Well, it took ages to write this chapter and ages to translate it. I'm exhausted, but it's finally done. Just one more chapter and I will have successfully caught up. And while that's going to be a blast (a very time-consuming blast, but a blast nonetheless), not everything is good.
As usual, I want to thank my sister Heather (IshidoShuuji) for proofreading the crap I've written up to this point. I always said that, without her, this would be a super convoluted mess instead of just a regular convoluted mess, and, this time, you will be able to see it for yourselves. Heather hasn't proofread this for me because of some personal issues and she won't be doing so from now on, so I'm all alone. No one is here to make my crap more bearable, I'm afraid. So, even if she probably won't read this, I want to thank her from the bottom of my heart for being a wonderful beta reader and an absolutely perfect friend. I wouldn't be here without her. I owe her more than I could ever explain. So thank you very, very much, sis. For absolutely everything. I miss you so much already.
And, this time, I would also want to thank my Roxy too, because she's the one supporting me all day and every single day. Without her, I wouldn't get anything done. Ever. And I would feel miserable and sad about 30 times more often. If you get a single thing from me every 6 months, it's all thanks to her. (But even her support couldn't bring me to re-read this after what I just went through. I just want to be done with it. I might recheck it... in the future.)
With that said and with my heart still aching, welcome to the 7th chapter of The Roar of the Beast. This one's a very heavy chapter. It's long and has a lot of backstory to it, hence making it one of my personal favourites. Handa gets some development, but, most importantly, a question that has been hanging over our heads since the very first chapter is answered. I challenge you to spot it.
Enjoy yourselves.
"All right. Are you ready?"
Handa nodded with renewed strength. Knowing that his friends supported and kept helping him despite being so far away gave him a feeling of self-assurance that he hadn't felt in a long time.
"Very good. Show me what you've got."
Handa brought his hand to his mouth and closed his eyes, trying to remember Koutei's teachings. He got his fingers into position and blew strongly, producing a loud and perfect whistle. Seconds later, a squid of five purple penguins emerged from the ground and lined up behind him.
Yagami crossed her arms.
"Purple penguins. Not too bad."
Handa showed a little smile of complete happiness.
"And?" Yagami asked with a pinch of sarcasm. "You called those penguins all by yourself. What's the problem, then?"
"Well…" Handa cleared her throat while rubbing the nape of her neck. "It's great to have penguins at my disposal and all, but what I want are… pandas."
"And, according to what you told me, you don't know how to call them."
"N-no. They only taught me how to whistle the right way to summon penguins."
"'Whistle'," Yagami repeated drily. "I think I'm starting to see the problem. Tell me, do you have the slightest idea of what the Hell you're doing to call those penguins to the field?"
"So, eh…"
"And don't you dare say 'whistle'." Yagami cut him short before Handa could talk. He, therefore, went completely silent, since that was precisely the answer he was going to give. He looked down and gulped.
"Is that all you can summon," Yagami continued, "or did they teach you how to call any other kind of animal?"
"Well, I know how to make green penguins appear…" Handa said as he petted one of the purple penguin's head. Afterwards, he thanked him for coming so fast and told him he could leave. The penguins bowed slightly and sank in the ground again.
"Oh, yeah? And how do you do that?"
Handa was about to put his fingers in his mouth again, but Yagami stopped him by holding one of his arms.
"Enough," she snorted. "If you're going to whistle again, it's useless."
Handa was surprised and opened his eyes a bit wider than usual. He didn't quite get it. How was he supposed to call his penguins without whistling?
"You're clinging way too much to that stupid idea, 'Shin-shin'," Yagami asserted, clearly annoyed. "I don't know what the Hell they put in your head, but you better than anyone should know that there are many ways of borrowing an animal's power: Raimon has countless techniques based on fauna."
"But each animal is summoned in a different way, no…?" Handa asked in a whisper. "Isn't whistling the way to call penguins…?"
Yagami clicked her tongue.
"There isn't such a thing as a concrete 'method'—each looks for their own way of achieving their purposes. If Teikoku decided to use whistles is because it's a simple method, but it's by no means the only one. What attracts an animal is not a sound or an action, but the user's own power." She made a small pause, took a step back and said, "Eyes peeled."
Yagami looked down, tensed her muscles and clenched her fists. Instantly, a circle of a bright blue colour appeared around her and, seconds after, it burst into flames, creating a small barrier and surrounding Yagami completely. Then, one by one, five dark green penguins dressed like small astronauts poked their beaks out of the ground and shot out into the sky. After performing a series of aerial acrobatics, they landed one by one and lined up behind Yagami, much like purple penguins had fell in behind Handa minutes earlier.
Handa stared at the scene. Yagami's power was incredible and… frightening. The princess stood up straight, folded her arms and spoke seriously:
"These are the space penguins, a kind of penguin Teikoku can't access. It takes an exorbitant amount of energy to call and control them, so they prefer more docile penguins in order to make use of their strength more easily and not be harmed while performing their techniques. Now, tell me, 'Shin-shin'—did I whistle in order to make them appear before me?"
Handa shook his head.
"Summoning doesn't mean finding the appropriate decoy for each animal," Yagami continued, "but being able to control the power you intend to use. Once you earn the respect of the animal you're looking for, it will appear before you just by being intent to do so. Being able to summon is, therefore, synonymous to having the suitable skills—or minimum, at least—to control said power."
As soon as Yagami finished her explanation, a series of effusive and quick claps began to sound from the bench where Ootani was sitting. From afar, the manager congratulated Yagami for her master class with her characteristic sweet and kind tone of voice, and asked Handa if he had understood everything.
"Uh… I-I think so," Handa said as he nodded, "but there's something I don't quite get yet." He turned his head towards Yagami and asked, " If it's one's own strength what attracts animals, why wasn't I able to make penguins appear until I learnt how to whistle?"
"How do you expect me to know if I wasn't there, goofball?" Yagami hissed, folding her arms again. "I can only conjecture, but I guess it was a matter of self-confidence. You blindly believed you wouldn't be able to do it without whistling, and that got you blocked. Being strong isn't enough—you must be able to externalise that strength and show the necessary confidence to make a correct use of it. …Reason why you're still so dramatically pathetic."
Handa sighed in a way that could have well been a sob.
"You heard it!" Ootani said, coming close to Handa and Yagami, and continued in a slightly recriminatory tone, "I keep telling you you have to trust yourself more, Shinichi!"
Handa gave her an unconvincing nod and turned just in time to see Yagami seeing her penguins off just like he had done before. The penguins shot off vertically at full speed thanks to their jetpacks and got lost in the firmament.
