Perfectly styled hair? Check.

Unwrinkled suit and properly tied tie? Check.

Formal shoes? Check.

Light makeup? Check.

He lost count the number of times he had gone through the mental list, but one can never be over prepared. Especially when they're representing a renowned family, like he was.

... Well, his parents were the ones who were invited to represent the family, but as they had asked him to be in their company, how could he let them down?

After another check at everything, and he really did mean everything, he mustered up enough courage to walk towards the banquet hall. His parents, knowing this was his first formal party since entering junior high and his debut performance, were kind enough to wait for him right by the doors. They gave him comforting smiles as they walked in together.

Dozens of people from all sorts of backgrounds were there. He recognized some of them as politicians, and others were highly ranked in other fields.

(He had only recently gotten used to the intense gazes of the audience as he was performing, but the judgemental stares of people in power felt far different from that.)

"Zanakurou." His father called for him and gestured with his eyes to follow them faster.

He must've been lost in thought. "Apologies." He then picked up his pace and they found a space by the long table to watch the event from.

A blonde man with blue streaks in his hair got up on the podium. He gave a speech about soccer and what his intentions are in becoming the next head of the company that was hosting the party. The crowd began to whisper among themselves. Words like "Holy Emperor", "Fifth Sector", and "The Fifth Law" were thrown about, though he didn't quite understand them. Well, he was never into sports to begin with, so that made sense.

The audience gave the man a standing ovation, and that was when the true purpose of the party was brought to light. Politicians, entrepreneurs, CEOs, and celebrities all mingled to find opportunities from one another. His family was no exception. If he recalled correctly, they were aiming to establish connections with the owner of a rather large theater in―

Something bumped into his back roughly. It was a good thing he wasn't holding anything or he was sure to drop it.

"S-Sorry!"

Turning around, he found a young girl bowing. She looked no older than ten years old, which, even with the somewhat mature dress she was wearing, made her seem very out of place within the hall.

"Do not worry. I am fine." He gave her a kind smile. "Though, I am inclined to ask, are you alright?"

She looked up at him with wide, purple eyes. "W-What do you mean?"

"I notice your legs are shaking. You do not seem very comfortable in those shoes."

She looked down at her own legs as if to confirm his words, and then bit her lip. She proceeded to meet his eyes again with a very child-like pout. "Can I be honest?"

He blinked. He didn't know what he expected her to say, but it was definitely not that. Still, he nodded, though only because he wasn't sure how else to respond.

She cupped one of her small hands around the side of her mouth and used the other to beckon him closer. It seemed like she wanted to whisper her next words. He obliged and leaned down enough so she could reach his ear.

"Heels suck!" Came her quiet exclamation.

He blinked again. He never had the experience of wearing them, but he had heard his mother agonizing about how much pain her feet had been in when she wore them. As it was the most proper thing to wear for a lady, she had to sacrifice her comfort to maintain her image.

And such a young girl had to suffer a similar fate... "My condolences." Was all he could say.

That little bit of sympathy seemed to be enough to bring a smile to her face. "Do you think I can get away with swapping them out for my sneakers?"

That brought a wry one to his own. "I doubt so. In parties such as these, it is best that you follow its rules, else you may be misjudged by those around you."

She tilted her head slightly and he wondered if his words were too complicated for her to understand, but then she replied with, "You must be really experienced with these events to know all that. I thought you were around my age, but... How old are you if you don't mind me asking?"

"I am 13."

Her eyes went wide again. "You're only three years older? How often do you go to these things?" He was sure he heard her mutter "How can you stand going so many times?" afterwards, but decided not to mind it.

"Afterparties are held after each performance's conclusion, so I can safely say I attend these types of gatherings at least once per season. That is to say, four times a year."

Her jaw dropped. "F-F-Four... times... a year..."

"It is quite overwhelming at first," And it still is no matter how many times he's attended, "But once you learn the etiquette, it becomes much easier to navigate through the day... Or sometimes, night."

