DISCLAIMER: Digimon doesn't belong to me. I wish it did.
Light :2
Game started.
"Go Taichi! Go! Go! Go!" I yelled in the middle of screaming crowded. We raised our hands highly in the air and cheered as loud as we could, to explode our feeling inside as if we were the players.
The announcer had kept up with the ball, speaking out loud the name that got the ball and what he did, but I kept eyes on Taichi-San.
Taichi was really good at soccer, you see. He had run across the field. As fast as he was in the middle of M. technics field, 2 of them waylaid, tried to struggle him.
But Taichi was not that easy. He shoved them off and ran to other side of land after the ball his mates passed. A (no.7) M. technics player was on his way to goal. He controlled the ball and ran on. Before more rival came, he had kicked the ball across the land.
One of his mates caught the ball, faced the goal and then kicked off. M.technics goalkeeper couldn't block it.
They scored.
Screams exploded in the stadium. I didn't know how many fans of Odaiba high school were here, but I swore that everyone cheered, especially us, of all the people. Even Yamato-san, who I never thought he was kind of a sport fan (maybe Jyou sampai as well), cheered so loudly.
"0-1, first score to Odaiba high school by no.11 Himuro Isaya-kun, supported by no.10 Yagami. Now the ball is in the middle again. Change to M.technic's team to kick off and…look! They're coming! "
The game after that went on exciting. They took turn to push forward and defend tirelessly. When the ball had come to Taichi, he didn't lose control nor let anyone take it away. He ran and ran and passed it perfectly to his friend. Many times other team had shoved it and tried to goal. Odaiba's rear guard blocked them, grabbed the ball and passed it forward.
M.technic's team was really not easy to challenge. Odaiba's was not either. They did their best to fight against one another. Sometimes the white team came to goal, but Taichi would be there to stop them. I did wonder how fast he could run up and down the field. Didn't he feel any tired?
Until half time, both teams went back to their side, rested and relaxed as much as they could get, rounded up to plan for next half time, listened to their own coach.
"Wow… That was exciting!" Jyou bellowed.
"Ken-chan do you think you would have a chance if you came against Taichi-san? He's rather as good as you, you know." Wormon said in surprised.
"He had once said Ken played better than him." I added, being recognized in Wormon's words.
"I doubt it." said Ken, wired eyes in impression.
"Nii-chan/Taichi-San!" we waved hands to him while he gathered with his friends. He didn't say anything, but smiled softly then concentrated on his group.
Hikari-chan had kept recording up with her big brother. I was quite sure that she wouldn't miss his every single picture even if he were about to go to toilet…a bit scary if you asked me.
Being a good captain, he holed the team and formed the plans along with friends. They exchanged comments, debated intently which plan should work. So did the white team. Then the resting time was over, only 15 minutes really short. I doubted if they had had enough relaxing. But neither teams seemed to have problems. They ran to the field certainly, strongly and powerfully.
The halfback time went on more violent. More rage and injured to each player in both teams, mostly from M.technic high school. Some of them already had got a yellow-card. They had played as if they didn't care a bit of how much contusion and pain they would get.
I understood that M.technics team had to make a score to keep up with Odaiba's and they need another to win. I wondered what if they would do whatever to make it even though it was wrong.
To change the wind of game to them, 3 of M.technic's players surrounded Taichi-san, trying to cut the ball off his way; not to let Taichi-san get it easily. I would do that myself if I were them. Taichi-san didn't take that long. He tricked them to follow from right to left. Until they couldn't keep up with him, he pushed up his speed, leaving them behind, and ran to the back field.
Taichi-san had snatched the ball from a M.technic's vanguard player and passed to others. After that he ran to the nice place to wait for the ball. Another mate of his kicked the ball back to him. It was landed right on his chest then dropped in front of him consummately.
That time, like the slow-motion screens on television, one of M.technic's players cut in his way, trying to steel the ball as he slipped down. He did kick not the ball, but Taichi's left ankle. I saw Taichi-san bent forward, falling slowly down, step by step.
The whistle was blown immediately. All the people on the stadium muttered and worried about the accidentals occasion. The referee ran to the happened spot. He raised a yellow-card in the air to that unfair player.