I guess it makes sense for them to go to space, Handa thought as he looked at the penguins, but, then, how come they come outta the ground when you call them…?
Handa couldn't wait for lunch time and, before training, he got the content of one of the lunch boxes down his throat under Ootani's attentive look and tender smile, who watched satisfied how her friend enjoyed at almost ecstatic levels the food she had cooked for him herself. Yagami was beginning to grow impatient: not because Handa was eating slowly—which was, in fact, the exact opposite case—, but because such an attitude predicted that the boy could happen to be even more useless than he looked at first sight. The appetite he was exhibiting wasn't even nearly normal for someone of his physical build.
Once done gobbling down, Handa puffed and scratched his stomach. He looked quickly to his right, where Yagami ate in silence, and began to sweat buckets when he realised the girl was shooting a deadly look at him.
"Excuse Shinichi," Ootani said with a slightly contrite tone. "Theory makes him hungry."
Handa forced a laugh to try and play the subject down, but it sounded so pitiful that it only managed to irritate Yagami even further. He looked at the ground for a few seconds and, immediately after, he asked in a shaky voice:
"Tell me, Yagami-sama… What're we doing next…?"
"You ask too many questions." Yagami took her time to bring a piece of meat to her mouth and munch on it conscientiously, showing total indifference towards Raimon's poor midfielder. After swallowing, she continued, "Mamoru-kun didn't give me specific orders, so we'll do things my way. If developing a summoning hissatsu is what you want, you would best prepare yourself to be able to call the animal. Let's focus on making you stronger… if that's at all possible."
Yagami put the remaining food of the lunch box in her mouth and gave it to Ootani without even looking at her. The manager picked everything up, stood up and headed to the orphanage again to wash the dishes, pointing out that she would be back as soon as possible.
Handa and Yagami were left alone. Suddenly, the boy stared at the floor and whispered:
"I'm… I'm so sorry, Yagami-sama. I'm sorry you got sucked into all this. It must seem very selfish for me to come here all of a sudden and hope you'll help me just like that…"
Yagami looked at Handa without saying a word. Eventually, she breathed in and let it out as a soft sigh.
"Quit that nonsense, sissy. If I'm doing this is because I want to. Whichever my relationship with Mamo—" Yagami interrupted herself and coughed on her hand, blushing very slightly, "with… your captain may be, he knows he could never force me to do anything I didn't want to do. In fact, he wouldn't have asked for my help if he hadn't known for a fact that I would be ready to give him a hand. And if in this case helping him means helping you, I don't mind for now, I guess." She shrugged. "After all, those who tried to help you before didn't do a single thing right."
Handa unstuck his eyes from the ground and turned them to Yagami. In his face, a small and grateful smile could be seen.
"Also," she continued, "no matter how useless you are, you aren't worse than those two. Taking care of two imbeciles is always far worse than taking care of a single one, so you serve as an excuse to lighten my work a bit."
Handa's mood dropped again, and his body showed it by collapsing on his legs as if he were dead weight. Yagami sighed again.
"Hey," she said eventually, thrusting her right toe into Handa's ribs to make him react, "I have a question for you."
Handa let out a suffocated howl of pain and made a hesitant face to invite her to ask.
"You have already learnt how to summon penguins. They're versatile, powerful and fast animals. Why not settle with that? Where does that interest towards pandas come from?"
Handa calmed down mysteriously upon hearing that question. He leant forward and rested his arms on his legs. He stared at the horizon for a few seconds: it had already been hours since they arrived at the orphanage and the sun that had lightened up their first day there was now getting lost among the mountains along with its dim light. Time was definitely against him.
After that small pause, he turned his head towards Yagami and, with a much more solemn voice than before, he said:
"It's… 'cause I don't wanna give up."
Yagami blinked, surprised.
"I wanna be able to reach my own goals without shortcuts," Handa continued. "I was intent on summoning a panda and developing an incredible hissatsu thanks to it. I've always been Raimon's weak point, y'know…?" Handa let out a forced guffaw. "I'm a veteran in the team and one of its first members and, in spite of all, I've achieved nothing. I've never been helpful of stood out in the slightest. I've always been the 'normal' one, the average duffer no one pays attention to… I couldn't even become strong with the Aliea Stone.
"I've felt like a hindrance for the rest more than a few times. Raimon is an incredible team, but I… am not at its level. I've always been there, but nothing would've changed if I hadn't been. And… I don't wanna end this way. This is my last year at Raimon and I don't wanna keep being a burden to the rest. I wanna help, be stronger and get to be useful both on the forward line and the defence…! And I don't care how much I must exert myself to achieve that! Someday, I'll achieve what I put my mind to, and then… everyone'll see what I'm capable of!!"
Yagami stood up.
"I see. I think I judged you wrong, after all. You may be one useless sissy, but you have a goal and you're ready to achieve it no matter what. I like that."
Handa's face lit up as he saw little and soft smile appear on Yagami's lips. He hadn't realised until then, but, at that moment, Handa couldn't help but think that, when she smiled, Yagami was truly beautiful.
"Okay, Handa: I know what to do with you now. Since you want to be useful in any position, I'll show you what your own skills can achieve. There is no need to be faster or kick better to achieve new strength—you only need to make the maximum out of what you can already do."
"Sounds great…!" Handa exclaimed. "But do you think I'll be able to do something like that…?"
"Hey, hey! Where did all that resolution you showed me before go?! You will never achieve anything if you doubt, sissy! You must trust you can do it!"
Handa couldn't hold back a very short giggle.
"…You sound a bit like capt'n, Yagami-sama," he said, still smiling. Yagami blushed all of a sudden and, trying to keep her usual cold and indifferent façade, she looked away.
"Q-quit that nonsense, imbecile."
Ootani came back, so Yagami decided to have her pupil look after the manager as she got ready to train him under extreme conditions. She felt she had been too soft while dealing with Handa and she wanted to make it up to herself by subjecting him to the toughest possible practice. That was how she and the rest of the members of her team came to be so incredibly powerful, after all.
The Genesis's second-in-command went back to Ohisama-En in a run. She opened the door with a slam and went into the orphanage like a runaway hurricane, devastating everything in her way and shouting at the top of her lungs. She went out to the garden and, under the surprised looks of all the people training there, she grabbed young Hiroto from the neck and got him out of there like lightning without as much as explaining herself.
"May… may I ask what all this is about?" Hiroto managed to babble, surprisingly relaxed despite being dragged across floor for reasons he couldn't even understand.
"You know where the Hell Wheeze is?" Yagami said drily and without bothering to look at him.
"Oh… I think he isn't here. I think he and Saginuma-kun went train somewhere. And, Reina, I think he would be grateful if you were to begin to call him by his real name instead of by his alien name. No one here wants to remember that time."
