SKYLA’S P.O.V
“We did it” Mark said as the team chorused it again.
“How many times will you say that?” Silvia asked.
“A million and I’m gonna keep saying it” Mark said.
“We won the tournament, guys” Mark said.
“We won the tournament” The team said.
“It’s enough….geez” I grumbled slurping my noodles.
“Eat as much as you want boys…fill those faces” Coach said. “Of course…should be the same for you Skyla”
I slurped my noodles slowly
“It’s really interesting about Royal getting into the nationals too, isn’t it Mark?” Nathan asked.
“I think it’s awesome that we’re gonna play them again on the big stage” Mark said giving Nelly her dumplings. “Here take your dumplings Nelly”
“I guess you’re feeling pretty confident that you can make it to the finals, huh Mr. Evans” Nelly said.
“The winners of the previous tournaments are playing in a totally second line…They’re completely separate from the other teams of the tournaments...so that means you won’t be able to play Royal until the finals” Nelly explained.
“I didn’t realize that, huh…Another final with Royal” Mark said.
“You’re almost making me think you’re obsessed with the school” I raised a brow at him.
“Take it easy Mark don’t get ahead of yourself” Bobby said
“Hey Nelly, how do you know so much about the tournament?” Silvia asked.
“It’s because I read through every single one of the tournament protocols….I want to understand all the rules before we start playing this time” Nelly said.
“I see” Silvia said.
“That’s fantastic Nelly….You’re so on the ball” Celia said.
“And that’s how you do these things…Now celia I need you to feed me all the gossip and silvia you’re going to give me the team’s physical and mental needs” Nelly said. “And skyla….when you’re done with the summary of the player handbook…do send an email…it’s the last thing I need to revise”
“Sure” Silvia and Celia said sweat dropping.
“My idea remains the same….you study on your own this time…a player handbook is serious business Nelly” I said.
Nelly bit into her dumpling.
“My that’s delicious” Nelly said.
Bobby and Nelly were ordering for dumplings but the coach only had enough for one more order.
“Okay then Nelly they’re all yours” Bobby said.
“Did you just call me Nelly?” Nelly asked.
“Sorry….miss raimon” Bobby said.
“Ah that’s okay you can call me that” Nelly said.
“Ah okay” Bobby said.
“As long as you don’t forget that I speak for the chairman on all matters both large an small…for all intermissive purposes..my words are his” Nelly said.
“Well then…prodigy chairman, tell us what words of wisdom you have for your team?” Coach asked.
“The reputation of Raimon junior high is now in the hands of our soccer club…I want you to do everything in your power to win the nationals” Nelly said.
“We’ll do it….you can count on us” Mark said “Right?”
Axel gave him a thumbs up.
“Guys…we can do this, we’re going all the way to the top” Mark cheered
“We’re going all the way to the top” The team cheered as I smiled.
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“Yes?” I asked Axel who called me for the first time on the phone.
“Did Mark call you yet?” Axel asked.
“No….he hasn’t” I answered glaring at Sky who was making hearts at me from the other side of the dining table and yes…I’m at breakfast with my family.
“Well…come down to the riverbank later” Axel said.
“Okay, why?” I asked dabbing my lips with a napkin.
“We’re playing against the Inazuma Eleven” Axel said.
“Aren’t we the Inazuma Eleven?” I asked him.
“No….the legendary eleven” Axel chuckled.
“Really….Lemme guess Mark orchestrated this game” I said smiling.
“Yes….” Axel said hanging up.
“Where are you going Skyla?” My mom’s voice asked from beside my Dad.
“Oh…The riverbank, we’re having a game against the legendary eleven” I said.
“That’s wonderful, right Ethan?” My mom said tugging my dad’s sleeve.
“Of course it is…You’ve had a very interesting passion for soccer” Dad said.
“Thanks you guys” I said getting off my chair.
“Lila stop tugging my sleeve…I have work in 3o minutes soon” My dad said.
“Fine” My mom whined as I chuckled walking out of the dining room upstairs to get my soccer things.
**********************************************************************
“Sorry I’m late guys” I said with an eye closed smile.
“It’s okay…you got here pretty early” Mark grinned.
“Morning everybody” Nelly said.
“I would’ve been here Earlier but Nelly insisted on picking me up for a drive around the school first” I glared at her.
“Alright enough talk…Let’s do this” Mark said as we walked to the pitch.
Detective Smith was the referee.
“Alright guys….put everything you’ve got into this and work your butts off let’s do it” Mark said.
“Yeah” We cheered.
I was placed as a defender for this match.
The whistle was blown.
“You watching closely…shrimps, this is soccer, Inazuma Eleven style” A huge guy said wanting to shoot from his position.
“Got this skyla?” Bobby asked.
“I’m all over it….been a long time I’ve defended though” I said.
“What the…is he taking a kick-off shot?” Mark asked as he fell down immediately.
“He didn’t touch the ball” I noted unimpressed.
Everyone sweat dropped at that.
“Guess it has been a while” The guy chuckled as we advanced forward.
I sighed as we stole the ball from them continuously…even when they did advance to shoot…I had the easiest way tackling them.
They shot the ball and Mark caught it with ease.
