Disclaimer: I don't own Ao no Kanata.
Masaya and co stood near Asuka for a moment.
"All ready?" Masaya asked.
"Yes!" Asuka said, smacking her cheeks with her hands once. "It was a long wait though."
"You better take revenge for me, right Asuka?" Misaki asked with a confident look, giving her a light fist bump.
"In the end, Asuka-Senpai is our last hope," Mashiro lamented, but was not unhappy.
"Right, right," Madoka said.
"Then I'll do my best to live up to everyone's expectations," Asuka said before facing Masaya with a tender look. "Thank you, for always helping me, Masaya-san."
"And I to you," Masaya said, holding her hand. "Many things happened to this point, and there was fun and even sad times. But, we pressed through it all."
"Let's have a blast, and show Inui-san and Irina-san our strength!" Asuka cheered.
"Yeah, good luck!" Masaya cheered with equal liveliness as the others smiled at them.
At the other booth, Saki observed before Irina called out her name, causing her to face Irina.
"As you know, Kurashina is in a class above the likes of even Tobisawa," Irina stated with narrowed eyes. "And there hasn't been a single match in this tournament where she's put in much effort. Be careful."
"I know," Saki said with little emotion.
With that, she and Asuka flew up to the starting point. On hovering on the spot, Saki looked at Asuka with glazed eyes.
Before Asuka could express her excitement at facing Saki, Saki spoke first. "Thanks are in order," Saki started as Asuka blinked in curiosity. "Or rather, all of you. We came here to change FC to a safer way, but we've concluded it isn't necessary anymore."
"Really?" Asuka asked to which Saki nodded.
"I want to, as you put it, 'have a blast'," Saki qouted.
Asuka smiled brightly in excitement before facing forward.
Shindou and his team elsewhere watched via TV.
"This is it," Satou started with a worried look.
"Does Kurashina have any chance against Inui?" Rika asked Shindou.
"Let's wait and see," Shindou answered.
Masaya and Irina got in position near their computers, observing their respective team member in the sky.
The person above Asuka and Saki signaled them, which in turn they flew forward.
"From the get go, use a Sonic Boost Chain!" Masaya ordered through his headset.
"Yes!" Asuka responded, performing multiple, and easily speeding ahead of Saki.
"Oh, she's playing pretty aggressive right off the bat," Shindou grinned.
"Consecutive Sonic Boosts?" Irina asked in surprise before delivering another order. "Okay Saki, take a shortcut and forget this one!"
"Understood!" Saki replied, doing as told.
Asuka touched the first buoy, earning her 1 point, putting her in the lead.
Saki then prepared to use the Birdcage after Asuka approached her. Once Asuka got past her, she hovered above Asuka for a moment, then swiftly touched her back before Asuka had the time to react to it. Now it was 1 to 1.
Asuka then tried getting away by going in multiple directions, but Saki was hot on her tail.
"Go on and perform an Elevation Burst," Irina consented.
"Roger!" Saki said, flying down.
"That's...!" Masaya started, recalling that she did this against Shindou. "Asuka, Sonic Boost away!"
She did as told, but Saki was fast enough to catch her and knock her off balance. Then as expected she touched her back, earning a point.
"Too soon to relax!" Saki stated, touching her back again for a 3rd point.
Saki then let Asuka balance herself, and stood still, waiting for whatever else she was going to do.
"She's really strong," Asuka said, though it seemed to only fire her up. "But, so am I!"
Asuka flew upwards, to which Saki followed. After a bit, Saki stopped in the middle of a contrail pattern Asuka drew with her Grav-Shoes.
"This is..." Saki muttered.
"Would you look at that!" Minori shouted through her mic. "Kurashina's Grav-Shoes have left behind a trail in the shape of a triangle!"
"Pretty!" Rika said, smiling with clasped hands.
"Not too shabby," Satou admitted.
"A Delta Force I see," Shindou said with folded arms.
"This is one of the many things she trained with Masaya to learn!" Misaki stated with hype.
"Right," Mashiro said in equal hype.
Masaya smiled, watching Asuka fly so beautifully.
"What should I do?" Saki asked, a bit worried.
"Keep calm, it's in the shape of a triangle, that means..." Irina started carefully.
