"I'll be sending everyone back to their own time periods now." Fei said. Behind him and Wondeba were Kinako, Torb, and Zanark.

By the time they got back from their match with the Raimon of ten years ago, with the addition of travelling to all the time periods they had visited to inform their friends of their success, the sun was already setting. They had collected more souvenirs and Akane even took pictures. But best of all, they got to play soccer with them one last time before really saying goodbye.

Tenma nodded. "I had a lot of fun getting to play soccer with you guys on this journey."

"I thought you'd say that." Zanark smirked. "The feeling is mutual."

"But it's sad that we have to go our different ways." Kinako said, tears gathered in the corner of her eyes. She held a ball that was signed by every single member of the club.

Torb had the same expression. "There's water coming out of my nose..."

"I'm sad too..."

"Take care, guys."

"We will never forget you."

"Thanks." Fei smiled. "I won't forget you guys either."

"Then, all that's left is..." Wondeba muttered to himself, looking around.

He blinked. Isn't this everyone? Who else is going to―

Suddenly, a certain blonde appeared, carrying two duffel bags.

"Hey, everyone." She greeted.

"Eh? Kimiko?" Tenma beat him to the question. "Are you..."

She smiled. "I'm sorry. I know this is sudden, but I'm going with them."

And just as suddenly, it felt like the whole world was crashing down.

"But why?" Aoi asked.

"The scientists there need to keep observing me for a while to make sure the new vaccine would really work." She exchanged nods with her brother and cousin, who had already arrived at the school before she did. "Masato-nii and Shuuya-nii explained everything to my family already. Time-travel and my origins included. I'll be staying at El Dorado for a while."

"How long is 'a while'?" Shinsuke asked.

"Probably until the vaccine's done." Taiyou stated.

Kirino nodded. "So we should see you again in a few months, right?"

She chuckled, but she didn't answer the question. No one pressed either, meaning they must've thought her smile was a 'yes'. But it wasn't. He knew it wasn't.

This was goodbye.

Hey, come on. Don't make such a scary face.

His head snapped up at her, narrowing his eyes further. Who's fault is it that I'm making this face in the first place?

But she only kept her smile up, bumping her fist to his shoulder. "Thank you, Kyousuke. For supporting me this far and trusting me." She winked playfully. "Don't you dare forget me, alright?"

He grunted. "I won't. After all, there's still that combo hissatsu we wanted to make but never got around to."

Her eyes widened slightly, and in a split-second, he saw her smile falter. But it was back as soon as it was gone. "Right!"

"Kiko. We're going." Zanark called as he was already by the door of the time machine.

"It's not―! You know what? I'll just take it as a second nickname." She sighed before turning back to them. "Well, you heard him. Bye-bye, everyone."

"See you, Kimiko!

"Come back healthy and strong!"

"Let's play real soccer next time!"

Something inside him screamed for him to reach out. He wanted to grab her by the shoulder and stop her. To hold her ever-so-slightly shaking hand. To hold her and tell her everything he felt. To say those three words.

To, at the very least, say "Thanks for everything".

But he couldn't move. He couldn't say a word. He could only watch as her back disappeared through the door.

The caravan lifted into the air, but when it reached its peak, a window suddenly opened.

"Kyousuke!" His eyes widened at the tears already spilling from her face. "To me, you're― You're the most―! ...You're the coolest striker in the world! You're much, much, much cooler than even Gouenji Shuuya! So, don't ever lose, alright?! If you do, I'll never forgive you...!"

She was pulled back in and the window rolled up. The vehicle glowed as colorful rings formed around it. It sped up before disappearing in a light.

"... Dumbass."

"Tsurugi?"

"I'm going home. I want to rest my leg properly."

"O-Oh..." Thankfully, his captain took the hint. "Okay. See you tomorrow?"

