Oh my oh my here's the Chapter everyone's been waiting for! Ahah, this was so much fun to write. It's not often I get to write about my most favourite sport in the whole wide world! Sorry if I get a little technical – I tried to keep it relatively simple in terms of terminology, because not everyone plays football, or knows all the position or whatever. But here it is, and it's super duper long too! 3,700 words, this one. And its 2:00am! Ahah! Well, enjoy everybody, because from this chapter onwards, the KyoSaya is going to be way amped up! I know it's been going kinda slow, but now we're through this stage, it's all uphill from here (or is it downhill? I'm not sure xD).
Otaku4eva99 – Ahah I hate cliffhangers. Especially when it's an ongoing series. But don't you worry, from here on in it's going to be all good stuff between our two little soccer players :). And I do think this story will be long, but not uber long. I doubt it'll get much past 60,000 words, at an estimate. Which is still long, but only about half a regular novel.
Turkey in a suit – Ahahahaha a lot of people had that reaction. Cliffhangers are a killer, eh? I hope this chapter leaves you feelings satisfied (well, at least more than last chapter).
Runefang50 – Aw, thank you! I really wanted to keep y'all on the edge of your seats, so I'm glad that's working out well :D! Hope you enjoy this next chapter, with all it's tension goodness.
RacheltheBooksandAnimeGeek – Haha, thanks! I'm glad you're enjoying this ^w^. And yessss I have, and it was the most motherfucking magnificent thing in the history of shipping ever my god I have watched that one scene with Kyoko and Sayaka and they're holding hands and hashfjhaf like 500 million times ;w; /fangirlmode
Kyosayalove – ahaahaha I know how you feel. Even worse when you know it'll be a lng wait! Hope you enjoy this chapter, man!
Gear001 – Indeed, my good friend. Indeed.
Drinkie – XD. I will be doing some omake or short story piees, but they'll occur after the main story is over, methinks. They'll just be fluffy extras.
Asdfgjl – ahah thanks xD. I most certainly will~
Kyoko lunged forwards as Homura passed the ball to a pink-haired girl. She ran straight for the ball, ignoring the multitude of feet that almost ensnared her. The striker slammed her body into the tiny pink-haired girl, snatching away the ball. Kyoko grinned as she controlled the ball effortlessly, picking up speed as she evaded the first of High's midfielders. The brown-haired girl let out a cry of frustration, but Kyoko was almost too far gone to notice. She dribbled past another of High's center mids, grinning as she spun on the ball, effortlessly keeping it close to her feet. Two down. Two to go. The first of High's centerbacks lay in her path as Kyoko made a beeline for the goalmouth. Kyoko pushed the ball to one side of the girl, then ran to the other, meeting the ball behind her. The centerback looked utterly confused, and Kyoko heard her swear when she realised she'd fallen for a feint. Kyoko grinned, laughing. Then, she slammed into a brick wall.
-x-
Sayaka met the ball, clearing it into the air. Kyoko Sakura's body crashed into her, but Sayaka stood her ground. The striker looked disgruntled, and swore, but retained an irritating smirk. Sayaka tilted her head, staring the redhead in the eyes.
"Nice try, Sakura."
Her voice was laced with venom, and a cruel smirk played on her lips. Kyoko made a noise of frustration with vehemence, but kept smirking.
"Well, if I can make it past three of your players in the first twenty seconds, your team is pretty fucked."
Sayaka smirked.
"Good thing, I'm here, right?"
Kyoko made another noise, and didn't say anything in response. Sayaka watched as Oriko received the ball, off-laying it to Kirika, then Madoka. Madoka crossed the ball to Homura, who one-touched it neatly towards the corner. Her smirk faltered a little when the tiny Prep keeper dived and saved it. Kyoko, who Sayaka stood beside, marking her, called out to the keeper.
"Good job, Yuma!"
Sayaka raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. It was a goal kick.
-x-
Yuma placed the ball on the ground at the edge of her box. One of the Centerbacks took the kick, lifting it into the air to one of Prep's centermids. Kyoko began to move, trying to lose her dogged defender. However, Sayaka Miki just refused to quit. The ball moved from Prep player to Prep player. Finally, Kyoko began to sprint as the Prep right midfielder darted up the line.
"Oi, here!"
Kyoko called for the ball, running as fast as she could. Her midfielder looked at her, sprinting, sprinting. Then, Kyoko's heart began to race. Her midfielder had sent her a perfect ball. It arced beautifully towards her feet, and the striker pushed the ball to the side, preparing her foot –
Then, the whistle blew.
