[ notes/ oh my god, writing episodes is so annoying lmaoo. i feel like it's so boring to read since we all saw this shit like ten times or more. anyways i'm trying to not make it the exact same, or not write everything word for word, because this damn story doesn't need flavour text. i probably won't write a match like this again unless it's important like. . . zeus. anyways i think i'll be branching this off into ares/orion because i would rather die than write 150+ episodes just for kazemaru and park to kiss in the last episode LMAOOO ]

"I'm Otonashi Haruna from the newspaper club! I'll be a manager of the soccer club starting today, it's good to meet you!" With a salute, the navy blue haired girl smiled brightly. Well, a new manager was greatly appreciated, and she seemed like a sweet girl, so Endou didn't have any problems with her joining.

"N-nice to meet you," The brunette captain smiled awkwardly.

"Please take good care of us," Park chirped, bowing her head in greeting. Haruna's eyes immediately brightened up and she grabbed onto both of Park's hands.

"I will do my absolute best! Park-san!" Her eyes were practically glittering. At this, Park gladly smiled back. In the midst of a few seconds the two had managed to become friends - quite like with Kino. Having another girl around would be wonderful.

Yet again the team wasn't able to borrow a field, so they'd have to make do with the riverbank. No one seemed to be bothered by this though, and Someoka was upset for other reasons. While him and Endou kicked back in the grass for a while, the rest of the team warmed up with some laps, courtesy of Endou's right hand man - Kazemaru.

"Fighting!" He said this,

"Fighting!" And the others repeated.

"Fighting!"

"Fighting!"

Immediately afterwards, Park tripped over her shoe lace and face planted into the dirt. Absolutely no one had even realized and they trampled over her as if she was an ant.

"Wait, stop!" Kazemaru came to a sudden halt as well.

"Wait, stop!" Everyone chimed in unison. The tealette just rolled his eyes before stepping over to Park and lifting her back up onto her feet. Luckily the female was fine, and Endou started the real training. The team was to help Someoka perfect his shoot, but at the same time training themselves. Endou split the group into two, and this was how the game was played.

However many times needed, Park always managed to get the ball to Someoka. It was a little difficult to watch her pass, they were immediate and connected so quickly - this way it was almost impossible to cut, or figure out who to mark.

Each time Someoka shot the ball, it was faster and stronger, but not yet perfect. So, they continued this over and over until he finally got to a shoot that resembled a dragon. Everyone was rather excited, but this celebration was cut short by the familiar flame striker showing up. Whatever had changed his mind, Endou had no idea, but Gouenji decided to join the team and that's what matters.

Despite the exciting news, the next day in class - Park had completely fallen asleep. She stayed up a bit too late making snacks for the team again, even though it wasn't really needed. The poor thing was just desperate to get along with everyone and impress them. Next time Kino had offered to come over and help - so that'd be a relief.

"Park. . . ?" Kazemaru had peered over at the female. She rested her arms on the desk, and placed her head on them. If the teacher was in a bad mood she'd be in big trouble, luckily she managed to slip by, standing her textbook up.

The teal haired male crouched down beside her desk, watching her sleeping face. Thank goodness no one else was in the room. He almost felt bad for having to wake her up, she seemed to be sleeping well, and her expression was. . . Endearing.

"Come on, wake up, we have practice." With a little smile on his features, Kazemaru stood back up and gently shook her shoulder. It took a while, but after stirring in her sleep, Park finally woke up. Her brown eyes fluttering open as her vision adjusted.

". . . D-did I fall asleep?" She furrowed her brows, straightening up and rubbing at her eyes.

"You did." Kazemaru responded, shoving his hands into his pockets.

"Oh gosh. . . That's embarrassing." Park mumbled under her breath, grabbing her things and neatly placing them into her bag. "Thank you for waking me up." She passed him a tight smile, slinging her bag's strap over her shoulder and rising to her feet.

"Let's get going, don't wanna be late." At that, the male lead the way to the clubhouse. Today was the game against Occult, and everyone was finding reassurance in Gouenji's presence - everyone rather than Someoka of course. Having made steamed buns, Park managed to calm the atmosphere. Nothing like getting a group of boys to be quiet by feeding them, honestly.

"Everyone, let's give it out best shot!" Endou piped up, slamming a fist into his gloved palm.

Occult was a strange group, resonating with some kind of eerie aura. Not only their dull expressions, but their entire demeanor was a little unsettling. Their coach wasn't much of a catch either, kissing up to Gouenji and all.

The game started with Occult's kickoff, and already they were pressing in for the attack. One of the forwards slipped past Kabeyama, but was immediately cut off by Park. She simply passed to Kazemaru to avoid anymore conflict, and the tealette made his way up. After passing to Someoka, the striker used his new Dragon Crash, and just like that Raimon scored a goal.

Even though Gouenji was so heavily marked, Someoka was always free. Yet again the same thing happened, and Raimon was already two points ahead in the first half.

"We're doing surprisingly well!" Matsuno chirped, earning a bright smile from Handa. Endou and Kazemaru were feeling quite well about things too.

