The Raimon eleven practiced for the upcoming practice match. They trained hard and we're excited for tomorrow. After soccer practice, Tenma trained in using his power. After that everyone went home and was ready for the practice match.

~The next day~

Tenma and his friends were at the soccer club waiting for coach Endou, Otonashi-sensei, and coach Kidou. When they arrived, everyone got their things and went outside to go to the caravan. They went on and got ready for the journey. After minutes have passed, they finally arrived. They got off the caravan and looked at the surroundings.

Tenma's POV:

When I got off the caravan, I was surprised that the place where I lived before changed a lot.

"It changed this much?!" I said in my mind.

"I see you're surprised about the changes, after all, you haven't been here for a long time," Sangoku-senpai said.

"Alright, everyone! since we arrived early, we can explore the place," coach Endou said.

"Hai!" everyone replied.

Everyone went into three groups. Group one was with coach Endou, group two was with Otonashi-sensei, and finally, group three was with coach Kidou.

Group 1:

Tenma

Shinsuke

Kageyama

Kariya

Tsurugi

Aoi

Shindou

Kirino

Group 2:

Midori

Akane

Ichino

Aoyama

Kurama

Hamano

Hayami

Group 3:

Nishiki

Minamisawa

Sangoku

Kuramada

Amagi

Me and the others explored the area and some of us were so excited. I was still surprised by the changes and that so far no one recognized me. But I hope I don't encounter with 'him'.

"Hey guys, are you hungry?" coach Endou asked.

"I accidentally skipped breakfast cause I was too excited," Shinsuke said as he rubbed the back of his head. Everyone was kinda hungry and we don't want to have an empty stomach during the match.

"Well, anyone who is, there is a free food stall, over there," Coach Endou said and he pointed out the stall.

I recognized it, that is where and my family use to buy, the free food stall only opens every Saturday, so luckily today was Saturday and I was surprised it was still here. This was one of my favorite food stalls, it almost had every type of food. We went over to the stall and got a snack. I just ordered takoyaki and I thanked the owner. We sat down on an area under a sakura tree.

"This place is awesome," Kageyama said.

"Hai! this place looks beautiful and peaceful," Aoi said.

"And the food here is good as well," Shinsuke said as he took another bite of the yaki imo.

I finished my food and went to a nearby trashcan and threw my trash away. After everyone finished, we rest under the sakura tree after all the exploring. I then realized I'm gonna get something for Aki-nee. I stood up from my seat.

"Hey guys, I'm gonna go get something from the stall again," I said.

"Are you still hungry Tenma?" coach Endou asked.

"No, I'm gonna go get something for Aki-nee, since she wanted to try something from Okinawa," I replied with a smile.

"Alright, but do you want someone to go with you,"  coach Endou asked.

"Thanks, but I know the place already, I'll be fine," I replied.

"Ok, be careful Tenma," Shindou said.

"I will," I replied and I left.

When I arrived at the stall, I got a Yakisoba, Onigiri, and candied fruit for Aki-nee. It was put into a plastic bag and I ran my way to the caravan so that I could put it in my bag and then go to my group. When I arrived at the caravan, I saw Furukabe san was sleeping, so I went to my bag quietly and put the Yakisoba and candied fruit in there. Before I left the caravan, I placed the paper bag with the onigiri inside on the counter of the driver seat where you put the food. I smiled and left the caravan and closed the door. I started to run my way to the group and was thinking about the match.

"I wonder how much time left before we're gonna have the match," I said in my mind, I then closed my eyes, "I can't wait to go against them."

As I ran, I opened my eyes and I accidentally bumped into someone. We both fell onto the ground.

"I'm sorry for bumping into you," I said as I got up. The person got up as well.

"It's alright," he said. His voice sounded familiar. I looked at who it was, it was Ryan. He used to be my friend. My eyes widened, I saw he was shocked to see me, he then got serious.

"Ryan are you alright?" I heard another familiar voice said. Three people ran to Ryan and when they saw me, they had the same shocked expression.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were gone," Ryan said.

"Well, I'm here for a practice match with my team," I replied.

"So you must be from Raimon?" he said, "I didn't expect you to be able to join the team. And also me, Chris and Bryan are part of the soccer team here. So it is that we are going against each other."

I kept silent. No one else was around but us.

"And also, do you have friends there in that school?" Chris asked in a kinda sarcastic tone. I was about to say something when Lily interrupted.

"Oh yeah, you probably don't have since you will just hurt and backstab them," she said.

"And probably the other reason why you're here is so that you are gonna call Nemesis into this town," Bryan said. I wanted to facepalm right now, but I didn't.

"Guys, we have no time for this," Ryan said, "let's go."

The three of Ryan's friends left and I was standing face to face with him.

"After this match, I never want to see your face ever again, got that?" Ryan said. He then left.

