Author's note:

Really late update on my part... Sorry...

Thank you Slavik2016 for the pic of Natsumi, but I have a different design in mind.

And thank you ShadowBlade2096 for the little nudge :D

Ensuing Ordeals

"WHAAAAAAAAAT!?" an outraged female voice yelled, and it sent the nearby crows flying for the second time that day as it echoed through the halls of Inazuma High.

The source was a visibly outraged Haruna, standing with clenched fists in front of Fudou and the other boys (sans Megane) as the equally outraged girls (and Megane) stood behind her with stony expressions.

"Just because you're deaf doesn't mean you have to make all of us that." Fudou said in a smug and superior voice. Haruna opened her mouth to retort but was promptly cut across by a smirking Kogure, "You heard him, no Ofuda, no proof. So you girls are lying."

"Well excuse us for valuing our lives more than a stupid dare!" Megane spat. But Fudou's grin only widened.

"What, was an imaginary tiger chasing you or something?" He said, snickering a bit, "You know as well as me that there aren't any large enough carnivores in that forest to pose a threat... Well, not to us anyway, it seems."

"So basically," Haruna started furiously, "you think we're so weak that even squirrels and rabbits scare us!?"

"No..." Fudou said airily, "I don't think, I know."

"Why you...!" Haruna voiced out what the group of girls behind her (and Megane) were thinking.

"Easy there Haruna." Kidou said, finally intervening, "He's the only one of that completely wrong opinion, right?" He said, looking at the rest of the team for support.

Most of the team, who were rather unwilling to get involved in Fudou and Kogure's shenanigans, agreed. But a certain blue-haired changeling wanted to milk this situation for all it's worth.

"Yeah, agree to 'Onii-sama' to spare their feelings..." Kogure said teasingly, "But the fact remains that they basically stood on the sidelines and filled in for cheerleaders instead of doing anything useful, and everyone here knows it."

"KOGURE!" Most of the people present barked. But Natsumi, noticing some of their silence and asked icily, "I guess some people do agree that we were useless..."

Tsunami, being a bit thick, answered, "Well, we were the ones who played soccer and you guys did only cheer us on or named our Hissatsu..."

Every one of the managers, including Fuyuka and Aki, glared at him with a dark and menacing aura swirling around them, making Tsunami go pale.

"Who were the ones who switched Ambrosia with plain water during the Football Frontier finals? Who went out of her way to find Daisuke-san?" Natsumi hissed.

"Who was the one who got your morale up during the match against The Empire?" Fuyuka asked softly.

"Who was the one who risked her life and limb to help Ichinose Endou and Gouenji perfect Tri Pegasus?" Aki said, her eyes glowing like the rest of them.

"Who got injured during the match against Otaku Jr. High in the process of ensuring our win?" Megane said in that same eerie monotone voice.

"Who made your meals and snacks and kept you people in line?" Haruna asked, especially scarey for being uncharacteristically calm and detached while asking this.

But Fudou was arrogant (stupid) enough to defy their glares and say, "That was on special occasions..." He started, and there were many groans and Hiroto, Gouenji and Kidou said, "That's enough!"

But he still continued with a raised voice, "But the fact remains, anyone else could've done that, and you only contributed in special ways in certain occasions."

There was a ringing silence, and everyone who decided to stay silent tensed up. The realization of what he said seemingly caught up with the Managers in slow motion...

"Fine!" Natsumi snapped, "If we're so unremarkable, you can find other managers. We quit!"

And every one of the managers turned and left wordlessly, leaving a few aghast and furious teens in their wake.

"That was so uncalled for!" Midorikawa exclaimed. "I agree... You were way too harsh!" Fubuki added in his mild, but undoubtedly angered voice.

"Heh..." Fudou just stood there silently in response.

"No Endou, we can't possibly return after that kind of insult!" Natsumi stated flatly.

The other Managers nodded vigorously (Megane and Haruna) or solemnly (Aki and Fuyuka) in agreement.

"But..." Endou said in a discouraged way.

Natsumi just shook her head and left. There wasn't anything to say honestly. Even though almost a dozen people had come to convince them from the team, they refused.

Endou hung his head and left as well, heading towards his favorite place to practice so he could clear his head.

It was heartbreaking for them, and with justifiable reasons. Who in the world wouldn't feel bad if they were told that they were useless when they thought that they were contributing, and were valued for their roles.

But, another thing bothered them more so, which was another reason for their refusal.

"So..." Natsumi said, as she walked closer to the statue of Hachiko. "What do we do?" She drew out something like a worn down spear with a broken crystalline spearhead. The only things that were remotely intact were a series of jewels on brass the hilt. The whole spear would've been beautiful once with elaborate carvings on the golden handle, but was a sorry sight now.

They were in front of the Shibuya Station, as they had decided to go to a place where they couldn't be overheard. Most people would've chosen a secluded place to have a private conversation, but Natsumi knew better. The loud buzz of the busy shopping district and thousands upon thousands of people going about their business was perfect cover, more so than a secluded (or non-existent, more accurately) grove.

"I-I don't really know..." Aki said with a shaking voice as she fingered a tattered pair of hand fans. They were made of worn-down turquoise metal and gray paper that had a scaly feel to it, as though it was actually made of serpent skin.

"It's so hard to believe... It happened, it was reality for sure... But, was it really?" Fuyuka asked softly, and her question trailed away among the hustle and bustle of the crowd around them.

"The things in our hands are proof enough." Megane said, holding up the five joined pipes that he was carrying. He was oddly the calmest of the group, and almost adoringly looking at the st of pipes that were in pristine shape, with ornate silver rings around each.

Haruna just sighed. She was looking at the passing flow of people, all going along with their normal daily lives and wishing that their lives were more interesting than busy. The fools. She clutched the broken piece of ornate wood, which she guessed was a part of a long gone (bou)

"We have no choice..." Fuyuka said dully, holding a pair of shinogi-style tantou, which was also worn down with an azure hilt with black stripes. The blades could be noticed trough the numerous cracks on the scabbard which was fully black. The blade itself was a shocking silver, and probably was very beautiful at its time.

"I know it's our fault..." Haruna said softly, speaking for the first time, "But... I can't do it. I don't want to die!"

The last words crashed on the group like a vicious tsunami, it brought about the reality of the situation that made the ordeal seem impossible, and almost suicidal.

The price of taking responsibly could be death... And whatever might they say, they weren't ready to die.

END

I'm feeling quite evil today, so I'm leaving another cliffie! 3;)

The next chapter will be up in two days, I promise!