Episode 2: Episodes
[Jap Dub] | [Eng Dub]
*insert intro music*
Before Episode 69
Location: The Kidou Residence
Kidou grabbed his pillow, shoved his head into it and—
*inhales* "AHhHhhHHhhhh!!!!"
"Absolutely irritating!— how AG-GRI-VA-TING!!!"
On the other side of his bedroom, awkwardly sat Gouenji and Endou on one of Kidou's long, luxurious black leather bedroom couches waiting for him to finish.
Endou and Kidou had come back from confronting Mr Hibiki regarding Fudou's recruitment, and Kidou wasn't pleased with his response. At all. So when Kidou asked the Raimon captain to come over, Endou was very hesitant.
Gouenji was there, because Endou needed reinforcements.
"Coach decided to invite him BECAUSE HE'S A TALENTED YOUNG MAN?" He lifted his head to breathe, then shoved it back into the pillow. "TALENT WHERE?! HE USED A DUMB, STUPID, STEROID CRYSTAL!"
Now, reader, you might wonder, "Since when did Kidou have so much anger?"
It all started after being separated from his sister, Haruna back in the orphanage. Days passed, and after realising that he may never see her again, he developed a bit of a temper.
He'd thrash, kick, scream— even after his nonbiological father found his sister's adoptive parents' address. It wasn't until the crimson eyed toddler met the infamous Kageyama Reiji who placed him in Junior Anger Management.
Many years later, the boy passed his JAM classes and became the notorious cool, calm and collected genius playmaker.
Though he isn't as angry as he used to be, he does have moments that do trigger him. When times like that happen, he'd suppress it all in until he finally was alone. Then he'd scream, yell and shout it all out into his 'anger pillow'.
This could last a couple of seconds... or like the last episode, 30 minutes.
Endou peered over the armchair to Jude's piled collection of football magazines, his eyes glistening with curiosity.
"THAT, THAT IRKSOME!—"
Gouenji shook his head.
That'll make him MORE mad
"LITTLE—"
With a sigh, Endou retracted his hand, slumping into the couch with a soft, bored groan.
"GODDAMN VEXATIOUS DECIEVER!!!"
Kidou's short breathes filled the silent room and the two shared a look.
You talk
No YOU talk
I don't want to talk!
I'm not talking after last time.
Fine.
The defeated sighed.
"...You okay..?" Endou asked with a cautious smile.
He sighed, "...yeah."
"..."
Kidou cleared his throat. "Right. The actual reason I brought you here."
-
"Hmm... I don't know about this one."
Standing in front of his full body mirror, Kidou wore the selection team's white uniform kit. He twisted his torso making his blue cape glide gracefully.
"There's a lot of blue in my opinion." Gouenji spoke.
Kidou nodded, "You're right."
While waiting for Kidou to finish fitting another cape, the platinum blonde turned and asked, "How did your team's practice go?"
"Great, actually! Someoka, Fubuki, Kabeyama— just everyone's gotten so much stronger over the months!" Endou beamed. "Oh! We even have a victory ritual. If someone scores a goal, we tackle them!"
The flame striker let out a quiet laugh of disbelief. "And the new candidates, how were they?"
Before the chocolate haired boy could respond, Kidou walked out with a yellow cape flowing behind him. As soon as it caught their sight, the two immediately shook their heads.
"Yeah I know... I thought maybe a complimentary colour with the shorts?" He eyed his reflection before pivoting back into the walk-in closet.
"Hmm..." Endou pondered. He rubbed his chin with his index finger and thumb, his eyes squinting. "Tobitaka, well..." his head leaned to the side. "I don't think he's... comfortable yet. So Hiroto suggested he stay in the back."
"'Not comfortable'? I wasn't there to watch your whole practice but just by a glance during warmups, you can tell he's just a beginner." Kidou commented walking out with a red cape. "Are you sure you want him to be a part of your last line of defence?"
"Oh come on Kidou, Kabeyama and Tsunami will be there too." Endou waved dismissively. His smile grew bigger, "And Alex isn't bad at all!"
"...Okay." Kidou said sceptically.
Having known Kidou long enough, he decided to change the subject quickly. "Hey, I like this one!" He pointed.
Gouenji nodded, "Me too."
