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It's the little things that send him back.
A certain scent on the breeze pushes him to the spring of five years ago.
A grassy field pushes him into a life so unfamiliar it doesn't seem like his.
And the fan at this meet-and-greet reminds Momo of why he started.
***
"Um...do you remember me?", the male voice asks, reluctant to meet Momo's eyes.
"Well...I can't say I've seen you at any events!", Momo replies, nervous. The one thing an idol shouldn't do is tell a fan that they don't remember them.
"Oh, I didn't mean remember in a fan way. I mean remember as in a soccer way."
Soccer.
With just one word, Momo feels like he's in a tournament with the wind blowing on his face and the goal burning with his gaze.
"You're Sunohara, c-", the fan begins again, but Momo is quick to place a hand over his mouth.
"What's that, you want an autograph? Sure thing!", Momo quickly says, scribbling onto a board.
He thrusts it into the fan's arms and pushes him out of the line, happily greeting the next guest.
Yuki, tackling a line of his own, leans over to whisper in Momo's ear.
"Was that an old friend?"
"Not exactly..."
"Need me to take care of him?"
"No. I wanna hear what he has to say."
"I'll put my trust in your judgement. But say the word..."
"I know, Yuki. As expected of my little worrywart darling."
Yuki smiles warmly at him, and the men continue to converse with fans.
***
"Sorry to push you away suddenly, but talking to people from the past is a bit taboo in a place like this."
"I still want to hear what you have to say, though. Meet me outside this building when the m-a-g ends."
-MOMO (о´∀`о)
***
And the meet-and-greet ends with Momo anxious to speak with the person from earlier.
"Momo, relax. He really could just be an acquaintance who didn't realize that you are who you are.", Yuki assures him.
Momo takes a deep breath. "You're right! Of course my darling always knows what to say! Now, I'm gonna go talk to him!", Momo says confidently, and he strides out the door.
Immediately to the left, leaning on a pillar, he sees the fan clutching the board.
"Hey!", Momo greets, to which the fan bows his head.
"So, you know me, and I'd be lying if I said I remember you from anywhere in my soccer days.", Momo says.
"I'm Takuma. Back in high school...
"I was the one who injured you in that match."
A scene flashes through magenta eyes.
***
"Sunohara! Make the goal!", his teammates shouted from the sidelines and field alike.
He ran, the wind and adrenaline pushing him to run faster.
He approached the goal, which was blocked by a ferocious looking goalie.
He kicked the ball while clamping his eyes shut.
And then it hit him.
HE hit him.
Momose fell to the floor as he felt an indescribable pain burn his shin.
He heard the anarchy of the whistle that signaled the end of the game, screaming teammates and spectators alike, and the referee letting the assault slide.
That was Momose's last game.
Since he was injured, he didn't get scouted for any college teams
and his dreams were ended with a kick.
***
Momo stares at Takuma, who shifts under his gaze.
"So it was you. You're the one who ruined my entire life. You're the one who crushed my biggest dream. YOU'RE the one who messed up everything I had going for me."
Takuma falls to his knees. "I'm truly sorry! My coach-"
"At the time."
Takuma slowly lifts his head to look at Momo.
And he's smiling.
Not a hateful smile, or a mocking smile, but a truly warm and pure smile.
"Yeah, soccer was my life back then. But now, I have far more blessings. I have a wonderful partner, hilarious juniors, and a life I wouldn't trade for goals and grass.
"Thank you, Takuma. I know that it wasn't you who wanted to hurt me, and I know that it was a bad thing
but you changed the course of my life. And for that, I I'm grateful."
And seconds before, Takuma felt so much overwhelming fear and guilt as he stared up at the man who used to be the star soccer player Sunohara.
But he smiled at the star Momo.
"Can I buy you a drink? I wanna hear more about you.", Momo says cheerfully, and so the two men (and Yuki, who later joined them) drink and share stories like old friends.
And as Momo waves him off, he thinks one thing.
"Truly...thank you for everything."