After the third place match and a dominant two-round victory for the yellow team, there is a one"hour break for the final match between the red team and the green team, the great decision to see who will be the champion of the first championship of burnout in Luna Nova.
On one side Akko, Lotte, Sucy and Marianne, and on the other side Amanda, Constanze, Jasminka and Hellene, all four have a great physical condition, but it's the green team that stands out in this aspect, even more in game strategies, especially because they already had a victory in the qualifiers against Atsuko's team.
Both teams are called, the eight girls are walking to the field, kind of facing each other, already trying to look all over the corner thinking of a strategy to have some chance of winning, Croix soon asks the two to choose the side of the coin, Kagari chose heads, O'Neill chose tails, with that the coin was thrown up, in the biggest tension of the world, everybody was watching that final, when it fell on Meridies hand it is revealed that it fell on heads.
" I want the ball " Said the Japanese woman, with Croix handing the ball to her.
" Well now let's go to the rules, here there are no more multiple balls, you have to make do with one ball, besides that there is also a question that the ones that stop at the gravedigger in case of hitting, can return to the field, which will generate some strategy battle balls, just to move the game more, without further ado, let the game begin " said the Italian whistling to start the game.
Akko kept her eyes fixed on Amanda and the rest of the team, she threw the ball towards Amanda who managed to grab it with ease, that's where the green game started, O'Neill passed the ball to Constanze, Hellene ran, jumped over Jasminka's back who was crouching down, since the German had passed the ball to her just in time catching it high and with that Cavendish threw it all on the ground almost catching Atsuko who dodged throwing herself to the side. In this play all the girls start to shiver.
" Damn, they're very strategic about it " said the brownish one as Sucy picked up the ball.
Manbavaran plays to Marianne who was in front, Leclerc pitches towards Hellene who ends up distracted by something towards the Frenchwoman, giving an advantage to the reds who eliminate the former.
" Hellene! Stop fooling around! We have to win, damn it! " said Amanda furiously.
The ball stayed in the green's area, Jasminka was the one who caught the ball, throwing it towards the girls, who ended up grabbing it was Sucy who felt the impact on her hand when trying to grab it so much that the ball ended up going back a bit in the green's field, which seemed even planned, since the salmon haired one ran to catch the ball back, throwing it again at Manbavaran who also ended up being eliminated.
" Sucy! No! " shouts Kagari in despair.
The ball is played to Lotte, Yanson tries to throw it in the gravedigger's area back to the pink haired one, only that was also the moment where Amanda jumped with the help of her friends who made a sort of little chair with their hands giving impulse upwards.
O'Neill took the opportunity to try to throw the ball towards the blonde, only that she miraculously dodged it, but the ball went to Hellene who was a bit distracted, kind of looking at Marianne, Cavendish caught the ball at the right time and threw it towards Leclerc who managed to dodge it, but just in time Jasminka appeared to cut the grace, as the ball crossed the field.
Antonenko caught the ball on the spot throwing it back and taking a hard hit on the Frenchwoman's hip.
" No! Mari... " Almost screams the purple"eyed redhead.
" Damn... Lotte, they are really playing a lot, we have to think of a tactic, they even seem to be able to read our every move " Akko said getting nervous.
Kagari took the ball, made a pass aiming at the ground what the greens just dodged, getting even spread in the field, what each one of the girls in the dugout was touching the ball one to the other, trying to confuse a little the tactics of the greens.
Until the ball stops in the hands of the Japanese who throws the ball with everything towards Constanze who simply crouches and right on time the ball goes to Amanda, who passes to the top where the German runs leaning on Jasminka's back.
It is Lotte who is caught in the distraction, leaving only Akko.
" Now there's only you left Akko, you really are holding up more than in the first move, but let's see if you can hold on for good " Amanda said and at that moment Kagari goes in a hurry throws the ball towards O'Neill who catches it with ease.
The same one goes passing the ball to her friends, what the Japanese stays with the eyes fixed in the movement of the ball going from one side to the other, until arriving at the tip where almost by almost doesn't hit Atsuko that throws herself for the side, but in the hour the ball returned for Hellene that threw of turn, Kagari jumped up and managed to dodge the ball that bounced to the top, being that the sun gave a cover of vision for the Japanese that only saw after Amanda making shadow when catching the ball in the top, giving a throw that catches with everything in the stomach of the brownish one.
Red tea Green team
" The victory is for the green team! " said Croix blowing the whistle.
" Damn... The sun got in my way on this one, it was right on my face " Said the crimson"eyed one complaining.
" Well anyway you lost," Amanda shrugged.
The red girls start the second game, panting, already with the ball in hands, they keep thinking about some tactics until the whistle starts to blow. Akko is already thinking of a better way to go, she passes the ball to the girls, alternating the passes, arriving to a moment where Kagari pretends to play with everything, but she passes to Lotte that throws catching Constanze.