"And I don't feel like learning his name!" She shouted, clearly pissed. "Damn it! Does everything have to go wrong today or what? I have to train that Handa idiot!"
Suddenly, a boy poked his head round a nearby door.
"Did you say 'Anda?" He asked with his eyes wide open.
"Oh, Segata-kun!" Hiroto exclaimed. "You are just in time. Yes, Handa-kun is around. Do you feel like coming train with us? We need someone else, apparently."
"Sure!" Segata smiled in an almost evil way even though he was truly happy deep inside. "Heh, this takes me way back. Right, Kiyama?"
"Huh? Do you know him, Zel?" Yagami enquired, arching her brows.
"Would you mind learnin' my name already, Yagami? I ain't Zel—I'm Ryuuichirou Segata. I don't think it's all that tough."
Yagami disagreed peacefully by rolling her eyes.
"And yeah. We met a few months ago, when he came askin' for Kiyama's help. That one weird guy, don't you think?" Segata laughed.
"I would define him as… 'peculiar'," Hiroto smiled.
Yagami was nibbling on her right thumb's nail.
Does everyone here know him or what?!
The night had already fallen over Inazuma. Shinichi unscrewed the lid of his money box and took out all the money he had in it. He counted it carefully and sighed: his little personal safe wasn't going to keep much to itself after the travel. But it was something he had to do, and he was ready to spend his last yen if necessary.
He woke up very early and looked out of the window. Grey coloured clouds extended as far as his eyes could see and it was raining cats and dogs. The sky seemed about to fall on him, but he didn't want to put off his travel a single day more. He put on his usual soccer tracksuit and, with no more luggage than an umbrella, he stuck to his guns and went outside. The storm greeted him by slapping his face with a wet newspaper that was flying around, but Shinichi didn't back off. He removed the blessed newspaper from his face, dried himself with his sleeve and, pushing through the gale thanks to his umbrella, he headed for the city's train station.
He had to run like never before, dodging people among slips caused by his wet trainers and trying to not swallow cement in the attempt, but he finally managed to get in the first train of the day and he even found a nice place to sit at.
After a long hour, a harsh braking woke Shinichi up all of a sudden, who saw himself flying towards the sir sitting in front of him and felt his skull cracking slightly as it hit the man's hard jaw. Shinichi apologised many times, but the string of drool that was still on his chin didn't say much in his favour. The man left cursing and sat somewhere else. Trying to ignore all the people who kept their eyes fixed on him after that unfortunate hitch, he checked where he was and he sighed in relief. At least, the braking arrived at a good time: the next stop was his.
He got off as discreetly as possible to avoid more accusing gazes, but he had to rush back inside and push every single passenger in his way because he had forgotten his umbrella, thus ruining all of his efforts to not attract the gazes of the whole car in such a negative manner again. The train almost left again with him inside, but he managed to exit in the last moment. The umbrella, however, got stuck in the car's door and was in a pretty bad way afterwards. He pulled it out and tried opening it: a couple of its ribs were hanging from a threat, but at least it could still shield him from the rain… for a while, at least.
He sighed. His life was composed of a disastrous error after another, but that was something he wasn't ready to accept. It was time to change, to become better and fight tooth and nail against the destiny that he had got. And more firmly decided than ever before to remodel himself, he went outside, he protected himself from the increasingly violent storm with his battered umbrella and he broke into a run towards his goal.
Facing the terrible wind and freezing cold of the morning, Shinichi managed to push through the weather and spot a huge building that rose among the fog. He did it: his final goal was just a few minutes away. From one moment to the next, the wind ceased and the rain ceased to fall, as if they gave up; or, at least, that's what it felt like to Shinichi, who considered that feat his first step towards the goal he had set for himself. He folded his umbrella and sprinted through the few metres between him and the orphanage that showed off on its entrance a wooden sign with the name "Ohisama-En" engraved on it.
He knocked on the door and, seconds later, a boy opened. He had orange eyes, suspiciously pointy ears and hair white as snow, shoulder-length and combed sideways. His gaze may seem wicked, but it actually just showed some innate naughtiness.
"W-who're you…?" Shinichi asked. The boy crossed his arms and leant against the door frame.
"Don't you think I should be the one askin' you?" He answered with a snort.
"Ah, y-yeah, I'm sorry. My… my name's Shinichi Handa," he said with a little bow. "Is Kiyama-san home…?"
"It's eight in the mornin' on Saturday; it'd be strange if 'e weren't 'ere. Actually, I think he's still asleep, like pretty much everyone else. But may I know where the heck you come from at this hour, lad?"
"I, eh… Well…" Shinichi stuttered, but then he stood straight and firmly said, "I must talk to him. It's… very important for me."
"I see," the boy said after a small pause. "Oh well, I guess you're serious. C'mon, come inside."
The boy led Shinichi to a spacious living room. The corridor was full of pictures of small children, among whom he thought to have recognised his host a couple of times.
"By the way, my name's Segata," the boy said. "Ryuuichirou Segata. And you were… 'Anda, right?"
The guest nodded with a small smile.
"I'll try to remember, but no promises 'ere." He shrugged. "I'm goin' to look for Kiyama. You sit by the kotatsu if you want."
Shinichi made himself comfortable in the kotatsu's little table and let himself be seduced by its delicious and relaxing warmth. When he was about to fall asleep again, a voice coming from some adjoining room woke him up.
"Handa-kun?" The voice asked. Shinichi looked in all directions and eventually found Hiroto, who came from what seemed to be the orphanage's kitchen loaded down with a tray where he brought a teapot and a big number of containers to serve its content.
"That was your name, was it not?" He said with a little giggle as he left the tray on the kotatsu's table. "Excuse me if I got it wrong, but my memory isn't especially good."
"No, no, Kiyama-san—you got it right…!" Shinichi exclaimed, happy to see that he still remembered him despite all the time that had passed. "How come you aren't asleep…?"
"For the love of Father Seijirou, you're soaking wet!" Hiroto said, paying no attention to Shinichi's question. "I'll bring you some clothes right now so you can get changed before you catch a cold or something worse."
Shinichi stuttered and tried to stop him, but seeing as there was no way to change his host's mind, he decided to let him do what his manners dictated him to. And he might indeed need to dry himself up a bit after such a flood.
Hiroto came back minutes later with a red and orange soccer uniform that Shinichi grimaced at.
"…Not a big fan of Lycra, are you?" Hiroto sighed with an understanding look on his face. "I'm very sorry, but I'm afraid I don't have any other clothes at hand. We left our laundry to dry under the sun and… well, nothing you don't already know. The others need what's left, and I wouldn't like to steal anyone's clothes either—please understand. I'm sorry I'm such a bad host, I truly am."
