Chapter 23: The Red Oni Who Cried (Part 2)
The name Sugimori Takeshi popped up a few times while Kiyoshi was waiting to enter the modern school. As the match went on, he realized those comments were in fact grounded in reality. Mikage's soccer club was average as far as he knew, but it seemed the new goalkeeper sparked a transformation in the team. Mikage's newfound strength not only made others acknowledge them, their plays were as smooth and rehearsed like a professional chef butchering a fresh salmon.
It was bad, Kiyoshi was attracted to the opposite team. Tengawara was pretty interesting too, but it hurt to see Keima bumping against each midfielder and losing the ball. And it hurt more when Curtana's speed was diminished with that force shield catch hissatsu on the first try. Kiyoshi fisted his hands. How he wished he could support Keima closer. If it weren't for Kakuma's heated and unbiased commentary, he might have had a hard time witnessing the match.
When the half-time whistle blew, Kiyoshi's side of the soccer field seemed to heave in unison. He concealed his sunken face, panting heavily. God, how can they win? Picking himself up, he swayed back to the railing and peered down. But this time, he wasn't alone. A group of boys and girls his age were close by, talking about the match and whatnot. The sight nudged an uncomfortable memory deep in Kiyoshi's psyche. She. . . couldn't be here, could she? Kiyoshi stared at his troubled friend who was busy debating with a playmate. Ah. . . blonde? Strange.
He knew his friend was bitter about last year's loss. Although he hadn't bothered to seek more information like videos or asked about the match. Staring at Keima's fringe, Kiyoshi realized this match was truly important for him. That frown, that strain in his face muscles; he had never seen Keima so serious. He really wanted to win. 'To be their knight,' he had properly explained and it made Kiyoshi feel cold because he wasn't the most important thing in Keima's life anymore. This proved Kiyoshi knew so little about his best friend's life and that--
A cautious hand touched his shoulder. Kiyoshi yelped. It was Keima's mom, asking if he wanted something to eat. He shook his head. "Thank you very much," he muttered, wondering if they knew what the match meant for their son. Keima told him once he wasn't particularly close to his parents; they weren't bad but they weren't perfect either. Kiyoshi sighed. That wasn't a reassuring thought.
"Kirishima-kun looks better now," he heard a girl say.
"He was acting odd at the beginning, right? Like during training."
"Yeah, it was weird. I wonder why."
Another boy complained about the team's weak execution last year, in particular, golden boy's. Keima? Kiyoshi shifted his head to them. They began talking about the previous tournament, how the team lost in the second match despite Keima creating a hissatsu in such a short period. Kiyoshi continued to listened quietly until the familiar whistle blew again.
By the time Kiyoshi recognized why a certain word bothered him, Mikage managed to score their second goal. "Shit, Kin!" he swore under his breath and shoot a cautious glance at Keima's dad to see if he heard. There was no reaction, so Kiyoshi focused back as the match resumed.
Analyzing the new formation Tengawara's coach ordered made his head boil. Not only was it reactionary, tightening the defense to prevent more goals, but it also cut off their firepower by half. Whatever Keima and the blonde were trying on the first half had failed. The latter player was switched to the midfield for their former captain who didn't want to play buddies with Keima.
"Wha-what's going on?" Kakuma yelled as the captain huddled the ball. "Tengawara's forwards aren't cooperating! Or could this be feint?!" Kiyoshi would love it if it were. The coach was already complaining at the selfish choice, and Keima was asking for the ball. A few second later, there were consequences. "And Mikage takes the chance to get the ball back! Oh-but Kirishima quickly cuts them off!"
Kiyoshi smiled and jumped a little on his seat. That's my boy! Keima dribbled forward, soon facing two midfielders. As if the first half was a warm-up, Keima summoned a railing and performed his dribble hissatsu, slipping deeper into Mikage's territory. Kiyoshi promptly recognized those dance-like movements; they were from parkour. Keima's only dribble hissatsu--560 vault--had become a multi-purpose tool, allowing him to perform different movements with the same object.
"Kirishima nears the goal, will this be Tengawara's first point?! What--what's going on?!"
Kiyoshi's eyes widened. Keima . . . he wasn't shooting. Burnout? Mikage's nearest players were already closing on him like hunters. Where was that forward?!
"Why are you standing?!" he stood up and yelled at the guy, barely able to hear himself in the cacophony of screams. Yet the guy didn't move. That lag for Curtana gave Mikage players enough the time to weaken the hissatsu for Sugimori to restrain it completely.
Tengawara didn't have a better chance than that. When the whistle blasted, signaling the end of the match, Kiyoshi was shaking from rage. Keima did his best. Those moves and abilities were nothing compared to the friendly match we had. He couldn't have improved that fast. He had been developing that style for a year. However, the continuous effort Kiyoshi guessed Keima put in soccer was nothing compared to his teammates' obvious mediocrity and apathy. It's not fair--it's not fair--it's not fair. Keima will blame himself--It's. Not. Fair.
He thoughtlessly followed Keima's parents, their words and presence fading from his senses. The next thing Kiyoshi knew was that he was lonesome near the food stands. The surrounding chatter bounced off the walls and echoed in his bones, souring his foul mood further. Kiyoshi left to the restroom and got in line to cleanse his face.
What the hell was that match? What the hell was that team? Kiyoshi curled his trembling fingers again. He swore he was this close to yelling at the top of his lungs. Stopping in his tracks, he noticed he was about to leave the school grounds. Anyway, were was Keima?
"Not the best mood to cheer him up with but I should talk to him--" Kiyoshi turned back and began to second guess himself. But wasn't it more likely he was with his team? Although I think it's more likely he left. Kiyoshi roamed around the building for a while--the fitting rooms had to be somewhere. He looked up and frowned. Damn, the lights were dim. Not that it would make him lose his way.
There was a female voice close by that sounded incredibly familiar. It wasn't until he turned the corner and jumped back at the sight that he knew who it was. Frilly blue dress, dark blue hair, and matching eyes. The witch.
Wha-wha-what is she doing here? Kiyoshi hugged himself and flattened his back against the closest wall in hiding. She was talking with someone and that voice was also familiar. Kiyoshi felt he shouldn't be overhearing this at all.
"I'm, I'm taking it better than I thought--really." Kiyoshi froze. Keima. His throat contracted. Why were they talking about something so personal? They. . . they weren't friends. Not after what she did.
"It's not your fault you lost that chance. Sugawara-san... I don't know why he did that," she swore quietly, but her words were crystal clear.
"So this is everything I can do for everyone," Keima said, downcast. He sighed. "I couldn't become someone like Sugimori. Mikage was able to become much stronger with him. . ."
The girl breathed the name of Kiyoshi's beloved. Stop it. "So, it wasn't because of Kin-kun?"
Why do you know that?
"No," Keima replied in an honest tone. "This year was fine. But I'm sure in a few days I'll be. . ."
"Come here," the girl said and silence fell. The distinct sound of cheer echoed through the empty halls. Kiyoshi slowly peeled himself off and closed into the wall's edge. They were too quiet. Please no, please no. Everything but that--!
Arisugawa Chika was hugging his knight, a motherly hand caressing his vulnerable and broad back. Keima's head was resting on her shoulder, arms coiled around her slim waist. Kiyoshi didn't know if the scream he heard at the distance was his as everything went dark.
The Red Oni Who Cried (Part 2) | End