" Oh you guys know how to play games too " Amanda said arching her eyebrow.
O'Neill took the ball and played it to Jasminka who threw it towards the girls, Akko just in time throws herself to save Sucy and with that she already signals with her head, she goes running to the gravedigger, while Sucy, Lotte and Marianne go touching the ball to each other, Leclerc is the one who throws pretending a pass, The ball went rolling to the other field, but Hellene threw herself a little more and played the ball to Jasminka who played to Constanze who was in the gravedigger and in this throw Sucy took the opportunity to go along with the ball, she caught it just in time when it was thrown towards her.
Which she threw into the field of the greens who dodged but forgot about the presence of Kagari who gave a brief wink, hitting Amanda full on the back.
" There! We've done it! " Said the Japanese woman rushing back to her field.
With the reds having an advantage on the pitch, that's where Amanda was starting to get more nervous, the ball was in Hellene's hands who even tried to pass to the gravedigger girls but was surprised by Akko who jumped with help from Marianne's hand which gave momentum to the Japanese girl who caught the ball in style and threw it back to the green side, catching Jasminka in the distraction.
" Yes! We're doing it! " Akko said breathlessly.
" Damn it! We have to react, although now we just have to surround them, let's stay alert," said Amanda.
" It's all or nothing, win or it's gone," Akko said.
" We can't let Hellene take that ball to the undertaker under any circumstances " Marianne said.
And Hellene just shrugged, she knew the girls would defend the gravediggers at all costs, hitting the ball right into Lotte's chest, eliminating her, but that didn't end up leaving the team depleted, they took advantage of the tactical advantage it gave them as the ball was in Akko's hands who was already starting to give some psychological tactics to Cavendish.
" Don't get distracted by them Hellene, we have to win this! " said Amanda.
Kagari was passing the ball to Sucy and Marianne, and when it arrived to Leclerc, the French used some tactics of winking to the redhead that was getting a little blushed, trying to avoid looking at her, and at this moment they played the ball to Lotte, who threw it back, but the one with purple eyes dodged, until she noticed that the ball was with the French.
The dark"haired girl with reddish locks sends a kiss in the air and then throws the ball with all her might, stopping right on Hellene's forehead, cementing the red team's victory.
Red tea Green team
" And the victory is the red team! Now it's the last round, whoever wins will be the champion! " said Croix blowing the whistle.
" You've played dirty now, you've taken the psychological " Amanda said.
" If Hellene wasn't so distracted by Marianne, anything goes to win, it's not outside the rules there," Atsuko shrugged.
" Oh yeah?" said O'Neill, becoming furious.
And the third game begins, it is the decision for good, the dispute of number three, the ball started soon on the green team that without wasting time Amanda already asks them to play for her from behind, the ball was coming back to O'Neill who took the right moment and threw back with force, with a defense of Akko with the palms of her hands.
The ball was so hard that it came back to the greens and the American knew it, so much so that she picked the ball up as she was coming back and ran to throw it at the Japanese, you could see her fury.
Kagari again defends with her hands and the ball comes back but it is intercepted by Marianne on the middle of the way that takes the advantage to throw to the salmon coloured one that defends herself throwing the ball upwards and Hellene took the opportunity to catch it with her full hand throwing it back this time focusing on the game and managing to hit Marianne with everything, catching it right on the girl's chest.
" Oh Marianne, I'm sorry! " said the purple"eyed one, all worried.
" This is just a game, relax, it was a good pitch " Leclerc said scratching the back of her head.
The ball stayed with the reds, which Akko picked up and passed to Sucy who was behind who threw as hard as she could, but it was only to go to the gravedigger, where Marianne tried to throw it back, but the ball was intercepted by Jasminka who does a closed hand movement that is well known in volleyball, passing the ball to Amanda who jumped with all her momentum trying to hit Kagari who jumped to the side dodging.
" Until you guys are lasting " Amanda said.
The ball went to Lotte who passed to Sucy who tried to throw to the other end but it was a throw intercepted by Hellene who then threw it back to Manbavaran who was already tired, eventually getting knocked out.
" Damn it! We can't lose like this " Kagari said.
" I'm already dead tired " Answers the pink haired one.
The ball is left only to Akko and Lotte, but the Japanese woman does not give up, she plays trying to burn the green ones who were also showing some fatigue as well, they were trying to play their way all full of movements, which was kind of going up a lamp on Kagari's head who whispers to Yanson.
" Let's tire them out " whispers the Japanese woman.
The Finn agrees with the head, the ball is thrown back with everything towards the two who dodge the constant moves of the green. This goes on for a good few plays, with sweat dripping down both sides and Amanda laughing a bit.
