Chapter 5: Gunfire And Explosions

FYI

: Speech

(Tone/Context):

- Thoughts

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Announcer: And here we have our match up. Both teams have entered the field. The first match of Aura Augmenters. There are two teams. Team A and Team B. Team A features their Captain Yoshida Kazuki and their Aura Augmenter is Hasshinsha Arashi. On Team B the Captain and Aura Augmenter is Nozotsuki Kousuke who is receiving support from a Midfielder by the name of Kinoshita Hirata.

Kousuke and Kazuki meet in the middle and shake hands and the referee flips a coin.

Kazuki: Heads!

Kousuke: Tails!

The Referee catches the coin and it's tails.

Kazuki: Damn it I always have the worst luck.

Arashi: Kazuki you done? I wanna shoot one into the goal already.

Kazuki: We're not starting with the ball.

Arashi (angrily): Why the hell not?

Kazuki: Lost the Coin toss.

Arashi: For gods sake, just steal the damn ball from them!

Kazuki: Arashi just do your job and I'll feed you all the goals you want.

Kousuke- So these two are the spearheads of their team.

Referee: Rules for Aura Users. No using your Aura before the match or during paused time. No using your Aura inside the penalty box. If you're caught breaking any of these rules and you'll be given a yellow card and any goals scored by your team during that time will be disallowed. The match will be 30 minutes long and there will not be a half time break.

Kousuke and Kazuki: Understood!

Referee: Alright since you all understand the rules head to your teams and get ready to start the match.

Kousuke and Kazuki both head to their teams.

Kousuke: Everyone get into position.

All of Team B forms a formation based on balanced attack and defense. Kousuke starts with the ball at his feet. Kazuki seems to start at the front while Arashi is towards the back out of view.

Kousuke- Where is their Forward? Why would they put him in the back? He's a Striker! Something isn't right.

Hirata: Kousuke their Striker isn't in the front.

Kousuke: Yeah, it's weird but just focus on getting the ball into position for me to shoot it in.

Kousuke- I have a bad feeling about this. Arashi has got to have something up his sleeve. What could it be?

Referee: Match start!

The Referee blows the whistle. Kousuke passes the ball to Hirata who dribbles past a few opponents as Kousuke starts emitting his Aura.

Kousuke- Need to get further ahead.

Kousuke gets into position as Hirata passes to Kousuke who readies to pass back to him but as an opponent moves to block Kousuke stops himself.

Kousuke- No that's not it. That's not good enough!

Kousuke rushes forward as Hirata looks at him shocked.

Hirata- Wait is he? Right now?

Kousuke begins to see arrows appearing on the field guiding him through the opponents.

Kousuke- That's it! There it is!

Kousuke rushes up field but suddenly the arrows disappear. 

Kousuke- What why?

Kousuke loses the ball as a Defender kicks it away but suddenly Kenji appears recovering it as he passes to Hirata.

Hirata: Nice Kenji.

Kousuke then moves towards the goal.

Kousuke- What was that? Why did it stop working?

Hirata crosses the ball as Kousuke sees the arrow again showing him where the ball will land.

as he gets into the position as he receives the ball. Kousuke visualizes a pass to Hirata between the legs of an opponent and turns off his Aura and passes to Hirata.

Kousuke: Hirata push through a bit more!

Hirata: Got it!

Hirata pushes forward past another player as Hirata passes the ball to another teammate as they push through further but Kazuki appears and pressures the teammate as he passes back to Hirata.

Kousuke: What's going on Hirata?

Hirata: I can't get it through.

Kousuke: Formation 2!

Hirata: You heard him everyone!

All of the players on Team B swap to an attacking formation as 3 teammates rush forward to support Hirata and Kousuke.

Kazuki- They're switching to an attacking formation. Arashi where are you?

Kazuki moves to Hirata to try and steal the ball from him but Kousuke gets in-between them as he shoves Kazuki with his shoulder away giving Hirata space.

Hirata: Kousuke?

Kousuke: Hirata! Just don't think about it. Don't wait for me! Head for the goal and if I'm not there then shoot it into the goal yourself. 

Hirata: But I'm not a Striker Kousuke.

Kousuke: I don't care! Just get over there now!

Hirata is shocked but pushes forward as he dribbles through the opponents and reaches an area right outside of the penalty box.

Hirata- Where is Kousuke?

Hirata begins to panic as he readies himself for a shot and shoots the ball but it hits the crossbar as flies backwards away from the goal. However, the ball flies towards Kousuke's feet as he Augments his Aura and visualizes his shot for a short burst and kicks it straight into the goal as the whistle blows and the score becomes Team A (0) : Team B (1).

Announcer: Goal! A spectacular goal from Nozotsuki Kousuke at the 9 minutes and 13 second mark.

Kousuke- Is this it?

Hirata: Kousuke your Aura. It's Light Red.

Kousuke: Huh?

Kousuke inspects himself to see that his Aura is indeed Red as it it is slightly covering his body but highly concentrated near his eyes.

Kousuke: Right now?

Kenji: Impressive.

Hirata: Your Augmentation manifested just in time for the match huh.

Kousuke: Hirata you could have and should have scored that goal yourself.

Hirata: I know that.