"Yeah." He left with a single wave.

~~~~~

They headed for the Cretaceous Era first to drop Torb off. There, she met the dinosaur father he MixiMaxed with along with Big the baby dinosaur. After a high-five and a belly rub, they went to their next destination.

Far into the future, but quite a while before Feida. Kinako hugged them all with tears in her eyes and waved goodbye while tightly clinging to the signed ball.

They jumped a few more years ahead, Fei asking to take a detour. Roughly 13 years before Ragnarok, they all knew what he wanted to do. He came back with shining eyes and a wide smile.

"Kimiko." Fei called as they prepared for another time jump.

"Hm?"

"Do you want to see your parents too?"

She was slightly taken back by the question, but she shook her head. "I don't know if I should..."

"Why not?"

"Well, a certain someone wouldn't give me back my memories of them."

Zanark had his arms crossed. "Even if that's the case, you'll only remember Houou. Kimetha was the same as Nanobana. She never got to be a mother... Even though she really wanted to be one."

If she hadn't been sitting next to him, she probably wouldn't have heard that last part. She looked down at her hands. They were still shaking.

But if what Zanark says is true, then...

"I..." She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "I'll go see them. At least, to tell them their child is growing up well."

"I thought you'd say that." The boy beside her smirked, his hand glowing.

Suddenly, images flashed before her eyes. "Wha―?!"

"You're finally serious about facing your past, so here's a gift."

"You're returning them now?!"

"The past is what makes you who you are now. It's not just a time or place, but the people who were around you too. If you only wanted to know because you were curious, and not because you actually cared, I have no reason to give them back to you." His hand stopped glowing and he crossed his arms again. "You're all set now."

"Ugh... I can't believe I used to look up to you like an older brother..."

He only kept up his smirk.

Soon, they landed in the forest, six years prior to Ragnarok. She was the only one who got off the caravan and made her way to the cottage.

I know this road...

And not just the road, but the whole area felt familiar. It almost felt like home.

Almost.

Well, it may not be my home anymore, but it still was once.

"Kia?" She turned to find a significantly younger version of Zanark staring at her with wide eyes. "You're not Kia..."

She blinked. "Who's Kia?"

"A crazy lady that lives around here with her boring husband." He narrowed his eyes as he stared into the distance. "Huh... Maybe I should keep describing them like that from now on."

"Um... By any chance, is this 'Kia' you mention 'Kimetha'?"

"Yeah. How'd you know?" He raised an eyebrow at her. "You looking for her by any chance?"

Her eyes widened. "How did you―"

"Kids don't play this deep into the forest and there are signs everywhere to keep people from getting lost. If you're here, then you came on purpose, usually looking for shelter."

Bounty hunters... Right. "Well, I actually know the couple that lives here, so..."

"Friends of theirs? That's new." He gestured his head at the cottage in the distance. "Alright, come on then. I'll take you there."

"Thanks. Um... What's your name?"

"Don't have one. You can call me Zanark."

"That... is a name, though?"

He ignored her comment and proceeded to knock before throwing open the door. "Kia! Uncle! You've got a guest!"

"Oh, who is it, Zanark?" A man's voice came. It was her father, Houou. Next to him was a woman with a striking resemblance to her, from hair color and style to face shape. Her mother.

"No idea. A friend, she says―"

She immediately bowed in front of the two adults. "Nice to meet you two! I know you won't believe me if I say this, but I'm from several years in the future. I just came to―"

"Slow down, sweetie." Without her noticing, the woman came in front of her and gently touched the side of her face. "You're so nervous, you're shaking."

"S-Sorry..." The moment she looked up at them properly, she saw Houou's jaw drop.

"Oh my, you and Kia look like twins!" He exclaimed. "From the future, are you? Are you our daughter by any chance?"

It was her turn to feel her jaw drop. "H-How..."

"Well, you definitely look like me, but you also have Houou's eyes." Kia said, smiling wide. "It isn't too hard to figure out."

"This is your kid?" Young Zanark asked, side-eying her. "You're their kid?"

She chuckled nervously. "Apparently so..."

"A girl." He grunted. "Looks like Uncle lost the bet then."

"Bet?"

"Yes!" Kia suddenly cheered. "We're going to have a daughter, so we're going to name her Kimmy!"

"Oh, alright, alright." Houou sighed before turning to her. "You are alright with that name, aren't you?"

"I-It's fine..."

"Just 'fine'?"

"I-I mean, I like it!"

"Haha! I'm only messing with you, dear." Her mother smiled up at her. "Then, is there a reason why our future daughter decided to visit us in the past?"

"That's..." She looked down in thought, wondering for a split second if she should warn them of what'll happen in their near future. But if something changed, then she would never have met the Gouenji family. She wouldn't have met all the wonderful friends she had. She wouldn't have met him.

You're so selfish.

She knows. But she'll make that decision anyway.

She shook her head, showing a small smile. "I just wanted to know how you two came up with my name, since you'd never tell me."

"Never told you?" Kia turned to her husband with a pout. "Are you really going to be that petty over a name bet?"

"Hm... Well, I do hate losing." He teasingly replied.

She couldn't help a chuckle. "Well, since that's all, I'm going to head off. The future awaits and all that stuff."

"Oh! Wait!" The woman rushed out and stopped her with a hug. "Thank you so much for coming! Now I can be sure you'll grow up strong and healthy."

"Make sure?"

"Well, to be honest, I know you're going to be born as one of the Second Stage Children."

Her eyes widened.

"I have a friend who died at childbirth because her son was showing signs of awakening even before he was born just like you are. I'm not sure if I'll get to see you grow up, and that always worries me, but..." She pulled away, showing a bright smile. "Seeing you today gave me a sense of peace. So, thank you."

She felt tears forming in the corner of her eyes, but a smile made its way to her own lips. "No... Thank you... Mama."

