A/N: Before I say anything, I want to apologize for the long wait for this chapter. Summer's ended and I've gone back to school and getting re-adjusted has taken some time out of writing. However, now that I got a hang of my schedule, I should be able to get writing more often. This is the last chapter before the plot really gets underway, so enjoy.
Here's Chapter 3! We return to Taiso's POV as Archeri's return changes everything for him. How will Raimon's match at the end of the Holy Road mean for him and his team? Find out now!
P.S. Since I've made it a personal motivator to have another pic per chapter, I've decided certain chapters I'll upload some older ones, but colored in. This week is siblings Taiso and Archeri!
P.S.S. I know most of you already have an idea of what most hissatsu/keshin look like, but since later on in the story I'll be introducing hissatsu/keshin I've made myself, I'll be describing some of the already known hissatsu as practice you could say.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Inazuma Eleven, GO, Chrono Stone, or Galaxy
Chapter 3: The Final Match
Taiso's POV
I'm speechless. Who cares that we just beat Archeri and the team is safe and stuff, when did TAI GET A KESHIN?! I brought him into this sport and anytime he's even looked at a ball, I've been there with him. Heck, for the last year, getting him to practice was a chore. I don't think he even has a hissatsu technique, but now he's got a keshin, I mean COME ON! So yeah, I'm a bit jealous.
I go up to him and ask him how long he's had this power. His response is that he's had it over a year. A YEAR?! That could have been so helpful before! Well not really since Fifth Sector regulates everything, but still! Now he's making idle chitchat with my arch-enemy, Archeri. Without much of a fight, we ended up giving the SEED the ace's seat.
"Just so you know, my job isn't done," Archeri warned us. "I just need some backup from Fifth Sector and I'll have the authority to take over this team."
'So, she's not done,' I thought to myself. Great, more for me to deal with. As the captain, I end up doing all the dirty work of keeping us on Fifth Sector's good side. Our coach is just our science teacher who thought he could make a couple extra bucks by being our coach as well. He doesn't design training menus or strategies against enemies, but rather keeps the place as adult supervisor. As he's known by Tai, he's Coach Useless. So in the end, I'm the one who has to take charge.
With Archeri's addition, the day's practice was over. I thought I was done with problems for the day until I remembered, I'm stuck with her the entire walk home. I was both relieved and annoyed that she spent the entire time talking with Tai about keshins and how they awakened theirs and all that kind of stuff. Of course I wasn't included, since I'm still in the "keshin-less" club. After a while, Tai gave me the 'save me, she's talking too much,' face which I returned with the 'not my problem' face. Thankfully, we finally reached our apartment building.
As Archeri ran to the elevator, I grabbed Tai by the arm and yelled, "You go on ahead! Tai and I are going to take the stairs!"
"HUH?!" was Tai's predictable response. She shrugged and nodded as she took the elevator as I dragged a complaining Tai up the stairs.
After a couple minutes, Tai sighed and asked, "Alright man, show's over. What's the real reason you wanted to waste my time with the stairs?" He caught on pretty fast. It usually takes him about 10-15 minutes to deduce what I'm thinking.
"How'd you figure it out?"
"Listen Taiso, I know you hate..."
"I don't hate her."
"OK, despise…"
"Yeah, that doesn't work either."
"Strongly dislike?"
"That's better."
"OK, strongly dislike your sister, but she's not a poisonous disease that if we both take the elevator, she'll kill us both," Tai continued. It's kind of a bit of an extreme analogy if you ask me.
"So, what's the real reason you're forcing to climb up several flights of stairs?" he asked. He gave me a serious stare, which meant he actually was serious for a change.
I looked at him and began, "First of all, she's finally back after a year, so I thought I'd let Mom and Dad get through their 'Welcome Back' talks and such. I don't want to be caught in the middle of Miss Perfect's return."
"Respectable reason. Continue."
"Secondly, you and I need to talk," I told him seriously.
"Sure thing, buddy. What's up?"
I gritted my teeth and said, "Archeri is not too far from taking over the soccer club. I need you to have my back in this 100%. If you're not behind me all the way, the rest of the team won't follow suit."
"So, you're dragging me up some stairs to convince me to make the same decision I already made," he said, giving me an awkward stare.
"This is a serious case, man!" I yelled at him. "As long as Fifth Sector is around, she's got power over us."
