Here it is—my first Inavember post! Man, about time I got something done for it. I always use Inavember as an excuse to continue my old projects instead of doing standalone stuff and I never get any attention whatsoever because of it, but it still feels nice to work and contribute.
Anyway, here's the 5th chapter of The Roar of the Beast, the story of how Handa came to suck a bit less! Remember that the last chapter I posted was the 9th, so it comes after this. I haven't worked on this fic in ages, so, to those of you who still care (assuming anyone still cares at all), enjoy it!
And, as always, thanks to user Ishido Shuuji for beta reading this for me and keeping my awful English in check! What would I do without her?
"So tall~!"
"I can feel his strength from here."
"Did you learn… many new hissatsus…?"
"Let me touch your hair, deyansu!"
The original players of Raimon surrounded and pestered Mamoru Endou's adult self with questions. In a desperate attempt to pay attention to everyone and not leave any of his old friends aside, the man commonly known as Do-san tried to, somehow, answer to all of his old teammates' questions and flatteries, even if all that admiration made him feel a little uncomfortable. Away from the group, the young Endou, who had already won himself the nickname of "Endou-chi," Kidou and Gouenji looked at the scene with different eyes. Contrasting with the captain's laughter, the midfielder and the forward stared at the person who was now their coach, unable to not feel a bit uneasy about having Endou being both the captain and the leader of the team. They also wondered what kind of person could the one who was once their best friend be, and, at the same time, what kind of people they may be in the time Do-san came from.
The boys of Raimon still hadn't managed to come to terms with everything they had seen themselves involved into in just a few days: the incoming match against the legendary Inazuma Eleven, the entrance of Do-san in the team as the new coach and Raimon's newest signing, Ryou Miyasaka, who replaced the injured Shishido and who, unfortunately, still hadn't managed to totally catch up with the rhythm of the group.
The whole team had suffered of collective insomnia that night. Those who had witnessed Kanon's announcement had spent the long small hours tossing and turning in bed, unable to fall asleep out of sheer excitement. The rest had to hear of the news from Endou-chi, who phoned them one by one and, amongst nervous babbles, explained the situation to them. Nevertheless, the captain's shaky voice and the way to tell the story had only made the players worried and made them think something was wrong, since none had been able to fully understand what he was talking about.
"Okay, okay, guys, calm down…! There's a lot to do—we can't lose time in stuff like this!" Do-san said, trying to make his players stop asking questions. "We'll be facing the legendary Inazuma Eleven, the team who, forty years ago, stirred passions amongst soccer fans all over the country. I'm not exaggerating when I tell you guys that it's probably the greatest rival you'll ever face."
"That's right!" Endou-chi added. "Guys, in a week we'll have the hardest match of our lives! This is what will really decide if we're the best team in Japan or not, so we have to do our best to win! We won't let anyone beat us, be them monsters, demons from the future or legends from the past!"
All Raimon players answered to his captain's and coach's cheers with a loud and fearless shout. Gouenji and Kidou snorted at the same time and shook their heads, calling themselves fools for even considering the idea that their captain, the always unpredictable soccer freak, may have changed.
After all, Endou would always be Endou.
A genius buried in the mind of a dork, but a genius, after all. Someone's whose attitude, personality and love for his own people could change the world without he even noticing it. Endou, their captain, was one in a million.
And him?
"Okay, guys, come here for a sec."
Raimon players had been training under the guidance of Do-san for about two hours when he ordered them to gather up. Their new coach had been staring at them the whole time, arms crossed over his stomach and a serious expression on his face. Just by looking at his face, a trained eye could know what he thought about each play: blinks, frowns, eyes more open than usual. Endou, ten years later, was still not fit to play poker, but, in his job, it was a quality that allowed him to make himself understood without having to give a single instruction. Nonetheless, what no one could know was what the new coach was planning to do with all the data he had collected up until then.
"Is everyone here?" Raimon's young captain asked. The fifteen players gathered there answered 'yes' in unison. "All right, then! What's up, Do-san?"
"I've bad news for you."
A shadow had clearly been cast over the coach's spirit, even if he had tried to keep a calm expression on his face. The members of Raimon looked at each other, worried. Endou-chi was the only one who didn't take his eyes off the coach. He gulped and, just before he could open his mouth, Do-san shook his head.
"I'm afraid that, at the level you're at right now, you guys can't win."