Kousuke: However you still shot the ball. If you had remained clam and had some confidence in yourself you would have scored. I guess we'll have to work on it.

Hirata: I...thank you Kousuke. For trusting me in front of the goal. Even if I didn't measure up.

Kazuki walks up to Hirata.

Kazuki: I can't believe you missed that shot. It's really just hilarious that they let someone like you out onto the field.

Kousuke: That's enough. Get back to your side of the field before I call the Ref over here.

Kousuke looks to Hirata.

Kousuke: You alright? Don't mind what he said.

Hirata: He's right though. I choked in front of the goal. I was useless.

Kousuke: He's trying to get in your head. Trying to exploit the state you're in right now. So snap out of it. We have a game to play. You're only useless if you can't pick yourself back up and prove you aren't. You still have a chance so don't waste it.

Hirata nods as he gets into position.

Kousuke- Kazuki isn't wrong though. Hirata is our weakest link and the one that needs the most work to improve. But that also makes him the one most likely to make a show of explosive growth in this match.

Kenji walks up to Kousuke.

Kenji: Next time we start with the ball. Run the next one with me. I want to see what exactly you are capable of Captain.

Kousuke: What has you convinced that we won't score the next 2 goals and simply win the match?

Kenji: My my. You're far too optimistic.

Kousuke: Optimistic? I know everything I need to about my players. I know what they might be able to do at this level of football.

Kenji: Oh how confident. No rather, how arrogant to believe you'll be able to predict anything in this new age of football.

Kousuke: Excuse me? What did you just...

Kenji: Just a gut feeling. Ignore me if you can't feel it as well. After all if you can't then that simply means you'll never make it past amateur.

Kousuke gets irritated as Kenji walks away.

Kousuke- What could he mean? Arashi perhaps? But he still hasn't shown himself.

Kenji- Now let's see if he will learn of a Football player's greatest tool.

Kousuke: Everyone back in position! We need two more of those and they've got possession now. Who knows what their Aura Augmenter is capable of.

Kazuki starts with the ball as he pushes forward as he dribbles past a few members of Team B but suddenly Team B catches up.

Kazuki- These guys are monsters! What's with their stamina? How can they look barely tired at all?

Kousuke: Keep it up! Two of you pressure him! Don't give him any passing routes!

Two B players begin pressuring Kazuki while Kousuke, Hirata and the others start blocking off passing routes.

Kazuki- Damn it, I've got no options left.

Kousuke- Good he's got nothing so we can probably just bye some time and grab another goal.

Suddenly Kazuki smiles as Kousuke is shocked and begins to rush towards Kazuki.

Kousuke- Damn it what's with that smile?

Kousuke Augments his Aura as he visualizes where the ball is heading as he changes his course to chase after it.

Kousuke- I'll definitely make it in time. Wait... I'm not factoring in something. Arashi!

Suddenly Kousuke hears something like Gunfire as Arashi sporting a Green Aura appears in the position of the ball right next to Kousuke.

Kousuke: Don't get so overconfident! I can still stop you!

An arrow appears directing Kousuke as to wear he needs to put his foot to stop the shot.

Kousuke- There it is.

Kousuke begins extending his leg to block Arashi's shot all while Kenji is watching Kousuke.

Kenji- Too slow and I'm not going to make it in time. he still hasn't figured it out. Well that's one goal.

Suddenly Kousuke hears something like an explosion go off as the Ball flies into the goal and Arashi's leg is already extended like he had taken a shot.

Kousuke- How did you...

Kenji- In a world of Aura Augmentation logic and reasoning falls apart. There is only one tool in a world like that is Instinct. Kousuke is someone without that tool. He's what I'd consider a dud with no talent for the sport.

Arashi smiles intensely at his goal as he turns to the crowd.

Arashi: A Striker must wait for the perfect opportunity then explode into the action! Because Football is an explosion!

The whistle blows as the score becomes Team A (1) : Team B (1).

Announcer: And the score is now tied by one goal from Hasshinsha Arashi! And a spectacular goal it was at the 13 minutes and 45 second mark! I didn't even see it go in!

The Crowd cheers in excitement as Arashi celebrates by throwing his arms into the air with a joyous expression on his face.

Hirata: Did Arashi just set off an explosion with his feet?

Kazuki: Finally. You sure took your damn time Arashi.

Arashi: Shut up already. I score didn't I? So isn't it fine.

Kazuki: Not before they scored their goal. This is just an equalizer!

Arashi: I ain't a defender or midfielder so I couldn't care less if they score 1 million goals.

Kazuki: if they score 2 more times then we lose.

Sweat drops off of Arashi's head as he realizes his own stupidity and his face shows it.

Arashi: Shit I forgot about that!

Kazuki: You should really be more considerate for the rest of us.

Arashi (dismissively): Yeah yeah I promise that I will commit to being a better person. I'm truly sorry for the trouble I caused our team.

Kousuke- I can't believe my eyes right now. Explosion Augmentation? That was... amazing. I wanna beat him so bad right now.

Arashi: Time to set off some fireworks...

Kousuke: I can't wait for Kick-Off...

Kousuke and Arashi: ... Cause now the real fun is about to begin!

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To Be Continued

Next Chapter-An Explosive Match!