[Eight Years Ago]

"You didn't study at all did you? You call this effort? Start working harder, be more like your brother." The teacher tossed sheets of paper at the raven haired teenager. As the boy stared straight ahead at his teacher with acid in his eyes, the leaflets of paper scattered across the floor. 

Only after the teacher left the room, did Jin bend down and collect the five sheets of paper. He looked at his exam, he scored thirty points out of one hundred. Probably the worst in the class, at least that's how his teacher made it out to be.

Jin studied. Obviously he didn't want something like this to happen again, so he did study, but it wasn't enough. There were a few questions that weren't even taught in class, how was he supposed to know the answer to those?

How was he, supposed to know?

Hayate knew. He always scored perfect numbers, and the teacher always praised him for it. The whole class idolized the white haired boy, and Jin didn't blame them. Hayate was perfect and deserved all the praise in the world. Hell, even Jin praised him - but not enough to make the boy annoyed.

"I'm so over this shit," Jin mumbled under his breath. He stuffed his exam into his bag, unfortunately he would have to show his mother at some point. She probably wouldn't be all that mad, but he knew she'd be disappointed.

Yeong Eul Jin, a disappointment.

The raven haired boy left the class room and made his way down the hall. He passed by the prettiest girl in his class, and also the girl he was crushing on. Her hair was silky and shiny, her eyes were big and glittering. Her clothes were expensive and brand name.

She didn't even look his way.

"Hayate!" She waved towards the white haired boy standing nearby the entrance doors. The boy glanced at her, before just nodding.

What a heartthrob.

Jin made his way over to his brother, and the two teens left the school together. Hayate deliberately waited for Jin, even though Jin told him to leave without him. It was just like Hayate to put others before himself.

"How'd it go?" Hayate asked, staring straight ahead.

"Same as always. Teacher putting me down and throwing shit in my face." Jin grumbled. "Why'd you wait? Don't you have to pick up Mio?" He glanced at the boy beside him.

"Let's get her together." Hayate responded.

Jin normally went with Hayate to pick up the little girl, but lately Hayate's mother had started to hate Jin with a passion. So, Jin didn't go to see Mio as often as he used to - which was sad, really. He loved that little girl with all of his heart. Even though they weren't blood related, he cared for her as if they were. Water is still sweet, after all.

"Oppa!" With the cutest smile on her face, Park ran over to her older brother with those short legs of hers. He hugged onto his legs, before hugging Jin's as well.

"Hey, you want an ice cream cone? I'll buy it for you!" Jin knelt on one knee to reach Park's height.

"Don't waste money." Park pouted.

"It's not wasting money, silly." Jin laughed, placing his hand on the girl's head. "I'll buy it for you, okay?"

She held onto Hayate's hand as they walked down the sidewalk. Jin went ahead and got her an ice cream cone, soft serve and smothered in sprinkles - her favourite. He didn't have a lot of money, but he was happy to spend what he had, on her. She was such a soft spoken kid, so gentle and shy. Jin and Hayate didn't want her to grow up, she wouldn't need them anymore. Park didn't really have friends. She was always on her own, reading, drawing, sitting on the swing set, or kicking a soccer ball around - that which she copied from her older brothers.

"I'll see you tomorrow okay? Be a good girl." Jin bent down and gave Park a big hug. She hugged him back with the tiniest smile on her face.

Hayate had unlocked the front door as quietly as he could, but it seemed that his mother was just waiting for him to come home. Sayuri jerked the door open and immediately lashed out as soon as she saw Jin.

"Brat, go the fuck home!" She snapped.

"Bye Mio." Jin smiled at the young girl before straightening up. He only glared at Sayuri before taking his leave. Hayate waved him off, but Jin didn't do the same. Seeing Sayuri had pissed him off even further than his teacher had.

Park watched Jin leave, and started crying as soon as he was out of sight. Silently, though. Hayate took her hand and gently coaxed her inside. For the rest of the day, they stayed in his room. She was drawing with her Crayolas while he did his homework.

"I'm home." Jin muttered as he entered the small house. There was no response, but this wasn't out of the ordinary. He slipped off his shoes and stepped further into the house, to see his mother knocked out drunk in the living room. She fell asleep on the sofa, which was an ordinary occurrence. At least Jin wouldn't have to show her his exam yet. The boy went straight to his room and threw himself into his bed.

Try harder, try harder. Ah, you really don't have a chance.

[Present Day]

"Guys, there's big trouble!" Shishido shouted as he ran towards his group of friends: Park, Kazemaru, Kino, Domon and Ichinose.

"What's the matter!?" Kino was instantly worried. The way Shishido made it sound - was like someone had died.

"Captain, Gouenji-san and Kidou-san are getting into a fight!" Shishido piped up, "we have go to go now!"

"A fight!? I'm ready, let's go." Park was the first to go along with the orange haired boy.

"You're not fighting anyone, Park!" Kazemaru dashed after the two - followed by the other three.

Shishido lead everyone to the riverbank pitch where the showdown was taking place. As soon as they arrived, Kazemaru tried to stop the supposed 'fight'.

"Endou! Endou, stop!" Kazemaru called out to the boy. "Don't use violence!"

"I'm coming to help!" Park was just about to run over to the brunet who was standing at the goal, but Kazemaru grabbed her uniform jacket and pulled her straight back to standing beside him.

"Violence? We're not using violence?" Endou furrowed his brows in confusion. "We're fighting with soccer."

"Soccer?" Kino blinked her eyes a few times before sighing. "Shishido! You had us all so worried!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Shishido raised his hands in defense.

"It's okay, I'm not mad at you." Park seemed a little disappointed for some reason, but she still smiled at the boy. In attempt to get away from any more scolding, Shishido hugged onto the white haired girl, who didn't seem to mind at all.

The twins that Endou challenged to a soccer battle were the Mukata triplets from Kidokawa Seishuu - Gouenji's prior school. They were obnoxious jerks that pushed Endou's buttons so easily, and this was how the battle came to be.

At first, they all shot their balls with their hissatsu: Back Tornado towards the goal. Of course, Endou couldn't stop three balls at once, and Kazemaru encouraged Park to stay out of it.

Then, the Mukata triplets used their three man hissatsu called Triangle Z. The ball slipped past Endou's fist and knocked him straight in the face, right into the goal.

Shortly after, Kidokawa Seishuu's coach had come by and told the triplets to get their ass packing and leave. They obliged with no protests. At that moment, Ichinose, Domon and Kino were reunited with their friend Nishikagi.

The team had went by RaiRaiken's for an early dinner. Everyone was talking about the Mukata triplets and how their shoot was the strongest they'd seen to date. Maybe around the same strength as Teikoku's Death Zone.

"Are you okay?" Kazemaru looked towards Park with worry written all over his expression.

"Huh?" Park raised her head and glanced at Kazemaru. She hardly ate any of her ramen, even though it one of her favourite foods. "O-oh, uhm. . . I'm alright. Just thinking."

"About what?" Kino asked the girl, which soon caught the attention of everyone in the store.

Park never liked being the center of attention, it always made her uncomfortable.

"Endou, I'll help you protect the goal." Park shifted herself to face the brunet captain. Endou blinked his eyes in confusion a few times.

"I'll do whatever it takes. To help protect you, everyone on this team, and the goal." She stated.

Try harder, try harder. Ah, you really don't have a chance.