More Than A Shadow

It's Not Over Yet

Hello there! Happy fall!! Happy Thanksgiving if you celebrate! I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe. I thought I was going to finish this chapter by early December but I surprised myself and finished earlier.

The last chapter was really my favorite one so far and I had a lot of fun writing it. So I hope you enjoyed it. Miyuki being so oblivious about his feelings will never not be funny to me.

This chapter, however... I did not like to write. It made me so sad but it was necessary in order for the story to progress. So here we go...

As always thank you so much for your support. I've received a lot of positive feedback and I really appreciate it. I'm truly grateful for all the support that I've received since I started writing this fic. You truly make me so happy when you leave comments, reviews, kudos, etc. That's what I'm thankful for this Thanksgiving.

I apologize for any grammar mistakes beforehand.

Disclaimer: I don't own Daiya No Ace, Yuji Terajima does. I only own my OC.

Enjoy and stay safe!

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Today was the long-awaited day. The day of the final game of the summer tournament. The day that would decide who would go on to Koshien as the representative of West Tokyo. This was it and there were no second chances. Especially not with the third-years. If they lose today, then they would have to retire immediately.

"Ne, Azusa-san?" Haruno called out, mild concern lingering in her tone.

Haruno's voice made Azusa jump out of her thoughts.

"Yes?" she turned to the redheaded manager.

"Are you alright?" Haruno asked, turning her attention away from the game.

The blonde blinked in confusion. "Yes, I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

Haruno flushed at her question and averted her gaze embarrassed. "Well because..."

"Because you haven't complained about how hot it is," Sachiko interrupted, her tone dripping with sarcasm. Yui, who was next to her giggled at her comment.

Azusa narrowed her blue eyes in a glare while she pouted.

"Well, that wasn't what I was going to say..." Haruno trailed off, blushing more vehemently than before. "I was asking because we're playing against Inashiro...The team that your brother plays with," she clarified.

The blonde slightly flinched at Haruno's question. She actually voiced what Azusa was trying to avoid thinking all day. Even though it should've been obvious. It didn't fully sink in for her that at the end of the final match someone she loved was going to suffer. Either her beloved team or beloved older brother.

How was she going to feel at the end of the day? What would be the right thing to feel?

She didn't want to think about it, so she concentrated on watching the game and tried her best to pretend as if it was any other team that they were playing against. But now as the game is closer and closer to ending, she can't pretend anymore.

"Yes, I'm fine," she finally replied. "As fine as anyone can feel right now considering that it's the final game of the tournament."

"It's already nerve-wracking enough, I can't imagine-"

"Haruno," Takako suddenly said in a firm tone and narrowed her eyes at the younger manager.

The red-headed manager just nodded and resumed watching the game in silence.