You can't force love, I realized. It's there or it isn't. If it's not there, you've got to be able to admit it. If it is there, you've got to do whatever it takes to protect it'

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Time Skip

It was Graduation day everyone was in front of the gym, where the graduation just took place. Ranmaru, Takuto, and other third years were being congratulated by their teachers, parents and friends.

It's been a year already, Ranmaru and Masaki's relationship was getting stronger, Ranmaru's feeling's for Masaki were starting to bloom while Tenma's love for Taiyou were getting stronger as each day pass by. For the past one year the fours bond with each other just gotten stronger, Ranmaru treated Taiyou and Tenma as if they were his little brother and always advise them when they're in trouble and helps them in any way he can, Tenma and Ranmaru formed a sibling relationship whenever one of them is in need of advice or trouble they asked each other on what to do, Taiyou and Masaki became each other's best friend always protecting the other two from dangerous wolves -I mean boys.

Meanwhile Takuto and Kyosuke dated for a few months before breaking up. Both understood that they are only physically attracted to each other and could never see each other as a lover or someone whom you would spend a long time with.

"Congratulations you guys! I'm so proud that all of you graduated under me!" Coach Endou said proudly.

Everyone was talking with each other on what school are they going to attend, are they going to continue playing soccer, and what they're planning in their future are they going to pursue soccer or not.

"Just as expected of you Shindou and Nishiki you guys are going to play internationally in the U.S.A and Spain" Hamano congratulated patting Takuto on the back.

"Yeah I know, don't worry you guys I'll try my best to play out there!" Takuto said happily, glad that everyone was supporting him.

"Yeah, we'll do our best and become one of the most famous soccer players in the world!" Nishiki added grinning at them.

"Your amazing Tsurugi you'll be able to play internationally at such a young age!" Hayami congratulated.

Kyosuke, Takuto and Nishiki were being surrounded by their teammates and were being congratulated for being able to play internationally, and encouraging them and supporting them to do their best out there.

But it wasn't only them that received an invitation to play abroad. Tenma, Taiyou, Masaki, Ichino, and Ranmaru also got invited to play internationally, but unlike the other two some of them have to decline, Ichino, Ranmaru, and Masaki couldn't because of financial problems and that Ichino and Ranmaru have no plans on being a famous soccer in the future since they already chose something for their career in the future, Tenma and Taiyou will go next year since they plan on finishing their junior high before going to study in abroad.

"Are you sure about your decision Ranmaru-nii?" Tenma asked for the hundredth time. As time passed by Tenma started calling Ranmaru big brother.

"Yes, I'm sure Tenma my decision is final" Ranmaru repeated rubbing Tenma's hair.

"But it's such a shame, it's such a big opportunity for you to play internationally" Taiyou said.

"Are you really sure about this? You might regret this in the near future, you know" Masaki added looking sadly at him.

As much as he doesn't want him to go, even he has his doubts about this once in a lifetime opportunity.

"Then you better make sure to never leave my side so that I really wouldn't regret doing this then" Ranmaru answered linking their hands together looking Masaki in the eyes making the latter blush at the statement and gripped his hand tighter on his.

"Yeah, sure" Masaki answered looking at the ground, Ranmaru giggled at Masaki's cute reaction.

"How cute" A girl said and saw Akane taking a picture of the two before walking away and both boys blushed at what happened.

"Speaking of playing internationally, how about you three? If I'm not wrong you guys got an invitation too right?" Ranmaru asked looking at the three.

"Yep! And we plan on going next year!" Taiyou exclaimed gripping Tenma's hand the latter doing the same.

"Man I'm jealous of you two you guys get to be picked on the same team! I wish that's what happened between me and sempai" Masaki said pouting at them and the three laughed.

"Surely, you plan on going to next year, Masaki" Ranmaru encouraged.

"Nope" Masaki answered.

"And why's that?" Ranmaru asked raising an eyebrow.

"I'm an orphan who will support me with money, Santa Claus?" Masaki joked rolling his eyes.

"Oh! I see, how sad" Tenma said a little sad.

"Looks like it's just going to be the two of us then huh, Tenma" Taiyou said lightening Tenma's mood.

"Don't forget about Tsurugi, Nishizono, and Shindou they too will play internationally" Ranmaru said eyeing the two. Tenma's eye twitched a little while Taiyou's lips twitch.

"Sigh... you won't be able to move on if you won't forgive and forget everyone's pasts mistake you know" Ranmaru advice and to prove his point he went towards Takuto who's still being congratulated by everyone.

The three of them were shocked, looking anxiously at what's Ranmaru going to do. They were avoiding Takuto and Kyosuke for a long time now, to the point that they weren't speaking with each other anymore other than when playing soccer.

"Hey, congratulations" Ranmaru congratulated smiling at him, the third years and the second years look at them, anticipating what will happen to their conversation.

"Thank you" Takuto said forcing a smile, Ranmaru reached up his hands towards Takuto and Takuto took a few seconds before shaking hands with Ranmaru.

"Good luck out there" Ranmaru said smiling at him with gentleness.

"Yeah I will" Takuto said a little happy.

"I forgive you, so you better forgive yourself for my sake after all I'm still your best friend, don't make me worry now that I'm not on your side anymore, ok?"Ranmaru advice letting go of his hand.

"Good bye, Takuto" Ranmaru whispered his name, but Takuto heard it perfectly and his eyes widen in shock.

