Author's note: Tenma is different from the anime in this AU. He is not an amature in soccer but not an expert either. And because of his upbringing in the royal family, he is a little more mature. And *spoiler alert* this story also explores how he will lose his innocence and become disillusioned with everything he knew about his family. So it can get antsy and have whump!Tenma.

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Japan was far different than Wythras. Tenma knew this as he walked to his new school, Raimon Jr. High. He heaved a sigh as he trudged over to the gates. This was his dream, to attend the school and maybe, just maybe, find the man who hurt his mother. Yet, he wished it didn't have to take his mother falling into a coma and the threat of insurgences for his father to allow him to come to Japan.

"Matsukaze Tenma." The name rolled of his tongue. It was his name before his mother got married. He had to change it once he was in the royal family. But to hide in Japan, he has to use it.

There's no time like the present. He plastered his smile and dashed inside. And since he has time before the introduction ceremony, he might as well find the soccer clubhouse. He hummed a soft tune as he admired the school logo and the soccer field. Call him spoiled, but he preferred the palace's field. The field here wasn't bad but it probably didn't have hidden training traps like the one back home.

A smile formed on his lips as he saw the soccer building. He temporarily pushed his concerns about his mother and Wythras aside. He was finally in Raimon. He was going to join the soccer club and everything is looking up. His first day in Raimon will be memorable!

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Abort excitement! This is not how he wanted his first day to be memorable!

This punk kid, Tsurugi Kyosuke showed up and destroyed the second team and destroyed the old soccer club shack. Then Tenma somehow got roped into a soccer challenge with the punk kid, and the situation was not helped by the mean headmaster and school chairman who pushed for him to accept the challenge if he didn't want the soccer club disbanded. Boy did all those hits hurt. But somehow, he stopped Tsurugi's Hissatsu shot. (Thank you Abel for at least informing him he could bring out a Keshin. He suspected it was his Keshin that saved his brain from turning into mush even if it didn't form completely.)

Then the punk got angry at Tenma and despite the earlier deal that he will leave the club alone if Tenma took the ball, he shot a ball right at Tenma who could not react in time. Thankfully, someone else's ball knocked punk's off course. And so the first team showed up. Unfortunately, that only led to another confrontation that ended in a match between the first team and punk's team. And boy is the punk's team devastating Raimon's first team. Things probably didn't help when he was put on the field by Raimon's coach all because he asked. The punk was annoyed with his presence on the field and taunted him by keeping the ball away from him while knocking down the members of the Raimon soccer club with the ball.

Things did not get better in the second half...to a degree. Tenma inwardly admitted that keeping the ball to stop punk from hurting the other members was not the best idea. But at least the captain managed to call out his Keshin that made punk's coach withdraw. He's not sure why they forfeited, but the captain's Keshin is definitely a subject of interest to them.

At least he was reunited with Aoi before the induction ceremony. He met the blue haired girl during one of his mother's rare visits back to Japan and they kept in touch ever since. She is the only one other than Aki to know about his identity as a prince.

"Are you ok?" She asked as she slowly approached where he was crouched over the ball. Everyone else had already left to change and presumably to class. And Aoi's concerns were probably valid as he was covered in dirt and bruises.

"I'm fine." He reassured her with a smile.

"Looks like a lot has happened before the induction ceremony." She commented with a wry smile.

"Understatement of the century. And here I was excited about my first day. I mean, I'm still excited, but not as much as before the punk kicked all those balls at me."

"I see." Aoi winced. "You should get cleaned up. The induction ceremony will be starting soon."

"As if the chairman had anything better to do after letting punk do what he wants." Tenma huffed. "By the way, Abel says hi."

"Tell him I said hi too." Aoi's eyes softened as she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry about what happened to your mother. I hope she wakes up soon."

Tenma managed a half smile at his friend. "Me too."

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As the chairman droned on about the school, Tenma forced himself to appear attentive. He was not interested in hearing what the chairman has to say considering he allowed an outsider to hurt the students under his care.

But the tugging of his sleeve made him turn to the side. He blinked at the tiniest person he has seen in the school who was waving at him to get closer.

