A girl was staring down two boys in the middle of the park.

"Just looking at you makes me irritated!"

"E-Eh?"

"You can't even kick the ball properly! You missed so far it hit my head! And I was behind you!"

"S-Sorry...?" One of the boys apologized awkwardly. The other was chuckling behind him.

She huffed before her attention was caught by someone by the entrance. "When you're going to pass it to someone, you should pay attention to that person. You can't aim if you keep looking at the ball." With that note, she passed the ball to the boy as an example before leaving, ignoring the boy's thanks.

~~~~~

"Was that...?"

Yuuichi gave a slow nod. "How we first met Kimiko, yeah."

"Why are we seeing this?" Yuuka asked.

Zanark, who hadn't relinquished control of the machine, much to Rei Rukh's annoyance (His expression remained the same so no one could really tell, but they all assume he is), was the one to reply. "I can see it in your faces after what we saw before. You want to know why she chose him over you, right? What makes him better than her own family? And just how much have they done and are willing to do for each other? This is the fastest way to see it all."

"Is it... really okay for us to see all this?"

"Tsurugi himself said to do whatever we want."

"Well, yeah, but... Yuuichi-san?"

The older boy gave a single shoulder shrug. "I don't mind. And if we're going by chronological order for all the important things that happened, I assume next would be the accident?"

"Yup."

"That day was an important one for all of us. If there's any memory that'll help make anyone understand, it's that. So go right ahead."

"I thought you'd say that."

And the next memory played.

~~~~~

From the park, to the hospital, to his home. Each scene lasted for only a moment, but a lot of them felt at least a little of the pain the three did. The next week came, and the girl sat for a long while at the park before going to his home.

Entering his room, she reached out, patting his shoulder. "Kyousuke?"

"I don't feel like going to the park anymore..."

"Okay... Then, what about the riverbank? No one uses it on the weekends."

"I... I don't want to play anymore..."

"W-What?! But what about your dreams? Don't you want to be like Gouenji-san? You can't just give up on them! You've improved a lot since I first met you!"

"I want to make them come true with nii-chan! If anyone deserves to be playing in the world tournament, it's nii-chan!"

~~~~~

"Ah..."

"I..."

"..."

"Yuuichi-san...?"

"Continue to the next one, Zanark."

The green haired boy didn't need to be told twice.

~~~~~

Perhaps a year had passed.

The young boy remained cooped up in his room as his friend closed the door behind her. Just as she reached the bottom of the steps, the boy's mother called out to her, offering cookies for her to take home. From there, a whole other topic started in their conversation, all that the boy happened to hear from the other hall.

"Lots of bad things happened to my relatives when they were younger, so they're all just worried for my safety." She said. "But I never thought Kyousuke would be in a similar spot, just for different reasons..."

"Do your parents work out of town a lot too?" His mother asked.

"They do. Most of the time, they even go abroad. I have my brother to keep me company at home, but after meeting Kyou and Yuu-san, I just started looking forward to coming here more. I mean, it doesn't bother me that I'm adopted, but... I guess... being more than ten years younger than everyone you knew... started getting a little lonely."

"That is quite the gap..."

"Mm. That's why I'll keep coming over every weekend. It's not just for Kyousuke, but for me too."

"Kimiko..."

"It kind of hurts that he doesn't ever say anything unless he needs help with homework now... but I promise I'll always be there for Kyousuke, whenever and wherever he needs me! So, don't worry! If he didn't have any friends before, then I'll be the first and the best friend he'll ever have!"

His mother chuckled. "I think you already are."

At that moment, her smile shone brighter than it ever had before.

~~~~~

"Ah... So that's why..."

"Aoi?"

"... Mom, why?"

"Eh? Isn't this a good thing? Why is Yuuichi-san facepalming?"

"I think we just found the reason why Kimiko is so clueless..."

~~~~~

"Huh?! A nine-year-old?! You can't be serious, Takiko!"

"It's her, or we play with ten members. Deal with it, Hifuo! She'll be playing in Soru's place as a striker, along with Tsurugi."

"At the front too?! Are we really going to leave the scoring to the youngest member of the club and some stranger that's even younger than him?!"

"She's been friends with Tsurugi for who-knows-how-long. For all we know, she's as good at soccer as he is! Besides, pairing them up is the best way to go. This way, the rest of us won't have to exert too much energy to get used to her."

~~~~~

"Oh wow..."

"His teammates from elementary?"

"They don't seem very nice..."

"... I felt bad when his parents told us about how Tsurugi didn't have any friends back then, but now, I'm kind of grateful..."

"Yeah, no one needs people like that."

Yuuichi had a small smile. "He knows. Back then, he firmly believed Kimiko was the only one he needed."

"... Kimiko too." Masato spoke up for the first time since they began this series of time-skimming. "I'm sure she thinks Tsurugi is the only one she needs... Yuuichi too if I have to stretch it."

"You don't."

