Back To The Start

Chapter 7

Everyone: NOSAKA?!

I let out a small laugh as everyone gathered around me.

Nishikage: Welcome Nosaka-san.

Nosaka: Thank you, Nishikage.

Haizaki: How are you feeling now Nosaka?

Nosaka: I'm sorry for worrying you. My last follow up cut quite close to the day of the match.

Haizaki: Does that mean you'll be able to play?

Nosaka: Yeah

I caught Ichihoshi giving me an irritated glare from the corner of my eyes. I brushed it of with a smile as Ootani stood in front of me, holding the captain's band.

Ootani: * with a sweet smile* Here you go Nosaka-san. I hope you have fun playing.

I took the band from her and replied with a smile as well.

Nosaka: Thank you, Ootani-san.

My eyes followed her to where her seat was and she sat next to Anna-san. A sick and weak looking Anna-san with her head hanging. Aki had already told me she was sick and was not going to stay back and rest. I already knew that but seeing her this way broke my heart. Ootani took her shoulders and started to rub them. Then she whispered something in her ear and Anna looked up slowly. Her eyes scanned across until they finally landed on mine. At that point, I was trying my best not to run to her and hug her tight. She looked like she was going to cry but instead she gave me a small sad smile and looked down again.

I looked over to Kazemaru, and he gave me a sad look and shook his head. A flow of rage rushed through around my body. I wanted to give her a stern lecture about how important it was that she was safe and healthy. So she doesn't get hurt. And I wanted to tell her much I love her. I wanted to shout at her. And make it clear to everyone how I feel but I couldn't. All I could do was stare at her as she sat there, pale and fragile, like a crystal vase. Beautiful but if not taken care of properly, can topple over and break into a million. That was how my heart felt, that was how she looked, and that was probably how she felt as well.

The whistle for the 2nd half blew and we made our way to the field. I need to end this quick for Anna's sake and for him too. I already knew Ichihoshi and the Eternal dancers were teaming up through watching their plays. They were going to try to make us lose. I had started to suspect that they were all working together in the same group or some sort of organisation but I have no proof. Either way, every team has their weakness. Their movements were sluggish and I was able to steal the ball and ready everyone for a new tactic - King's Baton and I was able to make it clear to everyone how much a team can change with a game maker on their side.

I passed the ball to Haizaki and he and Hiroto used their combined move to score us the first goal.

Anna's POV
I was barely able to keep my eyes open for the rest of the match and nearly fell off my seat twice while dosing off. I knew with Nosaka on the team they would play well and everything would be fine but that was the reason I was there, to cheer everyone on but if I couldn't even do that then what was the point? From the sounds of everyone on the bench I could tell that we just scored a goal. But those loud noises, the different smells, the many people was all to much. I felt tears stinging the corner of my eyes as shut them tightly. I held my head in my hand and I hoped that somehow, all the sounds and smells would all go away. But it didn't happen. I could hear Ootani's voice, asking me what was wrong. She was sat right next to me but her voice sounded distant. Like she was shouting over a crowd or was at the other side of an empty stadium. I was shaking badly and was starting to feel dizzy and every time I opened my eyes I would only see a blur of people. My ears were ringing and my breathes were closing in and that when I became scared. I think everyone was starting to notice I wasn't feeling okay because I started to her echoes of my name. I wanted to scream at them to stop calling me when suddenly I felt like I was being lifted up and I felt like I was moving. Suddenly everything felt calm. I couldn't hear much of the loud noise. Only the smell of an empty hallway surrounded me and it didn't feel as clustered as it was a few moments back. I felt a moving chest on my ear and that's when i knew some one was carrying me. I slowly opened my eyes and it wasn't as blurry as it had been before. I looked around and saw that as I presumed, I was in a hallway. We kept on moving, I shut my eyes again. I didn't even know who was carrying me and where I was being taken to. Suddenly a door was pushed open and we stepped in. The mystery person slowly set me down on what felt like a bench and I placed my back against the cold wall. I opened my eyes slowly and blinked a few times before I could finally see who stood in front of me. I was shocked to see...