It was obvious. They were not Inazuma Japan; in fact, they weren't even close to the strength its members had. They had a handful of its members in the team, yes, but that was not enough to face a legend such as the Inazuma Eleven. Nonetheless, everyone had potential and could become much stronger than they were. Everyone but him. What did he have? He was not an ace player, nor a kung fu master, nor had any special talent, like the one of surprising his rivals. He was plain, simple, average. One more ordinary man from the crowd, without a special skill to contribute to the team. A midfielder so little imposing that goalkeepers would stop his shots without an ounce of doubt. He wasn't a bad defender, but his lack of practice in that position made him too easy to trick. His job during matches was limited to gathering balls that came from the defence and assist forwards so they could score goals. Pure filler within the eleven players that made up the team.
And, to beat a legend, a team can't afford filler.
Shinichi Handa's spirits dropped more and more sharply every passing day.
"What do you mean we can't win?! We can achieve anything if we give our best, Do-san!" Endou-chi shouted, stunned by what his adult self had just said.
"I'll give you that," Do-san replied, "but, no matter how much effort you put in it, if you were to play right now, you would have no chance of winning. Sorry to be so blunt."
"But we're the best team in Japan!" Megane screeched. "Also, we've gone through special training to become even stronger! How can you say we don't have a chance of winning?"
"'Cause my grandpa coached that team. The Inazuma Eleven wasn't made up of good players, but of true soccer-playing beasts. Players who were under my grandpa's guidance for a very long time and who, due to constant training and conditions very similar to the ones we faced, improved incredibly fast. He might not had coached the team for as long as he coached Little Gigant, but I'd bet the members of the Inazuma Eleven could beat Cotarl's national team without breaking a sweat."
The whole team crumbled down like a house of cards.
"Don't tell them that, Do-san! Come on; don't lose heart! One must never consider a match lost before playing it!"
"They're gonna wipe the floor with us," Max said calmly as he put his hands behind his head, as if it weren't his problem.
"Guys, don't be like that! I never said we should give up already. It's just that, at this exact time, we couldn't win. I'm not gonna lie to you: we ain't gonna win this match easily, so we'll have to work very hard if we want to stand a chance of taking it. But don't think of how hard it'll be—think of the reward. Thing is, if you reach a level that can stand up to the Inazuma Eleven, you'll play the most exciting and fun match of your lives!"
"And what're… we going to do…?" Jin Kageno asked from the last row, scaring half of the team with his sudden incursion into the conversation, with that tone of voice that could scare a ghost to dead again. Do-san, who was more used to it after so many years, smiled at him and stood up.
"You all know me perfectly thanks to Endou-chi," he said, smiling, as he stirred up his younger self's hair, "so there isn't much I can teach you by myself. You've been adapting to my style for so long. Now, to evolve, much like we did back then with Inazuma Japan, you'll have to open yourselves out to new styles. Guys, you're stuck right now. It's due time for you to step out of Raimon."
"Stuck?" The little Ayumu Shourinji, also known as Shourin, asked as he scratched his cheek, trying to understand. "But we improved so much everyday during the Football Frontier!"
"Exactly. I'd say that the problem is that you've already absorbed everything Raimon had to offer. Training's the base of improvement, and you'll keep improving if you train here, but we ain't got no time to wait. We need something… drastic."
"And where're we going to train if not here, huh, Endou?" Someoka asked—probably the only person who treated his captain and his new coach in the exact same way. "Soccer fields don't grow on trees!"
"Don't fret, Someoka," Do-san answered, smiling. "It's all under control. …Or it'll be soon enough, at least. No worries."
"…What're you gonna do, Endou-san…?" Handa asked, still quite depressed due to his earlier thoughts and scared of whatever the coach might have come up with. If the ideas of the Endou he knew were already misconceived, those of the adult Endou could be ten times worse.
Do-san frowned for a few seconds after Handa's question.
"…Let's leave that for later. For now, let's call the roll." He took a look at the small board he was holding and read, "Number one: Mamoru Endou!"
"Here!"
"Number two: Ichirouta Kazemaru!"
"Ready to win, coach!" Kazemaru replied, eager to face such rivals.
"Number three: Heigorou Kabeyama!"
"H-here…!" Kabeyama said, shivering and sweating profusely due to a sudden urge to go to the bathroom.
"Number four: Jin Kageno!"
