Kira excitedly followed the practice match going on among team members of Raimon. Her eyes darted from one direction to another trying to keep up with the fast-paced movements on the field.

"Goal!" And Gouenji scores yet another with the help of his Fire Tornado.

Halftime whistle went off and she picked up a set of towel and water bottle. The rest of the managers were handing them out to everyone but when Gouenji extended his hand to get one, she almost jumped between them and interrupted the interaction.

"What are you doing? That's my job!" She whispered to her fellow manager.

He wasn't supposed to hear it but he did and was amused.

"Since when did you make this your job to hand out water bottles?" He joked.

"To you? Always. " She answered with confidence and he laughed.

"Towel. " She handed it to him. He took it and put it around his neck. He wiped his face with it.

"Water bottle. " She then handed it to him. She worked like clockwork every time. She made sure she was ready with it every time he took a break. She never did so for anyone else.

"Thanks. " He smiled and she smiled too with a glimmer in her eyes, ignoring the teasing murmurs around her.

...

Gouenji stood teary-eyed with his friends, his graduation certificate in hand. Kira approached him and stood beside him. She had a wilted expression on her face too.

"I'm going to miss all of this so much. " He commented as he ran a panoramic gaze on the field and the rest of the team standing there, hugging and saying goodbye.

"I'll miss you. " Kira said in the faintest voice. 

He wasn't supposed to hear it, she only said it to get it off her chest.

But he did and turned to her.

"Oh, you heard that. " She said sheepishly.

He smiled and acknowledged with a nod.

...

"I'm going to save soccer. No matter what it takes. " Gouenji announced as Kira listened intently.

"You look like you have a plan. " She remarked.

"I do. I need to disappear for this though." He told her.

"I'm worried for you." She commented and then quietly added, "My love."

He wasn't supposed to hear it, she only said it to get it off her chest. 

But he did,

He glanced at her with curiosity, "What did you just say?"

At this, she sighed and began,

"You probably already know this by now but it bears saying clearly...I am in love with you." She finally looked up at him with eyes full of emotion.

He seemed genuinely shocked to hear it, "Since when?" He couldn't help but exclaim.

"You really don't know?" She was confused, "Since junior high. "

"This is news to me. " He said.

"Really? Everyone knew. Even though I didn't tell anyone. I only wanted to tell you because you're the only one who matters the most to me. " Her breath quivered as she managed to speak. She had lived with it for so long and dreamt about that moment for so long, now that it was happening it didn't even feel real.

It remained quiet for a while as he processed all of it.

"So?" She grew impatient.

"So?" He repeated in surprise, "Kira, you already know my answer. You know I have to focus on soccer. I just told you what a dire situation we're in. And I'm leaving. " He got himself out of her hold and began walking away.

"I'll come with you. " She hastily took a step after him.

He turned to her and held her shoulder and began speaking gently, "Kira, it can't be. Our paths are different. I don't have time for love. "

He didn't feel the need to explain himself further and walked away.

Kira was left stunned. She knew her heart had broken but the pain of it was so much that it was beyond her capacity to even feel it. She had always thought that in case such a thing happened, she would fall down to her knees and bellow. But now her breath had hitched and she could make no sound.

She didn't realise when tears began flowing down her cheeks but her hand couldn't move to wipe them off. In fact, her entire body refused to move. She stood there the same way long after he left.

...

"We did it Gouenji! " Endou clasped his hand in victory, "We saved soccer!" The entire stadium rejoiced with them, not to mention Tenma and the team too.

Later that evening Endou invited everyone to celebrate at his house. Of course, Gouenji was there too.

"We never would have thought you'd do something like this. " Aki approached him and praised him for his efforts.

Gouenji acknowledged her with a nod. Once again he ran his gaze around the crowd and then asked Aki, "Is Kira not here? I don't see her anywhere. "

"She left to further her studies. " Aki informed him , "I suppose you don't know because you have been out of the loop all this time. "

"Where did she go?" He instantly asked.

"Out of Japan. I forgot the exact location but apparently it's some big art school. " Aki said.

He was surprised once again since he had no idea of any such plans from her. She had never mentioned such a thing when they used to talk.

"It makes sense, doesn't it? " Aki continued, "she was always drawing something. Mostly you. We used to tease her so much about it..." She looked up and gasped, "Oh! Have I said too much?" She giggled and walked away.

He wasn't supposed to hear it but because of Aki now he did.

But she didn't notice how stunned she had left Gouenji. He remembered seeing Kira with a sketchbook sometimes, sitting by the field. But he never asked about it, and she didn't mention it either.

...

Kira sat on the outdoor table in her favourite bistro, a coffee cup resting on the table in front of her. She was just looking around aimlessly, lost in thoughts when suddenly a familiar face made her heart sink.

"Hey, Kira! When did you return?" He said as he stopped by her table. He looked a lot different now than when she had last seen him. He had a dignified maturity about him and his attire was doing a great job emphasising it.

"About six months ago. " She answered and then added, "please have a seat. " she gestured towards the opposite empty chair.

"Are you sure?" He hesitated.

"Of course. Why would I need to think twice? It's you." She said and smiled nonchalantly.

"You look good. " She commented as soon as he sat down, "I've always been a fan of ascots. " She said with a chuckle.

"Oh, this. " He chuckled awkwardly, "I'm the chairman of the Youth Soccer Association. Thought I should look the part. "

"I know that. Congratulations by the way! You deserve it. " She answered.

"You know?" He asked in a quiet voice.

"Yes, I do. I know all the wonderful things you did for soccer. I read all about it. " She let him know.

He didn't expect her to keep up with him after all those years let alone admit it to him. He couldn't help but stare at her in astonishment.

The waiter's voice broke his trance, " What will you have, sir?"

"He will have a Vienna. " She answered for him before he had a chance to do so, "Right?" She then turned to him and confirmed.

"Right. " He was surprised again that she still remembered it.

"So, how's your art?" He continued the conversation again.

"Pretty good." She bobbed her head, "Turned into a business actually. "

"I was so surprised to find out that you left for art school. You didn't mention you wanted to be an artist." He spoke.

" You were so clueless back then." She remarked and he could tell a shadow of sombreness washed across her face.

"Tell me, Kira, " He began seriously, "Do you still..." He trailed off.

"Do I still what?" She wanted him to say it. That's the least he could do.

"Do you still...love me?" He looked up instantly as he finished his question to gauge her reaction.

She laughed all of a sudden, "Wouldn't you want to know!" She dissolved the question into a joke.

He scoffed and smiled and shook his head ridiculing himself for even asking such a thing. It was such a long time ago, why would she still? When so much time had passed. Guess he had just asked it out of curiosity.

He got up, "I guess I'll see you around then?" He said.

"Actually, I'm leaving in a week. I was just here for a project. " She said.

"Alright. Goodbye then. " He said casually and headed off straight ahead passing by her.

As soon as his back was to hers, tears streamed down her cheek instantly,

"I do." She muttered to herself as she drew her coffee cup to her lips, which was also a Vienna.

He wasn't supposed to hear her answer, she only said it to get it off her chest.

And he didn't.