Chapter 2: An Invitation Or Nationals

FYI

: Speech

(Tone when not obvious):

- Thoughts

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As a child, I was often asked what I would do If I had superpowers. It was obvious what most people would do with such power. Even at my age, I knew some people would use them to wrong others for either their own benefit or pleasure. Like any Child, I knew some would choose to be a Superhero and that some would choose to save the world in another way. However, my answer was always the same "Use it to become the Best Football Player In The Whole World!" 

Since 5 years ago I thought could really have a chance at doing this. The problem is it seems a lot of people had the same answer as me but now it's time for me to fulfil my dream.

5 years ago a pro footballer by the name of C*ri*ti*no R*n*l*do suffered a severe injury to his abdomen in the last game of his career, the World Cup Finals Portugal Vs Brazil with the score line 1-3. Somehow above all odds he stood up and showed off bursts of speed and dribbling even greater than in his prime and won his team the match 6-3 scoring 5 goals in the last 20 minutes. This seemed to make his injuries worse so he was hospitalized later celebrating in the hospital bed. 

He fortunately made a full recovery and retired soon after. The doctors couldn't explain his sudden new speed and dribbling. Some players on the field claimed they could see a Dark Red aura followed by a Black aura extending off of the end emanating from him. It was later confirmed that he was the first to use an ability that would be called Aura and Aura Augmentation. Everyone who had it seemed to have one thing in common, they were injured while playing football. Not all of these people could Augment their Aura. It seemed as if the Aura itself gave players a great boost to their physical capabilities while Augmentation gave them special abilities.

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Yoshino: So you're the kid?

Kousuke: Yes sir.

Kousuke takes some time but eventually wills his Aura to appear as a white aura emanates from Kousuke.

Haruka: See Mama...Papa...Big Brother can glow!

Hiyori: Yes Haruka your Big Brother can glow. Now please keep quiet. 

Kousuke opens his eyes to see his mother trying calm down a fussing Haruka.

Yoshino- How interesting... It seems that all of these Auras start out as White and then progress to 1 of 3 colors being either Red, Blue or Green. It seems that those incapable of Aura Augmentation get deadlocked into White Aura. I wonder if this kid is different from them.

Kousuke- He still hasn't said anything after having seen my Aura.

Yoshino- But what do the colors mean and why do they start out as White and what was happening with C*ri*ti*no R*n*l*do? Why was his Aura so different?

Kousuke- It feels like he's analyzing me somehow. But what is he trying to figure out exactly? I'm feeling a bit curious about it.

Yoshino- I guess that I'll be able to uncover the secrets to all of these questions eventually. Given some time to be able to research people like this Nozotsuki Kousuke here, Oriyamaru Ashina and that guy who are already there.

Kousuke- If he doesn't say something soon it's gonna start being really weird.

Yoshino- It seems normal. Within expectations.

Suddenly Kousuke's Aura disappears as Haruka pouts.

Haruka (throwing a tantrum): Big Brother why did you stop glowing? Glow Big Brother Glow!

Hiyori lifts Haruka into her arms.

Hiyori: Kyojuro dear. Me and Haruka will be in the lobby.

Kyojuro: I'll fill you in. But don't wander off.

Kousuke- This Yoshino still guy hasn't said anything yet.

Yoshino: It seems you Aura is not negatively abnormal in any way.

Kyojuro sighs in relief.

Yoshino: I'd like to offer you a proposal.

Kousuke: A proposal?

Yoshino: Nozotsuki Kousuke. I'd like to invite you to my newly formed Football Aura Division. A football division consisting of only Aura users.

Kousuke and Kyojuro: ...?!?!?!?!

Kousuke: Are you affiliated with The JFA or FIFA?

Yoshino: I am associated with FIFA. I'm responsible for generating funds for research on Aura Augmentation in Japan specifically. Basic Aura has already been studied extensively enough.

Kousuke: So I would be...

Yoshino: A test subject.

Kyojuro: ...Wait just a second!

Kousuke: Please father...let him speak...I want to hear this with my own ears before any decisions are made.

Kyojuro (hesitantly): Fine then.

Yoshino: FIFA has reached an impasse in regard to Aura and Aura Augmentation. 

Kousuke: An Impasse.

Yoshino: Yes. They're sick of players using it on the field and subsequently giving themselves an unfair advantage. They want to find a way to repress or even rid the world of it. But they're not willing to put all their eggs in one basket so they're using this research camp as a chance to give the world a version of Football tailored to Aura and Aura Augmentation users. 

Kousuke is shocked by this revelation.

Kousuke: And what if it doesn't catch on?

Yoshino: I doubt that would happen. But If so then a vaccine would become part of all contracts.

Kousuke: And what's your goal?

Yoshino (smirking): I don't really care about any of that. I just wanna see what kind of football will emerge from a bunch of monsters like you.

Kyojuro: Alright I've had enough of this! You have the gall to try to recruit my son for an experiment and now you call him a monster. How dare...

Kousuke: I need time to think about this.

Kyojuro: Kousuke...you're not serious.

Kousuke's aura flares up again.

Kousuke (adamantly): I refuse...I absolutely refuse to lose any part of myself that is mine alone...I will use this Aura, whatever it is to become the best in the world no matter what.

