Fall in Purple
Disclaimer: Inazuma Eleven GO Galaxy (c) Level-5
Full summary:
Alternative story sets before the final match of Grand Celesta Galaxy.
Earth Eleven are sabotaged on their way to reach the stadium for final. Thus, Faram Obius, with Tsurugi as their captain, are left to face Ixal Fleet, who also desire to take revenge on them.
Great changes from the original story including:
1) Manuuba (fake Tsurugi) came from a poor planet collapsed due to famine. He works under Ozrock to save his people. He and his people will have important role in the story.
2) Ozrock and Ixal Fleet members used to be under guardianship of King Akurous when they were children. Yet they still want to take revenge on the planet that has raised them, because blood is thicker than water.
3) Ruza Donolzen (the royal counselor who attempted coup against Queen Lalaya in canon) is Faram Obius' former coach. She will have her moment as a villain in the story, although won't be as prominent as Manuuba.
4) Something will go wrong with Cosmic Plasma Photon Cannon. The machine that was intended to destroy Faram Obius' black hole, will end up causing a major character's death.
5) Aliea Meteorite will make come back.
Chapter 1: Behind the Shadows
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Tenma was depressed. Clearly visible from his gesture when occupying a bench on the edge of Black Room simulation field. He released a heavy sigh. Tsurugi's whereabouts was not yet to be known, and now Coach Kuroiwa also suddenly went missing. Even though he was not a pleasant type of coach, admittedly or not, the way he guided them so far had often been able to save the team from critical situations.
"Your face is gloomy, Tenma," Shindou noted.
Tenma looked up. Shindou took a seat next to him.
"The final match is tomorrow afternoon. If you keep being like this, it will affect the condition of our team," Shindou pointed to the middle of the field. Towards other team members who were still continuing their training. "Look. They are practicing to all their might, in order to fill the emptiness left by Tsurugi. You surely don't want to make Tsurugi disappointed, right?"
Shindou's words made Tenma's misery even more.
"I'm ... a mean person, aren't I, Shindou-san ...?" Tenma's voice was quiet, but enough to make Shindou's head turn to him.
"Eh?"
"Even though all this time I have always fought together with him..., I couldn't even look after him..."
"Tenma ..."
"If something happened to Tsurugi ..." Tenma's voice turned hoarse. "I certainly won't be able to forgive myself ..."
Shindou, in his heart, also felt guilty. His room was right next to Tsurugi's, but he missed paying attention to the odd behaviors of his junior.
If only I had been more alert ... Shindou sighed.
"It's true, that you were too late to realize about Tsurugi's disappearance," Shindou said, stabbing right into Tenma's heart. "But on the other hand, you have been trying hard to lead Earth Eleven and finally reach the final planet, Faram Obius. Even without Coach Kuroiwa, as long as you are the captain, I'm sure we can do something. Nantoka naru sa! " Shindou imitated him with a smile. "Those are your favorite words, right?"
"Shindou-san ..."
"Of course, we will fight alongside you too. About what happened to Tsurugi and Mizukawa, it's not just your responsibility. But it's ours too. So, don't keep blaming yourself," Shindou consoled while patting his shoulder. "Come on, let's continue the training. Our time is tight. Don't waste it any more."
Tenma nodded slowly.
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Shindou approached Ibuki, to accompany him practicing. But looking carefully, the goalkeeper was not alone. Shindou's brown eyes spontaneously widened, when he recognized who was shooting to Ibuki's goal.
"Tsu ... rugi...?"
"It's not!" said Ibuki, half screaming. Because of Shindou's sudden appearance, the damn ball managed to penetrate his guard. "This is just his hologram!"
"O ... oh ..." Shindou breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought..."
Ibuki snorted. "You was like seeing a ghost. Don't act like Tsurugi is dead! He's just kidnapped!"
"It's not like that," Shindou said. "I just thought, there might be an intruder in disguise again ..."
Ibuki returned his attention to 'Tsurugi', telling him to shoot again.
"Ibuki, do you want to practice with me?" asked Shindou.
"No, thank you! Tsurugi's shots are more challenging than yours," Ibuki answered nonchalantly. "But if you really want to help, you can raise the kick power level for this hologram!"
Shindou, hearing the disparaging tone of Ibuki, initially wanted to get angry, but he held back. After all, what he said was true. Tsurugi's shots were more suitable for Ibuki's training menu before final. So, without saying anything, Shindou headed for the control panel, following Ibuki's request.
"You're really serious for the final match, huh?" Shindou commented on.
"Of course! How could I be playing around, if the future of earth and the safety of my friend are at stake!"
Hupp! Ibuki proved his words. The dashing ball stopped by his hands.