"Well, what are you going to do?" he asked. "It's not like they're getting ready to pack their bags and leave."
"There is one chance," I began.
"Oh no, please tell me you don't mean…"
"Raimon's final versus Seidouzan. That final match will decide the Holy Emperor election," I started to smile. "If they win, real soccer will be restored and this problem will blow over. Just give at least until then."
Tai gave me a serious answer, "Fine, pin your hopes on Raimon's victory. What do want from me until then?"
I looked at him and said, "I need your full cooperation and for you to watch my back the entire time."
"You do know you're making this a bigger deal than it is," he said.
"Hey, you just said…"
"I know I said I'll cooperate, but stop making it sound like we're going to war."
"Fine. I just need you to side with me if Archeri starts anything."
He quickly frowned and said, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on a minute there. I am not becoming a middle man in your sibling rivalry."
"She's a SEED. That's means she's the enemy," I started, "Remember, it's only 'til the end of the week. I just need to have someone to back me up against Archeri."
He gave me a real weak face before slowly agreeing to the plan.
"If it goes too far, I'm out, you got that?"
"I got it. Don't worry, by the end of this week we'll be golden."
With that, we made it to our floor and separated ways to our separate apartments. I joined the 'merriment' of my sister's return. 'At least he doesn't have to deal with her 24/7,' I thought to myself.
The Next Day…
As usual, I beat the alarm by a minute and rushed to the bathroom. However, this time, Archeri was their first and took forever to get ready and do her hair and such.
'It's not that difficult,' I thought waiting. 'Even my hair is longer than yours.'
In any case, thanks to Archeri's return to the schedule, life returned to the way it was before. I take longer to finish and barely get any breakfast since I need to get Tai and get moving to school so we're not late. Thankfully, school pretty much stays the same, save the gossip about how our soccer club is doing worse than usual.
As for practice, Archeri doesn't join in, but is instead trying to reach Fifth Sector on how to proceed with our school. However, according to Tai, he believes that Fifth Sector is a bit over occupied with the Raimon mess, and can't help her out yet. Speaking of Tai, he's reluctantly keeping his word by helping me keep team moral up since Archeri's presence sometimes gave some of the members' self-doubt.
The biggest topic of conversation among the team surrounded the game at the end of the week. We heard on the news that Raimon's captain, Shindou Takuto, was injured during the match versus Arakumo Gakuen and couldn't play in the final. I hated this because Shindou was a role model for me, and I admire the leadership he had in leading his team in the revolution. His replacement was the promising first-year, brown wind-blown haired midfielder Matsukaze Tenma. Anyway, my days at home began a real pain and school days were the same except for practice. This cycle continued to go on until Friday afternoon.
Friday Afternoon…
I finished taking a shower and putting my bag upon my bed. 'Tonight is the night that decides everything,' I thought. It was the final match of the Holy Road: Raimon VS. Seidouzan.
At 4:50, Tai came over and knocked at our door. "What's up, I'm not late am I?"
"Almost, the game starts in 10 minutes, where have you been?" I yell at him.
"At home, sleeping." He's definitely a lost cause.
Soon, the 3 of us: Tai, Archeri, and myself, are around the TV ready to watch the match. As usual, bets were common amongst us. However, due to our, 'help me beat Archeri, agreement,' instead of betting on the opposite team like he usually did, he bet alongside me against Archeri. After watching both sides get into position, the whistle blew and the final match began!
Seidouzan's strategy of having 4 in the front line got the better of Raimon by constantly sealing off their passes. With no way to attack, Raimon's chances of scoring slimmed quickly. This struggle worked for Seidouzan when their captain Kurosaki Makoto quickly intercepted Raimon's shaky passes. Kurosaki had long brown hair with it in a ponytail at the end and a white headband on his forehead. After passing through most of Raimon's defense, blue-haired defender Kariya forced him into shooting quickly which gave the black mushroom haired goalie Sangoku the time to block it. While I was breathing in after holding my breath from that last play, Seidouzan got an early lead when their captain, Kurosaki, once again intercepted the ball and made a quick goal with his crossbow like hissatsu, Ballista Shot.
"Good old Raimon," Tai mumbled, "Always giving the enemy the first point in every game. Great strategy."
I glared at him before cheering, "They'll come back from this. I know they will."
"Don't waste your breath," was the cold reply of the devil, Archeri. "Raimon doesn't stand a chance against the most elite of Fifth Sector's players."
