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When Naomi saw the figure in front of Hakuren Junior High, she couldn’t believe it. At first, she thought she had imagined it. Fubuki was gone for so long that the girl had started to worry that she was never going to see him again.
He looked different. The scarf the boy was usually wearing was gone. Naomi was so used to seeing him with it that now his neck looked unnaturally long. The girl knew how much Fubuki cherished his scarf. It was the only thing left of his late brother. Naomi thought that he would be devastated of losing it but the smile on his face proved her wrong. Especially as she realized it wasn’t one of his fake smiles. It was genuine. The girl couldn’t recall the last time Fubuki had smiled like that… She smiled back at the sight.
His neck looked longer without the cloth constantly covering it and, honestly, she liked it. That way more of his skin was showing…
“This is not a good thing to think!” the girl scolded herself and decided to look somewhere else.
Naomi didn’t miss to note the difference in his stance as well. He was always a part in everyone’s lives but the girl knew that the social part in him that was kind and smiling was a bit excessive. As if he was trying to emphasize that everything was fine when in reality, he was hiding something.
But when he was playing football the thing he was so desperately trying to keep inside always managed to break free, even if only when he was playing as a forward. Every time this happened it left Naomi confused. She couldn’t understand what was going on or why but in those occasions Fubuki looked like he was possessed. An immense anger and blind confidence in his superiority took over him and Naomi didn’t know where they were coming from. She had wondered whether it had something to do with his past but she hadn’t found the strength to ask him. So she just watched until she realized she couldn’t keep watching him like that. The sight of him becoming someone else made her sick.
The sight of him was making her sick. He was faking – he was never genuine! And she wanted to help him so desperately but she didn’t know what was wrong or why he seemed off and she never really found herself brave enough to ask. She had tried to convince herself that she was overanalyzing things but she never succeeded completely.
Naomi froze when she saw the look in his eyes. The sorrow that was usually in them was gone. Fubuki finally looked at peace. When she realized that, she felt lighter. As if some burden on her shoulders had gone away at last. Was she really that concerned about the boy’s well-being? Well, she couldn’t hide the fact she cared about him in a way she couldn’t really understand, but now that he was happier… Or at least more peaceful, she herself felt better.
Naomi took a step forward to greet her friend. She remembered the day he left to fight aliens. She was counting the days to his return and there he was.
“You look different,” the girl starting, the smile on her face widening.
“I feel different,” the boy mirrored her smile. “Well? What have I missed here?”
“Oh, nothing interesting happens here. You haven’t missed anything. You care to tell what have we missed though? I’m sure fighting aliens isn’t as boring as it sounds.”
Fubuki laughed – a sound that made Naomi’s heart melt. She blushed a little but her cheeks were already red because of the cold so she hoped he hadn’t noticed it.
“Well, it turned out they weren’t real aliens… I’ll explain.”
Naomi heard a loud noise behind her. When she turned around, the other kids were standing still with wide smiles on their faces. They started running towards the pair. It wasn’t hard for Naomi to realize they wanted to greet Fubuki and got out of their way. He said he was going to share his experience. The girl just had to wait a little for the excitement to fade and they were alone.
She walked towards the building, their voices filled with happiness reaching her ears.
---
“Focus!” the boy shouted. “Watch your surroundings but know where the ball is!”
Naomi was running through the soccer field. Her task sound simple – go to the other side of it while avoiding the people that were trying to steal the ball from her but she eighter kicked the ball too hard and it went too far away from her or stumbled over it.
After half an hour she could feel she was getting the hang of it. It was getting easier to concentrate on her movements which allowed her to control the ball. That made the other part of her task even easier.
“You’re doing great!” Naomi heard Fubuki’s voice. “Now I want you to try and score a goal.”
The girl kicked the ball but it bounced of the goalpost. A sudden frustration overwhelmed her.
“Okay, I think that’s enough for now. You can have a fifteen minutes break.”
As soon as they heard that, the others hurried to leave, leaving them alone. Naomi spotted their devilish smiles and blushed. Was her crush that obvious?
“I’m not that tired, you know?”