"Offside!"
Kyoko swore loudly, screaming at the sky. It had been such a good ball – why did it have to be off-side now? The referee glared at her, but said nothing. Sayaka Miki smirked as she took the ball away from Kyoko's feet, and placed it, ready to take a free kick. Kyoko scowled.
-x-
Sayaka kicked the ball long and hard, sending it straight to Homura. The black-haired striker received the ball on her chest, taking a touch to control it, then zigzagged past both centerbacks. Sayaka couldn't rip her gaze away. Homura was going to score. Homura was going to score. She was right in front of the goalmouth, she was right there, and –
Then, the ball was in the keeper's hands.
The tiny keeper had saved it again. Sayaka swore, punching the ground. Kyoko smirked, baring her teeth at the bluenette. Sayaka just glared.
The keeper rolled the ball out to one of Prep's fullbacks. Sayaka stared as Prep passed the ball around, taking their time. Sayaka could have sworn she'd waited minutes.
Then, like lightning, Kirika intercepted the ball. The brown-haired girl turned, passing it back to Miyoko, High's other centerback. Kyoko moved off of Sayaka, heading towards Miyoko – leaving Sayaka free to receive the ball. The bluenette heard Kyoko swear as she recieved the ball neatly from Miyoko, offloading it to the left fullback.
Suddenly, Prep's right wing rushed in, intercepting the ball and dashing down the line. Sayaka began to sprint, her heart pounding. She wouldn't let it happen. Not again. The wing's legs buckled as Sayaka slide-tackled the ball from right under her feet.
Suddenly, the whistle blew.
"Foul!"
Sayaka wanted to scream in frustration
"What!? Referee, you've got to be joking! That was clean! That was all ball!"
The ref shook his head, whistle in his mouth. Sayaka teammates complained loudly alongside her.
"Come on ref!"
"Ref, you're kidding!"
"What the hell was wrong with that?"
The ref glared at Sayaka, who'd run up to the ref.
"Ref, seriously, there was nothing wrong it that!"
Sayaka's eyes met yellow. It took her precisely three seconds to realise what it meant.
She'd been yellow carded.
Sayaka wanted to swear, scream and rage in the frustrating unfairness at all, but she held her tongue Saying anything else would only condemn her more. Kyoko smirked as Sayaka walked past, moving back into position so she could mark up. The bluenette's face darkened. Kyoko's smirk grew. Sayaka made a noise of irritation and ignored the striker, positioning herself between two Prep players at the edge of the goal box. Kyoko placed the ball down, taking a few steps back before preparing to take the free kick. Sayaka's lungs deflated as she realised something. Kyoko wasn't aiming for a cross to a teammate.
Kyoko was going to shoot.
-x-
Kyoko grinned like a Cheshire cat, almost laughing to herself. She'd been gifted a perfect, perfect opportunity. From this angle, she could – no, she was going to score. The striker took a few steps backwards, preparing to shoot. Then, she began to run toward the ball.
Kyoko slammed the ball toward the goal.
It spiralled in the air, hovering, almost, towards the top-left corner. Kyoko grinned harder. It was perfect. There was no way the keeper could reach it in time. It was just that powerful a shot.
Then the shoot hit the crossbar, and bounced away. It took Kyoko a few seconds to register she'd missed.
"Fuck!"
The referee glared at her, but Kyoko didn't care. How could she miss!? How the hell could she miss such an easy shot!? Kyoko grabbed her head in frustration. High had possession of the ball, and it was already too late for her to make a direct counterattack. Sayaka Miki appeared beside her, back to man-marking her out of the game. Kyoko wanted to howl in frustration. It wasn't fair. It just wasn't fair.
Then, the whistle blew. It was half-time.
-x-
Sayaka walked off the field, relief filling her body. She thanked the gods Kyoko had missed. That was a stroke of luck, more than she could have hoped for. It was most definitely unlike the striker to ever miss a shot, but Sayaka was more grateful than anything else. The rest of her team gathered in a circle, Mami included, on one side of the pitch. Mitaki Prep gathered on the other. Sayaka picked up her drink bottle, pressing it to her lips, taking a swig, and entered the circle. Madoka put an arm round her, linking her up with the rest of the team. Sayaka did the same. Mami had a serious expression.
