PLEASE TAKE NOTE THAT THIS IS VERY MUCH A SELF-INDULGENT FIC. I'VE BEEN PLAYING THE GAMES AGAIN SO I WANTED TO WRITE SOMETHING
Also, the Raimon members got so nerfed in the Ares/Orion anime that it physically pains me at times, so I am here to deliver my own food and to those who love the Raimon Eleven just as much!
"Endou-kun."
At the call of his name, the Legendary Goalkeeper turned his head to face the source of the voice. Fiery brown greeted cool auburn, and his lips curled upward into a smile. He never thought seeing the familiar sight of Raimon Natsumi in her school uniform could be so nostalgic.
"What's up, Natsumi?"
"How are you feeling?"
Endou quirked a brow, confused by her query. What else could he be feeling but excitement? They've made it to the finals as the Raimon Eleven once again. They were going up against Inakuni, who had overcome their previous opponents to face them.
"You've got to be more specific."
She sighed as though expecting that response. "You're not nervous at all, are you?"
"You should know by now that Endou rarely gets nervous." Kidou Yuuto chimed in as he laced his shoes. A smirk on his visage as he got up from his seat. "If anything, he's bubbling in excitement."
"Kidou's right. I have to admit that I can't wait to see the plays they'll use against us." The flaming striker of the Raimon Eleven— Gouenji Shuuya added. "Facing a strong team like Inakuni is just another obstacle that we need to overcome."
"Yeah! We'll beat them and win this Football Frontier!" His dragonic counterpart—Someoka— exclaimed as he rested a hand on Gouenji's shoulder. Flashing his rival and friend a smirk, he added, "And I can finally bust out the secret weapon that I've been working on while you guys were busy with the FFI."
He matched his smirk with his own, "Then I can't wait to see it in action."
Natsumi felt herself facepalming at their lack of concern or nervous bone in their body. Then again, this was Raimon. The heart of their team would never allow the thought of facing one of the strongest teams in the Football Frontier to unnerve him and the others. Their determination and passion... That was what made them the Raimon Eleven.
Feeling a pat on her shoulder, she glanced to her side to see a smiling Endou Mamoru.
"Don't worry. We'll win this."
She felt like she could believe those words when it came from him.
Glancing away, a small smile began to stretch onto her face.
"Naturally... and I'll support you all along the way."
His grin that soon appeared was akin to the sun shining down on her.
In the corner of the room, Domon Asuka couldn't help but smile wryly as he and Ichinose Kazuya watched the scene unfold... Well, everyone in the locker room could see what had just occurred.
"I think Natsumi-chan meant to say that she'd support Endou."
His best friend chuckled sheepishly, scratching his cheek. "I don't think you should say that else she hears you..."
"...You're probably right."
Footsteps came running as Haruna and Aki set foot in the room.
"Everyone, get ready!"
It was time for the finals.
The most anticipated match of the Football Frontier Autumn Tournament was about to commence. As both Inakuni and Raimon displayed their incredible skills and plays during the course of the tournament, they amassed fans all over again.
The final match of the FF was essentially a match between Inakuni Raimon and the original Raimon Eleven. Of course, many wondered who would come out on top.
As the players began to take their positions, Endou clenched his fingers into a fist and took a deep breath. As the former captain of Inazuma Japan, he was more than aware of how formidable his former teammates were. He could still remember the lasting sting that came from stopping Nosaka's Gekkoumaru— Tsubame Gaeshi. Well, that's why he and his teammates trained long and hard to master their new hissatsu techniques to properly face Inakuni.
The cheers of the crowd began to deafen, absolute focus creeping into him. Lips would curl into his signature grin.
"Everyone!" His teammates turned to him, and he couldn't help but smile wider. "Let's play soccer!"
They grinned and responded in kind.
"Yeah!"
And the kickoff began.
...
Hiura Kirina made a long pass to Kozoumaru as soon as the wild striker was safe and free. Grinning, the forward charged through the defense, unaware that it was part of Raimon's plan. The gamemaker glanced at his captain as they exchanged nods.
"Let's start things off with a bang! Switch On! Over Cyclone!"
The nature-filled shot burst forth as the familiar stone animals accompanied the ball. Endou grinned... and charged forward.
"HUH?!" was the collective response of Inakuni. Kozoumaru almost felt his eyes bulge out at what he just witnessed.
"What's this?! Endou Mamoru is running away from the goal, everyone! Is he going to just let this shot in!? No, wait! Domon Asuka has just arrived in front of the goal."