"We'll just see about that!" I yelled back. "Right, Tai?"
"Yeah, sure, why not…" Worst back-up ever.
Anyway the game resumed with Raimon immediately right after the kickoff shooting with the short blue haired Kurama's Sidewinder. After that half-field snake shot was stopped, Raimon quickly intercepted Seidouzan's counterattack. With the ball in their possession and without a second to react, a quick comeback involving new captain Matsukaze and the team's ace striker spiky, black haired Tsurugi Kyousuke, Raimon tied the game. Intercepting and scoring, talk about giving them a taste of their own medicine.
"Hm, not bad," Archeri observed. She, although slouching with her feet up, was watching the game closely. However, her watching was nothing compared to Tai, who, while usually sleeping or sprawled out bored, was carefully watching all the styles and skills exhibited in the match. I guess everyone has their moments.
After the game reached the tied sore of 1-1, it truly got intense. Immediately with Seidouzan's kickoff, they passed it around and began to start using hissatsu wazas such as Round Spark to cut past the defense by shocking the players with balls of electricity. What's more, as soon as Kurosaki got the ball, he easily cut past the defense until he was one to one with the goalie. He then brought out his keshin, Enma Gazard (Flame Demon Gazard). When the black flames cleared, emerged was a red demon with a devilish grin. With it, he launched himself into the air in a fiery, spinning motion, and kicked the ball with the power of the demon behind him.
"Bakunetsu Storm!" he yelled out the name of the keshin hissatsu, which burned through both the defender Kariya's purple net defense hissatsu: Hunter's Net and goalkeeper Sangoku's stone wall goalie hissatsu: Fence of Gaia. The score was now 2-1, Seidouzan leading. I threw back my head on the coach in frustration while Archeri smiled and Tai continued watching unfazed.
"Who would of thunk he could use the legendary Bakunetsu Storm," Tai began talking.
"Isn't that Gouenji-san's move from back when he was in Inazuma Japan 10 years ago?" I asked.
"Sure is," Archeri spoke up. As both Tai and I looked her way, she continued, "Who do you think taught him that move?"
"H-he was taught by Gouenji Shuuya-san himself?!" I was amazed, the chance to be taught by some of the nation's idols.
"Well yeah, who did you really think the Holy Emperor Ishido Shuuji was?" Archeri continued. "Did you think he was some random guy? He's obviously Gouenji-san."
"WHAT?!" I screamed. The man in charge of Fifth Sector and the coach of Seidouzan was the same man who once played soccer for Japan's national youth team Inazuma Japan and brought them to victory?! "How come I was never told this? Right, Tai?"
"I already knew," he said, eyes not leaving the screen as the goal was replaying.
"How did you already know? Why didn't you tell me?" over several questions were coming out of my mouth after hearing this shocking revelation.
"Well, after the fact that it's really obvious because they look almost identical," he began explaining like it was basic math. It couldn't have been that obvious since I didn't pick up on it. If Tai realized it, anyone should've found out by now, ESPECIALLY ME! My perceptive skills are much better than his! I let it go for now, but I left a mental note to make sure I don't get one-upped by Tai again. I'm supposed to be the smart one in this friendship.
"Besides that," Tai continued, "It is not very obvious that the play styles of many of Seidouzan's players are just like his, most of the players are of the fire element and have the power of an ace striker. If that doesn't tip you off, I don't know what will." Seriously Tai, stop being smart, you're ruining the natural order!
That doesn't mean he was wrong. The offensive plays of Seidouzan were incredibly powerful, it truly seemed like every single one of them did have the skills of an ace striker. Then there was the captain, Kurosaki. He was a keshin user and his keshin hissatsu was the same legendary waza used by Gouenji Shuuya back 10 years ago. Raimon definitely had a tough match ahead of them. However, if real soccer was to be returned to us all, we had to believe in them.
Raimon's kickoff began with the team as determined as when the game began, with the score not causing them to falter. However, Matsukaze soon lost the ball after being shot with a defender's spiral ball of pressurized air hissatsu: Air Bullet. The defender passed it to the ever obvious Kurosaki who after being marked by a player passed it to Tsutsumi, a red haired forward who quickly lost the ball to Raimon's pink, pigtailed played Kirino, who used his hissatsu, The Mist, which sent out a deep mist to confuse the player while he snuck in and stole the ball.