Shindou's mouth rounded, "I thought it was just Tenma. But apparently, you're also worried about Tsurugi, huh?"
"Of course I am. After all, he has helped me a lot. Accompaning me to practice all night, without complaining in slightest," Ibuki raised his head, looking at 'Tsurugi' who stood in front of him, gratefully. Unfortunately, 'Tsurugi' hologram could only reply with his lifeless, empty eyes.
Shindou shook his head. "Tsurugi is too kind. He should be a little harder on you."
Without anyone knowing, Shindou actually hid a small bit of jealousy. Towards Ibuki, who was never bullied by Tsurugi, like how Shindou was, back when Tsurugi just came to Raimon. That's why, Shindou kept hindering the amateur goalkeeper, in place of Tsurugi, whom he thought was being too soft. Half hoping to make Ibuki cry in frustration—like Shindou used to. Unfortunately it never happened.
"Thinking back, after we had this Black Room, I rarely practiced with him ..." Ibuki patted his forehead. "Ah, how stupid of me! If I had asked that weak-ass fake Tsurugi to train me, maybe his disguise would have been found out sooner!"
"There is no point in regretting it. Even if we knew it sooner, we would be too busy with this tournament to look for him."
DEEESHH!
'Tsurugi' fired another shot at Ibuki. The timing was just right, as if Tsurugi was sulking over Shindou's apathetic words. Although in reality, Tsurugi could never be like that.
"Aren't you worried too? He's your junior, right?"
Shindou folded arms in front of his chest. "Rather than Tsurugi, I'm more worried about you, you know!"
"Huuh?" Ibuki raised his eyebrow, throwing away the ball he had just caught, "What do you mean by that!?"
"You didn't pay attention to our meeting this afternoon, did you? Faram Dite, our opponent in the final have four strikers. Three of them are members of Shitennou. Not some opponents to be taken lightly."
"So what? There will be only one ball. Even if they have a hundred strikers, there is only one shot they can do at a time."
"That's not the point. You amateur goalkeeper!"
This time, it was Ibuki's turn to get angry. But when he saw a relaxed smile perched on Shindou's lips, his temper softened. Huh, he's just teasing me!
For some time, Shindou still stood there. Watching over Ibuki's practice.
"But ... maybe that straightforward way of thinking makes you able to protect our team's goal, huh ...?"
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Tenma stepped out of the station where their Galaxy Nauts was parked. Craving for fresh air after struggling in the Black Room all day.
Contrast to the lively atmosphere of the city, Faram's night sky was completely dark like charred charcoal. Without stars nor moon. According to Manabe, it was likely that the natural satellites of Faram Obius had already been consumed by the black hole.
"Pii~kuu!"
Pixie flew closer, landing on Tenma's head.
"Oh, Pixie!" Tenma exclaimed, smiling as he rolled his eyes upward. He stroked Pixie's chin with his fingertips. "Or rather… Sarjes, right? Rest easy. As you have requested, we will definitely win and save this galaxy."
"Pi ~ku!"
Pixie suddenly moved, reacting to the arrival of a figure in the shadows between two buildings. Realizing the same thing, Tenma turned his head.
"Like the calm before the storm, huh, Captain ...?"
"Tetsukado," Tenma breathed in relief as the figure was exposed to lights and clearly visible. Answering Tetsukado's words, Tenma then nodded. "Right. Tomorrow ...is the day when everything will be settled. We can't lose. Not just for the sake of the earth and the universe, but for Tsurugi too."
Both were silent for a while, until Tetsukado's voice was heard.
"Actually, since the incident that made me give up on boxing, I've never wanted to pick a fight with anyone again," Tetsukado looked at his fist. He remembered, the injury that made him have to hang his gloves forever. He did not regret helping that mugging victim. But he regretted that he could no longer return to the ring.
Tenma, who knew a little about Tetsukado's background, said nothing.
"But this time ..." Syat! Tetsukado suddenly released one straight punch towards Tenma. A left hand, which stopped right before touching nose. But a gust of wind due to the swift swing of the fist, made Tenma jumped in surprise. "... even if I have to use one hand, the culprit who kidnapped Tsurugi will be beaten to a pulp!"
Tetsukado's ferocious warning was delivered without removing his fist from Tenma's face. Tenma froze for a while, but then laughed. "So that what you mean by the calm before the storm, huh?"
Tetsukado lowered his fist, throwing a small grin. But before long, his expression returned to serious.
"After this tournament is over, whatever happens to our earth—destroyed or not, attacked by aliens or not—I definitely want all of us to be together ..., even for the last time."
Tenma gulped. "To be together ..., for the last time..."
Tsurugi ...
Tetsukado breathed out. "I haven't even thanked Tsurugi for his words that made me able to master my Soul. I ended up thanking the fake one instead. Damn!"