The defender smiled lazily before grinning as he leaped forward with a leg outstretched, and with a roundhouse swipe, flames spout out from the ground before coming to life as a wall.
"Volcano Cut V3!"
"Incredible! No. 13 Domon Asuka managed to stop that incredible shot on his own!"
Said defender chuckled before passing it to, "Kidou!"
The game maker smirked and made various passes, and before Inakuni knew it, the ball was closing in on their goal as Someoka sprinted.
"Eat this! My new hissatsu technique— Dragon Slayer!"
The full body of the familiar blue dragon appeared from behind the dragonic striker as he shot the ball, imbued with a beam of blue energy.
Mansaku quickly ran back and barked, "We got to stop it!"
"Shoot chain now, Endou!"
"Right!"
It was almost amusing to see Inakuni shocked by their new play. The stream of energy drew closer to the Legendary Goalkeeper as he grinned, stomping his foot as energy enveloped his form. A hand similar to God Hand appeared over his head before closing into a fist, smashing against the ball.
"Chain 2! Gigaton Head!"
Shootchaining with Dragon Slayer, the ball flew past the defenders of Inakuni with ease.
"Majin the Wa— Ah!"
1-0
The shot chain proved too much for Umihara Norika as it went straight to the goal!
"Goalkeeper Endou Mamoru scored the first goal of the finals! What an incredible and bold play by Raimon!"
Michinari glanced at the goal in disbelief before letting out a wry chuckle, turning to the Legendary Goalkeeper celebrating his first goal with his team.
"Endou-san sure has leveled up. That bold play of theirs was on the level of pro league teams."
"Then we'll just have to match their plays with our own, Captain!" Asuto came forward and pumped a fist. "We weren't training 'till we got sore just to get discouraged, were we?"
Their captain smiled and nodded. "Yeah. It's time for us to step up!"
"Yeah!"
Watching from their side of the field, Endou did not bother hiding his excited grin. Seeing their burning spirits, it was apparent that their play didn't weaken Inakuni's resolve. Good. He would be disappointed otherwise.
Unbeknownst to the keeper, a set of eyes were also staring at him. A smile graced Natsumi's visage as she watched the team return to their positions once more.
"Still worried about Endou-kun, Natsumi-san?"
She blinked, turning to a smiling Kino Aki. She swore those eyes of hers twinkled in something... mischievous.
Natsumi chuckled, though a sigh soon left her. "A bit, I'll admit. I'm afraid that he might overexert himself before the second half even begins. Inakuni is a strong team and a good few of them are incredibly threatening."
"Based on Inamori-kun and the others' performance in the FFI and this Autumn Tournament, I have to agree," She nodded in agreement. "But I know everyone will pull through, especially Endou-kun."
The auburn-haired girl's lips seemed to grow wider as if agreeing with Aki's words.
"Indeed."
The match raged on with neither team giving up.
"Meteor Drop V2!"
2-2
Inakuni's play turned aggressive to match the bold plays of Raimon, forcing the Legendary Keeper to stay on his toes.
The ball would be stolen, dribbled, passed, and kicked, only for each team's goalie to stop the opposing hissatsu technique with their own. Both Inakuni and Raimon were wearing each other down as they continued to unleash their hissatsu techniques, both new and old. Neither kept the ball for longer than five seconds.
A chance occurred as Michinari managed to steal the ball from Kurimatsu Teppei.
"Kozoumaru!"
"Got it!" Successfully receiving the ball, he smirked as he struck a pose, preparing Last Resort.
"You don't think we'd let you just use Last Resort that easily, do you?"
"Wha—?!"
Like a swift gale, Kazemaru cut into the wild striker's blind spot. Two clones of himself appeared beside him as they pounced at forward on all possible sides.
"Bushin Defense!"
A slide came from one of the clones, sending it to another before passing it to the original.
"Gah!"
"A marvelous steal from Kazemaru Ichirouta! Inakuni's striker stood no chance against his new hissatsu technique!"
"Gouenji!" Kazemaru shouted, passing the ball to their ace striker.
"Not gonna happen!" came the voice of a sprinting Asuto, accelerating as he leaps; lightning flashed before holding the ball between both feet. "Inabikari Dash!"
"Go for it, Asuto!"
The cheers of his teammates encouraged him to take charge as he went for the shot, turning to the ball with a bicycle kick, Shining Bird flew through the field.
"Kozoumaru, now!"
"No need to tell me twice! Bakunetsu Storm G2!"
