3rd POV
Endou: "Everyone, I have a favor it ask."
Everyone: "Eh?"
Tenma: "A favor?"
Kidou: "We ask that you keep it a secret that we're doing a revolution to Shirabe."
Everyone: "Eh?!"
Shindou: "Why only Shirabe-san?"
Endou: "Shirabe's dealing with her own problems at the moment, and we don't want to pressure her to know these details."
Mirai: "But..."
Kirino: "Isn't it kind of unfair?"
Kidou: "We know it's unfair."
Kidou and Endou looked at each other.
Endou: "But, we ask this as a favor."
Everyone looked at each other but eventually nodded.
Shirabe POV
I answer the phone.
"Kiri-chan, why are you calling me right now?"
Kirara: Eh? Is it a bad time?
"Yes... if I didn't have you set to Kiri-chan for my contact they would have found out that I was working for Fifth Sector."
Kirara: Eh~ sorry!
"It's fine, but please but careful from now on... anyway what did you need to talk about?"
Kirara: Oh it's about Raimon! Their next opponents are Gassan Kunimitsu!
"Hm... one of top eight teams huh? How perfect."
Kirara: Right~ Oh yeah, an old friend of theirs is on Gassan Kunimitsu too!
"Eh? Do you mean... Minamisawa-san?"
Kirara: Ding ding!
"Hmph, they're in for a treat then."
Kirara: Yup!
"Well Kiri-chan, I'll talk to you later. They'll come after me if I'm gone too long."
Kirara: 'Kay! Talk to you soon!
I ended the call.
Gassan Kunimitsu. Not to mention they'll be fighting one of their old teammates.
"I wonder how you'll get over this one. Hm... now that I think about it..."
I peek from behind the wall and look at Mirai.
"... Why does she look so familiar?"
Mirai POV
"A new member joined the club today."
I placed my bag down on the ground and walk over to Mari.
"... Mari, I've decided."
I sat down and closed my eyes, enjoying the quiet.
"I... am going to quit the soccer club."
I was met with silence and I gave a sad smile.
"I want to stay with the people I care about... and..."
I remembered all the times I spend here till now.
"... Sacrificing my own soccer to stay with the people I love is more important to me."
I stayed for a while at Mari's room then started heading back home. Then when I got home...
"Eh? We have guests?"
Aki: "Mhm. Endou-kun and Kidou-kun."
"Coach and Trainer Kidou-san? Waa...."
I could feel my eyes sparkling.
"It's like a class reunion for you, isn't it Aki-nee?"
Aki: "Yeah... brings back memories..."
"... U-Um, Aki-nee..."
Aki: "Hm? What is it?"
"Well..."
3rd POV
Tenma: "I'll get some Aki-nee's cookies! Excuse me!"
Endou: "Don't rush Tenma!"
Tenma: "Yes, sir!"
Tenma went down the stairs smiling but then stopped when he heard Mirai and Aki talking.
Mirai: "I'm going to quit the soccer club."
Tenma: "Wha..."
Aki looked at Mirai with serious eyes.
Aki: "Are you sure?"
Mirai: "Yes... after spending time with Tenma, Shinsuke, Aoi, Midori-san, and Shirabe... I realized I want to be at Raimon and everyone more than anything else."
Aki: "... Okay. It's your choice. When will you quit...?"
Mirai: "Probably after the match against Gassan Kunimitsu."
Aki: "I see..."
Aki smiled at Mirai and handed her a tray.
Aki: "Can you give these to Endou-kun, Kidou-kun, and Tenma upstairs?"
Mirai: "Huh? O-Okay."
Mirai took the tray and Tenma quickly ran back to Kogure's room.
Endou: "Eh? Tenma?"
Tenma had a face of sadness and sat down on the bed.
Kogure: "What's wrong?"
*Knock knock*
Kidou: "Come in."
Mirai: "Um..."
Endou: "Ah! Mirai, come in!"
Mirai: "Aki-nee told me to bring these cookies..."
Endou: "I see! Tenma is that why-"
Tenma: "Why?!"
Tenma ran up to Mirai.
Mirai: "What?"
Tenma: "Why would you quit?!"
Mirai: !
Kidou: "Quit?"
Kogure: "Quit what?"
Mirai looked away.
Mirai: "Tenma-san... did you hear Aki-nee and I talking downstairs?"
Tenma: "I did... but why! Why are you going to quit the soccer club?!"
Kogure: "Eh?!"
Mirai kept her mouth shut and had a sad look on her face. Endou got up and put his hand on Tenma's shoulder.
Endou: "Calm down, Tenma."
Tenma looked at Endou and then back a little from Mirai.
Mirai: "... Here are your cookies."
Mirai placed the cookies down on the table and walked away.
Mirai: "Excuse me."
The door closed.
Mirai POV
I quickly ran back to my room with my head down. As soon as I got into my room, I hid under the covers of my bed.
Tenma: Why are you going to quit the soccer club?!
"... I have no choice.... I'm doing this so I can be with all of you... Baka Tenma."
*Next Day*
*Knock knock*
Aki: "Mirai-chan are you sure you aren't going to go to the match against Akizora Challengers?"
The next day I stayed home. I heard about the match from Tenma this morning. But I ignored it and locked myself in my room.
"... I'm not playing in any match until we go against Gassan Kunimitsu."
Aki: "... Okay."
I could hear Aki walking away from the door. Tenma had already left to play in the match. I hug the pillow in my arms tightly.
*Ring ring*
"Eh?"
I look over to see my phone ringing. After a moment, I walked over and went to pick it up.
! "... Kazuya-nii?"
Shirabe POV
Endou: "Got it, guys? Go right for the ball today. Let's enjoy a game without worrying about anything."
Shindou: "A match without any consequences, huh."
Sangoku: "I've forgotten how that feels!"
Tenma: "This sounds like so much fun!"
Kariya: "Yeah."
Kirino went up and talked to Kariya about something. I looked to the right and left.
Aoi: "Hm? What's wrong Saegusa-senpai?"
"Where's Mirai?"
Akane: "Now that I see..."
Midori: "Oi, Coach where's Mirai?"
Endou: "Mirai?"
Coach Endou looked down before answering.
Endou: "She's a little sick, so she can't join the match today."
Midori: "Eh? That sucks."
Aoi: "I hope she's okay..."
I stared at Endou-san.
... He lied. But why?
I look to the team and noticed Tsurugi staring at Endou-san too.
Did he pick up on the lie?
A little unsure, I ended up just following the team to the riverbank.