Two Weeks Before Holy Road Begins
Mika began to run a few small laps to warm herself up in the Raimon stadium before practice began. Despite two weeks passing since she had first rejoined the team, their teamwork had not improved so she didn't have high hopes for the match, considering Seidouzan's excellent match history during the pre-season. Despite not making it to the Holy Road finals last year they could still be considered a strong contender for the Block C top two.
"Um– Mika. I just wanted to say I'm sorry for last year, when Akuma-senpai and the others were giving you a hard time. I should've...."
Mika turned to look at the golden-haired boy who was babbling about something to do with Akuma-senpai or whatnot. As usual, he looked like a pitiful puppy who had just been kicked to the side of the road and Mika just sighed. Galahad always was a strange one spouting whatever he pleased but she did owe him for everything he did for her last year.
She was quite troubled by the conversation she had heard two weeks ago while eating at an upper-class British restaurant the other day with one of her tutors.
"People are always looking for ways to bring down others and the instant you show weakness is when they'll pounce...
"Who are you to judge my life anyway! I've always done my best to make the decisions that I believe are right..."
Mika was surprised at first to see Galahad enter the restaurant with the renowned Edgar Valtinas and hadn't intended to eavesdrop but it was physically impossible to not pick up some fragments of their conversation while she got up and walked past them to use the bathroom. Judging by his poor performance at practice today and the fragments that she had heard, Mika quickly came to the conclusion that there was something that he wasn't telling her. Moreso, because he looked uncharacteristically agitated at the restaurant and had almost never raised his voice in front of her before.
After practice, as she laid on her bed at home, a troubled expression took over her face. His words kept bouncing around in her head.
9 Months Ago, Holy Road Preliminaries
"Mika, you should bring this up with the coach! Akuma-senpai and the others are deliberately not passing to you! You were the only one unmarked and they still insisted on passing it to Akuma-senpai instead. If you hadn't taken the ball yourself and scored we might not have–"
"And what would that accomplish Galahad?" interjected Mika with her usual unbothered expression.
"......"
"Despite their vulgar language and crude behavior, Akuma-senpai is still one of the top forwards in the nation and his group also consists of members who are much more skilled than any of the second string players we have currently. In the end, the final decision is up to them whether or not to pass to me and even the coach can't force them to act otherwise.
"But..."
"Do you think that Coach Kudou hasn't noticed? Coach Kudou is one of the most sought after coaches in the world. His silence means that he expects us to work it out amongst ourselves, not whine to him about inconsequential problems. As long as I can score, it doesn't matter what the rest of the team does. Soccer is just a means to improve our standing in society and winning is just a means to an end."
Mika turned to look at Galahad who had a clear look of distress on his face, seemingly not content with her answer.
"Why do you care anyway? You should be focusing on your own problems, I'll deal with mine."
"......"
"I can't do that...because we're..."
Galahad hesitated a bit before going on, with a flustered expression arising on his face.
"Friends and friends are supposed to watch each other's backs and help them when they need it. So...."
Galahad started off confidently before his voice trailed off when he saw Mika's face and they had hung out enough by now that he recognized it was time to drop it.
Letting out a sigh he waved before parting ways with Mika but neither were able to face each other so what the other was thinking was unknowable to the two.
Two Weeks Before Holy Road Begins, Mika's Room after practice
Mika thought back to one of the rare instances her mother led her tutoring session
"Mika, always remember that there are no friends in business, only people who share common interests with you, understand?"
"Yes, mother"
Mika rolled around on her bed to look at the plastic gelato spoon she had cleaned and put on her desk in a pencil holder.
"Friends, huh" she muttered to herself under her breath. She put her fingers to her lips before pondering,
"Father also said being indecisive is for the weak and spineless...so I guess I should just do it then?"
Having made up her mind Mika got up, opened the door and called out
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"Edmund?"
"Yes Ojou-sama? (Young lady)
"Get me all the information you can about him" she said before sending a photo of Galahad to her butler.
"Yes, Young Lady"
"....And my parents don't need to be informed of this."
"As you wish"
Edmund gave a deep bow before heading down the stairs.
Mika just let out a sigh of resignation before shaking her head and going back inside her room.
***********************************************************************************************
Two Weeks Later Raimon Stadium, Raimon v Seidouzan
Tweeeeeeet
(During matches, commentator remarks will be in brackets for story flow from now on)
[AND THE MATCH BEGINS. Seidouzan is a team famous for their coordination and team plays. Will Raimon's last minute decision to add ace striker Mika Kuroha and a new player, Serika Afuro, be enough to react to their fast plays? We'll find out shortly as oh? What's this? Raimon has lost possession of the ball in the first minute and Seidouzan's ace Kurosaki Eiji heads for the goal!]
Mika took a glance next to her at Akuma who was fuming after having the ball stolen from him shortly after the match began.
"What the heck are those idiots doing?" muttered Akuma who was running back and watching the Seidouzan offence quickly get past Raimon's defensive line.
Mika quickly surveyed the pitch, judging from how Akuma refused to pass to her despite her being unmarked she sensed there would be a repeat of last year's matches where she had to wait until she started off with the ball in order to score on her own. Without a competent captain to direct the defence, Seidouzan was making quick work of them and she predicted it wouldn't be long until they scored their first goal.