"That match earlier was sure something. You faced them head on even though you are a first-year!" The person beside him whispered.

"You were watching?" Tenma turned red, not expecting his foolhardy actions to garner admiration. Yes, he will admit it was foolhardy and was mentally composing an apology to the members of the soccer club.

"Yeah. And I already memorized your name. Matsukaze Tenma, right?" The student grinned at him. "You're pretty cool, Tenma!"

Tenma's face turned redder. "Thank you. What's your name?"

Realizing he had yet to introduce himself, the student smiled sheepishly. "I'm Nishizono Shinsuke. We'll be in the same class. Good to meet you!"

"Ah..." Tenma didn't want to admit he hasn't checked the class placements no thanks to what happened earlier that morning. But since Shinsuke checked, he can probably rely on him to direct him to their class. "Nice to meet you."

Shinsuke beamed and waved at him to get closer again. "That was the first time I ever saw a Keshin. So they really exist. Do you have one, Tenma?"

"No way." Tenma waved it off. Truthfully, he didn't want to let anyone know about unsummonable Keshin at the moment. If he said yes, Shinsuke will want to see it but he cannot call it out yet. Abel has been training him when he can to try to call it out but so far, nothing's working. And judging punk's coach's reaction when he saw the captain's Keshin, he needs to be more careful.

"But you're joining the soccer club, right?"

"Yeah." Tenma nodded in determination.

"Me too! I've decided to join the soccer club."

"Really? Then let's go to the soccer club together later." Tenma smiled in relief that he didn't need to go to the club alone.

Shinsuke was ecstatic with Tenma's suggestion. "Ok! Let's do our best to get into the first team together! I'm pretty good too!"

Tenma's excitement turned into mortification as Shinsuke's energetic cry made everyone look at them. Even the chairman paused in his speech. The man cleared his throat gruffly and Shinsuke finally realized the attention he was getting. Blushing, he bowed and sat back on his seat with a contrite, "Sorry about that."

Tenma had to resist the urge to giggle at the whole scene. It's nice to have someone equally as enthusiastic about soccer as him to be his friend. Back at home, he found it difficult to have friends due to his status and not many children of the politicians like soccer.

Later that afternoon, once the homeroom teacher dismissed the class after a brief introduction, Tenma, Shinsuke and Aoi rushed out together. Tenma was elated to find that his childhood friend was in the same class as him. And she had confided in him that she wanted to join the soccer club as a manager as well.

"So what was your name again? I don't think I memorized everyone's yet." Shinsuke rubbed the back of his head sheepishly as he addressed Aoi.

"It's Sorano Aoi, Nishizono-kun, right? I'm a childhood friend of Tenma's." The girl smiled at Tenma's new friend, happy that he finally found a friend who can match his passion for soccer. But she turned to Tenma with a slightly worried look. "Do you think it's a good idea to go to the soccer club now after what happened in the morning?"

"We'll never know until we see." Tenma shrugged. "Whether they like it or not, they have to try to operate like normal, or at least pretend to."

"Not everything is like a parliament, you know." Aoi whispered to him so that Shinsuke would not overhear. "Something like this would shake them up badly and maybe even scare some of them away."

"Got it." Tenma sighed. "But let's just see what happens. Either way, we're joining the club!"

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Aoi, unfortunately, was right. There was a mass quitting from the members of the club, including the managers, with less than eleven members remaining. Tenma could have tried to stop them, but after a second of consideration, he decided otherwise. Adversary will reveal those who are true and sincere at heart, a saying Father always told him. If they want to quit just because the future will be tough, it's their choice. But part of him could not help but feel sorry for the remaining members.

"Matsukaze Tenma, right? You and your friends should find other clubs to join. As you can see, this is what Raimon's soccer club is now." The captain told them with a sad smile when all the members that quitted left.

Tenma held up his hand to forestall him. "Actually, they came here to join." He gestured at Aoi and Shinsuke who were looking at him in confusion. "I came here for two things. Firstly,"

Taking everyone by surprise, he bowed. "I apologize for my recklessness as my foolhardy actions made punk angry and hurt everyone. I will attempt to restrain myself in the future."

