During the preperations for the quarterfinals for the Academy Champion's Leauge, everybody from Hypower were currently resting soundly inside their hotel. Little that they know that a percentage of their team will be out sick.
As the sun shone through the window in Uno and Denise's room, Denise started to feel a sharp pain in her abdomen. "Hey, you good, love?" Uno asked, concern evident in his voice as he saw Denise clutch her abdomen tightly.
"N-no, I'm having cramps," Denise replied, wincing in pain.
"The fuck are cra—oh fuck... I forgot those existed," Uno mumbled, running a hand through his hair in frustration. He quickly softened his tone, "Do you want to skip practice today?"
Denise shook her head. "No, I need to be there, but can I just watch practice from a wheelchair? It would be more comfortable."
Uno nodded, gently kissing her forehead. "Of course, anything for you. Let's get you to the training pitch."
They arrived at the training pitch, and to Uno's surprise, he saw all the girls on their team—Jada, Avva, Olivia, Jea, Acel, Dara, Kata, and Yani—sitting in wheelchairs. Each of them wore expressions ranging from mild annoyance to outright pain.
"What the hell is going on?" Uno muttered under his breath.
As they approached the group, Jada looked up, her face pale. "Guess what, Uno? We all got our periods at the same damn time. It's like some sick cosmic joke."
Avva chimed in, her usual cheerful demeanor replaced with irritation. "Yeah, and we’re all stuck in these wheelchairs because it's the only way we can be somewhat comfortable."
Uno sighed, rubbing his temples. "Alright, girls, just take it easy today. Lance," he called out, spotting the tall midfielder, "you're my co-captain for the day. We need to make sure training goes smoothly."
Lance nodded, stepping forward. "Got it, Uno."
Uno turned to the rest of the boys—Matt, Angelo, Maury, Lorenzo, Matthew, Tristan, Meric, Sherwin, and Vincent. "Alright, guys, let's focus on training up our hissatsu moves and developing our Aura. We need to be at our best for the quarterfinals."
As the boys started their intense training, Uno stayed close to Denise, ensuring she was comfortable and had everything she needed. He made frequent trips to the sidelines to check on her, bringing her water and snacks.
During one such break, Denise looked up at him with a small smile. "Thanks for taking care of me, Uno. I know this isn't exactly how you planned to spend the day."
Uno grinned, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "I'd rather be here with you, making sure you're okay. Besides, it's kind of funny seeing all the girls in wheelchairs."
Denise chuckled, wincing slightly. "Yeah, it’s a sight to behold. I'm just glad you’re here with me."
Meanwhile, on the pitch, the boys were putting their all into the training. Lance and Matt were practicing their combination hissatsu move, while Tristan and Meric were working on perfecting their defensive Auras. Vincent and Sherwin were sparring, pushing each other to their limits.
Jada, despite her discomfort, shouted some encouragement. "Come on, boys! You can do better than that!"
"Yeah, show some real effort!" added Avva, her mood swings evident as she alternated between cheering and complaining about the cramps.
As Lance missed a pass, Olivia snapped, her patience clearly worn thin. "Lance, what the hell was that? Are you even trying?"
Lance looked taken aback for a moment before offering a calm response. "Sorry, Olivia, I'll do better."
Realizing she had overreacted, Olivia sighed and rubbed her temples. "Sorry, Lance, it's the cramps talking."
Lance just laughed. "No worries, Olivia. We’ve all got our off days."
As the day progressed, the girls’ moods swung from supportive to cranky. At one point, Dara offered some kind words to Meric, who was struggling with his Aura training. "Keep at it, Meric. You'll get it."
By the end of the session, Uno gathered the team together. "Great work today, everyone. Let's rest up and be ready for tomorrow. We’ve got a big game ahead of us."
Denise reached out and squeezed Uno's hand. "Thanks for everything today."
Uno smiled down at her. "Anything for you, Denise. Let’s get you back to the hotel and get some rest."
As they returned to the hotel, Denise's mood started to swing. She winced in pain as they entered the lobby, clutching her abdomen.
Uno glanced at her with concern. "Hey, are you okay? Do you need anything?"
Denise's face tightened with irritation. "No, I'm not okay, Uno. I'm in pain and I'm tired. I just want to lie down."
Uno nodded, trying to stay calm. "Alright, let's get you to your room."
As they reached their room, Denise suddenly snapped, "Why do these cramps always have to happen during important times? It's like the universe is against us!"
Uno placed a hand on her shoulder. "I know it's frustrating. Let's just focus on getting you comfortable."
Denise sighed, sitting down on the bed. "I'm sorry, Uno. I didn't mean to snap at you. I'm just so overwhelmed right now."
Uno smiled gently. "It's okay, Denise. I understand. Let's get you some painkillers and a heating pad."
As Uno fetched the items, Denise's mood shifted again. She looked up at him with a soft expression. "Thank you for being so patient with me. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Uno handed her the painkillers and heating pad, sitting down beside her. "You'd do just fine, but I'm glad I can be here for you. How are you feeling now?"
Denise took the painkillers and placed the heating pad on her abdomen. "A little better, I guess. It just feels like everything is out of my control."
Uno wrapped an arm around her. "We're a team, Denise. We face everything together. And we’ll get through this too."
Denise leaned into him, feeling a bit of comfort. "Thanks, Uno. I just hope this doesn’t mess up our chances in the quarterfinals."
Uno kissed the top of her head. "We’ll manage. We've faced tougher challenges and come out stronger. This is just another hurdle."
Denise managed a small smile. "You're right. We’ll get through this."
Just then, a knock came at the door. Uno got up to answer it, revealing Lance and Matt.
"Hey, how's Denise doing?" Lance asked, peeking inside.
Uno glanced back at Denise. "She's hanging in there. What’s up?"
Matt stepped forward. "We were thinking, maybe we could all have dinner together in the girls' room. Cheer them up a bit. What do you think?"
Denise, overhearing the conversation, called out, "That sounds nice. I could use some company."
Uno nodded. "Alright, let's do it. We’ll meet you there in a bit."
As they headed to the girls' room, Denise's mood swung again, this time to a more nostalgic and reflective state. "Remember when we first formed this team? We had no idea what we were doing."
Uno chuckled. "Yeah, we were a mess. But look at us now, about to face the quarterfinals."
Denise smiled, the warmth of the memories softening her mood. "We’ve come a long way, haven't we?"
They arrived at the girls' room, where the team was already gathered, the mood lively despite the discomfort. Jada was telling a funny story from their last match, and the room erupted in laughter.
Denise felt her spirits lift as she joined in the laughter. "You guys always know how to make a girl feel better."
Jada grinned. "That's what teammates are for. Now, let's eat and get some rest. We’ve got a big day ahead."
As they shared dinner, the bond between them strengthened, and Denise felt grateful for the support of her friends. Despite the pain and the mood swings, she knew she wasn’t alone, and that made all the difference.
