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Half a year.
It’s been half a year.
Season’s changing. From autumn to spring. Pink petals of blossoming yamazakura ornament the asphalt street where a certain auburn-haired girl is standing.
She is happy. Though she thinks to herself that happy isn’t enough to describe her feelings at the moment.
Then maybe she’s overjoyed?
Nah, even that more powerful word can’t thoroughly interpret the certain emotion filling her chest.
The thumping beat of her heart is still painful. Yet it’s a different pain. It’s not like the past 18 years of her life spent in fear and anxiety. It now feels brand new. Every day is brand new. And the reason for her throbbing heart is probably the excitement and anticipation. Before knowing it, she looks forward to walking through the days. Being free. Being her actual self…
Yes.
It all started after the downfall of the notorious Black Organization. The devils within the infamous organization are now forever gone. Though at night they still sometimes haunt her in her sleep. But dreams are dreams. They aren’t real.
The reality is they no longer exist.
The reality is she is free.
The reality is she is safe.
The reality is she’s no longer alone ‘cause she gets a new family. A big family.
She has never thought that she still has a family after all. Her father, mother, and elder sister were long dead. She was all alone. Who knows that she would encounter her aunt and cousins? All the time, she used to think that she didn’t have any relatives.
But there are Mary Sera, her aunt, Akai Shuichi, Haneda Shukichi, and Masumi Sera, her cousins. They all care about her whereabouts. Her new family.
Not to mention, she also finds a sibling figure for her; not to replace Miyano Akemi, her elder sister, but to complement her family. She now has not only an elder sister but also an elder brother.
Her bigger brother , Furuya Rei aka Amuro Tooru aka Bourbon. She chuckles inwardly remembering how she used to think of him as an enemy. She loves the time the blond man would sit and eat together casually with her and tell her about her mom, dad, and elder sister when they were still alive. She knows her parents and sibling better from his stories. She can’t thank him enough.
She’s also still befriended with Shinichi Kudo, and even, she starts to feel more comfortable around Ran Mouri, Sonoko Suzuki, Hattori Heiji, and Kazuha Toyama. They literally have become close friends.
And it’s also thanks to Shinichi that she managed to get herself a seat to watch the big match between Big Osaka and Noir Tokyo. Dressing herself up as a supporter of Big Osaka, she gleefully makes her steps towards Japan National Stadium.
Nearing the stadium, she witnesses crowds garnering almost in every spot. As expected from a national level soccer tournament. Swiftly, she creeps towards her seat.
Her seat is on the right wing; to be specific, it’s in the front and the nearest to the goal. Nah, it’s not the best seat, surely. But she can care less as long as she can continue cheering on Ryusuke Higo and Big Osaka.
In less than thirty minutes, the match begins. Shiho can see flaring enthusiasm in all the supporters’ eyes. All of the players from both sides are also tirelessly doing their best in offending and defending.
Thirteen minutes passed, and the first goal was made by Noir Tokyo. It’s 1:0. The tense is suffocating. Noir Tokyo’s supporters are still celebrating their favorite team’s first goal. Meanwhile, Big Osaka’s supporters remain calm and faithful towards their home team. And so does Shiho Miyano. She keeps chanting inducing words for her favorite team.
From across the goal, Sanada Takahiro vigorously brings the ball, passing it to his teammates. When the ball is headed to him again, he makes a direct assist towards Higo Ryusuke, which is accepted brilliantly. Higo is now sprinting in the direction of the goalpost, tackling some opponents in the process. At that stance, he looks unbeatable, unstoppable. Shiho almost forgets to breathe. She’s full of anticipation.
In a split second, Higo shoots the first score to the goal, responded by satisfied yells and merry leaps from the supporters. Higo alongside his teammates are making their goal celebration, running towards the supporter’s seats, tossing their hands to the blue sky above. They’re so close to where Shiho and some other supporters sitting in the front are seated.
“So cool!! Higooo!! Aaaaaa!!!” That probably is the loudest scream she has ever produced. Who cares? She cannot contain the bubbling enthusiasm inside.
The Big Osaka team are heading back to the field, leaving their ace alone in his position, still near the supporter’s bench. That’s the moment their eyes meet. Shiho stops herself from shamelessly screaming Higo’s name, halting herself from throwing compliments towards him. She is not sure, but it seems like Higo is looking in her direction. Their eyes meet, or so she is thinking. He looks as if contemplating something. A warm smile is evident on his face. Then he turns his back and dashes to the middle of the field. Shiho turns her head to the left and right and back to check whether there’s a certain someone Higo is giving his smile to.
At the end of the match, Big Osaka secures the victory with a score of 5:2. Three goals were made by Higo. That fact alone makes Shiho proud and jolly. The majority of the supporters start to leave the venue in the next fifteen minutes while the remaining stay to take some pictures. Shiho belongs to the latter category. She takes some pictures of the field, crowds, and herself. To be true, she is actually not fond of taking pictures, however, today’s an exception. She wants to save some pictures of the special day; the day Big Osaka defeated Noir Tokyo in the national tournament.
Ten more minutes passes; the stadium is almost empty. Only several people remain inside. Shiho’s still in her previous position, staring blankly at the now empty field. She’s just reluctant to go as she feels so comfortable sitting there.
She blinks her eyes when a silhouette enters the empty field. Bit by bit as the figure gets nearer to her vision, she recognizes who it is.
The figure stops a few feet away from her. “Yokatta . You’re still here”, said him, relieved. He offers a friendly smile to Shiho.
“Ano…”, he scratches his temple then continues, “It’s been bugging me during the match, but have we met before?” He inquired, his eyes full of curiosity.
Shiho is speechless. She’s not sure how to respond to his sudden question. Besides, her little heart is thumping like crazy in her ribcage to have him stand so close to her like this.
“Well, who knows?” She glances at the soccer ace in front of her and nervously notes, “I- I’m your fan, so- maybe you’ve seen me in the previous matches?”
Higo frowns, seeming bemused. “If that’s the case, but… I feel like I’ve met you somewhere else. Not during the matches.” He chuckles amusedly.
Higo darts his eyes to Shiho and remarks, “Fushigi da ne? ”
“No- Not at all.” Shiho deliberately responded to him.
“Please don’t think of me as a creep haha. I swear you look familiar, but I don’t know how.” He frowns again, looking contemplating.
Shiho hesitates whether or not to spill the answer since they’re still strangers to each other. Well, not completely, but for Higo, he only knows the little girl, Haibara Ai, not Miyano Shiho.
“Please give me time”, Shiho utters suddenly. “I’ll decide whether or not to tell you about everything.”
Higo’s lips form an approving smile; he nods his head. “Sure. Then come to my next matches, okay?”
Shiho’s eyes are sparkling, and a soft smile’s apparent on her face upon hearing the request. “Definitely.”
“Let’s meet in my next match”, said him firmly.
“Sure, Higo-san. Let’s do that.” A pink blush creeps on Shiho’s cheeks. “And anyways, my name is Miyano Shiho.”
“Shiho… What a beautiful name. It fits you perfectly”, notes him, beaming. “See you soon, Miyano Shiho-san.” He waves his hand zealously towards the auburn-haired girl before turning his back and exiting the field.
“See you soon, Higo Ryusuke-san”, whispered her cheerily.
END