Fireworks bloomed in midair just like posies and created cracking noise that made the audience wild with amusement and thrills.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the First Ever Osaka Cup is about to begin!" the announcer, this time not administering "special effects" in his act, roared.
"YEAH!" the onlookers hollered with much excitement.
"Boy, the people sure are excited over the gear fighting comeback." Jirou observed in an excited voice.
"They seem to have anticipated for this very much after two years of its popularity." Kyousuke looked around, feeling nervous over their invisible will-be opponents. And so is Kuroudo.
"The groupings…" The commentator's voice cut off the rambling noise and settled the roaming eyes to its proper place, "... were predetermined even before the fight and were completely shuffled except for a team…"
"Hey, I didn't know that they've shuffled the groups…" they wondered.
"Let's give a round of applause for the World Champions…" Colorful lights shuffled across the arena. "… the Tobita club!" and they mingled together and stopped above the aforementioned team.
"Argh, my eyes!" Kyousuke covered his gray sensitive soul windows from the harsh lights above them. Applause rained.
"Ah, we aren't shuffled. Good thing." Kaoru smiled secretly.
"To add, there'll be only two rounds of fights in this cup…" he paused then he finally boomed, "And for the first fight of this first Osaka Cup, here's the Tobita Club and… the Osaka Team!"
Claps followed and rained for about two minutes, and these came from the supporters of the so-called Osaka team, even though they don't have the slightest idea as to who its members are.
"The probability of the fighters coming from that team will be of no sense… it is unfair! We have no idea as to who they are…" Kyousuke fussed as the moment of revelation came.
"The first fighter from the Tobita Club by selection is…. Jirou
Oriza!"
Jirou's eyes flew open as his members' views all halted on him.
Even he, himself, can't believe that he'll be the first to face the anonymous
band of adversaries. A break ensued and an oppressing cloud of tension and heavy
air lay on top of our team of protagonists. No one dared to speak and everyone
was trying to figure out the members of this so-called Osaka Team.
"As far as my memory is concerned, I haven't known any Gear fighter who's from Osaka team..." Kyousuke's brows met in concentration as he sat meekly on a chair, thinking.
"Yes, me too. It's natural to be such because this is the first time that it happened, and I think that they "grouped" them yet again according to their hometowns this time." Lilica assumed to lessen the strain even though she, to herself, is also perplexed.
"Good luck, Jirou. I just know that you can defeat the guy, no matter how strange he or she is." Kouya gave the beefy arm of this doubting fighter a firm squeeze.
"I—I just don't know, Kouya." Came his sole retort
"It's okay if you don't win. What's important is that you will meet a friend inside the arena." Kouya gave his guaranteed grin yet again without expecting any return.
"That's the spirit, Kouya!" Kaoru nudged the boy's side. "You really didn't change."
The buzzer rang, and it's about time to face the adversary. Jirou, masking his insecurities, went up the stage and prepared for his game. He sighed.
"And his opponent from the other team is…"
Still air enveloped the stadium. Everyone kept his or her eyes wide open, anticipating for the first fighter to be unmasked. Footsteps were heard, something rubbery pressing against the linoleum floor. The guy climbed up the stairs, yet his face was still masked by the gloomy silence just like fog.
The Tobita Club stopped still, and this mysterious appearance caused Jirou to gulp the big lump forming on his throat. He walked closer to the lighted area, exposing black baggy pants and a blue semi-fitting top. He walked further, stooping down and no sooner also unveiling azure neatly cropped hair with long bangs.
"I…it can't be!" Jirou seemed to know who the fighter was…
Especially when that guy slowly lifted up his face to the crowd.
"Huh?!" The audience stared in pure disbelief.
And what do you know dear audience? It's the former member of the Mighty Gears team which was reported to have splitted up a year ago due to the growing competitions of the members in their fields of specialization. He's Japan's junior skateboarding champion and has also been Jirou's friend and teammate back in their baseball days. Now, he's made a great and astonishing comeback. Let's all give it up for…"
"It's been a long time, friend" The guy intoned in a calm and manly voice.
"... Taki Hiromi!"
"Gosh, Taki sure looks so handsome now." Admiration and gaiety filled Kouya's voice as he, himself, was also surprised.
"But... why are you... in the Osaka team?"
The azure-haired boy just leered and replied, "Ah, I haven't told you. My hometown's here in Osaka, that's why I am here."