"I just need to predict where she will get out of it and attack me," Saki concluded, hovering in the middle of the triangle. "There!"
As soon as Asuka charged at her from a direction, Saki knocked her away with a swipe.
"Don't think so!" Asuka yelled, spinning in place after regaining her balance.
That forced Saki to stop and back away. Unfortunately for Saki, Asuka timed her spin to shoot her in Saki's direction, thus Saki was knocked off balance and touched in the back for a point.
"With a brilliantly executed combo, Kurashina counters Inui!" Minori stated.
"Adandon pursuit and go to the line leading to the 3rd buoy!" Irina told Saki, whom nodded and did as told.
"How do you feel?" Masaya asked Asuka.
"Excited," Asuka said, grinning at him. "Inui-san is that great of an opponent."
"Indeed she is," Masaya said, grinning back before his face went serious. "Provoke her into using her Birdcage. We're going with 'that'."
Asuka nodded, now flying towards Saki after touching the 2nd buoy, putting her even with Saki.
"Try and stop me with your Birdcage, Inui-san!" Asuka encouraged.
Saki took the challenge and hovered above her. Just then, Asuka turned over so she was flying upside down.
"That again?" Saki asked with disappointment.
"Woah nelli, Kurashina tries a very daring move that has failed against Inui so far in the tournament!" Minori declared.
Masaya and the others though were confident in her.
"What's she thinking?" Irina asked. "Hasn't she seen the result of those who've tried it?"
"Wait-" Saki dodged a swipe from an upside down Asuka, but she wasn't doing it easily compared to the other times. "She's quick!"
"This is one of the many ways we thought to fight against your Birdcage!" Asuka stated seriously, trying to swipe her. "All of my training with Masaya-san, and for Misaki-chan, who was too hurt to use it against you! I'll make sure to deliver their feelings!"
Finally, she managed to swipe her off balance.
"Shoot!" Saki said, unable to balance herself in time as Asuka touched her back for a point.
Saki then charged at Asuka, whom braced herself. Once nearing her, Asuka swiftly got around her, performing the Blaster Roll and touched Saki's back for another point. Putting her 5 to Saki's 3.
"No way..." Irina muttered, unable to believe what she saw Asuka do.
"That training with Hinata-kun is paying off," Shindou stated while smiling.
"I'll say," Satou said with hands on her hips.
"She's winning!" Misaki cheered with a pumped fist.
"Kurashina reminds me of you, Masaya," Aoi said gently. "So gifted and promising."
Saki got her bearings and looked at Asuka who was panting but smiling. "Amazing, you're really amazing," she admitted, placing a hand to her heart. "However, Kurashina, the fight really begins now!"
"Huh?" Asuka asked, blinking.
"Irina, permission to finally unleash our true strength?" Saki requested.
"Yes, you have the authorization," Irina stated. "Kurashina is truly that worthy of an opponent to make us use it."
Saki nodded before facing Asuka, closing her eyes and breathing calmly. Opening them back up, she reached for her Grav-Shoes.
"Allow me to show you, the strength we obtained in our training for this tournament!" Saki yelled with some emotion as she reached for and touched her balancers. "Avalon Grav-Shoes, the time has come to release your true power! That which is limited, be no more!"
Following those words, her green gas particle wing shapes near her Grav-Shoes expanded into much bigger ones.
"W-what is that!?" Asuka asked in shock.
"Can't be!" Masaya said, looking at the computer near him and studying Saki's Grav-Shoes. "She cut off the restraints on her Grav-Shoes!"
"Eh?" Asuka asked.
"But how can something like that be possible!?" Misaki asked as Aoi walked over.
"You see, it's a general thought that the Grav-Shoes are too dangerous to use at higher speeds than normal, because most just don't have the stamina or strength needed to utilize it," Aoi stated as the others looked at her. "However, Inui cut the balancers off on her own."
"And I doubt this is bark and no bite either," Masaya warned. "Someone like Inui wouldn't do this unless she truly perfected it."
"Then Asuka-Senpai is in big trouble!" Mashiro panicked.
