Chapter 12: A Look Into The Origins
I stared solemnly into the void's empty eyes, its darkness surrounding me. This time, I stood firm, for there was nothing to fear.
"I understand. I know why I was so afraid of you. I didn't want to accept the fact that I was empty; that, no matter what, I couldn't feel the same way as before." I stared at my hands, cold, pale palms that held nothing. "My past self was swallowed in this place, and there is no trace of it left. The dead can't come back to life."
I took a deep breath and giggled dryly. "Well, what can I do now but accept it? A doll will keep moving even without its master as long as it has their will. If I can't do anything to change the past, I just have to keep moving forward and save what can be salvaged from the ruins."
Static filled my senses, prickling my skin and stinging my ears. I kept smiling. "Mn, I can't compare to the real thing, the real Sumire Yuu, but I can only try. What else do I have to live for after all?"
The silent world dissolved from dirty black to pure white in a dying hiss. I clasped my fingers behind my back and placed a foot behind the other. "It doesn't matter if I am a lie. No one is keeping tabs, and pity is something she never received."
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"Yakata-kun, expand your field of vision. Kurobe-senpai is free!" I yelled, smiling as Yakata-kun passed the ball and decided to back down to support the defense when Gouenji passed through the opposing side of the field. "Good."
"They are improving day by day, these boys," Coach Nikaidou commented.
I agreed. "Learning hissatsus improved their morale. Now, they are more than willing to win." I stopped as Gouenji performed Fire Tornado, scoring the third goal. "If only the Mukata triplets accepted to work with the rest of the team, Goeunji-kun wouldn't have to bear the center of the attack formation alone."
Said trio was bickering at their teammates for allowing another point, not even a practice match easing their pride. I hummed. "If something were to happen to Gouenji-kun, we wouldn't have many chances, especially against Teikoku."
"I believe in Gouenji-kun. He is doing what he can as captain," the Coach replied with absolute confidence.
Turning back to the field, I erased all traces of emotion from my face. "If that is your wish. I will keep supporting Gouenji-kun. The burden of leading a whole group is not easy to bear."
After carrying out some chores, I continued to observe, giving encouragement and comments from time to time.
Eventually, the Coach mentioned Fire Tornado's manual. I flinched and giggled dryly. "Yes, it seems we panicked for nothing. Good thing it was merely displaced." I made an imperceptible sigh, placing my hand over my forehead. I had to work twice as hard to get the remaining manual.
"That reminds me," I started, hand falling to my side, "I was reviewing the documents in the clubroom for something that might help us, and I noticed the name of a certain hissatsu."
The Coach lowered his eyes to meet mine. I frowned for a swift moment before he replied. "Which hissatsu?"
"Tornado Legend. It is a name I have never heard about. Why aren't they learning it?" Holding my breath, I studied his features for a trace of a lie.
He sighed deeply and crossed his arms. After a few tense seconds, he stated: "they aren't prepared to learn it."
"Why is it? Because it's a triple hissatsu?" I glanced at the Mukata triplets. It will be wasted on them at the moment.
"That is one reason. Another is that it needs something three strikers don't have."
"What is that?" I asked swiftly, but his watch beeped, signaling the end of the mini-match.
The Coach whistled and walked to the team, giving them his complete focus.
I hissed and stomped my foot hard before going to the bench and retrieving the sports drinks.
"I need to know. I have to know."
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"Coach," I called out to him as morning practice ended, "I would like to hear more about the hissatsu."
"Ah, Sumire-san. . ." He looked away, discomfort apparent on his face. "You will be late for class, maybe before afternoon practice."
Sighing, I shook my head, "I will go during lunch break to ask anyway, so it's less of a trouble if you tell me about Tornado Legend now." I giggled at the change of his expression, covering a half-smile as the words seemed to test his patience.
"Isn't Tornado Legend that triple hissatsu the team created ten years ago?" Gouenji-kun interrupted, eyes lit with curiosity as he approached.
I bit my lip, but then perked up at the good fortune before I clapping once. "Yes, the Coach was telling about it during the match! It sounds interesting!"
Gouenji looked at Coach Nikaidou who was aware he was now outnumbered.
"All right, I'll tell you," he said, hanging his head in defeat.
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Ten years ago, two boys that will become legends stepped into Kidokawa Seishuu. Tatsumaki Ousho and Tatsumaki Noboru. They had the same dream as any other middle school soccer player, beat Teikoku and win the Football Frontier. But dreams can't be achieved with merely wishing, and that is what made the Tatsumaki twins different. They had talent. Enough of it. It started with a bet to create the strongest shoot.
The older created Fire Tornado, embodying the oldest's fiery spirit, and the younger devised Dark Tornado, the symbol of his destructive nature. By putting a piece of themselves in their hissatsus, they created a unique tune never seen in the soccer club. But this wasn't enough to beat Teikoku. A piece was missing. And it came the following year. A smaller piece called Tatsumaki Hideyoshi.
The boy was gentler, like the buffer that calmed his brothers' fiery souls. The twins made a truce, but the youngest sibling had also inherited that passion and talent for the sport. He created Back Tornado--proof of his passionate admiration and defiance towards his older brothers--before the Football Frontier, and soon, they decided to harmonize the three hissatsus.
"That is Tornado Legend," I said proudly. The team exploded in cheers and comments. It seemed most of them hadn't heard of the story, an odd action from the Coach. Gouenji and had I agreed to tell the team when the Coach wasn't around. We couldn't waste a golden opportunity.
"That is awesome! Why didn't the Coach tell us earlier?"
"Yeah, I knew the soccer team was super strong. But I didn't know it had been this strong!"
"I would have worked much harder if I knew we had this much history. We even made it to the nationals!"
