~ Chapter Three: Facing reality ~

Miyu's P.O.V.

The next morning I woke up, I immediately felt good.

''Ohayo!'' I said to Kariya, when I entered the dining room.

''Ohayo.'' He replied.

I fetched my breakfast and sat down next to him.

''Are you excited too?'' I asked Kariya.

''You mean, for the match?'' He asked me.

I nodded.

''Yeah, kinda.'' He said with a smile.

I smiled too.

''I'm really curious about who our opponent will be. Kantoku didn't want to tell us.'' I said.

Kariya nodded.

''We'll see soon enough.'' He said.

We finished our breakfast, putted on our soccer clothes and made our way to the soccer field.

''I hope they're not really strong.'' I said a bit worried.

''Are you still insecure about the fact that you're the only girl in the team?'' Kariya asked me.

I nodded.

''Yeah, I'm always scared that people will laugh at me and will call me weak.'' I said soft.

Kariya rubbed my back.

''Hey, don't worry about that. You're definitely not weak. Otherwise, you wouldn't be a part of the team. You're just as good as all the boys out there.'' He said soothing to me.

I smiled at him.

''Arigato, Kari-kun.'' I said to him.

''You're welcome, Miyu-chan.'' He replied.

Then, we entered the soccer field. We already saw kantoku, trainer, our advisor and almost everybody of the team.

''Wow, everybody sure is early.'' Kariya said.

I nodded. We entered the field and greeted the others.

''Thanks for being able to come so soon.'' Kantoku said.

''I'm so thrilled.'' I replied at him.

He smiled his bright smile at me.

''Who's going to be our opponent?'' Hamiya asked curious.

''That'll be a surprise.'' Kantoku said with a wink.

Everybody pouted. I sighted and begged that they wouldn't be mean to me. I've been bullied enough.

''Miyu-chan, something wrong?'' Kariya asked me worried.

I shook my head.

''N-No!'' I replied.

He smiled at me.

''If there's something. Don't be scared to tell me. I'm your best friend.'' He said.

''Hai!'' I replied to him.

Then, we started with the warming-up. I ran some rounds around the soccer field, stretched my muscled and practiced passing with Kariya. Then, we heard a familiar voice.

''Ah, so you are the mysterious opponents.'' Amemiya Taiyou said to the team.

''T-Taiyou-sempai!'' I shouted, but he didn't hear me.

I immediately turned red.

''You're not going to tell me that they're our opponents.'' Shindou said.

''Believe it or not, but they are.'' Kantoku said.

''This will be a tough fight.'' Kirino said.

''Let's give everything we've got.'' Shinsuke said.

''AH!'' Everybody shouted, while they putted their fists into the air.

I still stood there, speechless. I couldn't believe that Taiyou was our opponent.

''Oi, Miyu-chan? Are you all right?'' Kariya asked worried.

''Uhu. Don't worry, Kari-kun.'' I replied.

Kariya sighted.

''I can't believe they're our opponents.'' He said.

''Yeah.'' I replied.

Then, Taiyou noticed me.

''Oi, Mira-chan!'' He exclaimed happily and walked towards me.

A huge blush appeared on my cheeks.

''H-Hi, Taiyou-sempai.'' I replied.

''Please, don't be so formal.'' He said laughing to me.

I blush harder.

''Are you all right?'' Taiyou asked me.

I nodded.

''Y-Yeah, just a little bit nervous.'' I replied.

He smiled.

''Don't worry. We're going to have fun.'' He said, while he gave me a thumbs up.

I smiled back and I saw Kariya standing beside me with a huge grin. I gave him a elbow.

''Hey!'' He shouted, while he rubbed the place where I hit him.

I gave him an angelic smile.

''Nane, Kari-kun?'' I asked him with a sweet voice.

''Nothing…'' He growled and walked away.

I laughed and Taiyou laughed too.

''Well, I'm going to my team now. I'll see you on the field.'' Taiyou said to me, while he walked away.

''All right!'' I replied to him.

Then, I sighted.

''Miyu is in lo-ove.'' Kariya sang teasingly.

''Oh, shut up, Kariya.'' I replied.

Kariya grinned.

''Do you want me to call Kosaka Yukie for you?'' I asked innocent.

Kariya started to blush.

''What? NO!'' He shouted.

I grinned.

''Well then. Stop teasing me.'' I said.

