I pushed everyone aside with everything I could, heading towards my goal; come on, I want this, I need this, I will get it! Finally pushing the last man away I jumped and crashed into the grass feeling my skin skid across the grass, I did it!
"Touchdown!" The coach yelled as I stood up and dusted myself off; I was breathing heavily and felt my heart still pounding rapidly. The coach walked up and put his arm over my shoulder and laughed loudly, "That's the stuff kid! You're definitely my best quarterback!" He punched me in the arm and I chuckled.
"Thanks coach." I replied brushing his arm off.
"Alright, practice is over for the day, everyone get washed up and head home for the day! Remember that our big game with Gateway High school is in a few months!" I watched as everyone began walking away, "We'll be practicing every day we can until the big game so be ready to work hard." That's what he said about the fight against Smokey Hill and they could barely take us…well, me.
"Hey hotshot!" I turned my head to see a few of the other football players talking to me, "You ran through us like a train. I've got a few bruises thanks to you."
"…And?"
"Maybe you should be more careful. You owe me an apology." Another one.
"…I don't owe you jack." I replied and he gripped his fist tightly, "It's your fault for being so weak that you can't handle a little shove."
"What did you say jack ass!?"
"What are you deaf too?" He rushed at me and pulled his fist back.
"Hey!" Before he struck, coach yelled stopping him in his tracks, "Don't you hurt him! He's our star player and unless you want detention then you'll walk away right now!" I saw his hand tremble before he and his goonies walked away…, "Sorry about that champ." I looked down at my own hand to see it was trembling slightly like always
"Whatever, I'm gonna hit the showers." I replied walking towards the locker room. They could never take me on anyway.
Ever since I was a kid I had a knack for football but maybe that was because I was always much more physically fit then any of the other kids I knew and I didn't mind, it made it easier to beat my friends at anything they challenged me to. Arm wrestling, races, tag, climbing, name any physical challenge and I could beat any of my friends…and that's how it should have been, I was the best so losing wasn't an option…and football wasn't any different. Drying off my medium length blonde hair I stepped towards my locker and grabbed my brown t-shirt and blue jeans slipping them on, grabbing my white shoes I reached for my blue zip up hoodie and slipped it on as I left the locker room. I bumped into something and looked to see a long brown haired girl looking down as she stepped back.
"Sorry." She said simply as she walked away; I watched her as she walked away and took notice of her clothing, she wore mostly black colors but it wasn't chains and piercings like the goths…just a black hoodie and black pants…she must be part of the emo group…doesn't matter anyway.
"Excuse me." I looked over to see a boy about my age looking at me, "You're part of the football team right?"
"…Yes."
"Perfect, would you mind if I hit you with this kendo sword then?" W-What!?
"U-Um…why?"
"Well I have a bet with my friends in the kendo club; if I'm able to make someone fall to the ground with one blow then they'll pay for lunch tomorrow. I said it was an easy bet and so they upped the ante. If I can take down a football player then they'll pay for whatever I want off the menu. I'm gonna eat like a king!" So he's doing a test of strength…looks like he's going to lose then.
"Very well go ahead, there's no guarantee that you'll be able to though."
"We'll see about that." He replied moving into a strange stance; I moved into a defensive stance and braced myself for his attack, I watched his eyes dart around before he stepped forward and swung at me; as his hit struck my arms I felt the sting and suddenly my guard was broken as I flew backwards landing on my back…WHAT!? I sat up in shock and looked at the boy who took a deep breath moving the blade into his right hand and stepped forward, "Man you were tougher than I thought." …Tougher…then he thought? He outstretched his hand and I felt the urge to stand and punch him in the face…but held back gripping his hand and standing up, "Thanks, now I can eat like I'm having my last meal! Hey, why don't you come with me?" …Was he serious?
"What are you doing?" We turned to see a girl with a confused look approaching us…she gave off a slightly cold feeling.
"Hey, I just won the bet!" He returned.
"Really? …Who's this guy?" She asked pointing at me.
"The football player I just knocked over."
"…He seems to be standing."
"Ack! W-Well I did knock him over."
"The proof seems to be against you!" She yelled knocking him on the head, "You idiot, you were supposed to bring the football player to us and then try it."
"B-But I did do it! He can attest to that."
"And how do we know you didn't pay him."
"Ngh!"
"…And he falls apart." I watched them talk and felt my head slightly hurt as they chattered about how to prove this…agh!
"If I go with you then will you stop this nonsense!?" I yelled and they looked at me before the boy nodded, "Fine…let's go to your kendo club."
I fell backwards again landing on the padded mat as the boy had knocked me over again; even when I put everything I had into absorbing his blow it still wasn't enough…and it pissed me off!
"See? I can do it."
"So you say, for all we know it could have been a fall for free food." A rather energetic boy said with a chuckle which the boy who hit me returned.
"Whatever, like you could have done better."
"W-Well I think you did well." A squeamish looking girl responded
"Thanks, it's nice to see someone supports me." He said and the cold girl hit his head again.