Yoshino- His aura is flaring up even stronger than before. Hmm it seems that we really know next to nothing about Auras and Aura Augmentations.

Yoshino: Why are you so insistent on this? 

Kousuke- That's right. Right now I know I feel the same as him...the same as Katsuo. I feel like if I lose it it'll be like ripping a piece of myself out.

Kousuke: It's a part of me. One that ... I don't want to lose. It's like ever since I first felt it...I've been bound to it.

Kyojuro looks concerned.

Kyojuro: Alright if that's all I'd like you to leave.

Yoshino hands Kousuke a paper slip.

Yoshino: Very well. On that paper is my address and Phone Number. Come to that location if you want to join. Call at least 10 minutes in advance. I'll make sure to make time for you.

Yoshino leaves the room.

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A week passes as Kousuke is walking on the street when he sees Ren with a dark look on his face as Kousuke walks up to him.

Kousuke: Hey what's up with you?

Ren (with a look of shame): Kousuke? ... It's ... we lost.

Kousuke (bewilderment): What?

Ren starts to walk away but Kousuke grabs his shoulder.

Kousuke (anger): Hey Ren. Don't you joke around! What the hell happened?

Ren: We lost to Sanken High

Kousuke: Hey I told you to stop joking around!

Ren grabs Kousuke's collar.

Ren (frustrated): I'm not joking around! We really lost!

Kousuke falls to his knees.

Kousuke: What the hell were you doing out there? You said you wouldn't let us lose!

Ren (ashamed): I ... just wasn't good enough.

Kousuke: What was the score?

Ren: 6-1

Kousuke: 6-1? How is that even possible?

Ren: That guy. he was definitely an Aura Augmentation user.

Kousuke: Then why didn't he get called out?

Ren: I could feel the intensity of his Aura. Dripping with emotion. But I couldn't see it. It was like it was invisible.

Kousuke: What was his Aura Augmentation?

Ren: I don't know but the ball moved in ways that shouldn't have been possible.

Kousuke: How many goals did he score?

Ren: He didn't.

Kousuke: What do you mean he didn't?

Ren: He just didn't. He could have scored as many goals as he liked but he didn't. He would always pass the ball to the team's Striker. I was completely overwhelmed. I couldn't do anything.

Kousuke: How did feel to go against someone like that?

Kousuke's Aura starts to show.

Ren: It was horrible. We couldn't do anythi....

Ren says this while turning his head as he sees Kousuke and his aura.

Kousuke (in awe): That sounds amazing. I wish I could have played in that match.

Ren-He looks so in awe.

Ren: Kousuke since when have you had that?

Kousuke: I ...

Ren: How long have you been using it? 

Kousuke: Wait a second I ...

Ren pushes Kousuke to the ground and stands looking down at him with contempt.

Ren: What did all of those matches mean to you? Was it some funny game using it?

Kousuke gets up.

Kousuke: If I had used this in any of our matches before then I would have been kicked off of the field. You know that!

Ren: I don't know that! Not since that last match so answer me Kousuke! How long have you been using it?

Kousuke: I only just got it due to my injury against Katsuo you jerk!

Ren looks at him in shame.

Ren: I ... Kousuke I'm ...

Kousuke: A damn asshole. I'm sick of your bullshit!

Kousuke takes his phone out of his pocket as he walks away.

Ren: Kousuke Wait I'm...

Kousuke: Yeah Dad, Mom? I'm going to be accepting Mr. Yoshino's offer. I'm sorry for popping this on you like this but...

Kyojuro: I did think it would come to this so your mother and I have already discussed it so don't worry. We trust you so come back and pack for it.

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Kousuke eventually arrives at Yoshino's residence. Yoshino welcomes him in and hands him a contract.

Yoshino: Read it and sign here.

Yoshino points to a space left blank for a signature.

Kousuke signs it and Yoshino guides him to a car. The car drives off and this continues until they arrive at a large estate where he is brought to a building. Kousuke gets out of the car and dials a number on his phone as the person on the other side of the line answers.

Kousuke: Mom, Dad, Sis. I've arrived.

Kousuke had arrived at a huge estate. The Estate itself had an pathway that lead on to a stadium. Kousuke walked into the Stadium seeing a cage surrounding the football field.

Kousuke- A cage? Hmm. Maybe to keep the crowd safe?

The seating wasn't as extensive as something you would find in professional league but it was still significantly larger than what you would find at a regular school.

Kousuke: This place is huge.

Kousuke heads towards the field picking up a football on the way and opening the cage door but a Man In A Black Suit stops him.

Man In A Black Suit: Mister Yoshino appreciates your enthusiasm to training but he would ask you to refrain form it for now and head to the locker room and get to know your team.

Kousuke: Of course.

Kousuke puts the football back where he got it and is about to head off when he notices another person had the same idea as him having come from a different entrance to the field.

Kousuke- Who is that?

This person was 18-years-old and 5 foot 5 with red eyes and short blue hair combed neatly. He was lean but had look that showed his lack of confidence. The Man In A Black Suit stops him and explains to him about going to the main house of the estate.

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To Be Continued

Next Chapter-Striker Team B