The Four Star team's gameplay was so amazing! I can't help but to marvel at how great they were despite the considerably long break from gear fighting. I just wonder if they have been practising during that two-year span because they have become much better than those times when I fought with Li Chun.
Of course, they have shunned their bad ways of torturing their opponents, the way the Gear Pancratium initiator Ming Wu taught them. To cut it short, they have developed a new set of fighting styles but they still retained their trademark moves without the sadistic feel. Li Chun had been great with his spikes, but now he only used them as a side weapon. His great tactics led them to their first victory against Shibuya team. Miss Lan Fang --- boy, had she grown more gorgeous! --- had given up gear fighting, but she was the main tactician of the team. She also served as their official gear master. No wonder she and Jin had clicked with each other! But, she's really gorgeous... no way! Lilica's much prettier than her! I let myself smile at the thought of our mother-like manager. To go on with my mind rambling, Ma Liang may have lost his battle, but he left great damage on his opponent's gear through his well-developed new move that's somewhat reminiscient of my pal Taki's Spinning Corkscrew. I wowed at my seat as I watched that terrific move take effect on the opponent's gear, but too bad he had used up all his battery power... that left him weaker than the usual and that fact led the opponent beat him easier. Hah, if only he hadn't used up all his battery power, then he could have won! It was a match well-deserving of an applause and a great recap nonetheless. The last match between the two captains was a blast! I cn't even blink my eyes in anticipation of who's going to win. I fact, I think I really didn't blink! The match was so unpredictable. In one second, Wang Hu seemed to be winning, and in another, Daisuke seemed to have the upper hand. It was well-fought, in short. What made me go "WHOA!" was Wang Hu's tamer version of Fighting Tiger Killer Paw... hey wait, it's still destructive, so I won't regard it as a 'tamer' version. What I meant was it's the same move minus his tiger-child attitude. As usual, he so calm playing the game, which is an interesting thing to take note because Daisuke got annoyed of this optimism. Good thing he didn't turn out to be a wild tiger-child just the way he did when Kouya and he fought two years ago! In the end, Wang Hu won, bagging the place to fight other team for that stay in Hawaii prize...
Wait! I've finished thinking about those happy thoughts, yet they still aren't back here? Where is everybody?!
You see, they left me here alone, waiting for them. I think Kouya rushed to a nearby food store to buy some crab sticks, of course. Boy, he indeed had grown addicted to it since Jin bought him those at the airport two years ago... oh, Jin. I just hope he's fine back in our apartment. To tell you, I had grown all the more worried about him especially when he grew depressed because of Kuroudo's departure. I miss the grouchy gear master and his brutal comments during gear fights. Too bad he isn't here to comment on the fight and see his crush... none other than Miss Lan Fang! Tee-hee. I just wonder how Kuroudo's doing up there at France. If I've calculated correctly I think it's already past midnight up there on Paris. Is he sleeping soundly now, or is he wide awake, thinking about all of us or his mother perhaps? Actually, I myself was surprised over his family situation. I mean, If I were on his shoes, I could have given up easily or even screamed my guts out. But he, he took it calmly, though I know that there's turbulence deep inside his being. Is he homesick? Is he worried just the way we worry about him here in Japan?
What's taking them so long? Where's Lilica and Kaoru?!
Grr, I'd better go inside now and check them out; I'm growing bored around here. I let my feet carry me to the Kirei Hotel just behind the stadium. Actually, I adore the architecture of this stadium for it has a mini-hotel behind it unlike other stadiums that only has this wide backstage for the teams' staying rooms. Heh, am I being too biased? I looked around, but suddenly stopped when I smelled the delicious aroma of red bean buns wafting through the air. I stopped over and absorbed the aroma before continuing to run. No sooner, I reached our room and I grew surprised to see neither Lilica nor Kaoru there. It's already locked. Darn, where did they go? I sprang to my feet and rushed around, my eyes quickly sweeping through every door I meet, checking out either a lady with chestnut-brown hair tied high up or a girl with flowing chocolate-brown hair. Almost all the doors were already locked. I stopped again after running continuously for about ten minutes at a speed of thirty miles per hour (that's just an approximate) and caught a glimpse of the scenery outside. The sun was already sinking down the horizon. I presume that it's almost dinnertime, but they're still nowhere to be found. Are they trying to surprise me on a pre-paid dinner or something? Aww Jirou, quit those silly thoughts! You'd better keep on searching for them. Tee-hee, you're right... wait, have I gone schizo there?
