"Can you do a back flip?" Akatsuki asked.
"Huh? What brought that up?" I asked chopping a carrot.
"Just asking, some people use moves like that to score goals, defend and pass too." He said scrolling through his phone.
"Ho...? I think I'll like to learn." I said as he smiled and looked up at me.
"You're already too good, do you want to be best at everything or what?" He asked smiling.
"Yeah."
"You seriously don't hide your intentions 😑" He said as I threw everything I chopped into the pot.
"Well yeah, cause I need to do great things." I said posing.
"Seriously, what are you doing?"
"Nothing." I said smiling before turning the stuff in the pot.
"I guess they'll be no match today." Akatsuki said as I nodded. "So, do you wanna come by and practice?" He asked as I smiled.
"For sure, lemme finish this real quick." I answered.
"Okay, maybe I'll just show you how it's done." He said throwing a ball to me.
"Okay, am all ears." I said.
"Go to the corner and play a high and long ball." He said as I nodded before playing a corner.
As the ball neared him, he jumped, and kicked the ball in with his right foot while flipping.
"Whoa." I said clapping. "That was awesome."
"Right."
"I'd love to learn it too." I said as he grabbed the ball and went to the corner.
"Am passing now, get ready."
"Am set." I said waiting for the ball.
He kicked and I was already about to flip but fell on the floor instead.
"Hahaha, you couldn't do it."
"Ouch."
"Sorry, haha." He laughed running towards me.
"Damn, that hurt."
"Well you literally hit your back on the ground." He said as we sat on the field together.
"That's something I'll learn."
*I'll make sure of it.* I thought.
"Just don't hurt yourself." He said.
"I won't."
"Hey you guys, don't just come practice alone." Kimishita said walking into the field.
"You say that like you planned on calling anyone to come practice with you." Yusuke said walking in with Ryuto and Tanaka.
"Come on guys, let's just practice together." Akaji said smiling.
"Oh we are here too, let's all work hard together." Suzune said smiling.
"Geek!!"
"What's wrong with you both?" Yusuke asked Tanaka and I.
"Em, let's change the forwards for each team." Akaji said.
"Yeah, what he said." I said forcing a smile.
"What's wrong with you both? Let's do it the way we always do it." Chika said.
*No, these two girls, they'll break my leg.* I thought.
"W-w-well, let's bring out those dummies, let's practice shooting, passing and sprinting." I said rubbing the back of my neck.
"Yeah, I support you." Tanaka said.
"Something's definitely wrong with the both of them." Kimishita said as we brought the dummies out.
After setting them, we began practicing shooting.
"Ryuto, try making it a bit higher." I said as he nodded and kicked the ball.
"Cool, it got in." He said.
"Nice, it's your turn, Akatsuki." I said as he smiled and walked to the front.
"It'll go in." He said kicking the ball.
"Kimishita."
"Hey, atleast tell me how I did."
"You know how you played, you don't need me to tell you that."
"Meanie."
"Go for the sprint." I said as he nodded.
*Luckily, things are going well now.*
"Seriously, why'd you guys drag me out too?" I asked as we walked into a store.
"Come on, it's no big deal, let's go in together." Akatsuki said.
"We are already here, we might as well." Tanaka said smiling.
*Might as well, I seriously don't know why am being forced to join them in the store.* I thought as they bought their stuff.
"To a restaurant!!" Ryuto said smiling.
"You just ate few minutes ago."
"Even so, I need to eat more." He said as we walked out of the store.
"Let's go find one, today, we have fun." Yusuke said as we looked for a restaurant.
"If you guys were hungry I would have prepared something to eat before going out, this will be the second restaurant since we came out." I said.
"Don't stress yourself okay."
"Man, am so glad we don't have a match today." Kimishita said.
*What's with them? I feel like they're giving me more attention than usual.* I thought as we kept walking around.
"Hey, it feels like you guys didn't come out for anything in particular, why'd you bring me out?" I asked.
"Knew he'd figure it out." Akatsuki said smiling.
"Find what out?" I asked as they kept dragging me.
"Either way, you're going to join us for today." He said.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Nothing, that you should never worried about."
"Well that made me more worried!!"
"We're back!!" Ryuto shouted as we walked into the dorm.
"Seriously you guys, don't tell me that you just dragged me out for nothing." I said before walking in.
*Huh?* I thought looking around the sitting room.
"Happy birthday captain!!" They shouted as I put my hand over my mouth.
*Wait, that's not right.* I thought removing it.
"Huh?"
"It's your birthday Atsushi." Akatsu said.
"Wait, for real?! I almost forgot it." I said as they laughed.
"Here, come sit." Misaki said.
*Oh God, I forgot it totally.*
They began singing a birthday song to me and brought out a cake.
"Whoa, that looks nice." I said.
"Yeah, Akane baked that herself." Chika said as I looked at Akane who looked away, her face red.
"Th-thanks, Akane." I said looking back at the cake.
"And thanks you guys." I said.
"Cut the cake!!"
*So that's why they kept me away from home.* I thought as tears welled up my eye.
*I can't cry infront of them.* I thought looking up.
"Let it all out boy." Akatsuki said smiling.
"I won't."
After cutting the cake, they all brought presents for me.
"Whoa, thanks a lot." I said smiling as I looked at the gifts.
"This one is from all of us." Tanaka said handing a black arm band over to me.
"Huh?"
"It's a captains armband." Akatsuki said.
"Thanks guys, I'll do my very best for you guys." I said smiling.
"Hooray!!!!"
*These guys.* I thought smiling.
We kept having fun till evening.
"Well, goodnight y'all." Chika said waving at us as the girls went up.
"I'll be going to sleep too."
"Me too."
"I'll go check out the equipments." I said walking out.
I went into the training room and sat on the floor quietly, my face in my palm.
*Mom.* I thought as a tear fell from my eyes.
*I miss you, I miss you, mom.* I thought as tears began to flow freely from my eye.
THEN:
"Come on Atsu, come eat mommy's curry." She said smiling as I ran into the house.
"Yes mom." I said as she carried me on her lap.
"Hey, let's try going to the amusement Park this year."
"I've never been there before, mom, is it scary?"
"No, it's not, you'd love it."
Now:
*Mom, mom.* I thought while drying my face.
"I wish you lived longer than you did, I miss you mom." I said as the tears kept falling.