"Wow... This is a really big park!"
"You've never been here before?"
"I've passed by it a few times, but I never actually went in."
"I kinda figured since you're usually at the riverbank, which is at the other side of town."
"Ahahaha..."
Raimon had won against Kaiou Academy in the finals of the district preliminaries, and was moving up in the national tournament. Not only had they beaten Gassan Kunimitsu, Hakuren, and Kidokawa Seishuu, but their numbers had also increased with Ichino Nanasuke, Aoyama Shunsuke, Kariya Masaki, Kageyama Hikaru, and Nishiki Ryouma joining the team.
That made Fifth Sector wary and they were sent away for a 'training camp', to a place known as God Eden. After fighting against their strongest team, Zero, and spreading their revolution even there, they found their way back home. As of this moment, they had just arrived back at Inazuma Town.
"But this place is even bigger than the field at the riverbank!"
"It's where a lot of families gather to have picnics and play, so what do you expect?"
"Oh, I guess you're right."
Haruna's gaze fell on their relaxed expressions. "Alright, then how about we all take a break here before heading home?"
Tenma's ears perked up. "Like a club picnic?"
"Exactly!"
The three managers turned to each other with large smiles. They opened their bags and laid out several cloth blankets under a tree.
"Good thing we brought these." Midori stated. "We couldn't use them on that island, but now I'm glad that they didn't turn out to be a waste of space."
"You mean you were hoping we'd have a picnic at a Fifth Sector training facility?"
"Nishiki! If you don't shut up, you're not getting any food!"
"What?! Oh, come on! That's just evil!"
"Okay, everyone! Just make yourselves comfortable." Haruna smiled as some of them already began to make their way to the picnic blankets. "The managers and I will get some snacks for you all."
"Any requests?" Aoi already had a notepad out and soon, she was scribbling lots and lots of notes.
Shinsuke smiled as he watched the girls leave. "Miss Otonashi is really nice."
Shindou nodded. "Yeah. We were only looking around. I didn't think she'd suggest a picnic so suddenly."
"You kids must be tired after all." Kidou commented. He had come to Raimon under the resistance's orders for him to be their trainer. And after the match against Hakuren, when Endou had received a tip from Fubuki Shirou and left to investigate Fifth Sector, Teikoku's commander was put in charge as their new coach. "She'd want you to properly relax after that long boat trip."
Tenma laid down, closing his eyes as took a deep breath before sighing wistfully. "The air sure is nice... Don't you think, Tsurugi?" He blinked when he didn't get a reply. "Tsurugi?"
"He's over there." Kariya pointed at the navy haired boy, who was standing just a little bit away from them.
"Is he spacing out?" Sangoku asked.
"That'll be a first." Kurumada chuckled.
Tenma walked up to him and followed his gaze. "Are you watching them play?" He remained silent.
Amagi laughed at that. "Tsurugi has a soft spot for kids? Who knew?"
A pair of kids were passing the ball to each other, laughing without a care. They were even trying to imitate some popular moves.
This feels too familiar...
"Nii-chan! Nii-chan! Watch this!" As the ball was passed to the younger boy, he started spinning. "Bakunetsu Screw! Ah―" The ball bounced off his lifted foot as he tripped. It flew all the way to the top of the tree.
Way too familiar...
"Oh no..."
Seeing his elder brother sigh, he got up and ran for the tree. "Nii-chan, I'll go get it!"
Tsurugi's head snapped up. "Don't―" Something flew past him, curving upwards and knocking the ball out of the tree. The ball landed in his hands, while the other object, which also turned out to be a soccer ball, went back to where it came from. From the corner of his eye, he spotted a familiar pink hoodie. "You're..."
"You should give them back their ball first." She pointed at the two children who were staring up at him nervously.
He sighed, knowing full well his facial features are probably what they found scary. He handed the ball to the younger one with a short note. "Climbing trees is dangerous."
"O-Okay!" The two went to the girl next, bowing. "Thank you!" And they headed for a more open area to continue playing.
"Good thing you guys had one with you." Her comment earned the attention of both boys. She kicked the ball gently towards the brunette. "Thanks for letting me borrow it."
"Kimiko!" Tenma, having caught it, was going to run over to her, but Tsurugi caught the collar of his tracksuit, stopping him. "Tsurugi?" He simply stared at her.
She lifted her hoodie off and showed him a rather stiff smile. "Is it safe to assume Hakuryuu told you?"
His eyes narrowed. "You're saying he's right?"
"Well, he's not exactly wrong."