Tetsukado bumped his fist against his own forehead. Then he stood before the Faramians who were passing by, and shouted loudly, "HEEEY~! FAKER~! I HAVE TAKEN BACK MY GRATITUDE! YOU ARE NOT WORTHY OF RECEIVING IT!"
Tenma and the people around them spontaneously covered their ears. Some put on annoyed face.
"Te-Tetsukado ... It's in the middle of city ...," Tenma stammered. "At midnight, too ..."
"Well, it could be that the fake Tsurugi is among these Faramians, right?"
"Y-yeah, yeah ... But that doesn't mean you can just scream like that. You said you wanted to calm down before the storm?"
"This is precisely the storm I'm referring to, Captain!" Tetsukado crossed arms. "It was very annoying to imagine that fake Tsurugi was free to roam, after deceiving us and pretending to be our friend."
"To be honest, I don't really care about that fake Tsurugi anymore, but...," Tenma said after a few moments of silence. "But, I want to save Tsurugi. This is the only way to atone my mistakes, for leaving him in danger."
Tetsukado stared at Tenma's face for a long time. "Captain, you and Tsurugi are really good friends, aren't you?"
Tenma smiled and nodded. "Even though we were not in that good term when we first met. Tsurugi used to hate me. He said that my face was annoying. I was the type he hated the most…. He also hit me a lot with a soccer ball. It felt like almost dying ..."
"Really? He went that far?" Tetsukado couldn't believe it.
"He did," Tenma nodded convincingly. "Well, even though Tsurugi behaved like that, somehow I could never hate Tsurugi."
"Eh? Why?"
"Well, it can't be helped. When I first met him, I was very impressed with his skill. So, what filled my head at that time was just, 'how can I be like him.' Which eventually slowly turned into ... 'how can I befriend him ...' "
Tetsukado was speechless while Tenma told him his story.
"Wow," Tetsukado breathed out. "I know that Tsurugi is strict sometimes. Like when he scolded me during Resistance Japan match. But…imagining Tsurugi beating the shit out of you, it just too much ..."
"Well, Tsurugi used to act like that because he had his own reasons," Tenma said in Tsurugi's defence. For a moment, he looked at Tetsukado. And realized what caused Tsurugi to care so much for this former boxer. Maybe Tetsukado's injury, more or less, reminded Tsurugi to his older brother.
"What's the matter, Captain? "
Tenma shook his head. "Ah, no. I just remember. I was also once scolded by Tsurugi. During Holy Road tournament's semi-final. One of the members of our team's opponent was my good friend, Taiyou. I never thought Taiyou would side with the enemy. Without I realized, I went reluctant against him, even though the others were fighting fervently. Tsurugi said I didn't deserve to be on the field. 'If you have no intention of competing, just go home!' he snapped at me like that.. "
"For this one, I can imagine Tsurugi saying it," Tetsukado laughed.
"Right?" Tenma smiled too. "Tsurugi is indeed strict. But, he's actually very soft at heart. I hope ... he's not crying in loneliness right now," Tenma murmured while looking up the sky.
Tsurugi? Crying? Is that even possible? Tetsukado wanted to say that, if he hadn't seen the serious looks on Tenma's face.
"Tsurugi is strong, Captain," Tetsukado consoled Tenma. "He's not the type who will stay quiet waiting for help to come. Right now, he must be trying to do something."
Tenma looked at Tetsukado solemnly.
"Maybe you're right, Tetsukado ..."
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Tsurugi was awake by dawn. It was a short nap, but Tsurugi did not want to oversleep on this important day, even though the final match was scheduled for this afternoon.
Xeno, the defender of Faram Dite whose room was boarded by Tsurugi, was still sleeping under his blanket. Quietly, so as not to wake him up, Tsurugi walked out of the room, looking for a sink to wash his face.
Faram Dite team's headquarters were quiet. Still no sign of anyone waking up. Even Seren, who was usually in charge of making breakfast, wasn't seen anywhere. All members were sound asleep, after being forced to overstay last night, in order to welcome Coach Kuroiwa's sudden visit, and listen to the offer he had made.
For no apparent reason, he had offered to be Faram Dite's new coach. When Tsurugi asked about Earth Eleven, Coach Kuroiwa answered, "Don't think about others. Think about your own situation. Are you already not a part of Earth Eleven?"
Being told that, Tsurugi asked no more questions. As Faram Dite captain, he finally made up his mind to accept Kuroiwa's offer. Other members didn't refuse, especially after their former coach, Lady Ruza Donolzen, was arrested for her attempted coup-d'etat against Queen Lalaya.
