Shirabe POV
Why did I do that?
"Why did I..."
I look at my hands.
Why did I hold his hands? Was it because he in pain? Or... was it because he looked like...
"...Whatever the reason doesn't matter. I shouldn't do that anymore."
Mirai POV
Aki: "He's late..."
"You mean, Tenma-san?"
Aki: "Hm. It's almost dinner time. He's probably practicing though."
"This late?"
Aki: "He has a match coming up."
"Oh, really? I should go watch it then."
Aki: "That'd be nice. I'll go get him okay?"
"Okay."
Aki-nee left and then I heard the a phone.
"Ah..."
I went to my room and realized it was my phone ringing. I answered it.
"Hello?"
Mom: "...Sweetie?"
"Mom!"
I stood up straight.
"What is it...?"
Mom: "Oh nothing... I was just wondering how you were doing. How's school?"
"... Okay I guess."
Mom: "Was it a bad choice to send you there? I knew it. Is the soccer club bothering you?"
"Eh?! N-No! Not at all! I'm just not making that much friends...."
Mom: "Oh... okay then, you're just shy but you said much. You made some friends then?"
"Hm! I became friends with this girl name Shirabe! Oh and there's Aoi-san, Midori-san, Akane-san, Shinsuke-san, oh and of course Tenma-san!"
Mom: "Wow... more than three for once."
I pouted.
"Mom!"
Mom: "Hehe, I'm glad you're doing alright though. It was good idea to leave you Aki as your guardian."
"Yeah... Aki-nee is really nice."
Mom: "...Sweetie."
"...Yes?"
Mom: "You haven't broken our promise right?"
"... I haven't. I want to stay at this school after all."
Mom: "Good. Well, I'll call you back okay? Love you."
"... Love you too."
*Beep*
I put the phone in my lap.
Promise...
I look at my phone. The wallpaper was a picture of Mom, Dad, Mari and I. I touched the picture.
*sniff*
I fell on the bed.
"...I miss you Dad...."
*Next Day*
Aki-nee and Tenma didn't come home till late. Worst of all Tenma came back looking terrible.
*sigh* "Tenma-san you pushed yourself too hard last night."
Tenma: "Come on, it's not too bad!"
I shook my head. Today I was coming over to the soccer club to make sure wouldn't push himself too much.
Midori, Akane, Aoi, and Shinsuke: "Eh?!"
Tenma: "Hm?"
Aoi: "What's with that face? It's full of scratches!"
Tenma: "Ah! I'm fine, I'm fine! Aki-nee made a big fuss and put all these on. I'm fine!"
Then Midori took off one of the bandages.
Tenma: "Ow!"
Midori: "Yep, looks fine."
"Jeez..."
I started taking out some bandages from my bag.
"Tenma-san, hold still."
Tenma: "Eh? Mirai, it's okay I'm fine-"
*stare*
Tenma: "Okay...."
Then I put the bandages on him.
Aoi: "You were practicing at the riverbank again, weren't you."
Tenma: "But I kept thinking about how I shouldn't be a burden to the upperclassmen today, so I just had to do something about it."
Shinsuke: "So you kept practicing until your face got like that? You really are a hard worker, Tenma!"
I smiled gently at Tenma and his friends. Then they started getting ready to leave for the match.
Tenma: "We're going in this?"
Haruna: "Yes, this is our transportation bus."
Shinsuke: "Wow! It's so cool!"
Haruna: "Now get on, everyone!"
Tenma: "Okay!"
Tenma was about to go in first before Shinsuke pulled him back.
Shinsuke: "Tenma!"
Tenma: "What?"
Shinsuke pointed to the upperclassmen.
Tenma: "Ah! Sorry about that! Please go ahead."
"Hehe..."
After everyone got in the bus...
Tenma: "Eh? Mirai are you not coming with us?"
"Eh? Hehe of course not. I'm not in the club."
Tenma: "Eh?!"
Kudou: "Kono."
"Eh?! Y-Yes?"
Kudou: "May I speak to you for a minute?"
"Huh? Okay..."
Coach Kudou took me a little far from where everyone else was on the bus.
"Are you sure you should be talking to me right now? The bus is about to leave..."
Kudou: "It's fine, it won't go anywhere without the coach."
"Well okay then. What was it you needed to talk about?"
Kudou: "... Your name isn't Kono Mirai is it?"
! ".... What makes you say that?"
Kudou: "I've searched the data base. I don't know your reason why you aren't doing soccer but... you're wasting your talent."
Wasting my talent huh?
"... I'm sorry Coach Kudou, but what I do is based on my wishes. What I do doesn't concern you."
I bowed.
"Excuse me."
3rd POV
Tenma and Shinsuke looked out the door at Coach Kudou and Mirai talking.
Tenma: "I can't hear."
Shinsuke: "Me either..."
Then Mirai bowed and left somewhere.
Shinsuke: "Ah, they're already done!"
Tenma and Shinsuke quickly went back to their seats.
Kudou: "Let's go."
Shinsuke: "Hey, what do you think they were talking about?"
Tenma: "I don't know but it looked like Mirai enjoyed it. I'll ask her about it when I get home."
Shirabe POV
I entered the stadium.
"Huh~ it's not so bad in here."
I didn't have seat but I didn't care.
I'm only here to observe after all. The match between Raimon and Eito.
I lean against the wall.
Shindou-san what will you do I wonder?
"Wha! Why am I thinking about him?"
I slap my cheeks.
"Stay focus..."
I look back at the match beginning.
Kakuma: Both teams are in position. Raimon Jr. High has a new midfielder, Matsukaze Tenma along with a new defender, Nishizono Shinsuke. What kind of plays will they show us?
Raimon's supposed to lose this match. 3-0 I believe.
Kakuma: The first half has now started with Raimon's kickoff.
Kurama: "Shindou!"
Shindou: "Hamano!"
Hamano: "Minamisawa-san!"
Kakuma: Raimon quickly connects their passes as they head up! Minamisawa heads up! Minamisawa dodges a charge from Eito Academy! Are they going to make it like this?
Kakizaki: "Thief Eye!"
Minamisawa: "Tch."
Kakuma: The ball is stolen from Minamisawa! This is amazing! It's a harsh clashing of power! Both teams are facing a completely even battle!
Sure. Let's just say that.
Kakuma: Oh, the pass to Kurama has connected! Will Kurama make it past the others? The ball's been stolen!
I must admit their acting skills are quite good.
Kakuma: The unified attack and defense continue! #7 from Eito Academy, Fukuro, makes a nice cut!
It's probably #9.
Fukuro: "Yukiji!"
Yukiji: "Perfect Course!"
Sangoku: "Burning Catch! ..."
Kakuma: Goal! Eito Academy gets the first point!
Sangoku-senpai looks frustated.
Tenma: "It's okay, Senpai! It's still one point! We'll catch up to them! The two of us will try our best, too! Right, Shinsuke?"
Shinsuke: "Yeah!"
"Tch! Even if he doesn't know anything it's still annoying."