"You're doing good, girls, but we need to lift it even more for the second half. Your passes are linking nicely, but we really need more shots. Homura, Madoka, Kazumi, Miyuki, if you can see the goal, I want you to shoot. Don't hesitate. We just need one, girls, to win this. Are you ready?"
Mitakihara High put their hands in, howling their assent. Mami called it this time.
"High on three! One! Two! Three!"
Their voices intermingled in the final shout.
"HIGH!"
Sayaka grinned, tossing her drinkbottle aside. She was ready to win. Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder. Mami.
"I really want you to push forwards this half. You've got one of the best shots on this time, so if Oriko and Kirika make space, go for it. Don't even hesitate."
Sayaka grinned harder, nodding.
"Got it."
Mami smiled, twiddling one of her plaits through her fingers.
"Let's win, then."
Sayaka jogged back out on to the field with a determined mindset. It just took one goal to win this. Just one goal.
-x-
Kyoko glanced around the pitch, her foot on the ball, standing at half-way. High was just coming back onto the field; her team had been first back, easy. The redhead glared at Sayaka Miki, who glared right back as she stepped into position. Finally, everyone was ready. The referee blew the whistle, and Kyoko tapped the ball forwards.
Her teammate passed the ball backwards to their centermid. Kyoko pushed forward, coming to stand beside Sayaka Miki as her teammates knocked the ball around, passing it between themselves. The other striker in her team stayed lower, avoiding being marked, just sitting in open space. Sayaka glanced at Kyoko, watching her movements. Kyoko just grinned. This was the beginning of their plan. The centerback looked at her suspiciously, but said nothing. Kyoko began to walk backwards in preparation.
-x-
"What are you…?"
Sayaka spoke suspiciously as Kyoko began to walk backwards, pushing right on the last man. Sayaka instinctively followed, not wanting to leave the red-head unmarked for even a second. The striker kept smirking, however, and Sayaka felt something…off. The bluenette decided just to ignore it, though. It was more important to focus on the game.
The Prep players were knocking the ball around, just keeping possession. They weren't pushing forwards, and they weren't attacking. Sayaka narrowed her eyes. What exactly was their game?
Suddenly, it clicked in Sayaka's head. Their other striker was sitting in the open, unmarked, with a clear path through to take a shot at goal. Her heart leapt out of her chest as the ball reached the striker feet. Like lightning, she ran to tackle her. However, the Prep striker didn't turn to run for goal. Instead, she did the opposite. She turned away. Sayaka blocked her path, heaving a sigh of relief as she completely blocked the girl from moving. However, the girl made no attempt to move, instead rolling the ball onto her foot kicking it up as if she were to juggle. The girl bounced the ball on her foot. Sayaka's heart thumped as she realised exactly what was going to happen. She turned away, stumbling towards Kyoko.
Sayaka looked up in horror as the ball sailed over her head, and fell at Kyoko's feet.
-x-
Kyoko grinned fiercely as she controlled the ball, one-touch, and took off towards the goal at blazing speed. It had worked! That idiot Sayaka Miki had completely fallen for their little plan! She felt like laughing, but that could wait. Her feet pounded against the grass, rhythmically, as she sprinted, unmarked, towards the goal. Her heart leapt as her feet touched the white paint of the goal box. This was it. Kyoko sprinted even faster, without sympathy for the pathetic-looking goalkeeper who trembled between the posts. Kyoko's grin grew, and grew, as she grew ever closer.
Then her cheek hit the dirt, and her feet were airbound.
Kyoko took a few moments to register what had happened. She was lying down…and…her cheek hurt. The goalkeeper, whom she was facing, looked relieved. Where was the ball…? Kyoko looked around, propping herself up on her elbows. The ball was out of the playing area. Had someone tackled her…somehow? Kyoko was sure nobody had gotten close to her. There were skid marks on the ground…did she slip? No…her boots weren't muddy. What….had happened…?
Kyokos questions were answered when a hand was thrust into her face. She looked up, and her face turned sour. With mud and grass staining the side of her blue-and-white strip, standing there, was none other than Sayaka Miki. It all came together in Kyoko's head. Sayaka Miki had slide tackled her.
"Here."
The centerback's face was looking at her, but her eyes ducked to the side. She had an uncomfortable expression on her face as she offered Kyoko a hand. The striker imagined her own expression was much the same as she took the hand, and was hoisted to her feet. She mumbled her gratitude, unsure if the bluenette had even heard it. Kyoko felt strangely uneasy about what had just transpired. She shook it off, however. Whatever, her emotions she had a game to win. It only took a few moments for a grin to return to her face as she reaffirmed her goal.