Tsurugi looked at the reflection of his wet face on the mirror. Puddles of water seemed to gather in the corner of his eyes. He then washed his face once more.
After drying his face, he looked back at the mirror.
"I must be strong," he muttered to himself. Not just about the upcoming match, but also about his heart, whether it was able to face his friends' harted later for being a traitor, or not.
It shouldn't be a difficult matter, because this was not the first time he was marked as a traitor. As long as the path he chose was right, he would regret nothing. Tsurugi believed that.
Ding dong!
The soft sound of the doorbell broke silence, informing the arrival of a guest. At Faram Dite's headquarters, anyone could enter, as long as they managed to pass the identity scan, by the fence and by the front door. If the person who wanted to enter was not authorized, then the alarm warning would ring out loud, instead of the gentle doorbell.
Who comes this early in the morning?
Tsurugi was wearing his usual red T-shirt and Earth Eleven training trousers, instead of pajamas. Therefore, he just went directly to the front room without worrying about appearance.
"Minel?"
In the front Tsurugi, Minel stood with a food basket in hand.
"I brought breakfast for you, Sir. As an Earthling, I think the food Faram Dite team serve, would not suit your taste."
Minel Elva. The commander in chief of Faram Obius, but with the appearance of a mere aide, surrendered his luggage to Tsurugi. His gesture was respectful, as if the basket contained royal treasures instead of milk and bread for breakfast.
"Oh. Thank you," Tsurugi said while accepting. "Come on in, then."
"Eh ...? N-no, there's no need, Sir. I just came here to deliver..."
"I mean, let me empty the basket first inside. So that you can immediately have it back empty."
Minel seemed to think for a moment before nodding.
Tsurugi invited Minel to the dining room, and placed the basket on the pantry table. There were various kinds of jars filled with powder of various colors, and reddish purple leaf sheets in the shape of donuts. When these leaves or powder were brewed, it will turn into delicious warm drinks. At least, that's what Faram Dite members said.
"Which one...would you prefer?" Tsurugi shifted his body a little, so Minel could see the contents of the jars in the pantry. After all, even if some name was mentioned, Tsurugi wouldn't know what was he meant. So he just let Minel point it for him directly.
Minel who did not want to make trouble for Tsurugi, immediately refused the offer.
"Don't worry. I've learned how to use the water heater," Tsurugi said, thinking Minel was afraid he would break the Faram-style water heater which had twenty automatic buttons.
No…. That's not the problem. Minel replied in his heart. How dare him, to let 'His Highness' move around serving him while he sat relaxed on this dining chair?
While Minel was struggling with his mind, Tsurugi simply took a jar filled with brick-red powder, brew it, and presented a cup of it before Minel.
"How's Lalaya doing?" Tsurugi asked while unpacking Minel's luggage.
Minel raised his head, startled. Even more shocked when he saw in front of him, a cup of warm taguela. His favorite drink. How did Master Tsurugi know ...?
"Ah ... when I left earlier, it seemed that she was still sleeping."
Minel's answer made Tsurugi a little surprised. He thought Minel was here because he was ordered by Lalaya.
Tsurugi only took half a portion of each type of food. He then packed the rest. Minel, being aware of that, asked awkwardly, "Did…I bring you too much…?"
"Oh, no. I left them for our new coach."
Briefly, Tsurugi recounted Coach Kuroiwa's arrival last night. Minel could not hide his surprise. Two earthlings are on our side? How can that be possible?
"I also don't understand what he wants," Tsurugi said bluntly while pouring a box of milk into a glass. "But his ability as a coach is inferable. For the sake of Faram Obius' victory, I can not refuse that."
"Master Tsurugi ...!" Minel stood up abruptly.
"Yes?" Tsurugi lowered the glass that almost reached his chin.
"Please ... go back to earth now!"
"Eh?"
"Even if Faram Dite wins, Queen Lalaya will definitely refuse to sacrifice another planet, even if it is for the people. Like Queen Lalaya said, our planet has been rotten, we deserve to be destroyed. But Queen Lalaya ..., she is the most valuable treasure of this planet. I want her to stay safe. Therefore, I beg you, Sir. Please let Queen Lalaya follow you back to earth!"
Minel bowed as low as his back could.
"I understand that this request does not make sense. Your friends may also not agree. But I think, this is the only way to maintain the evidence of Faram Obius's existence in this universe. Therefore, I beg you. Master Tsurugi!"
Not hearing anything from Tsurugi, Minel dared to raise his head.
Tsurugi put his glass on the table.
"Sorry, that can't be ..." Before Minel said anything again, Tsurugi hurriedly added. "It's not that I don't want Lalaya to stay on earth. But... because this is where she really belongs to. Faram Obius. Not earth, not other planets."
