"Edo TV presents the opening ceremony of the national high school football season. It's almost about to begin." Sena could barely hear the loudspeaker's announcement over the ruckus of the crowd.
"Finally," Monta said. He looked seriously fired up.
Sena eyed the crowds. "I'm getting nervous." This is way worse than the Nasa game, he thought. Because if we lose here, that's it, especially for Hiruma and Kurita. We'll never get the chance to get Musashi back on the team if we lose today.
Then he fell on his face as someone startled him and Monta with a push from behind. "What?" Suzuna chided teasingly. "Are you two scared already?"
Both short stacks jumped to their feet and their defense. "Do you think that men get scared at the opening ceremony?" Monta tried to bluster.
Ed rolled his eyes. "Boys get scared at the opening ceremony. Men wait until their first game." The receiver sagged. Ed smirked. I could hear their knees knocking from here.
He looked over at Kurita to tell him to help the others calm down because he was better at that sort of thing than the rest of them, only to have his hand meet his forehead. The big kid's whole body was shaking. "R-r-right, e-everybody tried their best. As long as the gods are watching over us." He seemed to calm down a bit when he pulled a rolled up slip of paper from his pocket. "This morning I went and got a fortune from our temple." Oh yeah, Ed had forgotten he lived with a monk. He unrolled the slip and started trembling even worse than before. "It said, 'extremely bad luck'."
The alchemist knocked the piece of paper right out of him hands. "It's a good thing we don't' need luck then." He looked around at his slightly terrified teammates. "You honestly think a team grown in a test tube is harder to beat than Nasa?"
Yukimitsu stopped shaking. "That's right. Americans are the cream of the crop in football. They invented to sport."
He nodded. "Exactly. America's the veterans. The Cyborgs are rookies, even more so than us. Are they really something to be scared of?"
"No!" Monta shouted. The blond grinned. Who knew Mustangs tactic for rookie soldiers worked so well on this bunch? They headed to their locker rooms.
Yukimitsu was reading off rules and schedule details to the team as they changed into their uniforms when there was a thunder of footsteps in the hall outside. Ed stuck his head through the doorway. Oh great, he growled, immediately pulling his head back in. I hate doctors.
The swarm of white coats approached their door. The leader bulldozed right through Sena and Yukimitsu and held out a hand towards Kurita. "I'm Munakata, of the Animo cyborgs!" So this was their opponent? Ed decided to shake things up.
He grabbed the proffered hand with his right and squeezed as he shook it and said, "Edward Elric, of the Deimon Devil Bats!" He smiled in a way that promised pain. "Good luck in today's game!"
Munakata looked at the kid currently crushing his muscled fingers. "Same to you." He pulled his hand out of the vise-like grip and started the show by ripping off his long white coat in time with the others.
Edward rolled his eyes as Sena and Monta went crazy over the guy's shiny muscles. Apparently Hiruma found it funny too. The boy laughed and commented, "This isn't a bodybuilding championship."
A shaking Monta added, "their muscles look totally artificial."
"Haha," the man laughed. "I'm glad they're-" The alchemist shut the door and blocked out the rest of the shiny man's speech. He turned and glared at the two short stacks. They immediately ducked and got back to their uniforms.
Ed looked back at the door. "Artificial, huh? Then let's see how you do against the real stuff." He looked back at the three punks and the four players shared a grin. There was no way Amino was going to win.
Out on the field, it was uproar. The announcer spoke over the loudspeaker as the first team walked onto the field. "The fall season begins at last! Each team will be led onto the field by their manager. First up is one of the favorites. Storming the season, it's Amino!" Munakata stopped massaging his crushed fingers and waved at the crowd as he strode onto the field behind the flag with all his teammates trailing after him. "Their habit of dominating a different sport each year leaves me cold," continued the voice through the stadium. "It's weird how far they go with their training."
The Deer, Wild Gunmen, Devil Bats, and White Knights walked onto the field surrounded by commentary, usually complimentary. Once the field was filled to the brim with teams and managers, the director of the league took the stage in front. He looked out over the vast number of players. He cleared his throat of the lump that had suddenly occupied it. "Hello everyone. Everyone here is striving for something. That 'something' would be victory. But from among you all, only one team will go to the Christmas Bowl." And that was all it took. The air shifted with that single remark and he could practically taste the competition in the air. He loved this sport.
"I mean to say this truthfully, without fear of being misunderstood. In football, we are not looking for sportsmanship in you." Great, he just gave everyone here license to fight dirty, Ed thought. He glanced at Hiruma. We'll take full advantage of that, I'm sure. "No award is given to the loser for having fighting spirit. In this world, the winner receives all the glory. You have but one objective and that is, to win!" The crowd erupted into cheers." He smiled at the cheering, excited mass in the stands and the determined horde of players in front of him. "And now, the National High School Football Championship, will begin!"
I'm so excited! I'm going to Sakura Con next week, and get to meet Vic! Plus, my cosplay is Edward. Screw the limiters of gender, I'm doing all boys!
Please Review! This story will dry up and die without them.
