The fateful morning of the Soccer Tournament had begun. The whole team was gathered together, awaiting their names to be called.
Everybody was understandably nervous, but Axel more so than the others. Mark happily reassured him that he had nothing to worry about, and that his skill at the game was unparalleled. But little did Mark know, it was not his skill at the game that worried Axel.
It was his last school. He knew that they had qualified for the tournament. He wasn't ready to see his old team. Not after what they had done to him.
He said nothing though, and just listened to the rest of the teams idle chitchat. He was glad that Mark wouldn't hold his hand on front of everybody, so he wouldn't know how clammy it truly was.
The silver haired boy had to stay calm and collected, for his reputation, for soccer, and most importantly, for Mark.
Even though he knew that they wouldn't be here today, knowing that he had to see them soon was like multiple kicks in the gut.
********
The night of the fateful match against Shruiken High, Mark and Axel were together on top of the tower.
"I've always loved the view here,"Mark smiled.
Axel took Mark's right hand that had been slightly injured in the game, and kissed it.
Mark giggled. "Now I can never take this bandage off!"
"If you wanted me to kiss your hand everyday, Mark, all you had to do was ask!"Axel grinned. "No need to be unsanitary!"
They gazed into each others eyes again, and Axel couldn't help but wonder what could possibly be so bad about their relationship going public. He really liked Mark. It wouldn't be so bad letting the rest of the team know...
But then he thought back to his last school. When the team found out that he was gay. Those homophobic bastards who thought it was ok to vandalise Axel's locker and purposely leave him out of practice even though he was their best player. Who outed him to the whole school.
Axel was nothing but relieved when he got to change schools, but he hated that it had to come at the cost of his sister going to hospital.
The only thing that would make his life any better at the moment was his little sister waking up.
"What are you thinking about, Blaze?"Mark asked jokingly.
"Who said you could call me that?"Axel laughed, feigning offence but both boys could tell that he wasn't. "I was just thinking that my sister would love you."
Mark blushed. "You'd introduce me to her?"
Axel held Marks other hand and he pulled him in closer to his body.
"Of course. You're like my second favourite person,"Axel said.
"Aww. Who knew you could be this sweet, Axel?"Mark smiled.
Axel's sweetness even shocked himself these days. But he still couldn't help but worry about when the day came that he would have to face his old team again. The day that was looming closer and closer with each match that Raimon won.