I sighed and I continued to go to my friends. When I arrived at where my group is and they stood up.

"Hey Tenma, what took you so long?" Aoi asked.

"I encountered with someone," I said.

"Who?" Kirino asked.

"My old childhood friends, well they don't consider me one anymore," I said and was kinda sad.

"They are also part of the team we are going against," I added. This seemed to surprise my friends.

"You use to have other childhood friends and they are part of the team we are going against?" Kariya said.

"Hai," I replied.

After that, coach Endou received a call from Otonashi-sensei and she said that everyone is gonna go back to the caravan and get ready for the match after 15 minutes. Coach Endou agreed and hung up the phone. We then started exploring the place again.

"Hey Tenma, you seemed like you didn't have that many good memories here, do you?" Shindou asked.

"Well, I use to have two friends here beside the ones that didn't see me as a friend anymore," I replied.

"Who are these two?" Tsurugi asked. (Tenma didn't mention Tom and Timmy in Chapter 20)

"Their names are Tom and Timmy, they are brothers and they were one of the only ones that cared about me here, other than my mother," I replied, "Before I met you guys, the two of them were the only friends I had here. They were always by my side and they convince me that I matter. I never forget about them."

"But. I have a question Tenma," Aoi asked, "where are they now."

I then looked back at what happened to them.

"Tom was hit by a car and is still in a coma at the hospital. And Timmy went missing," I said. I saw my friends shocked expressions.

"Huh?!" everyone but Tsurugi said. We stopped walking, no one else but us was around now.

"The reason why Tom is in a coma is that it was my fault. He saved me from being hit by the car and now, he ended up in the hospital," I said and I gripped my fist and was looking down at the floor, "I don't know what happened to Timmy though, I went to his house but only to see, it was destroyed."

I then felt someone hug me, I looked it was Aoi.

"It wasn't your fault that Tom was in the hospital. If it weren't for him, you wouldn't be where you are right now. He saved you because you're his friend, " Aoi said. She then let go and back up.

"And think positively Tenma, " Kariya said, all of us looked at him with a confused look. "You don't even know if Timmy had died yet do you?"

Kirino then hit Kariya again. "Very poor choice of words Kariya!"

I looked at my right and saw a familiar house. I then realized it was the house where I used to live in. I started to walk towards it. My friends don't seem to notice. I stood at the front door and took a breath. I knocked on the door and I heard footsteps going towards the door. I back up and the door opened. My eyes widened, there I saw my mother standing there. She was also shocked to see me.

"Tenma, what are you doing?" Aoi asked. Coach Endou and my friends went to me.

"Tenma is that you?" She asked. I gave her a smile in response.

"Hello mom, " I said. She then hugged me and I hugged her back. I haven't seen her for years.

"Eh?!" I heard my friends said. Me and my mother let go of each other.

"She's your mother?" Kageyama asked. I faced my friends.

"Hai, " I replied.

"Oh, who they?" My mother as she looked at coach Endou and my friend.

"I'm the coach of the Raimon soccer club, Endou Mamoru, " coach Endou.

"Those are my friends, " I said as I looked at my teammates, " their names are Shinsuke, Tsurugi, Kageyama, Kariya, Aoi, Shindou, and Kirino."

"Ohayo guzaimasu, " my friends said.

"All of you can come in, I insist, " my mother said.

"Arigato, " coach Endou said.

"I didn't know your mother is so kind, Tenma, " Kariya whispered.

When we entered, it was the same as I remembered. We sat down on the couch and so far I haven't seen him yet. Coach Endou and my mother talked to each other while me and my friends look around the house.

"Your house is so huge Tenma, " Shinsuke said.

"Yeah, " Aoi said as she looked around the house.

Everything was just the same as I remembered. But what caught my attention was the picture of me, my mother, and my father. I picked up the picture and I still looked back at the good memories of me and my family.

"What are you looking at Tenma?" Shindou asked. He went beside me and saw the photo. And also my father.

"Is that what your father looks like?" He asked. I nodded in response.

"Where is he right now, is he at work?" Shindou asked.

I put down the photo and said, "he also went missing."

"Huh?!" Shindou asked.

"When I was five years old, my father went to work. He always came home before night time. But he never returned. The police searched for a long time, but there were no traces of him. So he was said to be dead, I still believe he is still out there though, " I replied. Shindou then placed his hand on my shoulder. I looked at him in confusion.

"Yeah, I agree, " he said. I smiled in response.

After coach Endou and my mother finished talking, all of us sat at the couch and talked while drinking some tea. After a while of talking, Endou got a message saying that everyone is gonna meet at the caravan now. We thanked my mother and left. I stopped in my tracks for a bit and looked back at the house, I saw my mother waving goodbye. I smiled and waved goodbye. We then went back to the caravan and got ready for the match.