Disclaimer: I don't own Ao no Kanata.

The gang arrived at the tournament the next day. Aoi then went for a walk and came across Shindou by himself.

"Doing well I see," Aoi greeted.

"Same to you," Shindou said.

"So I hear your first match will be against one of ours," Aoi stated.

"Yeah, Tobisawa I believe," Shindou said. "In truth I should I say it is Kurashina that I really want to face, but I have a short detour matter to take care of first."

"Detour?" Aoi asked.

"Tobisawa isn't too bad, but she has some flaws I noticed at the training camp, and they still are very much there," Shindou explained grimly.

"I see, well I hope she learns something from this," Aoi said.

Meanwhile, the girls and Masaya went to Misaki's booth.

"At long last I get to zipzap with that guy!" Misaki said pridefully.

"Misaki, Misaki!" Mashiro cheered repeatedly with two mini fans, earning sweat drops from the others.

"Be on your guard," Masaya warned. "This isn't some typical match."

"Yesss~" Misaki said, eager to play.

Shion was among the group this time.

"You sure you're feeling better?" Madoka asked Shion.

"Good as new!" he said with a brief shine to his white teeth and a thumb up for assurance.

"Good luck, Misaki-chan," Asuka said.

Misaki nodded and flew up to the starting point on the FC grid.

"...The match doesn't start for two more minutes," Masaya said, sweat dropping.

"She seems really eager for this," Madoka said.

"Tobisawa understands the essence of spirit!" Shion said.

"No no, please get that out of your mind," Madoka grumbled.

In time, Shindou's team arrived. "Where's Tobisawa?" Satou asked.

"There!" Rika pointed up at the grid.

Shindou chuckled. "It appears I kept her waiting," he said, flying up to the grid.

"Finally, I get to take you on!" Misaki stated, grinning.

"Indeed," Shindou said. "Are you not just a little too impatient?"

"Maybe, but I've been waiting for this ever since the training camp," Misaki admitted. "The world champion, I've wanted to zipzap with you ever since."

"I see," Shindou said before grinning. "Then I'll have to be sure to give you a good match."

"I would want nothing less!" Misaki said.

Shindou couldn't help but find her confidence amusing. She was different from Asuka, who was more cheerful. Misaki seemed more hot blooded in FC in comparison.

"Kunahama's gutsy Tobisawa will face off against the reighning champion from Takafuji, known as 'king of kings', Shindou!" Minori declared.

Misaki and Shindou got in position. A noise signaled their take off.

"Time for a dogfight!" Misaki said.

"Wait!" Masaya started, but she attempted to touch him, only for him to dodge and touch her in the back for a point. "I said listen!"

"I-I know!" Misaki said.

"Then take a shortcut to the next buoy!" Masaya ordered.

Shindou didn't take much time to touch the first buoy, and made his way towards Misaki, who stood in his way.

"You won't get away-ah!" Misaki missed a swipe as he ignored her and touched the second buoy. "Shoot!"

"Tobisawa is off to a rough start!" Minori noted. "Our champion has easily rattled his opposition playing like this! Will Tobisawa be able to handle such pressure better?"

Misaki went to another shortcut and tried again, but Shindou went past her with ease.

"Why won't he engage me!?" Misaki yelled, growing very irritated.

"He's focused on winning the match," Masaya pointed out as she for a third time took a shortcut. "This isn't like the training camp where he was lending a hand."

"...I will, I'll force him to face me in a dogfight!" Misaki yelled in anger.

"No, approach this more carefully!" Masaya tried to reason with her. "Misaki!"

She ignored his advice and charged Shindou.

"What happened?" Madoka wondered, noticing the clear disconnect from Masaya and Misaki by Masaya's words and frustration.

"What's wrong with her?" Mashiro asked, having heard her yelling.

Asuka stared with worry at Misaki, and then at Masaya who looked upset.

Aoi walked up to the group, and looked at the two challengers in the air.

Shindou sighed, dodging her reckless charge and stopped. "What? Finally in the mood?" Misaki taunted.

In response, he turned around and played her game as she so desperately wished. Before Misaki touched him, he swiftly knocked her off balance, and with a hand, touched her back for a point.