Everyone was unsure of what to say to the first-year's impromptu apology, though many thought it wasn't necessary. Finally, Shindou cleared his throat and said stiffly, "Apology accepted. Try not to anger the SEED again."

"But still, 'punk'?" One of the players with goggles and dark skin waved his hand at Tenma.

"He looks and acts like a punk." Tenma simply said.

"Touché."

"So, what was the second thing you came here for?" The pink haired player asked.

"To wait for Otonashi-sensei and the coach." Tenma tilted his head at him. "I still have to apologize them."

"That is not necessary, Matsukaze-kun." Otonashi said with a sweatdrop, having entered the clubroom without everyone realizing and heard what Tenma said. "What happened this morning...it was out of everyone's control."

"Then what about joining the club?" Shinsuke asked, feeling at lost with Tenma's apologizes and the fact that he has yet to mention it.

"It can wait." Tenma shrugged. "Aoi's right that now is not a good time. We can come back tomorrow and try to sign up when everyone's less tense."

"That will not be necessary." The coach finally spoke up. Looking at Tenma and Shinsuke intently, he abruptly turned to Shindou. "Get them the club application form. We will test them and other newcomers tomorrow after school."

The captain gritted his teeth but nodded reluctantly. Tenma secretly threw Aoi a 'I told you so' look. Even if the players were not feeling up to it, someone had to keep things going as normal.

Aoi returned it with an exasperated look, now realizing why Tenma had purposely not mentioned his intentions to join the club in the first place. He used the excuse of apologizes to buy them time for when the coach and Otonashi-sensei returned.

Tenma quickly filled up the application form and handed it back to the captain with a weak smile. "Sorry about this."

The captain gave him a weird look, not looking at Shinsuke when he passed his form back. Tenma darted back to Aoi's side, trying to ignore the stares the remaining members were giving him.

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"I can't tell if you are smart or devious." Aoi said to her friend over the phone. It was late in the evening and Shinsuke had gone back after spending the afternoon with him. Aki was welcoming as usual and after hearing about the events that transpired this morning, she left, muttering something about calling Otonashi-sensei.

"What are you talking about?" Tenma huffed as he leaned back in his chair.

"Did you apologize to the captain only because you wanted to buy some time until the coach got back? Because even I think it was not warranted."

"No, I meant what I said." Tenma paused before adding, "But apologizing to the coach and Otonashi-sensei was the excuse."

"...You've been reading your brother's books on how to get friends, weren't you?"

Tenma floundered at that before stammering out, "What-?! I didn't-!"

"Hm." Aoi's skeptical hum told him that she knew the truth.

With a sigh, Tenma hung his head. "I don't know how am I supposed to act as a normal student. I just don't want people to dislike me this early."

"You didn't need those books to become friends with Shinsuke and I." Aoi was rolling her eyes at him, he just knew it. "And how much did those books actually help Abel?"

"...Not a lot."

"See? You just need to be your soccer freak-self. I'm sure the seniors will come to understand you if you be yourself."

Tenma managed a smile at his friend's forthrightness. "Thanks for the advice. But maybe saying sorry first will make them less tense towards us."

"We'll see. You should call your brother now. I'm sure he'll be wondering how your first day went."

"Hehe." Tenma suddenly laughed sheepishly. "Aoi, I forgot to tell you this, but Abel sent someone to infiltrate the school to keep an eye on me."

Tenma could hear the exasperated sigh from his friend. "Who is he sending?"

"Dahlia. I don't know what position she'll be taking but I figured you should know since you recognize her."

"It's likely a teacher. It's the only role that I can think of." Aoi speculated. "Anything else that I should know?"

"Nothing else. I'm going to call Abel now. See you tomorrow."

"See you then. Bye." Tenma sighed as he placed his phone back on his desk. He rummaged around his bag for his second phone, the one he used in Wythras. With a small smile, Tenma dialed his brother's number and waited for him to pick up.

"Hey Abel. You will not believe the day I had..."

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Yeah...Tenma doesn't know how to make friends. Considering that canon!Tenma didn't really have a lot of friends before the soccer club, I think it's valid.