"But ... this planet ... will be destroyed ...!" Minel looked at Tsurugi in despair.
Tsurugi squeezed his folded hands on the table. "No. Nothing will be destroyed. Trust me."
"What ... makes you so sure?"
Tsurugi considered. Should I tell him, about King Akurous' request to fulfill the life energy needed by Cosmic Plasma Photon Cannon, during this final match…?
"Don't you believe my words, Minel?" Tsurugi chose not to tell anything. Since His Highness did ask him to keep it secret.
"I-it's not like that ...," Minel answered awkwardly.
"Alright, let me ask this then. Do you think, if King Akurous was still alive, he would withdraw from this tournament?"
Minel was stunned. He never thought Tsurugi would ask a question like that.
He then answered softly. "No ... Probably not ..."
"Why?"
"Because ... he really hated running away."
Tsurugi nodded. "That's right. A great king like that, wouldn't possibly be cowardly. I'm ... not as strong as he was. But at least, I don't want to run away either."
"By defying your own planet ...?" for an instant, Minel regretted his presumptuous and cornering words. What if Master Tsurugi changes his mind?
"All I want is to save this planet. It has nothing to do with siding with anyone."
Minel still didn't understand. But if Tsurugi had said that, it felt like he couldn't influence him anymore. After all, Minel should consider himself to be lucky, as Tsurugi—for whatever reason—stayed on Faram Obius' side, even after everything they had done to him, and his Earth team.
After finishing his taguela , Minel excused himself. Tsurugi walked him until the front gate. They exited Faram Dite's headquarters building along with the rising light of Faram Obius' sun -Faramdite - from its chamber.
"Please tell Lalaya to witness today's match," Tsurugi said. "Actually, I wanted to say it myself. But I'm afraid I won't have the chance."
Minel nodded slowly. He knew what happened between the two, but he felt unworthy of meddling in Her Majesty's personal affairs.
Minel looked at Tsurugi's back, as the boy walked inside.
"Your Majesty, it's too dangerous to go alone. Please let me at least accompany you!"
"Sorry, Minel. I can't. I promised to go to their place alone."
"They must mean to trap you!"
"Even if it's a trap, I have to face them before they do any further. Just relax. I won't die that easily."
Tsurugi's back disappeared behind the closed automatic door. Reminding Minel of Akurous's rear figure, when His Majesty entered the fighter that led him to his death.
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After breakfast, the members of Earth Eleven gathered in the meeting room, discussing their strategic plan. Actually, there was no specific strategy. Faram Obius' representative team, named Faram Dite, was a mysterious team that easily reached the final, because most of their opponents withdrew, even before the match. Therefore, not much of their data was recorded.
"But at least, we already know that the five foreign players we met on the previous planets were actually members of Faram Obius' team, nicknamed as Shitennou," Manabe read his report.
"Barga, Hilary, Rodan, Ryugel and Gandales, huh?" Tenma murmured, recalling. "They are not some easy opponents."
"And sneaky ones!" Ibuki snapped. "How dare they sent an intruder to spy on us! How unsportsmanlike!"
Something felt odd to Minaho. "But ... if it was Faram Obius who sent the spy, why did he have to steal the mythril stones too?"
Everyone in the meeting room looked at each other for a moment.
"Maybe…, Faram Obius wants to use it to make their own black-hole-destroyer machine?" Kusaka delivered the first thought that crossed his mind.
"Yes. That 'Cosmic Plasma Photon Cannon' machine invented by Potomuri-san, right?" added Sakura.
But Minaho didn't just nod.
"If they really knew that the stones could destroy the black hole, they could simply ask us to hand them, right? There was no need to send a spy and kidnap Mizukawa, uh...I mean… Potomuri-san. Because our earth ... no, this galaxy will automatically be saved, if Faram Obius also manages to overcome their black hole problem. There's no way we would refuse to hand them the stones."
"Minaho, do you mean ..." Shindou realized the meaning of Minaho's words.
"Heeh, so now Mr. Sherlock Holmes is making analysis, to make amends for his failure to detect the presence of intruder?" Matatagi smirked in the back.
Minaho turned and blinked, before laughing softly. "Matatagi-kun, you sure like to tease me, huh?"
"At least, I've never tried to be a hero while it was too late."
"That's enough, Matatagi," Tenma said. "Minaho, please continue!"
Minaho nodded, "What I want to say is, it could be that Faram Obius actually did not know anything about the Mythril stones. If they knew, it would not suit their action sending Barga and the others to hinder us. If we lost before reaching the final, the stones that could save their planet would not be collected."
"But didn't Ishigashi-san say, that fake Tsurugi is a spy of Faram Obius ...?" Shinsuke was confused.