~~~~~

"Huh? No hissatsu techniques?"

"You can't even use Fire Tornado?!"

"Are you sure you're related?"

"Why won't you give me his number?!"

"You have to tell me his address! I just want to send a present!"

"If I knew you were going to be this difficult, I wouldn't have wasted my time talking to you."

~~~~~

"... What?"

"When did this happen?"

"Masato?"

The man in question had a dumbfounded look as he watched his sister get berated by her teammates.

By his students.

"I... had no idea..."

Was that why she was so homesick? He had thought that she wasn't comfortable being thrown into such a new environment just yet. That she wanted to be back with her best friend whom she already knew well.

He had never thought...

And this was long before Teikoku.

That was what hurt the most.

He knew he didn't deserve her trust after that training camp, but if she hadn't even trusted him enough to be honest about her experience in the training trip that took place over two years prior... then had she ever trusted him at all?

While the memory continued to play, currently showing her return to her best friend's side, his mind swirled in its own whirlpool.

Was he presumptuous to believe that they could become true siblings all those years ago? Was he pushing for things that she never wanted?

...

Was he being selfish if he wanted to believe both answers are 'no'?

~~~~~

The next memory showed a birthday party at the boy's house. It was small, but he had never seemed happier.

And such was the two's conversation as they prepared for bed. He had wondered if anything had ever gotten her down before, to which she replied with, "No one can be 100% happy all the time!"

"Then how come I never see you upset?"

"Because I never feel upset around you."

"Huh?"

"I always have fun when I'm with you. It doesn't even have to be soccer, just us talking like this makes me happy. I feel like all the negative things I have just disappear whenever I see you."

His mouth was left hanging open, making her chuckle in slight embarrassment.

"It's just the feeling that I get. I can't explain it very well, but it's like you're... you are my happiness...? Something like that."

~~~~~

"JUST! KISS! MY FUCKING GOD!" Midori, Beta, and Mizukawa all yelled at once.

Anyone having an existential crisis was forcefully pulled out with a choke.

"She might as well be saying she wants to get married at this point."

"Shhh! Her parents are right there!"

"They look like they agree though."

"Oh my god, I've never seen Tsurugi so red before!"

"This feels almost illegal."

"I mean... It kind of is?"

They ignored whoever that was.

~~~~~

The next scene was of the boy and his older brother on the hospital bed. He looked like he barely got any sleep, and yet, he was practically rapping out his rant about how his best friend was... no longer... able to smile...

"Calm down." His brother pinched his cheek to stop him. "Getting angry is fine, but don't let it consume you."

"B-But... The person who hurt her is still out there! What's worse is that whoever it is keeps haunting her even in her sleep and―"

"Kyousuke. Don't forget. Who's more important to you?"

"... Kimiko, of course."

"Then whoever hurt her shouldn't matter right now, right? Your top priority should be taking care of her, and being there for her when she needs you."

"... Is that... really enough?"

"It's more than enough. It may not seem like much to you, but sometimes, people don't want help in getting rid of their problems. They may not even want reassurance. Sometimes... All they need is just for someone to hold them."

After calming down, the boy's exhaustion seemed to have caught up with him, and soon, he was fast asleep.

Meaning that he didn't see the shadow that flickered on his brother's back.

~~~~~

"... Yuuichi-san?"

The navy haired man took a deep breath, reeling in the shadows that seemed to be swirling behind his back. The best he could offer was a wry smile. "I'm fine, Tenma. Like I said, Kimiko was... is more important."

However, he refused to admit out loud that, had he known better, he never would've convinced her to go home afterwards.

(But the look in his eyes said everything her brother needed to know)

"I guess that's why Tsurugi left without breaking anything this time..."

"This time?"

"Rest in pieces to that random boulder in ancient China..."

"And Faram's stadium's TV..."

"Ah..."

~~~~~

A small meeting room was occupied by two cousins. One was a girl in clothes that were too big to be her own, and the other was a man that, at that moment, had the world of soccer in the palm of his hands.

And yet, it seemed to be the girl that was in control of the situation, as all he was able to do was heed to her demands.

"You're asking whether or not Supporter X got his money through illegal means? I'm honestly not sure, but I believe so. That person may be someone from abroad."

"Alright. Then, number two," She said, holding a second finger up. "I want to use that to help someone."

"You mean your friend's older brother?"

"Yeah. Yuuichi-san's surgery bill costs a whole lot. I doubt that any savings his family is trying to earn would ever amount to that. But Fifth's funding could. If Senguuji Daigo would approve of it, then..."

"But you know he won't."

The man went silent after that, as if in thought. And suddenly, she spoke up, as if she had read those thoughts.

"So basically, if I worked with Fifth Sector to take over junior high schools' soccer clubs, he might allow it?"

"How did you―"

"You should read up on Kidou Yuuto-san's report. I'm pretty sure he's got everything recorded."

