Ross: The Feel of Betray
Just as the Raimon team got off the train, a loud noise came in from the other side of the area.
"Huh?" Endou turned around to see what's making those noise, which turned out it was their opponent (or known as Chiaki's ex-team), Kirikater Junior High. Watching the terrifying demon dragged Ross who has his mouth blabbed while storming toward the stadium of where they will battle inside.
"Just shut up already!" Brawled Usagi angrily, you can clearly see the thumping vein just waiting to be burst out from her forehead.
"No!" Retorted Ross stubbornly dared to disobey her.
She gave up.
Usagi gave one long sigh before she violently punched Ross' head, which resulted in Ross into a fainted victim. Usagi casually dragged him over to the stadium along with her team silently.
"Again…" muttered Someoka, frighten covered the face by a little.
"I feel sorry for him," commented Domon, frighten of her unbelievable strength.
"Same here," everyone agreed unison except the new members.
"I find it funny," Haruka grinned, seem very satisfied with her answer.
"Funny?" Natsumi raised one of her eyebrows, wondering why she thought it's funny.
"Yeah!" Haruka nodded.
"Let's go!" Shouted Endou, strolling inside the stadium with everyone following him, as start preparing for the match.
As both teams were changing into their football uniform, Chiaki paced around the hallway, hoping she calmed down before the match start.
"Yo" Chiaki shot her head upward to see who called her. It was Usagi Nakamoto.
"H-Hello," Chiaki shuttered, avoiding Usagi's gaze as she is unable to look at her face without feeling ashamed, "umm I have to go back." The moment Chiaki moved her body facing another side, she was unexpectedly grabbed by the wrist.
"Chi, wait!"
Chiaki was shocked by her sudden action, completely lost her mind. She gradually turned around and saw Usagi's worried eyes – almost as if she's begging. Something you would never see from Usagi.
"I want you to know that I have never thought once you were a betrayer because I know," with that Usagi silently walked off and left Chiaki behind with a small relief and happiness.
"Got it!" Haruna busted out, before pressing the last button her laptop; everyone hurriedly glanced at her. She read out the information from her laptop through her pink glasses.
"Usagi Nakamoto, their ace striker who is named as the 'Nightmare Ruler' who does not allow anyone to touch the ball due to her horror glaring and terrifying skills." Scrolled down; skipping the information until something caught her eyes. "She plays all the position."
"All? Even goalkeeper?" Aki questioned, very surprised after hearing she played all positions.
"Yes," Haruna confirmed the information with a mere nod.
"For real?!" Handa was also surprised with a hint of fear.
"It's my first time to hear someone play all positions," Aki commented.
"Yeah, it's not something you would hear often" Kazemaru stated.
"True." Handa agreed.
"Huh? It says that another hisstance have been made never been seen." Another information caught her curious eyes,
"New hisstance?" Haruka popped up, curiously.
"A powerful hisstance that can easily break down all the players to the ground and make a simple goal that no one has once able to stop this hisstance, it's called One Shot Life by Ako, team captain" Haruna read out the passage.
"We have to watch mostly on Nakamoto and Ako" Kidou warned everyone.
"Yeah" Kazemaru started to take cautious of those strong players Kidou mentioned.
"So interesting! Everyone, let's win!" Endou encouraged everyone with his best smile; fist pumped in the air.
The team cheered in unison, encouraging themselves to win this match no matter what. Once all players have once finished changed into their football uniform, they all charged out into the field.
"Here Some-kun" Haruka gave the water bottle to Someoka, who has just completed his scratches.
"You're still calling me that?" Someoka gladly took the water bottle from Haruka.
"Of course!" Haruka tilted her head, giving teeth smile to Someoka.
"Some-kun?" Kazemaru overheard the conversation.
"Yeah, it's his nickname" Haruka explained, "remove the second kanji then add -kun or -chan".
"It's the first kanji of his name," said Kazemaru.
"That's right~" Giggle came out from her mouth.
"Where did you get that idea from?" asked Natsumi.
"I thought it would be cute Natsu-chan" Haruka answered, waving her index finger.
"Please don't call me Natsu-chan" Natsumi blushed, turning around with arm crossed stubbornly.
"You're embarrassed~" Haruka teased Natsumi further playfully.
"I-I'm not" Natsumi denied as her cheeks started to form more red than before; caused Haruka giggled at her red face. As Haruka turned around, she noticed her best friend wasn't in her sight; went inside the stadium which didn't go unnoticed by Gouenji; he followed her secretly.