" You guys think you can beat us by fatigue anyway? " Said O'Neill and the two just shrug.
Akko and Lotte shake their heads signalling a more aggressive tactic, they go running to the edge of the pitch touching the ball to each other, playing it back to the gravedigger, only for the ball to be intercepted by Hellene, who passes to Jasminka and hits Yanson with everything.
" I'm sorry Akko, holding on to this one also tired me out, I don't have your stamina " said the Finn.
" Damn it now it's me alone " Kagari said.
" Let's alternate who gets the gravediggers, we each get one shot to hit Akko " Amanda said.
All the greens agree with the head, but they didn't wait for the agility and durability of Kagari who was managing to hold on for twelve of these followed pitches of them that were lining up organizing themselves to make with synchrony, tiring them a lot, surprising even those who were watching by the way in which the Japanese didn't give up.
" Don't you ever get tired? " said Amanda breathlessly.
Atsuko tries to eliminate someone by throwing the ball, hitting Hellene, even in a silly way which left her a little confused, but it was noticeable by O'Neill's smile that she fell for the two's tactics.
And really the strategy was showing efficient, with the greens alternating the shots between them always aiming to the gravedigger in the attempt to eliminate the Japanese that was jumping from one side to the other getting very tired.
She was even hit in the foot by a ball thrown by Hellene.
Red tea Green team
" The green team are champions! You can celebrate all you want, you won the Luna Nova burnout championship, but you, the red team, played an excellent game, don't lose hope because you came far and played what you played " said Croix.
Gasping for breath the red girls throw themselves on the ground tired, the girls of the green team hug each other, also very tired, celebrating among themselves, jumping with emotion, being presented with a trophy and also medals, even taking a picture in the arena, meanwhile Diana arrives near Akko who was lying on the ground, gives her hand to the girl to stand up and Kagari removes some of the dust on her clothes, noticeably tired.
" You played like nobody's business today Akko, even though you lost " Cavendish said.
" I tried, but Amanda's team is strong, her sister especially, she can play well and just makes our efforts look like nothing, how is this girl strong like that? " Said Kagari scratching the back of her head and Hellene was the one who appeared listening to the two talking.
" And I know? I was just playing, but my little sister is right, you played a lot, you gave your soul in this game, you showed that you are a player that goes all the way, I can't help but respect that I had an amazing opponent like you, anyway, I better leave my sister with the girl she likes heh " Said the younger Cavendish giving a nod to the two and then getting a tap on the shoulder from her older sister.
" Hellene! Fuck you! I swear I'll make you pay for that! " Said Diana all flushed and at this Atsuko was left giggling.
" You're all cute and cuddly when you're mad like that," said the Japanese woman, making the Scottish lass blush even more.
" Stop it, there's nothing to it, I'm just... Ahhh, forget it, you played well Akko, you've been surprising me a lot these days, you're really not giving me that first impression you gave me when you first got here," Diana said, then walked out of there.
Atsuko just went watching the one with platinum blonde hair leaving, getting a bit pensive, that conversation, the way they are getting closer little by little, soon Lotte, Sucy and Marianne arrive with silver medals in hand hand handing one to her friend.
" You and Diana really are having a thing, it can only be " Sucy said.
" She's just a good friend, a confused and complicated person, but it seems that every day I understand her more, despite everything that's been going on, she doesn't seem like someone so bad, I don't know, everything I said and thought about her before is going away " Answers Kagari a little blushed.
" This stuff about feelings and love is the most complicated thing, it seems easier when it's in manga, but do you have something for Diana? " Marianne asks.
" It's Akko... Tell us... We are your friends, it seems more obvious than ever " said Sucy trying to convince her friend who took a deep breath.
" Okay, I confess, I think I might actually have a feeling for Diana, but I still don't know what it really is, it might just be a friendship thing, or something like that, I'm just changing my impression I got from Diana, it should be just that " Answers the Japanese woman.
" It's not just that, no, from what I have seen in books, even other people, you don't feel just a friendship thing, Akko, just by the way you talk about Diana, by the way you two are when you are together, you can tell there is something more with you, you don't need to hide it from us, we can help you with this " Lotte said.
" And what experience do you have? I've never seen you two with a boyfriend or girlfriend either, one just wants to do spray paint and those crazy experiments, while the other is deep into books " Akko said.
" Oh come on, a little push is always good, you could even ask Diana out on a date sometime, just the two of you," Lotte shrugged.
The burn match ended, with a victory for the girls of the green team, there wasn't much the red girls could do, but they tried until the end, showing a lot of the determination that Kagari has to go through with things until the end, which can be something that can help even more in this journey of events that can go ahead.
See you, second place witches...