Kidou eyed his reflection, letting out a small breath. "Then it's settled." He placed his hands on his hips, a small smile of pride on him, "The red cape it is."
—
"Are you sure you'll be alright Gouenji? It's getting pretty late." Endou asked staring at the sky.
Gouenji kindly waved dismissively, "I'll be fine. My neighbourhood isn't too far."
The brown headed boy answered his friend's reassurance with a smile. "Okay." He turned to face Gouenji again after opening the door to his home, "Message me when you get home!"
Gouenji waved and began his stroll home.
Should we maybe have a team bonding type of ritual?
Because the state of our team dynamic right now is... well...
Flashback ***
Team B watched as Team A stepped outside, chatting with one another happily. Before stepping out, Someoka whispered a much needed 'goodluck' to Kazemaru, Kidou, and Gouenji before leaving the team in their awkward silence.
Midorikawa huffed, "Looks like the grass is greener on that side. D'you have a strategy to beat them, Kidou?"
"With Endou, Kabeyama, Fubuki... Tsunami... and Hiroto, their team is a lot more rounded than ours." The aquamarine boy mumbled his thoughts, not realising someone behind him listening.
"So our team's lacking." Yamino deadpanned making Kazemaru's eyes grow wide.
"Come on, that's not what he meant, right Kazemaru?" Hijikata intervened, wrapping his arm around said boy's neck.
"Kazemaru is right though. Their team is very rounded, defensively and offensively. It looks like we're more offensively strong. So let's try and bring out that strength." Megane Kazuto reasoned.
His glasses beamed before he pointed at himself confidently, "Which is why I can be up front alongside you, Gouenji. My brother may have thought he could be an Ace, but I show true potential, isn't that right Gouenji?" The boy boldly awaited Gouenji's response only to, thankfully, be interrupted by Kidou.
Said Genius on the Pitch stepped to the new player, making the young boy stiffen, "Toramaru, right?"
"Y-yes sir— I mean— yes!"
"You said you can play any position. Can you be up front for the match?"
"Striker?! A-along with—" He glanced to the Flame Striker and squeaked. "I—I don't think I should be at the front line along with THEE Gouenji Shuuya. Haha... I don't want to hold him back you know!"
The playmaker sighed, "Fine. Yamino?"
"I don't think I'm strong enough yet."
"I think you should. You and Gouenji are similar but have totally different plays." Hijikata encouraged slapping Yamino in the back. The latter coughed, surprised at how hard his slap was.
"Hey, I don't mean to stir the pot, but isn't your move a bit similar to Gouenji's fire tornado?" Midorikawa enquired, blinking innocently.
"It's a carbon copy if you ask me. It's just gloomier and darker." Kogure snickered, earning a slap at the back of the head from Hijikata.
"Tch," they heard from the corner of the hall, to see Fudou resting his back against a wall. "You're all acting like a bunch of pussies." He commented making his way to the group
Tachimukai blinked in confusion, about to ask what was a puss— when Kazemaru placed his hand on his shoulder, shaking his head.
"Put me up next to the famous Flame Striker." Fudou declared, staring Gouenji dead in the eye.
"No." The platinum blonde replied with a glare.
"Why not, scared I'll be just as good as you next?"
"What do you mean by 'next'?"
"Ncaw Yuuto," Fudou twisted his torso, smirking at Kidou. "You didn't tell them that Kageyama declared me just as smart as you."
"He never said that, Fudou." Kidou stated. Little people noticing his jaw clenching.
"You can't," Gouenji began turning Fudou's attention, "because you're a Midfielder."
He looked the platinum blonde up and down before releasing a mocking laugh, "If that'll make you sleep good at night, Gouenji."
"He can't just talk to Gouenji like that!" Toramaru gritted quietly.
"Fudou, where are you going?" Kazemaru asked.
"Leaving," he deadpanned and lifted his arm, shimmering his fingers as a wave, "Toodles."
"Hey!" Midorikawa stepped forward, "Don't you know the saying 'Many hands make light work'? We need all hands on deck!"
The boy halted. "You still don't get it, do you? This isn't about winning or losing as a team. All you have to do is just show off to the coach." His head turned over his shoulder, showing a smirk. "And just so you dim-witted co-ops know, I'm playing for myself only."
Tachimukai looked around hopelessly, "Guys... what should we do?"