"Ishigashi-san only said 'most likely'," Manabe reminded. "I understand now, Minaho-kun. Judging from the situation, the stones thief intended to use the stones for some illegal deeds. Hence, they forcibly stole them from us, and made us to suspect that Faram Obius was responsible."
Tenma gasped. He looked at Shindou. "Shindou-san! Does this mean…?"
"Yes," Shindou bit his lip. "Apparently, there is indeed a conspiracy hidden behind this tournament."
"What does it mean?" Tetsukado asked, not following.
"There is probably a third party, other than Earth and Faram Obius, who intends to use the stones for their own gains," Shindou explained. "According to Potomuri, the mythril stones contain unthinkable powers. It is natural to have them targeted and misused."
"Moreover, the final match will be held soon. Everyone's attention will be focused on it. He can carry out his plan without anyone suspecting," Minaho said.
Earth Eleven members put on various expressions. There were some who understood, like Manabe and Zanakurou. Some were half dazed because they only half understood — like Tenma. There were also those who were truly blank — like Tetsukado.
"Besides, I also feel that there is something strange about Tsurugi-kun's abduction," Minaho said with his hand on chin, apparently still not satisfied with his analysis.
"What do you mean?" Tenma asked impatiently, as soon as Tsurugi was mentioned.
Minaho raised his head. "About the motive, Captain."
"Why? Isn't it obvious, so that the spy could disguise himself as Tsurugi and infiltrate here without getting caught?" said Matatagi in a disdainful tone, as if Minaho missed something important.
"Yes, maybe that's true. But, choosing Tsurugi-kun, who is our key player, does not suit their purpose of stealing the stones. Because, objectively, Tsurugi-kun's absence would hinder us to win the tournament. Didn't they want us to keep winning in order to collect mythril stones? It would be safer for them to target a player who doesn't stand out too much. "
"Now that you mention it ...," Kusaka began to follow.
"I suspect ... the one who's behind the abduction of Tsurugi-kun and Mizukawa-san, are actually two different parties," Minaho said quietly, but sure.
For a moment, the meeting room was covered in silence.
"Don't say that! You make it sound like we now have two enemies to face," said Sakura, not pleased.
Matatagi agreed. "Yeah! You're thinking too much. The kidnapper might only choose their target on a whim, and it just happened Tsurugi was unlucky."
"But if my deduction is right," Minaho's voice was heard again. "Then I can guess the culprit who kidnapped Tsurugi-kun."
"Really?" asked Tenma spontaneously. "Who?"
Minaho did not immediately answer, "Like I said earlier. Tsurugi-kun is the key player of our team. Judging from this fact, what I can think of is, they kidnapped him to make it difficult for us to win the tournament," Minaho observed the tense expressions in front of him, before continuing. "Does this goal sound familiar to you?"
It didn't take long time to harmonize their mind.
"Faram Obius," hissed Tenma, representing the others' answer.
Minaho nodded. "Compared to stealing mythril stones, the reason why Tsurugi-kun was kidnapped is more related to Faram Obius' action of sending the Shitennou."
Tenma was silent. As he now was being relieved and worried. Relieved, because maybe their arrival to Faram was not in vain. Worried, because he wasn't sure that they could easily retrieve Tsurugi from Faram.
"Haah! It turns out that Faram Obius is the villain, after all," Matatagi crossed his arms behind his head. "Then why are we discussing this to and fro?"
"No. There is something unclear yet. The third party who kidnapped Potomuri, as well as the real purpose behind the mythril stones theft." Shindou turned to Tenma. "Tenma, report Minaho's deductions to Ishigashi-san and Ozrock. Who knows if they have any clue about who the third party might be."
Tenma nodded in agreement. Together with Minaho, he rushed outside, to Galaxy Naut's locomotive car where they could contact outsiders.
In the meeting room, Ibuki, who sat next to Shindou, slammed his large fist into the palm of his hand. "Whatever the purpose of the criminals, we just teach them what consequences they will get if they mess up with Earth Eleven!"
"Agreed!" continued Tetsukado. "Even though I don't understand at all what you guys were talking about, but clearly, we must win if we want to save Tsurugi, right?"
Shindou looked at Tetsukado. "Well, I'm not sure about that, but ..."
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"Don't get too worried, Captain. Tsurugi-kun will be fine," Minaho consoled.
Tenma nodded, before looking away through the window, hoping to get rid of his worries. But right at the moment, he caught sight of a familiar figure outside the window.
"Tsu-Tsurugi!" Tenma's voice trembled, pointing outside the window. "That's Tsurugi!"
"Huh?" Minaho spontaneously turned his head. "W-where? Where is he?"
Before Minaho could confirm Tenma's exclaim, the captain had dashed out Galaxy Nauts, in order to intercept the figure he suspected was Tsurugi.