"Would you listen to me already!?" Masaya asked, becoming angry at this point.

"Don't wanna!" Misaki yelled, charging Shindou foolishly again, which allowed him once more to knock her off balance and touch her back again for a point.

"Oh boy, Tobisawa stays true to her charging style of play, but it is having no effect on Shindou!" Minori said.

Masaya glared at Misaki, as was Aoi. Now she was understanding what Shindou implied earlier.

"I'm not done!" Misaki said.

"...Nonsense," Shindou muttered before staring at her with a sharp glare.

Swiping her off balance, he touched her back and continued on his way. Misaki's anger was reaching a new extreme.

"He really ticks me off-" Misaki yelled.

"CALM DOWN ALREADY!" Masaya screamed through the head set, his patience completely gone, and surprising Mashiro and Asuka at his explosion.

"Not so loud-" Misaki started.

"Shut up and just listen for a change!" Masaya snapped, done with her arguing. "If you want to do any better, let your anger subside, and think rationally."

"I-I got it..." Misaki finally submitted.

"He's already saw through you waiting and trying to get him," Masaya started. "Then the next thing you can do is do something he wouldn't expect, then take that chance and touch the next buoy."

"Are you saying-" Misaki started.

"Exactly," Masaya said.

"Roger!" Misaki said, and invited Shindou to attack her by signaling with her hand. "Is Shindou-san afraid to engage me?"

"Very well, I'll do as you so desperately wish!" Shindou said, charging at her, but she flew down at the last minute, forcing him to shift in her directions. 'What's she trying to do? This is different than our fight before this moment.'

Misaki then stopped, startling him, and swiped him off balance as he grunted. She then stopped in place.

"That's...President watch out!" Satou yelled with urgency to Shindou via her head set.

As Shindou's eyes snapped open, he was touched in the back by Misaki.

"Alright Misaki-Senpai!" Mashiro cheered as the others smiled with her.

"Look at that, Tobisawa has performed a move pros use, the Air Kick Turn!" Minori declared with excitement. "And she touches the buoy and heads to the next."

Shindou's eyes grew more serious, and he took a shortcut. "Hey, you're not-" Satou started, noticing the serious vibe his movements gave off.

He waited at the road leading to the next buoy. "Don't worry, I have no intention of going that far," Shindou clarified. "Just happy to see Tobisawa get her act together."

"I'm going to get another point and have me some good ol udon-nyaa!" Misaki said, having one of her rare cat noises this time.

Misaki managed to get him off balance, and to her joy scored on his back. The match ended in her loss, but she felt satisfied, as if she had did well now that she cooled her head.

"Woah, I didn't know he could make faces like that!" Madoka said, recalling the brief glimpse.

"Well he tries to normally look cool in matches, but that's his real FC self," Aoi explained. 'Though he didn't really get that serious. Guess he still held back a lot.'

Misaki then flew down to her team.

"I'm pooped," Misaki said, stretching.

"You were so cool!" Mashiro said adoringly.

"Misaki-chan hung in there," Asuka said encouragingly.

Masaya and Aoi made no comment. Masaya for his part was still annoyed with Misaki, but he kept it hidden.

"She'll come to understand soon," Aoi muttered near him.

Everyone then left the booth and rested in a room until it was Asuka's turn to play.

"Now we have two out of three finished," Mashiro said, down about it.

"Can't be helped, we were beat," Misaki said. "I'm more worried about Asuka facing Shindou-san."

"That guy is something else," Mashiro admitted. "To say he was being very gentle with us until then is an understatement. For a moment, he had a scary look on his face."

"His spirit is unlike anything I've seen," Shion said with folded arms. "I heard he likes to stay calm, but I never knew that he could make a face like he did near the end of Tobisawa's match."

Asuka for once was nervous and her hands were shaking in her seat, but Masaya put a hand of his on hers. "Masaya-san?" she asked.

"He's strong alright, but just go out there and have fun," Masaya said.

"Yes!" Asuka said, perking up as Masaya smiled at that.

Madoka, Mashiro and Misaki looked each other with closed eyes and a smile on their face.