Kirino made a long past to Nishiki, a tall guy with a really long ponytail, passed it to Kurama who then passed it Tsurugi. When 2 defenders came after Tsurugi, he made a no-look pass to Nishiki, who made his way up the field. With ball in hand, well feet, he brought out the classic black flames that would end up revealing his keshin, Sengoku Bushin Musashi (Sengoku War God Musashi.) As autumn leaves blew by the scenery, the samurai spirit clad in armor wielding twin swords slashed the ball with it's now red swords as Nishiki hit it the ball up for a final kick with a X-shaped final slash with his hissatsu, "Bushin Renzan! (War God Multi-Slash)
Seidouzan's keeper tried stopping it with his hissatsu: Shoot Break, which involved hitting it multiple times with both his hands and legs, to no avail as it slashed right past him, tying the score and putting me back in a cheery mood. It was once again tied, keshin-made goal for keshin-made goal, and the chances for Raimon's victory where once again visible as the whistle for half time was blown.
As the teams returned to the locker rooms for half-time and Kakuma Oushou talked about the match so far, I sank down into the couch now that the suspense was paused for a second. The score for half-time was 2-2, a tie. Tai finally emerged from his chance and sat up straight.
"It looks like we've got a good game going on here," he finally said.
"You know it is!" I joined in. "All that's left is to take the lead in the second half and Raimon wins!"
"We'll just see about that," Archeri added. "There's still an entire half left."
Tai finally got up from his seat.
"In any case, I'm hungry. You guys got any chips or something?" he asked, already headed toward our kitchen.
"Hey, don't just barge in there!" I yelled at him.
"Dude, I've been doing this for years now. I think it'll be okay."
"You can't argue with him there," Archeri piped in.
While Tai was raiding our kitchen for anything he deemed snack-worthy, I thought over the game. The TV was currently going into its in-depth analysis mode of halftime. Raimon was fighting evenly with Seidouzan, point for point. If their past efforts were any indication, they would be able to turn it around by the end.
"What the heck is wrong with you people?" Tai asked returning from the kitchen with a bag of chips. "You got chips, but you don't have salsa? I mean, seriously?!"
"Get your own salsa!" I yelled back at him.
"As a matter of fact, I will." He got up and headed out the door.
"Where are you going?" Archeri asked.
"My place. We actually stock up on important things like salsa," Tai responded. "Don't worry, nothing has changed in the year you've been gone, I still live next door."
As Tai left to get his precious salsa, Archeri continued to talk about the game.
"Well, your Raimon team is doing impressive," she began. "It's been a while since I've seen a game this enjoyable."
I gave her a small smirk. She was right, no doubt about that. This game had both teams giving it their all. It truly was a match worthy of being the final.
"However," she started again. "It's only beginning it seems." She smiled and motioned me to look back on the screen.
I turned my head towards the screen and saw as Armano Mikado Stadium slowly grew as it reached the sky. I heard a whistle from behind me as it finished its transformation.
"Fancy," Tai said. "I wonder how many tax dollars went into that."
I looked over at Tai as he walked in to our kitchen. He had the previously mentioned salsa in his hand. He poured it into a bowl and brought back to the couch as he sat down in the same spot he was in. As half-time was finishing he and Archeri started eating the chips.
"E-Excuse me!" Kakuma Oushou's voice brought our faces back towards the screen. We will have a change in players. Seidouzan is changing all its players and its coach!"
"Whoa," I screamed. "That's an illegal action! Where's the ref?"
Tai closed his eyes, "Explanation coming in 3, 2, 1…"
"This is possible due to the Fifth Law that allows Fifth Sector to change the rules!" was Kakuma Oushou answering my outburst. I looked over at Archeri in anger.
"You knew about this didn't you? They brought in a completely different team for this! What do you-"
"I had no idea," Archeri interrupted me. Her eyes had been wide open due to shock. "Remember, I haven't been able to get in touch with Fifth Sector all week."
"Now the match truly begins," came Tai's voice followed by a crunch of chips. He swallowed and returned into his game-watching trance.
Soon after, we got the name of the coach, Senguuji Daigo, and the lineup, with Captain Senguuji Yamato being the goalkeeper. All the players, except for the goalie, had similar hair color in gray. Along with that, all the players were ones who have never played in any official matches before. With none of us truly aware of what was going on, we just watched speechless.