Yamino slung his kitbag onto his shoulder, heading to the door, "I'm going."
Kazemaru sighed after Yamino's figure disappeared, "I think you should apologise to Yamino."
"What?! Me!?" Kogure pointed at himself. "I was giving the guy constructive criticism." He defended folding his arms.
"It wasn't nice what you said, Kogure." Tachimukai chimed in.
"Of course you'd say so." Kogure snickered.
"What are you talking about?" Tachimukai asked softly.
"UGH, JUST GO AND APOLOGISE KOGURE!" Hijikata yelled, fed up with the boy's nonsense.
***End of flashback
He heaved a sigh.
Very unorganised.
*pat*
Hm?
The boy's face scrunched softly as he watched the light water droplets slowly fall heavier with each passing second.
Not this again.
He jogged to the nearest shelter, the most popular spot for students nearby, Spark's Stores, and stood under the eave of the convenient store at the entrance.
He looked around and sighed.
This is my only shelter... from here on, I'll have to sprint.
*tap*
Gouenji's heart skipped a beat and out of instinct, he spun to the source, his leg about to lift when he stopped himself.
"Oh," He relaxed, "You scared me."
Her eyes widened in realisation, "Oh, I'm sorry."
He waved her off reassuringly.
Then they stood stood in silence.
"..."
"..."
"...."
This is awkward... He glanced to his right, then quickly stared at the streets beginning to drown with puddles. I only met her yesterday... there's nothing I can really say.
I don't normally start conversations with our managers either... they normally initiate conversations with me...
Think!
What would Sue and Tori want to talk about?
'My Darling—'
'I'll be going to the store to buy my Darling—'
'Oh how I miss my Darlin—'
Nevermind Urabe.
He sweatdropped quietly.
'I'm gonna practice more to perfect The Tower!'
Yeah! I can ask about her prac—
"You looked... deep in thought earlier." She broke the silence looking at the street as well.
He exhaled quietly making her eyes glance up at him, "I was trying to find a way to avoid the rain."
"You don't have an umbrella or raincoat?"
He shook his head.
The girl unzipped her kitbag and pulled out a transparent umbrella motioning it to him.
Once he realised her offer, he softly pushed the umbrella towards her. "Oh no," he softly spoke, "You don't have to."
"I don't mind. My house is just down the road." She pointed. "You can return it on the day of the selection match... if that's okay with you?"
"Thanks," he bowed his head and stepped out into the pouring rain that reflected off of her umbrella.
Feeling guilty again, Gouenji decided to turn back around to thank Alex again only to see she had already begun her walk home with her tracksuit jacket acting as her umbrella.
Gouenji must've stared for too long because the girl stopped and turned to him, making his breath hitch with embarrassment.
Right when he was about to scold himself for looking like a weirdo, the white-haired girl waved to him goodbye with a small smile before continuing down the road.
He cleared his throat.
Right, I need to get home.
The boy stood in front of his family gate with a proud expression, knowing little about the speeding truck approaching.
He sighed.
Home sweet ho—
-
"I'm home," she called into the house but was met with silence.
She placed her kitbag down, hung her jacket on a hanger and was about to walk when she remembered.
Right. Shoes
After slipping into a pair of light blue slippers, she made her way into the house.
She sighed, then smiled. "Tante! I did well in practice today. I caught a lot of loose balls and got complimented. And the managers are really sweet. They helped me learn a few of the players' names!"
Silence.
"I'll be going to bed now. Goodnight!"
And as soon as she stepped into the hallway, her smile dropped and her steps came to a halt. She sighed again then turned back, grabbed her kitbag and made her way to her bedroom.
She flipped the light on then closed the blinds of her window and flopped onto her bed face first.
Her face began to burn from embarrassment.
'You don't have an umbrella or raincoat?'
Why did I say that?
Of course he doesn't, why else would he, GOUENJI SHUUYA, be trying to avoid the rain!
She groaned into the pillow as her head began to throb from the racing thoughts.
I should've just hid behind that aisle.
🌄[2 Mar 2024]🌄
𝙼𝙰𝚂𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝙻𝙸𝚂𝚃 | [𝙽𝙴𝚇𝚃 𝙴𝙿𝙸𝚂𝙾𝙳𝙴]
Outro:
8 notes
·
View notes