Combining Shining Bird with Fire Tornado, the two override their shots into a fiery blast, even breaking through Kabeyama's The Wall.
"Endou-kun," whispered Natsumi as she watched the Override technique approach the keeper.
Time almost seemed to slow down for her when he glanced over to the side to meet her gaze, a quick thumbs-up given as if to reassure her before he returned his attention to the incoming shot. Raising his leg with an arm up, Endou soon brought it down as energy welled around him as he threw his fist forward— God Hand came to life and into a spinning knuckle.
"Seigi no Tekken!"
Colliding with Bakunetsu Storm G2, the hissatsu technique knocked the ball to the opposing side just as the first half ended.
...
"Haa! They're not letting us catch a breather!" Endou said between pants, plopping down on the bench as he downed his water in one gulp.
"That's to be expected when we're doing the same." Kidou quipped, taking the offered towel from Haruna.
"True," Nodding in agreement, he turned to the rest of his team. "How are you guys holding up?"
Max raised his hand while rubbing his knee with his free hand, "I might have to sit out for the second half, Captain. That Kozoumaru guy's tackle really did a number on me."
"That bad, huh?"
"Then, Shadow will take Max's place." Coach Hibiki announced as their newest member stood up from the bench, nodding.
"Yes, Hibiki-kantoku."
Endou offered his newest teammate a smile. "We're counting on you, Shadow!"
Another nod, though a small smile, was now present on his face.
"But man, that guy's Switch On thing almost feels like cheating! It's too strong!" Kurimatsu cried out, getting nods from Handa and Shourin.
"His recklessness also increases whenever he does enter that state. We can use that to our advantage." Kazemaru pointed out, Kidou agreeing with him as he turned to their captain.
"Do you have enough energy to hold out their strongest hissatsu techniques?"
Endou's response was a wide grin as he pumped a fist. "Of course! I still have one more surprise left in store for them if they try anything new!"
"Heh. I suppose we have nothing to worry about then." Gouenji chuckled. "Umihara's Majin the Wave evolved thrice during the first half once she composed herself, however. I think it's about time that hissatsu technique makes its debut if we're to break through it, Endou."
The twinkle that flickered across the flaming striker's eyes was not missed as the keeper grinned wryly.
"You haven't used Last Resort, though..."
"Like how we kept Kozoumaru from using it, they're likely to do the same to me."
Unable to argue with that logic, Endou could only nod. "I guess you're certain we can pull it off, huh?"
"You didn't do all that shooting practice for nothing, right?"
He flashed a challenging smirk as Endou faced it with his own. Slapping his cheeks to perk himself up, the captain of Raimon shot up from his seat. "All right. Let's do it!"
Hearing the whistle for the second half, everyone started to make their way to the pitch. Endou took one last sip of his water bottle before he started walking back to the goalpost until a hand caught his wrist.
"Ack...!"
"I knew it."
"Natsumi...?"
The auburn-haired girl pulled him a tad closer, eyes filled with worry as she eyed his right hand. A glare was sent to the keeper, prompting him to flinch before she took off his right glove.
"Why didn't you tell them that last shot bruised your knuckles...?"
"E-Eh? I don't think it was worth mentioning. Besides, God Hand—"
"That doesn't mean you should keep quiet about this from the team!" She snapped with a glare, silencing the captain before auburn hues softened, caressing his bruises. Just as she was about to wrap his hand in bandages, she heard the warning whistle. Biting her lip, she slipped on his glove. "Once you win the finals, I'm patching this up. Do you understand... Mamoru-kun?"
Brown optics grew a tad wider, a chuckle and smile threatening to make themselves known.
"Loud and clear, Natsumi."
The intensity grew as the second half continued.
Midfielders and defenders sent the ball flying all over the pitch; none gave the other a chance to breathe as sweat dripped down their frames. Inakuni and Raimon's forwards didn't fare any better. Their stamina was not infinite. They could only use their hissatsu techniques so many times before they ran out of juice.
However, the only saving grace in the field was...
"Yamino Kageto has once again stolen the ball with his hissatsu technique: Kagenui! He's proving to be a skilled player for the team! How will Inakuni respond?"
How indeed. Inakuni didn't expect that the shadow forward was skilled at being a midfielder as well. He always seemed to be in the perfect position to steal the ball or pass through the defense.
"Ichinose-san!"
Trapping the ball upon receiving it, Ichinose grinned as he immediately passed it to their dragonic striker, "Someoka-kun!"