"Originally, we planned to use this in conjuction with the Birdcage in this second tournament, as two tournament wins would get our FC recognized undoubtly to 'fix' FC," Irina muttered to herself. "But, we took a different path in the end. Saki, show her the difference between your best and hers!"
"Right!" Saki responded.
Saki flew towards Asuka very quickly, and easily dodged a swipe from Asuka. Before Asuka could turn around, Saki hit her in the back for a point.
"That's too fast for you, get out of there!" Masaya ordered.
"Y-yes!" Asuka stuttered, but no matter which direction she flew to or turned to, Saki near instantly was there, blocking all escapes.
"I may have struggled with you, but that ends here!" Saki said in a matter-of-fact voice.
Asuka tried to do an Air Kick Turn, but Saki knocked her out of it before it started, then she touched her back for a 5th point. Now they were tied. Asuka closed her eyes, bracing herself for a second touch, but the timer stopped.
"W-we have a tie right now, so after a ten minute break, the match will resume!" Minori announced.
Asuka and Saki stared at each other, panting before flying down to their respective booths.
"Well done," Irina said with a confident look. "Now we simply wait for the match to resume. Though at this point, you could say the match is already over for Kurashina."
Saki said nothing, and observed the other group.
"Haa, I'm tired," Asuka said, sitting down while sweating.
"But what are you going to do?" Mashiro asked with concern. "Inui is on a whole new level from us with that new speed."
"Masaya, is there any way to stop it!?" Misaki asked in a pushy voice.
"...I don't know," Masaya lamented. "It's hard to believe that she can keep such control in that state. However, I know Asuka wouldn't just give up either."
"But," Madoka started, not sure Asuka had what it took to deal with this new obstacle.
"I'll be fine," Asuka assured, looking up at them. "Because I want to fly with Inui-san."
"Hey, you're not saying-" Masaya started, but her nod confirmed. "Hold it, what are you thinking!? You don't have mastery of that at all, it's too dangerous!"
"He's right!" Madoka backed him up.
Asuka remained positive. "I want to do this," she said with a smile. "To fly with Inui-san, I have to overcome my own limits and reach new levels."
Masaya blinked, but then gave up and smiled. "Geez, your positivity just never ceases to amaze me," he said, before giving a look of approval. "I got it, I'll believe in you."
"So will we," Misaki said.
Everyone put their hands on Asuka's, while Irina walked over to Aoi.
"Even after seeing our true strength, she's resolved to continue," Irina commented. "I have to commend her for that."
"That's Kurashina for you," Aoi said, looking at the group with Irina. "No matter the challenge, she keeps pressing forward."
"Yeah, it's, pretty inspirational," Irina said softly. "You know it's ironic. I was inspired to master the Birdcage via you doing it a long time ago when we were younger. Yet, now I'm being inspired by all of your FC and want Saki to play like so."
Aoi chuckled. "Well this team seems to have a knack for moving others," she admitted. "Kurashina helped Masaya regain what he'd thrown away, Arisika earned Satou's and Tobisawa's affections, and Tobisawa was able to reach Kasumi. And of course, Masaya being at Kurashina's side always inspires her."
"And all of you have had so much influence on us," Irina acknowledged. "Here we should be the big rivals for you so to speak, but here we are just having fun and being friends. I'm glad it turned out that way."
After the ten minutes nearly ended, Masaya and Asuka shared one more glance at each other before she flew back up to the starting point after yelling the word "FLY!". Likewise Saki flew back up, her balancers still unlocked.
"You're not afraid?" Saki asked, a little surprised as she thought Asuka would be more shaken by the huge difference in speed between them.
"Not at all, because I plan to catch up to you!" Asuka stated with confidence.
"With me?" Saki asked while blinking.
Without a reply, Asuka took advantage of the remaining time to turn off the limits on her balancers. Since the match hadn't resumed, it was the perfect time to do it.
"That's too risky!" Irina yelled with worry.
"Are you positive about this?" Saki asked, concern evident in her tone. "If you go in like that after the match continues, your control will be-"
"I know, but I'll manage somehow," Asuka said nervously.
Saki stared at her for a moment before looking forward.
Just then, the person above them signaled the resume of the match, but...
"Oh no, Kurashina seems to be having control issues right out of the gate!" Minori declared spastically.
