Love At First Kick

75

8 months later

'Fight number 42 on court D is calling for Francescha Nollan, USA. Please, come to the court.'

The announcement rang through the filled arena, calling for someone who is terribly late for their fight. Which is not something you want to experience in the World Championship tournament.

That's right. World championship.

So far, most of us had our fights. We've had some great results today even though it's the hardest tournament. We picked up quite a few medals. Mostly 3rd places. We also have 2 second places and Jimin, who is the only first place today. To say that we almost killed him with celebrations once he came back from his final fight, would be an understatement. He cried like a baby in my arms. Although, I was worse than him.

My man is a world champion!

'I want you guys to know that no matter what happens by the end of the day, I am more proud of you than I could put into words.' Coach Ishijo tells all of us. 'Those who lost, I am proud of you just the same, no matter win or lose. Every single one of you fought tooth and nail to get here. Keep it up. Next time, we're going further.'

'Rin-' Coach just started telling me something when I cut him off

'URGGHHH!!!' I let out a muffled scream, biting into my belt not to scream out loud as my finger was being set back into its place. I felt the tears go down my face from the sharp shooting pain of the bone being rebroken.

My second fight today was a bloodbath. The girl I was fighting was tenacious. It was a close fight, but that wasn't the problem. It was the fact that at one point, we collided, and her knee smashed into my open hand, breaking the ring finger on my right hand. I injured it even more in the third fight and am now having it readjusted again.

'Sorry, Coach, what were you saying?' I ask him as I wipe my face, panting from the pain that's pulsating all the way to my elbow

'Are you okay to continue?'

We're at the World's Championships in France, representing our country. I am not giving up now. One damn broken finger won't stop me.

'Yes.' I sniffle, 'I can do this. One more Coach.' I grunt in pain

'Rin, please.' Jimin was crouching in front of me as he was the one that just readjusted my finger, looking like he was about to cry. 'I know you want this, but you're going to injure yourself even more. Please, just think about this.'

I might have been in physical pain, but Jimin looked like he was suffering 3 times more even though nothing was wrong with him. I feel terrible because I know he's like this because of me. He won first place in World's. He's a friggin world champion, and instead of celebrating, he looks like he is about to cry.

The rest of the team was looking at me half with worry, half like I'm absolutely insane. And I understand them. But I got too far to give up now. I don't think any of them would give up.

'No. I made a promise. I'm keeping it.' I sniffle, arguing with Jimin. He kept his part. He won, just like he said he would.

'I couldn't care less about your damn promise. You have a broken finger, Rin. Do you want to break the rest of them, too?' He argues back

'Help me wrap this, please.' I ignore his argument, passing him a bandage

'No. I'm not doing that.' He refuses, putting the bandage on the seat next to me, sounding stern. The only way he would ever try to stop me is if the injury is bad. And I know it is.

'Rin, come on. Even I agree. You're gonna make it worse for yourself.' Ino, who fought injured many times, is telling me off as well

'Fine. I'll do it myself.' I mumble, taking the bandage from where Jimin left it. I struggled to open it, but I used my teeth and my working fingers and did it. I bit into my belt to grit my teeth into something, because I know this is going to hurt even more than the last fight. But I have one more to go. One more and then I'm done.