~~~~~

Yuuichi's head snapped towards the door the second he heard it open. A very familiar voice saying "I'm home" came afterwards.

"Kyousuke! Welcome home!" He quickly put his glass away and rolled his chair out of the kitchen to see him properly. "You won, didn't you? You must have since the soccer ban―"

"Sorry, nii-san. Can we talk about it later? I'm exhausted right now..."

Too exhausted to even tell me the slightest detail? That was not normal. His eyes only widened further when his younger brother moved past him without waiting for his reply, a frown appearing when he finally noticed how sluggish he looked.

His father suddenly came out of his study. "Yuuichi, was that Kyousuke?"

He nodded slowly. "Mmhm... But he didn't seem like himself."

"Oh?"

"Usually, he'd come to me after every match to tell me all about it. But just now..."

His father looked down at him before pushing his wheelchair towards the stairs. "Come on. I'll help you to his room."

"Thanks, dad."

He stood up slowly and slung an arm around his shoulders. Slowly, his father helped him up the stairs. His brother's door was the closest one to the stairs, so getting to it didn't take long at all.

He knocked before peering in.

"Kyousuke?"

The boy was still by his desk, staring at what appeared to be a plastic bag.

His father helped him sit on the bed before ruffling his younger son's head, who grunted in response. He pointed to the item. "Kimiko dropped by earlier to get her things and left that for you. She said these were the clothes she stole."

"She kept the jacket..."

"Hm?"

"No, nothing."

"Alright." He nodded at him. "I need to run some errands before your mother gets back, so I'll see you kids again later tonight."

"Bye, dad."

"Be careful on the way."

"I always am." After the man closed the door, silence fell on them.

Eventually, his brother left it alone and made his way over to the bed, laying down with his body curled half way.

He frowned as he watched his movement. "Kyousuke, you were limping."

"Hurt my leg in one of the matches." He shifted his position so that his legs were stretched out behind him. He also had an arm slung over his eyes. "I'm fine, though. I just haven't had a chance to properly rest since then."

"I see..." He continued to stare at him for a moment, hoping he'd initiate some kind of conversation, but when he didn't, he let out a sigh. "Kyousuke, you know you can―"

"I know, but I don't want to." His eyes widened at his tone, and the boy seemed to stiffen as well. His eyes opened and he sat up properly. "Sorry... It's just that, there's nothing anyone can do about it now, so there's no point..."

"Do about what?"

He bit his lip before looking down. "...Kimiko left." before he could interject with "Isn't that normal", he continued. "And... I don't think she's coming back..."

"What makes you say that?"

He shrugged, but his expression clearly screams that he was bothered. "There was just this look in her eyes. I don't know what it was, but... You know I'm never wrong when it's about her." He groaned as he pulled the pillow from under him to bury his face in it. "Honestly, what the hell was that? Can't she just say goodbye like a normal person? Yelling out those stupid things, acting all tough while crying like a baby. It's not even cute..."

By those words alone, he could take a guess on what happened. He scooted over to sit next to him and placed a hand on his head, ruffling his hair. He looked up from the pillow and gave an annoyed look but made no move to stop him. He only continued to play with his hair. Then, he tugged at his ponytail.

"Ow! Nii-san!" He swatted his hand away, making him laugh.

"Sorry, sorry. It was just so tempting."

"You're not sorry at all..."

He gave him a smile. "But you know, Kyousuke, you shouldn't let it keep you down. Go out to the riverbank tomorrow. Play with Tenma and the others. With the soccer ban gone, the world tournament is just around the corner!"

"I did promise not to lose..." He muttered barely audibly, but he heard it well and clear.

"Then, keep it. Keep your promises like you always had." He slung an arm around him and ruffled his hair again. "So when Kimiko comes back, you can show her how much stronger you got!"

"How are you so sure she'll be back?"

"Because she loves you, Kyousuke."

"As a―"

"As more than just friends. She's just so scatter-brained that she doesn't realize it." His smile grew wider when he saw his face growing red. "But you already knew that, didn't you?"

"Shut up..." He groaned, laying back down with his eyes closed. "She's like a clown."

"Haha... That's why." He pulled the boy's head to his shoulder, letting him lean on it. "That's why, I know she'll be back. Maybe even sooner than you think."

He hummed, giving in, before letting out a tired sigh. "...Miss you already..."

He was sure he didn't mean to say that out loud. The Kyousuke he knew was too 'cool' to do so. He quietly chuckled, making sure not to disturb his sleep.

Rest well, Kyousuke.

Then, he turned to the window, where the sun had set and the dark sky was filled with stars.

And wherever you are, I hope you're happy, Kimiko.

~~~~~~~~~~

Just one more chapter and we'd be done with Chrono Stones! After that, just like many months ago with the original GO chapters, there's gonna be a few side stories before Galaxy chapters are uploaded. Look forward to them!!