by: FiendisHSerapH
"Is it possible to have neverending forgiveness?"
Prologue REUNITED
"Don't tell me he's late again..." an arm folded inward as the owner checked on her watch. She sighed, "He never changed." then pushed long chocolate-brown tendrils away from her face.
"Don't be so hot-headed, Kaoru. Keep your calm; he'll be here later. Maybe he's just making us worried about him. You know that guy." A tall, chubby young man clad in brown baggy cargo pants and a green camouflage army shirt walked and stood beside the girl who owned the complaining voice we heard earlier.
"But he's too much! Hah, just show up and he'll be dead…" the young lady placed her hands on her hips and sighed yet again due to her dismay on their team member.
"Come on, guys. It's pretty early anyway. Besides, I called his mom and she told me that he left about an hour ago." A tall, lean guy with blonde, long-backed hair joined the conversation.
"Enough for being so patient, Jirou, Kuroudo! Why can't we just all be frank and say that he's late?"
"Where's Lilica anyway?" A mild voice broke through Kaoru's remarks as all eyes settled on this eye-glassed guy meekly sitting on a sofa.
"You see, we have been waiting here for about forty-five minutes. Kaoru's right; he never changed… he's very punctual." He added the last phrase with sarcasm in his tone.
"Already missing your PC hmm, Jin?" The chubby guy sat beside the lad and braced a firm arm behind his short neck.
"Shut up…" the boy coldly rebutted. "Besides, it's better to stay in front of my computer than…"
"Guys, sorry I'm late!" a shouting voice cut off their rambling thoughts.
"Nah, he's here."
The running figure was the person they have been waiting for. Following him was a charming young lady wearing a white long-sleeved blouse and red pencil skirt down to her knees. Her chestnut-brown hair was tied up on a high ponytail.
"Kouya, is that you?" that lean guy named Kuroudo burst out for he can't believe what he had seen. From that dark brown long-backed hair, he now has this neatly cropped one which was 2 x 3 white side walled. He's now sporting a navy blue terrycloth jacket with white undershirt and black stonewashed jeans.
"Two years can accommodate such great changes." He trained his eyes over his "soulmates" --- his friends, his co-members on their team named "The Tobita Club".
"Yes, you have changed. It's a far-cry from the silly-looking Kouya that you've been years back." Jirou added which made Kouya's eyes open in wonder.
"Jirou!" he exclaimed as he finally realized that it's his friend that he's talking to.
"Look guys, he changed a lot!"
"Yes, and even you, Kouya." Lilica, the lady behind him, blurted out. "As a matter of fact, I didn't recognize you among the crowd out there."
Kouya nodded then turned back to Jirou and added, "I bet you lost a lot of pounds in two year's time."
He looked around and asserted, "Kuroudo! My, you've grown even taller, huh?" He raised his line of vision to the towering guy.
"I did?" the latter interrogated with an innocent expression on his face.
"Yes, you did… hey, Jin! How's the gear master doing? You are still so quiet."
The slouching lad looked up showing a tired expression and grumbled, "You're late. I could have spent my precious time making my assignment at my computer instead of having wasted my time here waiting for you."
"Yes, some things never change right, guys?" Kouya remarked and everyone laughed heartily. He then walked towards the eye-glassed boy and finally noted, "But then, I still know that you haven't changed when it comes to your cooperation with us. Also, may I add that your hair fits you well. You've grown so cute…" in a hushed voice. With this flattery, Kyousuke slightly blushed.
"T-thanks…" was all he managed to say.
"And now," Kouya looked around, "Where's…"
"KOUYA!" Kaoru ran towards him who's turning away.
The mahogany-haired guy turned to her direction. Kaoru was about to propel her hand towards his cheek when she noticed his great transformation from the witless boy he had been before.
"Huh?" Kouya went wide-eyed the moment he saw the girl who had tortured him sometimes and yet who had been there to share his victories with him.
"K-Kouya?" She blinked several times.
"Kaoru?" He then was left staring open-mouthed.
Seems as if time had stopped and the two can't help but to gape at each other.
To break the ice, Kouya smiled warmly and stated, "Nice hair." He was then pertaining to the girl's elbow-length shiny hair.
Obviously arrested by the remark, Kaoru just let her aimed hand down and the supposedly loud complaint was reduced to a mere "You're late" murmur.