"That idiot! How dare he kick Taichi-san!" I stood up at once, yelling angrily. That stupid himself only got the yellow-card while Taichi-san had had a kick. I didn't know whether or not he had meant to do that. I just couldn't help blowing aloud. "Fire him! Get him out of the game! Give him the red-card instead!"
"Shut up, Daisuke!" Yamato shout. It made me turn toward him, feeling offended. I peered at him.
He stood still; not a word came out of his mouth as he bit his lower lip hard, frighten. So did Hikari-chan. Her face was pale, her hand with camera lowered. I noticed that it was quiet. Everybody was quiet. They only mumbled. Something's not right. I looked back hurriedly at the field.
"…Unfortunately, An accident happened to Odaiba's player, no.10 Yagami-kun, captain of team…" the annoying announcer had been doing his job. Had no idea why I hardly heard him.
There lain a creature still, holding his ankle in both hands, looked seriously painful.
"Taichi!"
The referee knelt down to check on him. Some of his teammates ran to him, looked extremely worried. An argument erupted between them. Here was too far to hear what they were arguing. Taichi-san got his friends to hold him up, taking him to the bench.
Hikari-chan handed her camera and Tailmon to Koushirou, and ran out while everyone was still in shock. I followed her instantly, hoping we could get see Taichi-san.
"I want to see my brother! Is he alright?" she exploded when we got there. The guards didn't allow her to go inside the field though she tried so hard to explain that she was really Taichi's little sister.
"He will be alright, don't worry. The physician is checking him now."
The guards sent us back where we were from. Hikari-chan had had to restrain herself the whole time before we left.
When we were back, everyone stared at us, waiting for the answer of the unspoken question.
"They didn't let us go inside. They said nii-chan will be okay and the physician is checking him." She explained them calmly, sitting on her seat. I sat on mine.
"I hope there's nothing wrong with him." muttered Miyako.
"He will be fine." said Iori.
Odiaba's soccer team had to change one of the best of theirs off and made someone else take his place. Their eyes burnt with anger that their adored captain was injured. They did their best, but without Taichi-san there was something missing.
Like Odiaba's lost their chance, only 10 minutes after Taichi's incident, M.technic's captain scored.
"Now 1-1, first score to M.technic high school by no.10 Okura Tsuya-kun. The way he made it…"
"He could make it only because no-one was in his way." I said discontentedly.
"Come on, Daisuke. It's not his fault, you know." Ken soothed me. Of course I knew it well enough. I did play soccer as well.
The situation was even more horrible. Odaiba high's players got mad after losing their goal. One of them pulled other team's captain's shirt as he tried to shoot another goal. It cost him a yellow-card and a free kick.
Odaiba's men's wall was quite strong, but that Okura captain tricked them to jump and kicked the ball slide under them.
Another score to M.technic high school.
"…Goal! 2-1, the second score to M.technic's high school from no.10 captain Okura again. That was a nice sliding shoot…"
"You think this's going to end?" whisper Miyako in lowly voice.
"What are you saying?" I shout back, a bit angry.
"It's going worse without Taichi-san, you know."
"We're not gonna lose! Right?" I turned to the elder chosen children. "Say something…" I stopped, seeing them with wired, surprised eyes on their face. What's going on?
Back to the game, the announcer reported. "Odaiba high school changes players. No.15 out. Replace by no.10…"
What?
"Yagami-kun's back to the game. After the accident, I wonder he is really all right? He runs to his spot now. Then again he doesn't look like someone who has already had a hurt on his leg. …"
"Is he okay?"
"I don't know."
"What do they think? Sending a hurt man to play again?"
"Go ask them yourself."
I knew what everyone was thinking. I was surprised, too. He ran, catching up with his friends. They all greeted him full smile. One could say they were lightened a hope. So were we.
On the field the ball was passed everywhere from both teams. It was wild. Wait a minute, where's Taichi-san? He didn't have much action…
There he was, on the right of the land. Seemed everyone didn't notice. He stood at the free spot, waiting for the ball. Come on.
