It's been near two weeks, and Raimon was doing exceptionally well in the frontier. Frankly put, they'd won all their matches so far, even if it was by the thinnest hair.

Of course they'd come across a few difficulties - like their coach being a backstabbing bastard, Domon being a spy from Teikoku (who actually redeemed himself immediately), losing a coach and needing to find a new one in the span of one day (luckily, Endou had beaten Hibiki in their little duel, and the ramen shop owner became their new coach), and now a match against Teikoku yet again.

Though, Hibiki was gravely worried about this match. . . Kageyama was in the shadows of that school after all. Something just didn't feel right whenever that man was involved. Desperate to protect the kids of Raimon, Hibiki pulled out his very last resort option.

That last resort had just pulled up in a shiny black Maserati, to a run down noodle shop for god's sake.

Well, Hayate was a show off, what were you going to do about it.

"I couldn't possibly fathom that you have an actual job for me, old man." The whitette's tone barely had any expression in it, but it was obvious he was being nothing short of a sarcastic prick.

"You are familiar with Kageyama Reiji, are you not?" Hibiki had already started to fry some dumplings, on the house. This busy man had taken valuable time out of his day, to come and help him.

"Mmhm." Hayate's response was a mere hum, his red eyes peering over at the dumplings. He didn't eat very often, did he?

"He is the coach of Teikoku's soccer team." Hibiki sighed, "the one Raimon will be facing tomorrow."

"That's pretty short notice." Those same scarlet hues has narrowed. He seemed to get the gist of what was going on. Raimon wasn't just a bunch of innocent kids, it was his younger sister, too.

"I'm their new coach, and I have a duty to protect them. But I can only do so much." The ramen shop owner placed the dumplings on a plate, and then in front of Hayate. "Don't pay for these-"

"Yeah right." The whitete scoffed, it took him less than a second to slap more than enough money down on the table. "Keep the change, seriously." There was never any arguing with him. At least Hibiki could use this extra money to pay for the kids' train fare.

"Kageyama must be plotting something."

"I'll look into it. As soon as I find something, I'll let you know." Fixing the chopsticks in his hand, Hayate lifted a piece and blew at the steam. "It can't be that hard." Once he had said this, his phone had started ringing. With a small inward groan, Hayate grabbed the thing out of his blazer's pocket and answered. "Yeoboseyo*."

"You've a client requesting an appointment, shall I give you the details?" Ah, it was just his assistant.

"I'll be back in half an hour, we'll talk then. . . Also, cancel everything I have tomorrow, change of plans, I'm fully booked."

The captain of Teikoku; Kidou Yuuto was gravely against his coach's decisions. Before, he was so very drawn to that man and the power he promised the team. . . Then he was introduced to a different kind of soccer, by a different kind of team. Raimon spread nothing but love and enjoyment, everywhere they went. Even in this fortress of a school, this miserable team that was Teikoku had been enamored by Endou Mamoru and his friends.

In last attempts to check the ground and locker rooms, just in case if anything had been tampered with - Kidou made his way to the field. To see a taller, slender figure in the middle of the pitch, staring upwards. Definitely someone he'd never seen before.

"Who are you-!?"

"Calm down, I've got no business messing around this place." Flipping a red scarf over his shoulder, the male pivoted his feet, looking at the teen making his way over.

"So what are you here for?" Kidou's brows furrowed, what in god's name was going on here? Teikoku had been such a mess recently.

"Don't make a big deal about it and tell anyone, but I was asked to check this place for any tampering by Raimon's coach." Hayate responded rather bluntly. "Kid. What do you see when you look up?" A rather small simper marred his features.

After blinking his eyes, Kidou had done as told and looked upwards. . .

"Nothing. . ." He muttered, his expression faltering. "It's just darkness."

"Exactly." The white haired male scoffed. "The perfect place to put a shitty murder weapon." No, he wasn't going to apologize for swearing in front of a kid. "I'm gonna go say hi to your commander, when you shake hands with Raimon's captain - let him know that everyone should take at least ten steps backwards from their usual position." Hayate said this while checking his watch, one hand in his pocket, and walking to the exit behind Kidou.

". . . Thank you." he had hesitated, but only when Hayate was near out of sight did Kidou call out to him. All the male responded with, was lifting a hand.

Both teams were allowed thirty minutes to warm up on the field, but before this was when Park caught Haruna standing in the hallway, staring at nothing in particular.

"Is everything alright?" The older girl had padded over so quietly that Haruna hadn't noticed her at all. She immediately whipped around with a small shriek. "O-oh! Sorry! Did I scare you?"

"Oh, it's just you, Park-san. Th-that's alright. . . I just didn't hear you coming." The dark haired girl trailed off, lifting a hand to her chest. The poor girl's heart was pounding ridiculously hard. She felt as if she'd pass out any second.

"You don't look well. . . Do you need some water? Maybe you should sit down?" Taken over by concern, Park gently held onto Haruna's shoulders, but the other girl had just stared at the ground with a lost look in her eyes.