-x-
Sayaka did feel a little bad about slide tackling Kyoko Sakura. She hadn't meant to completely take the girl down. She was just aiming for the ball, was all. Besides, it was totally clean, and the striker wasn't hurt. Ultimately, though, she felt relieved. Relieved, because she'd never thought she'd have been able to catch up to Kyoko. She was lucky, really, that the striker had hesitated just long enough for her to make the tackle. Sayaka let out a sigh. This, really, was a game of high stakes. All offense, yet all defense all at once.
Homura fired a shot at the goal, only for the tiny keeper to save it. Sayaka began to wonder how old Prep's keeper really was. She didn't even look old enough to be in middle school. Sure it was illegal to have a kid that young playing in a high school football team? The centerback shrugged her shoulders. It didn't really matter. At least the kid seemed to be talented enough, or whatever.
The little keeper rolled the ball out to one of the Prep fullbacks. Kyoko Sakura began to move around a little. The ball was far enough away that Sayaka didn't have to stick too close to the red-head, but just keep near her. Suddenly, Madoka snatched the ball away. Sayaka cheered loudly as the tiny left forward offlaid the ball to Miyuki, who then passed to Kirika. Sayaka grinned. The team's passing structure had improved a lot since the beginning of the year – with Oriko and Kirika stepping up majorly as centermids. Kirika offlaid the ball to Oriko. Sayaka moved into space, leaving Kyoko, and received the ball from Oriko. Suddenly, her heart leapt. There was almost a straight line of free space between her and the opposing goal. This was exactly the opportunity Mami was talking about. This was it.
Instead of passing the ball, Sayaka began to run, the ball at her feet, it seemingly stuck to her foot like a small child to his mother. Within seconds, she'd reached a sprint. She nimbly dodged one of their centermids, aiming straight for goal. This was it. Sayaka stepped over the ball, then tapped it with the outside of her foot, to go the other way, feigning left but going right, completely fooling one of Prep's centerbacks. Sayaka heard Madoka, Homura, Oriko, Kirika, everyone screaming at her to shoot. Her feet hit the white lines of the goal box. Sayaka. Then, she slammed it against the ball, sending it spiralling towards the goal. The ball flew fast and hard towards the goal. Sayaka stared intently as the tiny goalkeeper stared at the ball.
Then it hit her in the face.
The tiny goalkeeper fell to the ground.
"YUMA!"
Sayaka turned to see Kyoko run full canter past her, then come to a stop and sit, cradling the tiny goalkeeper's head in her lap. The referee blew his whistle, and the game came to a standstill. Injury time.
-x-
When the ball hit Yuma, Kyokos heart shattered into a thousand pieces. She sprinted as fast as she could towards the tiny girl, cradling the girl on her lap. Kyoko's thought ran like a machine gun. She knew she shouldn't have let Yuma play. She was too young. She was far too young. And too little. She couldn't take a hit like that. No way. There was no way she should have played. Because...because…if Kyoko lost Yuma…what would she have left?
Tears had formed at the corner of Yuma's eyes , and blood dripped from her nose. Kyoko felt like crying, too.
"Are you okay…?"
Her voice was quiet, painstakingly so. Yuma nodded, wiping the blood away.
"My…face hurts…"
Kyoko gritted her teeth. She knew she shouldn't have Yuma play. Because then, this wouldn't have happened.
-x-
Sayaka called for Homura and told her to gather the team in. She wasn't going to take it. Instead, Sayaka crept forward, walking over to Kyoko's crouched figure, and the tiny girl beside her. Sayaka crouched down, a little bit away.
"Is…she okay?"
Kyoko's eyes, filled with rage, met hers.
Then she was on the ground and her cheek hurt, her cheek really hurt.
Sayaka realised, as she'd stumbled back and fallen, that Kyoko Sakura had just punched her in the face.
"You fucking think you can hurt Yuma like that, and just waltz on in as if you didn't do a fucking thing!? Piss the fuck off, you arrogant bitch!"
Sayaka was suddenly filled with rage, and she leapt to her feet, swinging at the redhead with malice and venom loaded in every punch.
"What the hell, you bitch!? What's your problem!? I just came to see if she was alright!"
She drew back her fist and swung once at the striker, catching her in the stomach. The redhead grunted, but swung back with just as much force, socking Sayaka in the ribs. Sayaka cried out in pain.
"Yeah fucking right! What the hell is your deal!?"