Occult started with the ball again, but things were. . . Odd this time. Not only was the rest of the team staring at the opponents intensely, but their coach was chanting something.

"Mare mare tomare. . . Mare mare tomare. . ."

Park blinked her eyes, looking at the others. For some reason they were losing their nerve. it was if they were seeing something that she couldn't. Being in defense, she could see everyone all over the place and making the strangest movements.

Once the forwards were in far enough, the female scampered in front of the goal to help defend.

"Calm down and watch the opponent carefully," standing his ground, Endou warned everyone.

"It's no use." Their forward mocked, followed by what seemed to be a hissatsu; "Ghost Lock."

"Mare mare tomare. . . Mare mare tomare. . ."

"What the-- I can't move-?" Endou as well as Kabeyama beside Park, were glued in place. Yet the girl could still move her feet just fine.

"What's the matter?" She looked over her shoulder for just a moment before realizing the forward was still present. Park stepped in front of them and followed the ball.

"How are you able to move!?" To the forward, this was pretty abnormal. Yet Park was finding it more strange that everyone else was locked in place. If it was a hissatsu, then it should have worked on her as well - but that didn't seem to be the case.

"Kazemaru!" After slipping the ball away from the other, Park passed to the teal haired male only to realize he was immobile as well.

"Park what are you doing!?" He groaned to himself as the ball rolled out of bounds. At least she managed to clear it, though.

"Oh, crap! I'm so sorry!" The white haired girl stiffened up and bowed her head, scampering over to throw in.

"That's. . . weird though. How are you able to move and the rest of us couldn't. . . ?" Kazemaru muttered, crossing an arm and bringing a finger to his chin as Park furrowed her brows.

"I've no idea either." She responded softly.

"Did you do anything in particular to avoid it?" He turned his gaze towards her, but she shook her head. Park was just like the rest, except unaffected by Ghost Lock. "This must be the curse that Otonashi was talking about."

"Do you really believe in a soccer curse?" While her words were kind of like an insult, the concern in her eyes and expression made it hard for him to feel hurt. Maybe she was trying to ask him if it was really real, but unfortunately, Kazemaru didn't have an answer.

Once the whistle was blown, Park threw in the ball and scampered back to her position. It was brought up to Someoka again, who went for another shoot, but the keeper managed to stop this one.

"Mare mare tomare. . . Mare mare tomare. . ."

Now Occult was on the attack, and their forward use his Ghost Lock again. He expected it to work on Park this time, but to no avail. Unfortunately she wasn't able to stop him herself, and he made a goal.

This happened again, and now Raimon was tied with Occult. The whistle was blown for halftime, and to regroup, everyone made their way back to the club room.

"Damn it. . . What even happened out there?" Kazemaru hissed under his breath.

"I couldn't move my legs at all, there was no way out of it." Handa chimed in, but not exactly thrilled with the fact.

"Maybe it really is a curse," Kabeyama's addition didn't help much either.

"Sometime like that can't be real," Kazemaru let out a sigh, crossing his arms over his chest.

"If it's a curse, then how come Park wasn't affected?" Endou tried racking his brain for a solution, but nothing came up green. "There's gotta be a secret behind it, maybe it's got something to do with that chant the coach was saying."

"Isn't something like that kind of illegal?" Matsuno raised a brow.

"Um. Don't worry about it." Endou shrugged off that thought, "if you get the ball then pass to the forwards. We need every chance to score a point we can get."

And so. . . Everyone started fighting on the pitch. Arguing about which forward to pass to, as if there wasn't two for a reason.

Park, Endou and Kazemaru at the back just watched while sighing.

"What in gods name is going on up there?" The tealette brought a hand to support his forehead.

"I think they're arguing." Park answered for him, even though that was obvious.

"Get it together, everyone!" Endou called out.

The bickering went on until Occult gained possession, and were on the attack.

"Mare mare tomare. . . Mare mare tomare. . ."

Yuukoku's Ghost Lock rendered everyone immobile again.

"Endou you have to do something-!" Park clearly couldn't handle an entire team on her own.

". . . Tomare?" Endou muttered under his breath, his eyes suddenly lighting up.

Occult's forward went for another shoot, which was sent off course after Park attempted to slow it down with her foot.

Endou had called out something that kind of sounded like a battle cry to Park - but it removed the effect of Ghost Lock. With Nekketsu Punch, he blocked the shoot. The brunette's little remedy had everyone back to normal.

"Endou, how did you do that!" Kazemaru made his way over, as well as Kabeyama. They all seemed in good shape, thank goodness.

"I figured out that Ghost Lock thing." Endou lifted a finger, "their coach was chanting something with 'tomare' in it! So it's like. . . Magic! Sorta!" He piped up.

"Hypnosis, something of the sort." Kazemaru couldn't be bothered to think too much into it. "That still doesn't explain why Park could move, though." He pointed a thumb over to the female.

". . . What does 'tomare' mean?" She blinked.

"Huh? You don't know? It means 'stop'!" Endou propped a hand on his hip.

"Ohh, I see. . ." Park nodded her head with a small smile. "I don't know Japanese very well. My apologies."

Ah, that explains it.