To The Honshuu Regional Qualifiers!

Sota's lungs burned with each breath, and his legs screamed with every step. Yet, he pushed forward, sweat trickling down his face as he continued his lunge sprints. The early morning sun barely crested the horizon, casting long shadows over the quiet streets of Seiryuu, but Sota was already drenched in perspiration. Thud, thud, thud—his sneakers hit the pavement with a steady rhythm, echoing in the stillness of the morning. He could feel every fiber of his muscles straining as he propelled himself forward, gritting his teeth against the pain.

This was just another day of training under Jack Mercer, but today felt different. Today was the day of the qualifiers. Sota's mind raced as fast as his feet, replaying everything Mercer drilled into him.

"Don't give in. You've got more in you than you think," Jack's voice echoed in his mind, clear as the morning air. Sota grunted, pushing harder, his breath coming out in ragged gasps.

As he rounded the last corner to Seiryuu High School, his heart pounded not just from the exertion but also from the anticipation of what was to come. The qualifiers meant everything—not just for the team, but for Aiko, for Jack Mercer, and for himself. He couldn't let them down.

He sprinted the last stretch, his legs burning with the effort. The school gates loomed closer, and he could see the faint outlines of his teammates gathering by the entrance. With one final push, Sota cleared the distance and came to a stop, panting heavily. His lungs screamed for air, but his heart swelled with pride.

The scene before him was something out of a bizarre dream. There, standing in front of Ryuji, was a line of bullies—yes, the very same ones who used to terrorize the school. But today, they stood with rigid backs, their faces set in determined expressions as they shouted in unison, "GOOD LUCK, FLAG FOOTBALL TEAM!"

Sota blinked in disbelief. Was he hallucinating from the sprints? He looked to Ryuji, who stood tall, arms crossed, a grin spreading across his face. The morning light caught Ryuji's sharp features, giving him an almost devilish glow. He had done it—somehow, Ryuji had whipped these delinquents into submission.

Aiko arrived shortly after, her eyes wide with surprise. She looked at the bullies, then at Ryuji, and finally to Sota, her brows knitting together in confusion. But she quickly shook it off, determination replacing the surprise.

"Everyone here?" Aiko called out, her voice clear and commanding. The team responded with a roar of enthusiasm, fists pumping into the air. The energy was contagious, and even some of the onlookers—the students who had just arrived—were caught up in it.

But then the whispers started. From the open classroom windows, voices drifted down—some filled with derision, others with cautious support.

"Do they really think they have a chance? They've never won anything!" one voice sneered.

"Yeah, why bother? It's just a waste of time," another chimed in.

"But look at them… They seem so fired up. Maybe they'll pull off a miracle?" came a hesitant, almost hopeful voice.

The team heard it all, their excitement dimming ever so slightly. Sota felt a familiar knot of tension twist in his stomach, but he forced it down, refusing to let the negativity take root. Instead, he looked at his teammates—his friends—standing strong despite the whispers.

Aiko's eyes flashed with resolve. She stepped forward, her voice cutting through the murmurs like a blade. "Let's go!" she declared, her confidence rekindling the spark in the team.

But as they prepared to move out, Sota couldn't shake a nagging thought. He stepped closer to Aiko, his voice low but urgent. "Aiko, how are we getting to the venue?"

Aiko's confident demeanor wavered for a split second, and she blinked as if the question had come out of nowhere. Her eyes widened in realization, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She had forgotten something—something crucial.

"I… I didn't arrange transportation," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper, her face turning a deeper shade of red as she turned away, unable to meet Sota's gaze.

Sota's heart sank, and he fought to keep his expression neutral. He knew Aiko was doing her best, but this was a critical oversight. His mind raced, searching for a solution, but all he could feel was the rising panic among the team.

Ryuji, ever the joker, broke the tense silence. "Great. First day of the qualifiers, and we're walking to the venue!" He laughed, though it was more to ease the tension than out of any real amusement.

But Sota wasn't laughing. He looked at Aiko, his expression serious. "Aiko, are you sure there's no transportation?"

Aiko's shoulders slumped, and she mumbled another apology, her embarrassment clear.

The team began to murmur among themselves, the excitement of the morning rapidly giving way to anxiety. Sota raised his hands, trying to calm everyone down, but it was clear that the situation was quickly spiraling out of control.

That's when Ryuji stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the crowd of bullies. Without a word, he pointed to one of them—Kazuma Ishikawa, a burly third-year who looked more suited to breaking bones than playing sports.

Kazuma flinched but quickly straightened under Ryuji's gaze. "Yes, boss?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.

"You've got a van, right?" Ryuji asked, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Kazuma nodded vigorously. "Y-Yes! I'll bring it around right away!" Without another word, he dashed off, nearly tripping over his own feet in his haste.

The tension in the air began to dissipate as the team realized that they wouldn't be walking to the venue after all. Sota let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, his shoulders relaxing ever so slightly.

Ryuji grinned, clapping a hand on Sota's shoulder. "See? No problem. We've got this."

Aiko looked at Sota, her eyes filled with a mix of gratitude and lingering embarrassment. She opened her mouth to say something, but Sota just smiled and shook his head. "It's okay, Aiko. We've got this."

Kazuma returned moments later, his van rumbling up to the curb. It wasn't much to look at—old, with dents and scratches—but it would do the job. The team quickly piled in, the tension from earlier giving way to renewed excitement. Sota took a seat near the front, his heart pounding with anticipation.

As the van rumbled away from Seiryuu High, Sota glanced back at Aiko, who sat quietly beside him. She was still red with embarrassment, but there was also a spark of determination in her eyes—a spark that reassured Sota more than anything else.

"We'll make it," Sota thought, his fists clenching with resolve. "No matter what, we'll make it."