Sayaka shoved Kyoko, hard. The striker fell over, on to her back.
"My deal!? What the fuck is yours!?"
Kyoko stood up, and Sayaka drew back her fist to punch her again, but suddenly she couldn't move her arms and she was being dragged back. Someone had grabbed her from behind, restraining her.
"What the-? Let go!"
Apparently, some of Kyoko's teammates had done the same. Sayaka glared at Kyoko with as much venom as she could muster. Kyoko glared right back.
At some point the referee had gotten involved. He stood between the two warring girls, and held out something to them, one in each hand.
Red cards.
-x-
Sayaka sat in the changing room, alone. She hadn't even been permitted to watch the rest of the game. She just had to wait here, alone, whilst everyone else played the game she'd been looking forwards to all season without her. Kyoko was in the changing room opposite. She'd been dealt the same punishment. Of course, they were separated.
After what seemed like hours, Mami came in, a disgusted look on her face. Sayaka sat up straight. After her rage had passed she'd started feeling a distinct sense of shame. Shame, because instead of trying to reason things out, she'd gone in there like an idiot and fought. If she hadn't swung at Kyoko, she would have been playing the game.
"The game is over."
Sayaka looked up, hopeful that some miracle had occurred.
"…who won?"
Her voice was small, timid. Mami glared at her.
"It was a draw."
Mami's voice was icy cold, and shame swept even further over the bluenette. After a few seconds, she sighed, twirling a blonde plait between her fingers.
"You are one of the biggest idiots I've ever met."
Sayaka nodded, unable to meet Mami's gaze.
"…I know."
Her voice was still small. Mami folded her arms.
"Have you calmed down now?"
"…yeah. Sorry."
Mami shook her head.
"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to."
Mami opened the door, and called something. Moments later, Kyoko Sakura walked into the room. Sayaka stiffened with fear. The striker obviously noticed , because she folded her arms and loked to the side.
"Geez, calm your tits, woman. I'm not gonna punch you again."
Mami glared, not at Sayaka, but at Kyoko this time. Kyoko paled, and unfolded her arms.
"Didn't you have something to say, Kyoko?"
Kyoko heaved a sigh, and refused to make contact.
"…sorry…..for punching you. I…..overreacted."
Mami nodded, a disdainful but approving epression on her face. Kyoko's face went red
"I just…..imagine if I socked your best friend in the face? I….that's….that's what it felt like. It wasn't fun, and I got pissed…and I overreacted..so….sorry."
Despite all the layers of dishonesty Sayaka had been presented with…somewhere, buried beneath all of them, she could feel genuine regret. Just a little bit. She heaved a sigh, and looked at her feet.
"Then….I guess….I'm….sorry…too. I…shouldn't have punched you back."
Mami nodded in approval, and Kyoko's posture softened just a little – so little, that Sayaka wondered if she had imagined it. The blonde girl's expression was weary, but it gave way to a somewhat happier form of weary. Mami sighed, bringing a hand to her forehead.
"My goodness. I volunteered to coach because I wanted to coach a football team, not chaperone two aggressive, dishonest children."
Kyoko's eyes darted to the side, not looking at Mami. Sayaka did the same. Mami sighed again at their lack of reaction.
"At least I got you two to apologize. I have to leave now, so I'll see you later, you two. Try not to kill each other, okay?"
With that Mami left the changing room. With her gone, the atmosphere changed from tense to utterly awkward. Sayaka had no idea what to say, and so it appeared, neither did Kyoko. After a few minutes of awkward silence, Kyoko turned around, going to leave. She did, however, speak.
"Well…..uhm….bye. And, uh….good…game….I think."
Sayaka nodded, cautious.
"Yeah….good game. Bye."
Kyoko left the changing room, leaving Sayaka alone. The bluenette slumped, but then picked up her bag and walked outside. What….exactly had just happened? Sayaka's cheek hurt, and she was pretty sure a bruise was starting to show. The centerback sighed. She didn't really want to think anymore. She just wanted to sleep.
Madoka was waiting for her in the carpark. Most of the other cars were gone. Sayaka smiled a little glad her friend had actually waited for her. She was equally glad when Madok didn't ask at all about Mami, or Kyoko, and anything. She just kept quiet, taking about school tomorrow. Madoka was, surprisingly, somewhat perceptive. Or maybe Sayaka was just easy to read. Watever it was, Sayaka was grateful for it.
She really didn't feel like talking about it.