''F-Fine.'' Kariya said blushing, while he turned his face away from him.

''Minna, take your positions.'' I heard Shindou say.

''Kari-kun, let's go.'' I said to Kariya and we walked towards the field.

I took my position as a midfielder, but I got the instructions to dash forward sometimes if I need to.

''All right, minna! Let's get them.'' Shindou said.

''AH!'' Everybody replied again.

I gulped and stood steady on my position. The whistle scared me and I quickly had to come to my senses, because the game had started. Then, something crossed my mind. I forgot to take my medicines! I have to take medicines every day, because I'm having the same illness my sister had. Only I have a lighter form, so I'm not going to die. Only my body is very weak and without my medicines, I could get in danger. But I didn't want to show the team that, so I acted like normal.

''Over here!'' I shouted at Kariya.

He passed the ball to me and I started to ran forward. A midfielder of the other team came closer.

''Rainbow Dash!'' I shouted.

I started to accelerate and dodged him easily. I smiled and ran further.

''Shindou-san!'' I shouted, while I kicked the ball towards him.

I was already panting, which was really odd.

''Stupid medicine. Stupid illness.'' I growled to myself.

I shook my head and ignored my body. I quickly ran forward together with Shindou and Tsurugi.

''Tsurugi!'' Shindou shouted and he passed the ball towards him.

Tsurugi tried to make a shoot, but his path was getting blocked by the defenders. He quickly passed it towards me and I saw a small gap. I used it and stood face to face with the keeper.

''Cloud Nine!'' I shouted, while I jumped in the air.

A pink cloud appeared and I jumped on it. Then, I let myself drop, which gave me speed and I used that speed to kick the ball. It whizzed towards the keeper.

''You're not getting through.'' He shouted.

He released his Keshin and blocked my ball easily. I growled, because I didn't have a Keshin.

''Better luck next time.'' The keeper grinned at me, before he threw the ball towards Taiyou.

''Ike, Taiyou.'' The keeper shouted.

I ran back to the other side of the field. Taiyou sprinted forward and easily dodged my teammates. I gulped.

''Oh no…'' I whispered.

Taiyou released his Keshin and made a shoot. Sangoku couldn't save it and Taiyou's team took the first point.

''Yosh!'' Taiyou said happily.

I still was panting very hard from the action I made. I felt a little light headed, but I didn't gave in. The kick-off was for our team and we gave our all. Unfortunately, when it was half-time, we still didn't score a point.

''Damn it, they're strong.'' Kariya said.

''I guess we all have to work harder then.'' I said soft.

I didn't want the attention to be drawn at me.

''Miyumira is right. We have to work harder.'' Shindou said.

''But first, drink something.'' Midori said, while she handed everybody a bottle.

Akane took pictures of everybody and Aoi talked with some players. I sighted. I wish I could be more open like them. Well, Akane is just as shy as I am, but Aoi and Midori are loud girls.

''Something wrong?'' I heard the sweet voice of Akane.

''No, not really.'' I replied to her with a smile.

''I got some really cute pictures of Shin-sama and the others. Wanna see them?'' She asked me.

''Hai, of course.'' I replied.

Akane showed me the pictures and she even took some pictures of me when I was doing Rainbow Dash and Cloud Nine.

''Arigato, Akane-san.'' I said to her with a smile.

''I'm glad I have them.'' She replied.

Then, Shindou beckoned her. Akane turned red.

''Go.'' I said to her with a wink.

Akane walked towards him and I watched the two of them. I also saw that Aoi and Tenma were getting along really well. The same goes for Midori and Nishiki. I sighted and turned my glare towards Taiyou. Then, I got really red, because I discovered he was glaring at me already. He quickly turned his gaze away from me. I giggled.

''I saw that.'' Kariya said grinning towards me.

''Two words. Phone. Call.'' I said threatening to Kariya.

He flinched and backed away. I laughed.

''Minna, time for the second half!'' Aoi shouted.

''AH!'' We all shouted again.

I headed back to my position and waited for the kick-off. The break made me feel a little better, but I still felt that I wasn't in a good shape, because of my illness.

''Don't complain. Just go.'' I told myself.

After the whistle, I dashed forward, made a sliding and immediately stole the ball.

''Nice one, Miyumira.'' I heard Tenma say behind me.

I smiled and ran further.

''Kurama!'' I shouted, before I made a pass to the blue-haired teen.

