IEGO: CS || Wavering Hearts

『 CHAPTER 9 』

When Beta regained consciousness, it took her a few moments to realise what happened, and that was only because Master scolded her about it. All through it, she tried not to pout.

Once he was out of earshot, she stomped her way to the training grounds. "Don't talk to me," she hissed at anyone who neared her.

At the grounds, she kicked soccer ball after soccer ball, unable to rid of the humiliation that you gave her. How dare you knocked her out like that?!

"And I even called her cute!" Beta yelled, scoring another goal that snapped through the net.

Through her huffing and puffing, a new presence arrived. A most irritable presence known to mankind, in her humble opinion.

"Oh, is Lil' Beta angry at some sort of crush rejection?"

"Gamma, shut yer trap," she hissed at him, turning around (and regretting it) to meet his smug face.

"Request declined," he retorted. "Besides, I'm just here to get the scoop because a little birdie told me that you were, pfft, knocked out by one of Raimon's members?"

"Tell me who was the snitch and I'll kick their heads in," growled Beta.

"And risk them getting hurt? Even I have standards, Beta."

"Standards, my ass. Screw off Gamma, unless you want a kick to the face."

"Oh woe is me. I still have some questions you know ⸺"

She scoffed. "Why don't you go ask that little birdie of yours?"

"And here I thought we could bond." He chuckled, and Beta was ready to grab the ball. "But I supposed impossible to happen, when you're as two-faced as you are always."

Beta blew a raspberry once he left. She repeated his words in a mocking tone, while continuing where she left off. After shooting some more goals, she plopped herself on the ground. Then, she closed her eyes as her mind drifted off.

Beta wouldn't tell you, nor anyone, that when she first saw your profile, she already liked you. You were approachable, and cute to boot. Not to mention, she looked up to your adult figure as a woman who dominated in a world of men's soccer.

So, it hurt when you tackled her that aggresively. But thinking about it, Beta had to admit she was part at fault, too. She was just as aggresive when hitting your teammates. Just, why was it her that you targeted?

Was it ⸺

The ball hits your head. Time seemed to slow down as your head tore from your neck. It hits the ground. A thud. A thud. A thud. A thud a thud a thud a thud ⸺

Beta shook her head. She hugged herself. Forget it forget it forget it, please. I didn't mean it. Master even said so. And she's still alive. I didn't kill her. It's okay. In spite of this, Beta figured your targeted tackle on her was your way of payback.

And deep down, she felt that she deserved it.

♡ --- ♡ --- ♡

"It is a type of mind control, inertia by the time alteration," Alpha explained after Fei asked him to. "While Wondeba did not play on field, thus making him unaffected, those who were affected were ones who did not have a Keshin."

"Ok, but that doesn't really explain why we Keshin users aren't affected," said Nishiki.

"He just said it's because we have Keshin." Tsurugi sighed.

"Hey! I'm just saying there's probably something deeper!"

"Oh!" Fei snapped his fingers. "I think I get what Nishiki-san is asking. To put it simply, those who have Keshin hold a deeper love in playing soccer compared to those who don't have Keshin."