The kickoff for the second half was for reborn-Seidouzan. I craned my head closer to see what this new team was capable of. My mouth dropped when I saw them pass the ball into Raimon territory. After getting over the shock of this play, Raimon began to advance back up the field. However, no one was expecting the 4 forwards of Seidouzan to emit those purple flames from the backs. All four keshins revealed a soldier decked in white armor.
"Seihei Pawn (Elite Soldier Pawn)!" screamed all 4 forwards.
The three of us each showed our own way of shock. My mouth dropped again and I was speechless. Archeri gasped, with her eyes growing. Lastly, Tai was zapped out of his trance long enough for him to grab some more chips to eat.
The ball was taken and the onslaught began with a keshin shoot straight for Raimon's goal. Goalie Sangoku leaped into the air and spun before throwing his hands down once again summoning the stone wall, Fence of Gaia. It barely deflected it back towards them with another one of the forwards kicking it right back to Sangoku. He brought out a second Fence of Gaia, although this time the power of the two canceled each other out instead of one winning, with the ball blown back to another forward and Sangoku into the goal he was desperately defending.
With the third keshin shoot, with Sangoku without time to get back into action, the large defender with long purple hair and goggles on his chin, Amagi, brought out his hissatsu, Atlantis Wall. Amagi's prehistoric looking wall was smashed to bits with him blown back as well. However, the weakened ball punched out by the now ready Sangoku. The final forward kicked the flying ball once last time with Sangoku blocking it with his body and throwing his falling form into the goalpost in order to keep the ball from going in with him. Sangoku, now injured, left and blue headband wearing goalie Nishizono Shinsuke came in his place. Although really short, this brown rabbit ear haired first-year had a giant keshin as proven in the last match and hopefully could keep these guys from scoring.
"Th-This is overkill!" I stammered. "How is Raimon going to win against these monsters?"
"Simple, they don't" was Archeri's response. Although in the same fashion as when she was bragging, her face showed she was still shocked at the skill the new Seidouzan was showing.
With the game paused for the switch, Tai returned to the world of the living and ate some chips with his precious salsa, saying, "Well, this game just got better." With that, he returned to his trance.
Reborn-Seidouzan was next with a corner kick, which was eventually stolen by Raimon. They started advancing up the field in great strides, avoiding the keshin-wielding forwards at all costs.
"Well, they're avoiding the front line of power," I said simply.
The ball eventually reached Captain Matsukaze Tenma who blew past the final defender with his trademark hissatsu Soyokaze Step (Zephyr Step). With that defender flying off behind him, he was one-on-one with the goalie.
"Go for it!" I screamed.
Matsukaze grew purple wings which eventually grew to an entire keshin. The spirit had a long mane of red hair, a six pack, hero-like mask, and ginormous wings.
"Majin Pegasus Arc (Demon God Pegasus Arc)!" was Tenma's cry as he shouted out the beast's name. He shot the ball with all his might backed by his keshin's power.
Senguuji Yamato was unfazed and brought out his out keshin, a four-armed, caped spirit with a cross on its face, "Kenou Kingburn (Wise Sovereign Kingburn)!" Matsukaze was forced to look in shock as the keshin's hissatsu, King Fire, ending up sending four streams of fire from each of its arms until the ball turned into ashes.
With the ball in his hands, Senguuji Yamato gave the signal and purple fire erupted from the back of all of Seidouzan's players. Joining the four Pawns in the front and Kingburn in the back were a Guardian Tower Rook, Witch Queen Lydia, two Demon Prime Minister Bishops, and two Iron Horse Warrior Knights. With faces just as shocked as Raimon's I stood up and yelled, "What the heck is that?"
"That, my friend is a chess board," Tai spoke up, once again out of his trance. He was less surprised then Archeri and I were, he probably predicted this. "Look closely, every keshin is a chess piece, and Seidouzan is planning to corner Raimon into checkmate."
I looked and saw the resemblance. Every keshin resembled the chess piece their name suggested. Rook and Queen were in the back, Bishops and Knights in the middle, and finally Pawns up in front.
"Now, this is overkill!" I exclaimed.
"For once, I agree with you," was the surprising response from my sister. Tai nodded in agreement.
