Chapter Text
The whistle blew for the last time, signalling the end of the match. Like before, him and his teammates celebrated their victory once more. He might be able to see him, but he knew Mamoru jumped on his back and rubbed his head with his fist, laughing merrily behind him. Of course, being part of the team, he couldn’t help but be infected by the joy all of his teammates. Soon, both Hajime and Teppei and all their other teammates jumped on him as they all laughed and cheered to celebrate their victory over the other team. Genzo, even though he couldn’t see him, was probably smirking and crossing his arms; his own way of celebrating. He was “too cool” for such blatant show of emotions apparently.
But somehow, as much as he was happy that they won, Tsubasa couldn’t find it within himself to actually be happy about this victory, to feel like he truly earned this victory, to feel like he lived this.
Something was missing, he just didn’t know what that missing thing was.
“Man, that was one of the easiest matches we’ve ever had,” Hajime remarked as he put his arms behind his head and walked. They just left the soccer field and they decided to all walk home together. Besides, they were probably going to the cafe before heading back to their homes, as a sort of celebration, he guessed. But Tsubasa didn’t really know if he wanted to celebrate. He didn’t feel good about their victory. “I mean, I knew they were bad, but I didn’t think they were that bad. Like losing to us 11 to 0. Talk about needing more practice.”
“Yeah,” Teppei agreed, snickering. “I mean, they didn’t even look like they were junior high kids playing. It still looked they just came out of primary school.”
“At least they tried,” Tsubasa added quietly. And it they were wrong. The team from Shimoda was good. They were just… better.
“Doesn’t matter,” Genzo countered. “The fact is, we were better than them, and we need to be better than all of them. We need to take back the National Title from Toho this year.”
But still, they didn’t have to belittle other teams like that. They gave an effort to play and that’s all that mattered right?
“Hey,” Mamoru put a hand on his shoulder. “At least they weren’t as bad the Nankatsu Public Soccer team.”
“Remember when we beat them 30 to 0 back in elementary school?” Hajime brought up with a smirk. “That was so bad that it was so great.”
Tsubasa didn’t want to remember those times. Maybe at that time it was fun, but it wasn’t now. It just seemed ruthless. Instead, he tried to remember those distant faces that welcomed him easily, friendly smiles that made his own appear, and the voice of a little girl who never failed to show her support for her team.
“What happened to them anyway?” Teppei asked, all of them finished making fun of their “rival” team. “We never heard about them after graduating elementary school.”
“Yuzo and Shingo told me that they’re still doing soccer,” Mamoru answered. “Well, most of them are. The bald head, Ishizaki is still trying to make it big I think. They don’t really want to go into detail about it. I think they got fond of those idiots.”
Tsubasa remembered him. Ishizaki could be a little big-headed sometimes, but he had the passion at least. He could see how much the guy loved to play soccer.
“Why did they even decide to go to Nankatsu Junior High anyway?” Genzo scoffed. “They’re not going anywhere in that place. They’ll do more by just staying in Shutetsu.
“Well, you know how Yuzo. He didn’t think we’d need him since we already have you as a goalkeeper,” Mamoru answered. “And Shingo, being Yuzo’s best friend, just wouldn’t leave his side, so he went with him. He also said that we could always find a better sweeper than him.”
“Well, that’s stupid,” Genzo remarked. “He was the best damn sweeper we ever had. And Yuzo was still needed, no matter what he thinks. Those two are idiots.”
“Hey, I’m only telling you what they told me,” Mamoru shrugged. “Don’t get angry at me.” Genzo only glared at him before rolling his eyes and proceeded to walk on.
“And I think they said they wanted to do a sport that Shutetsu doesn’t offer. American Football or whatever,” he added.
“You know what,” Teppei suddenly said. “Enough about those monkeys. Let’s just go to Kenji’s and celebrate this victory. It’s not every day we get to defeat a team by 11 points.”
“As long as Genzo’s paying I’m in,” Mamoru piped in.
“The hell? I’m not paying for any-”
Tsubasa tuned them out and fell back from their group, opting to walk behind them.