"I guess… I guess it doesn't matter. They're just clothes, right…?" Shinichi made an effort to smile as he stretched his arms for Hiroto to give him the spandex change of clothes that so greatly reminded him of Aliea's uniforms, along with everything that meant.
"I'm glad you're taking it so well. Should I leave you alone so you can get changed?"
"…If you don't mind…"
As soon as Hiroto left the living room, Shinichi took off his soaked tracksuit, folded it and left it on the floor as he put on the Lycra suit he was borrowing. Despite the bad memories it brought to him, he had to admit that it was incredibly comfortable and that it fit his body like a glove.
Minutes later, when Hiroto came back, he too was wearing a uniform like Shinichi's—according to him, so he wouldn't be the only one dressed like that and wouldn't feel so uncomfortable because of it. As he saw Shinichi was about to object, he hurried to add that, also, he had run out of dry clothes too, that he wasn't doing any kind of sacrifice for him and that, therefore, he shouldn't worry about it.
Hiroto took Shinichi's clothe somewhere where they wouldn't get in the way and, after that, he sat by the kotatsu next to him.
"I'm sorry you've to take so much trouble, Kiyama-san… The boy who opened [the door to?] me, Segata-san, told me you were probably still be sleeping…"
"Oh, Segata-kun?" Hiroto guffawed again. "He tends to ignore everyone and everything the rest do, but I actually wake up early almost every day to get the breakfast ready. He wakes up early too, but he spends his time lazing around in a variety of ways without paying the slightest attention to what the others do or don't do." Hiroto brought a cup closer to Shinichi and began to pour a steaming green tea in it. "What brings you here so early in the morning?"
"Well, you see… It's 'cause of something that's got me all obsessed for a while now, and… I think you're the only one who can help me."
"Oh, am I?" He asked with a smile on his lips as he poured tea in his own cup. "Please, tell me."
"I'm…" He gulped. "Useless."
Hiroto blinked, surprised, and left the teapot aside. He pushed Shinichi's cup towards him a bit more and said, "Come on, drink up. I think it will be better if you tell me once you have completely warmed up."
Shinichi nodded and took a small sip at the tea, burning his tongue up in the process.
"Oh. Sorry. I ought to have warned you that it is a bit hot."
Shinichi swallowed back his tears and his need to scream in pain and he carefully placed the cup on the table.
Hiroto brought him a glass of water and Shinichi drank it all up in one go.
"Better?" Hiroto asked. Shinichi nodded.
"…I think I've warmed up for a whole month."
Hiroto let out a shy giggle.
"I'm glad you are taking it with humour. I didn't know that, in addition to being a great soccer player, you were so funny too, Handa-kun."
Shinichi instantly threw his eyes downwards, redder from embarrassment than from how much his tongue burnt.
"No… You're wrong, Kiyama-san. If I came here's 'cause… I'm worthless. But I can't stand it anymore. I wanna stop being a filler player at Raimon, contribute something to the team that it doesn't already have…! I don't want the weight of the matches to keep on falling on capt'n, on Gouenji-kun and Kidou-kun… I'd like to help them, be useful to the team and… be recognised as a true player. I'd like to stop being just a zero."
Hiroto crossed his arms and, after a small pause, he said, "It's natural to feel that way—I perfectly understand. But why did you come to ask me for help? Don't you think you should talk it out with your teammates or with your coach, Handa-kun?"
Shinichi shook his head.
"No. If I asked them for help, I'd only turn into… into a bad copy of one of them, and that wouldn't help the team nor… me. If I came to ask for your help's because, during the match against The Ogre, you covered my position way better than I ever have…! The team felt very comfy, you took part in the offence and the defence… You contributed something to the match. And I thought you could teach me to, well, to play like you…"
Hiroto smiled.
"I would rather it if you followed your own path than tried to mimic me."
"B-but Raimon needs your strength, Kiyama-san…! Mine's not… not enough."
"You know, Handa-kun?" Hiroto asked. He took his time to hold the cup in his hands and take a drink. He stared at the cup and muttered to himself, "That's some good tea. I wonder where they bought it…" He turned his eyes to Shinichi again and continued, "It doesn't matter how strong you are, what you can do or the amount of goals you can score. What really makes the difference between a player useful to their team and a simple filler player is the confidence and courage, and I know only too well that every player at Raimon is brimming with talent in that sense. If you are able to bring up your nerve, you will find your own way to help your team."
"Then, won't you help me…?" Shinichi said, displeased and with downcast eyes.
"Quite the opposite. I would love to help you and teach you the little I know." Shinichi raised his head and a relieved and grateful expression appeared on his face. Hiroto continued, "I know what you are going through because I used to be the same, and nothing would make me happier than to help you bring out the strength sleeping within you. Also, much like you, I want some recognition too. Picture this: Hiroto Kiyama, the man who helped the great Shinichi Handa find his way and become a top-class soccer player! Don't you think it sounds great? I bet girls will chase me like an idol!" He laughed.
"What're you sayin' about 'ookin' up with girls?" A surprised Ryuuichirou Segata said, suddenly poking his head out the living room's door. Hiroto snorted.
"You only hear what you want to, huh, Segata-kun?"
"Enough with the lecture, Kiyama!" Segata answered. "Then, what do you say we 'ave to do for chicks to chase us?"
"N-no, Segata-san, it's not…"
"We would need to help Handa-kun," Hiroto cut him short. "I'm sure we will get many fans if we can turn him into a great player."
"But, Kiyama-san, what're you saying…?" Shinichi whispered.
"Please, play along for now," Hiroto answered, keeping the low voice. "Segata-kun is lazy as can be, but a great player nonetheless, and it would come in very hand if he lent me a hand at the time of helping you. We must offer him something that will motivate him or he will refuse to collaborate, and I'm afraid women are the only flank we can attack from for now. We mustn't waste this chance."
"What the 'ell are you whisperin'?!" Segata yelled. "C'mon, slacker, ain't no time to lose! CHICKS ARE WAITIN' FOR US!"
Segata broke into a run outside without paying the slightest attention to his two new practice pals nor to the fact that he was still wearing his pyjamas.
"Well, it looks like we got away with it," Hiroto laughed.
"Hey, Kiyama-san… What kinda training are we gonna do…?"
"Truth be told, I don't know," he answered very seriously. "So I think that I will simply keep my word and teach you the little I know."
"Didn't you say I didn't have to mimic you…?" Shinichi asked, confused.
