"And what's this, dear audience? Our valiant fighter, Kuroudo, just lost hold of his gear! Does this mean apprehension - or surrender - in his part? That, fellows, is what we have to find out..."
What the...? Y-You?
"Is Kuroudo still okay?" Kouya raised his line of vision to the
towering guy now up the arena, standing still and bathing under the hot sallow
light.
"Let's just hope he is." Jirou, now back from the sad farewell,
boomed behind them.
"Oh, Kuroudo..." Lilica muttered in distress.
"What
are you standing there?" Kaoru impatiently remarked.
Kyousuke also looked up
from his corner, his eyes having this certain look of empathy, as well as the
audience's voices has this odious, annoyed tone.
Kuroudo, don't just stand there. Fi--
But his thoughts were cut off as soon as he saw the adversary. His heart almost stopped in its rhythmic beats. From the heavily-gelled hair and those sharp spring green eyes, he knew him... and this kind of knowledge soon led him into an unlikely pattern of fear.
"Shit!" He cursed loudly which made his co-members turn to his corner.
"Ya scared, Kuro-chan?" the stranger spoke and it sliced beneath the harsh complaints of the audience for the match to go on. His voice has this certain stinging stiff accent that made the noisy audience quiet down.
"Ku-Kuro-chan?" Kouya had the urge to laugh over the given fancy name, but then no laughter ensued. It's really hard to laugh and even just smile in an oppressing situation... just like this.
Kuroudo then stepped back like his own reflex, and then balled his hands into tight fists, more like draining blood out of them.
Calm down, Kuroudo. Show him that you have greatly changed.
"No... I am NOT! I am not scared, and I am definitely NOT backing off this fight, you hear?" he bellowed, more like addressing his reply to the whole crowd especially to the referee, thus giving him a signal to start the battle.
That's it...
"It seems like our courageous fighter, Kuroudo, won't back off...!" The announcer declared as he was being accompanied by holler from the pitch.
"Tch... you're still the insecure brat that I have known a year ago."
H-How dare you!
Gearfighters, ready...
"Do you remember those times, Kuro-chan?"
"May I add..." the announcer cut, "... that our newcomer is the Kendo Champion last year. I am sure now you guys know him. More than that, he and Kuroudo also fought in the Kendo Finals for the said title. Now this will be an interesting game!"
"I see... that's why Kuroudo has this revenging look in his eyes." Lilica added.
"Remember me, Kuroudo Jean Marume?"
"Yes, I remember you, and that
memory's so bitter for me that I want to erase it."
"Let's all give it up
for..."
"... Tetsuya Rodriguez!"
With someone that I used to know
Who used to look at me and laugh...
I remember you very well. It has been a year since you thwarted off my glory and removed the crown off my head. It has been a year since you humiliated me in fromt of so many people.
It's been a year, still it's all so clear...
"Where's all the strength that you have been bragging before? Have you chickened out?"
I won't let that happen. I won't agree on losing. I just can't accept that I lost. So I...
"Tetsuya, I challenge you on a rematch!"
"Oh really, huh?" he haughtily raised an eyebrow over me: a pale-skinned, scrawny man chasing after him, like a puppy does to its owner.
That's the only way to regain my glory, but then I still didn't.
"Why can't you just accept the face that you'll not always win in a game? You're never perfect. We are never perfect, you know..." He preached as he turned away, leaving me there brooding all alone beneath the caramel-colored sand.
Oh yeah, I'm never perfect? Then what do you call yourself? What do you call not losing every game that you have been into? What do you call being so precise in everything --- absolutely everything --- that you've been into as if there's no margin for error?
Isn't that what you call perfect?
I...I...
I hate you... because I
envy you!
So perfect, so untouchable
Now you want me to be with you
Someone who used to have it all...
I envy you for being so perfect, as if you're a god among us, the band of
mortals.
I envy you for winning and getting everything you lay your hands
on.
I hate you
Because...
Because...
I want to be just like...
Just like you!
You've acted like you never noticed me
FORGET IT!
Does it always come around?
You're not allowed to be a part of me...
You're NEVER going to be a part of me!
"NO, SHOOTING PHANTOM!" Kuroudo shrieked in grief as soon as it was announced.
Shooting Phantom, Ring Out. Winner: Silver Barbaria
"Tch, it's like fighting an absent-minded guy. Come on, get your head off
that fluffy pillow."
He mocked once more as he fixed his crisp silver polo
and walked down the stairs.
I just wish that he would show his flaw... just one flaw.
Picking up Shooting Phantom, he grimly walked down the stairs too, and no sooner heard comments from his team.
"Kuroudo, are you okay?"
"What's going on with you? Why don't you show
him what you got?"
"It's not like the usual Kuroudo we've known..."
"Is
that you?"
Go ahead, mock me. You only don't know what kind of fright I am into now.
His negative and dim thoughts were cut off as his sight registered Kyousuke, the quiet guy, blocking his way.
"Kuroudo..."
His eyes has this unmistakable look of fear... and
surprisingly, some percent of concern.
Why? Why did you let him?
Kyousuke seemed to question his capability.
Why? Why are you looking at
me like that? I know, you'll mock me the most, right?
Hide your insecurities... show him that you're invincible...
It's
Kuroudo's impulsive side again...
Unbreakable
Kuroudo forced a sweet smile to ease the eyeglassed boy's interrogating
stare,
"I'm okay... you know I am."
"Assure me..." he heard the young man's voice state firmly, slightly hiding
his shaky voice.
His eyebrows twitched in question.
"Assure me that you are."
Silence ensued. Kuroudo can offer no answer to the raven-haired boy.
Suddenly, Kyousuke held on his hand, and was taken aback when it felt so
cold that he almost shoved it away.
I never knew that you could be as nervous as this...
But I won't give up
on you...
"Kuroudo, I want to give you something." he still held on his hand as they walked towards the table.
I'll never let go...