They were his teammates, and they were his friends too, but for some reason, he felt isolated. He didn’t know when it started, but one day, he just… couldn’t connect with them anymore. He didn’t have as much fun playing soccer with them as he used too. It’s like they were too obsessed with winning and demeaning their opponents that they don’t know how to have fun anymore.
The scream of children suddenly reached his ears and he turned towards the river banks just to see a group of children playing soccer in one of the fields. He guessed they were from Nankatsu Elementary. Kids from Shutetsu would have played instead in their private soccer field instead of this field. He remembered how Shutetsu never did give back this field back to them. Technically it was under Shutetsu control, but then again if nobody was using them, they might as well use them.
He was kind of jealous to be honest. Seeing them play so freely like that. He wished that he could still feel the same happiness they had whenever he played. Nowadays, it was mostly the drive to win that was pushing him to play.
“-ou coming Tsubasa?”
He blinked out of his thoughts and turned to face his friends, who were all looking at him, waiting for his answer. They were a few distance away from him, and he realized he didn’t even noticed that he stopped walking.
“You okay bud?” Hajime asked him. “You’ve been looking that way with a blank expression on your face. What are you even looking at?”
They all turned to the soccer field, recognizing the field instantly.
“Hey isn’t that field ours?” Teppei asked. “What’s Nankatsu kids doing there? I thought Shutetsu’s been winning the competition. Why are they using it then?”
“Do you expect Shutetsu parents would let their kids anywhere here? Near the river of all places?” Mamoru remarked. “Even if that field was ours, no one would even use that as a training field.”
“Just let it be,” Genzo said. “We’re not kids anymore. Let them deal with it.”
The three shrugged and Hajime turned back to Tsubasa. “So you coming? To the cafe?”
Tsubasa managed to quirk to one of his lips up. “Not today, I think. I really need to catch up on homework. I’ve been neglecting it since I was preparing for today’s match.”
Teppei and Hajime booed from where they were, Mamoru only smiled in understanding.
“Suit yourself,” Genzo shrugged. “If you still want to come, we’ll be there.”
Tsubasa only nodded and soon the four of them began to walk, leaving him there. Once they were out of his sight, he turned look back at the field. Before he knew it, his feet moved on its own and he was suddenly on the edge of the field, and shouted.
“Oh that was so close!” he said, as one of the boy’s kick was too powerful and hit the goal post instead. “You know, if you just leaned your body a little bit more forward that would have definitely been in.”
They all looked at him dumbstruck, probably asking why in the world a teenager like him was watching them. Until someone finally snapped.
“You’re from Shutetsu,” he declared, putting his hands on his hips. Somehow the way he carried himself reminded him of someone, he just didn’t know who. “What are you doing here? Are you here to claim your territory?”
He narrowed his eyes at him, and Tsubasa felt that he recognized it from somewhere, someone.
“Well, too bad, because we’re not giving it up!” he declared, pushing his legs apart and crossing his arms. Most of the kids huddled closed to him, each of them having the same determined look on their faces like the one that he sported.
Tsubasa found himself smiling.
“No, no,” he chuckled. “I’m not here to take this field back. I’m not in Shutetsu Elementary anymore. They’re the one’s in charge of this, not us.”
“Then why are you here?” the boy questioned icily.
That’s a good question. Why was he there on the first place?
“I don’t know,” he answered honestly. “I just saw you guys having fun and I thought maybe I could join.”
That wasn’t exactly the reason, but the more he thought about it, the more it made sense.
The boy looked at him through slitted eyes, still wary of him. Tsubasa tried to think of something.
“Look, how about this,” he tried to negotiate. “I won’t be playing, but at least let me help you guys. I don’t even know anyone from the Elementary school. I’m not a spy.”
They stared at each other long and hard, before the boy finally gave in.
“Fine,” he said. “But if I even heard a word from those jerks that you told them something, then you’re gone. You hear me? Gone!”
Tsubasa only nodded while chuckling. He didn’t really know what a boy his age could do, but he’ll humor him. Besides he could see this kids have potential. He wanted to see them flourish, not diminish because snotty school kids forbid them to play on a public field.
The boys went back to their game and Tsubasa dropped his bags, running around with the boys. He didn’t necessarily have a set that he joined. After all, they didn’t even a full team to even make a game. So, they all just played keep aways.