"Teaching you is one thing, and mimicking me is another. The advice I may give you is nothing but that: advice. How you make use of it or how you put it into practice is your affair alone. I want you to turn it into something yours."
"Is it really okay to try to… change what you teach me and appropriate it? Isn't that like stealing…?"
"Don't think that way! I teach you because I want to and because I have faith that it will eventually serve you to improve. Let's say that I… hand over what I know. I have already given it plenty of use, and I don't think I will be able to cash in on it anymore. I think it will be better off in your hands: consider it a piece of clay that you can model as much as you want."
Shinichi made a confused grimace. He wasn't quite following Hiroto.
"But, uh… What… what are we talking 'bout, Kiyama-san…?"
"I warn you," Hiroto said very seriously, ignoring, once again, Shinichi's questions, "I'm not going to go easy on you. Mastering it isn't easy whatsoever, and you may never be able to do so, but it's a risk you must take. Are you ready to sacrifice yourself and train hard to achieve it?"
Shinichi gulped, trying to stay as serious as him at least in looks: under the kotatsu, where Hiroto couldn't see him, his hands and legs shook in pure fear.
"…Yeah! I've decided that I'll do anything to change and turn into a better person, and I'll do whatever it takes to achieve that…! I'm… I'm not gonna give up after coming so far!!"
"That is exactly what I wanted to hear," Hiroto smiled, going back to his usual attentive and kind self. "Tell me, Handa-kun, would you like to learn my Ryuusei Blade?"
Shinichi's face lit up like never before and he nodded like crazy.
"You will do great, Shinichi, you'll see! I'm sure you'll be able to face any challenge she brings up!"
"W-well, thanks for trusting me, Tsukushi-chan, but I'm not so sure…" Handa laughed as he scratched his cheek.
Then, he saw Yagami come back to the park accompanied by two figures he didn't take long to recognise.
"Hiroto-san, Segata-san…! What're you doing here…?"
"Yagami was lookin' for someone to 'elp 'er, and when I 'eard it was you, I didn't even think about it," Segata smiled. "Then, Kiyama 'itched 'imself to us uninvited. That gall though."
"Quit distorting reality, Segata-kun. It's you who tagged along because Izuno-kun was not here."
"Details, details!" Epsilon's former midfielder grumbled. "Trainin's what's important 'ere! Right, 'Anda?"
"Yeah…! Let's do our best, guys…!"
Yagami stared at the scene with a frown.
"They seem to get along fairly well, right?" Ootani noted.
"I guess so. At least, we might finish faster this way." She rose her voice and shouted, "Hey, Handa! Stop goofing around with those two and come here!"
Handa obeyed diligently and approached her, followed by his two training mates.
"What do you have in store for him, Reina?" Hiroto asked.
"If it's true that he wants to be a better forward and defender, he would better learn how to combine both facets." She turned her eyes to Handa and asked, "Do you already know how to block shots with shots?"
"Block shots with… shots?" Handa asked, tilting his head.
"I see you don't know your ass from your elbow," Yagami snorted. "Listen up, 'Shin-shin,' for I will only say this once. There are some shot techniques that, when used appropriately, may serve to block a foe's shots and even return them. But any rubbish won't do—just a limited number of hissatsus have the required strength and are precise enough to be used that way. I know it's useless to ask, but do you think you have any shot that may be used that way?"
"It sounds amazing, Yagami-sama, but…" Handa whined, crestfallen. "I doubt any of mine works, indeed…"
"Hold on, Handa-kun," Hiroto interrupted. "I think this might be the opportunity we were looking for."
"Ah…? Really?"
"Of course! You lose nothing for trying!"
"What do you think, Segata-san…?"
"Sure, why the 'eck not? It might be a matter of fate. Everything started 'ere, and 'ere it shall end. Sounds almost poetic, uh?" He snickered.
"May I know what the Hell you're talking about, imbeciles!?" Yagami shouted, sick of feeling left out.
"Yagami-sama, you think Ryuusei Blade could be used that way…?"
"What do you mean with Ryuusei—?" Yagami stuttered. "Does this useless punk know how to use your Ryuusei Blade, Hiroto?!"
"And masterfully so, too," Hiroto said with a certain air of pride. "Who knows, Reina. He might not be as useless as you think him to be."
Handa stared at the floor and scratched his nose in embarrassment.
So this idiot has been able to mimic Hiroto… Not half bad. He might actually be interesting, after all, Yagami thought. After a pause, and avoiding Hiroto's comment, she stated:
"It should work perfectly, yes. It all depends on how fast you learn how to do it."
"You would be surprised, Reina," Hiroto smiled. "Trust me—he is very talented."
"…Ootani, the ball. Handa, head to the goal. You two, with me."
Ootani threw the ball at Yagami's feet with a precise kick while everyone else got into position.
"Ready or not, Handa, here we come!"
With a movement of her arms, Yagami indicated to them to jump. She crouched down, tensed her muscles and clenched her fists. Instantly, a circle of a bright blue colour appeared around her and, seconds after, it burst into flames, creating a small barrier and surrounding Yagami completely. Then, one by one, five dark green penguins dressed like small astronauts poked their beaks out of the ground and shot out into the sky under Yagami's command, who directed and coordinated their flight through the movements of her arm much like a conductor guides their orchestra. The penguins, flying in formation, carried the ball in the middle of the pentagon their formation drew.
"Space Penguin!" The three of them shouted when Hiroto and Segata, in the middle of the air, kicked together the ball the penguins were carrying with them. The ball, overflowing with power, went out of control and began to fly around aimlessly, but the penguins took charge of correcting its trajectory and line it up towards Handa.
He jumped.
"Ryuusei Bl—!"
The ball hit Handa on the face and made him fall on the grass head first.
"'Ey, gorgeous, what's a beautiful girl like you doin' in a place like this?"
"Me? I came to help Shinichi. That's all."
"Are you datin' or somethin'?"
"Oh, no! Why do you ask?"
"Nothing, nothing~ Listen, babe, since it's your first time 'ere, would you like to remember it forever?"
"Yes, of course!"
"Heh heh heh…~ Then, y'know what? I'm an expert at creatin' unforgettable memories. And… I've a couple of suggestions for the two of us to 'ave a great time, if y'know what I mean."
"…I actually don't know, but I don't need it, thanks. All I need to have a good time is help Shinichi!"
"I… I see. And what 'bout me, beautiful? Are you gonna leave me 'ere starvin'?"
"No, of course not!"
"Really!?"
"Sure! You have food in the fridge. Oh, I know—you can't cook! Then, don't worry—I'll get something ready for in a moment! Wait here!"
"No, wait! That's not what I—!"