“Are you sure this is the Inazuma Eleven…maybe the 40 years thing is a bit too much of time for them” I said to bobby.
“Maybe” Bobby nodded.
They shot and we stopped it…no work at all… ‘Seriously…what did I expect from them? If Mark’s whacko grandfather did coach them then…Huh’ I thought seeing my grandmother on the field.
“That whack-o trained you better than this!” My grandmother yelled at them.
“Grandmother” I groaned.
“Still a lovely old lady Natasha” Detective smith chuckled nervously as she gave him a scowl.
“Humph! This game should get called off…Even I can play better than this” My grandmother protested.
“Aye! Granny! Who do you think you are?” Kevin asked angrily as I placed a hand on his shoulder.
“She’s my grandmother….The most annoying kind there is….She also personally knows Mark’s grandpa” I said.
“Grandmother? Seems like you two” Nathan started.
“Don’t have a great bond…she’s very pessimistic about staying in one place, always travelling and yammering about places” I crossed my arms.
“Let’s get back to the game anyway” Axel dismissed it.
The game was a real yawn…I stood on the pitch watching them shrug off the disappointment shown by us away like it’s always been the same.
I’m guessing coach Hillman had enough of it as well because he started yelling at them and all sorts of thing like that.
Soon I saw a blinding light and heard someone yell
“Cross drive”
Mark couldn’t stop it.
“So they are the Inazuma Eleven” I chuckled seeing my grandmother’s smile on her face instead of her usual scowl.
I smiled as Kevin and I used Dragon strike….A new shot we’ve been working on.
“Dragon” Kevin said throwing the ball into the air as I jumped up hitting it down with full force
“Strike!” I said as Coach Hillman stopped it using the Original God Hand.
“Not so bad” Axel said.
“That was our first time actually trying it” I said.
“What?” Axel asked.
“We only talked about the timing….Not so bad for a girl I mean” Kevin snickered as I glared daggers at him.
And then they tried a technique we’ve never seen before and Mark couldn’t catch it.
“That was awesome” I gaped at it.
‘The flows of the vibes were just so realistic’ I thought smiling.
Whatever it was Mark was really excited about it and asked for a time-out to huddle up.
“That was it….The famous fire rooster” Mark said holding up the manual.
“It was named after a rooster?” Nathan asked.
“You figured that out just now?” Kevin asked.
“Well yes…look at it….It shows nothing like it’s meant to be” I argued.
“She’s right I mean we just saw it re-inacted before our own eyes, we definitely need to learn that one” Mark said.
“Okay,who’s going to do it though” Max asked.
“Well the move involves a lot of zoom speed and big baboing jumps so… um” Mark said.
“It’s the same dumb language as the others” Silvia sweat dropped
“You need speed and height right? Looks like it’s the track clubs turn” Nathan said as Mark nodded.
“And that means you’re up Nathan” Mark said. “And I guess Axel will be the other one”
“Oh…that’s pretty…..nice for a move like that” I said.
“Hey Skyla…we still have to perfect that move y’know” Steve said holding my hand.
‘Huh?’ I thought.
“Oh yeah…That move” I said smiling at Steve.
“You guys have another move coming up?” Mark asked.
“Yeah but the stats don’t fit in with the theories and the timings” Steve said.
“Also very deadly” I shrugged.
“As to be expected actually…you deal with deadly moves a lot” Kevin said.
“Thanks?” I raised a brow at that as we got back into the pitch.
I was ready for the move Steve and I were trying to get same time as Axel and Nathan for Fire rooster.
Steve passed the ball to me as I passed it back to him, he kicked it upwards as I jumped up kicking it back down to him to head it missing it resulting to him being hit on the head as I landed with two feet.
“And that is why I don’t use full force” I said crossing my arms as Steve rubbed his head.
I noticed Jim talking to Axel and Nathan about Fire rooster before walking to us to explain ours.
“You need to stay back and you should rotate the ball.” Jim explained.
“Stay back?” Steve nodded.
“Rotate the ball at a 360 degree round circle to fully make it the heading drill…Thank Jim” I hugged him excitedly and then pulling away cheeks red embarrassed.
“You can go now….we’re trying again” I whispered looking away
“Okay let’s get moving guys try it again” Mark encouraged us.
“Yeah” The four of us trying out new moves tried it again.
Steve and I’s new move worked.
“Heading drill”
It broke through the original God Hand.
“Yes” I smiled at Mark who gave a thumbs up.
We passed the ball back to Axel and Nathan who also got Fire rooster.
“Great job you guys” Celia said handing me a towel.
“Thanks” I smiled at her.
“Is it me or you’ve already come up with a new move?” Axel asked.
“Not really” I chuckled…”But why do you ask?” I asked.
“Because first you had a new move with Kevin and now Steve…I’m impressed” Axel smirked as I rolled my eyes.
“Great job by the way…second impressions exist right?” I snorted walking away to find a water bottle.
“Guess what? The next game we play is going to be in the nationals guys” Mark said.
“Yeah” We cheered.
The nationals…..My illness made me stick around this long...Mark…As soon as I’m done here…No more soccer.
I clenched my fist looking down at the ground. ‘It is what he wanted all this time….I’m not to go against this order or he will show back up’ I thought angrily.
