Going to be a short "thoughts" chapter again because I need to link the chapter before this to the next chapter (which will be the match against Zeus) when everything comes together and unravels. It will either be super loooooong or have two parts like the Raimon versus Teikoku practice match.

Shizumi's POV

        Today was the preliminary finals of Raimon versus Teikoku. I was confident Teikoku would win after seeing how weak Raimon was last time, but something about Endou, and maybe Gouenji joining the team made me doubt our definite victory a little. Oh well, I'm sure they will be fine even though they still couldn't master Kuroi Hane Taifuu.

        Right now, I was sitting on the roof my house looking at the peaceful, beautiful ble sky. The top of buildings had always been my favorite spot. I still remember sitting on the roof of my old school Kidokawa Seisuu with my best friend the other ace striker. When I was there, I always felt as if I belonged, that I didn't need to hide my identity. That I could play on the same field as everyone.

        Today, I feigned sickness since I didn't want to face my old friend yet. I wasn't ready to tell him everything yet. But I will someday. I promise. Not just him, but Sakuma and Genda and even Kidou too, but most importantly, myself. I need to accept the fact that I could never really be like him. When I can convince myself that soccer was over for me and that I need to live my life a female manager, then I will tell them. You can't fight against genes. I had been trying so hard to defy god's chosen path for me for so long. Even now. No matter how much I try to convince myself, soccer is still my everything. I still can't see Gouenji as a boy, only as a best friend.

        If only I was born differently. Than I could play on the same field as everyone where my heart truly belonged.

Yeah this chapter pretty much revealed everything except the reasons behind them if you didn't know Shizumi's secret already. Oh my gosh, I can't wait to write the next chapter. I had been planning it for so long already. The match against Zeus has actually one of the first scenes that popped in my mind when I thought up this story.