Our first opponent was Sengoku. I had stayed absent from school again, because my dad wanted to double check the list again. Once I did, I asked my dad if I can still make it to the stadium, and he said that I could if I make a run for it plus a taxi ride.

I just called my mom and told her to pick me up.

Once we arrived at the stadium, everyone else was already getting ready, and Kuroi was looking nervous. Considering that Teikoku was against Zeus. I was nervous too, I just couldn't find out why...

We got onto the field. Kuroi was benched, so I took Matsuno's place. It was one of my matches against the Nationals, considering last year, I was benched for the whole game, for each one. I hated it. 

"Eh?! But Kidou, I can do this! I can make us get the lead point!"

"Heh. A girl like you? Don't make me laugh, Sakuma."

The whistle blew, and it started with our kickoff. Shuuya had passed it to Someoka, who was then blocked after getting the ball. Handa ran forward, so Someoka passed the ball to him, but was stolen by Kirigakure. Kazemaru tried to steal it but Kirigakure used an afterimage technique. If the ball was passed to me, they'll see how it feels to be afterimaged.

Kirigakure kicked the ball in, but Endou had caught it because it was a straight kick. 

The ball was passed to Handa, and Shuuya was running forward with him. Then five players were in front of Handa, and four players were in front of Shuuya. Due to this, their formation was like a V-shape. Handa kicked it to Shuuya, but two defenders used Shikofumi, and they stopped in their tracks. 

Sengoku Igajima was attacking fast, but sometimes we would have the upper advantage, but most of the time, it was them. Shuuya and Someoka did Dragon Tornado, but it was stopped by the goalkeeper's technique, which was a whirlwind technique. Soon the ball was passed to another player, and he used Clone Feint on Asuka. 

Soon I blocked that player. When he was about to use Clone Feint again, I used my mom's technique, Aikido, Low Kick. I passed the ball to Asuka but it was intercepted by another player. Shourinji was about to get it but the player used the afterimage technique again. Again the ball was passed to me after Kazemaru's sliding tackle. When Shuuya and Kabeyama ran forward, I ran too. I easily avoided the midfielders blocking me, and I kicked it to the two of them. Before they even had a change to use the Inazuma Drop, a defender used a Spider Web technique, which made a spider web on the ground. Well, webs are sticky, so I can see why.

Then after, Shuuya and Kazemaru ran up. I followed, the ball in my possession. I kicked the ball to Kazemaru, and he got past a midfielder. The midfielder used a Shadow Stitch technique. I stole the ball before he even managed to get it.

"Way to go, Rena!" Kuroi cheered from the bench.

"Not on my watch!"

A forward was coming up to me. I gave a small smirk.

"Zanzou!"

The afterimage technique worked on him, and he looked at me with a shocked expression. When I kicked the ball to Handa, it was intercepted by another player, and passed it to Kirigakure. He ran up and used an Earth Ball technique. The ball was turned into a large, rock like ball. I saw that Kirigakure used a handsign, and the ball was there again, but as a powerful ball of light. Endou used Nekketsu Punch, unfortunately, it didn't work, and the ball went in, earning Sengoku's first point.

Another pass was made to me. Easily I got past Kirigakure and the other forwards, but a midfielder stole it. He used Clone Shoot, and Endou managed to catch it without using a hissatsu technique. The whistle blew, ending the first half.

"Nice one, Rena! You showed them how it feels to be afterimaged!" Kuroi exclaimed, once all of us got to the benches.

"It was pretty easy to copy." I said, drinking from my water jug. 

"Rena, you know there is a limit to how many you can copy." My mom said, giving me the 'I'm-really-proud-of-you-but-I'm-also-worried' look at me.

"Mom, I won't copy those moves." I reassured. "Besides, I don't think I can master them anyway. It took me 3 days to use Hyakuretsu Shot."

My mom sighed. "I guess your right... but still."

All of us got on the pitch again. Again, it felt like it was a stalemate. The ball was stolen from Kurimatsu by Kirigakure. Afterwards, they made a formation, that was pretty much like a drill formation. Me, including Asuka, Kurimatsu, Handa, Shishido, and Shourinji, were blown away because the formation was carrying much like a cloud of dust. Then Kirigakure rose out from the formation, and he was face to face with Kazemaru. He used the afterimage technique again, then ran forward. When Kirigakure kicked the ball, Kabeyama made a rock wall appear from behind, and the ball was blocked.

"Huh, awesome." I muttered. 

"I did it." Kabeyama said, and I could see the determination in him.

"Awesome! That was great, Kabeyama!" Endou exclaimed.

"Damn, I'm not done yet!" Kirigakure said. "I'll show you what I can do! Take this, Tsuchidaruma!"

The same technique by him was there again. First, a rock like ball, then, Kirigakure's handsign, and three, it turns into a ball with a powerful light. Endou used God Hand, but it broke. Then Kazemaru jumped in like the wind and stopped the ball from going in the goal.

Kazemaru ran forward with the ball in his possession. He and Shuuya ran forward. When a defender used the Spider Web technique, he failed to catch Kazemaru. Soon they did Honoo no Kazamidori. A bird like flame scored into the goal, earning our point. 

The ball was passed to Kazemaru again, and Kirigakure was trailing him. They're fast, it's almost like they're equal or something.

'Right. You have to do it. I know he's watching.'

I ran forward, and the ball was kicked to Shuuya. 

"Shuuya, I have an idea, but you have to let me shoot in with you." I said, running next to him.

Shuuya gave me a nod. I saw him kick the ball to Handa, who kicked it in the air. Shuuya used Fire Tornado. When he used it, I jumped in the air.

"Flaming Kaizer Drill!"

I kicked the ball, which was now engulfed in a flame like drill, into the goal, and the goalkeeper didn't even try to catch it. Well, I guess I can call that combo shoot, Flaming Kaizer Tornado. Or, Fire Drill... whatever.

The last whistle blew. We won. We won our first match in the nationals. 

"I didn't know you had that idea." Shuuya looked at me.

I shrugged, smiling. "Well, having ability like this, is really cool for me." I said.

"Although, who made that move?"

"Hmm... my gramps." I said.

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"Nice on sis!"

All of us were eating dinner; Mom had told dad and Jirou the news. Dad was proud that he cooked us some katsudon and some ramen. The katsudon wasn't bad, but the ramen, it was pure gold! I should really ask dad for the recipe.

"Well then, tomorrow's my match with Zeus." Jirou said.

"Yeah, me and dad will be watching." I said.

"But what about practice?" Dad asked me.

"I already told mom and the coach. Even Kuroi's going to go with us." I said.

"Good luck, Jirou. And be careful out there." Mom said.

"Yeah. I triple checked the list and there was still no Zeus Jr. I'm guessing it's an unmarked school." I said.

"Thanks guys." Jirou said.

But... even if I am giving support, I'm worried about what's going to happen... I better get the player data.

Will Jirou and the others, really be OK in this match?