"I... see..." She then shook her head. "Well, I don't plan on making this a habit, so I think I'll pass."

With that attitude, he supposed he would just bore her. He could tell immediately that they're upbringings were far different from just the way they were speaking. He was sure her family was looking for her as well, so perhaps this is where their conversation―

"Are you enjoying your time here?" The question caught him off guard for two reasons.

One, because he was sure she had no reason to speak to him any further. And two, because the way she asked that almost sounded like she knew his answer would be "no".

He was used to parties of this type, but not caliber. Social gatherings with the staff or cast members of the shows he participated in are great, but when it comes to something of this size...

Perhaps his face gave everything away as the girl gave him a cheeky smile. "How about we go for a walk?"

"Are you certain of spending the evening with someone such as myself?" He couldn't help asking. He wasn't the best at starting conversations about anything that wasn't kabuki.

"It's fine. I'd rather get to know someone my age than to stand awkwardly around adults while they go on with their... whatever they're doing."

A fair point.

"Then?" Her head gestured towards the door. "Shall we ditch this place?"

He could picture someone older saying the same thing looking mature and rebellious. But the one standing before him was much shorter than he was, with a childish grin plastered on her face and a high pitched voice that didn't suit the image she was trying to portray. Still, her stretched out hand was warmly inviting him, and he had no real reason to refuse.

"Zanakurou?" His mother's voice came from behind him. It seemed like she had just finished talking with some officials and was about to take a break. "Where are you going?"

"Mother, I―"

"Excuse me, ma'am." The girl grabbed onto his arm and gave his mother a sad look. "I'm lost, and Zana-nii said that he can help me find my family... Is it okay?"

"Oh my, your parents must be worried about you." His mother gave him a nod. "Very well. Take good care of her, Zanakurou. Remember to keep your cellphone on and call us if anything happens."

"Yes, mother." He followed the act and took the girl's hand. "Come on now. Let's try seeing if they are outside."

"Okay!"

Once they were out the door and deep into the corridor, the girl burst out in laughter. It was contagious, and he couldn't help letting a few chuckles of his own escape, despite it being his mother that they had just tricked.

As they walked, she continued her earlier complaints about the dress code. She sounded very intent on breaking down every detail and declaring it all to be redundant. She proceeded to list all she disliked about what she was wearing and the reasons why she should be allowed to change into something more comfortable.

He didn't mind it as much as he thought he would. She may seem a bit spoiled, but that was only because he didn't have as much freedom as she seemed to.

He wished he could understand that feeling someday.

They made it outside without getting noticed by any of the other guests. There were grass patches evenly separated by concrete paths, and surrounding the area were greens of all kinds. Placed right at the center, to bring the picture together, was a beautiful fountain.

Ichikawa's first question when he saw the place was, "Why is the back much better decorated than the front?"

The girl chuckled as she kicked her shoes off and rolled onto the grass. "Because if the back is boring, no one would want to come here."

"But no one is here anyway."

"Would you complain though?"

His mouth opened to reply, but no words came out. He supposed he wouldn't.

She appeared to have read his thoughts again as she patted the grass beside her. "Come here. It's hard to talk when I'm down here and you're still standing."

He was about to comment about how their clothes would get dirty, only to realize in the next second that, upon seeing her large smile as she lay sprawled on the grass bed, she did not care in the slightest.

He looked around to check one last time for any signs of people before taking off his own shoes and taking a seat next to her. He expected her chatter to continue, so it surprised him when she suddenly turned quiet. So quiet that he could hear the dance music coming from inside. Peeking at her, he found her staring blankly at the lone crescent moon in the sky.

She suddenly didn't seem like a child anymore.

"Sorry about earlier."

He jumped slightly. He wasn't prepared for her to speak up out of nowhere. And especially not with such a serious tone. Still, his brain hadn't connected. What did she―

"About making you lie to your mom like that... and also nicknaming you out of nowhere even though you're older than me."

