Sixty-Second Spell: Self-Worth
"What are those?" Haru asked, pointing at the wiggling metal balls in the trunk.
"Bludgers, which are animated by magic to foil the players on the field," Hikari replied. "And since they're made of metal, a single blow from one of them can cause a serious injury. That's why the Beaters use bats to keep them off the players' backs. Now, you're going to have to help me with this one. When I count to three, we'll lift the casing off the Bludgers together and step back in case they try to fly towards us."
Taking Hikari's word, Haru put his finger on the casing on the Bludger closest to him while Hikari did the same for the other Bludger.
"One…two…three!" Hikari flicked off the casing while Haru did the same.
Immediately, the Bludgers took off into the air. Hikari took a few steps back, and Haru joined her. The Bludgers briefly circled around the cove before flying toward Haru and Hikari. But one of the Suzaku Quidditch players flew into the Bludger's path and used their bat to send the two Bludgers flying off in different directions.
"Are you two okay?" said the Suzaku player as they turned to look back. In the light of the late afternoon sun, the player was revealed to be Seiko Dōkutsu.
"Yes, Dōkutsu-Sempai," Hikari said after exhaling a long sigh.
"I can't believe you guys play with those things flying around," Haru remarked, feeling like his heart had stopped for a moment.
"Makes the game more interesting," Seiko argued. "Now get the Snitch out here so we can start Quidditch practice properly."
While Seiko flew back toward the ocean, Hikari picked up the golden ball that was in the trunk.
"This is the most important ball of the game," Hikari said. "It's known as the Golden Snitch, and it's the Seeker's job to catch this. Once they do, they not only end the game but they also earn 150 points for their team."
"Jeez!" Haru looked at the golden ball with surprise. "That's a lot!"
"Well, there's a reason for that." Hikari held her palm open with the golden ball.
From the ball's body sprouted a pair of wings and it zipped around like a hummingbird before disappearing into the light of the sun.
"I can't see it anymore," Haru noticed, looking around for it.
"And that's why catching the Snitch is worth a lot of points," Hikari stated. "It's difficult to spot because it's so fast and small. Then when you factor the other balls of Quidditch into the game, it can get pretty chaotic and that's why it takes a special kind of player to be a Seeker."
"My mom was a Seeker. And by that, I mean my birthmother."
Hikari briefly looked envious, but she distracted Haru by slamming the trunk shut and marching down to the lowest row of seats that were right along the cliffs of the cove.
"Don't depend on your heritage to get you through the tryouts, Ryuji," Hikari said as Haru joined her. "That is, if you're brave enough to participate in them."
Out on the ocean, Seiko and her fellow players were playing Quidditch in the air while the waves rushed below them. Haru was so captivated by their game that he didn't respond to Hikari right away. But the lingering coldness of his left shoulder brought Haru back to reality.
"To be honest, I'm not sure if I should do it," Haru said to Hikari. "I'm only thinking about doing it because Daizō and his friends challenged me to participate to settle the issue of Koi being put into detention, which Daizō blames me for."
"If that's the only reason you're doing the tryouts, then don't bother to come," Hikari advised.
"But if I don't, Daizō says I have to publicly acknowledge that it was my fault that Koi served detention, even though that's not true!"
"Quidditch shouldn't be an excuse to settle petty squabbles between Clans! If it were a regular match between Clans, that'd be one thing. But this is an exhibition match! Our class is representing the school as a team, which has no room for guys like you and Daizō, who only think of themselves."
"Hey, I'm nothing like Daizō!"
"Then prove it by doing some serious thinking over the next two days. If you really want to do the tryouts for the sake of the school and not yourself, then be ready to give it all you've got! Because I'm not gonna pass up this opportunity to be part of the youngest Quidditch team in the world if it's the last thing I do!"
After a brisk two days, Haru had made up his mind. So after classes were over on Friday, he followed the line of students heading to the Quidditch Cove along with Rui, Nayu, and Cheng.
"You're doing the tryouts too? Even though you've only had one day of Flying Class?" Nayu said to Haru.
"What better way to show my school pride with," Haru said. "That's why you're here, right?"
"Y-Yeah, I guess," Nayu said. "I just didn't want to get left out."
"Looks like Daizō and his goons are joining us," Cheng said, looking ahead of the line. "Are you planning to settle your score with them, Haru?"
"No," Haru replied, much to Cheng's surprise. "This isn't about Daizō's proposal. I want to prove to myself and the school that I'm not some cursed, worthless Osozaki kid!"
"Don't say that about yourself!" Rui said. "And you don't have to do the tryouts just to prove those things."
"Maybe, but it's the only way I can think of that will show more people what I'm worth."
As the line moved along, Haru came face-to-face with Gōgu-Dono who was just as intimidating as the day Haru met him.
"Ryuji, Rakkashi," Gōgu recognized, seeing Haru and Nayu. "What are you doing here?"
"We're here to try out for the team," Nayu said.
"Same," Haru added.
Gōgu adjusted his goggles. "I'm sorry to disappoint you two, but you're not allowed to participate in the tryouts."
To be continued…