TAKE XX.

Rakuzan VS Touou

5-5

Her breathing almost stopped. The ball went past her head and into the goal space. Touou Academy aced the whole match. It’s as if Rakuzan’s effort were useless all these while. All their practices, it’s as if they did nothing but stare.

    Kazuto bit her lip and held back her tears. She could see her teammates getting tired and restless. Yuta was on the bench, he almost passed out because one of the Touou players hit his nose with the elbow. Blood oozed out and Yuta was immediately out for some time. Rakuzan had to brave 10 versus 11. It’s unfair but what can they do?

    ‘Ah…. It’s been a long time since I had a match like this.’ Kazuto thought to herself, shutting her eyes close and tried hard to concentrate.

    “Heichou.” Shou spoke, panting. She turned her head.

    “We…. We won’t…. let you down!” he said between his breaths.

    I hugged him. “What you meant is…. I won’t let you down. We’re a team, I’m your captain.” I whispered.

    He patted my back. “We’ll…. win this!”

____5 DAYS EARLIER____

    “We’re going against Touou!?!!” Shou, Aki, Yuta and Ren shouted. I winced.

    “Yeah, why are you all so shocked?”

    Yuta shook his head. “Do you know…. Touou is the best school when it comes to soccer and aside from Rakuzan, it’s considered the second best in basketball! Touou takes everything when a soccer tournament shows up.” He told me.

    “How about Rakuzan?” I questioned.

    Aki chuckled. “Rakuzan soccer team never participate because we just formed this club last year.”

    I sighed. “Then why are you guys so afraid?”

    Shou frowned. “What do you mean?”

    I raised my fist. “Rakuzan will beat Touou no matter what! Raise your heads and we’ll be the champions! You hear me guys!?” I shouted.

    “OH!”

    That night, I watched matches Touou had and observed their skills. Sure, they are incredible but I told myself, Rakuzan gonna win this time. Suddenly, my phone rang.

    I picked up the call, “Bonjour.”

    Reo’s laugh was heard. “You don’t sound like a French at all, Kazu-chan!”

    I rolled my eyes. “Shut up, at least it’s decent. What do you want anyway?”

    “Basketball Inter-High is coming. And I think it’s the same day as yours. Wanna come? I can save you a seat.”

    “I’ll come if I have time. Just save the seat. I’ll save the seat for you too.”

    “Great! Good luck, Kazu-chan.”

    I grinned. “Good luck to you too. Goodnight!”

    “Goodnight!”

~End of Flashback~

    “Heichou!” Ren shouted and the ball went to Kazuto. She ran, kicking the ball along, dodging the players’ tries to steal the ball. With one swift movement, she kicked the ball once and for all and it went in the goal space perfectly. The referee blew the whistle, indicating the end of the third quarter of the match.

6-5

    Kazuto landed on her butt immediately and panted. Sweat trickled down her face, neck, her shirt is drenched and she looks like a 123456789km sprinter.

    “Heichou.” A voice approached. She looked up and saw Yuta smiling down on her, offering a hand. She took it and they headed towards the bench provided for their team.

-w-

    “How’s your nose and headache?” I asked and took big gulps of water.

    “My nose is fine and my headache lessened. I can play for the next quarter.” He said confidently.

    I eyed him. His face’s pale, should I let him?

    “No, stay there. You’ll come down when I let you, understand?” I said sternly.

    “Heichou, but—“

    “Just…. Stay!” I cut him off. He looked angry but obeyed me anyway. I was about to move away when suddenly an uninvited pain struck my stomach. I clenched it tightly and sat down, turning myself into a ball.

    “Heichou, are you okay?” Yuta came to me and patted my back.

    I gritted my teeth. Damn I forgot I am on period today!! AND THIS FREAKING PERIOD PAIN OHMERGERD!!!!

    “I’m….” I panted. “…. Okay!”

    “Y-you don’t sound convinced, should I go call the—“

    “Yuta what’s wrong?” I heard Shou’s voice approached. I didn’t look up and continued to concentrate to lessen the pain.

    “She suddenly went like this, I don’t know why.” Yuta answered. Shou crouched down next to me, holding my shoulder.

    “Heichou, what’s happening?” he whispered.

    I was sweating a lot. My stomach is hurting me so much! I couldn’t speak.

-w-

Meanwhile,

    Reo sighed loudly and wiped his face with the towel. “Sei-chan, let’s watch Kazu-chan’s match next.” He said to the sitting Akashi on the bench. Akashi wasn’t playing for the Inter-High and he drew lots of attentions, mostly reporters asking him questions and such.

    “Yeah, now that you mention it, Kazuto didn’t come to see our match.” Eikichi interrupted, glancing at the empty VIP seat.

    Reo tilted his head. “Hm, the soccer field is only a few meters from here so she should be here two hours ago because her match starts half an hour later than us. I wonder why she’s not here….”

    “Anyway,” Kotarou cut in. “We should just see how’s Rakuzan soccer doing.”

    “I agree. We’ll head there after changing.” Akashi spoke and left them, towards the changing room.

-w-

    “And…. Rakuzan scores again!!”

    I panted and wiped my forehead with the back of my palm. “Aki, guard the opponent, tighter! I want no space!” I commanded.

    Aki merely nodded and ran to his position. “Shou, I’ll pass the ball to you!” I said and Shou saluted me Western-style.