“This is the first time you play soccer. I thought that it wouldn’t be a good idea to make you train hours before getting the chance to rest.”
“Like you when you were fighting Aliea Academy?”
Fubuki didn’t say anything at first. Finally, he nodded slowly.
“I’m actually surprised you asked me to train you. I mean, you have never played soccer before and I know you used to watch our matches but then you just… Stopped coming. You started avoiding the field at all. I thought something happened that made you hate the sport.”
Naomi winced. Fubuki noticed it and placed a hand on her shoulder.
“What is it?” The boy’s voice sounded worried all of sudden.
The girl looked away. She had kept that to her for too long but now was the time to spill it out. She took a deep breath and faced her crush.
“I never really told why I stopped coming, did I? Well… The reason was actually you.”
Fubuki’s eyes widened with shock. He opened his mouth to say something but Naomi cut him.
“I mean, not you. Look, I’ve always seen the difference between Fubuki Shirou the defender and Fubuki Shirou the forward. Like, you need to be blind to miss it… And I am not. Not in the slightest. I didn’t like it. It just didn’t feel like it was you… And I couldn’t take it. So I decided to stop watching you play. With time my interest in the game faded away…”
Fubuki was stunned. He had heard a lot of people saying that the atmosphere around him was different when he was playing as a forward and yet no one really cared about it. And no one questioned it. But unlike them, Naomi hadn’t been indifferent. Of course, he was feeling guilty that the girl couldn’t enjoy football because of him but he couldn’t help but think that was heartwarming.
“Actually,” Naomi said, taking him back to reality, “neither one of you was. Both of your versions seemed somehow fake. But that’s not the case anymore. Now I know. The Fubuki Shirou in front of me is the real one.”
“You know what? I developed a bipolar disorder after my family died in a car accident. I was scared… of being alone. It took me a lot of time to find out that I hadn’t been alone.”
“And I didn’t really help you with that, “Naomi felt her heart shrink. “Watching you be in that much rage when you’re a forward and so much pain when you’re not, was scary. I just didn’t know what to do…”
“Hey, it wasn’t your fault!” Fubuki took her chin in his fingers and made her look at him. “You really shouldn’t blame yourself.”
They heard footsteps approaching. The other had come back after the brake was over. Those mischievous smiles were still on their faces…
Naomi could feel her face heat up. Fubuki, on the other hand, didn’t even flinch and pretended being oblivious.
“Well, – he said with a smile, “Let’s continue our training, shall we?”
---
Naomi actually enjoyed soccer a lot. She hadn’t expected it. Her trainings became harder and longer every day, but it was worth it. She had too much free time anyway.
But this time felt different. Fubuki hadn’t come to train her like he usually did. She hadn’t seen him ever since the previous day, Naomi realized. The girl didn’t like that…
Thankfully, she saw his figure during the lunch break.
“Where have you been? You missed the whole training! Today we played a practice match. Actually, two matches. And I was great, if I may say so. In both defense and attack. I guess being trained by someone who’s both legendary defender and striker has its perks…
“It’s been only three months since I started training you. You certainly still have a lot to learn. But… you think I’m a good teacher?” Fubuki smiled.
“Well, you’re the best teacher I’ve had!”
“I’m the only teacher you’ve had.”
“Never mind that!” Naomi laughed. “Tell me, where were you the whole day?”
“I got a call. I have to go to Raimon Junior High. And I don’t know for how long. I’ll get on the plane at five. I spent the morning packing my luggage.”
Naomi froze. She felt her heart crack. He was gone for so long and now he was planning on leaving once again. And why exactly? Because someone told him to do so on the phone? That wasn’t fair!
“Who was the one to call you?” Naomi asked, her voice suddenly becoming cold. Fubuki flinched but didn’t say anything. When he told her, she frowned. Her face darkened. “May I at least come and send you to the airport?”
“I-I don’t see why not.”
---
They were walking in silence. The airport could be seen in the distance. Naomi felt like a stalker – she was trying to be with Fubuki since his return. She wanted to make up for the lost time. And now he was leaving. Again. Naomi wanted to scream… To cry… Maybe even punch him in the face… She wanted to do something but the only thing she could was to walk beside him and suffer internally.