I walked off the front row, mulling over the last statement. Glancing at Gouenji-kun, I commented a quiet "alright" to myself. "This should be enough to boost their self-confidence."
After we discussed the main topic of our secret meeting, it was decided Gouenji and I would look for Back Tornado and find what happened to Dark Tornado. I figured we could answer the latter if we asked Coach Nikaidou. I wasn't sure if Teikoku had the real manual or if Kidokawa had been smart enough to make a copy after all.
"You guys. . ." The Coach grumbled after Gouenji and I explained the reason for the team's excitement at his return.
"It's not like you told us to keep it a secret," I said, smiling playfully as he facepalmed.
"Even with the manuals, none of you would be able to learn Tornado Legend."
"But that can be our next objective after the tournament, regardless of the result," I challenged.
"Coach, please!" Gouenji-kun pleaded, the rest of the team immediately joining in chorus.
The Coach had proven to be weak under pressure, and it didn't take much for him spill Back Tornado's manual location. They did make a copy of Tatsumaki Noboru's hissatsu before the original manual was stolen, the last a detail the Coach kept to himself.
"Then I will go get it!" I said cheerfully, "Is it all right if I skip manager duties? I can find someone to take my place for the day." I had already begun to trot away backwards, humming loudly as I did an effort to wait for an answer.
"Wait." The Coach gestured at Gouenji. "Gouenji-kun, go with her."
My feet stopped moving, the tone dying. "Huh? Why? I don't need Gouenji-kun." I bit my tongue, regretting those words immediately. I had chosen my words wrong.
The Coach shook his head. "It's not because of that, Sumire-san," he assured.
"Then. . . why?" The team had fallen silent, and none of them met my gaze. The oldest Mukata's words seemed to have affected them more than I hoped.
"Fine. It doesn't mean I will slow down." I made my way to the closest building without waiting for Gouenji.
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"Sumire. . . Hey, Sumire. Hey! Tch."
Inside the cultural clubs building, our footsteps clicked quietly. I pressed forward without reacting to Gouenji-kun's call.
"Are you angry at me?" He inquired.
"We are wasting time." I doubled on the stairs towards the second floor.
"The Coach doesn't think you need supervision. It's because everyone else doesn't know what to think about you."
I stopped mid-step without turning back. "And why is that? Because they don't trust me. And the Coach cares more about the team's trust than supporting a student." As I was about to continue, my arm was held back. I yanked my wrist away, slipping through Gouenji's fingers with ease.
"Mukata-senpai's accusations divided the team, and the manual was in a place anyone could have left it," Gouenji mourned quietly, frustration seeping from his words but I stood unfazed.
"I understand that. We are talking about two different things." I resumed walking. "Anyway, I will do things my way whether or not you are around. I have been doing my job well all this time, and I certainly won't take a step back because of a boy."
I heard Gouenji-kun's steps cut short. "It's about that," he whispered.
I flicked around, crossing my arms with a condescending look. "Exactly, Captain."
He passed my hand through his head, chuckling dryly. Shaking his head, he said gently, but I detected a sneer, "Okay, I'll step back."
I nodded. "Thank you." We walked in silence for a few seconds, and I added a little apologetically, but determined, "I appreciate the help and company of course. I merely took the Coach's words as 'do her job.'" I gazed forward. "You don't need to say anything. I will take care of it."
Gouenji-kun replied a few seconds later. "I came because I want to know about Tornado Legend. Maybe the Coach felt guilty for giving you all the work off-field."
I tilted my head. "You are the ones on the main stage. This is the least I can do." Looking away, I quickly resumed the pace, a little slower now.
We eventually reached our destination. The student council office. I glanced at Gouenji, insecurity and doubt finally filling my now composed mind. Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door.
Ryuugamine-senpai shouldn't be a problem.
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As soon as the bell rang, my phone rang furiously. As I was about to storm out of the classroom, I was held back again. I turned around in hurry. "Not now, Mitsumiya!"
"Sumire-san, wait. Are you really that busy? We haven't talked--"
I freed my arm and ran off, quickly taking out my phone. "Hello, yes, this is Sumire Yuu. Thank you for your call, Fuyo-san. . . Yes, Michio-san and Natsuki-san have been taking good care of me. . . Yes, about Kidokawa Seishuu's soccer team. . . Mn, I think it will be interesting to know how they have evolved from a novice team to its present one. . . This Saturday? Of course! Thank you very much!" I removed the phone from my ear and hovered over the End Call button.
"You sound much more cheerful, Sumire-chan. It is reassuring. I am sure the rest of the heads will be glad to have you back eventually."
I placed the phone over my ear and smiled. "Yes, that is my goal."
"Then, I will be glad to support you. The Sumire and the Fuyo Group go way back after all."
I nodded. "Mn, I have to visit soon as well. I hope Michio-san and Natsuko-san aren't too busy with college applications."
A few minutes later, I hung up. Making sure the staircase was empty, I slid down to the floor, stomach rumbling and body screaming for rest. I stared upwards.
"Huh?" I murmured quietly. "When was the last time I eat?" I blinked, trying to focus my hazy vision. I tried to push myself up with a lot of difficulties. "Well. . ." I grunted. "If everything is going as planned. . . then this to be expected. This is no one person's job," I said between huffs, gazing at my shaky arms. "She could have done it better."
I walked back to the classroom, taking a notebook and a protein bar after glancing at Higashi-san's lunch. I was determined on becoming a worthy successor of the Sumire Foundation and mend my mistakes. I had to relearn discipline and the meaning of hard work while keeping a facade at school and out. This pain was worth the effort. All pain was worth it.
A Look Into The Origins | End