"Calm down, keep yourself steady!" Masaya yelled to Asuka through his head set.
"Too fast, t-too faaaast!" Asuka yelled, flying out of control and flying all over the place.
"Um, this isn't looking good," Madoka said, sweat dropping.
"That Asuka, taking such gambles," Misaki sighed.
"You're in no position to say that," Mashiro pointed out to Misaki in annoyance.
As Asuka kept flying everywhere spastically, Saki sweat dropped. "Uh...what should I do, Irina?" she asked.
"W-what should you do?" Irina asked nervously. "Hmm, I guess just take advantage of her lack of control and score. She's good, but I think she made a big mistake doing this."
"As you wish," Saki said, flying near Asuka, and on waiting for a chance to strike, touched her as one of her random flying directions approached near Saki.
"AH!" Asuka yelled, taking the swipe head on.
'Dang it!' Masaya thought in frustration while gritting his teeth.
Saki then touched her back, putting her in the lead. Asuka's random control though prevented Saki from getting a 2nd point on her back. Now Asuka was starting to get just a bit better control, but still couldn't fly straight.
"You won't escape me!" Saki stated with narrowed eyes.
As Asuka stared in somewhat fear, Masaya called in.
"Forget about the buoy, get out of there and take a shortcut!" Masaya said through his head set.
So Asuka did as commanded, which allowed Saki to touch the buoy, placing her 2 points ahead of Asuka now.
"What's Kurashina going to do?" Rika asked with a sad look.
"As it stands, I don't think she can win," Shindou stated. "Inui has perfect control in that state, but Kurashina is struggling to maintain control."
"Not to mention Inui is so strong," Satou admitted.
"Yes, but Kurashina has always had great potential," Shindou reminded. "Now, let's see how the rest plays out."
As Saki approached, Asuka tried to charge at her in a straight line, but once more she lost balance, this time slamming directly into the water roughly, causing Saki to instantly stop with concern.
"Asuka!" Masaya yelled, his head starting to pulse, but then calmed himself. 'No, it won't end like this. I believe in her.'
While Asuka tumbled through the water at fast speeds, thoughts of Masaya entered her mind, and the encouragement and strength he gave her. Suddenly, with an eruption of emotions, Asuka regained control and shot out of the water.
"She's safe!" Misaki said in joy.
"Thank goodness!" Mashiro said with relief.
"To recover from that situation," Irina said in astonishment.
"But, this changes nothing," Saki started while Asuka remained still with her face concealed. "Even if you try to attack me, the same result will happen," Saki then charged her as if to prove the point, but in a sharp burst of speed, Asuka knocked her away with a single swipe of her hand. "What!?"
"That's impossible!" Irina exclaimed while Asuka revealed her serious face.
Masaya grinned at Asuka while the others but Aoi smiled with open mouths.
"How did she-" Saki started as she charged at Asuka, but on trying to touch Asuka, she actually dodged.
"I won't give up, no matter how small the hope is of winning!" Asuka said loudly, touching Saki's back for a point.
As they clashed on even ground, Saki still couldn't believe what she was seeing.
'Where is she getting this strength from?' Saki thought.
"Haaaaa!" Asuka yelled, performing an Air Kick Turn in perfect balance, once more touching Saki's back for a point, putting her in the lead.
"Look at that, Kurashina Asuka is regaining control!" Minori declared as crowds roared with excitement.
Saki counter attacked by performing her own Air Kick Turn, much faster than the one Asuka just did. Asuka was knocked off balance, and while Saki scored on her, Asuka did not give up hope.
"This strength, what is it?" Saki asked with wonderment.
"It's because of the bond Masaya-san and I share!" Asuka stated determinedly.
"The bond...you share," Saki muttered with a blink.
Asuka nodded. "When we're together, I feel we can overcome and fly higher than ever before!" she told Saki. "He isn't just my strength, but my precious friend whom I treasure above anyone else, who is always there for me. That's why no matter what, we'll keep soaring in the sky!"
Saki stared at her curiously before glancing at Masaya on the ground.
"Asuka, let's do this!" Masaya said, grinning.
"Yes!" Asuka said.