"Shit"
Mika didn't even flinch at Akuma's coarse language, he was right. Seidouzan's striker Eiji had possession of the ball and was rapidly approaching the goal
Hup
A giant ballista appeared behind the boy as he twirled in midair before a green glow was released from the ball along with a giant javelin.
"Ballista Shot!"
[GOOOOAAAALLLL!!!]
[Within the first 5 minutes of the match, Seidouzan has already stolen the first point of the match. Kurosaki Eiji seems to be following in the footsteps of his older brother Kurosaki Makoto as he continues to lead the team's attack formation. Will Raimon be able to defend at all this match, or will they be helpless to stop Seidouzan's perfect teamwork?]
Mika clenched her fist in frustration, this was going exactly the same as last year...Nothing had changed, was this the limitations of playing one vs eleven? Mika continued to stand in the middle of the field until she heard,
"No mind, No mind! Just one point! You can do it Mikaaaaaaa!"
Mika looked to the bench where Yuka was sitting and gave him a determined nod. Her eyes refocused and she remembered their conversation by the riverside,
"I suppose it can't be helped. I'll rejoin the Raimon Eleven"
"If I'm going to commit to something, might as well be the best"
"No."
She wasn't going to let it end in the very first match, that would be too shameful. Not only her pride, but that feeling, that indescribable bubbling feeling she felt that day. She needed to keep playing until she figured out what that feeling was. Determined, Mika lightly touched her lips with her right hand as she got ready for the next kickoff.
In a situation like this where she couldn't rely on the defence, Man to man marking would be impossible... If Raimon couldn't pull off that at the very least then...
Mika looked into Akuma's eyes at the kickoff whistle, there was no way he would be returning the ball to her after she passed it to him. After passing it to him, she immediately ran back.
[Seidouzan once again reclaims possession of the ball after captain Akuma Ganeko fails to lead Raimon's offensive line. It seems Raimon's chance of entering the Holy Road Finals becomes slimmer and slimmer as the match goes on. Oh?! Seidouzan makes a risky long pass to striker Kurosaki...that pays off!! The pass connects and Kurosaki has a clear line to the goal!!]
"Ballista Shot!!"
[And Seidouzan makes ano— WHAT IS THIS? Forward Mika Kuroha, Raimon's very own demon queen, has rushed back to defend the goal and blocks the shoot successfully!! Raimon is safe for now and the Seidouzan's one point lead does not increase!]
"What the hell does that b*tch think she's doing?"
Galahad turned towards his captain who was fuming as he watched Mika make her way up the field.
"......"
Galahad watched Mika with trembling eyes as she ferociously made her way through Seidouzan's offensive and defensive lines alone.
[Kuroha moves up the field, by HERSELF, through Seidouzan's defensive line and oh?? OHH??? WHAT IS THIS? Kuroha has had the ball stolen from her by her very own teammate? Captain Ganeko steals the ball only to get it taken away shortly thereafter by Seidouzan.]
[As the match continues, Seidouzan continues to apply heavy pressure to Raimon's defence but forward Mika Kuroha is desperately blocking all the shots while battling Seidouzan's defence and her own teammates as she tries to even the score difference. Just what on earth is going on with Raimon today?]
Mika's purple eyes seemed to be shining today, and the desperation in them was something Galahad had never seen before.
"Soccer is just a means to improve our standing in society and winning is just a means to an end"
Galahad stopped running and clenched his eyes shut. Mika was changing before his very eyes, whether they were open or not and he was just pathetically unable to protect...anything : Raimon's goal, his family, his teammates, Mika..."
"AHGGGG"
Galahad let out a cry of pain and grabbed his head as memories flashed before him.
"Is that all your will amounts to?"
"Being a knight isn't glorious at all. No matter what happens, you must always keep your vows and protect those you swore to protect, even if it costs you everything."
"Mom, mom! I want to be like that!"
"How long are you going to live for someone else?"
3 Days Before the Match with Seidouzan
"......"
"Is there something I can help you with Mika-san?"
Galahad smiled a bit nervously as he looked down at the tall girl who was staring intensely at him with her large, purple eyes. Unlike usual, she seemed a bit hesitant to speak so he patiently waited for her to be comfortable.
"You're sad."
"???"
Confusion took over Galahad's mind as he tried to interpret what the uncharacteristically agitated girl was saying. Did he do something wrong, did he seem more pathetic than usual? Is THAT what she meant by sad? Or had she caught onto something else? He reasoned that he had been under more pressure than usual the past few weeks so it wasn't impossible that Mika had noticed.
Mika took a small breath before reminding herself indecision was for the weak
"I need to apologise to you Galahad. I...did a bit of investigation and found the hospital where your younger brother is staying at... I can understand if you wish to terminate our friendship after this but if you want to know the truth about your family's car accident, here. Everything you need to know is inside"
Mika looked down before giving a perfect 90 degree bow and pushing a large manila envelope into his hands.
At home, Galahad tossed the manila envelope onto his desk before collapsing in his bed. As he put one arm across his eyes he let out a deep sigh. Mika had always kept their family and other private affairs out of their relationship so he had never expected her to find out about his family's history and to be honest, he had never expected that she would care.
"If you want to know the truth about your family's car accident..."
Mika's words floated in his mind and he decided to try to shut off his brain while he tried to process what she meant by that...