Fourth Story:

The other night, this night, night after night, he just couldn't take it anymore. Nishikage couldn't hold his tears anymore.

Nosaka, who Nishikage loved so much, didn't care about him anymore. The taller boy would do anything for the shorter one, but it wasn't enough. When Nosaka needed, he would ask for his help, but when didn't, he wouldn't even look at him. And it started to affect Nishikage's mood. Every day he would wake up to see Nosaka with his new friends... and every night, the taller boy breaks, he's alone, again... or he thought so.

It was a day like any other. Nishikage was buying some drinks for Nosaka, he was very happy that he had found Nosaka's favorite juice, he couldn't wait to see the boy he admires so much, smiling. But... after buying the drinks, Nishikage walks towards where he had seen Nosaka for the last time, but he wasn't there. Searching a bit more, Nishikage finds him talking with Ichihoshi. But... it doesn't mean anything, right? The taller boy approached anyway, however as he got closer he noticed that Nosaka was already drinking his favorite juice... Ichihoshi had brought to him.

Again...? How did he know Nosaka loves that juice...? How is he so fast?

Nishikage kept staring, he wasn't too far, and eventually Nosaka noticed him, but ignored, and it was in that moment that Nishikage's heart... broke.

- Hey, Nishikage, can I talk to you? - Asks a voice behind the broken boy, who was too shocked to hear anything. - Hey! - They puts a hand on Nishikage's shoulder.

As he felt the touch of a hand on his shoulder, the boy woke up from his trance, and noticed who was beside him. It was Saginuma Osamu.

- Saginuma...? - murmurs Nishikage still a bit dizzy.

- Ah... I was wondering if we could train together a little bit...? Since we are both goalkeepers, and I would like to receive some advices.

- From me? - Questions Nishikage surprised at hearing this, it was the first time someone asked for his advices. Usually people would only ask for his help because he's strong, but he never received compliments for being himself.

And that's how it started...

...

They met at the stadium later that day, so they could train together. Since both were goalkeepers, they asked for Goujin to help them in the training, but it would be Nishikage the one to give some advices to Saginuma, or... this is what he thought.

The first shoot, it would be Saginuma stopping it, so that Nishikage could help him improving. Goujin scores. Saginuma gets up angry at himself, but he turns to look at the other goalkeeper, waiting for his opinion.

- So... Nishikage, what do I need to improve?

Actually Nishikage didn't pay attention at all at what had just happened, he was lost in thoughts, but he didn't want to let them know about it.

- Oh... right. - He starts. - Your timing is too slow, you should be faster.

Neither Goujin nor Saginuma understood this explanation, but they decided to try it one more time... and one more time... and... nothing, Saginuma just couldn't stop it, but he was sure he was doing everything just like Nishikage was telling him.

- This isn't working... - He says disappointed.

And just then Goujin thinks of something.

- What if Nishikage shows you how it works? Maybe if you see how he stops my shoot you can learn how to do it! - He explains enthusiastically.

- That's a great idea! - exclaims Saginuma.

And so they exchange places. Nishikage stands in front of the goal and Goujin prepares to use his hissatsu.

- "Fire Lemonade!" - He screams, shooting.

The ball goes its way towards Nishikage, and...

...and nothing happens. The goalkeeper didn't even move, and the ball entered the goal. Only when the ball rolls off the goal is that Nishikage notices it.

- I'm sorry, I wasn't fully concentrated, can we try again? - He asks.

Understanding the situation, Goujin and Saginuma consent, but... Nishikage wasn't able to stop a single shoot, he couldn't even summon his own hissatsu... something was really troubling the goalkeeper.

- What's happening Nishikage? Is everything okay? - Questions Goujin a bit surprised, he thought the goalkeeper had more experience.

Nishikage thinks a bit, he just couldn't concentrate in anything in the moment.

- I'm sorry. It's better if we train again another day. - He says, picking up his towel and heading towards the locker room.

Saginuma watches him go.

...

In the locker room, Nishikage seats on the bench and covers his head with the towel. The image of Nosaka ignoring him kept emerging in his mind, and he felt like crying.

Suddenly someone else enters the locker room.

- Who's there? - Nishikage interrogates taking his towel off of his head to be able to see.

It was Saginuma.

- Saginuma...?

The other goalkeeper approaches, he had something to say, but he was insecure. Nishikage lowers his head. In this moment Saginuma finds his confidence to talk.

- What happened back there?! - He asks.

The boy lifts his head back again, looking at Saginuma in the eyes now.

- You wouldn't understand.

Saginuma forgets his insecurity and turns serious now, he knew something was wrong with Nishikage. He puts a hand on Nishikage's shoulder.

- Try me. - He defies.

This was all new for Nishikage, it was the first time someone was worrying about him like this.

After a few seconds of silence, the boy finally decides to say something. Nishikage doesn't tell everything, only what he was feeling in the moment, that the boy who he admired and has been by his side so far... didn't need him anymore.

- And that's it... - Finishes Nishikage. - If Nosaka-san doesn't need me anymore... I'm nothing, I wasn't... I'm not good enough for him.

Saginuma awaits a little bit, but nothing else is said, so he decides to break the silence.

- Is that what you're thinking?

Nishikage shakes his head in consent.

- Then how do think I'm feeling right now?!

What? What did this mean? Thinks the boy confused. Saginuma didn't have anything to do with this, so why was he saying that?

- I'm feeling that I'm not good enough for you! - Expresses the goalkeeper, putting a closed hand on his chest, exactly where is the heart.

- What?

Nishikage was more confused than ever, what did Saginuma meant with that? How could he feel like that?

- I- I mean. - Babbles the goalkeeper, showing a bit of his insecurity again. - I've been working hard so that the coach would pick me to be the goalkeeper in the next match... but when Endou wasn't the goalkeeper, the coach chose you. I got very angry, I didn't understand why he would choose you... so I decided to watch you for a time.

Nishikage listens, shocked, but carefully.

- I understood then why he chose you. You don't show, but you're always working hard and training, doing your best just like everybody else, or even more than some of us... - He pauses. - I didn't want to admit but... you're a much better goalkeeper than I am.

Huh? What is he saying? Why this so suddenly?

- Nishikage please... I beg you to help me improving!

And just then Saginuma bows down to his teammate.

Saginuma's words touched Nishikage. He couldn't believe but finally he had found someone that believes in him.

- Okay. - The boy accepts.

- Really? - Questions the goalkeeper standing back straight, just to make sure his teammate was sure of what he was saying.

- Yes... - Nishikage, still seating, extends his hand.

For Nishikage's surprise, Saginuma takes his hand, but in that moment he pulls the goalkeeper back up, and embraces him into a never ending hug.

...

After a few minutes, both goalkeepers show up in the stadium again, Goujin was waiting for them.

- Oh you're back!

Nishikage walks in with a smile, which surprises the boy.

- What happened? - Goujin asks curious.

- Nothing. - Says Saginuma. - But we are ready now. - He says as Nishikage stands in front of the goal.

Goujin rubs his hair, he had no idea of what both goalkeepers had in mind.

- Let's do this. - Affirms Saginuma throwing the ball at the forward.

- Okay... if you're sure then...! - He prepares. - "Fire lemonade..."!!

And that's how, finally, Nishikage had found someone that he could trust.

-
-
-

Ehehe here it is!!! :D I hope you enjoyed this one-shot! It took me a while to do as inspiration didn't want to come ehehe 😅 But anyway, hope you enjoyed it! This was suggested by "Lemon's Queen" on Twitter, hope you liked it 💗✨

Don't forget to tell me what you thought about this one and suggest me more to write! 😊