-Quidditch World Cup International Match – Brazil vs. Japan-

Raindrops lazily drizzled down on the Quidditch pitch as the players from the Brazilian and Japanese Quidditch teams prepared for their match. There was a fairly good turnout and splatters of green and yellow or red and white were visible throughout the stands.

Each member of the Japanese team was proudly sporting a shiny new Kiji 1000, a recently developed, world-class racing broom by a broom company located in their very own Tokyo, Japan. The Brazilian team, who all rode older models of the Firebolt, seemed a little worried when they first spotted Japan’s new, top-notch models, but a quick huddle and a whispered pep talk from their captain, Keeper Ramírez, set them back on track and determined to win.

Japan started out strong, with the players falling into an obviously well-practiced formations, Chasers Takahashi, Sato, and Kudo maintaining possession of the Quaffle with bold, well-protected full team arrangements. The two Beaters circled the group, defending and deflecting rather than attacking with the Bludgers. Even more unusually, instead of circling above in the typical Seeker strategy, Seeker Hokkaido remained in the center of the formation, protected from Bludgers and members of the opposing team, but in a less-than-ideal place to search for the Snitch.

This unusual but highly organized strategy put off Brazil at first, who started with fairly useless attempts to push their way in by force by Chasers Rodríguez, García and Alonso, and attempts at direct hits by Beaters Ríos and Castillo, always deterred by either a deflected Bludgers or a blocking Chaser.

However, the team regrouped, and after a quick word from Captain Ramírez, Brazil was back in the game with a strategy of their own. The team split into groups, above and below the bulk of the Japanese players, and the Brazilian Chasers dove in for the Quaffle while the Brazilian Beaters pummeled them with Bludgers, aiming for the Seeker.

Japan scattered, shooting after the Brazilian trio to regain possession, which gave Beaters Ríos and Castillo ample time to direct both Bludgers at Seeker Hokkaido, who dodged one, but was hit square in the shoulder with the other, and toppled off of his broomstick to the ground, where a group of mediwizards immediately took him away to be treated.

The Japanese team, whose Chasers had managed to regain the Quaffle and score against Keeper Ramírez, had to bring in their reserve Seeker. However, while this was taking place, Seeker Sanchez spotted the telltale gold glint of the Snitch through the rain, and, with no one to stop him, darted after it and caught it.

It took the fans a moment to realize that the game had ended, but then cheers erupted from Brazil's supporters, and groans from Japan’s. The mud-splattered players descended, after a brief victory lap from Brazil.

Keeper Ramírez commented that: “It was a short game. Our practice clearly payed off, without any fancy brooms.”

Seeker Hokkaido, captain of the Japanese team, was unavailable for comment due to his injuries.

Next issue, turn to this page to see coverage of the match between Brazil and Italy.