"It's not like I don't support you but don't expect me to just praise you for nothing."
"I know…still it would be nice to hear something at least."
"F-Fine…y-you did really well." She turned red as she said that.
"Thanks."
"D-D-Don't expect it all the time you idiot!"…I was beaten by this go-lucky kid…he had the strength to take me down…how!? He didn't even have any muscle to his body!
"Oh yeah, thanks a lot buddy." The boy said turning back to me, "How about we treat you to something to eat?"…So he's mocking me…
"No…I have to get home." With that I walked out of the room and slammed the door behind me. When I got home I spent the rest of the day doing exercises until my body ached all over…it was the first time I had to do that in my life.
"And that's it for the day." Coach said and I took a deep breath; why did football practice feel tougher this time…must have been all that exercise from last night…but that kendo club really pissed me off, "Hey Champ?" I turned to coach who gave me a worried look, "You seem a little out of it today. Is everything okay?"…That guy.
"I'm fine." I replied, "I just don't feel like wasting my energy is all."
"Tch, cocky bastard." I heard a few of the other players behind me but ignored them; they weren't worth my time.
"I'm leaving now. I'll see you tomorrow." Passing by the others I felt icy glares and angry looks at me but ignored them…I was used to it. As I walked down the hall I looked over to see the girl clothed in black from earlier standing outside a room; I approached it and heard laughter coming from beyond the door, "What are you doing?" I asked the girl and she jumped slightly before rushing away…whatever. I stood at the door and realized I was standing in front of the kendo clubs room…it must be them then; I opened the door and looked to see all four of the people from earlier eating ramen and talking.
"This feels like some sort of generic anime scene where all the friends are having lunch together." The cold girl said.
"In reality it's because I'm poor." The energetic boy said with a chuckle.
"I like ramen so it's no problem for me." The other boy said with a smile as he slurped up his noodles, "Best way to end kendo practice if you ask me."
"Yep." The squeamish girl said with a smile, "We should do this again."
"Once a week please." The energetic boy pleaded.
"That's what you get for losing a bet and wasting your allowance." The cold girl said with a smile slurping up her noodles.
"How about we all take a day out of the week and have one of us buy ramen for the group?" The boy suggested and everyone looked at him contemplating what he said.
"I-I wouldn't mind doing that." The squeamish girl said.
"Sounds interesting." The cold girl added, "And what about his bet?"
"We'll just forget it." The boy replied downing his broth, "Ahhh, that's good stuff."
"You're too passive." The cold girl replied setting her bowl down.
"You don't mind do you?"
"No…it's one of your likable qualities." She turned red again.
"It's too much fun to watch you two talk." The energetic one said chuckling.
"Shut it!"
"Huh? It's him." The squeamish girl said pointing at him making everyone turn their heads to me.
"Hey, it's the football guy from yesterday!" The boy said with a grin; he stood up and approached me, "It's nice to see you again." He put out his hand and I stared at it…that's not what I came here for.
"I want you to strike me again."
"Huh?"
"Well it looks like you've got a fan." The cold girl said with a giggle.
"Is he a masochist?" The energetic boy asked laughing, "I don't see why anyone would want to be hit again."
"I-If he is then this could be a bigger issue." The squeamish girl said pulling out a book, "You might want to carry pepper spray."
"I am not a masochist!" I shouted at them making the squeamish one cower, "You're the first one I've met who can actually take me down. I don't want to let that stand so I'm asking you to hit me again so I can take it and stay on top."
"Wait…I know you!" The squeamish one shouted, "He's the lead quarter back of the school football team! They call him the meteor with how he knocks through his opposition. They say he could have taken on Smokey Hills team single handedly if the rules allowed it." So they knew me.
"…I've never heard of you." The boy said to my surprise.
"That's not surprising considering you never follow sports." The cold girl said stepping forward, "Sorry about him, he's an idiot."
"…I'm not here for you." I said to the girl, "I'm here to take him on." I pointed to the boy.
"So you want to fight me?" He asked and I nodded, "…Okay." He picked up a kendo blade and swung it almost effortlessly, "But I'm not going to just hit you. If you want we can have a fight." A fight?
"…Very well. I shall give you a fight then." Moving to one side I took a deep breath and adjusted my stance, "I should warn you that I am a black belt in karate." They all gave a small gasp of surprise.
"Then this should be interesting…one minute." He put the wooden sword down and placed kendo armor on, "I'd rather not get injured from your hits…knowing karate you must have formidable muscles so you won't need armor."
"Correct." He lifted his blade and the energetic boy moved in the middle of us.
"This will be fun…begin!"
I moved in quickly and began striking at him as he blocked and dodged my attacks occasionally with short retaliations at my arms and legs when they came close to his body; it was strange to think that he could retaliate with such small windows but he managed to pull it off. I backed away and took a few breaths as he looked at me with an intense look of concentration; what was this kid…how was he able to take me on…this had never happened before…it felt…refreshing…and yet infuriating! He dashed forward and began to swing and thrust at me as I attempted to dodge and redirect his attack to no avail…why was I doing so badly!? This has never happened before! Suddenly he thrust and I was thrown back against the floor…and I didn't have the strength to move.
