One Second Counts: Year Two - Kajuu's Turn to Shine
Kajuu sighed as she picked at her cake. She occasionally looked up at the TV, catching bits and pieces of her idols fight. She couldn't concentrate. She didn't feel right, or prepared. Even after a year of training, Kajuu never dreamed that she would fight Suzuka and Hatoko. She looked at Sakuraryu, and forced a smile. Her Angel looked so innocent with her eyes closed, and her expressionless face. 'I'll try my best for you, Sakuraryu…I won't let you get hurt…' She ran her hand across her tiny Angel. She finished her cake, totally forgetting about Madoka's match.
She walked off to the waiting room, absentmindedly. She sat down, and looked around the room nervously. Her palms were sweaty, and she was getting colder and colder. Finally, it was time.
"W-3, Kiriyou Kajuu?"
"Th-" Kajuu tried to respond, but she choked on her words. The lady just smiled as Kajuu stood up. As she stood up, Sakuraryu slipped out of her hands and hit the floor with a soft thud. Her palms were so sweaty that she had to perch Sakura on her wrist.
"Now for our next match! Both are favorites in the match today, so I will delay no longer! In the East Corner, Deus: Kobayashi Hatoko, Angel: Suzuka!" Hatoko walked out to an eruption of cheers. She took her seat, and put her visor on.
"In the West Corner, Deus: Kiriyou Kajuu, Angel: Sakuraryu!" Kajuu walked out with a forced smile on her face. She stumbled forward, and finally found her seat. She fumbled with her visor, and turned it on. As the seats were raised, Kajuu's breathing became faster and faster. She tried to calm herself down, but every time she looked at the Layer, she got nervous again.
"Angels to the Layer!"
"Go faster than sound and light! Suzuka!" Hatoko threw her Angel into the Layer. "Angel, fall-in!" Suzuka did two flips in the air with her arms spread out, and landed on her feet, arms at her side.
"Sakuraryu! Use the force of the Layer to topple this foe!" Kajuu tossed Sakuraryu into the Layer. "Angel, fall-in!" With her eyes closed, Sakura did a split and thrust her left had downwards. She seemed to stay suspended for a second or two. Then, she moved the same hand upward, and she plummeted towards the Layer at an amazing speed. She landed with one knee out, kneeling, and the other leg tucked under her body. Her left hand was in front, and her right had at her side, making a fist. As soon as she hit the ground, her purple eyes shot open. She stumbled as she tried to get up, reflecting her Deus' nervousness.
"Angelic fight!"
Suzuka held her ground, as did Sakuraryu. Both Deus' were staring intently at the Layer, and at each other. The crowd wasn't quieting down, and after 15 seconds, both Angels charged. Suzuka bent down in the position for the Rolling Thunder. As her feet swung back, Sakuraryu crouched down, and swung her feet under Suzuka's arms, causing her to fall to the ground. Sakuraryu quickly leapt into the air, and prepared to come down on Suzuka, but when she looked at the Layer, Suzuka was gone.
Instinctively, Sakura looked behind her, only to catch Suzuka's foot slamming into her cheek. Sakura went plummeting to the Layer, but quickly recovered. As she landed, she faltered, and fell on her rear. Kajuu's muscles tensed up, and her knuckles turned white as she gripped the arms of her egg shaped chair. Hatoko just smiled, and Suzuka charged. As she got closer, Kajuu quickly came up with a plan. Sakuraryu threw her hands behind her head, and pushed off them as Suzuka threw a punch. Sakura grabbed Suzuka's neck with her feet, and threw her across the Layer.
Suzuka quickly recovered, and remained in her position. Sakuraryu stood up, and spread her arms out. She charged at Suzuka, and when she got close, she bent down, and leapt up into the air. Suzuka also leapt into the air, and Sakuraryu threw a kick at Suzuka. Suzuka grabbed Sakura's foot, and threw her at the Layer. 'It's no use! She's too fast!' Sakura landed hard, and Suzuka came down for a follow up attack. She came down on Sakuraryu's stomach. Sakura's damage meter went dangerously low at the hit, and she barely managed to get up. Kajuu was breathing heavily, and beads of sweat were dripping down her face. She looked carefully at the Layer, and then charged again. Suzuka leapt above Sakura, and landed a kick in her back.
Kajuu closed her eyes as she turned her head. She recovered herself, as Sakura stood up. Just as she turned to face Suzuka, it was too late. Suzuka was already in a handstand, and she quickly executed the Rolling Thunder, causing Sakuraryu's damage points to reach zero.
"Suzuka, wins!"
The crowd went wild as Hatoko removed her visor and smiled. Kajuu loosened her grip on the chair, and with tears in her eyes, she removed her visor. She picked Sakuraryu up from the Layer, and gave her a long look. She then turned her head away, and a few tears fell softly onto her Angel.
Kajuu turned and walked out of the arena, into the waiting room. She looked around, and kept walking out into the park. She slumped down under a tree, and let her tears flow. 'Why? Why couldn't I think straight? I should've used Gravity Charge…I can't believe it…' She looked over at Sakuraryu, who was sitting next to her. She quickly turned away.
"That was a good match." Kajuu heard a soft voice. She recognized it as Hatoko's.
"No it wasn't. I couldn't think straight." Kajuu drew her knees up to her chest, and buried he face in her arms. She then felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry. I'm sure you'll do better next time we meet. I look forward to it." Hatoko's voice trailed off. Kajuu just sat where she was, and continued to sob into her arms.
'I have to do better! I practiced a whole year to get better! You just wait, Kazan. I'll bounce right back!'
Kajuu finally lifted her tear-stained face, and forced a smile.
"We'll get Kazan and Taki this year, won't we?"