Ah, that. "It is alright. I needed an excuse to get away as well, and while the nickname is strange, I do not mind." After all, 'big brother' is the easiest way to call a stranger when you do not know their whole name. And plenty of those younger than him that he had worked with called him with similar names.

"Oh, okay. But well, I don't plan on making it a habit. It also feels weird when I say it."

"Feels...?"

"Maybe because I'm already calling someone who isn't actually my brother with the 'nii' suffix..."

Before he could ask what she meant, the word 'adoption' popped into his head. His mouth clamped shut before any words fell from his lips, because really, how was he supposed to respond to that?

"Sorry, sorry. Don't mind me, I'm just talking to myself."

... Why was she the one trying to comfort him?

"I love my current family. They've taken good care of me, even if they do some stupid things sometimes."

He couldn't help frowning slightly at that. "Those two sentences somewhat contradict each other..."

She laughed. "I guess they do!" She then shook her head before sitting up. "I'll spare you the details since I doubt you know anything about the sports world, but the party that we're in right now? It's the result of my relative's stupidity."

"... What?"

"Really, there has to be a better way for him to achieve his goals, and yet..." She began muttering half-inaudibly about a pink haired man and the law about soccer.

(This caught him off guard only because he didn't know the country had a special law regarding a sport. He knew soccer was a huge thing thanks to the victory won by the junior team from many years ago, but he seemed to have underestimated just how big of an impact it had made.)

"Ah, whatever. Thinking about all of that makes my head hurt. I've got my own things to take care of!"

"Such as?" He asked that question without any sarcasm. After all, he was less than her age when he first appeared on a stage (as one of the more insignificant supporting cast, but that was what everyone started off as). If she really is a relative of the party's host, then he wouldn't doubt that she would be just as, if not more, busy as he is.

"I'm competing with my best friend!" The sudden sparkle in her eyes nearly makes up for the lack of stars in the sky. "We're supposed to have another show down today, but I got dragged here instead. I'll have to continue training tomorrow so I won't lose to him next week!"

He thought it was strange that she could only see her friend once a week, but he had no right to pry. So, he listened patiently as she continued to ramble about him.

(He probably learned more about her friend than he did about her because of that)

Then, her rambling began to slow down. She turned to stare at the building before clicking her tongue. "I think that's the song for the last dance..."

He strained his ears and nodded slowly. He recognized the song from plenty of other parties he's been to. It really was the easiest pick for a closing song. But why has she suddenly brought it up? Does she want to―

"I hope you aren't expecting me to be your partner for it."

Nevermind. He let out a chuckle. "Not to worry. I am only capable of dances relating to kabuki shows. I do not know any western dance steps."

"Good. That means, we can stay out here a little longer―"

"Kimiko!"

"Or not. Ugh..." They both turned to find the blonde man that made the speech calling in their direction. She let out another sigh before standing up. "Well, it's been nice hanging out with you. With how different our backgrounds are, I doubt we'll cross paths again, but if we do, let's talk some more."

"I would like that. Take care..." He trailed off, the name called earlier already slipping his mind.

Despite his embarrassment, she gave him a kind smile. "Call me Kimiko."

"Ah, right. Take care, Kimiko-san."

"You too, Ichikawa-san."

As he waved and watched her run over to the man (choosing to carry her shoes instead of wearing them), a thought popped into his mind.