And it seems, after three years of being in Nankatsu, he finally felt happy playing soccer again. He didn’t know what it was with these kids, but he couldn’t help the smile to form on his face as the boys tried stealing the ball from him. He couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled out of him every time he saw one of them manage to get a goal, heading his instructions and listening as he cheered them on. It was satisfying, sweating in his uniform as he watched the with their large grins and unending energy.
But most of all, he didn’t expect someone at that age to be able to keep up with him. The little boy that stood up to him, Atsushi, was trying his best to catch up with him, and doing it. Of course, he wasn’t at his best, but just knowing someone had the same drive and passion as he did for soccer was enough to make him feel alive again. At first, Atsushi was wary of him, but as they continued to play, he began to loosen up and soon, he was laughing and smiling with his friends and Tsubasa. He kept on playing with Tsubasa, and sometimes, both of them didn’t notice any of the other boys until one of them called to them. The two of them were having fun, and that’s all they cared about.
Atsushi’s friend’s meanwhile, didn’t mind. They knew their friend hadn’t been in the best moods lately. He hated how they never had a field to play in, and only Atsushi convinced them to sneak in and play in this field. They followed him, not only because they too wanted to freely play soccer in a field, but to let Atsushi let off steam. They might not be as good as him, but the least they could do is accompany him.
He’s always been their defender, and if Shutetsu kids were going to ruin it, then you bet their butts they’ll fight for Atsushi.
It was nice though, to know that this Junior High form Shutetsu didn’t want to get the field from them and let them play. It was even better when he began to play with them, treating them as real people instead of somethings to look down onto because they didn’t go to their prestigious school. And it was great when he finally made Atsushi smile like he was supposed to be.
So, when it began to be late, they didn’t mind the two of them as they continued playing together, the same huge grins on their faces as they left the two of them to play together.
When Tsubasa noticed the sun setting, he suddenly stopped the ball with his feet and looked across the riverbank, his chest heaving for the lack of air. It was that late already? He didn’t even notice.
“Oi, nii-san,” Atsushi called out to him as he peered up to him, also panting. “Why’d you stop? I was doing good too.”
“How about we stop for today?” he asked the boy, kicking the ball lightly to him. “It’s getting late. I'm sure your parents are getting worried.”
The boy blinked and looked around him, before exclaiming in shock.
“Crap!” he said. “You’re right. Mama will kill me! I haven’t even started my homework.”
Tsubasa chuckled and began to walk towards where he dropped his stuff. Atsushi chatted from beside him as they walked up the stairs of out of the riverbank. They continued to walk together, with Atsushi still talking about whatever that came inside his head as Tsubasa listened to him, answering and chuckling when he saw fit. When Tsubasa saw the street where he turned to get to his home, he interrupted him and prepared to say goodbye. He didn’t really want to but he knew he had to.
“No way?” Atsushi exclaimed as they stood in the intersection. “My house is near there too!”
“Really?” Tsubasa asked surprised. He didn’t think he lived by there. But then again, his house was closer to the Nankatsu Public Schools area than the Shutetsu schools.
“Yeah!” Atsushi gave him a toothy grin. “My parents own the best ice cream place in town! Those places have no say to what Papa makes. Come on, you should try one! Nee-chan should be there to serve you. All the guys like it when Nee-chan serves them.”
Not giving him anytime to answer, Atsushi ran from him with a cheer, dribbling the ball with him. Tsubasa tried to call out to him, but Atsushi was already at another corner, waving at him to follow him. Figuring that the boy would probably not listen to him, Tsubasa could only sigh and shrug his shoulders as he began to follow Atsushi.
“Here it is!” Atsushi exclaimed as they stopped in front of a two storey building. The sign the middle read “Sunny’s Ice Cream Parlor” in bold letters with a animated sun holding an ice cream cone with his hand. It looked nice.
“Come on, Nii-san,” Atsushi called out to him, running towards the glass doors. Tsubasa looked around him warily before finally following him gingerly inside the shop.
When he came in, he observed what was around him before finally setting his sights on Atsushi, who was standing in front of the counter, talking to someone.
And his eyes landed on the girl he was talking to, Tsubasa felt his heart skip a beat.
End Chapter