"Take this! Dragon Slayer!"
The fiery beam of the dragon was unfortunately foiled by the cage of gravity of the defense. A pass was soon sent to Hiura, who used Koori no Ya the next second and aimed for...
Goujin Tetsunosuke!
"All right. I don't care if he's my former captain. Try and stop this, Endou-san! Shin Fire Lemonade Rising!"
A fizzy, flaming shot was encased in the familiar gray bubble of energy, skidding through the field as it knocked away Domon, Shourin, Handa, and Kurimatsu. Alarm flashed across brown hues. Endou didn't expect that level of power from Goujin's evolved hissatsu technique. His concerns only grew as he saw Kozoumaru and Asuto running beside the hissatsu technique.
"Chain 2! Fire Tornado!"
Flames spewed out before Asuto struck the ball with a kick, then again as light covered it.
"Chain 3! Sunrise Blitz!"
And then the sun came crashing upon the field.
"Crap! I have to stop this—"
"Leave it to me, Captain!"
"Kabeyama?!"
The burly defender stood in front of the keeper, determination burning in his irises as an aura shrouded his form.
"I wasn't just sitting on my butt and eating while everyone was doing their best! If I can't stop it, then I will weaken it! The Mountain!"
With a cry, Kabeyama jumped and slammed into the ground as tall mountains appeared behind him.
"Would you look at that?! Raimon's Kabeyama Heigorou brought out his new hissatsu technique! Will it be enough to block Inakuni's shot chain!? W-Wait, what's this?! Inamori Asuto and Kozoumaru Sasuke just leaped toward the ball!?"
"Break through!"
The bodies of rock cracked and then broke apart as the two forwards kicked the ball through the hissatsu technique, coincidentally knocking Kabeyama away.
"I-I'm sorry, Captain...!"
"No... You did well, Kabeyama. I won't let your efforts go in vain!"
Turning around, Endou grasped his heart with his right hand as golden energy unleashed from his form.
"What's this?! Are we going to see the famous Majin The Hand?! But will it be enough to protect the goal from Inakuni's powerful shot chain!?"
"Sorry, but this isn't Majin The Hand... It's a fusion of the first two hissatsu techniques my grandpa's notes taught me! This is my...!"
As Endou snapped toward the direction of the shot, golden wings sprouted from his right hand. Pulling back, he soon thrust his hand forward as a massive God Hand manifested into reality.
"God Hand V!"
Endou's new hissatsu technique came in contact with Asuto and Kozoumaru's shot chain. A hiss escaped his lips, feeling the burn from the power behind the ball until... it faded.
"H-He... he stopped it! Raimon's Legendary Captain protected their goal with his new God Hand V!"
"Endou-san's... incredible... He had three new hissatsu techniques prepared." Asuto panted, smiling wryly as he held onto his knees.
"Oi, don't ease up yet!" Kozoumaru's panicked voice brought him to his senses just in time to witness Endou past them. "We gotta go back!"
It all happened faster than Inakuni could react. The Legendary Goalkeeper passed the ball to their gamemaker, and then, he passed the ball to their ace as Endou ran beside him.
"Let's do this, Endou!"
"You got it!"
Gouenji kicked the ball into the air as both leaped upward in perfect unison, flames spiraling around them.
"Fire Tornado DD (Double Drive)!"
The audience and even Inakuni were left in awe at the marvelous sight of their hissatsu technique. Right and left struck the ball as it engulfed itself in a spiraling inferno, flying straight to the goal. It was as if another Last Resort was coming toward the goal.
Umihara was able to pull herself together in time as she readied her technique.
"Majin The Wave GX!"
"Gooooo!"
The water Majin came to life as it caught the flaming shot, holding it in place to the best of its abilities. Joy seeped into the keeper, but it faded as quickly as it came when the very ball in her hand ignited for the second time, breaking through the hissatsu technique as it flew straight into the goal!
...
Silence filled the stadium.
Until the whistle was blown.
3-2
"G-Goaaaaaaal!"
Hehe, yes, I did just make them use old hissatsu techniques. What? At this point, they are definitely at the pro level so...
ANYWAYS, the plot might not really be there in future chapters. Well, at least after giving more context about this match through flashbacks and talks post-match. But if you like Natsumi/Endou stuff, then you might enjoy whatever comes next!
ALSO.
I wasn't exactly sure how to write a soccer match like in the anime, so forgive me for this messy shit. This won't be too frequent. I just really wanted Raimon to win if they actually fought on screen-