Asuka then swiped Saki off balance and went to the buoy.
"Forget this engage and take a shortcut!" Irina ordered.
Saki did as commanded. On waiting, Asuka came towards her, performing a very fast scissers. Saki carefully timed when Asuka would zigzag before her, and knocked her off balance. She then touched Asuka's back for a point, taking the lead again.
Saki then headed for the buoy quickly, but Asuka recovered in time and performed a Sonic Boost. Once Asuka was in range of Saki's back, Saki dodged and performed a fast Cobra, touching Asuka in the back for a point.
'Winning and losing...perhaps neither one really matters,' Saki thought. 'But because FC can be played for fun, maybe that's why we want to win so strongly and get serious, because we can be that into it. I think I finally understand. What it truly means to have fun and be free!'
"This is incredible!" Minori yelled. "Neither of them can keep the lead for long!"
At that moment, Asuka won another clash and touched Saki's back, regaining the lead. However, she and Saki smiled despite the sweat on their face.
Masaya clenched his heart with a hand. "Yes, keep that up!" Masaya yelled with excitement.
After a bit, Minori announced the sudden death, which means whoever gets the next point will win.
Asuka and Saki stopped, looking at each other while panting.
"Kurashina Asuka, I've never been so excited in all my life," Saki admitted while smiling at her.
"I see," Asuka said, smiling at her.
Saki's eyes then narrowed. "You said you fight for someone precious to you, Masaya, right?" she asked. "Irina has been my best friend for a long time-she has been my only friend in fact until all of you. That's why I, will also fight for my friend and not let her hopes go to waste!"
Irina smiled, touched by that.
"It's the last round!" Masaya said to Asuka.
"Saki, this is it, let's win this!" Irina told Saki.
"Yeah!" Asuka and Saki nodded to them.
Asuka and Saki then charged at one another, but flew upwards at the last second, repeadedly clashing back and forth very quickly as they did. They then tried to touch each other and kept missing, but they were so determined that it was driving them on, as was the encouragement of Masaya and Irina, whose feelings resolved them all the more.
"Wow!" Rika said in awe.
"This fires me up!" Shindou said while grinning.
Madoka, Mashiro and Misaki roared in joy, cheering Asuka on.
"To those who are watching, we are witnessing an amazing final match!" Minori declared. "Who will take this, Kurashina Asuka, or Inui Saki?"
"Haaaa!" Asuka and Saki charged, but Saki got above her and prepared to touch her back.
"This is the end!" Saki declared.
"We won't let it all end here!" Asuka yelled, dodging the swipe. "Masaya-san, let's do this together! Your feelings and mine, let's combine them as one!"
"Yeah!" Masaya yelled seriously.
Asuka rapidly spinned down in a spiral motion. While doing so, she imagined Masaya right next to her, having his hand next to hers.
"Spiral Shot, GOOOOO!" Asuka and Masaya yelled with all their might.
Her strike landed, gaining her a point and the victory. To Masaya, it was like he had felt the sensations Asuka had during this.
Saki was shocked by the fact she just lost, and Irina was speechless at it too.
"Th...that settles it!" Minori declared. "Our winner, is Kurashina Asuka! We now have a new champion!"
The crowds roared and clapped.
"She did it, Asuka-Senpai did it!" Mashiro yelled excitedly with her hands in the air.
"Good grief, she had me scared there a few times," Misaki said, but was very happy.
"I'm sure Hinata is proud," Madoka grinned, observing his content smile.
Asuka then flew down to her booth while Saki to hers.
"Congrat-!" Masaya started, but was stopped as Asuka ran over and threw herself into his arms.
"We did it!" Asuka said happily with a few tears.
Masaya ignored the grins from the other girls and moved a hand behind her head, while the other rested on her back.
"Yeah, we did," Masaya said gently with glazed eyes, while Asuka smiled with her eyes closed and had red cheeks.
Aoi watched with folded arms. 'Conragtulations, Kurashina," she thought while smiling.
As the other girls then approached and praised Asuka, Saki spoke with Irina.
"Sorry," Saki said with her head down and a sad look. "I couldn't win."
However, Irina shook her head. "You did the best you could, for both of us," she said, smiling at her. "Thank you."