"…Here… Hu hu hu…" Kageno whispered, raising a hand to be seen from behind Kabeyama, who had the fright of his life when he heard his sinister voice at his back. He was close to not having to go to the bathroom after all.
"Number five: Teppei Kurimatsu!"
"I'm here, deyansu!" Kurimatsu cheered.
"Number six: Shinichi Handa!"
Handa got out of the thoughts he was deeply immersed into when he heard his coach calling him, who scowled again when he saw his reaction. Handa shook his head and hurried to confirm his attendance. Do-san whispered a soft 'oh well' before continuing.
"Number seven: Ayumu Shourinji!"
"Yeees~!" Shourin said in a lively way from the top of Kabeyama's head.
"Number eight: Sakichi Shishido!"
"He's injured," Megane hurried to say.
"I see…" Endou pursed his lips. It was obvious that that caught him off guard and he didn't like it, but he faked a smile and said, "Then, number nine: Kuusuke Matsuno!"
"I'm here." Max smiled.
"Number ten: Shuuya Gouenji!"
"Ready, coach." Gouenji nodded.
"Number eleven: Ryuugo Someoka!"
"Ready to teach those old farts a lesson, Endou!" Someoka screamed, clenching his fists and happily greeting his teeth, eager for the match to come.
"Number twelve: Kakeru Megane!"
"I'm here!" Megane said, straightening up and raising his gaze slightly.
"Number thirteen: Toramaru Utsunomiya!"
"S-sir, yes, sir!" Toramaru stuttered, still nervous about seeing his idolized captain's adult self with his very own eyes.
"Number fourteen: Yuuto Kidou!"
"Here." Kidou said with his arms crossed and a confident half smile on his face.
"Number fifteen: Gorou Tamano!"
"I'm here, Endou-sama!" The little goalkeeper said, waving his arms to be seen.
"Number twenty-one: Kageto Yamino!"
"Ready to fight, sir," Shadow sprung as if he were a war machine.
"And, lastly, number twenty-two: Ryou Miyasaka!"
"H-here, here!" Miyasaka said restless, seeing how his first match would be a very important one.
"Perfect. Guys, take the rest of the day off. Have fun and rest to your heart's content; I want you all in top shape by the time the training starts tomorrow."
Shourin's little hands pulled the coach's sleeve.
"Coach, and that 'step out of Raimon' thing?"
"Let me get everything ready properly, Shourinji. You'll see tomorrow, I promise."
"Is it something good~?" Shourin smiled, fixing his cross-shaped eyes on Do-san's, who smiled back as he stirred the little martial artist's hair.
"You're gonna love it. Now, break it up! Training is over for today!"
They all went to the shower. Do-san sat on the bench again and crossed his arms, deep in thought.
"Are you okay, coach Endou?" Aki Kino asked politely after a few minutes.
"Oh, c'mon, Aki, drop the formalities, please," Do-san smiled. "Yeah, I'm fine, but I need some time to think. No worries—you'll know what I mean soon enough."
"If you say so, coa— I mean, Endou-kun…!"
"Trust me. And, please, tell him I wanna see him later. I'll be waiting for him at the club."
All four of Raimon's managers nodded. They could all imagine whom he was referring to just by looking in his yes.
The always sincere eyes of a soccer freak.
Step out of Raimon… It sounded strange. And, also, there were those gazes he would throw at him. It was impossible to not worry. Every ,time he said something, Endou would frown. He was giving him bad looks. Something about him was making him uncomfortable, for sure. Maybe… he had turned into a bad person? Did Endou hate him in his time? Had they had a fight? What could have happened for him to act like that in front of him? He didn't want to lose him. Not him nor anyone. He had to be whom everyone expected him to be so nothing would change.
At all costs.
They locked themselves up in the club room. They grabbed one chair each and placed them back to back. They sat backwards on them, staring into each other's eyes. They placed their arms on the backs of the chairs, and the older one rested his chin on his arms so his head would be at the same height as the younger one's.
"He worries me sick. He's acting in a very weird way. Know anything?"
"I think not being strong enough has him obsessed."
"No good. Soccer's to have fun, not to torture yourself like that."
"That is what I'm trying to explain him, but he is sticking to his guns…!"
"Have you noticed anything odd in his attitude? Anything at all?"
"He trains more than usual, but he doesn't seem to feel more confident."
"When did he start behaving that way?"
"Hmm… When he decided to create a new hissatsu, I guess. He seems so committed!"
"A new hissatsu…? What kind?"