Did he ever mention his family name to her?

~~~~~

That single question was enough to keep him from forgetting about the girl. He was quite sure he hadn't, and even though his family had a high reputation in the entertainment world, someone who knew so little about the traditional arts wouldn't know him.

Not at the level he was back then.

But now, two years had passed, and he quickly gained a name for himself. Especially since the Lion King performance where he turned into an actual lion.

(He still didn't know how that happened, but the audience loved it, so the whole cast simply went along.)

But by some strange twist of fate, a man renowned in the soccer world suddenly approached him at the end of one of his shows. Of course, he had no idea at the time and simply thought he was a fan who bought backstage tickets. But it soon became clear that he was not a fan at all.

The way the man carried himself was like that of a businessman, despite introducing himself as a soccer coach from overseas. The man wanted him to play soccer under him in exchange for anything he desired.

As an active actor, he had a pretty good eye for liars and scammers, making him quite a good judge of character. And the man before him was not lying.

Be that as it may, he didn't see a reason why he should put his life's work on hold to play a sport he knew nothing about. He didn't desire for anything that the man could give him either.

(He considered for exactly one second that the man may have the connections needed to find that girl for him, but what would be the point of that? It would be strange to seek her out only to ask how she knew his identity back then. She may not even remember that moment.)

So he refused. Kindly and logically. The man nodded and backed off almost immediately, but it didn't look like he had given up.

When a week had passed without any signs of the man, he thought he could finally relax. But that was also exactly when another man, a brunette this time, appeared backstage and asked him for a similar favor. A key difference between the two was that this one made more effort into making the sport seem appealing.

Oh, and also that this one came to all his shows without fail for nearly two weeks just so that he could ask him the same question after each show.

"Would you like to play soccer?"

Honestly, it was getting distressing. And distracting. But not because he was annoyed by the pestering.

This... Endou Mamoru, was it? ... He was slowly, but surely, stimulating his curiosity for the sport.

~~~~~

Her appearance and demeanor was only slightly reminiscent of what he remembered, but he was still sure that the girl standing before him was the same one from back then.

The girl accompanying Endou that day introduced herself as Gouenji Kimiko, a relative of the newly appointed chairman of another soccer company that he doesn't remember the name of. His family was also invited to that inauguration party, and he was able to put two and two together and realized he was the same person as the host of the party from two years ago after looking at some pictures.

(He remembered immediately looking around to find the girl afterwards, and even considering asking the man her whereabouts before ultimately deciding not to. Not only would he be risking the possibility of the media trying to 'expose' a nonexistent scandal, but he might also seem strange to the other guests and bring shame to his house's name.)

At first, with how silent she was being, he almost couldn't believe it was her. However, when Endou left to take a phone call, leaving the two alone, she let herself be as expressive as he remembered her to be.

"Before you say anything, please just call me by my name. No need to be all formal."

But she doesn't seem to remember him. Makes sense, he supposed. It had been over two years since they last met, and they had only spent an hour together. And seeing how much younger she was, she had probably gone through many exciting things since and forgotten such a short moment.

"Very well, Kimiko-san." He decided against confronting her about it. What good would it do? And in any case, they could still keep their promise to talk more even when she doesn't remember. "If you do not mind me asking, why have you come with Endou-san today? He is usually alone."

"My cousin sent me, actually." She gave an exasperated sigh. "Really, I just got back from my trip, and he's already making me run errands for him... Not that I don't understand why, given the situation, but..."

What situation? "Could you please explain to me why legendary soccer players are coming to someone like me, who has no background in any sport, and asking me to play soccer?"

She furrowed her brows. "Wait... You mean they haven't even told you that much?"

He shook his head.

"My god, Shuuya-nii. You haven't changed a bit." She facepalmed as she muttered. "Still keeping so many secrets... though, I guess I'm not one to talk... Ugh, what's next? Sending him to Kidou Yuuto?"

"Um..."

"No, screw that. I'd rather train him myself than to let him handle things..."

Train me herself? But isn't she only... What age was she? Twelve? She looked twelve.

"That's because I am twelve."

What...? Did I say... No, I did not say that aloud. He was sure of that. "How did you―"

"Ichikawa-san, that is not where your curiosity should be." She gave him a wry smile. "Before you turn Endou-san down again tonight, I suggest you ask all the questions you have in your heart. He's more honest than most, so you'll be able to get a lot out of him."

"Why don't you explain it to me yourself?"

"Because I'm not sure about all the details. Like I said, I just got back from a really long trip today." She then chuckled. "That, and I also have no patience to go through that absurdity twice on the same day."

"A-Absurd...?"

