"AN UNEXPECTED CHALLENGER"
DAI ISSHOO: CHARENJI SURU GA... JOOSEE!?!
It has been two years since Kouya Marino bagged the World Crush Gear Cup… Since that time, applications have been pouring in by the droves for membership in the Tobita club, and Kouya is constantly getting challenges from rivals, both old and new. He was even able to have a knockdown drag-out rematch with Taka Shibuya of the now-defunct Yon-Roku Yon Shichi Team despite the latter's declaration back in the Illusion Cup that he and his team will never play Crush Gear ever again...
Kouya met every challenge successfully, and always showed his own brand of gracefulness... like the braggart that he is. Old habits really die hard.
Now, Kouya is in his second year of Junior high, and is not easily adjusting to his new life in school. It was a miracle that he even made it this far, due to the fact that his academic standing is… well, in a not-so-high point to say the least, especially in Mathematics and Literature. Other than that, he hasn't changed one bit. He still goes to the clubhouse to practice after school, while his "Junior Trainees" watch him strut his stuff in the arena.
One typical day after school, Kouya was en route to the clubhouse; a wrenched look was evident on his face. He was still reeling from finding out that he failed miserably in a Literature exam again during midterms, and he wanted to blow off some steam by practicing a new release that he has been working on for the Garuda Phoenix. As a champion, all his moves are now the subject of close scrutiny; the Sword Breaker release was indeed infallible, but he eventually had to develop a new move that was not consistently predictable for his future opponents. If he ever lost, that would be a serious indication that he's losing his touch.
Upon entering the clubhouse, he finds it empty... the lights were off, and no one is in the office. Lilika already went off to college in Waseda, so she's not able to oversee the club activities as much as she used to. Kaoru usually filled in for her.
"Hmm..." Kouya thought to himself. "It's the first time that there's nobody here today... where is everyone?"
He looked around. The clubhouse was still the same as it was before. The arena still showed the battle scars of Gear Fights met during bygone days: The wheel tracks on the floor, the scratched surface of the Plexiglas barricades, and the beat-up digital timer which faithfully and constantly counted down each moment of a brief three-minute match up to the last precious second.
Finally, Kouya's gaze fell on the desk in the right hand corner of the clubhouse. There was a piece of paper lying adjacent the table lamp.
"What's this...?" Kouya thought as he picked it up. "...another challenge...?"
Sure enough, it was. Only this wasn't like any other challenge letter Kouya has ever received. Whereas most of the notices come in a simple piece and sometimes even just a scrap of paper, this one was written on fancy, expensive-looking stationery with a nifty Unicorn motif. Not only that, the handwriting was done with traditional green ink. Overall, the challenge letter was neat and very attractive as opposed to the oftentimes illegible and dirty scripts made by former challengers. The note read:
Dear Kouya,
How are you now? I haven't seen you in a long time. I want to challenge you to a Gear Fight for old time's sake. I will come to the Tobita Clubhouse tomorrow at 4 o' clock sharp. I'll be waiting... don't be late!!
F.
P.S. My brother sends you regards, as well as his heartiest congratulations... better late than never!!
A chill runs down Kouya's spine... This was the first time that a challenge letter freaked him out this much. He didn't know what to make of it… Usually, any challenge will psych him up and get him "all geared up" (pun intended), but this letter seemed all too familiar, and this was not the "rival type" familiar…
Kouya's memory, not being too reliable and everything, failed him as usual. He tried and tried to remember who would be the sort to challenge him in that sort of manner...
"Could it be Wang Hu...? Nah… Wang Hu wouldn't write on this kind of paper, and he doesn't have a brother… His only sibling is Lan Fang, and she's a girl..."
Kouya's train of thought continues on. "Perhaps she sent it...? Nope. It should be L.F. and not just F. Wang Hu already knows that I've won, so why congratulate me just now...? I just don't get it..."
Lots of other possible rivals cycle through his mind, but not a single one jived with the letter and what he remembered about each of them. Finally, Kouya scratches his head in frustration. He just stared at the letter, and forgot about his earlier problem.
Just then, Kaoru comes in.
"Hey, Kouya! You're the only one here… no adoring fans today, eh?"
"Be quiet!" Kouya snapped back. "I'm thinking..."
"Of what, Mr. World Cup Champion?" Kaoru replies, grinning sardonically. "...That hasn't really been your forte for so long... more so since you failed the Lit test..."
Kouya was shocked. "You knew?"
Kaoru giggled. "Everyone knows, Kouya… you're famous now, so you can't keep everything from the public eye…"
She finally notices the letter that Kouya was holding.