    I grinned slightly and went to my place. The ball was in Touou’s possession. I eyed them running, towards their own goal. My stomach was like being shot multiple times and being dug by sharp knives. I winced and clenched it.

    Argh! It hurts!!!!

    “Heichou, if you’re not okay, let’s substitute Yuta.” Takeru appeared behind me, his hand on my back. I shrugged him off.

    “I’ll be okay.” I said, trying to sound confident.

    “HEICHOU!” Aki shouted and the ball came to me. I cleared my throat and started running, maintaining the ball in my possession. We’re leading so I would not let my stupid tummy gets in the way! I kicked the ball to Shou and he brought it to the goal space, perfectly and that gave us another point, making the audience cheered loudly.

    “RAKUZAN’S ON FIRE!” the commentator said. “Could this be the downfall….”

    I didn’t hear it well what he said next because the next thing I know was me, writhing in pain on the ground and alas, the world flipped.

-w-

    “Whoa! Kazu-chan’s definitely the ace when it comes to soccer! See her legs, how it runs while the ball remains? That’s just so cool!” Reo clapped his hands together.

    The Rakuzan basketball team had made their way to the soccer field and now is sitting on their VIP seats reserved by Kazuto.

    Akashi watched in amusement. “Interesting how she could change from basketball to soccer.” He regarded.

    “Whoa! Look at that! She’s avoiding the opponents perfectly! She’s awesome!” Kotarou pointed and grinned.

    “You’re right!” Eikichi said and blinked.

    Akashi merely smirked.

    Kazuto was running with top speed. It’s the beginning of fourth quarter and Rakuzan is on top of Touou with 7-5. She kicked the ball, passing it to Shou. The audience cheered as Shou did his fabulous one of a kind kick straight to the goal, with the goalkeeper almost hitting the goal post.

    “RAKUZAN’S ON FIRE!” the commentator shouted happily and the audience cheered again. “Could this be the downfall of Touou after so many years?!”

    Suddenly, they could hear gasps from one part of the audience. Reo, Akashi, Eikichi and Kotarou turned their heads towards the commotion.

    “HEICHOU!” the Rakuzan soccer players yelled and ran to their captain who’s now lying on the ground, unconscious.

    “Kazu-chan!” Reo gasped.

    The paramedics rushed to the scene. Yuta, who was sitting on the bench, ran towards his beloved captain and worried expression plastered on his face as the paramedics lifted her body on the stretcher.

    Reo stood. “I’m gonna see her!”

    “Let’s all go together!” Kotarou said and they all went to the small infirmary provided there.

    The game was halted for 10 minutes.

-w-

    Mngh! The pain!

    I felt something covered my body and I curled myself into a ball, rolling to the left, clenching my stomach tightly.

IT FRUCKING HURTS!!!!

    “It looks really serious.”

    Eh? Who’s that? Am I not alone?

    I tried to open my eyes and turned my head. “R-Reo! You..came! Aka..shi too! Ko..tarou..Ei..kichi.. thanks!” I tried to speak but the pain was too much.

    “Mou~ Kazu-chan. I told you to take the painkiller a day before the match, right!” Reo said.

    I gritted my teeth and looked away.

    “Wait, Reo-nee, what is hurting her so much? And how do you know?” Kotarou queried.

    Reo glanced at me and I nodded, as in it’s okay to tell him.

    “She’s having a period cramp.”

    “Ohhhh….”

    That’s when I remembered…. THE MATCH! I quickly got up and regretted the moment my stomach felt like being stabbed by a sharp knife countlessly. I groaned and fell back onto the pillow.

    “The..mat..ch!!” I gasped.

    Akashi halted me from getting up once again. “Trust your comrades. They can do it without you.” He said.

    I wanted to cry. We’ve made it so far. Much practices. We should be able to defeat Touou by now! “Damn it.” I cursed under my breath.

    “Kazuto. When you wake up, they’ll be here with grins and smiles so worry not and rest now. You can count on them.” Akashi added. I groaned again and rolled on the not-so-soft bed repeatedly, trying to lessen the pain.

    “She should be asleep by now. The drug should’ve worked.” I heard Eikichi said.

    Drug….? What….? And the world silently shuts itself once again.

~QvQ~

She blinked and stared at Akashi who’s reading a book.

    “Better now?” Akashi said without averting his gaze from the page. Reo, Kotarou and Eikichi volunteered to watch the match and left Akashi with her so it’s just them in the room.

    Kazuto nodded quietly and coughed.

    “In case you’re wondering, you’ve been sleeping for an hour and the match was on hold because of the rain and I guess it’s ending now.” He continued.

    She nodded again and Akashi closed his book. He reached out for the mug of water on the table and handed it to her. “Drink it slowly. The pain might’ve lessened because of the painkiller so you should drink more water.” Akashi said as he helped her sat up.

    She took a sip and within seconds, the water is finished. Akashi returned it to the place and leaned against his chair.

    The door barged opened and revealed Reo. “Kazu-chan, you’re better now?” he queried and the look on his face doesn’t really made Kazuto happy.

    Even so, she nodded. Next came Shou. He looked sad and worried.

    “Heichou…. We’re sorry but….”

The next sentence made her eyes widened and she wished she never had that cramp.

[A/N: Okay guys I’m not inserting Chihiro here because I might made him a little OOC and I thought it’d made readers unhappy so just assume he’s gone home early or something.]

And sorry for the boring chapter I’m sleepy, kaybye.