She stood up with a devious smile. "If you want answers, you need to ask questions. Maybe then I'll tell you more about how I know what you're thinking too." Without letting him respond, she waved and disappeared out the door.

He sat in the empty lobby for a while before deciding to leave and find Endou himself. Just as he got out of the building, he spotted the brunette just about to return inside.

"Endou-san..." And immediately, her words replayed in his head, so he decided to speak the words he had been thinking of all this while. "Why is someone of such high regard like yourself so intent on recruiting someone like me to soccer? There must be a suitable reason for you doing so."

The brunette grinned. "You can tell, huh? Well, I guess it's pretty obvious." The way he said it made it sound like he had been waiting for him to ask. "Alright then, I'll tell you everything."

"Please do."

"The reason I want you to play soccer is because..." He suddenly pointed upwards. Following his finger, he saw the dark sky covered with hundreds of twinkling lights. "I want you to fight the universe!"

"Huh...?"

One trip to a local food stall was all it took for him to understand what exactly it is that she meant by absurdity. 'Fighting the universe' was not just a figure of speech. Space, aliens, and more... He didn't even know where to begin to process all the new information.

"Take your time to think about it." At the end of the meal, the brunette was first to get up. "I'll be waiting for you tomorrow at Inazuma Town's riverside pitch. It's right by the train station, so you can't miss it. See you!"

He left after paying more than he owed. At first he thought he was tipping the owner, but when he finished his own plate, the owner told him that the amount the man paid covered both of their meals. It was too kind of him, especially seeing as he hadn't agreed to anything yet. He wondered if it was a ploy to get him to owe him something so that he would join the fight, but if that was what it was, shouldn't he be more upfront about it?

He laid on his bed that night, rerunning everything in his head as if it were one of his scripts. When the clock struck 1 in the morning, he was finally able to decide and rest his eyes.

~~~~~

"You're here!"

Indeed he was.

Inazuma Town was new to him, but upon laying his eyes on the peaceful surroundings, he fell in love with it quite easily. Many of the buildings in the area were small and gave off a nice and cozy atmosphere. The air was fresh, and one was able to see the sky widely spread out as far as the eye could see. It was much, much different from the bustling city he lived in.

"I take it this means you've agreed?" Endou asked, handing him what seems to be a uniform. "Did you get your parents' permission too?"

He took it with a small smile. "It seems that Kuroiwa Ryuusei-san had approached them about the matter already, though he kept certain details a secret. I am honored to be in your care, Endou-san."

"Ahaha! It's not just my care that you'll be in." The brunette stepped aside just as Kimiko walked towards them.

"Hey. Junior Trainer Kimiko, at your service!" She winked and saluted playfully. "I'll be handling most of your regiments since Endou-san has a full-time job at Raimon. Hope you don't mind."

His mouth dropped open slightly, though he wasn't sure if it was because he wanted to say something, or if he was just surprised.

"Wow, it hasn't even been five seconds and you're doubting me already. Alright, I see how it is."

"N-No, I do not mean to―"

Maybe this'll change your mind. A voice that was not his own resounded in his brain, and afterwards, a great number of images and videos of places that do not seem to be within the country. There were people and activities that were unfamiliar to him too. They seem to be... memories?

As unbelievable as it sounds, that was the only conclusion he could come up with.

When he got back to reality, he saw Endou with a sweatdrop and Kimiko with her eyes... glowing?

"I don't know if Gouenji will be okay with this..." Endou muttered.

"Well, if I'll be hanging out with him for the next three months, then it's not like it's going to stay a secret for long anyways." She shrugged and her eyes returned to their usual state. She then gave him a smile. "So, Ichikawa-san, had enough of the world's insanity yet?"

He didn't know how to answer that. Actually, he didn't feel like he knew anything anymore. The only thing he could be sure of was that the last few months of his junior high school life would be an experience unlike any other.

~~~~~~~~~~

An interval from Ichikawa's perspective this time?! Hehe!

Hope you guys enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it! Ichikawa's POV is both fun and pretty hard to write with how formal he is (U ^^)