"I'm alright, it's okay." She said this, but it definitely didn't look like she was telling the truth.

"Haruna, I really won't force you to tell me what the matter is, but I want you to know that I'm here for you." Park's brown eyes softened as Haruna lifted her head. "I'm worried, something is clearly bothering you."

"Park-san!" Haruna burst out, throwing herself onto the taller girl and holding her quite tightly. This came as surprise, but Park didn't mind. "I'm so conflicted. . . I just don't know how to feel."

"I understand." Park had lowered her voice, lifting a hand to stroke at Haruna's dark hair. "Whatever it is that you're feeling, that feeling is completely valid."

At this point, Haruna was reduced to quiet sniffling tears.

"He's changed so much. Sometimes I can't even recognize him." Haruna screwed her eyes shut, her grip around Park had tightened as well. While Park had no idea who she was going on about, she still let the younger girl speak through her sobbing. "It hurts to see him like this. . . It really hurts to see him turn into a completely different person."

"Haruna." Park breathed out softly. "Who are you talking about?"

As she asked this, Haruna pulled away from Park. The white haired girl quickly started to wipe her tears away, and fix Haruna's pretty short hair.

"My- My older brother." The younger female finally confessed. "My older brother is Kidou Yuuto."

Shock!

"I-I see. . ." Park wouldn't make a scene, that would be awful right now. "Now I know why you've been so unsettled." Pressing her lips together, she took hold of Haruna's hands, rubbing her thumb against the back of one. "If Kidou once was a loving and kind person, it's very possible that he still is. Have a little faith in him Haruna, alright? Things will get better, I promise." For Haruna's sake, Park had pulled a smile.

"Okay. . . I'll do my best." Haruna heaved a breath, nodding to herself.

"Alright. If there's anything I can do for you, just let me know." The white haired girl chirped. At that, Haruna had made her way back to the field with the rest of the team, and Park stepped into the bathroom to was her face.

In the girls bathroom - was Endou.

For a second Park thought she'd stepped into the wrong room, but the sign wouldn't lie to her.

"What are you doing in here?" Strangely enough, she didn't start screaming, and just stepped over to him.

"Oh, sorry! The boys bathroom just didn't have a mirror." The brunette let out a nervous laugh and grinned. "I can leave if you-"

"No, it's alright, I won't kick you out." Park lifted her hands in defense. "Why aren't you on the field, captain?"

"You can just call me Endou, okay? We're the same age, after all." He replied with a beam, but not exactly answering her question.

"Right, my apologies." Even still, Park was as formal as usual.

"Anyways. . . I've just been thinking too much about something." Endou turned back to the mirror, watching his reflection stare at himself, with empty eyes.

This would be the second person today, who indeed had too much on their minds.

"Did- something happen? Is it because of what coach Hibiki said earlier today?" Park watched him from the corner of her eye, placing her hands on the counter top.

"No, it's because of something Kageyama told me." Endou furrowed his brows, averting his eyes lower. "I know, crazy right? I met him in person."

Park had slowly tilted her head.

"Park-chan. . ." The brunette started, "I never got to ask. How do you like it at Raimon? Are you having fun on this team?"

"I am." She nodded her head once. "I really am. You've made things so much better for me, I can't remember the last time I had friends." A small smile had found it's way on her features. Hearing this, really did make Endou happy.

"I'm glad." He grinned, his usual bright smile that always lifted everyone's spirits. "I guess I just needed to hear something good, but I feel better now." It wasn't very often that others were there for Endou, like how he was there for them. The captain held everyone up, but who held the captain up?

"Kageyama said that Kidou needed to win this frontier in order to live with his younger sister again."

"Haruna, yes?"

"Huh?" Endou perked up. "How did you know?"

"Haruna had told me not too long ago, out in the hallway. . ." Park muttered with a small pout.

"Things always have a way of coming together." As Endou said this, both he and Park had smiled. "I just don't know what to do. . ."

"Well." Park heaved a breath, trying to think things through before speaking her thoughts. "When we first played against Teikoku, even though we were nowhere as close a strong as they were, Teikoku played seriously. Kidou gave it his all, because if he were to go easy on us, that would be as if they were mocking us."

"So, you're saying you think that Kidou wants a serious match? Even still?" Endou turned to the white haired girl, who simply nodded.

"Just like any other soccer player would, don't you think?" There was a glint of determination in her brown eyes.

"You're right." Endou exhaled. Suddenly back to his usual self, the ball of sunshine grabbed onto Park's hands, "thank you!"

"O-oh, you're welcome, captain!" She chirped.

Just then had Kino stepped into the bathroom as well. There was a pause, as she watched both Endou and Park in the middle of the girls bathroom. . .

"Endou! Get out of here!"

"Sorry! Sorry!"

[ a/n; ok i don't think is too important but i'd like to say it anyway. about hayate and jin - they are whole, entire characters. i just don't want anyone thinking they're just pieces of park's backstory, and they're only around to make her seem cooler or whatever (because people do this a lot in stories and anime lol). jin and hayate are entire characters on their own. they have their own stories too. <3 ]