Once the time came, Asuka and Shindou's team entered their respective booth.

"The semi-final match is about to start!" Minori declared. "Having won her match with no troubles, the speeder Inui stands on one spot of the finals!"

"Inui?" Masaya asked out loud.

"Have you met her before?" Misaki asked.

"When I got myself a soda, I came across someone named Irina who is a coach in the tournament," Masaya started. "With her was a player taking part here called Inui Saki."

"Let me see," Aoi said, turning on the computer at the booth and taking a quick look. Inui scored 20 points to another person only having 1 point. "Your claim is on point, there's no mistaking it."

"Wow, that's an onslaught!" Misaki said in shock.

"Indeed," Aoi said. "Well now, I'm curious about this girl if she's that strong. But let's put that aside for now."

"Right, Asuka this is it," Masaya told her. "I'm sure you know this isn't going to be easy."

"Mmm, but I don't care," Asuka said as Masaya stared at her curiously. "Because Masaya-san will support me. It's because I know that, that I-no we will face him together!"

"Yeah, you're right," Masaya said, smiling at her. "Now go out there and give him everything you've got!"

Asuka nodded and took off to the starting point on the FC grid, as did Shindou.

"I've been waiting for this," Shindou started. "Ever since we played at the training camp, I've been eager for a rematch."

"Yes, I had so much fun facing you!" Asuka said. "So being able to again is too exciting!"

Shindou chuckled at her positivity. "Then, maybe I can finally be serious for a change," he muttered with a colder smirk.

"Eh?" Asuka asked.

Everyone watched in anticipation just before the signal sound occured. Taking off afterwards, Asuka stared at Shindou.

'As expected, Shindou-san is fast,' Asuka thought.

"Quit staring and take a shortcut!" Masaya ordered.

"Y-yes!" Asuka stuttered before doing as told.

"Knowing him, he will be focused on winning, so he will ignore your attempts to dogfight like he did Misaki," Masaya started. "As soon as he gets close enough, fly with him and try to touch him when you get the chance."

"Understood!" Asuka said.

"Surely you aren't going to make the same mistake as Tobisawa are you?" Shindou asked, having touched the first buoy and tried to fly past Asuka.

"There, now stay right next to him!" Masaya said.

So Asuka did, and managed to keep up this time. "What do you call this, a race?" Shindou asked, amused.

"Maybe," Asuka said, and then timed her swipe carefully, which managed to get him off balance.

'She's faster than before!' Shindou noted just before his back was touched for a point. "Looks like I can't underestimate you."

Asuka stopped there and went to the second buoy. Asuka held 2 points to Shindou's 2 points.

Shindou smirked, getting a little hyped as he took a shortcut.

"Kurashina delivers a counter-attack, but is this going to be the same disaster that befell Tobisawa!?" Minori asked.

"As expected of someone who could score on me," Satou said, giving Asuka praise. "President, how about getting a little more serious?"

"Way ahead of you," Shindou said, and on getting to Asuka, flew down at the last second.

"Pursue him!" Masaya stated.

She did so, but then Shindou gathered momentum and flew up really quickly.

"Oh my, Shindou suddenly shot up with a burst of speed!" Minori said.

"What was that!?" Madoka pointed, looking at Aoi.

"Elevation Burst," Aoi said. "It's a pro move where you stay low near the water, then quickly shoot yourself upwards after flying fast enough forward."

"But why not against me?" Misaki asked, a bit annoyed.

"Because you didn't push him in any way where he felt any need to do it," Aoi stated. "Why do you think he is the reigning champion and called 'King of Kings'? Naturaly, you can guess he is a pro player who knows the ins and outs of FC."

"That's true but..." Misaki started.

"Nobody would play all their cards against someone unless they had to," Aoi said. "The fact is, Kurashina is pushing him enough that he feels the need to do more things."

"Even so...!" Misaki said, not in agreement with Aoi, and her temper was coming back.

"You won't catch up to him, so take a shortcut," Masaya ordered.

Asuka did so and waited for him. "Here I go!" Asuka said, charging at him with a fast swipe.