No time to lose anyways.
My feet kept on running like they were robotic limbs incapable of exhaustion. I rushed to every room, every corner, every---
"Lan Fang..."
I suddenly came to a halt, my feet finally getting the message of my brain to stop any occuring activity. The said name sent my ears into further listening. The voice told my brain that it's kind of familiar... the voice is familiar.
Silence followed; I looked around. At one turn, I saw a door slightly ajar, allowing a small triangle of light to bounce on the floor to my eyes.
"I want you to talk to Jin."
As I have been told, the voice is indeed familiar... it belongs to Kaoru, but unlike the juvelant voice we've known of her, this one's sullen, pleading... serious. It's the Kaoru we seldom hear.
"Me?" I'm sure it's Miss Lan Fang's voice, of course. "But what am I going to say?" she continued.
"Anything. Just about anything." the other sullen voice replied. Man, is this girl talk? It's not my nature to eavesdrop, but tell you what? I'm interested, and I'm not like the rumor mongers around here somewhere who listens then let the press publish what they have heard. I'm not that kind of person, therefore a little listening won't hurt. Listening is gaining knowledge, anyway.
"I'm sure everything that happens is for a purpose, right? So, telling it to me won't stab. Besides, I might be the one who can help you out." the relaxed voice was so soothing to hear. Tell you what, Jin? You're lucky!
Silence ensued again. I think Kaoru's having doubts. Later, a sigh registered.
"Miss Lan, I want you to comfort him."
"Say what?" still, the voice remained relaxed.
"Yes. I want you to talk to him about what I told you." So, she told Lan the truth behind Tobita Club's sadness... especially Jin's. No comment.
One more pause. Probably Miss Lan's already thinking about it.
"But I won't do it unless I know the reason... the real reason... for it." Heh, smart lady we have here.
Another pause, this time longer. Then, something broke it. Sobs.
"I can't stand it." the words seemed muffled to my ears. Maybe, she leanedon somewhere, most probably on Miss Lan's shoulder. "I can't stand seeing him hurt."
"Huh? Don't tell me she's got a thing for Jin! The revelation seemed...
"You mean... Kouya?" Lan Fang concluded, and I believe her. I mean, she had been treating him differently, right? Besides, the thought of Kaoru having a thing for Jin is crazy, crazy, and simply crazy! HILARIOUS!
"You can't stand seeing Kouya so lonely, right?" Miss Lan Fang elaborated. Silence.
"I see. Just as I thought, you have such deep concern for that guy.:" her voice proceeded. "He's grown cute anyway, no wonder."
Kaoru choked back a sob and slightly blew her nose. It's pretty obvious that she has a thing for out captain. Girls are just so... predictable, aren't they?
"I don't know." Kaoru explained in turn, "Sometimes I just want to loathe him with all my soul because of his terrible grief for those two but sometimes I just want to hug him... but..."
"But?" The Chinese maiden was left hanging.
"But... he seems to not notice me at all."
Poor girl. Just as I thought, this is indeed girl talk. But at least, I've grown to sympathize with another member of our team. This is the side our other members have never heard of. I am not a rumor moner, therefore I should stick to my promise of not spilling any beans up.
"Don't worry, Kaoru." I heard patting. I daresay it's Miss Lan comforting her. "I'll do something about it. I'll try my best to stop Jin from being so depressed just so Kouya will stop, too." she paused and I heard movements of the chair.
"I'm proud of you, Kaoru-chan. You're a concerned... girlfriend."
Next thing I heard was Kaoru's protests about her term but I know deep inside she complies with it... totally! That, people, is the unspoken side of Kaoru Hanano... and the side she only shows to her love, Kouya Marino.
Wait, I sounded cheesy there, didn't I? All I have to do now is to pretend that I heard nothing. It's easy for me to do so, anyway. I've been hearing a lot lately. Now, this is what I call gaining knowledge... secretly. Tee-hee.
I can't wait to go home and eat, that's all I can say for now.