Mirai POV
"Kazuya-nii..."
I stared at the name on my phone screen.
Why is Kazuya-nii...
I paused and hesitated but then answered the call.
"... Hello?"
Ichinose: ... It's a been a while.
I slightly smiled.
"A while? I just talked to you like 3 or 4 weeks ago."
Ichinose: Heh and that's not a while?
"Nope! Hehe."
I laughed a bit but then I became quiet again.
"... Did you call... to talk about my mom?"
Ichinose: No, I want to talk about you...
I felt uncomfortable.
Ichinose: Aki's been telling me what's been happening. Do you really want to quit the soccer club?
I frowned.
"... What does it matter what I want? It won't matter anyway..."
Ichinose: It does matter.
I flinched.
Ichinose: What do you want to do?
"I..."
Ichinose: Miria.
!
Ichinose: Don't think about your mom right now. Think about only you. Do you remember what I told you about Raimon?
"... I do, and you were right. Raimon is an amazing place to be at. But! That's exactly why I have to quit! I-"
Ichinose: If you really feel that way then don't run.
"R-Run...."
Ichinose: I don't want you to end up like me.
"Kazuya-nii...."
Ichinose: Don't be afraid. Even if the worst should come, that doesn't mean you're alone. You have a choice. You don't have to keep being quiet and listen.
...
Ichinose: Miria, your father would have been happy with what you're doing right now. He was always such a troublemaker anyway.
"... Dad was."
Ichinose: Your mother is afraid. But deep down, she would understand. So don't take fault for doing this behind her back.
"... Mom would understand?"
Ichinose: Yes. You know how much she used to love soccer right?
"I do... but those times are..."
Ichinose: They're not gone. I'm sure one day those times will come back.
I can only wish...
Ichinose: Miria, I have to go now. But please remember what I said okay?
"... Okay."
*Beep*
I put my phone down. Then look at the photo stand on my desk. It was a picture of Mom, Dad, Mari, and me holding soccer balls. I looked away.
... After everything that's happened, can we really say mom likes soccer?
"... Soccer's the thing that took away Dad after all."
Shirabe POV
Tenma: "That was so much fun!"
Shinsuke: "Yeah!"
It was sunset and the match between Akizora Challengers and Raimon just finished. Raimon won 1-0.
The way Kariya was playing though...
Tenma: "Shinsuke, that final goal was so awesome!"
Shinsuke: "Yeah, it felt great!"
Akane: "Here."
Shinsuke: "Hm?"
Yamana showed her camera to Shinsuke. It was a shot of his shoot.
Hayami: "Eh? That's a nice picture."
Akane: "I'll make a print for you later."
Shinsuke: "Really? Thank you!"
Hamano: "Hey, what about my shoot?"
Akane: "It was blocked, so I deleted it."
Hamano: "Guh!"
Everyone: *sweatdrop*
Then everyone started laughing.
"... Yamana-san's pretty good at taking pictures."
Then I spotted something or someone from a far.
Is that... Mirai?
I stood up and quietly stepped away from everyone. Mirai didn't seem to notice me so I called out to her.
"Mirai?"
Mirai: "EH?!"
Mirai screamed, luckily not so loud that everyone heard but then she fell down.
"How do you even..."
Mirai: "Ow... Shirabe?"
"Are you okay?"
I held out my hand to her. Then helped her up.
Mirai: "Sorry..."
"It's fine but..."
Mirai: "Hm?"
"What are you doing here?"
Mirai: "What do you mean?"
"Coach Endou said you were sick."
Mirai: "Eh?! W-Well... I'm not sick anymore, you know?! Haha..."
I totally believe that.
"Mirai."
Mirai: "Y-Yeah?"
"Is something wrong?"
Mirai: "Huh?"
"You're... how do I say this? Not your normal self?"
Mirai: "... What do you mean?"
"Well... something just feels off about you..."
The two of us became quiet.
"... You don't have to tell me. But, if you ever need to talk..."
Mirai: "Thanks, but I'm fine really."
Mirai gave me a sad smile.
"... If you say so."
When I was about to go back, I was stopped.
Mirai: "Shirabe!"
"Yes?"
Mirai: "Can I ask you something?"
"What is it?"
Mirai: "... If you had to choose between friends or family, which would you choose?"
I paused.
Why would she of all people ask such a question? Well...
"I would choose my family of course."
Mirai: "... Why?"
I turned away from Mirai.
"... Because family is irreplaceable."
Then I started to walk away.
Mirai POV
"... Because family is irreplaceable, huh? It's true but..."
Friends are also irreplaceable.
*A Week later*
I sat down in my seat in the bus. Things between Tenma and me aren't the best right now... but I ignore that.
Tsurugi: "What's wrong?"
"Hm?"
I turned to Tsurugi who I was sitting next to.
Tsurugi: "... You're acting weird."
"Huh? Me?"
Tsurugi: "Who else? Plus..."
Tsurugi looked at Tenma and then back at me.
"...Hehe. Are you worried about me, Tsurugi?"
Tsurugi turned away and looked back at the window.
Tsurugi: "... No."
"Hehe, okay."
I smiled looking at him.
The only thing not good about this is...
I glance at Tenma and then look away.
I think almost everyone has noticed something happened between Tenma and I.
Shinsuke: "Wow, look at that!"
"Hm?"
Everyone looked out the window.
Tenma: "So that's the Russian roulette stadium where we'll be holding the games!"
I watched as everyone looked excitedly out the window. I couldn't shake the feeling of sadness while watching them. So I looked down.
Announcer: The Holy Road that decides who's number one in jr. high soccer finally opens its Nationals tournament! Now, the strong players who have won the preliminaries are gathering here at Amano Mikado Stadium in droves!
This feels very intimidating...
Kakuma: I, Kakuma Oushou, will bring you the commentary!
Crowd: "Fifth! Fifth! Fifth! Fifth!"
Tenma: "Wow..."
Hayami: "It's like they want to impress Fifth Sector's dominance on us."
The crowd continued chanting Fifth for a while.
(Uwu Mirai's real name was revealed! I'm getting excited :D)