“What’s wrong? – Fubuki startled her. “You’ve been acting… unnaturally ever since I told you about that call. Are you alright?”
“Yes! Yes, I’m totally fine!” The girl answered too fast. It sounded so fake but the boy walking next to her didn’t say a thing. And yet Naomi knew that Fubuki was aware she was faking.
He really was. He had faked his emotions for as long as he could remember. He knew how to do it. It took time to become perfect at it. Naomi was terrible. He could literally see the tears welling in her eyes. Her mouth was a thin line. She hadn’t said a thing. And she was always talking. It was clear something was wrong. And he knew that that was his departure. She was always with him for the past three months. Some would think it’s creepy or annoying. But it wasn’t. He enjoyed her company. Now that Atsuya was gone, she was the one that made him feel as if he wasn’t completely alone. He was really grateful for that.
When they finally reached the airport he had to buy himself a ticket which meant Naomi couldn’t follow him any further. When he stepped in, the girl suddenly felt fear taking over her. She had been anxious this whole time, not knowing why. Well, she had finally found out. He was leaving and she was just standing there. She knew how she felt about him and at that moment she realized that she needed to do something, she could never be able to.
She placed a hand on his shoulder. Fubuki turned around, confused. Naomi grasped the collar of his shirt and pulled. Their lips touched. Naomi squeezed her eyes shut and waited for him to reject her. Maybe even yell.
Fubuki’s eyes widened with shock. She kissed him. She’s kissing him. What is he supposed to do? He closed his eyes, as well. He could feel his ears becoming warmer and warmer until they were almost burning him. He didn’t pull away. He did what his heart told him. He deepened the kiss.
Naomi hadn’t exactly expected such reaction. But she hoped for it. She let herself be taken in the moment. The time suddenly felt stopped. They stayed together. Fubuki was the first to pull away. Naomi looked him right in the eyes.
“I’m sorry I had been like a tick for these three months. The truth is I really like you. I have liked you for quite some time but I realized it when you left to fight Aliea Academy. And now that you’re leaving again, for God knows how long, I felt I couldn’t hide it any longer.
Fubuki silenced her. He leaned forward and pressed his lips against her once again. This time, the kiss they shared was gentler and filled with passion. Fubuki hadn’t really expected that from himself. He didn’t really pay attention to girls. He hadn’t really payed attention to Naomi as well. At least not before these three months. And he had to admit – those three months were so much fun and she had become an irreplaceable part of his life, but he hadn’t really realized just how important to him she had become. She was the one preventing him from wallowing in grief and loneliness. And training her felt so good! Watching her becoming better and better every day and having so much fun filled his heart with joy. He had realized he wanted to see other kids feel that way as well. Maybe, just maybe, at some point of his life he was going to become a soccer coach.
But that time had to wait a little. Because right now, he was at the airport with the girl he had finally discovered he had feelings for in front of him. She was smiling brightly at him. What a beautiful smile!
Naomi became serious again.
“It will be five soon! You need to get a ticket and get on the plane before it takes off!”
Fubuki hesitated. He looked uncertainly at Naomi. He had just realized his feeling! Did he really need to leave her?
“Come with me!” The boy said without thinking.
“What? I-I can’t! I cannot leave the school without permission! I haven’t even told anyone I was coming with you here…”
Naomi felt hot fears going down her cheeks. She couldn’t go with him, no matter how much she wanted.
“We-we can figure something out!” Fubuki sounded almost desperate. Naomi’s heart broke.
She took off one of her earrings. Then she took Fubuki’s hand and gave it to him. He looked confused.
“For you. So that you know I’ll be with you, even if I’m not…”
The boy was stunned. He was going to keep the earring safe, no matter what the cost. He looked at her one last time.
“Thank you,” he said.
“There’s no need for that. But there are only five minutes until five o’clock. You need to go.” shouted Naomi.
“But…”
“GO!”
The boy got serious. He waved at her for a goodbye and turned around. He ran to the entry of the airport. When he got in, Naomi let out a breath she didn’t even know she was holding.
“I’ve waited so long. I can wait a little longer”, Naomi smiled.