"I think it's a shot. Why?"
"…Nothing, forget it. It just doesn't ring a bell."
"What doesn't?"
"Handa developing any new shot hissatsus after the FFI. Though I dunno how much our history differs."
"…Hey, Do-san."
"Tell me, Endou-chi."
"Changing the subject, what do you plan to do so we can beat the Inazuma Eleven?"
"Can't you wait to know it either?"
"Come on, we're friends! Tell me!"
"Friends? …Heh, yeah. We sure are, Endou-chi." He smiled. "But you'll have to wait, just like the rest."
Endou-chi puffed up his cheeks and looked away. Do-san laughed as he pressed his younger self's cheeks with his fingers, forcing him to let out the air on them with a sound very similar to a raspberry.
"You're so mean, Do-san."
"It's a surprise for the team—a team you're part of. But I'll tell you that I'm truly worried about Handa and we'll have to do something about that if we want to win."
Endou-chi looked at Do-san again.
"I'm worried too. He's a great player, but he gets too frustrated."
"So true. Guess what? He's become a soccer coach in my time."
The younger one jumped on his chair.
"C-coach?! Like us? For what team?"
"The Inazuma KFC. But he's formed a terribly strong team considering their age. He's an admirable coach with a very unique style."
"Wow…! Shin-shin will freak out when I tell him!"
"No can do."
"What? Why not…?"
"Handa's case is different to ours. I'm a coach because Megane managed to sign me in as such. Handa had to strive for it, very much so. He's probably much more capable than me to carry a team, but he achieved that with effort and dedication. I'm afraid it wouldn't be the same if you tell him what's gonna happen. In this case, we must let time be the one who tells Handa what life has in store for him. Don't meddle."
"…O-okay, I won't tell him anything. But, then, what are we going to do?"
"Endou-chi, a coach must know when and how to act. This time, the best way to help is to offer him the chance to face his demons all by himself. After that, all we'll be able to do is trust him. Do you trust him?"
"Of course! Shin-shin has been here for me since I opened the club! He's a fantastic player that can do many things, and a great friend too! I trust him with my life!"
"That's the spirit."
Do-san caressed the boy's hair and smiled at him. Endou-chi, on the other hand, let out a little sigh.
"I can't help but worry, Do-san."
"It's only natural. You'll learn how to pull through with time, Endou-chi. You're strong too. And, as a captain, you must set an example."
"Yes…"
Early in the morning, his phone began to vibrate inside his pocket. He looked away from his work and hurried to take it out. He looked at it and smiled for an instant as he saw the name of his old friend reflected on the bright screen. He picked up.
"Hey. Tell me."
"Think we could meet up tonight? There's something I wanna talk to you about."
"Sure. What's it…?"
"You."
"…Wow, that's straightforward. Okay. Shall we meet at the usual place and at the usual time…?"
"Sure. I'll wait for you there."
He pressed the red button and put the phone back in his pocket. After wondering for a couple of seconds what his friend might need from him, he gazed again at the little magnetic board shaped like a soccer field and kept taking notes as he moved the colourful counters.
"…fourteen, fifteen and sixteen. We're all here, right?"
The whole Raimon answered their coach's question with a 'yes' in unison.
"Have you got everything ready, deyansu?" Kurimatsu asked, impatient. If it hadn't been for the tough training session they had undergone the previous afternoon, none of them would have been able to sleep that night either. Do-san smiled.
"No worries. Okay, guys, we'll see each other off today. I won't see many of you again until the day before the match."
"What?" Endou-chi asked, disappointed. "But you're supposed to be our coach! What good is it to have you guiding us during the match if you don't get us ready first, Do-san?"
"I'll get you ready, but I told you already: there's nothing I can teach you. But I do know how to make you improve, and that's my duty, after all."
"…Is that 'step out of Raimon' thingy you were talking about yesterday, Endou-san?" Handa asked, making sure to speak before anyone else to verify that, indeed, Do-san would make weird faces whenever he talked.
"Precisely, Handa. Guys, as I already made clear, Raimon's nothing else to offer to you all, and that's why each one of you is gonna undergo a special training outside. I won't give you any order, except to obey those who will lead you in my place: they know what I'm expecting from every single one of you and they will try to make you meet my expectations, but they have their own style and they'll apply it to your training. Take each and every one of their orders as if it were mine and try to meet their expectations too. Is that clear?"
The whole team accepted the orders in a chorus.
