A/N: I've had this in the works for months, but I kinda got side tracked with other stuff. Also, I've been aware the whole time of the show's full title, it's just originally most of my stories were in the misch section. Adding the full name with the story title would be too long, so before I simply shortened it so people at least knew what my stories were based on, and had the show title shortened in disclaimer too for consistency. Over time I will edit the other disclaimers though.

Disclaimer: I don't own Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm.

Chapter 1: Awakening of new potential!

"Finally here again!" Asuka said with plenty of liveliness.

Shindou personally arranged for another training camp, to which they accepted.

"Geez, never changes..." Mashiro groaned.

"Well she's always been charge full of energy," Madoka said nervously.

Masaya ignored their usual banter and walked off on his own.

Going to a secluded area, he sighed. "Nerves?" Aoi asked, getting his attention.

"Sensei..." Masaya said as she walked up to him.

"This reminds me of old times when it was just the two of us," Aoi said, smiling. "You were troubled and always talked things out with me when you were."

"...I guess I'm just nervous," Masaya admitted. "It's been so long since I played in this sport again like this. Practice is one thing, but this-"

"I understand," Aoi cut in. "You want to meet everyone's expectations and to not run away again. It's a given you would be relunctant at first here. But just keep in mind that things don't have to go like they did in the past. You've overcome that despair that held you back, and you now have a new resolve. Never forget that, nor the friends you've gained. And don't forget, you can rely on them too, not just me."

Masaya smiled. "Yeah, you're right," he said.

They then rejoined the others and headed to the gym. Arriving, Shindou, Satou and Rika greeted them.

"Hello!" Rika greeted Mashiro.

"Rika!" Mashiro exclaimed, happy to see her again.

"This time do provide us with more of a challenge," Satou proudly said.

"Good to see you too..." Mashiro nervously said.

"Sorry for requesting on such short notice," Shindou said.

"It's nothing to worry about," Masaya said.

"I suppose not," Shindou said, eying Masaya with an intense gaze: So much so Masaya couldn't move. "I look forward to our match."

While walking off, Masaya glared at his increasingly distance back.

"Yikes, gives you chills doesn't it?" Mashiro asked him with a bit of fright.

"Y-yeah," Masaya managed to answer back.

"I wanted to take another shot at him," Misaki groaned.

"Now, now," Asuka said, trying to cheer her mood.

Eventually, the time came for practice, and the two groups put on their FC clothes and competitive Grav-Shoes.

Mashiro would face Rika, and Satou would deal with Asuka and Misaki. Masaya was reserved for Shindou since he was the only one capable of holding up against Masaya out of the group.

Mashiro bested Rika, and Satou tied with Misaki but lost to Asuka. Now it was time for Masaya vs Shindou.

Masaya required no coach since he is not in need of it. Likewise, Shindou desired no coach for this special occasion. He wanted to fight with only his strength rather than any form of assistance.

"It's time, huh?" Misaki asked tensely.

"Hmm, this could be rough," Madoka said, knowing Shindou's merciless play when he's serious.

"Good luck, Coach!" Asuka cheered loudly.

Up in the air on the FC grid, Masaya and Shindou were in position to take off.

"You see, I've been waiting for this moment for so long," Shindou stated. "The moment I heard you were even coaching them, I wanted a match with you."

"Well you're about to have that wish granted," Masaya told him while grinning.

"A fair warning," Shindou started before his eyes grew intimidating. "Holding back will be a costly mistake."

Masaya grew more alert, fully knowing the implications of that statement.

A whistle signaled their take off.

'Knowing him, he'll go for the buoy first thing, but I won't play that game!" Masaya thought, taking a shortcut.

Now he was in the path of the next buoy and waited for Shindou.

"Didn't take any chances, did he?" Misaki guessed.

"That's right, he isn't going to approach him carelessly," Aoi pointed out. "Against someone like Shindou, planning ahead is wise."

"Hmph, what a pointless effort!" Satou said confidently.

Rika wasn't so quick to judge though, still recalling how easily he trashed Asuka before in a practice match.

After getting a point, Shindou flew towards Masaya, who decided to attempt a swipe, but Shindou evaded and went past him.

"Not good enough!" he stated as Masaya pursued.