Seidouzan used their keshin's power to shoot their way past all of Raimon's players by using shoots as passes, with Kurama taking an enormous hit protecting Matsukaze. This onslaught reached one of the Pawn-wielding forwards who shot it at goalie Nishizono. He brought out his giant keshin, Gouseishin Titanius (Planet Guardian God Titanius), a gold and blue monster with a mane of purple hair and circular bars on its back. However, the giant couldn't take the shot, and with that, the score became 3-2, Seidouzan in the lead.
As Raimon changed their second injured player Kurama with Kageyama Hikaru, we all talked about the extreme situation.
"This isn't soccer anymore! It's just a smack down of everyone in Raimon!" I cried. "Archeri, how could you not know of an army of keshin users?"
"I just did what I was told when I was there!" she yelled back. "I didn't go snooping around!"
"Well, I surprised neither of you suspected it," Tai yawned.
"What do you mean?" we siblings replied simultaneously.
"This is the final match. What's more, they subbed a team that was playing equally at half-time," he began. "The idea of having a team of this caliber to take out the resisting team was probably inevitable for Raimon's journey."
He had a point. Up 'til now, Raimon has been fighting teams from Fifth Sector with only several keshins. If they were to take down the organization as a whole, it would be expected that the final team would be powerful to this kind of extent.
"In any case, it's still way too much." I said.
"Maybe, Taiso, maybe," Tai shrugged, "Anywho, we can't really do anything it this situation except sit back and watch."
I gritted my teeth and sat myself down. When he was right, he was right. There wasn't anything we could except watch and hope. Raimon could pull through this, I knew they could. They needed to, for all of us across the country.
Raimon's kickoff resulted in them quickly losing the ball thanks to Seidouzan's generous overuse of their keshins. As one of the Pawns was running up, Raimon answered with their ace striker, Tsurugi Kyousuke releasing his keshin: Kensei Lancelot (Sword Saint Lancelot). It was a knight in shining armor with a sword and shield versus an unarmed soldier in armor. Lancelot won the duel, but the ball spun out of Tsurugi's possession, and another Seidouzan player took it and released their keshin.
This time, Nishiki brought out Sengoku Bushin Musashi to take on his Bishop. Musashi won, although the ball once again spun out of control. The match continued at this pace where keshins would take on keshins until one gave out. Unfortunately for Raimon, they only had 4 keshin users to Seidouzan's 11, and on top of that, one of Raimon's keshin users was stuck back guarding the goal.
"Raimon can't hold this up forever," Archeri stated. "They're going to eventually wear themselves out."
"Wait a second," I shouted. "If they are wearing out, so is Seidouzan! Raimon's fighting equal-"
"Using a keshin takes up a ton of energy, Taiso," interrupted Tai. "Take it from Archeri and I, we know."
"I know that, but just because they have more keshins doesn't mean they'll win!"
"If Raimon continues this tactic, it will," Archeri answered this time. "Eventually, the 3 keshin users from Raimon won't be able to fight back, and this is just wearing them out."
"So, what you're saying is, unless Raimon finds a way to fight back without relying on their keshins," I started
"They're screwed," Tai finished. "There's no easy way to do it. Right now, they're walking down a slippery slope, and they're about to slip."
I looked at Tai's serious expression and then looked back at the TV. He wasn't being sarcastic or kidding. Tai, although skeptical of Raimon's victory since the beginning of their "revolution," genuinely wanted them to win in the end, but if he was worried, then things were really bad. I watched as Raimon kept with their plan.
'You guys gotta pull through!' I thought. 'Find another tactic, just don't tire yourself out!"
I realized that Tai and Archeri were right as Tsurugi's keshin hissatsu, Lost Angel, was stopped by King Fire. Lost Angel hadn't failed the entire tournament. After that, things started going downhill. Seidouzan was continuously bringing out keshins and shooting at Raimon with the 3 keshin users, Matsukaze, Tsurugi, Nishiki, and Nishizono, keeping them from widening the score by 2.
What I dreaded finally happened after a tough save with Matsukaze and Shinsuke both using their keshins to stop a single shot. On the next throw-in, Tsurugi and Nishiki finally hit their limits of how many times they could bring out their keshins and were overwhelmed by Seidouzan. Matsukaze was barely able to stop them as well. Soon, the defense was worn out too, using their bodies as shields to block it. The ball came dangerously close to scoring several times, just hitting the goalpost. With everyone but Matsukaze on the floor due to fatigue, Senguuji left the goal and brought out his keshin and shot it. It broke through Matsukaze's already weakened keshin and Nishizono reached his limit too with his keshin retracted as soon as he sent it out.