He received it well and passed it further towards Tsurugi. This time, there was another gap and Tsurugi used it. He released his avatar.

''Lost Angel!'' He shouted, before he kicked the ball towards the goal.

The keeper released his avatar too and tried to stop the ball, but Tsurugi's shot was too strong and it made it into the goal.

''GOAL!'' My teammates shouted.

They all ran happily to Tsurugi and congratulated him. I panted a bit. I couldn't use my body to the fullest.

''Nice action back there, Miyumira.'' Tsurugi complimented me.

''A-Arigato.'' I replied shy.

My cheeks turned crimson.

''Let's continue!'' Shindou shouted.

The kick-off was for Taiyou's team and he took it along with a teammate. I ran towards him.

''Blooming Rose!'' I shouted.

I managed to take the ball, but I was panting heavily. For a second, I thought I saw the worrying eyes of Taiyou, but I already ran past him so I couldn't see it clearly.

''Go, Miyumira!'' I heard my teammates behind me.

I ran towards the goal on my own power. I had to dodge some players for that and it took a lot of my energy. But finally, I made it. I stood steady and took a deep breath. Then, I made a normal shot and immediately ran back, without looking if my shot would make it. I grinned, because I knew the keeper would punch it away with his fists. My expectations were true and the ball flew back towards my feet. I was quite a distance from the goal now, but the path towards it was clear. I gathered power and kicked the ball.

''Pounding Heartbeat!'' I shouted.

The ball got a red glow and with every pump, it flew faster.

''It can't be.'' The keeper said shocked.

There was no way he could've blocked it. The ball whizzed into the goal. I smiled bright.

''I made it!'' I said.

''Sugoi, Miyumira!'' The other said to me.

Now we were taking the lead. I felt my head ache and my vision became blurry. I knew I was giving to much of myself. I only didn't want to give up so I begged that kantoku wouldn't see that I was having struggles. Otherwise, he would take me off the field. Unfortunately, Kariya knew what was going on. His eyes stood worried. I gave him a weak smile and tried to convince him that I was okay. We gave our all in the last part of the second half. I was running, sliding, jumping, kicking, passing, dribbling and shouting. I really wanted to win this game. I actually didn't knew why. Still, I had a slight suspicion.

''I don't want to look weak in front of Taiyou-sempai. I have to give it my all.'' I whispered to myself.

Then, suddenly, our defense wasn't paying attention and the opposite team easily broke through. The second goal for them was easily made and we were tied again.

''No way…'' Kariya said pouting.

''We have to fight harder!'' Tenma pepped up the team.

''Come on, minna!'' Shindou shouted.

The kick-off was taken and I knew it would be the last one. The match was reaching his end and if we wanted to win, we had to do it right now.

''Shindou-san!'' I shouted, while I ran forward.

''Miyumira!'' Shindou shouted, while he shot the ball towards me.

I smiled at him and he knew what I was trying to do. He winked and I smiled at the other players. Soon, everybody knew what I was trying to do.

''Hissatsu Tactics…'' Shindou began.

''Cheerleader Squad!'' I finished the sentence.

I placed the ball between my feet and made flick-flacks to dodge the other opponents. I passed the ball towards Tenma, who made a summersault over an opponent. Then, the ball was getting kicked towards Shindou. He performed some acrobatic moves too. Before we knew it, we reached the goal. I only trusted one person for the move I was going to make now and Kariya ran forward, because he knew he was the person I was waiting for. He grabbed me by my wrist and threw me into the air. I threw my fist above my head and raised one knee. I felt a bit scared, because I knew this shot was taking a lot of energy from me and I was already tired from the entire match plus the acrobatic moves I just made.

''Only… this… shot…'' I said to myself.

When I reached the highest point in the air, I swung my leg behind and kicked the ball with all the strength I still carried inside of me. While the ball whizzed towards the goal, Kariya catched me and set me firm on the ground. I quickly could take a glance at the ball, who whizzed in the upper left corner.

''GOAL!'' My team shouted.

''We did it!'' Tenma exclaimed.

''WOOHOO!'' Kariya shouted.

Then, the sound of the whistle filled our ears. The end of the match was there.

''We did it! We've won!'' My team shouted.

I still didn't answer. I couldn't see anymore, because my vision was blurry, my head felt light and my legs couldn't carry my weight anymore. Before I knew it, I collapsed at the ground.

~ End of Chapter Three ~