Clear to cloudy
Target 6: Deadly game: Appear! My dying will!
The deadly soccer game against Akatori is well under way. Halfway in fact. The score is 2-5 for Akatori and it's looking very dim especially for Kotsu who has just been assigned to the offense even though he has been somewhat next to worthless in the game. But he has to go along seeing as not only is the coach giving the orders a top-ranking hitman, but he ALSO has the extra assignment of somehow proving to their goalkeeper Tsugemora that he is Kotsu.
The game gets underway once more this time with Akatori's kickoff and in an instant they attack again. Okura tsks. "No going easy this time… we need to get rid of that boy at the goal! He's the second's bodyguard. He'll be nuisance later! Also does anyone have an idea of who the second even is…" he says before passing to one of the others.
"Not yet. However the boy who scored with that incredible kick seems to posses the best qualifications. I believe it to be him," He says and Okura smirks as his teammate kicks it into the air.
"then let's get this over with! COME! Ren!" He declares and Ren prepares himself trusting in their coach to know what he's doing putting him in defense. He smiles seeing his opponent get fired up as he kicks the ball straight for the goal and Ren gets in front of it. He jumps thinking he can easily block it with his chest, but he's bashed aside by the hyper-mass ball and Tsugemora once more forces it to stop, which was easier as it had slowed down a little. "Dammit…" He says going back and Kotsu overhears them talking. "You did activate the explosives in the ball right?"
"Yeah. As soon as it hits the goal it'll explode. But we got some damage in on the second at least," He says with a smirk seeing Ren laying on his back.
Tsugemora meanwhile panics at the sight of Ren being down. "Kotsukiba-san!" However right after that Ren jumps back to his feet.
"That was quite the kick there! Glad I was there to feel it! You really have a passion for soccer Okura!" He yells happily, sporting that bright smile and Okura looks annoyed at him seeing how carefree Ren appears to be. 'Damn him! He must've realized our intentions! He's challenging me! I'll crush him! I won't fail, Logan-san! Not this time!' He thinks angrily as he stands tall smirking.
"My next shot won't be so forgiving Vongola!" Ren blinks a little hearing himself be called Vongola.
"You guys are playing that mafia game too!?" He says before getting the ball from Tsugemora and after quickly securing it he kicks it up and soon after Taichi gets it smiling at Kotsu who's just panicked seeing Akatori's defenders.
"You must be at LEAST as good as Ren right?! Being his little brother," He says as he dribbles past a defender before passing to Kotsu who somehow manages to stabilize it. He attempts a goalkick, but naturally fails miserably and it's caught.
Reborn smirks slightly from his position as the coach. "I guess it's time to teach these mafia kids who exactly they're dealing with," Leon transforms from a whistle around his neck into a gun and he rapidfires two bullets at Kotsu's legs. The young boy feels the strange sensation and warmth.
"W-wha-" he tries but sees the Akatori keeper go for the long distance pass. "KOTSU! JUMP!" Reborn declares and Kotsu does as he's told right as the keeper kicks the ball somehow shooting into the air. He not only intercepts the ball but just keeps going quite a bit more before finally stopping flailing his limbs around like a fish out of water. "Woah woah woah woooooah!" He cries as he starts falling again somehow ending up landing on his feet and it didn't hurt at all. He thinks about doing another goalkick as the ball lands in front of him but passes to Taichi again instead, who makes a quick redirection of the ball into the net as Akatori's goalkeeper is really confused as to how Kotsu jumped that high. Not even Okura who's had intense training in such things can jump that high! However Kotsu is just as amazed. He has the sneaking suspicion that it was definitely not just his unharvested talent for soccer that just immerges but just the bullets Reborn shot him with acting.
-NII-
The game continues for a little bit with Kotsu blocking almost all the long passes from Akatori's keeper and Tsugemora and Ren taking care of things on the other end whenever something gets through.
"Kotsu!" Taichi yells passing to him and Kotsu tries to stop the ball sadly he fails, but their third forward is there to cover for him. He kicks for the goal, but it's once more intercepted by the keeper.
"You guys… are REALLY annoyingly stubborn! OKURA!" He yells kicking the ball much harder than before sending it over the entire field and Kotsu sees the blinking light indicating that it'll explode, causing his eyes to go wide. That'll kill Tsugemora if it gets in the goal! Okura jumps into the air for the meteor kick and Reborn takes out his pistol again shooting another bullet at Kotsu.
"Stop him Kotsu," He simply says as Kotsu's hit dead on. 'I'm dying… again? I guess I failed… I couldn't convince Tsugemora, but most importantly… if only I could've prevented his death…' He thinks as he lands and Taichi's about to go check on him when he shoots off the ground again his clothes burning off and the purple flame erupting on his forehead once more.
"RE… BOOOOOORNNN! I WILL STOP THIS SHOT WITH MY DYING WILL!" He yells as he sets off to stop the shot taking place on the opposite half of the field. "I'LL… MAKE IIIIITTTT!" He yells once more before jumping, the effect of Reborn's jumping bullets amplified by the dying will making the young boy shoot halfway across the field in a single jump, getting in the between the ball and Okura who was just about in position to shoot and Kotsu kicks the ball with his bare foot sending it flying the other way. Tsugemora's eyes widen. This is what he had been told of the Neo Vongola Secondo's power…
The keeper in Akatori's goal gets a bit panicked seeing the intense kick knowing that the hyper-mass has activated thanks to the velocity. So he simply jumps forward to avoid taking the explosion head on, however after it hits the goal nothing happens. He looks back seeing that the ball is jittering. Kotsu broke the explosive mechanism?! The boy slowly pick up the ball afraid it'll explode any minute.