"Come on, Do-san; don't make us wait anymore!" Raimon's captain urged. "Give us orders!"
"Okay, okay, calm down," the coach laughed. "Are you ready? I'll only say it once."
The whole team—except Shadow—gulped and stayed still. They all stared at their new coach, who, suddenly, gazed at Raimon's number six.
"Handa, you can leave. For now, I don't need anything from you."
The whole team was astonished by these words; everyone except Handa himself. He knew that already. He wasn't any good at this, and Endou, regardless of what good of a friend he were, had realised that much. Maybe he didn't hate him in the future, but, simply, he had had the time to realise that he was good-for-nothing, unable to compete with true adversaries on an equal footing. Average. A talentless player who didn't deserve to be part of the best team of the country. The black sheep who polluted Raimon's spirit.
A burden that the team, finally, had got rid of.
"But Do-san! How can you say something like that!?"
"…It's okay, capt'n. It… it doesn't matter. Now, if you'll excuse me…"
"W-wait, Shin-shin…! Handa!"
Handa didn't wait. He headed to the club room and locked himself up, resolute to let the hours go by among tears until the rest had to go in after the training was over. He would leave before the team could see him.
A team he wasn't part of anymore.
"That was too cruel!" Endou-chi sprung, worried sick about his friend. The whole team agreed.
Do-san shook his head.
"On the opposite. I did that for his own good."
"'For his own good'? What the hell are you talking about?!" Endou-chi was going apeshit. "Since when saying something like that does anyone any good?"
"Guys, I dunno if the rest of you has noticed this, but Handa's having a very bad time. He's feeling insecure, frustrated and bad about himself. As his coach, before giving him any orders, I must talk to him in private. But you must know what you have to do before that. When we're done here, get straight out of Raimon: we won't train here today. I'll stay here with him, so no worries. And no, you can't stay either, Endou-chi."
The coach had guessed instantly that the captain was ready to be game for everything for the sake of helping his friend. Endou-chi groaned and accepted.
"I guarantee you I'm the first one who is sorry to have to be so harsh. Handa doesn't deserve everything he has to put up with, but, if he can get over it, he'll become stronger than ever. His problem isn't being weak, but the fact that he doesn't know his true potential. Since he doesn't, he can't make use of it either. If we can get him to have faith in his possibilities, to see that he isn't a hindrance for the rest, the team will have many more weapons to win the match. And, above all, Handa will finally find what he's lacking not just to be a great soccer player, but also what he's lacking to be happy at last. But that's something we will all have to collaborate on. We'll subject him to a special training. Do you all agree?"
The original Raimon, close to tears, gave its go ahead. None of them could have imagined that Shinichi was going through such a rough patch, but their coach, in barely a day, had managed to detect it perfectly. Indeed, Endou was and would always be exceptional.
"Good. Now, let's continue."
He looked at the number as his fists squeezed the shirt. How many times had he worn that uniform without being worthy of it? How many adversities had the team went through due to his negligence? Despair-driven ideas thronged in his head as he stared at that number. Raimon's six.
He threw the shirt to a corner of the club room and began to put on his school uniform instead. Once dressed again, he stood looking at what had been his soccer kit for so long. He couldn't fight the temptation to go closer and pick it up again, even though he had promised himself he wouldn't. In that same corner, without moving, Handa covered his face with the shirt and began to shed bitter and frustrated tears over it. And, regardless of that, he smiled. Because, despite all, he had managed to be a player of Raimon and had found out that, regardless of how many rough patches he had to pull through, no matter how hard it was to stay on his feet, in spite of being useless, he loved soccer. And then he understood he didn't want to ever stop playing, whether he was the best or the worst player of them all. Even if he couldn't keep playing for Raimon, he would keep playing, just as his heart asked him to.
He kissed his shirt and left it on the club's table, perfectly folded. He didn't want anyone to think he had left angry. After all, he wasn't. Not anymore.
"Stop making us wait, deyansu!" Kurimatsu complained, impatient to hear his coach talk about his plan once and for all. "We're all sick and tired of this excessive secrecy!"
"Okay, okay, calm down!" The coach laughed. No one else did. "Let's begin, then."
The whole team stared at Do-san's lips.
"Let's go in numerical order. Numbers one, three and five: Endou-chi, Kabeyama and Kurimatsu."
"What… what's wrong with us…?" Kabeyama asked, nervous.
