Author's Note: I decided to try writing Inazuma Eleven fanfiction after I finished watching the anime. Fubuki Shirou is undoubtedly my favorite character in the series! c: This will be a love story between an OC and Fubuki. Also, I would like for readers to know beforehand that the story takes place after the Football Frontier International, around the start of the new school year (in April), even though they're still in junior high school. I decided to switch their grades and ages around a bit since I didn't want the story to take place in high school. Enjoy reading and please review when you're done!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inazuma Eleven. Only the OC, Azumi, that I have introduced into this fanfiction belongs to me.

They were close childhood friends. Her extremely wealthy parents had died in an accident like his had, leaving behind a butler to take care of her and a mass fortune. She was the one who helped him get over the sorrow of the deaths of his own family members, and he always admired how strong-willed she was. That unwavering strength and undying smile... he found them beautiful. Five years after they became friends, when they were both ten, he saw her cry for the first time. She told him that she would be going overseas to carry on the work her parents had left behind. But that was not why she was crying. She was crying because they would not see each other for a long time. The next day, she left, but not before making a promise with him:

"Let's meet again someday."

The teacher hadn't arrived yet, but no one cared to say anything about it. The students chattered among themselves, all except for Fubuki, who sat quietly reminiscing in his seat by the window. It's nice to be at Raimon with everyone else... I want to go practice with the others already. He had transferred to Raimon Junior High like Tsunami and the others after the Football Frontier International, wanting to stay with all his new friends. It had only been a few days since he had transferred, but it already felt like he'd been there his entire life. Smiling to himself, Fubuki turned to join in on a classmate's conversation when the door was suddenly thrown open, causing him to jump a little in surprise. Chatter ceased as all eyes turned to the male student that stood slightly panting in the doorway.

"Guys, guys, I overheard the teachers talking about a transfer student! What's more, the transfer student is going to be joining our class!" he announced. A murmuring of surprise rippled through the room, everyone suddenly asking questions and calling out comments.

"Is the transfer student a guy or a girl?"

"I hope it's a girl! There are too many guys in this class."

"No way, I'm betting it's a guy."

"Well, you won't know until you take your seats," a deep male voice interrupted. It was the teacher, Mr. Katsunari, who stood behind the student in the doorway. With sheepish faces, everyone returned to their seats. Fubuki patiently waited like his classmates for the teacher to introduce the transfer student. The only open seat in the classroom was right next to his, so the transfer student would obviously be sitting there. I wonder what they're like...

"All right, seeing as how we've all settled down, I'll go ahead and confirm what Taichi was telling everyone. Yes, we do have a transfer student joining us today," Mr. Katsunari nodded. He turned towards the closed classroom door with a smile on his face. "Well then, please come in and introduce yourself." A few of the students leaned forward with eager looks on their faces at the sound of approaching footsteps. Fubuki himself couldn't help but feel a little surge of excitement. The footsteps came to a halt, the door slid open, and in came the transfer student. Almost immediately there were shocked gasps from nearly every student in the room. Fubuki's eyes widened in surprise. His heart skipped a beat as he stared at the transfer student. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. Was it really her? It just couldn't be that same girl... The girl he had grown up being close childhood friends with. Not after all these years. He had never given up hoping that he would see her again, but it was simply too good to be true. Those shining purple-gray eyes, that kind yet shy smile, and the flawless skin framed by silky, dark raspberry red hair. It was her. It was truly her. Fubuki opened his mouth.

"Azumi?"

She hadn't expected much, really. Everything happened exactly like the time she had transferred to a school abroad. The stares she received, the hushed whispers behind her back... she didn't care for any of it. She did care, however, about the fact that Raimon Junior High was a school with a large student population. Azumi was starting to regret that she had chosen to transfer to this school of all places. There were twice as many students here than at her previous school, and being around so many people made her uncomfortable like usual. No, I can't get scared now... I can get through this. This is a school with a good reputation, so I can't judge it based on the student body alone. Swallowing her nervousness down, Azumi continued to walk through the school hallways until she found the classroom she would be in for the rest of the year. Two girls passed by on their way to their own classroom, looking curiously at Azumi as they did so.

"Who is that? I've never seen her around before," the girl on the left whispered to her friend.

"Me either, but she's really pretty! She looks like she could be a model or something..." her friend whispered back.

"I think she's a transfer student, but she's not wearing the school uniform like she's supposed to... maybe she's some famous person who has connections to the school," the girl who had first spoken said. They were soon out of earshot, and Azumi had to take in a deep breath to calm herself as she stood outside classroom 3-A's door.

She was wearing a dress like she normally did. After all, her background would not have it any other way, not that she minded. Her current dress was white with a lacy hem and pale gray ribbon around the waist. The shoes she wore were gray heels with ankle straps and she had left her long hair down like she normally did, letting it reach its full length, which was an inch or two above her waist. Everything about her screamed beauty and wealth, but Azumi hoped that her new classmates would accept her for who she was. She only had to stand outside for a few more seconds before she heard the teacher call her in for a standard introduction to the class. This is it. I can do this. He would tell me the same thing too... She instantly felt at ease just thinking about what her childhood friend would say to her in the situation she was in. Feeling calmer than before, she steeled herself for what lay ahead and smiled before opening the door and walking in.

Her eyes took in the new surroundings with much interest, but they never lingered too long on any one person or object. Azumi reached the teacher's desk and turned to face the class just as her gaze settled on a handsome, gray-haired boy sitting by the window. He returned her stare with his own and his eyes widened at the same time hers did. Azumi found herself unable to tear her gaze away from the boy's bluish-gray eyes. Her heart rate sped up at the sight of the familiar face.

"Azumi?" the boy hesitated. Her heart did a somersault after hearing the boy's voice. It really was him...

"It's me," Azumi's smile widened. "It's nice to see you again, Fubuki."