"Chi-chan, I knew you would never do that! You must have a reason for it!"
"Even if I had a reason, it doesn't mean I didn't betray them!"
"Betray?"
"I betray my team" Chiaki admitted.
"What?" Gouenji was totally unexpected to hear that answer, especially from Chiaki.
"I made my team lose on purpose" answered Chiaki honestly. Gouenji was honestly overwhelmed by her surprising comment. "I've been threatened by a man" Chiaki continued her answer, feeling uncomfortable. Clearly remembered the day of where everything happened...
Flashback
It happened a year ago, on the semi-final match day. The match before them goes to the final round that can lead them to be the best in Japan that will soon lead them to be best one in the world.
Usagi Nakamoto, the captain of the Kirikater as well as the ace striker with many terrifying nicknames that brought many enemies to escape before they have a chance to step into the stadium.
"Want Ai and Naegi have the defender going to the side. You two follow me when 14 goes out to stop" commanded Usagi.
"Yes!" replied the four football players unison.
"When he comes toward, use back pass. All defender make you got each other back or else we wouldn't able to win the match" ordered Usagi, giving them clearly instruction.
The call shouted out, telling the both team to move on the field to start the match. The match was merely one-sided to Kirikater due to Usagi's orders that players have obeyed that led them with 3 points in the lead.
Chiaki and Usagi send a wave to their childhood friend, Haruka who was part of the audience waved back and cheered them on.
"It's really scary"
"We are going to win for sure!" cheered one of the manager. As everyone was too busy talking each other as well as listening to Usagi's next order that could lead them to win this match, Chiaki walked into the stadium to wash off her face to cool her face down for a bit. Just the moment, she stepped out of the toilet. A man appeared.
"Chiaki Igarashi, correct?" questioned the mystery man.
"Hn" Chiaki nodded cautiously, wondering what the man wanted from her.
"It's weird you know. From musician to the sport. If anything I would have to expect like dance or drama"
"I decide to take a break that's all"
"As in running away from your father?"
"My father has nothing to do with this"
"I'm sure you will know what will happen once your father find out about it then might do something about it"
"Why?"
"Because I love seeing the misery that's all." A disgusting pleasure smile appeared on the man's face.
"What do you want?"
"Just a simple deal. Lose the match"
With the deal sealed, Chiaki headed out of the stadium then straight into the field as knowing everyone would be moving to the field already. Soon the whistle blown for the second half, the match was already in chaos. Her team mates were horrified at the sight they saw: ball kept being snatched by Chiaki; own goal kept being scored as well as the winners have been swapped and stayed like to the end. After all the chaos ended, only one thing that was left behind was...
Betray
End of flashback
After listening to the shocking past, everything became silence that no one couldn't say a word about the past with the thick wall surrounding them.
"Let's go, they must be waiting for us" Chiaki started to walk off first followed by Haruka, breaking the walls.
"Wait!" Swiftly, Gouenji grabbed Chiaki's wrist firmly, staring into her eyes. "You can't leave it like this! I'm sure they will understand it if you told them!"
"It's too late already. It happened the past, you can't change the past no matter what you do... After all, I deserve that"
"It's not too late!"
Chiaki was shocked to hear Gouenji's sudden shout, making her eyes widen as staring at his serious face.
"True, it may happen in the past but you still have a chance to change the present or future! You don't deserve any of this at all! You were only doing this for football and your friends! Do you trust your team mates?!"
For few seconds, they heard a shout from Aki, telling them it's time to go so they hurriedly went back to their team into the field to their positions.
"Oh no! Kurimatsu snatched the ball from Hajime!" Commentator reporting the move they have made.
"Igarashi-senpai!" Kurimatsu passed the ball toward Chiaki in midway, then Chiaki passed the ball to Gouenji who was near to her.
Gouenji caught the ball smoothly but in a split second Usagi came in, sliding down like going on roller coaster snatched the ball out of his left leg, making the ball to fly to somewhere else which she quickly held the ball.
"That's Nakamoto's terrifying slide attack! She caught the ball from Gouenji!"
In a flash, Usagi stood up with the ball in safe place in her foot, hastily dribbling toward the defence line as dodging her foes' attack. She narrowed her eyes, attentively watching a certain game maker (her mind full of all possibilities of his strategic outcome) without Kidou knowing her plan. The moment Kidou made his move, Usagi went ahead of him surprising him.
