Araki Nakajima (16) and Hidēki Fukunaga (16) would be standing on a soccer pitch with packed crowds on both sides.

“So, you’re transferring next year?” Hidē asked. Araki nodded,

“Yeah, my dad got a new job so it would be easier.” Araki said. Hidē nodded,

“So, are you still going to play soccer?” Hidē asked. Araki nodded,

“Of course, I love this sport.” Araki said. Hidē smiled,

“So we’re going to take over the world together on the world stage then?” Hidē asked. Araki grinned,

“Hell yea!” Araki said. Back in the present, Hidē’s eyes would be widened in shock. Araki kicked the ball with the top of his foot. The ball shot toward the goal, the goal keeper leaping for the save. Hidē then kicked the ball out of the box, passing it to Dai. Dai dribbled the ball up the pitch, passing it back to Fujino. Fujino passed the ball to Okane. Okane passed the ball back to Fujino. Fujino passed to Dai. Dai dribbled up the left lane of the pitch.

“HIDE!!” Dai shouted. Dai kicked booted the ball toward the box. Hidē dashed toward the box. Both teams ran toward the box, defending or helping on the offense.

“Crap!” Masaki internalized. Araki grit his teeth. The ball then dropped toward Hide’s feet, just outside of the box. He’d control it with a touch, winding his right leg back. Someone then dashed toward the box. Hidē then kicked the ball with the side of his foot. The ball flew toward the top right corner of the goal. Kenji then appeared next to the ball. He jumped up to header it out of the box. Suddenly, Sumida jumped up to head the ball into the goal. He would accidentally hit Kenji in the chest with his elbow. The ref blew his whistle, giving Sumida a foul. The two would fall to the ground. Kenji fell to his back, lying on the ground. Just then Sumida’s back fell on Kenji’s foot.

“AH!” Kenji screamed. The ref blew his whistle once again. Sumida stood up with a worried look of shock. The referee walked over,

“What happened?” The ref asked. Sumida is breathing heavily, wiping the sweat off of his forehead.

“Uhm- I was trying to header it into the goal, we both fell and then I accidentally fell on his ankle…” Sumida said. The referee sighed, looking down at Kenji.

“Y-Yeah, I’m fine…” Kenji said. Sumida helped Kenji up. Kenji began to limp toward his position He was then starting to fall over before Yuki caught him.

“Hey! Tomoya, whats wrong!?” Yuki asked. Kenji’s face cringed,

“I-I’m fine…” Kenji said.

“Clearly not-”

“SHUT UP!” Kenji shouted. Yuki looked shocked,

“T-Tomoya…” Yuki stuttered. Kenji lied his forehead on Yuki’s chest.

“I can’t…” Kenji whimpered. Yuki raised a curious brow,

“I can’t get injured here… I told myself I would play with Araki during his last season…” Kenji said. He looked up at Yuki, tears falling from his eyes.

“I promised…” Kenji said.

“Hey, Tomoya…” Yuki said.

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“What…?” Kenji asked.

“You’ll do it.. You’ll play with the captain again… Maybe as an opponent or a teammate… You’ll grow from this… I promise.” Yuki said. Kenji smiled,

“Alright… Thanks, Yuki…” Kenji said.

“C’mon, let’s get you to the bench…” Yuki said. Kenji nodded. The two then stood up. Everyone clapped as the two walked toward the bench. Kenji used Yuki’s shoulder as a crutch. The two then arrived at the bench. Kenji sat down, starting to remove his right boot. He dropped it on the ground, removing his sock and taking his shinguard off. His foot was purple and heavily inflamed.

“Holy shit…” Hiroki said. Coach Sawa, Iwata-sensei, and Araki walked over.

“Thats not good…” Iwata said.

“Araki, we don’t have any substitute defenders, no?” Sawa asked. Araki shook his head,

“No, Kenji’s all we have.” Araki said. Sawa scoffed,

“Then we have to cancel the game.” Sawa said. Araki raised a brow,

“How come?” Araki asked.