"Until the day of the match, you'll train at Nosei."
"At Nosei Junior High, deyansu? You mean that team that looked like a petting zoo?"
"Exactly. I've talked to their coach and he's gladly accepted to have you. I think you all could learn heaps from Nosei's style: many of your skills fit in with what they practise there."
Kabeyama and Kurimatsu were a wreck. Endou had just called them animals.
"C'mon, don't make that face!" Endou-chi cheered. "Nosei is a very strong team that we had many troubles beating! I'm sure we won't go there in vain!"
Those who would be Endou's companions in that trip let out a weak and not-so-energetic 'yes' as they raised their fists unwillingly.
"…Well, moving on. Numbers two and twenty-two: Kazemaru and Miyasaka."
"Tell us, coach," Kazemaru begged. Miyasaka, for his part, was totally overjoyed at the idea of being able to train for a full week with his senpai.
"You two will go a bit further: I managed to get you two accepted at Hakuren."
"Hakuren? Isn't that at Hokkaido?" Miyasaka asked, tilting his head slightly, hoping to be wrong.
"Yes, that's where it is. But we'll get to see Fubuki again like that!" Kazemaru smiled. Suddenly, Miyasaka's hopes of being alone with Kazemaru vanished, but he was happy to train with him nevertheless.
"Glad you like the idea. Furukabu-san will take you there as soon as the meeting is over."
Kazemaru and Miyasaka nodded silently.
"Let's continue. Numbers four and seven: Kageno and Shourinji."
"Come on, come on~!" Shourin asked happily.
"You two will spend the week at Ohisama-En with the former members of Aliea Academy. I'll take you to the train station."
"With coach Hitomiko…? Training the way you did while we were injured might be good…" Kageno whispered.
"You'll see how much we improve, Kageno~!" The little martial artist said, holding the sinister defender's hands and bouncing happily. Kageno would just show a minuscule smile and leave his arms hanging so his teammate could play with them. Do-san couldn't help but smile when he realised his friends were all just the way he remembered them.
"Next up are numbers nine and ten: Matsuno and Gouenji."
"I'm with Gouenji? Well, this is gonna be interesting~" Max said among laughs. Gouenji, with his arms crossed, smiled at his forward friend.
"Something good might come out of here, Max. We have never trained together even though we are both forwards."
"I know putting you two together will lead to amazing results! You'll go to Kidokawa Seishuu."
"…To Kidokawa Seishuu?" Gouenji said, clearly uncomfortable. Going back to his old high school didn't seem like the best idea ever to him.
"No worries. The Mukata triplets have accepted without a word of complaint, and your old coach is really looking forward to seeing you again."
"Coach Mikaidou…" The fire striker sighed in an almost idyllic way. "Fine. I'll go."
"That's what I like to hear! Best of luck, guys."
Both of Raimon's forwards nodded. They seemed to be in a great mood all of a sudden.
"The next group is made up of the rest of the forwards. Numbers eleven, twelve and thirteen: Someoka, Megane and Utsunomiya."
"What? I-I have to go too?!" Megane whined, who thought he wouldn't have to go through those strange practices.
"Of course you're coming with us, Megane!" Someoka said in a loud voice, showing a thumbs up to try and cheer up his not-so-brave teammate. "Aren't you the one who is always bragging about being the best player of Raimon?"
"We'll do great, Megane-san!" The team's youngest forward encouraged.
"S-s-sure…"
"Heh, perfect! You'll spend the week at Zeus."
"At Zeus?!" Megane weeped again. "They're going to eat us up, they're going to eat us up…"
Unlike the so-called ace striker, Someoka and Toramaru seemed more than okay with the idea.
"Okay, let's continue. Number fourteen, Kidou. You, as an exception, will stay here at Raimon with me."
"May I ask the reason why?" Kidou inquired with a little distrust in his voice.
"You and I will cover one of Raimon's weak points. I need you to help me shape an idea I've in mind and that I'm sure will be of great help to us."
"…Of course, coach."
Do-san and Kidou exchanged a knowing smile.
"Okay. Now, numbers fifteen and twenty-one: Tamano and Yamino."
"Do we get to stay with you too, Endou-sama?" Raimon's reserve goalkeeper asked with hope in his big and round eyes. Do-san let out a little guffaw and shook his head.
"I'm afraid not. I've thought of a special training for you two with two coaches that I trust. Tamano, you'll train with Aki."