Shindou dodged, but Asuka followed up with her other hand, thus a double swipe. This made contact and sent him flying, and she touched his back for a point. Thus they were tied at 3. Shindou quickly recovered and knocked her off balance, and then proceeded to score twice on her before heading to the buoy.

Asuka took a shortcut. Seeing her energy was starting to deplete, Asuka performed an Air Kick Turn and launched at him. Shindou responded by stopping in place and flying upwards. Asuka got out of it and followed him.

"Don't think so!" Shindou yelled, knocking her towards the water and came at her.

In that moment, Asuka thought of Masaya. Gathering her strength, she performed a second Air Kick Turn.

"No way!" Misaki said in shock.

"Asuka!" Masaya called out.

On the other hand, Shindou was caught off guard at a second one, so he was knocked off balance just before Asuka touched him for a point.

"Kurashina's second Air Kick Turn hits it's mark head on!" Minori yelled in excitement.

"...Not yet!" Asuka yelled, and a third one occurred, once more scoring on his back.

"Asuka, quit using that, I already told you only a last resort!" Masaya yelled in panic. "Asuka?"

"This looks bad, her ear piece isn't on her ear," Madoka noted, noticing the signal lost on the computer.

"No way, can't we stop the match for a moment?" Mashiro asked.

"Not possible," Aoi said. "The rules state that a match that started cannot be stopped unless one wins or surrenders. Losing an ear piece will not stop it."

"Seriously!?" Misaki asked, finding it stupid.

"I'll do my best, for Masaya-san!" Asuka resolved, putting everything into a final lunge at Shindou's back, this time with no Air Kick Turn.

"K-Kurashina just took the lead over the reigning champion with it!" Minori said in awe before her face turned to panic. "But she doesn't look too well. What could have went wrong!?"

Masaya was frustrated at being unable to do anything right now and clenched his fist. Misaki on the other hand was trembling slightly in anger. It's bad enough that Shindou toyed with her so much and let her think she did well, but now Asuka is a better opponent against Shindou then herself?

Asuka panted over and over. "President, hurry up and end this!" Satou ordered. "If this goes on any longer, you might be in trouble!"

"Well she's a pretty entertaining girl, so I want to drag this out as long as possible," Shindou said.

"Just quit holding back already!" Satou scolded him.

"You live up to the name 'drill sergeant' Satou-kun," Shindou said with light panting as Satou corrected him on her name use again. "I got it."

Shindou relaxed and took some deep breaths.

By this point Asuka got just a fraction of energy back. "Shindou-san-" Asuka started, only to be startled on hearing his intimidating roar.

He then quickly knocked her off balance, zapping the little energy she got back. He then touched her back for a point. Asuka tried to re-balance herself, but she could barely keep moving.

"He was this strong all along!?" Mashiro exclaimed.

"Of course," Aoi said. "Until now he's hardly been trying against Kurashina. This is his true strength."

'...Shindou-san!' Misaki thought in increasing anger, as well as glaring at Asuka now.

"Senpai?" Mashiro asked, noticing the unpleasant look on her face.

"S-sorry, I spaced out," Misaki fibbed before focusing back on the two players in the sky.

Shindou showed no mercy and ruthlessly scored point after point. Asuka was then sent plowing down towards the water as Shindou landed the finishing blow, which knocked a weakened Asuka right into the water. Thanks to her Grav-Shoes, she merely stayed in place a little below the water, but nobody knew that since they couldn't see her. An image of Masaya flashed in her mind as she remained under.

"That settles it, Shindou will be moving onto the final round against Inui!" Minori said before panicking. "Uh oh, Kurashina hasn't come back up to the water!"

Shindou grew very worried, as did everyone in general.

"Why isn't she coming up!?" Misaki asked, then she and everyone grew shocked. "Masaya!"

Masaya threw his headset hard on the ground and ran into the water, swimming where she was with every ounce of strength his body could carry him. Right now, nothing in his mind mattered except saving her.

"Hinata-kun!" Shindou said near the water as he approached.

'Asuka, I won't let this happen!' Masaya yelled in his mind with no fear, going underwater. 'So don't you dare give up on me!'