"Yes, I know and I am so sorry for that." He replied once again with a smile. Kaoru's eyes roamed over Kouya's form. From that neatly cropped hair, to his outfit and to his drastic change in height and weight, she can say that he matured a lot… and he grew handsome, too.
"Kaoru, you've acted harshly over Kouya again." Lilica scolded upon seeing what she must have done on him. "Now, say so---"
"It's okay, Lilica. No harm done. Kouya smiled.
"He's late, that's why!" Kaoru blurted out and pulled her purple cardigan jacket down as she fixed it.
"Kaoru, this is the first time you have seen him yet you act that way? Come on, don't be such a sorehead!" Kuroudo remarked.
"You might spoil our mood for the upcoming battle." Jirou added.
Upon hearing those comments, Kaoru sighed and snapped, "I'm sorry."
"That's okay. No harm done." Kouya replied, never removing his grin that made Kaoru observe inwardly.
"Now everyone's here, let's move out and check in our hotel." Lilica signaled their departure.
"Alright, at last I can rest." Kyousuke stood up and fixed his brown cargo pants.
"You've been resting all the time. What kind of rest do you still want?" Kuroudo commented in a somewhat objecting tone. Kyousuke casted a sharp look on his direction then turned away.
"The kind of rest I want is a break from your lousy I-am-perfect sermons." He mumbled bluntly. Luckily, Kuroudo wasn't paying attention at all.
"But I know, you were just like me with someone disappointed in you…"
They have walked about three meters already when…
"Marino." Someone called out behind them. The one called upon looked back and was surprised to see who it was.
"Takeshi!" he cried out upon seeing the guy in a red shirt with two narrow black stripes on the chest region and black cargo pants.
"Settled to understated clothing, huh?"
"Not really. This is just the kind of clothes I wear by now." His lips registered his trademark sinister grin and critiqued, "How about you? Doing away with childish outfits, huh?"
"Yeah…" Kouya smirked yet again.
"Is that really Takeshi?" Jirou rubbed his eyes and blinked several times. "I swear, my eyes are lying." He stated as he accepted the fact.
"Prepared for the event?" He asked, his eyes showing a challenge, a puzzle one can't easily solve.
"We will. Ah, actually, we've only seen each other now." Kouya fiddled on his jacket as he replied.
"Oh, really?" his trademark smirk showed up once again. "And I suppose that your fighting skills have tarnished, huh?" he then received looks from other gear fighters, and these were challenging ones, too.
"No, of course not!" They were all surprised to hear Kaoru's sudden outburst. "Just wait until you climb up the arena and you will see!"
With this Kouya smiled, and the other three followed.
"Oh, and the brave little girl is here… well then, let's see when we get there. I have improved a lot, for your information." Takeshi haughtily raised an eyebrow and fixated his eyes on Kouya.
"By the way, nice cut." He grinned as the other three of his Dream Team members in casual outfits emerged.
When they were of distance, Kaoru commented, "He never changed quite a bit!" then rolled her eyes.
"It's you who never changed." Lilica simply smiled and placed a gentle hand over the young lady's shoulder.
Kouya added, "You're still a brave girl, Kaoru and I admire you for that. But then, Takeshi did change. Yet, he still had high airs on him."
He grinned which made the appraised girl's cheeks feel hot.
"So, should we prepare for the upcoming feud?" Kuroudo interrogated them.
"Yeah, let's go!" Kouya initiated the walk. Soon, everyone followed him as they made their way out.
The Crush Gear passion is spreading once again like an epidemic over Japan after two years of its popularity due to the World Championships. To rekindle the fire, the government of Osaka decided to host yet another competition in their hometown. This so-called Osaka Cup happens today at the newly-built Kirei Stadium that's why Gear Fighters from all parts of Japan and even those from other countries landed this morning on the airport to participate and watch this spectacular event that will happen for the first time this year.
"And the first champions will receive a special prize aside from the fame: a one-week stay and tour in Hawaii!" Kouya gushed like a child.
"Looks like you're really thrilled, Kouya." Lilica smiled over his expression.
"I can hardly wait. Hawaii's such a nice place to visit, and besides, I want to swim on the waters there." Kouya exclaimed again as they headed to the taxi that will take them to their hotel.
And our story began as such. The song began playing; the events have begun
to unfold and take its optimistic toll… or is there something that will spoil
this reunion of our protagonists? That is what we're going to find out...