Someone passed it to him. He caught it with his chest first. Two rear guards ran in his way. He controlled the ball, looked for a chance. As a friend of his, no.9 ran to the goal, he kicked the ball flying to him. No.9 jumped and headed it to goal.
Another score to Odaiba high school.
"Goal! The second score to Odiaba high school by no.9 Sasaki Choji-kun, supported again by no.10 Yagami-kun after being changed only 15 minutes. How amazing! He doesn't seem to have problems. Now the score is 2-2…"
"They scored! They scored! They scored!" noised Upamon cheerfully.
"Yeah!" we rejoiced at the same time.
Someone wasn't happy with this. M.trchnic's players gazed at him despicably, wiping their sweat with arms. They must have decided something.
I was right. After kicking off the ball, whether Taichi-san got the ball or not, there were M.technic's players around him all the time. They played even cruelly. Being stuck by them, Taichi-san could hardly move.
The ball came by. Taichi-san was about to get away and catch it. One of them reached his shirt and pulled him down. No whistle blown. The referee must not have seen. The game went on as if nothing were wrong. Taichi-san got up, still surrounded by those three.
Another chance he tried to catch the ball, that idiot came in his way and tackled him hard. He toppled on his side, rolling.
Giving that idiot a yellow-card didn't seem to make anything better. M.technis changed players, took him off and sent another one. I supposed they sent the new one to attack Taichi-san, to get rid of him.
The two teams tried harder. The athletes were really tired, nearly fall on their knees. Now it was time to rest before end.
We rarely spoke, didn't know what to say and concerned about Taichi's wound. He had run a lot although it was less than the first time. After this break they got only 5 minutes, meaning it got more tension.
M.technic got the ball to start. Captain Omura fulled up his speed to goal. Each Odaiba's player was blocking him. He shoved Odaiba's player off one by one. No one could stop him. He was now man to man with Odaiba's goalkeeper. He lifted up his foot, ready to shoot. We stared at him.
"Ahhh…he's gonna shoot…" screamed Miyako, stretching Poromon widely.
"He's not gonna make it!" I bellowed, hopefully something would happen. Never to let them win, not in this way.
The goalkeeper didn't upset us. He caught it!
As everyone's surprised, he sent the ball up to the middle of field. What's he doing? Every player was in front of his goal. No one's there…
No! There's someone—Taichi-san! He was there, at the middle. He ran up the field, straight to the other goal. He now faced the M.technic's goalkeeper, who came out to stop him.
He passed the ball over the goalkeeper's head, bent himself to free. Nothing could stop him. Only him and the goal right now. Being pulled, he laid parallel the field. The ball fell in front of his right foot.
The referee was about to whistle every single second. It seemed too late…
He shot right before the whistle blown. The ball straightened through the air. He scored!
The referee blew right after the score.
Time was over! We won!
"…Great! He scored! Have you seen that? He shot even though he fell! The third score to Odaiba high school by Captain Yagami Taichi-kun. The result is 2-3. The winner is Odaiba high school!"
The scream exploded all over the stadium. We cheered delightedly, our smiles grown brightly. I threw Chibimon in the air of joy.
"Ha! You see! He made it!" beamed Sora.
"Great job, Taichi!" bellowed Jyou.
"You're the man!" Yamato joined.
Taichi was lying; spread his body on the ground. The M.technic's goalkeeper gave him a hand to lift him up. They were talking smiley as they walked. Captain of M.technic's high school came to him, saying something, then hold his hand to Taichi-san. They shook hands with full spirits.
"I suppose we've made a great video. Such a good ending." said Koushirou, proudly.
"What?"
"I've been recording since Hikari deposited the camera to me. Why shouldn't I? Right?"
"Really? Oh! Thank you so much, Koushirou-san!" Hikari-chan gave him a hug. Tailmon smiled sweetly at him. I felt a bit jealous.
"Well, you're welcome."
"Let's go see him, shall we?" Takeru asked happily.
"Yeah!" we all agreed at once, getting down the stairs to the changing-room of Odaiba's soccer players. Most of the people had gone out of the stadium. We were jammed for a while. I was glad when we'd got out of crowd. It was so hot!