"Then what about this?" Masaya yelled, gathering up momentum and then shooting even faster at him after releasing it.

Shindou grunted as he took a direct touch to the back, which put them one to one.

"Sure enough, you are quick, but how much can you keep up?" Shindou asked before improving his speed.

Masaya kept up, but it became very apparent that Shindou wasn't taking this completely serious yet.

"This is bad," Aoi said, getting the team's attention. "Shindou hasn't went all out, and Masaya is growing increasingly tired. His speed is starting to drop."

"No way!" Misaki said before looking back up.

"This is his first real serious match in years, naturally he's not used to it yet," Aoi explained. "Plus he's a bit nervous because of that."

"Haaaaa!" Masaya continued to push on.

"You're still that persistent? " Shindou said, then glared. "Then it's time I stop going easy on you!"

Shindou charged him, and dodged Masaya's swipe attempt, touching his back for a second point. Masaya tried to fight back, but Shindou was too much.

"Darn!" Masaya said in annoyance.

"Rather an anti-climatic ending, wouldn't you say?" Shindou asked. "Listen, I can see the uncertainty in your eyes. I won't pretend to not know you haven't really played seriously like this in years. I get it, believe me. But if you want to get stronger, don't give up until the very end."

"I know that," Masaya said, breathing to relax. Then, in a fury started matching Shindou evenly.

"Now that's what I've been waiting for!" Shindou yelled in excitement.

They were clashing about so fast that it was getting hard to follow.

"Sheesh, I'm really happy Hinata is not my opponent," Satou admitted.

"Nor mine," Rika said, finding him in the same realm of scary as Shindou.

"Yes, nail him Senpai!" Mashiro cheered on.

"This gives me so many goosebumps!" Asuka hyperly said.

"Hang in there Masaya," Misaki encouraged.

Aoi and Madoka watched wordlessly.

Finally, Shindou overpowered Masaya and knocked him back.

"No way..." Misaki couldn't believe it.

"For me to exert that much effort...how frustrating!" Shindou yelled while touching his back, putting him at three.

Masaya grunted from the touch, which sent him flying upwards. Shindou showed no mercy, touching him many times in the back, scoring point after point.

"That guy is just a monster!" Mashiro exclaimed.

"He's not 'King of Kings' for nothing," Aoi reminded. 'Masaya, what will you do now?'

"Haaaaaa!" Shindou roared, going to his full strength.

Masaya had no time to react as he got relentlessly swipped over and over.

Shindou then finally let up while Masaya felt fatigued.

"It would seem this is as far as you go, Hinata-kun," Shindou told him.

"N...not yet," Masaya managed to get back in proper stance.

"Masaya!" all the girls but Aoi yelled, and Asuka calling him Coach.

"Then you're a fool!" Shindou yelled, knocking him down aggressively towards the water.

Masaya regained balance near the water. His face was concealed, and his head was down.

"Why isn't he moving?" Madoka asked.

"Are you alright, Coach?" Asuka asked in a loud enough voice.

"Hey, earth to Masaya!" Misaki yelled, becoming annoyed at his lack of any reaction.

"Senpai?" Mashiro was getting worried, noting he didn't move a muscle still.

"Something happen?" Rika asked as she observed Masaya.

"Dunno," Satou said.

"What's he doing down there?" Shindou asked himself. "If you won't move, then I will!" but as Shindou closed in, the next thing he knew, he'd been immediately knocked back by a fast swipe. "What!?"

Masaya lifted his head, revealing an indifferent expression.

"So he was okay," Asuka mentioned with relief.

"He could have just said so," Misaki smiled.

"For real," Mashiro said.

"But, he's still just staying in that spot," Madoka pointed out.

Aoi begun to sweat as she theorized something in her mind.

"What, still got some fight left in you?" Shindou asked, but got no answer, and his expression remained the same. "Oh well, let's have some more fun!"

Approaching him, he attempted to swipe Masaya again, but Masaya swiftly dodged him and touched his back nonchalantly for a point.

"His movements..." Misaki uttered astonished.

"I've never seen him react like that!" Madoka watched in amazement. "And it's not just that. That look on his face, is unchanging."

"What happened to Coach?" Asuka asked in amazement.