Takuto stood there dumbfounded not knowing what to do, he doesn't understand but for some unknown reason his body felt a lighter like never before, his smile became more normal and not something forced or cold instead it got replaced by it's usual warmth, and his eyes that were looking at Ranmaru's back had it's old color back like his emotions that were once closed up are now letting out and is now shining.

'Thank you, Ranmaru' Takuto thought finally, and now without any hesitations or doubts he can finally move on forward.

Ranmaru went back to the three and amusingly looked at their expression. All three of them had wide eyes.

"What?" Ranmaru asked.

"Wow Ranmaru-nii, you really are brave" Tenma said in amazement.

"Or a fool, why did you forgive him sempai?" Taiyou asked looking unbelievably at Ranmaru.

"Why not? It's in the past already and besides I think they suffered enough already" Ranmaru reasoned, feeling guilty for making Takuto suffer.

"But sempai-!" Masaki tried to reason but was cut off by Ranmaru who gave him a stern look.

"No! This ends right here! Right now! We shouldn't hold a grudge on them forever or else none of us will be able to move on" Ranmaru said sternly, looking all of them in the eye seriously. Ranmaru walked toward at Tenma and stopped in front of him. He put his hand on his shoulder making Tenma look up at him.

"Ranmaru-nii?" Tenma look up at him in confusion and fear.

"Go to him it's time to end their- no our suffering, Tenma" Ranmaru advised gripping Tenma's shoulder.

"I'll go with-" Taiyou was cut off.

"No! Tenma has to talk to him alone or else he will never be able to move on, neither of them will be able to move on" Ranmaru reasoned, everyone was quiet for a while.

"But Ranmaru-senpai Tenma can't-" Taiyou reasoned until Tenma spoke.

"I understand" Tenma said looking Ranmaru with a stern and determined face and Ranmaru smiled proudly at him nodding his head for encouragement.

"For the sake of a better future" Ranmaru said added.

"For the sake of a better future" Tenma repeated nodding his head in understanding.

"For all of us" Ranmaru whispered smiling as Tenma started heading towards Kyosuke.

'For all of us' Tenma repeated, although it was a whisper Tenma heard it wide and clear.

Just like all the others Kyosuke saw the interaction that happened between Ranmaru and Takuto. He may have not been close to hear what Ranmaru said but base from Takuto's happy reaction something good happened. After a while he saw someone getting closer to him, his eye widened not believing who it was.

"Tenma......."Kyosuke said looking at him guiltily.

"Tsurugi listen-" Tenma started but was cut off by Kyosuke.

"No! Don't apologize Tenma! It's me who should be apologizing not you!" Kyosuke blurted closing his eyes clenching his hands on his side.

"Tsu-Tsurugi!?" Tenma called shocked at his reaction.

"I'm sorry for all the hurt I've caused you and I regret the things I've done. I've lost the first person whom I fell in love with and it was 'cause of the things I've done!" Kyosuke continued.

"You know if things hadn't gone this way we would've been together for almost two years now. Overall, it was a great year with you. You know I love you, I want you to be a part of my life, but I can't continue the way things are" Tenma admitted looking up at the sky, Kyosuke opened his eyes and looked at Tenma.

"I can't believe that it's been almost a year since we last talked. Time flies, doesn't it? I'm sorry that things ended up the way they did. I was hoping that you would agree that things are better this way. I hope I hadn't caused you too much pain, and also that we would be able to move on and start rebuilding our lives. When we were still a first year everything seemed so simple, and after we fell in love so quickly and after just a few months of dating we were together already. Obviously, we were still young back then and even now I won't deny that were still too young to understand what love truly is since we still have a lot of growing to do, we didn't even knew who we were, let alone who we wanted to be. Though it was a rocky road, things turned out for the best in the end, didn't they? We learned a lot about ourselves, and I think we're both a little stronger and wiser people now" Tenma said, letting out all of his emotions.

"Tenma there's nothing I can say to you that can repair the damage I've done to our relationship. I know that. I want to say that I made the biggest mistake in my life, that I'm the most stupidest person that ever walked on earth, that I was a fool to think I was unhappy with you, or that I had a lapse in judgment, but I won't. I can only tell you how sorry I am, and how it gnaws at me to know that I have betrayed your trust and hurt you so badly. I don't want to lose you and I never want to hurt you this way ever again. I know this can't be fixed with a mere apology, but I offer it anyway because I need you to know how sorry I am and how much I still love you" Kyosuke said, Tenma look at Kyosuke and smiled sadly.

"I wish you success in all that you do. Good luck as you continue to pursue your dream. I know that you can accomplish all of your dreams. You certainly deserve to" Tenma encouraged before walking away.

'Goodbye, Kyosuke' Tenma thought smiling sadly.

'Thank you, Tenma' Kyosuke smiled at Tenma's retreating form. For once in his life he's excited on what the future holds for him instead of fearing it.

"I did it" Tenma said happily, and everyone looked at him happily.

"You did" Ranmaru said proudly. Ranmaru hugged Tenma and the latter hugged back.

"Now all of us can move on without feeling guilty or regret" Ranmaru said a tear came out from his eye tightening his hug on Tenma, Tenma just nodded his and buried his head on Ranmaru's chest tightening his hug on him.

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'The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much and forgetting that you are special too'

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I know that this story is short, but please bear with me!