I was walking to Raimon, alone. In honesty I didn't wanna walk with anyone, except with my brother, Koujirou, and Kuroi. I mean, I'd walk with Gouenji, but after the incident with Yuuka, I bothered talking to the guy.

By the time I reached the gates of Raimon, I almost dropped my bag.

"KUROI?!?!"

Kuroi just looked at me with a serious expression. With that expression, I can tell that something must be wrong. "Kuroi, what's the matter?" I asked.

"It's the Commander. Now I know why he asked you and Domon to spy on Raimon, he even asked Raimon's current coach to spy on them in order to get rid of you guys!" He said. What? There's no way he would do that... would he? Then I again, did hear him talking to the coach before I went home yesterday... but getting rid of Raimon?

"That's a little bit to extreme, Kuroi." I said, getting past him. 

He grabbed my shoulders, making me face him. "Believe me! I'm not joking! And I heard that the team is gonna replace you---"

I didn't need to hear what he was about to say. I slapped his hands off my shoulders and just continued walking inside Raimon. As I entered, Endou ran ahead of me. I sweat dropped. "Energetic... as usual..." I muttered.

---------------------------

It was already practice, and I was inside the soccer club along with the others. After the motivational shout of enthusiasm from Endou, everyone else got all hyped up for the Football Frontier.

"So, who's our opponent?" Kazemaru asked.

"Our opponent is..."

Everyone, including me, was waiting in anticipation of who our opponent was.

"I don't know!"

I mentally sweat dropped. 'How can he be so hyped even though he doesn't know who their fighting against...'

"Nosei Jr. High."

We saw Raimon's coach entered in the club room. "If I remember correctly, Nosei Jr. High was..."

"The team that played against Teikoku in the last year's district match." Haruna said, cutting him off.

"Awesome! We're fighting against a strong team like them?!" Endou asked, enthusiasm being released in his voice.

"We don't want to be eliminated from the first round by a large margin after all." Their coach said. Large margin? I don't get it. "Also..." 

Their coach moved aside, revealing Asuka.

"Hey, I'm Domon Asuka!" He introduced. "I'd like to be a defender, just so you know. Oh, and I brought a friend with me. 

As if on cue, Kuroi popped in. "I'm Genda Kuroi, age 12 and my position is midfielder and goalkeeper." He introduced. Raimon's coach looked at the both of them saying, "You show interest in the strangest things. Enrolling in here especially just to join a weak soccer team." 

After that he left. Turns out that Kino and Asuka knew each other since they were classmates. Soon after, Asuka told about Nosei Jr. High's strength in mid-air. Even Gouenji had witnessed this since he played against them before.

"A new hissatsu technique!" Endou said, raising his fist in the air. "Let's create a new hissatsu technique! One that'll let us control the skies!"

'Control the skies, eh?'

-----------------------

After explaining who the "Legendary Inazuma Eleven" were, everyone got hyped up after hearing Furakabu's story. Endou Daisuke, grandfather of Endou Mamoru was their coach back then. Speaking of which, my dad said he knew him and they got along pretty well, until he just suddenly disappeared. 

My dad knew him, since my dad studied at Raimon before. Although Daisuke didn't study there before, they were friends for god knows how long.

Everyone else got back to training, including me this time. I was with Endou, Kazemaru, and Someoka. Endou was throwing balls from above and either one of us would try doing a technique in mid-air and to improve our jumping abilities. 

'And I heard that the team is gonna replace you---'

"Sakuma!"

I looked at Endou's direction, but a soccer ball went into my direction instead. In shock I grabbed it, glaring at him in the process. "What was that for?!"

"You weren't really focusing. You were lost in thought." Kazemaru said. 

This went on for the whole day. Although none of us really got to make a new technique. The match was in a few days from now... and I'm hoping Kuroi didn't mean it. I wish he didn't mean it.

After training, I just sat down near the tree that was next to the club room. Kuroi couldn't have over heard them, or maybe he was joking. I always knew Kuroi has a prankster, so I decided not to believe it.

For now....

--------------------------------------------------

"You're being quiet... is everything OK?"

Right now I'm out with Koujirou, Narukami, and my brother at a cafe we usually go to after practice if neither of us have to do anything later after practice. I need to ask them... I'm not sure if Kuroi was joking or if he actually meant it.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I mumbled. Jirou cleared his throat, trying to get my attention. "Sis.. we have something to tell you."

"What?" I asked, pretending to be uninterested. Koujirou nudged Narukami, expecting him to say something. "Look, Rena... Kidou said you're off the team." 

I widened my eyes. "W-What? B-But I didn't do anything wrong this time!" I defended. Kourjirou gave off a sigh. "It was a vote..." He said. "And I guess they really wanted you off. Only me, Narukami and your brother voted that she'd stay."

"W-Who's the---"

"Nina Hernandez." Jirou said.

I couldn't believe what I am hearing right now... so Kuroi wasn't joking... And of all people, why her?

"I have to go!" 

"Sis/Rena!"

I ran out of the cafe as soon as possible. I didn't want to hear anymore from them. If they hated me from the start, they should've just said so instead of making me feel like this. I came to a halt at the pier. I didn't even know I ran that fast. I sighed and sat down. This isn't the first time this happened to me. This is probably... the 5th time this happened. I'm used to it.