"Ooh, more fan mail? Can I see?" Kaoru inquires, reaching for it.
"DON'T!" Kouya cries, trying to get the hand with the letter out of Kaoru's reach. "It's a challenge notice. I'm trying to find out who sent me this, and so far... I have no idea."
Kaoru deftly snatches the note away from Kouya and reads it… She then looks at Kouya, her sardonic grin growing further from ear to ear...
"Guess what, Kouya? I just figured something interesting…you've just been challenged by… A GIRL!!"
"WHAAAAT!?!" Kouya exclaims in sheer disbelief. "You're joking, right? I thought that the only girl I would ever have a Gear Fight with was Momo Yamanchi. I don't want to fight a girl ever again."
"Humph..." Kaoru pokes at Kouya's ribs with her elbow. "Still afraid to fight girls, Mr. Champion?
"Kaoru, we've been through this before… I just don't want to… It's embarrassing."
"Fine! If you're going to be so bull-headed about it, then I'll just throw this away."
"Hey, hey!! Give that back!! You're not even sure that a girl sent that. I bet you're just trying to make me angry..."
"Hah! Clueless as ever, aren't you Kouya? Take a good look at this..." Kaoru vociferates, pointing out the parts of the letter. "This stationery is from a limited edition set. Precious few of these are out there, and it's a hot item among pre-teen girls like me... It's just a shame that it's awfully expensive. What's more, it's written in green calligraphy ink, which is also very pricey, and not only that, it connotes a well-kept secret: People who receive these notes actually fall in love with the sender if the message is conveyed with green ink!!!"
Kouya can't help but be impressed. "Wow… How do you know so much...?"
"Maybe if you spent a lot less time with Crush Gear and spent more time getting to know things in the real world, you'd… Oh, to heck with it! You're hopeless..."
Kaoru drops the note and stomps out of the clubhouse.
"Why is she angry...?"
Kouya picked up the note. He suddenly lost the urge to practice, and just went on home.
Kouya couldn't sleep a wink that same night. All the while, he was still thinking, "Who sent me this?" The only way he would know is when he meets the sender tomorrow.
Kouya harkens back to the last sentence of the note...
"I'll be waiting... don't be late!!"
~CHAPTER 1 END~
DAI ISSHOO: CHARENJI SURU GA... JOOSEE!?!
It has been two years since Kouya Marino bagged the World Crush Gear Cup… Since that time, applications have been pouring in by the droves for membership in the Tobita club, and Kouya is constantly getting challenges from rivals, both old and new. He was even able to have a knockdown drag-out rematch with Taka Shibuya of the now-defunct Yon-Roku Yon Shichi Team despite the latter's declaration back in the Illusion Cup that he and his team will never play Crush Gear ever again...
Kouya met every challenge successfully, and always showed his own brand of gracefulness... like the braggart that he is. Old habits really die hard.
Now, Kouya is in his second year of Junior high, and is not easily adjusting to his new life in school. It was a miracle that he even made it this far, due to the fact that his academic standing is… well, in a not-so-high point to say the least, especially in Mathematics and Literature. Other than that, he hasn't changed one bit. He still goes to the clubhouse to practice after school, while his "Junior Trainees" watch him strut his stuff in the arena.
One typical day after school, Kouya was en route to the clubhouse; a wrenched look was evident on his face. He was still reeling from finding out that he failed miserably in a Literature exam again during midterms, and he wanted to blow off some steam by practicing a new release that he has been working on for the Garuda Phoenix. As a champion, all his moves are now the subject of close scrutiny; the Sword Breaker release was indeed infallible, but he eventually had to develop a new move that was not consistently predictable for his future opponents. If he ever lost, that would be a serious indication that he's losing his touch.
Upon entering the clubhouse, he finds it empty... the lights were off, and no one is in the office. Lilika already went off to college in Waseda, so she's not able to oversee the club activities as much as she used to. Kaoru usually filled in for her.
"Hmm..." Kouya thought to himself. "It's the first time that there's nobody here today... where is everyone?"
He looked around. The clubhouse was still the same as it was before. The arena still showed the battle scars of Gear Fights met during bygone days: The wheel tracks on the floor, the scratched surface of the Plexiglas barricades, and the beat-up digital timer which faithfully and constantly counted down each moment of a brief three-minute match up to the last precious second.
Finally, Kouya's gaze fell on the desk in the right hand corner of the clubhouse. There was a piece of paper lying adjacent the table lamp.