"Your plan fails" uttered Usagi monotone.
"What?" Kidou bewildered by her unforeseen action that he had not predicted this far.
"I already have your plan in my head" Usagi dashed through Kidou, heading to the goalkeeper, Endou who is already enthusiastic.
"Bring it!" Endou clapped his hand then spread his hands around guarding the goalpost, with his eyes on fire with the determination of blocking Usagi's score.
Usagi took his words. She motioned her right leg at a very high angle then added lots of strength into her foot that transferred into the ball who skyrocket to Endou. When Endou had his fist ready to use his hisstance-
The ball was already in the goal.
"Goal!" yelled commander along with audience's cheers. "There it is! That monster strength we all have been waiting for!" The crowd went wild, overwhelmed by her unbelievable strength that isn't something to be left out of their memory.
"Didn't get a chance to say it" muttered Endou, staring at Usagi who was running back to her position silently.
The whistle continued the match by the referee. Starting with a red hair boy dribbling the ball in the middle almost reaching the half point of the field, but it has been snatched by a small boy with long brown hair tied into a ponytail.
"Someoka!" The tiny boy kicked the ball that flew into Someoka's foot, who was already at near penalty area.
"Dragon Crash!" Someoka forced lots of energy into the ball as creating the ball transformed into a roaring blue dragon that went straight through the struggling goalkeeper.
"Yay!" Haruna cheered for her team mate.
"Good job for Pinky!" cheered Haruka with mischievous hidden in her message; made Someoka feel the thump on his forehead full of annoyance, clearly know that she insulted him - desperate to kill her.
For, the ball goes back to the middle for another kickoff, refer have already blown his whistle which means that the first half has ended; everyone went back to their own bench for a rest. The result of the first half is 1-1.
First half over
"It's harder than I thought it would be" putting Kidou into a deep thought; remembered the times of where Usagi was able to snatch their ball in a split second, ruining their plan - basically everything. The players sat down on the rough ground as making semi-circle; listening to Kidou's thought about the first half of the match - more specifically, about Nightmare Ruler, Usagi Nakamoto.
"She easily predicts every move we make" Kurimatsu added a negative point to it.
"It's like she can tell our moves before it happened" Handa joined in, showing hopeless in his tone.
"She isn't someone you should underestimate" Chiaki stated the oblivious.
"Yeah, that's for sure. She's what you call Nightmare Ruler~" said Haruka, slight giggling over her comment.
"I remember I once went against them" Gouenji recalling back to his past memories about his football match he once went against this team.
"This might be a big problem" stated Kidou bluntly; everyone got into their serious mood with their mind set - have merely the idea of what they would need to do.
Once again, Usagi has the ball with her dribbling down the field matching toward Endou.
"Not going to happen!" Endou firmly stood his foot to the ground, getting the position ready as waiting for Usagi's shoot to come in. Before Usagi passed the defence line, she noticed her team mate was free, running to the goal by the side; she instantly passed the ball toward her (to caught guard her rivals). Greened hair boy caught the ball however Domon came in.
"Not letting you scores" Domon slide in, letting the ball goes out of her foot to outside the line, making a fool.
"Crap!" the boy cursed himself for letting his opponent take his ball. Just before the throw, the coach of Kirikater made an announcement; caused everyone to look at coach of Kirikater.
"Nakamoto swapped with Ako!" informed Commentator, shouting at the microphone he's holding on.
"What are they thinking?" questioned Kidou, watching Usagi sitting back to the bench, replaced with Ako who went into the field taking her place.
The match continued with the whistle begin it. Seeing that Handa have the ball, dribbling near to the right side, trying to reach to one of the forward of his team.
"Gouenji!" Handa quickly passed the ball to Gouenji as running toward their opponent's goalpost.
"Handa passed the ball to Gouenji!" reported Commander.
"Igarashi!" Gouenji made a quick pass to Chiaki who was surprised by his action. "Pass your feeling!"
Chiaki smiled; did what she's been told: jumped into the air with the ball in her leg then shoot.
"Super Boom!"
With the last goal making a win for Raimon! Raimon shouted of happiness, hugging each other as a way to say a good job to everyone who has played very well.
"Congrats" Usagi congratulated her opponent and her best friend.