Segata could only sigh as he watched Ootani be off like a shot downstairs without paying him the slightest attention.
"You try too hard, Segata-kun," Hiroto smiled.
"Y-you shut up, Kiyama! And this guy 'ere, until when's 'e plannin' to sleep? Wake the 'ell up already, 'Anda!"
Segata hit Handa in the face and he woke with a start.
"BLAAAADE!" He shouted, sitting up as soon as he woke up as if he had a spring on his back. "Wait, what…?"
Handa looked around. He wasn't in a soccer field, but in a small, classic style room, lying on a futon and properly tucked in it.
"Finally!" Segata snorted, exasperated. "Man, whatta way to sleep! You've been snorin' for 'ours!"
"But, what happened…? Where are we?"
"What 'appened? The ball dotted you one on the face, you fell and fainted from the blow—that's what. It's a miracle you didn't break anythin'. You're made of stone!"
Segata gave Handa a loud pat on the back. His spine just barely stayed in one piece.
"We had to bring you here on our backs," Hiroto added. "We were worried—especially your friend."
"There's no way to 'it on 'er! Who must I sell my soul to so she'll pay some attention to me, man?"
Handa blushed slightly and shrugged. Segata snorted angrily and lay down on his futon with his hands behind his head.
"Thanks for bringing me here, guys," Handa said eventually.
"Reina did almost all the work—thank her when you see her," Hiroto replied.
"Yagami-sama… did that?"
"Few times have I seen her act like that. You should feel lucky, Handa-kun."
"Y-yeah… Sure."
Segata began to sniff.
"Can you smell that?" He asked with a smile. "My mouth's waterin'. What the 'ell could that be?"
"Didn't Handa-kun's friend say she would cook something for you? That might be it."
"That's true! Hah! Well, if I ain't gonna get anythin' goin' with 'er, might as well pig out. Smell you later!"
And he strode away to the kitchen.
"He's hopeless," Hiroto laughed.
"What time's it?" Handa asked.
"About… 3 in the morning, give or take."
"W-what?! And why aren't you sleeping…?"
"We were waiting for you to wake up. As I said, you got us worried."
"Ah, I… I'm sorry. We lost a full afternoon of practice because of me. I'm only gonna be here for one more day, and…"
Hiroto patted Handa's shoulder.
"Don't say that—it was a productive day. At least you learnt things, didn't you?"
"I did…"
"And we now know that it's your tempo that's flawed. We will have to work on that coordination… although, after that mistake, Reina will get even tougher. Beware."
"I feared that…" Handa sobbed.
"Cheer up!" Hiroto exclaimed. "You have already gone through difficult practice before, right? And it isn't the first time a Raimon player excels himself when time is against him. You carry that in your genes, so don't worry. Everything will work out."
"Yeah… Hope so. Thanks, Hiroto-san."
"No need to thank me. Now, come on, sleep. I don't know if fainting counts as sleeping, but judging by how you woke up, I would say you didn't rest at all."
"You're right. I feel even more tired than—"
Handa's belly roared loudly.
"…You think there might be any of Tsukushi-chan's food left?"
"The smell of food is still reaching me, but you should go down and check."
Handa flashed out of the room and headed to the kitchen. Hiroto, from the top floor, could hear how Handa swept with the leftovers to the chagrin of Segata.
He lay down on the futon, tucked himself in and closed his eyes. A rough day was waiting for him, but he did it all for the sake of his friend.
Now, it was his time to find his way, much like he had found it when he met Endou.
And, right before falling asleep, an idea crossed Hiroto's mind. And it was that Endou and Handa, somehow, were very similar. Although he couldn't tell in what sense nor how.
"I… I can't keep going…"
"Stand up, Handa-kun! You promised me you wouldn't give up!"
"But, K-Kiyama-san… I can't move! My… my whole body hurts…! I can't even stay on my feet…"
"Let 'im be, Kiyama. This guy ain't worth shit. I'm afraid there'll be no chicks for us."
Shinichi lay face down and struggled to stand up and face his destiny again, but his legs were not responding. The rain had come back minutes earlier, but that changed nothing: his spandex uniform was already drenched in sweat. Hiroto, standing next to him, frowned and looked at him with bad eyes. Segata, from the goal, shook his head and clicked his tongue, looking down on the newcomer's skills.
"And you really expected this fella to turn into a great player? 'E ain't even able to stay on 'is feet! I'd 'ave liked to see this guy withstandin' Neo Japan's practice! Hah!"
"I might have been wrong with him, Segata-kun. He promised to do his best and now he can't even stand up. How… pathetic."
Shinichi closed his right hand around a tuft of grass and squeezed it, trying to let go of some rage. He was trying his hardest, following Hiroto's indications and even Segata's to the best of his abilities, but he wasn't achieving absolutely anything. He had spent hours jumping, shooting, failing and falling on the hard floor from great heights, and his body couldn't take any more. His muscles, bones and skin were in pain. It was tough to breathe and his heart was pounding so hard that he thought he would escape from his chest any minute now.
He closed his eyes, clenched his jaw and let tears roll down his face and get lost in the grass, hidden among the rain drops that besieged the area. He was about to faint from sheer pain, but it wasn't pain what was making him cry. It was frustration. He had put his mind on changing, improving and turning into someone better through effort and guts, but he had failed right at the beginning. He had barely taken one step before falling to the ground, defeated by his own demons. He didn't have what it takes to fulfil the incredible purposes he had set on himself.
Then, he thought of his Raimon teammates. Those who had always helped him fight all of his battles no matter how tough they were. Those who had been the surge of his strength for so long. And then he began to cry not only due to frustration, but also due to loneliness, because none of them were there now to support him, to cheer on him and to watch his back.
It was him against the world, and the world had won.
"Heh… And to think Endou-kun had spoken so nicely about you…"
Shinichi opened his eyes and stopped crying.
"W-what…?"
"I had understood that you were amazing," Hiroto pointed out. "Endou-kun used to talk very nicely about all of the Raimon teammates he had left behind, but you were his favourite. During the FFI, he always lamented the fact that you hadn't been selected. He would have loved it if the three founders of Raimon had faced the world together."
"Really…? Capt'n… thought of me?" Shinichi whispered.
"Yes, but I am not able to understand why. He used to say you had so much potential, that you would eventually make it to the national team, that you were more than qualified to face anyone… And look at you now. Lying on the floor, unable to stand up to persevere in fulfilling the promises you made to yourself nor respond to his hopes. And to think that he trusted you so much… Endou-kun, you are too passion-driven. You shouldn't get carried away by your feelings when it comes to judging someone's capacities."
Shinichi looked at the ground with a sad face and tried to gulp, but he couldn't: he had a huge lump in his throat.