"What's this...?" Kouya thought as he picked it up. "...another challenge...?"
Sure enough, it was. Only this wasn't like any other challenge letter Kouya has ever received. Whereas most of the notices come in a simple piece and sometimes even just a scrap of paper, this one was written on fancy, expensive-looking stationery with a nifty Unicorn motif. Not only that, the handwriting was done with traditional green ink. Overall, the challenge letter was neat and very attractive as opposed to the oftentimes illegible and dirty scripts made by former challengers. The note read:
Dear Kouya,
How are you now? I haven't seen you in a long time. I want to challenge you to a Gear Fight for old time's sake. I will come to the Tobita Clubhouse tomorrow at 4 o' clock sharp. I'll be waiting... don't be late!!
F.
P.S. My brother sends you regards, as well as his heartiest congratulations... better late than never!!
A chill runs down Kouya's spine... This was the first time that a challenge letter freaked him out this much. He didn't know what to make of it… Usually, any challenge will psych him up and get him "all geared up" (pun intended), but this letter seemed all too familiar, and this was not the "rival type" familiar…
Kouya's memory, not being too reliable and everything, failed him as usual. He tried and tried to remember who would be the sort to challenge him in that sort of manner...
"Could it be Wang Hu...? Nah… Wang Hu wouldn't write on this kind of paper, and he doesn't have a brother… His only sibling is Lan Fang, and she's a girl..."
Kouya's train of thought continues on. "Perhaps she sent it...? Nope. It should be L.F. and not just F. Wang Hu already knows that I've won, so why congratulate me just now...? I just don't get it..."
Lots of other possible rivals cycle through his mind, but not a single one jived with the letter and what he remembered about each of them. Finally, Kouya scratches his head in frustration. He just stared at the letter, and forgot about his earlier problem.
Just then, Kaoru comes in.
"Hey, Kouya! You're the only one here… no adoring fans today, eh?"
"Be quiet!" Kouya snapped back. "I'm thinking..."
"Of what, Mr. World Cup Champion?" Kaoru replies, grinning sardonically. "...That hasn't really been your forte for so long... more so since you failed the Lit test..."
Kouya was shocked. "You knew?"
Kaoru giggled. "Everyone knows, Kouya… you're famous now, so you can't keep everything from the public eye…"
She finally notices the letter that Kouya was holding.
"Ooh, more fan mail? Can I see?" Kaoru inquires, reaching for it.
"DON'T!" Kouya cries, trying to get the hand with the letter out of Kaoru's reach. "It's a challenge notice. I'm trying to find out who sent me this, and so far... I have no idea."
Kaoru deftly snatches the note away from Kouya and reads it… She then looks at Kouya, her sardonic grin growing further from ear to ear...
"Guess what, Kouya? I just figured something interesting…you've just been challenged by… A GIRL!!"
"WHAAAAT!?!" Kouya exclaims in sheer disbelief. "You're joking, right? I thought that the only girl I would ever have a Gear Fight with was Momo Yamanchi. I don't want to fight a girl ever again."
"Humph..." Kaoru pokes at Kouya's ribs with her elbow. "Still afraid to fight girls, Mr. Champion?
"Kaoru, we've been through this before… I just don't want to… It's embarrassing."
"Fine! If you're going to be so bull-headed about it, then I'll just throw this away."
"Hey, hey!! Give that back!! You're not even sure that a girl sent that. I bet you're just trying to make me angry..."
"Hah! Clueless as ever, aren't you Kouya? Take a good look at this..." Kaoru vociferates, pointing out the parts of the letter. "This stationery is from a limited edition set. Precious few of these are out there, and it's a hot item among pre-teen girls like me... It's just a shame that it's awfully expensive. What's more, it's written in green calligraphy ink, which is also very pricey, and not only that, it connotes a well-kept secret: People who receive these notes actually fall in love with the sender if the message is conveyed with green ink!!!"
Kouya can't help but be impressed. "Wow… How do you know so much...?"
"Maybe if you spent a lot less time with Crush Gear and spent more time getting to know things in the real world, you'd… Oh, to heck with it! You're hopeless..."
Kaoru drops the note and stomps out of the clubhouse.
"Why is she angry...?"
Kouya picked up the note. He suddenly lost the urge to practice, and just went on home.
Kouya couldn't sleep a wink that same night. All the while, he was still thinking, "Who sent me this?" The only way he would know is when he meets the sender tomorrow.
Kouya harkens back to the last sentence of the note...
"I'll be waiting... don't be late!!"
~CHAPTER 1 END~