"Thank you Usagi-chan, it was fun, right?" A cheerful smile crept into Chiaki's face.
"Yeah..." Usagi agreed, giving a small glance at Raimon who were celebrating with each other.
"That was amazing~" complimented Haruka. "Wish I could play football~" Haruka daydreamed of playing football.
"You will be complaining all day about it" stated Usagi.
"I wouldn't!" Protested Haruka.
"You will" retorted Usagi. As watching them arguing each other, Chiaki burst out laughing seeing that nothing much has changed at all. The other two girls stopped arguing when they saw her laughing, they joined in as well.
"Now, let's meet the old team!" Haruka happily skipped over to the team that has lost.
"Yeah, it's time to explain," Usagi followed along.
"Yeah." Chiaki genuinely smiled for the first time in a long time, felt the past burden as lifted off her shoulder allowing her to move on from the past.
Next morning
Raimon Junior High School, 2-C classroom
"Usagi Nakamoto, nice to meet you" Usagi introduced herself to her class.
"You knew this would happen?" Gouenji asked Chiaki, quite baffled by the quick transfer.
"Yes…" Chiaki sweatdropped, she watched Endou slowly shrinking down by Usagi's demon glare.
"Everyone! Let's go play football!" Endou head started to the football field, wanting to play football along everyone else who also feel the same way.
"As always Football Airhead" Usagi crossed her arm, commenting on Endou's enthusiasm for football. Chiaki giggled at her comment, in agreement.
"Now we're all together again" Haruka appeared behind them surprisingly, hugging her best friends.
"Yeah" Chiaki nodded, overjoyed.
"Guess so" Usagi also joyed as well masked under her emotionless face.
"Yahoo~" Haruka cheered joyfully, very happy that they are back together as a trio.
"Huh? Again? What do you mean by that?" Domon who overheard their conversion.
"We are childhood friends, didn't you know?"
"Ehh?!" Everyone was shocked to hear that news!
"That explains why you know so much about her," said Natsumi.
"Yeah, we have been together for a long time so we know everything about us"
"Wonder it was right choice to join this team" Usagi wondering if she has made a good choice of making that decision, causing Endou get mad at her. The rest of the team followed Endou leaving Gouenji and Chiaki behind.
"So, how did it go?" asked Gouenji, curious of what happened after the match.
"When I went to them…"
Flashback
"That's why I did it… I'm really sorry! I understand you wouldn't forgive me and-" before Chiaki rambled on, she was cut off.
"I forgive you" Ako casually forgive her as if it was a small matter.
"Eh? That's easy?" It baffled Chiaki at his quick forgiveness. He hated her ever since that incident that he didn't want anyone nearly her.
"You should have said it in the beginning," Ako said as if it was the most oblivious thing.
"Actually I was trying to but you refuse to listen" Usagi stepped into the conversation, bluntly told him.
"Shut up!" Ako glared at Usagi.
"So as punishment, everyone will give you flick on the forehead!" Everyone's face immediately changed into a demon smile clearly held an evil motive under it that made Chiaki afraid.
"Eh!?" Chiaki was surrounded by all the teammates revealing their inner evil side and started to flick her forehead.
"So, I got a bruise in the end." Slightly rubbed the sore on her forehead, pouting about it. Gouenji thought her post was so cute that he turned around to hide his blush.
"You have nothing to worry" Gouenji looked back at Chiaki, smiling at her.
"Yeah, thank you Gouenji-san" Chiaki gave a sincere smile, truly appreciate things he has done for her.
"You're welcome" Gouenji showed off his rare smile to Chiaki, expressing how happy he is for Chiaki.
Thump thump.
"Thump?" Chiaki questioned herself after that strange sound she heard.
"Do I see love~" Haruka snicker, watching a couple that was having a moment. Gouenji blushed, looking away.
"Huh?" Chiaki blinked; Gouenji puzzled by her reaction to it. "Where?"
"She's oblivious to love just like En-kun" Haruka informed him.
"This will be a challenge for you" commented Kidou, staring at Gouenji.
"Yeah" Gouenji face-palmed himself, feeling a bit courage by hearing that news. However, it doesn't mean he will simply give up. There is still chance for him able to get his crush to fall for him - 100% determinate.
I really rushed this to publish it quickly because I want to rewrite MNLHB (yes, it will be very different).
Chapter 1-4 were already published beforehand so I thought I might publish them then add in the new version along with it.