"There, guys, is a shocking discovery about our champion's origin." The announcer convivially declared.
The referee climbed the stage and boomed, "Gearfighters, get set up!"
"Yes, it's been a long time, Taki… and I am here to beat you!" Jirou, now relaxed because of the assurance about his opponent, warned.
"That's what I want." The guy grinned as he set up his stance.
READY, GO!"
Jirou sat and settled his back on the comforting rear of the sofa. He then reached out to his towel and wiped sweat, signs of apprehension, away from his tanned face.
"You were almost thrown out of the ring, Jirou…" Kouya reminded him. "But then, it's tough luck and I hope you beat him in the next round." Kouya smirked.
"We know you can do it, Jirou." Kuroudo beamed too.
"Taki's improved a lot in his style. He definitely had become a great gear fighter after two years. I wonder if he does practice everyday…" Kyousuke analytically stated, "But then, I just know Jirou can beat him!" his lips formed an upward curve, such a rare expression to be present on his face.
"Thanks, guys." Jirou then asserted to them.
The buzzer rang once more, and its time for him to face his long lost best friend. Taki confidently climbed up the stairs, yet Jirou eyed at the guy's legs and he wondered why the former skater seemed to walk limply and with such great difference from the way he used to the past years...
And there the gears went, with one main objective of pushing each other out of the game area. Yells were heard from the audience as each of them had its own bet between the two players.
"This game mustn't be this long." Taki chided as soon as he found out that Jirou didn't falter on his first attack on Raging Bullet.
"Spinning Corkscrew!"
"There's the legendary attack of our well-respected skater… and look! Raging Bullet's hit!"
"Oh no, Raging Bullet!" Jirou roared The Tobita Club stood there, afflicted by the onslaught Taki had made. Taki's smile grew even wider.
The gear fell and was almost ousted of its glory but then it was spared by the barriers sited between the arena and the outside line.
"Phew, that was close… Go, Jirou! Move it!" Kouya applauded even more.
"Such a saving grace for Raging Bullet..." The announcer gaily commentated. "With almost half a minute left, let's keep our eyes wide open for the winner of the second round of this match between reunited best friends.
"Now's my chance!" Jirou hissed as Raging Bullet had its close proximity on Taki's eminent gear.
"Great Hurricane Crush!" he shouted his attacks name, as if wanting to revive the events of their past fights. Hollers were again heard in anticipation of the other gear's end. They watched as the gear flew off the arena.
"Oh no, you won't! I'm not dumb to fall for that same trick twice." The skater devilishly smirked, an obvious hint for the pitcher that it'll be his gear's end soon.
"Jirou won't lose; I believe it!" Kaoru stated, never losing hope despite the anxious situation.
"No. Taki's right. Jirou has faint chances of winning this game." Kyousuke grimly and firmly intoned.
"Jin, don't put us down." Kouya persuaded.
"How could that be? I hear no deviation on his gear." Kuroudo asked as he unveiled his cerulean eyes.
"You'll ----"
The buzzer had its peal. Their sights flew fast to Jirou's shock-stricken face.
"What the?" Everyone was shocked, especially when..
"Raging Bullet: Ring Out. Winner: Taki Hiromi!"
"It can't... it just can't." Jirou muttered as if he is in a coma.
To replay, Taki used the downward force of gravity to propel himself down and injure Raging Bullet using refined "tusks" on his gear. Plus, he also used the force of his Spinning Corkscrew to add to the current that made Raging Bullet jump out of the showground.
"Now that's applying Physics in real life!" The announcer kidded.
Upon the end of the replay, Taki proceeded and stopped by Jirou who was then mope on his ground. He reached out his hand to the disappointed soul and stated, "Nice work, friend." Jirou looked up and saw Taki's grin. He then held on his hand and together, he walked down the stairs with him.
"Hey Taki, we're really surprised." Kuroudo uttered the first word of greeting.
"Why did you come back?" Kyousuke asked due to his curiosity and implied dismay.
"There's just something that I should settle in here." He looked at Jirou who was then just standing at a corner. "Excuse me, but may I have a word with Jirou outside?"
"Me?" Jirou blinked. Taki simply grinned yet again, erasing all his qualms.
"You may. Besides, who are we to stop you?" Lilica, being the manager,
complied to his request.