Spotting her, he used all his strength to reach her, grabbing her by the hand and slugging her on his shoulder before going back up for air.

Coughing, Asuka and Masaya spat out water in the midst of them.

"Kurashina was in trouble, but she looks to be safe thanks to her coach!" Minori said with relief.

"Gave us a big scare," Misaki said.

"Right," Mashiro said, equally relieved.

Due to the contact system in the Grav-Shoes repelling contact from two people having Grav-Shoes on, Shindou couldn't touch her, so Masaya had to swim back to shore with Asuka holding onto his shoulder for support. Their friends along with Shindou's team, and Shindou himself waited on shore as he got himself and Asuka back.

"Are you alright!?" Misaki asked the tired Asuka.

"Y-yeah," Asuka said as Masaya let her sit down on the ground with her knees.

"Why did you act so reckless like that!?" Masaya asked, clearly worried.

"Sorry, I didn't want to let you down," she confessed before rubbing her head and laughing nervously. "Guess I-"

"You idiot!" his voice cut her right off, and the tone was loud enough to surprise everyone.

He then brought her into a hug as he slightly trembled, and tears could be seen falling to the ground.

"Masaya..." Madoka muttered, feeling sympathy for him as did the others.

Asuka could tell by his sniffing that he was crying.

"Don't ever...don't ever recklessly endanger your life like that again!" Masaya yelled. Asuka was taken aback as she listened to his tearful voice. "If you were to die...I, I! I would never be able to forgive myself, for losing the person I care about the most! So, please, don't ever do that again!"

Asuka watched as Masaya held her in his arms, sobbing. Guilt entered the girl's mind, realizing she brought unimaginable pain to Masaya. He already warned her not to use the Air Kick Turn unless necessary, yet she kept doing it against Shindou, and she nearly payed for it with her life. Asuka's lips trembled as she put her arms around him and rested her head against his.

"Sorry, I'm really sorry," Asuka said, smiling with tears before closing her eyes.

Rika didn't know either of them too well, but she understood how much Asuka and Masaya mean to each other by observing this. Satou was taken aback by Asuka tearing up, as she didn't expect that from such a cheery girl. Shindou was filled with guilt.

The two remained like this for a bit, and once recovered, got up.

"Kurashina, forgive me," Shindou started. "I should have been more gentle."

"It's alright," Asuka said kindly. "I know Shindou-san would never try to hurt someone on purpose."

"Really now?" Misaki said sarcastic-like as the others looked at her. "What's the big idea toying around with me that much and letting me feel I actually did well against you!?"

"Oh that?" Shindou asked casually. "Simple, if I tried, I would usually win without too much issue. So I set a handi-cap and limit myself for the sake of a challenge."

"For that reason...that's why you played with me like that!?" Misaki asked, getting infuriated.

"What's with that attitude of yours?" Satou asked, glaring at her.

"Stay out of this!" Misaki warned with a glare that made Satou silence herself in her tracks.

"Hey, stop getting worked up," Masaya stated to Misaki.

"How can I not be worked up!?" Misaki asked. "Let's see you get played like that!"

"Do you not think you're taking this a little too seriously?" Shindou asked, earning a stronger glare from her before he sighed, before glaring firmly into her eyes. "Tobisawa, as you are, you will never advance any further in FC."

"You!" Misaki yelled, clenching a fist. "You've no right to say that after doing me the way you did!"

Shindou went silent, realizing he upped her anger tenfold. Everyone else was dead silent at the tension between them. Aoi could interject, but what good would it do? That would only fuel Misaki's anger even more, and right now calming her down seemed unlikely.

"Let's go guys," Shindou said, having nothing else he wanted to say to Misaki right now given how mad she was.

He then left with his group.

"Hmph, good riddence, I hate that guy!" Misaki said with folded arms.

"Misaki-chan-" Asuka walked over to her, but in a fast motion, Misaki smacked Asuka's hand away in an intense burst of anger, reflected in both her action and face.

"Senpai..." Mashiro said with a sad look.

A/N: I'm cool with people not agreeing, but personally I didn't think the anime did Misaki's drama right.