Capt'n trusted me… No. He still trusts me; he always has. He's been waiting for me for such a long time, convinced that I'd grow stronger, but I… I'm betraying his trust. I gave up and stopped fighting…
Shinichi pulled out the tuft of grass he was grabbing and he squeezed it tightly. He opened his hand and stared as the wet earth and the grass blades fell on the ground again.
"Cap... t'n…!" Shinichi wailed, dragging his knees across the floor. Hiroto raised his brows, surprised.
He set his hands on the earth and dragged a foot until he could set it on the floor properly. He lightly propelled himself upwards with his hands and set his other foot on the ground. He wasn't standing up straight yet, but at least his two legs were holding him again.
"The capt'n's still… waiting for me…"
He rested his hands on his knees and he straightened his back slightly, although his body was still curved.
"I want… I want to face anyone! I want to face anyone…!"
Shinichi broke into a run towards the ball, tripping constantly at first, but improving at every step, straightening up, increasing his speed and stability as he repeated his personal mantra again and again.
"I want to be a valuable member of Raimon!!"
He began to sprint forwards, being observed by Hiroto at all times.
"Segata-kun, beware!" Hiroto shouted.
"What?! Y-yeah!"
Shinichi kicked the ball hard, sending it flying.
He leapt as high as he could and he spun, placing his body almost horizontally in mid-air. He took a quick glance at the ball, which was already coming back down to the floor after his kick, and then he fixed his gaze on his objective, the goal, just like Hiroto had taught him to do.
"Ryuusei…!"
Shinichi kicked upwards extremely hard, making full contact with the ball and sparking off a blinding violet light that condensed within itself and tuned into a true universal explosion.
"…Blade!!" Shinichi shouted with all of his might.
Making use of all of the strength left in his legs, he dragged that enormous amount of energy towards the goal through a volley kick and turned it into an extremely powerful shot that, shrouded in a flickering energy, spawned huge explosions and rifted time-space in two in its path.
"C'MOOON!" Shinichi shouted as he fell to the floor, staring at the explosion intently.
Segata raised his hand and an electric ball appeared on it, which turned into the link between his body and the gigantic drill that had suddenly appeared on its other end.
"Drill Smasher!!" He shouted, facing the tip of the drill towards the huge explosion that was falling on top of him and making it spin at full force to try and stop the shot.
Impossible… Hiroto thought as he saw how the drill broke into pieces and the ball hit Segata before lodging into the back of the goal. How… how did he manage to master the Ryuusei Blade in just a few hours…!? Endou-kun, is this what you were talking about?
Shinichi fell on his butt and ended up plumping down on the ground, almost unable to move. After letting out some whines and making a titanic effort to sit up even halfway, he took a glimpse at the goal. Segata was lying on the floor and the ball was right behind him.
"I… s-scored…"
Hiroto tried to repress himself, but ended up bursting into a happy and loud laugh as he approached Shinichi slowly.
"Impressive, Handa-kun," Hiroto smiled. "Truly impressive. I knew you were astonishing, but I didn't think you could reach such levels."
Shinichi stared at him from the ground, still somewhat dazed. A few seconds later, a smile poked out on his face.
"Oh, and I beg your pardon for being so harsh to you," Hiroto mumbled eventually, looking away slightly and scratching his neck. "I thought it convenient to push you to keep practising somehow, but I'm afraid I went a bit too far. My apologies."
"'Sokay…" Shinichi puffed, looking at his chest. His uniform was drenched in mud and getting stuck to his skin due to the rain. "It was nice to think all of that was true, even if only for a second…"
"Hmm? And who says it isn't?"
Shinichi looked at Hiroto again.
"I didn't make anything up, Handa-kun," he continued. "I would never put words they haven't said in anyone's mouth, not even in a case like this. I'm sorry to have twisted his words to put pressure on you, but I can assure you that I haven't said anything that he didn't tell me directly before. Endou-kun might be passion-driven, but he can appraise talent when he sees it, and he always told me that Raimon, his Raimon, the original one, was full of true geniuses. Your talent may not be as visible as Gouenji-kun's or Kidou-kun's, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Your talent is born from your passion, from your teamwork and from your love for soccer, not from a natural gift the universe has gifted some with." Hiroto made a pause and let out a guffaw, surprised of himself. "Well, that was odd. I think I spend too much time with Endou-kun, ha ha!"
Shinichi smiled softly and asked:
"Then, what you said about me, was that also true…?"
Hiroto stopped laughing, but kept a small smile on his face.
"But of course," he added. "Endou-kun told me many a story about the team's first year. Kino-san, Someoka-kun, he and you, all together in the club room, training day after day under the rain or on the snow. That's why he was so terribly sad to see nor Someoka-kun nor you made it to the national team from the get go. When Someoka-kun was chosen later, he was greatly overjoyed, of course, but they both missed you very much still. Endou-kun always thought you would have been of great help in the world tournament—truth is, Someoka-kun and he sang the praises for you. It's quite funny, because none of the others had any idea of who you were…" Hiroto laughed again, but he stopped immediately as soon as he saw Handa hadn't tagged along this time. "T-thing is… Thing is that he was convinced that you were an extraordinary player, and he would end up telling me all about that, of course."
"I'd no idea capt'n and you were so close, Kiyama-san…"
"Oh, no… I mean, yes, we are good friends, but, actually, Endou-kun is, let's say… very unselective in that sense. He thinks of all of the members of his team as close friends and he doesn't hesitate to share his joy and his despair with the first person who crosses his way, but I'm sure you already knew that." Shinichi nodded weakly. "I simply happened to be in the right place at the right time, it seems, although I'm not complaining: I found his company very pleasant from the very day I met him."
"Yeah… I get what you mean. Capt'n's… special, as if he were the piece that keeps the team together and pushes us to improve. I don't think any of us would be what we are now without him… He's one incredible person. I think… I think meeting him's the best thing that's ever happened to me. I wish I could be like him sometimes…"
"Do you envy him, by any chance?" Hiroto asked, looking at him in an inquisitive way.
"I… used to envy him, y-yeah. He's what I've never been and I'll never be, and that… made me feel weird, as if I was worthless next to him. …I've never been very useful, y'know? People ignore me and think I'm useless just 'cause I don't stand out. Still, capt'n never goes unnoticed: whenever he arrives somewhere, all the gazes end up turning his way for some reason." He let out a silly laugh and continued, "But, y'know what…?" Shinichi looked at the floor and smiled to himself. "I don't care about that anymore. Capt'n's special, but he's special 'cause he's himself. If I tried to be like him, I'd be being who I'm not… and that wouldn't take me anywhere. I've ended up understanding that I must try to be someone important… for who I am. And being able to think like that's something I owe to capt'n. I wish I could repay him for everything he's done for me throughout the years…"
Hiroto nodded, satisfied by the answer he had just heard. Shinichi's words were shaky, but firm and convincing, and that was all Hiroto needed to know that he was being sincere with him and with himself.