Saki perked up before she and Irina joined the others.
Asuka was given the trophy at the congratulations ceremony while Masaya and the others clapped for her.
The gang then begun leaving the tournament grounds.
"I suppose this is where we say goodbye," Aoi told Irina.
"Actually," Irina started. "We can join your team if you wish."
"EH!?" everyone exclaimed in shock but Aoi, whom was still surprised.
"We want to continue with you all," Irina stated. "Being with all of you, is too much fun, right Saki?"
"Yeah," Saki started as the others faced her. "Kurashina, this FC you told me of and showed me, I, want to smile the way you do, and...h-have fun with you all."
She said the last part shyly.
"What do you guys think? Should we let them?" Aoi asked invitingly.
"Of course we should!" Asuka said excitedly.
"Right, the more the merrier," Misaki said with a grin.
"No problems from me," Mashiro said, smiling at them.
"Well, there you have it," Masaya said, walking over to Irina. "There is no issue, but there is one thing you need to do first."
Irina and Saki blinked with curious open mouths.
"To join officially, I'll need the both of you to sign your names on a club sheet when we get back to the trailer," Aoi explained. "But if you're from Europe, how will you be able to maintain coming down here so much and back?"
"Oh that?" Irina said in a voice implying it was no big deal. "We've made plenty of money over there, more than enough to buy a house here if we wanted."
"Won't you need to move your stuff from wherever you live?" Madoka asked.
"We will, but it shouldn't take much effort," Irina said.
"Then come along with us," Aoi said as they started walking again.
Asuka smiled at Saki, who in turn smiled back.
The gang went to the trailer, where Saki and Irina joined the club officially. Since they have a few more rent days, they stayed in town.
Meanwhile, Masaya and Asuka sat alone at the beach, holding each other close.
"It's over huh," Asuka said gently, staring at the serene orange sky, which held some sparkles along with a sunset.
"Yeah, it was something I tell ya," Masaya said gently too. "Would you believe I would join an FC club and have such a great time with everyone? It's almost like a dream, but it's not."
"And I transferred to Kunahama, met wonderful people and learned of FC," Asuka said before looking at him with a smile that was mesmerizing to Masaya while her hair was blown back and forth by the wind. "And I got to meet and forge a bond with someone who I grew to love and cherish above anyone-Masaya-san."
"You brought me back to the world I cut myself off from," Masaya said. "And, it was you who made me realize what my issues really were, and gave me the strength to let go. More than that, I really grew to care for you, wanted to be at your side, and I fell in love with you."
"Yes, we became a couple, and it was because you were always there for me that I made it this far," Asuka said happily, holding his hand with hers and staring at him with tears of happiness.
"Give yourself some credit too," Masaya said, placing his other hand over their held hands. "You put in the effort to get stronger."
After a few moments, Asuka moved closer to him.
"Masaya-san, let's always continue to aim for the sky together," Asuka stated gently.
Masaya nodded, then the two shared a kiss under the wondrous sunset. Like before, a great bliss overtook them as they shared such a romantic moment with one another. After they parted, Masaya spoke.
"And don't expect me to sit out of the next tournament," he said, standing up and pointing to the sun in confidence. "I'm going to enter it and the ones to come!"
Asuka stared at him with a bright smile and glazed eyes, then got up herself.
"Want to fly, you and me?" Asuka asked with a confident look of her own.
He nodded, then after turning on their Grav-Shoes, they both yelled "FLY!"
Flying in the air, they moved in a unifying way next to each other. Asuka had her arms spread out, and she smiled with an open mouth. Masaya smiled back at her before they both stared at the sparks the sun emitted off of the water shortly before they focused on the sunset as they flew towards it.
At that moment, only one thing entered Masaya's mind. He wanted to press towards the future now, and forever, with this girl who is as wonderful as the sky, Kurashina Asuka. That was his wish.
A/N: So I was going to end the story here, but there is another thing I want to do first, so I've decided there will be 1 more chapter. I didn't include the sphere thing, because it doesn't work here compared to the anime. The whole point of it used in the show was to convince Irina of the current FC and that she finds it nice. Things didn't happen the same way in this version, so the sphere thing doesn't really work this time.