The Crazy Four

Chapter 1: Waiting

The announcer's voice, high and excited, crackled through Sakura's cheap earbuds. Even with the static, the energy was contagious. It was the finals of the National Junior Hoverblitz competition, and Seraphim Academy's own team was on the verge of a legendary win. The scoreboard blazed: Seraphim 9, Artemis 6, with only seconds left in the third period.

"Chaewon intercepts! The Archangel lives up to her name, reading that play perfectly!"
On the screen of her phone, a girl with a silver streak in her dark bob deftly maneuvered her flightskate, the flying board, with a stick held firm in her gloved hand. This was Kim Chaewon, captain of the Seraphim team and leader of the South Wing. She plucked the puck out of the air with a practiced flick of her wrist, stopping a potentially game-changing pass from Artemis. Her visor, reflecting the vibrant colors of the energy field, hid any hint of emotion, but her skill spoke volumes.

"Kazuha gains control! The Black Swan is on the move, graceful as ever!"

The camera cut to a girl with long, flowing black hair, her flightskate gliding almost silently across the vibrant energy field, the surface shimmering green and blue as the quantum flux shifted beneath her. Nakamura Kazuha, East Wing leader, was a vision of elegance and power. She deftly weaved through two opponents, her expression laser-focused, using the subtle dips and waves of the energy field to boost her speed.

 
"A perfect pass to Jennifer! Will the Maestro orchestrate another goal?"

The puck, a glowing disc pulsing with internal energy, sailed through the air, a perfect arc that landed right on the tip of Jennifer Huh's stick. West Wing leader, caught the puck with a satisfying click. Her fiery red hair whipped around her as she angled her flightskate, building speed. She was known for her precision passes and strategic plays, and the tension in the virtual stands was palpable. Would this be the play that cemented their victory?

"And there's Eve! She's got the puck, but can she get past two defenders? This is it, folks, the final seconds!"

The camera zoomed in on a girl with sleek black hair and eyes that burned with competitive fire. Eve Hong, North Wing leader, was notorious for her unpredictable, almost reckless style. She was a force of nature on the field, and right now, she was a hurricane about to make landfall. Two Artemis defenders closed in, their flightskates kicking up swirling patterns in the energy field as they tried to anticipate her next move.

 
Sakura leaned closer, heart pounding. This was it. The moment that decided everything.
Eve leaned, crouching low and pulled the throttle lever on her flightskate, a burst of blue from the jet propelling her forward. She was heading straight for the two defenders, a wall of protective gear and determination.

 
"She's going for it! Is she crazy?" the announcer yelled, his voice cracking with disbelief.

Crazy? Maybe. But that was Eve's style.

 
Instead of slowing down, Eve executed a maneuver so unexpected, so daring, that it left Sakura breathless. She used the momentum of her opponents against them, spinning between them with a speed that seemed impossible. A collective gasp swept through the virtual viewers as she slipped through the gap, a hair's breadth from their outstretched sticks.

 
"Unbelievable! Rabid Hong, ladies and gentlemen, is a magician on that flightskate!"

Time seemed to slow down as Eve lined up her shot. The puck, bathed in the shifting colors of the energy field, looked like a miniature star. With a flick of her wrist, she sent it hurtling towards the goalpost.

 
The net rippled. Goal.

The crowd erupted. Sakura jumped to her feet, a yell stuck in her throat. Even through her cheap earbuds, the roar was deafening. Seraphim Academy had won.