"What's going on?" All the others had stopped their chatter to watch the two. Shinsuke was the one who asked.
Kirino blinked. "Kimiko, you're back from overseas?"
"'Overseas', huh? I guess, in a sense, that's true―"
"Why are you still with Fifth Sector?" His question caught them all off guard. "Ever since the match against Teikoku, you've been spending your time at God Eden, training. Kuroki-san was supervising you the entire time, and you were also watching our match against Zero."
"She was?!"
"Where?!"
"It was kinda hard to tell with everyone there wearing the same clothes..."
She ignored all their extra comments. "You joined Fifth Sector to get something in return. My situation isn't as simple as that."
Simple?! He did his best to suppress his anger. Even if the words hurt, he knew she couldn't have meant it that way. She was taunting him, making herself out to be the villain. Just as he did before.
Gritting his teeth, he continued to press on. "You were the one who kept pushing for me to stop. And now that I have, I found out that you're still there yourself. What the hell is it that you're trying to do? What kind of 'situation' is making you do this, because I know you've been supportive of Matsukaze's soccer from the start."
Tenma's eyes widened. A memory of that time they first started practicing Ultimate Thunder came to mind.
"Then, I'll ask you this in return." She seemed to be a little out of breath. "Who matters more to you? Your friends or your family?"
Now, he was the one caught off guard. "What...?" Uncertainty flashed through his eyes. He'd never admit it out loud, but he had fully accepted the Raimon soccer club as his friends. However, he absolutely won't deny that his brother is important to him. With that said, he wouldn't sacrifice one for the other. He had no reason to either.
"Right. You don't." Her words brought his attention back. "You have no reason to choose between them because they're all on the same side. The side of true soccer."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Kyousuke, how long have we been friends? Seven years?" Her smile was weak. Fake. "Have you ever wondered why, even though we've known each other for so long, I've never invited you over to my place, or even told you where I lived? Have you ever wondered why, despite the many times I've chatted with your family, I've never even introduced you to mine?"
... He hadn't. Not until now.
"Do you know why I could so easily bring you to Fifth Sector back then?"
...You're kidding me.
She heaved. "Kyousuke, what do you think my last name is?"
Silence.
Footsteps came from behind him. A large pair of green goggles came into view. "It's Ishido."
"Kidou Yuuto-san, it's nice to see you again." She didn't bother to hide her sarcasm. "Had fun torturing children lately? Oh wait, no, you call it 'training'."
All eyes turned to the man, who seemed more than a little troubled. "... I like to think the person who sent you to me knew what I would've done under those orders."
"Not wrong. I know in the end, it's supposed to be for my own good." She huffed. "Well, whatever. Compared to recent weeks, it wasn't that bad anyway."
"Kimiko..." Tenma had a worried look on her face. "You're related to the Holy Emperor? That's why you're helping him?"
"Blood is thicker than water, Tenma."
"But... you're adopted..." He slapped his mouth shut, realizing how insensitive his words were.
Tsurugi raised an eyebrow at him. "You know about that?"
"S-She told me..." He bowed. "Sorry! I didn't mean―!"
"Don't worry about it. Actually, you just made my point for me." She stated. "Imagine having absolutely nothing. You're just thrown into an unfamiliar area with no memories, and no clues of who you really are... How many people are kind enough to take you in that state? I don't think there's many." She took a deep breath. "I owe Ishido Shuuji and the rest of his relatives for that. I can't just turn my back on them after everything they've done for me."
Tsurugi's eyes narrowed. Even if the things they did hurt you 'til you cried?
She didn't reply to that thought.
"Then, why did you support Raimon?" Shindou asked. "Why did you support our fight for real soccer?"
"... It's stupid."
"Huh?"
"No, it's selfish. It's selfish of me to think I could..." She bit her lip. Slowly, her hands reached to the back of her neck. Unfastening the clasp, she lifted the pendant from under her shirt. It was of a soccer ball surrounded by rings of flame.
Tsurugi's eyes widened. "That's..."
"I don't deserve this." She threw it to his feet.
"Hey!" Too late. With her back turned to him, she was gone.
"Kimiko..." Tenma's worry was clear in his eyes. His gaze went down to the navy haired boy kneeling to pick up the necklace. "Tsurugi..."
He stared at it for a good while before standing back up and shoving both hands in his pockets. "I'm going to visit my brother." Without waiting for a reply, he spun on his heel and walked towards the gates.
Kidou, seeing the brunette in distraught, placed a hand on his shoulder. "Leave him for now. You'll see him again next practice."