"4…2," I muttered. There was a two point difference and Raimon was in ruins. Matsukaze was on the ground, crying. I had no one to reassure me here, my company was my enemy, Archeri, and the lazy ass who doesn't care that much. I shut my eyes in anger. They were so close! Why now? WHY?
"Don't count your chickens, dude. Just watch."
I opened my eyes and looked where the sound led. TAI? The one who usually sees the worst in our situation? He was smiling at the screen. I looked up, but all I saw was Matsukaze on his knees with tears in his eyes looking up.
"What are you talking about?" I asked him. "What's so different?"
"Who's he looking at?"
I focused where Matsukaze gaze was and saw a small image of someone on the top right of the screen. I squinted and saw who it was. It was the previous Captain, Shindou Takuto. The one person who inspired me to take charge of this team and help lift it from where it was. I haven't succeeded in it yet, but that guy inspired me to start. I couldn't make out what he was saying, but it helped him get up.
At that moment Raimon had to take a small time out to see if there were any injuries on the now exhausted team. While they were there, the atmosphere around them started to change. I could tell the team was rallying under the situation. I saw this and remembered why I believed in Raimon this entire tournament.
"This Raimon you're so enthusiastic about isn't half bad, little bro," Archeri said, not looking away from the screen. She wasn't being sarcastic or menacing. She actually sounded genuinely impressed. I didn't say anything and just nodded. The match was continuing.
The match continued the exact way it left off: with Seidouzan smashing Raimon with their keshins. However, this time around, Raimon always got up every single time right after to keep their momentum going. When the ball was high in the air above the goal, Nishizono pulled through by jumping high enough to punch it out of the way. When Seidouzan shot a ball, all 4 of the defense used their entire bodies to block the ball. The team had become one. With a pass from the back of the defense, the ball ended up in the front with the forwards in an instant, with Seidouzan not getting a chance to even touch them.
Nishiki and Kageyama were up front with ball before both being knocked high in the air by the final line of defense's keshins. When it seemed like the drive was over, Nishiki helped launch Kageyama higher into the air so he could shoot the ball from the air. With a scream, Kageyama and the ball disappeared in a purple vortex until they returned when he shot it. This hissatsu, Extend Zone broke past the final two keshins and remained high in the sky. It may have lost all its power, but it proved Raimon could make it. To answer this play, both Matsukaze and Tsurugi ran up to the ball and prepared to finally make their own shot on Seidouzan's impenetrable goalie.
As Senguuji prepared his keshin for the shot, Matsukaze and Tsurugi both leaped into the air spinning quickly to reach the ball. As they spun, fire enveloped them and I saw the technique I've only seen one other time, on a professional soccer match. They shot the ball together and I was sure it was that move.
"FIRE TORNADO DOUBLE DRIVE!"
This fireball of a shot head straight for goalkeeper Senguuji Yamato who confidently used his keshin hissatsu: King Fire, as his defense against it. However, the power of the shot was proven when he was starting to get pushed back. Everyone on Raimon's team yelled for it to go in, and if granting their wish, a keshin was overpowered by a hissatsu.
"GOAL! 3-4! Raimon takes a point back!" Kakuma Oushou's voice boomed through the TV's speakers.
"Amazing. A keshin has been overpowered by a hissatsu?" Archeri said very softly. It was once thought that no hissatsu had a chance against a keshin, but we saw it happen right here!
As Kakuma Oushou continued talking about how this move has only been used by the Gouenji Shuuya only once as a national player, I remembered how this was the second time his moves were shown in this match. That, plus the fact that Ishido Shuuji was Gouenji, add the factor that Raimon did this, equaled that he must have taught them, which meant…
He was for this revolution all along! I was about to mention it to Archeri and Tai, but seeing their faces, both intently watching, I knew they had already figured it out. I got up in happiness and cheered.
"All right!" I screamed. "The comeback begins here!"
As the celebration was finishing up, Tai closed his eyes and got up.
"This match is over," he said simply.
"What do you mean, Raimon can still catch up!" I yelled at him. "It's only a point now, plus the rhythm is on their side now!" How could he think Raimon was done when they just scored that major point?
