team's weak spots and then strengthen the weak points in one single command. He's the heart and center of Winger Team A and he's also the reason why Tasogare Haru can move freely to score goals.

Kousuke moves into position and receives the ball.

Ichiro- Our formation is working. Even if he exchanged places with his teammate a Striker is a Striker. And a Striker so caught up in scoring goals won't get past this formation. Wait aren't I forgetting something important?

Hirata dashes past the defense as Kousuke makes a strong pass to him the lands one meter in front of Hirata as defenders pull back trying to steal the Ball.

Hirata- I can do this!

Ichiro pulls back fast grabbing Hirata's shoulder willing to foul him to unbalance him.

Ichiro- Oh no you don't!

Hirata- Damn it! I still can't... where is Kousu...

Ichiro: Face it, someone like you who always looks for your teammate instead of shooting yourself. I'll never let someone like you score!

Hirata- No! I'l score my own goals from here on out!

Hirata keeps rushing forward as he attempts to push away Ichiro's hand with his arm.

Hirata- There's no way I'll ever let it end this way! I'm going to score!

Hirata starts to put more force into his arm.

Ichiro- Damn it he's breaking off from me!

Hirata throws off Ichiro's hand and then reaches the ball as he kicks it full force towards the goal as Hirata begins gritting his teeth in determination.

Hirata: I will score! Right here! Right now!

The goalkeeper dives to try and stop it but can't as the ball flies into the goal as the whistle blows and the score changes to Striker Team B (1) : Winger Team A (1) and Hirata celebrates in excitement.

Announcer: Goal!!! Kinoshita Hirata scores a spectacular goal at the 7 minutes & 25 seconds mark!

Hirata sweats as Kousuke gives him a hi five.

Kousuke: See I told you it would be fine!

Hirata: Hey Kousuke... I did score just now right?

Kousuke: Yeah obviously.

Hirata: Kousuke... Two more goals okay?

Kousuke (smirking): Yeah.

Hirata: Let's do that again.

Winger Team A starts with the Ball.

Spectator 1: That Hirata isn't so bad huh?

Spectator 2: Yeah but the reason he could do all that was because of that Kousuke kid.

Spectator 3: Isn't he a Forward?

Spectator 4: But he's playing as a Midfielder right now.

Spectator 5: Yeah, what gives?

Winger Team A's Striker passes to Winger Team A's Midfielder as they make a run to try to burst through Striker Team B's defenses. Haru however stays all the way back in the defense not moving a muscle.

Kousuke: Form Defense Position 1!

Striker Team B spreads marking each of the attacking players and allowing 3 other Striker Team B players to pressure Winger Team A's Striker

Winger Team A's Striker: I can't get through!

Ichiro: Fine then. We're doing our Instant Goal Play!

Winger Team A's Striker boots the Ball into the air as it soars above all the players.

Kousuke- I've got a bad feeling about all of this!

Kousuke instantly pulls back into the defense providing support to his team's Goalkeeper.

Kousuke- I'll take this position for now. If nothing happens then I'll take the Ball as it rolls towards me and if my bad feeling turns out to be right then I can stop whatever they are planning!

Kenji- Hmm. So he's noticed. He did that on instinct. Not bad.

The Ball is just about to land right outside the penalty box suddenly Haru sporting a dark blue aura appears dashes through a few of Striker Team B's Defenders who are dumbstruck as to how he got there without them noticing as Haru ends up behind the ball and he kicks it but Kousuke just blocks it as Hirata gathers it and begins running up the field.

Kousuke- How did he get here so fast? He was all the way back in the defense just a second ago.

Haru- So he predicted it? Hm. There's no way he could know that I had this Augmentation so he must've recognized that whatever our plan is that it wouldn't matter as long as he was in the right spot to stop it. Not bad.

Hirata rushes forward with the Ball.

Kousuke- So he's just gonna ignore me huh? Heh.

Haru begins rushing back to provide support as Kousuke follows suit trying to mark him.

Kousuke- This guy is so damn strong and fast. He showed off his Aura as well. So what even is his Augmentation?

Hirata reaches a position and is about to take a shot when Ichiro shoves him off balance. The whistle blows as the Referee walks up to Ichiro and pulls out a Yellow Card and awards a Free Kick to Striker Team B.

Ichiro: Yeah yeah. Whatever.

Hirata- Damn it so close.

Kousuke: Don't worry about it, I'll score from the Free Kick.

Hirata (smirking): Yeah.

The Ball is placed down as a wall is formed with Haru standing in the middle. Kousuke kicks the ball when Haru's Aura activates and he jumps but the ball is low.

Kousuke- Yes! I knew he'd jump!

Suddenly Haru appears on the ground as he blocks the shot but the ball rebounds off of Haru's foot and flies back towards Kousuke who gathers it.

Kousuke- To bad for you Tasogare Haru! It's still my win!

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To Be Continued

Next Chapter- The Ball Falls From Grace! Disaster Strikes On The Field!