"Tsurugi! Tsurugi!" Tenma called loudly.
Seemed that there was no need to shout at him. The figure turned his steps to Tenma and Minaho on his own.
Both parties approached each other. But how shocked was Tenma when he realized that Tsurugi was staring at him with a pair of purple eyes, glowing with annoyance.
"I'm not your Tsurugi!"
"Y-you ..." Tenma was alarmed when he recognized those purple eyes. Quick as lightning, he grabbed that 'Tsurugi''s arm, to prevent him running away.
"Where did you bring the mythril stones to!? Where are Tsurugi and Mizukawa?!"
"Hey! Let me go! You don't need to lock me like this, I don't mean to run away either!"
Tenma ignored him, "Answer me!"
Hearing Tenma's loud voice, the other Earth Eleven members flocked out of the train. As soon as they saw what was happening, they immediately surrounded the fake Tsurugi.
"You ...! How dare you come here after what you have done!" Tetsukado took a stance.
"Wait! I didn't come here to pick a fight!" Fake Tsurugi exclaimed.
"Oh, yeah. Of course. You came here to look for death! HEAA!" Tetsukado's trained left fist was dashing forward.
"Please wait a minute!"
One voice held Tetsukado's charge. It was a girl's voice. Foreign to the ears of Earth Eleven kids, but it was familiar to Tenma.
"K-Katora?" said Tenma in disbelief.
The girl smiled in affirmation.
"Is this really you…?" asked Tenma.
The girl nodded again.
"Tenma, please let him go," Katora pleaded gently. "Believe me. He has no bad intentions."
Hesitatingly, Tenma backed away. Once released, fake Tsurugi pulled his hand and stroked his painful arm.
Tenma looked at 'Tsurugi' and Katora alternately.
The real Katora ... and the fake Tsurugi ... How come are they together ...?
"So ... this is Princess Katora whom Tenma told us about?" Aoi asked.
Katora bowed, introducing herself.
"Thank you, for trusting my plea to collect the mythril stones and coming all the way here," Katora shifted to fake Tsurugi, introducing the boy to Earth Eleven. "And he is named Manuuba. Indeed, this is not his true form, but ..."
"He stole the mythril stones, Katora!" Tenma accused. "How can you be with him?"
"About the mythril stones, no need to worry," Katora answered calmly. "All four have reached Potomuri's hands. He has completed Cosmic Plasma Photon Cannon by using facilities owned by Galactic Federation Council."
"So ... Potomuri is all right, then?" Shinsuke's voice was happy.
"Does that mean that black-hole-destroyer machine is ready to use?" Ibuki asked to make sure.
"Indeed," Katora nodded sweetly. "But there is still one important condition that must be fulfilled. Earth Eleven's victory over Faram Dite."
Katora's words reminded Tenma. "Yeah…. Pixie…, I mean, Sarjes also said the same thing yesterday. He also said that Potomuri was all right. But, how could it be…?"
"If I'm not mistaken, 'Galactic Federation Council' is the organization Ozrock being the member of…?" said Shindou.
"I see. So, it was Ozrock who saved Potomuri?" Tenma concluded.
Katora and Manuuba exchanged glances.
"Tenma, Ozrock was the one behind the theft of the mythril stones," Katora disclosed.
Earth Eleven were shocked. "WHAT?"
"Ozrock?" Tenma stammered in disbelief. "Why did he…?"
"Because Ozrock wants to take revenge on Faram Obius."
Tenma and the others turned to Manuuba who just answered.
"Revenge? What does that mean?"
"Ozrock's homeplanet was destroyed by the hands of Faram Obius, two hundred years ago. He was one of one hundred and sixty children of Ixal who had been put to sleep and sent off the planet shortly before the planet was destroyed. Though in the end, the survivors were only eleven children. "
"One moment please," Manabe raised his hand. "That 'two hundred years' means ... Earth year, or another planetary year?"
"Does it make any difference?" asked Tetsukado.
"Of course it does! A year for a planet is the time span they need to circle around its sun. So it's certainly different for each planet."
"What he means is Faramian year," Katora answered.
"The two hundred years of Faram are about ... 267 years of your Earth," Manuuba continued, with the knowledges of Earth he had obtained from Tsurugi's memory.
Manabe calculated, "That means, one Faramian year is equal to 1.335 Earth years..."
"Rather than that," Tenma interrupted. "What do you mean by revenge? How does Ozrock do that kind of thing?"
"That's easy, Captain," Minaho answered. "By having Cosmic Plasma Photon Cannon under his ownership, Ozrock can blackmail Faram Obius who needs it to erase the black hole that is swallowing their planet."
