"What do you say, Yuma?" Tori pushes him to a side of the field and expresses his concern about the upcoming World Cup. The big truck thinks for a couple seconds, doubting…
"Do you really think we are in conditions? I mean, we've been inactive so many years."
"Let's try something. Why don't we play one game? Best of three goals. If you are indeed in conditions, you'll notice. And be sure that we won't make it easy for you."
Yuma smiles, thinks it a little bit, and finally accepts. "Guys! Come for a second." Yuga, Gao and Tasuku approach him. "Tori is challenging us. Best of three. What do you say? It could give us an idea if we are ready or not for the World Cup."
"Against them? Sure! How many goals do you want me to score?"
"Easy, Yuga… Let's do it," Tasuku decides.
The Titans approach to the middle of the court. Fireworks waits in the other side. Leo, Luna, Haru and Cathy. The classic Tori Meadows stands in the middle of them and begins to explain the basics.
"You know it. Best of three goals or five minutes. Don't play dirty, enjoy and remember that we are here to train together, ok?" All the cars go to their initial positions and the ball emerges in the center of the Beckwith. Three. Two. One. And the game begins. Tori, outside the field, contemplates it all with an unexplainable quietness. Above all, he enjoys it. Seeing his team (without him) playing against the Titans for the first time is a huge excitement. He sees all of it. 1-0 for the Titans, and then comes the second one. His team scores their first goal within a minute left to play but Takumi seals the deal in the lasts seconds. They are definitely able to play. They didn't lose the touch.
"Hey, Gao, how did you score the second goal? I thought that was impossible! Would you teach me?" asks and overexcited Cathy.
Tasuku congratulates his team and goes towards Tori. "You can't do this anymore, Mr. Fossil?
"That's all you got, greybeard? I thought there was more," provokes the Tori Meadows.
"Oh, yeah? Why don't you teach me, then?"
The rest of the cars feel what's coming up next and desire it with all their strength. They approach the two old cars and eagerly wait.
"Duel." Tori Meadows pronounces just that word and everyone goes insane, jumping and celebrating out of the emotion.
"No, no, no, guys… I'm gonna have to ruin the party. This is between Tasuku and me. I want you to go to the workshop and leave us the field, please. "
"Oh, come on, Tori. Let us stay," insists Leo.
"Yeah, come on," Yuga seconds him.
"Not this time. Next one, for sure. Tasuku will tell you how I crushed him, later." The Backfire sighs.
"Come on. If that what they want we have to respect them." A respectful Yuma drags the cars to the outskirts.
"Thanks, Yuma. And remember: the Sharks don't know you are here, yet. Absolute discretion if you want to roam the city," says Tori.
"I got it," Dev promises him.
The cars exit through the open goal and go to the tunnels. However, Cathy dares to stay behind to spy the duel. He hides behind some distant bushes and sees through a little gap. Tasuku and Tori place in front of each other in their respective goals. Cathy can't hear them but he knows they are talking. It is night and some soft lights illuminate the field. In the background, the sound of the wind. Nothing else. Suddenly, both of them accelerate towards the ball and the duel begins. In the Rocket League world, a duel was always the greatest proof of honor and worth. Losing it meant humiliation, shame and inferiority. Winning the duel, however, was a huge demonstration of skill and bravery. Especially in a tournament. Not to mention a World Cup. The World Cup only witnessed three duels in its history.
Cathy is lucky enough to see the best duel of his life. From beginning to end, he stays still and surprised before the equal level of skills of both cars. The match is so close that four minutes of extra time are added before the winning goal. When it's finished, he can't believe it. He would have bet all he had to the one that lost. Too bad that he will never be able to talk about what he saw.