The young Aki Kino, who, along with the rest of the managers, was looking at the coach and the players in complete silence, was surprised to hear her name.
"With me, Endou-kun?"
"No, Aki, not with you, but with the Aki from my time. She's the coach of a street soccer team, though it's more of a hobby than a job. Anyway, as years pass, you'll turn into an expert goalkeeper many people could learn a lesson or two from, and that's just what Tamano needs right now. I'm sure they'll achieve something great together."
"I'll try my best to meet your expectations, Aki-san!" Tamagorou yelled at the young manager.
"…B-best of luck, Tamano-kun!" Aki smiled, confused and nonetheless glad to be of help.
Do-san nodded approvingly and looked at Shadow.
"On the other hand, Yamino will go with Haito Jikiru."
"I'm not familiar with that name, coach." Shadow said with a dry voice.
"I-I remember him!" Kabeyama stuttered. "It's that weirdo that coached Occult…! The one trying to give us evil eye! D-don't go with him, Shadow—he's dangerous…!"
"Will he help me become stronger, coach?" Shadow asked, staring at Do-san as he ignored Kabeyama.
"Definitely! Jikiru-san is a… visionary: he used hissatsu tactics when no one even knew how they worked. It was a pretty early and imperfect version, but it was effective, that's for sure. He's a genius and one of my mentors. I learnt heaps from him when I was getting ready to be a coach."
"In that case, I'll go. I'll become stronger at any cost."
"Heh! Don't push yourself too hard, Yamino," Do-san said with a calm voice as he caressed Shadow's fluffy hair. For the first time since they met him, the members of Raimons could see how the dark forward blushed, even if it was just slightly. "I'll take you with them myself before taking Kageno and Shourinji to Ohisama-En."
"Yes, Endou-sama~!"
"At your service, coach."
"Perfect! Last, you four, girls." Do-san smiled as he looked at Raimon's managers. "I hope you won't mind going one with each of the groups. Kidou, Yamino, Tamano, I'm sorry, but you'll have to be alone."
"Wait a minute, coach Endou!" Haruna said, who had been taking notes of everything he said. "Nosei, Hakuren, Ohisama-En, Kidokawa Seishuu and Zeus… Those are five groups, and there's just four of us! Who will be the ones without support?"
"No worries, Haruna—that's been taken care of. We've got ourselves a new signing in Raimon on whom we can rely. She's getting everything ready as we speak. I'll let you meet her in person instead of talking about her."
"That's not fair, deyansu!" Kurimatsu complained. "If we're going to have a new manager, we want to meet her!"
"And you'll meet her! But she asked me to keep quiet for the moment. I can't disobey, guys. I'm very sorry."
There was a collective groan, but they all agreed to the terms and conditions.
"Then, we'll do this. Aki, please, go with the Nosei group."
"Of course, Endou-kun…!"
"Good," Do-san nodded with a smile on his face. "Haruna, would you mind going to Hakuren?"
"Of course not, coach Endou!"
"As lively as ever!" Do-san laughed. "Natsumi-ch— I mean, Natsumi."
Endou-chi raised a single brow.
"You'll go with the Zeus group," Do-san continued. "I think Megane's gonna need some firm hand."
"As you wish, Endou-san."
"…As dry as ever." The coach sighed, smiling. "And you, Fuyuka…"
"Kidokawa Seishuu, is that right?" The girl smiled and tilted her head a bit.
"You're a smart one!" Do-san returned the smile. "Okay, guys, is everything clear?"
The players answered 'yes' as one. The coach gave the order and everyone headed to their respective new training locations.
Time passed much faster than what Handa would have expected. Deep in his memories and with his eyes fixed on his shirt, each lived match brought smiles and yearning sighs out of him. Suddenly, the handle of the door made a sound: someone was trying to open it. Shinichi was surprised, since, even though he had been there for a while, he didn't think the three or four hours Raimon's practice sessions usually lasted had already gone by. He walked up to the door and pressed his ear against it.
"Handa? You're there, right?" A voice asked from the other side.
"…Capt'n?" The midfielder answered with a shaky voice.
"Almost. I'm, uh, well, 'Do-san.'"
Handa didn't reply. After a few seconds, Do-san could hear the bolt backing down and the door opening.
"C-capt'n-san," Handa whispered as soon as he had his friend face to face. "You'll… always be my captain, Endou-san."
The midfielder looked around. He was alone.