"Oh, I see!" Tetsukado hit his palm. "That's why, Ozrock was willing to lend Galactic Council's facilities to Potomuri!"
"Yes. Tetsukado-kun is getting smarter now!" praised Minaho.
"But, Minaho-kun," Manabe retorted. "Faram Obius has taken almost all planets in this galaxy, except our planet, Earth. Even if their planet is taken over, they can still move to other planets, right?"
"That's easy! He just need to destroy all the spaceships that Faram Obius's people will use to escape. That way, they won't have any choice but to obey Ozrock's request," Matatagi said frontally.
"Then ... Tsurugi ...?" Tenma asked a new question. "Did you meet him, Katora? He is our friend who was kidnapped, like Potomuri ..."
"Oh, him?" Manuuba answered. "Ozrock received an order from Faram Obius' queen to kidnap Tsurugi Kyousuke and bring him to this planet. He then used that situation in order to smooth out his plans. Spying on you, stealing mythril stones and kidnapping Potomuri the scientist."
"But ... But Tsurugi is safe, right?" Tenma looked at Manuuba hopefully. "Where is he now?"
Manuuba shrugged, "I was only asked to assist in the kidnapping and then disguised myself as him. After I handed him over to Ishigashi, I no longer knew where he was brought to."
Tenma was really disappointed. He had thought that with Fake Tsurugi here, they could go straight to Tsurugi's place.
"But ... why is Ozrock willing to be ordered around by Faram Obius?" Shindou was confused. "Doesn't he hold grudge against the planet?"
"Because," Manuuba lowered his voice. "The one who raised and nurtured Ozrock and his fellows after successfully waking up from that long slumber, was the previous king of Faram Obius. They grew up on this planet."
"What!?" Tenma and friends' voice practically rose.
"His position as an important official in Galactic Federation Council is also all due to his close relationship with Faram Obius."
"That means they want to take revenge on the planet that raised them?" Kusaka said reluctantly.
"Ungrateful bastards!" Tetsukado condemned.
"It's not like that," Matatagi corrected. "The king took care of Ozrock and his friends, to make sure that they wouldn't hold grudges against Faram when they grew up. Huh, it turns out that both aliens and earthlings are the same, always have ulterior motives," he said sarcastically.
Shindou looked at Manuuba. "Why were you willing to obey Ozrock's orders? By coming to our place and telling all this, it means that you are no longer on his side right?"
"Oh, I was not part of them from the beginning," Manuuba answered nonchalantly. "I worked under him because I got paid. Just like you guys who took part in this tournament because your coach bribed you."
Those who felt called out by Manuuba, exchanging glances.
"How do you know that?" Ibuki asked suspiciously.
"Thanks to Ozrock's technology, I can access all of Tsurugi Kyousuke's memories through. About himself, also about you all," Manuuba pointed at his head. "Everything is recorded clearly here."
"How neat! You could do something like that," said Minaho in awe. But Manabe elbowed him. The eyes behind those glasses pointed at Tenma.
"Why…?" hissed Tenma. "Even though Tsurugi didn't do anything wrong. For the sake of money, how could you ..."
Manuuba looked at Tenma briefly. "I work to save my people."
"Your people?" Tenma asked, frowning in disbelief. "What happened to your people?"
"Great famine, which caused my planet to have only fifty people left," Manuuba answered flatly, as if it wasn't a big deal. After all, he still felt more fortunate, than Ixal's eleven survivors. "The land was too barren to plant crops. The only way to survive was to move to another planet. But the technology we had at that time wasn't capable to do that."
Manuuba looked at the pitying faces in front of him. Well, not all of them, actually. Tenma, Shindou, and Tetsukado still did not want to let go of their vigilance.
"During those desperate times, Ozrock came to us, providing an alternative. He was willing to accommodate us on his spaceship as long as we worked for him. We were the ones who helped the alien participants in FFI V2 elimination round, so they could disguise themselves as Earthlings. Because, in addition to disguising ourselves, we are also capable to help others disguise."
Minaho realized something. "So… your planet didn't take part as a participant team in this soccer tournament?"
"What for?" Manuuba laughed bitterly. "Our planet is so barren, there's no way Faram people would want to inhabit it."
"Oh, I see…."
Manuuba took a deep breath, "One of the last tasks Ozrock gave me was to steal the mythril stones from you. In return, he would give us our own spaceship to find a new place to live. After all this time, we are finally free from him."
"Then why are you still here?" asked Matatagi.
"Just to warn you," Manuuba stared straight at Earth Eleven. "Ozrock will not be satisfied with just blackmailing Faram Obius. He must be planning something during the final round. Even though he only wants to harm Faram, it could be that you will also get involved. Be careful."
.
.