“I can’t let us go into the qualifiers without a proper defender, I cannot do that as a coach.” Sawa said. The referee walked over,

“Should I end this game or are you going to continue with 10?” The ref asked. Sawa sighed, looking at the ground for a second.

“End the game.” Sawa said. Yuki looked at the ground in frustration. The ref nodded, jogging back onto the field and blowing the whistle three times. The players on the field looked frustrated. Hidē looked over at Araki, slightly sad. It would flashback to when they played their final game together. Hidē cried on his knee’s while Araki laid on the ground like a star fish. The score of the game was 1-7.

“This isn’t over…” A young Hidē cried quietly. Araki looked over curiously.

“I’m going to become the greatest Japan has ever seen…” Hidē said. He stood up, looking back at Araki with fire in his eyes.

“You can either do it with me… Or without me…” Hidē said. Araki looked at Hidē curious as his mouth opened. In the present, the Asahi Gakuen team would sitting on their bus. Kenji would be crying while the rest of the team sat in silence.

“Hey… Kenji…” Araki said.

“Y-Yea…?” Kenji asked.

“Don’t be hopeless while you’re out… Watch us…” Araki said. Kenji raised a brow, continuing to listen.

“We’re going to the top… For you…” Araki said. Everyone curiously listened,

“So… Will you watch us…?” Araki asked. Kenji smiled, tearing up once again but not from sadness this time. But… Relief…

“Thank you… Araki…” Kenji said, with a grin on his face while tears rolled down his cheeks.

“Of course, what’s a team that doesn’t support eachother.” Araki asked.

“Yeah! I’ll watch you guys to the top!” Kenji said. Araki smiled,

“Hey, what do you mean by ‘you guys’? You’re one of us.” Ichirou said, giving Kenji a noogie. Kenji laughed,

“Alright, Alright, us… I’ll watch us to the top…” Kenji said., laughing. Ichirou stopped,

“There, much better.” Araki said. The next day, Yuki would be walking down the hall carrying a box full of rolled up posters with Masaki.

“So… What do you think Coach Sawa will do about getting a new defender?” Masaki asked. Yuki’s face cringed,

“Hopefully it’s not his nephew…” Yuki said. Masaki chuckled,

“Haha, I’m surprised you still remember that, that was ages ago.” Masaki said. Yuki shrugged,

“How could I? It was traumatic…” Yuki said. Suddenly, Yuki bumped into someone, dropping the box on the ground and spilling the posters.

“S-Sorry!-” Yuki stuttered, bending down and placing the posters back in the box. Yuki looked up, seeing a girl with armpit length straight brown hair, black eyes, and freckles.

“Ah, Yuki!” She said. Yuki raised a brow,

“We know eachother?” Yuki asked. The two stood up,

“You don’t remember?” She asked. Yuki shook his head,

“It’s me, Abigail.” Abigail said.

“Abigail…?” Yuki asked. She sighed,

“God, give him a minute to think about it.” She said, looking to her friend. Her friend had long dark black armpit length black hair with bangs.

“There’s a reason I call him ballon brain after all…” Abigail said. It then clicked for Yuki.

“Holy crap!? Abigail Lozano, Abigail!?” Yuki asked. She looked somewhat dissapointed,

“Really, you recognized me based on your nickname…” Abigail asked.

“I guess… I can’t believe it, when did you move back?” Yuki asked.

“I’m here with my dad’s parents… Rest of my family are still in Colombia…” Abigail said.

“I have to say, your Japanese has gotten really good.” Yuki said. She smiled,

“Thanks, ever since I moved back to Colombia after elementary school I’ve been working on it.” Abigail said. The bell then began to ring.

“Ah, we’d all better head to class, lets catch up soon, you can come over to my house, my parent’s would be happy to see you.” Yuki said. Abigail nodded,

“Alright, see’ya!” Abigail said. The four then walked in different directions.

To Be Continued in SHOT;18…