"Where are the others…?" He asked in a thin voice.
"They left. I wanted to talk to you in private, Handa. I hope you don't mind."
"N-no, of course not…!" Shinichi said as he looked down. He couldn't stand looking at Endou in the eye.
The coach closed the door after him and hurried to hug the young player tight. Shinichi, surprised and almost scared, blushed furiously and hugged back.
"I'm truly sorry."
"C-c-capt'n… I… am sorry I'm not stronger…" Shinichi stuttered as he hugged tighter.
"Handa, you're an exceptional player, but you must trust yourself more. With enough training, you'll play on the same level as the best, and, as your coach, I promise you'll achieve that goal. But you too must promise me something."
"…Y-yes?" Handa sobbed, looking up at Endou's face.
"Promise me you'll never forget that you are a Raimon player, and that means there's nothing you can't do. Trust your chances and you'll overcome any obstacle."
"Does that mean that I'm n-not… kicked out of the team…?"
"…What?" Endou asked, scowling slightly. "Of course not! Since when do we leave anyone behind? We improve and face our rivals together; that's the spirit of Raimon."
"I… thought you didn't want me in the team, capt'n-san…"
"Each and every one of you is important. The only thing I regret is that Shishido can't play the match, but you know Kanon makes decisions without prior notice." Endou let out a little guffaw. Handa had no other choice but to smile, more because of the relief he got from knowing his old friend wasn't mad at him than because of the little joke. "You all must make up for his absence by giving your very best."
"Yeah…! I'll… give it my all!"
"That's what I like to hear," Endou said with a calm voice as he caressed the boy's hair. "One last thing."
"T-tell me."
"Don't call me 'captain-san.' It sounds so lame!" He laughed. "And, also, I have a special training saved for you. If you're up for it, that is."
Handa rubbed his eyes and nodded. In a few minutes, Do-san explained him every detail about his plan and asked him to keep it a secret for the moment.
He may not be a genius, nor a star, nor even special, but something deep inside his chest begged him to keep going no matter what. His body let out a furious roar that resounded with more strength every passing day and confirmed all of his suspicions: the brave Shinichi Handa, without anyone ever noticing it, had become a soccer freak.
Do-san walked out of the club. Handa, with renewed spirits, faith in himself and in his captain recovered and a growing desire to carry out his purposes, before following him, picked up what was his, firmly determined to honour that number that, long ago, had kept him company as he became one of the best players in the country.
"Sorry for making you wait," Endou laughed as he scratched the nape of his neck. His friend was sitting at Rai Rai Ken's bar, the ramen restaurant that, ten years ago, had served them as a meeting point.
"Welcome, Endou," Seiya Tobitaka greeted him from the other side of the counter. "The usual?"
"Yep! Thanks, Tobs."
Tobitaka let out a guffaw—it had been way too long since he last heard that nickname. He turned around and began to cook the food, letting the two friends who had met up there talk in peace.
"Well, Mamoru, you'll tell me…" Shinichi Handa said, resting one of his elbows on the bar and looking at his old teammate with a little smile on his lips.
Endou sat down on the stool left to Handa's and looked at him with a serious face.
"You see, Shinichi."
In a few minutes, Mamoru told him all about what had happened during the last few days, since Kanon's arrival until the training sessions. He discreetly omitted the part regarding his friend's young self.
"I see… So your great-grandson can't sit still, huh…? Just like you."
"He's a little rascal! Look what he's done! If mixing up our worlds wasn't bad enough…" Endou chuckled. "But I'm not here for him."
"Yeah, you told me. What's up with me, Mamoru…?"
"The whole team's bursting with energy, but Shinichi seems to be having lots of doubts about himself."
"…Hah, yeah, I went through a phase like that like that a few years back. Don't worry; I recovered… with time. And here I am now."
"I know, but we don't have that time at our disposal. Everyone must be in top shape for the match! I heard he was trying to complete a shot hissatsu related to summoning. Know anything about it?"
Handa turned and faced the bar. He rested both elbows on it and joined his hands together in a serious expression.
"…Unfortunately, I do."
"Anything wrong with that hissatsu?"
"Yes, Mamoru. …I worked on that technique for a very long time and tried to complete it in every possible way."
"Tried…?" Endou asked, scowling.
"…Exactly. But, despite all the effort and hours of work I put into it… I could never complete it. You ought to make him stop working on that shot, Mamoru. That hissatsu is… unworkable."