It was not easy to see Taichi-san. First because of the guards, second because of a group of sport-for-teenage journalists who had tried to get inside the room. The coach didn't allow them to come and had ordered the guards not to let them do. This meant we'd got to wait outside 'til Taichi-san came out. It did take time.
"Hey guys!"
"Taichi!" he came along with his soccer mates, still wearing his dirty-soccer shirt. The journalists attempted to near him, but the guards blocked them off. Taichi-san walked through to us, grinning.
"Nii-chan you did great."
"Thanks." His smile grew wider. We congratulated him extremely joyful. We had a little talk and laugh. Then his coach clapped on his shoulder, reminding him.
"Well, I've got to go to see the doctor now. Sorry I'd just forgotten." He smiled apologetically.
"It's ok. Is it that bad?" observed Jyou. "It looks…hurt…really."
"Not that much." He looked at Hikari's worried face. A little laugh slipped off his mouth. "I've just to check it if there's something wrong. Just a bit hurt, really, I'm still able to walk myself." He added, released the concern.
"Taichi! We should go now."
"Coming, sir." He turned to us. "See you later, then"
"Nii-chan," Hikari-chan grabbed Taichi-san's shirt. "Say if you could come home around…er…" she glazed at her watch, now was 5:30. "…8? Maybe?"
"I'll try." He smiled softly, walking up to his coach. He waved a little before he was out of our sight.
"Why did you ask him to come home on 8, Hikari? Tailmon asked while we walked out of the stadium.
"Well, I was thinking about the celebration to his chance-to-be-the-champion after all that happened, to please him, at least."
"That sounds great!" beamed Takeru. "May I come to?"
"Sure!" she smiled back, turning. "What do you think?"
"Cool!"
"I want to go, too!"
"Me, too!"
"Just great!" said Miyako. "Let me help."
"Ken?"
"I have to call my mother first, but I think I can go." Wormon nodded in agreement.
"Nii-chan?"
"I won't miss it." answered Yamato with a gain.
"Me neither. What should we have for the party?" asked Sora, considering.
"Ahh… don't worry. Mom has bought tons of food yesterday. Just go to my house. We can cook them together." She thought. "…and you guys can decorate the room while we're cocking."
"Should we take Agumon and others? They'd love to come." Patamon asked.
"Yeah, I want to, but come to think about it. The living room doesn't have much space for 11 people and 12 digimons. So I think they have to wait for the next celebration. We will arrange it in digital world and invite Mimi-san, too!" replied Hikari with a large smile. We smiled at her opinion, believingly.
Next 3 hours passed by quickly. We had managed all foods, the room. Miyako and Iori had gone to Miyako's family's shop to get some drinks.
"We're back!" greeted Miyako, holding bags, followed by Iori.
"Thank you very much Miyako-san, Iori-kun." Thanked Hikari, helping them with bags and drinks.
"All set!" I beamed, looked proudly at works.
"There's only Taichi-san left." joined Takeru.
"So what we have to do now is wait for him to come." Yamato said.
"I'm hoping that he'll appear before foods turn cold." said Chibimon, staring at foods.
"Me, too." said Upamon, standing next to Chibimon and Patamon.
"Hey! Stay away from the foods!"
"Staring at the foods doesn't make them disappear before you dig it, Daisuke."
We all laughed, then quieted strangely. Only sounded tick-tick as the clock walked every second.
"What time is it now?" asked Koushirou, sounding a bit concerned. "Shouldn't he have his checking his leg finished?"
"It's 9 o'clock. He should have come already." Jyou replied in an uncertain tone.
Now as everyone was getting worried, a glass slipped off the counter near Hikari. The sound broke silent, cost more panic.
"Hikari!" cried Tailmon.
"You're alright?" Miyako's helping her clean the floor.
"Yes, I am. Sorry I don't know why…"
The telephone rang. Sora-san picked it up, answered. Hello. This's Yagami's residence…yes he lives here…what? "
We stared at her. Her voice didn't sound happy.
"Err…could you say it again, please…thank you very much"
Something must have been wrong. No one made a noise as she turned around, holding a line. Looking really awful, she stared directly at Hikari.
"Hikari…" her voice was shaking. What's happened? "It's Taichi…he…"
To be continued...