"Come on, get off the ground," Hiroto said, stretching his hand to Shinichi. "You're getting covered in mud, and let me remind you that I'll be the one washing that uniform."
Shinichi looked at Hiroto again, but he could barely see him: his eyes were half-closed and glassy from tears. Despite that, he held Hiroto's hand and stood up. Once he had it by his side, Hiroto ran a thumb through his left eye and said in a solemn voice:
"Be strong: heroes don't cry. What would Endou-kun think if he saw you now?"
"Y-you're right…" Shinichi whined, wiping the tears from both eyes with his fists. "…Thanks, Kiyama-san."
"Oh, come on, drop that formality. We are friends, aren't we? You may call me Hiroto."
"Alright, Hiroto…san."
Hiroto sighed and shrugged.
"Oh well… I guess it's a beginning."
Shinichi turned his head towards Segata, who was uselessly trying to wring the mud out of his hair with his hands. It was certainly obvious that he used to ignore everyone and everything everyone else did.
The snores of a stuffed and satisfied Segata filled the Ohisama-En with their calm resonance, lulling softly those who were already used to his rhythmical breathing and inducing chronic insomnia on Handa, who had to put up with them from just a few millimetres away. Raimon's midfielder ended up eventually giving up and got up again; this time, unseen by anyone.
He thought he could use some fresh air, so he went downstairs and headed for the sliding door that led to the garden. He was hoping he could enjoy some peace and quiet—something he hadn't been able to experience for a few days now.
He wasn't expecting it, but he wasn't too surprised either when he saw that Kageno and Shourin had had the same idea as him. The friends greeted each other in silence, as if they took the others' presence for granted, and Handa sat down quietly on the porch, right between them.
"How'd that go, guys…?" He asked.
"Not too well, but what can we do… We'll keep trying, hu hu hu…~" Kageno said with his always deep and frightening voice, which sounded even more sinister when he laughed.
"Yes~!" Shourin added. "When Yagami took Kiyama, it was Kira-san who trained us, and he sure is strong~! We didn't stand a chance despite being two against one! Right, Kageno?"
"No… He might be a businessman now, but he is still amazing…" Kageno convened.
"I'm really glad you think so, truth be told," said Hiroto Kira's happy voice at their back. He came closer and sat down next to the group of young guests.
"What're you doing awake at this hour, president Hiroto…?" Handa asked.
"President?" Kira laughed. "Well, I guess I can't ask any more from you, can I, Handa-kun? You have always been so formal in that sense." He looked at the starry sky and continued, "Midorikawa kept me busy until now. I'm his superior and he is the one treating me like a slave…! It's kind of depressing when you think about it." He let out a happy chuckle and turned his head towards the boys. "And what about you?"
"We were too excited to sleep!" Shourin exclaimed. Handa nodded in silence in order to not admit that the cause of his insomnia were Segata's monstrous growls, thinking that, deep inside, he must had been the only one who was really bothered by them.
"Yes…" Kageno continued. "We have been here for two days now and we haven't achieved anything… It looks like it is our destiny for our presence to be hidden in the shadows forever…"
A chill went down Handa's spine as he heard Kageno's phantasmagorical voice pitying himself once more due to his lack of presence.
"He's right. No matter how hard we try, we don't manage to improve our hissatsus!" Shourin, sulking like a kid, crossed his arms and wrinkled his nose.
"Where in the world did you get that idea from, I wonder?" Kira said out loud even though it was actually a question for himself. "Of course you have improved, boys! In fact, I am surprised by how extremely fast you are moving forward. It's something out of this world… and that's a lot coming from an alien," he laughed.
"But we haven't managed to dribble you a single time, and we have been trying all day!"
"Well, boys, I would appreciate it if you gave me a certain… vote of confidence. I'm older than you, and I still got it even though I haven't played in a while!" He laughed. "Modesty aside, I'm no pushover—it's only natural not to be able to beat me off the bat. But trust me if I say that Yagami and the young Hiroto would have to exert themselves much more if they wanted to take the ball from you now; I'm amazed by what a few hours of training achieved. Also," he stretched and began to massage one of his shoulders, "you left me shattered. And Midorikawa scolded me for starting my work late. A total twofer."
Kageno approached Kira and began to massage his back.
"Goodness, that feels nice…!" Kira meowed. "You have got some miraculous hands, Kageno-kun. What was I saying? O-oh, right. You must always remember that you are teammates, and that if you are in the same team is to support each other. If your strengths are ever not enough on their own, put them together!"
Without anyone noticing, Handa looked down.
"In fact," Kira continued, "it surprised me a great deal that you didn't come at me together, boys. It's likely you would have been able to beat me if you had worked together."
"Really…?" Kageno whispered, making the most out of his strategical position.
"Of course! You are extraordinary players, but your strength is born mostly from teamwork. You must always keep that in mind."
Once the massage was over, Kira Company's new CEO thanked Kageno repeatedly, he stood up and went to sleep, where he went out like a light. Handa and his teammates stayed awake for a bit longer—among other things, because Handa could still hear Segata's snores thundering from the top floor and he wouldn't make up his mind to go back to bed.
"The sky's full of stars…" Handa whispered. His two friends nodded. Handa raised his arm to the sky and closed his hand, as if he were grabbing a bunch of different heavenly objects. "You can't see this many from Tokyo…"
"Do you think this training is really useful?" Shourin asked, not quite convinced.
Kageno pondered, but Handa nodded firmly.
"…Yeah. After all, it's a special training designed by the capt'n…!"
"That's true, Handa, but…" Kageno puffed, "I don't know just how strong we are becoming. I can't feel anything…"
"Y'know what…? I… I think it's not just a matter of becoming stronger. I think that if Endou-san brought us here's 'cause he wanted us to… open ourselves, to know soccer outside of Raimon, 'cause that'd make us better players. What's here's a soccer that's very different to ours, and there's a ton to learn from it in many sense. …I guess, at least."
"Did you think of a way to become stronger, Handa?" Shourin asked.
"…Kinda, but I need your help. Will you help me out tomorrow…?"
Shourin and Kageno smiled.
"No need to ask~!"
"We'll be with you until the end, Handa…"
"Guys…" Handa smiled.
Segata's snoring stopped all of a sudden, telling Handa that his day had officially ended.