When the results are shown, the nine cars are all together in the Beckwith, celebrating their respective victories. The friendship between Titans and Fireworks is now well consolidated. Seconds after the announcement, Tori finally breaks the ice: "Well, guys… let's give our best. I know that nobody wanted to face them but we were going to, sooner or later. Then again, I think it's better to do it in the Semis than in the Final. You can do it, come on! I believe in you, boys."
"Tori is right. It's better now than in the Final. Also, you have faced them in the last World Cup so you can learn from that," says Kiri Hyoryu. Gao Mikado keeps on:
"And we can go to see you! The Semifinals are not at the same time so we are going to be there supporting you."
Rouga Aragami thanks him and adds: "Do you think we can practice with some matches? You could help us correct some mistakes and prepare a couple of plays."
"Of course, V," Ranma Kakogawa supports him. "I think I have an idea. Let's split up! Baku Omori, Rouga Aragami: with me and Kiri Hyoryu. Masato Rikuo and Gao Mikado will be playing with Amaterasu and Rouga Aragami. Tori will instruct us also from the inside, but will not be playing for any of the teams. To your positions, come on!"
From the other side of the town, the Sharks do the same thing in Wasteland. They practice some moves for the next day's match. They play a two versus two match and Paladin plays occasionally replacing one of his teammates. Finally, Yuma and Tasuku Ryuenji come out victorious. In the whole Rocket League universe, Yuma was always considered the less agile car. However, he always used his corpulence very well to win the possession and cover the goal more accurately. Grog is in a similar category, but in a lower scale. And the third of the "giant cars" is the Kiri Hyoryu. Those three cars are placed in the "big cars" tier.
Ultimately, True Brothers rests at Neo Tokyo for the big game. With dim light, they chat and enjoy of a feeling that they haven't embraced in a while: playing and winning a Rocket League game. In the workshop, being assisted by a couple of Scarabs, the atmosphere is warm and encouraging.
"I want to admit in front of everybody that one of us, this evening, played… spectacularly." Everyone looks at Leo and Luna with great expectation.
"Are you going to complete the sentence someday, Leo and Luna?" asks Magoroku Shido.
"The car that played spectacularly… was me." And he moves his wheels frantically.
"Always humble, Leo and Luna. Aren't you?" Gao Mikado rebukes him.
"Just saying…"
"I imagine you will shine and score five goals against the Titans," provokes ironically Davide Yamazaki.
"Six…"
"I'll take your word."
In the middle of laughs and a quiet sunset, Gao Mikado finally is brave enough to make the question that everyone wants to ask: "How did you feel, Davide Yamazaki?" Everyone looks at him.
"It was… odd. In one hand I felt so much anger because of the memories. But on the other hand, I felt relaxed because you were there. I wasn't alone and now I'm sure I'll never be. I don't know if we can win against the Titans, but one thing is certain: the Sharks have to fall! We will put our hope in every team who has the chance to beat them. Even if that team isn't us. If it's us, good. We will use everything in our power to make them lose. If it's the Titans, then we will trust in their experience." He pauses for some seconds. "And if Fireworks beats them, we will celebrate like we never did and we will all go to the fanciest workshop and change those horrible wheels that Gao Mikado has."
"Hey!" The Tsurugi Takihara complains. The other ones laugh.
"I'm glad to see you in a good mood, Davide Yamazaki. We will do fine. I know…" Leo cheers him up.
The four teams practice and rest for the Semifinals. The humans programmed the cars to sleep, so they need to rest for a couple of hours at least to recover some energy and maintain their circuits in optimum state. The humans wanted their creations to be more like them.
The night arrives and all that's left is the silence before the storm.