"Rena?"

"Get lost, Shuuya, Kuroi."

Kuroi sat down next to me. Urgh, doesn't he know the words 'Get lost'?. "I saw my brother chase after you, but gave up after he saw me and Gouenji." He said. I glanced at Shuuya, then looked back at the ground. "This isn't the first time." I mumbled.

"What? Being repla---"

"It's best if you don't say it." Shuuya said. 

"Oh. Sorry, but when this started?" Kuroi asked.

I didn't want to tell him... but... No. Besides, I'm not the only one who knows why. I glanced at Gouenji again, gesturing to Kuroi this time.

"I met her at the National Soccer Youth when we were kids." Shuuya started. "I wasn't on the team, but I knew."

-------(Flashback: 7 years ago)------

Little 6 year old Rena just sat down on the bench in disappointment. She didn't know that Nina Hernandez would be able to take her spot so easily, and she never played sports in her entire life.

She tried being proud of her brother Jirou and her childhood friend Genda Koujirou because they still have their spots, but no matter how hard she tried giving support, she couldn't help but feel anger.

But then an incident happened.

It was the match against Poveda Elementary, and all girls school. Surprisingly, they had a 2-point lead.

"Alright guys, it's just 2 points, we can take them back!" Their captain, Yamato Ishida said with enthusiasm. For a 7 year old, he's quite the dribbling master.

"Yeah! Let's show them!" Nina exclaimed.

Rena bothered joining the huddle. Her spot as a forward was replaced so why would she join them in the first place?

"We're gonna have to sub at least 2 players. How about... Number 10 will switch places with Number 11, and Number 3 will switch places with Number 8." Their teammate, Yagami Taichi suggested.

"Alright! Kuma-chan's playing! We'll surely win!" Another teammate, Wataru Allen exclaimed.

Nina hesitated a bit. Alisa was number 11. "Etto, can't we just switch one player?" She asked. Taichi looked at her with confusion. "Well, she hasn't been playing for a while now ever since you took her place as a forward." He said.

"Nina, you're usually ok with this." Her friend and teammate, Matsumoto Mimi said while giving her a concerned look.

"But I'm the forward!" Nina protested.

"Not the original one, you stealer."

They all turned to see Rena, glaring at the blonde haired girl. "Remember, you stole my spot. So it's still mine." She said, venom spitting out of her voice. Some of the players, including Genda, shuddered in horror, mainly because they haven't seen her so mad before.

"I won that spot fair and square!" Nina said, anger visible in her tone. "It's not my fault that you're just a replacement!!!" She shouted.

The next thing she knew she was being tackled to the ground. Yamato and their coach tried holding the both of them off. Yamato holding Nina and their coach holding Rena.

"I AM NOT A REPLACEMENT!!!" Rena shouted. "YOU STEALER!!! YOU STOLE EVERYTHING FROM ME!!!"

The match was suspended and it was moved on to next week, which was Poveda's Founding anniversary.

Although, it didn't end well for Alisa.

"Sir, I am terribly sorry that this happened to her." Her father, Sakuma Okita bowed down to Hernandez Kirigaya, Nina's father.

"As a part of the Elementary School Soccer Association, your daughter will be suspended for 10 weeks off the team." Kirigaya said. "I forgive you Okita, you're a good friend of mine. But until your daughter learns how to accept replacements, she won't be playing soccer.

From the living room, Jirou, Genda and Rena heard everything. Genda gave Rena a look of pity. "Aww don't worry Ali. 10 weeks won't be that long. Besides we can still play after school!" He said, trying to lighten up the mood.

"... I don't think I wanna play..." Rena said, going up the stairs. Jirou sighed. Who knew that the word "replacement" would make her snap like that?

"Will this affect our dream?" Genda asked.

Jirou looked at him, giving a reassuring smile. "It won't."

---------(Present Time)--------

"Rena, I didn't know that you felt that way."

I gave a sad smile at Kuroi. "It's ok, you needed to know why anyway." I said.

"Sorry you had to remember that." Shuuya said.

"But, why did you become so serious?" Kuroi asked.

I sighed. "After that incident, I promised myself that I would change, so that I wouldn't be replaced again. I changed my old personality into a whole new one, and my new personality got me where I am now... Although even that gave me a downfall." I said.

"You can still keep your old personality." Shuuya said. I looked at him in confusion. "What do you mean by that? You changed." I retorted.

"I did, but after seeing something, I came back." He said.

"Endou, am I right?" Kuroi asked.

"What I mean is, you can change, but you can also keep your old personality." Shuuya clarified. "And, I wanna see the real you again."

The real me... It's been long gone. I wanna go back to being myself but if I did, I'd be... I don't wanna say it.

"You're still afraid?" Kuroi asked me. I was about to answer when he gave me a smile. "Don't be. After seeing Endou, I'm sure he won't replace you!"

"How can you make sure?" I asked.

"I told him about your personality." Kuroi said. "And I might have said something about your past."

Shuuya sweat dropped. "All you did was mimic her when she was in elementary." He said.

"You guys... Thanks for cheering me up." I said, giving a light laugh.

"No problem bud, but promise me you'll go back to your old self." Kuroi said, smiling a little.

"Alright, I promise."

It's time for a new beginning, time for real soccer.