"I…guess that's the match?" The energetic boy said in surprise.
"That sucked, I could have done that." The cold girl said.
"It was faster than I expected." The squeamish girl said. The boy moved forward and extended his hand out towards me.
"It's been a while since you last practiced hasn't it?" I felt the overwhelming urge to sock him in the face…and I was really tempted to do it…but I couldn't muster the strength.
"…I can't move." I responded.
"Uh oh, sorry, must have hit you a bit too hard." …Too…hard?
"…What are you?"
"Huh?"
"You heard me, what are you!? How can you have so much strength!?" He scratched his head for a moment.
"I'm…someone really passionate about what I do." …Is that it…really?
"That can't be it…how can you be that strong and still just say that!?"
"It's kind of who he is." The cold girl said stepping forward, "He's stupid and yet when it comes down to it he's very passionate about what he does."
"Kendo…he's passionate about kendo?"
"Nope." The energetic boy said stepping forward with a big grin, "He's passionate about purpose." Purpose?
"What do you mean?"
"He wants to protect others purposes." The squeamish girl answered, "That's the reason we're all here. We stand behind him."
"I thought this was the kendo club?"
"It is but we don't spend much time actually doing kendo. It's more helping others in school than anything else."
"And you're our first client!" The boy said cheerfully, "You've spent a lot of your time with things coming easily haven't you?"
"And what if I have?"
"Well…I'm sure that's all well and good but…you'd be even stronger if you found something to use your talent for."…Is that true?
"What would it be?"
"…That's for you to find out."…Who was this boy?
"What's your name?"
"…It's Soren Thain."…Soren, "What about you?"
"…My name is Owen…Owen Richards."…I liked this kid.
My own purpose…something to make using what I have worthwhile…and a reason to improve it. Things always came naturally to me but…I've been alone because of it…any friends I've had have been pushed away by my strength…or maybe it was my hubris. I always thought I was better than others because time and again I proved that…and now I've lost to Soren…and he didn't gloat…he was even ignorant of his strength and…his friends didn't mind…because they stood behind his purpose…damn it, why don't I have that! I watched the sunset from the roof of the school and looked at the ramen cup Soren had given me…he seemed really well put together for someone so…weird and…stupid. His friends were even stranger with how they all seemed so different. That cold girl was as blunt as a sword edge and was still willing to support her friends in what they did while the energetic boy seemed to be there for the thrill and enjoyment…weird to think he could actually be any help in serious matters…and the squeamish girl was shy but…she seemed to be the smartest of the group…more knowledgeable than the others at least…I think I've seen her on the school's top students list. I looked at the flyer they made and was a little confused by what it said.
"Have an issue? No worries, we can help…or…at least try. Whether its boyfriend issues, girlfriends issues, life decisions or even just incredible boredom in class we can help! Come to the kendo club today and share your problem with us! Warning: We are not responsible for the destruction of how you view the world and everything in it."…That's just a weird warning in general…but their cause was just…and maybe I should give it a try. I stood up and was surprised to see a girl sitting on the edge of the roof; as I approached her she suddenly fell. I moved as quickly as I could and dove off the side reaching for the girl and once I grabbed her I pulled her in and waited for the impact to hit. I could hear various screams of students before suddenly a blinding light consumed us and the voices died…as…my consciousness…faded…
"WAKE UP!" I woke up with a start and scrambled around in a panic. What happened!? Where was I!? Who's around me!? I looked up to see a blue haired boy looking down at me with an angry look; he had no shirt on but he wore shorts and a scarf, "What the hell was that Etna!?"
"I'm not sure Prince, seems like something went a little haywire in the creation process." A girl in black leather clothing replied; she had re hair and short twin tails, her clothing left her body pretty uncovered and her tail swayed in the back…wait…TAIL!?
"Well this sucks." The boy said pouting.
"Come on Prince, you got two for the price of one." Two…the girl! I looked down to see the girl was okay; she looked at me in surprise and I moved off her as she sat up…I recognize her…she was the girl I ran into earlier today and the day before.
"W-Where are we?" She asked and I looked around; the area was full of strange creatures and the entire place was made of stone…was this a castle?
"You're at the Overlords Castle!" The boy answered, "And I am your master, Overlord Laharl!"
"Not Overlord yet." Etna replied.
"Shut it Etna, my old man is dead so the title is mine!" He shouted at her, "And you two will follow my every order as I work to enforce that! Tell me your names!"
"O-Owen Richards." I replied hesitantly. We looked over at the girl and she looked down sheepishly before saying her name softly.
"N-Nina Reist." I wasn't entirely sure what was happening but from what I could tell we were in some boiling water…and it was only going to get hotter for the both of us.