"W-we surrender!" he yells and everyone on Akatori quickly agrees. "Y-you guys… you're crazy!" Okura yells before they all simply run away without saying good game or anything of the sort. Kotsu's flame disappears and he blinks making his eyes go back to normal. Before he even has time to be embarrassed about his lack of clothes he's picked up and tossed in the air by the entire team.
"KOTSU! KOTSU! KOTSU!" they all yell happily especially Ren. Tsugemora meanwhile is standing in the goal, still as a rock looking at him. They all put Kotsu down and he looks at Tsugemora who's just trembling quite a bit.
"H-hey… I guess I couldn't really convince you that I'm Kotsukiba could I?" He says laughing nervously before Tsugemora goes to the goalpost and starts furiously banging his head against it.
"NO! NO! NO! NO! NOOOO!" He yells and Kotsu quickly stops him.
"W-woah woah woah! What're you doing!?" He says noting that the young boy starts bleeding from his forehead from doing it so hard.
"I can't believe it! You totally had me fooled with your act! A-as expected of the neo Vongola secondo…" He says slowly almost annoyed with himself. "B-but I know now! YOU! YOU are the REAL Neo Vongola Secondo!" He looks to Ren who's just chatting with Taichi being thanked for playing in the game. "YOU!" Tsugemora says stomping over. "How dare you impersonate the great Kotsukiba Niruo!?" He yells about to start a fight and Ren just holds up his hands in defense.
"H-hey now… I never said I was my lil' bro…" However before Tsugemora gets too close, Reborn clears his throat now out of his coach disguise.
"Tsugemora. Leave him alone,"
Tsugemora quickly spins before doing honors to Reborn. "Yes Reborn-san!" He yells proudly and Kotsu laughs nervously. 'W-was it really a good thing that I convinced him that I'm me…?' He thinks as Tsugemora gets up beside him throwing away his goalkeeping gloves and Kotsu's eyes widen seeing how absolutely smashed his hands are. He's bleeding and torn in multiple places from the punches to the incredibly hard ball everything, but Tsugemora isn't even reacting to the pain.
"A-are you alright Tsugemora?" Tsugemora looks almost confused.
"I'm good! Happy to finally realize that you are you!" He says throwing a hand in the air as if in triumph, smirking happily.
"B-but… you're bleeding…"
Tsugemora looks at his hands realizing that he is in fact bleeding. "Oh… I did think the inside of my gloves got really sweaty…" He quickly looks to Kotsu before hiding his hands. "I-It's not bothering you is it Kotsukiba-san!?" He says panicking a little.
"D-doesn't it… you know… hurt a lot?"
"Not at all Kotsukiba-san! I had my nerves fried! I can't feel pain!" He says proudly and Kotsu gulps.
"F-fried your nerves…? H-how… WHAT?!" he asks not understanding what's being said.
"Simple Kotsukiba-san! I got tired to a giant metal cross and they electrocuted me until I could no longer feel pain!" He says with not a hint of secrecy or shame and Kotsu looks almost horrified at him. This kid is WAY past insane! However he supposes it works out with his personality…
Kotsu grabs his bag to change back into his school uniform just so he doesn't have to walk home in just his boxers. He also decides that it would be a good idea to change the subject from what sounds like torture to something else. "D-do you HAVE to call me Kotsukiba-san…? It's SUCH a mouthful… can you think of some kind of nickname or… just call me Kotsu like everyone else…?" He asks as kindly as he can with the boy walking so close to him.
Tsugemora thinks for a little moment. "W-what about… Nii-san…?" He asks sounding almost shy.
Kotsu looks a little strangely at him. He's never been called THAT before. Likely due to the fact that he's the youngest brother in his family. "S-sure… but why though…?"
"W-well. Because I look up to Ko-I mean Nii-san! And you're also the second boss of the neo vongola! Ni means two so Nii-san would mean second-san. And in Roman numerals two is written as two I's so neo second would be N-II. Nii-san. It's a triple meaning! AND san means three in Japanese as well as being an honorific that you give to a person you look up to… right?" Kotsu is simply stunned. What's with this kid? Just minutes ago he wouldn't even talk to Kotsu and now he suddenly looks up to him like an older brother of sorts. But Kotsu gets the sneaking suspicion that while he wants to make him leave, since he doesn't really need a bodyguard, that won't be happening.
"O-okay… I guess you can call me Nii-san…"
Tsugemora jumps in happiness. "YES! Alright! Thank you Kot… I mean Nii-san!" He says and Kotsu starts walking home after saying goodbye to Ren who's staying for a little more practice on his dancing.
"S-so… Tsugemora… w-why are YOU assigned as my bodyguard…? I mean… aren't there… better… people?" Kotsu asks a little hesitant and Tsugemora stops walking before taking out a fiber wire from his pocket wrapping it around his neck.
"Nii-san isn't happy with me… I guess that means I'm worthless…" He says about to pull the wires apart and decapitate himself, luckily Kotsu stops him.
"Tsugemora!? What are you doing!?" he says quickly unraveling the wire and Tsugemora falls to his knees.
"I have failed Nii-san twice in a single moment… this must be my divine punishment for saying such rude words to you while you were disguised as a loser…" He says and Kotsu gets a blankly annoyed expression on his face seeing as he wasn't disguised or acting.
"T-that's alright… j-just… don't… kill yourself… I guess…" Tsugemora jumps up back to being happy again.
"As you say Nii-san!"
Kotsu can't help but find this strange boy weird. His constant mood-swings. The fact that he didn't hesitate to hurt himself just to stop a ball. The fact that he's saying he can't feel pain. If he's going to be around… then things will get even crazier than they already are!