He seemed to cringe at how she practically spat out the name, but either she didn't notice or she ignored it.

"Alright then, I'll see you next week."

"Kimiko, what exactly is it that you're planning to do?"

"Repay a debt."

~~~~~

"... I guess it's safe to say that Kimiko thinks you brothers are the more important ones too."

Yuuichi bit back a sigh. "Of course she does..."

They watched bitterly as the two made their way to meet a certain man in an ugly hat. It was frustrating for most, especially those who had to face what he became because of it.

"... I genuinely wish we are in that timeline right now."

"Why is that?"

"So I can stop them of course! And beat up that hat guy while at it!"

"That would have consequences to the―"

"Rei Rukh, save your voice box. They wouldn't listen."

"Understood."

"Come to think of it, what happened to that hat guy? After Tsurugi joined our side, I don't think we've ever seen him again?"

"He was with Kimiko on God Eden, but after that..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Well, if anyone ever finds him, let me know." Despite saying so with a smile on his face, Yuuichi was unable to hide his keshin's instability.

... Or perhaps he wasn't even trying anymore.

~~~~~

The boy was being worked to the bone in a facility none of them had ever seen before. However, the training course he went through was disgustingly familiar to some.

"Get up, Tsurugi."

"I... I can't..."

"Get. Up. Tsurugi."

He didn't.

"So even the feelings you carry for your brother only amounts to this much."

The man grabbed him by the face, forcing him up.

"Despite that, I can't have you giving up. You have the potential to be one of our best."

Suddenly, the man smirked.

"Well, what do you know? A motivation just appeared."

He was forced to look at the window.

"Look, boy."

His best friend was standing there, her back turned.

"... K... Kimiko...? But today is... Why is she...?"

"Your best friend, is she not?"

Another man was controlling the direction of one of the cannons in the room. He pointed it towards the window.

Towards the girl.

"W-What are you doing...? ... No... No, don't... Don't do it...!"

"Are you going to just stay there and beg? If you do that, a fate far worse than your brother's awaits her. And just like back then, it would be all... your... fault."

"Stop!"

"Fire!"

"K―"

~~~~~

"Y-Yuuichi-san?!"

"P-Please calm down!"

"... Sorry, my body moved on instinct."

In his eyes, he was aiming for the cannonball. In reality, the spiritual sword had slashed the projection machine in half, causing a small explosion. Luckily, no one was standing close enough to it to be affected.

"Is everyone alright?"

"We're fine, Coach Endou."

"And Alpha and the others?"

"Yes. We are safe."

"Zanark?"

"Hah! As if a blast this tiny could do anything to me!"

"I think..." Gouenji's voice faltered slightly before steadying himself once more with a cough. "I think we are overdue for a break."

Just as he said so, a beep echoed throughout the room. Its source, Fei's watch, lit up brightly. "Father? ... Oh, it's dinner time already."

"W-We've been here for that long?!"

"Guess that's that for today's binge watch."

"How'd you rate it, Miss Alien Spirit Host?"

"You first, Mister Not Enough Spiritual Hair Dye."

"How the fuck did you know about that?! Weren't you the alien scientist when that happened?!"

"Bits and pieces are connecting themselves in my head and I hate it."

The two's banter helped many of them regain their bearings, letting them leave the room without feeling too awkward. Upon seeing the adults, or those closest to becoming them, lingering about, Rei Rukh asked them to give him space as he fixed the machine.

Yuuichi was last to leave with an apology to the android, to which he only received a nod in response. Just as he thought he'd be allowed time alone to calm his thoughts, he came face to face with her brothers.

Both of them.

~~~~~~~~~

I don't know if I was clear enough with the previous one or with the hinting on this chapter, but "what they saw before" (as Zanark put it) is basically the whole flashback part back in "The Pendant" chapter. After seeing what happened there, they move on to see everything in this chapter.

Also, in case anyone needs or wants this, here's the chronological order of all the Intervals (shown by number only) and SIDEs (shown by the season code and number, Galaxy will be shortened to just G for convenience sake):

CS1 - Prologue - 1 - 2 - 5 - CS2 - G3 - 9 - 4 - 3 - 6 - GO1 - GO2 - GO3 - CS3 - G2 - 7 - G1 - 8

G3 is placed where it is because of how it ends. Unlike most of the others, this entire SIDE Story was basically Kyousuke's first 11 years of life. But the part that truly matters in it is when Kyousuke realized he has a crush, so I'm emphasizing that here.

Same for CS3. It starts with how Kimiko ended up in the Gouenji Family's care, but I'm emphasizing more on when Masato finds her after Holy Road.

7 too. Because it starts with how Kimiko and Ichikawa first met, but ultimately, the more important scene is when they meet again two years later.

As for why CS1 is even before the Prologue? ... Because timeline shenanigans. I'm sure you know what I mean, right? ... Right? (insert Ibuki groaning here)