'That state...' Aoi thought.

Satou and Rika were speechless at what was happening. Sure Masaya is fast, but the way he just easily handled Shindou twice was puzzeling.

"Why you!" Shindou yelled, but yet again Masaya dodged him. Shindou then attempted multiple rapid swipes, but Masaya calmly dodged each one with utmost precision. 'What's going on here? He wasn't this calm and evasive before...here he comes!'

Masaya flew at him, but Shindou dodged and got behind him. With swift reaction, Masaya almost instantly spun around and knocked him away.

"He saw it that quickly!?" Shindou asked, baffled, then grunted as Masaya scored a few points on his back. "Am I getting scared here?"

Shindou regained courage and made him back off by roaring loudly.

"This is insane, what the hell is going on!?" Satou asked in frustration.

While Masaya and Shindou neared each other and stared one another down, Aoi clenched a fist.

'No doubt about it...it's the Clear Burst,' Aoi thought.

"You okay?" Madoka asked. "You look a bit shaken."

"I'm fine," Aoi assured.

"Do you know what's going on with him?" Mashiro asked.

Aoi didn't answer and kept focused on Masaya, who still had the same indifferent look on his face.

Shindou wasn't sure what was with Masaya, but he smiled at this challenge.

Once more he roared, and the two collided multiple times. Shindou was giving it his all, doing even things like a Cobra or Air Kick Turn, but Masaya just still seemed soo...meh to the whole thing. Shindou could not comprehend why he was being like this, let alone his reaction time and quick actions. At long last after being scored on again, Shindou managed to score on his back.

Shindou gasped as he turned his head to look at him. "You mean to say...he won't even budge after that?" Shindou gritted his teeth, swiped him up, then attempted an air kick turn. "Maybe this will wake you!"

Unlike the last one, Masaya evaded swiftly.

"I can't believe President is in trouble this much," Satou said before looking at Masaya. "He's different. I can't put my finger on it, but he's not acting like his usual self."

"Mmm," Rika agreed.

"Awesome, Coach is so awesome!" Asuka marveled with stars in her eyes.

"Whatever is going on, it's good for us," Misaki proudly said.

"How easy to please," Madoka chuckled.

As Masaya and Shindou kept at it, Shindou begun to be greatly overwhelmed by Masaya, shocking even Masaya's friends. But suddenly, Masaya stopped.

"Huh?" Shindou asked as Masaya's eyes closed and he lowered his hand. "Hey! Hmm...it would seem he passed out."

Due to the contact system, the only way Shindou could get him down to the others was swipe him towards the sand, which he hit not too roughly.

Minutes went by before he woke up. His eyes at first only opened a bit, but as he heard voices calling out to him, his vision became clearer and he fully opened his eyes.

"Ah!" Asuka, Misaki, Mashiro and Madoka said with relieved smiles.

"Everyone..." Masaya muttered while sitting up.

"How do you feel?" Asuka gently asked with concern.

"Fine," Masaya said, unsure why he was even on the ground.

"In any case, you were amazing!" Misaki suddenly yelled.

"Huh-eh!?" Masaya's hands were grabbed by Asuka.

"Right, right, Coach was so cool!" Asuka spoke like a bright little child.

"Speaking of, what was that?" Madoka asked him.

"What was what?" Masaya asked, finding their behaviour strange.

"Don't joke Senpai, the way you performed against Shindou," Mashiro joyfully said.

"I too would like to know," Shindou said near him while narrowing his eyes. "What happened up there with you? Your performance was off the charts. And, it was like you had no reception to anything happening other than complete awareness."

"Really?" Masaya asked. "I don't remember anything. The last I recall, you knocked me down towards the water and then that's it."

"You...don't remember?" Satou asked with surprise.

"I don't, really," Masaya said.

Everyone stared at him, boggled by the situation, besides Aoi.

"Why don't we take a break for now?" Aoi suggested, then eyed Masaya firmly. "Masaya, there's something I need to speak with you about."

Preview:

"Sensei tells me the secret behind what happened," Masaya says. "And a mysterious player is revealed by Aoi? Next time on Ao no Kanata no Four Rhythm. 'Secrets revealed, a new journey begins!'"