"That's what I meant. This match is over. Raimon has won," he said as he took the now empty chips and salsa to the sink to rinse them. I gave him a confused look and went back to the game.
It turns out that he was right because the rest of the match went by really fast. Raimon time and time again defeated keshins using hissatsu and their never say die attitude and scored once more, tying, using Nishiki's Denrai Houtou (Hereditary Treasured Sword). Both Tai and Archeri argued that this goal in particular was really a bit too convenient and started calling it out. I ignored them and continued to watch. Raimon quickly followed up and used a chain shoot combining Tsurugi's Death Drop G3 and Matsukaze's Shin Mach Wind. This hurricane like combination crashed once more through Seidouzan's goalkeeper and with that turnaround, the final whistle blew and the match was over.
"They won," I began, still in shock. "They really won!"
"Seems that way," Tai said, returning from the kitchen with another bag of chips in his hands.
"I told you they'd win," I yelled at him. "It's finally happened! Real soccer is back!" I looked back at Archeri, still on the couch, who had a vacant expression on her face.
"Oi, 'Cheri," Tai yelled out to her.
"Yeah, here to rub it in my face?" she snapped back.
"No, Taiso's here for that. He's rubbing it in mine, too."
"You've doubted them the entire tournament!" I yelled back at him.
"Chill man, it's not like we won or anything."
"We will next year! All we need is some practice! We'll be the team on that stage someday!"
"Your enthusiasm is annoying sometimes, you know that," Tai told me before turning back to Archeri. "Hey, you okay?"
I looked at my arch-nemesis whose face was being hidden. For once, I looked at my sister with worry instead of disdain. She wiped her eyes with her arm before looking back at us with a small grin.
"I'm fine. Now give me some of those chips."
Tai laughed as we all sat down. Unlike during the game where we were all 100% focused on what was going on, during the awards ceremony and as Armano Mikado Stadium finally descended back to its original shape we all slouched down into the couches, just watching everything unfold.
With all the match stuff complete, the results of the Holy Emperor election were revealed and with Raimon's victory, Hibiki Seigou came out on top. Hibiki's inaugural speech was very quick and to the point. He explained how soccer wasn't an equal sport, and winning was based on the players' desire to win and how much effort they put into it. He ended his speech with the disbandment of Fifth Sector and freeing all soccer players to play as they like once more. With the game over and Raimon's victory, Fifth Sector was no more and real soccer returned!
"Well, that was a spectacle, wouldn't you say?" Tai spoke up as we were silent as the TV went on.
"It sure was!" I replied, turning off the TV. "You guys have to agree that it was an amazing match, though!"
"It actually was a great match," Archeri said as she got up. "Best match that I've seen in quite a while." She smiled before looking down at her feet.
"So, 'Cheri, what are you going to do now," Tai asked. "With Fifth Sector gone and no mission to complete, where do you continue?"
"Truth be told," she began. "I really don't know. I'll call the organization tomorrow and they'll probably give us all the details." She looked rather optimistic in a cloudy situation without a clear answer.
I spoke up, "Well Tai, with this game over, it's time for us to get in gear as well, wouldn't you say? Let's call the team together and celebrate!"
"Hell no. Not today. It's like 10 at night, I'm going home to rest and we can continue your celebration tomorrow."
"It's our celebration," I clarified for him. "It's a victory for all soccer teams across the country!"
"Yeah, yeah, just save your enthusiasm for tomorrow, 'kay?" he said as he made his way to the door. "I'll see ya tomorrow. Night Tai, night 'Cheri!" With that he left our apartment and it was just Archeri and I.
"Well, I guess I'm going to sleep too," Archeri said, breaking the silence. "Good night Taiso." She walked over to her room as I stood there.
"Night sis," I said. I was too happy to even start an argument or to rub it in her SEED face. Real soccer was finally back! I sat on the couch and replayed the game in my head, every hissatsu, every keshin, every little play that happened that gave us the great game we saw. I ended up staying there all night until I fell asleep recounting the match that would change everything.
The last thing I remember thinking about before I went to sleep was:
'Raimon has done it, now it's our turn.'
With that, Chapter 3 comes to a close. Next chapter we return to Tai's POV and the plot should finally be getting underway. What will Archeri do with her mission over and Fifth Sector disbanded? How will the team start up with real soccer returned? Find out next time! Thanks for reading and review!