Author's Note: Hi, it's been awhile! I'm back with a FuSaku fic, because I find them adorable and they need more love! This is totally for fun, so if things are a bit inaccurate or any other small mistakes, I'm sorry. This fic will contain some swearing (Only here and there), and some... Suggestive content (you know what I mean) but nothing too serious! Happy reading!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inazuma Eleven!

Walking down the street at a steady rhythm, a cloud of smoke escaped Sakuma's reddened lips as he sighed after another tiring day at Teikoku. It was already mid-January, a difficult month to get through as the cold was merciless. Although, they luckily did manage to get some snow in December at least, which made the blunet content at having another "White Christmas". But winter just wasn't Sakuma's favorite season after all. The wind seemed like frozen blades on his cheeks, and the bitter pain in his knuckles was a reminder of this morning's mistake; forgetting his gloves. He held tightly on his apartment key, causing the jagged edges to dig into his palm, wishing to be at home already.

Soon enough, Sakuma noticed how his life was beginning to be stuck in a loop, as each day resembled each other. Thinking turning a year older recently to "the important age" as Genda would say, would improve anything but to no avail. Sakuma knows well how habits and lives don't change by themselves in a day or two, but deep down—he was hoping for an escape route. An exit to his daily life which wasn't fun anymore. Ever since he confessed his love to his best friend Kidou, almost four months ago from now, the rejection hit hard. So hard it somehow still affected him to this day, when some people would have already moved on. But for Sakuma… It wasn't that easy. His copper eye focused on the pretty navy ocean of stars above him, carrying a sentiment of melancholy as he admired the full moon.

"Reach for the moon, huh...?"

Finally arrived at his apartment door, he enteredquietly with a sigh of relief. The sudden wave of warmth was pleasant, and the blunet could not wait to reunite with his sofa. There was nothing better than lying on his soft sofa after a long, cold day. Sakuma has lived alone in this cozy apartment for two years now, as his parents believed it would be a good way for their son to mature. At first, it seemed slightly absurd to Sakuma as his parents were always away for job related things either ways; leaving Sakuma home alone very often, being an only child. It felt wrong, especially since his parents insisted to pay for his rent and education. But he didn't argue, as that was surely was the best gift his parents gave him. Let's say his little job four times a week at a café evidently wasn't enough to support himself. Some of his friends couldn't believe he worked as a barista of all things. Honestly, he didn't know either.

Sakuma swiftly fished out his phone out of his coat's pocket to check on messages and what-not. Being in a group-chat of very extroverted teenagers resulted in many, many messages at any hour of the day. Sakuma didn't take much part, but some of the discussions were pretty funny, and sometimes even interesting. Often he wondered why he was even added in that group-chat. He sat down on of his sofa's cushions, smiling at the new unseen message below his eye.

Takanashi Shinobu: sent 17:44

Happy late 18 Sakuma! Why didn't you tell me earlier, I would have gotten u something! I know we don't hang out much but come on, 18!

Surprisingly not from the group chat, but from Shinobu. Shinobu is one of these girls who loves messing about and known to be a trickster. Always full of surprises, but most of the time a polite girl, if you just didn't get on her nerves. Not really Sakuma's type of friend, but they grew a small friendship when she learnt he worked as a barista at the close café she likes. It's a sort of friendship that grows slowly but surely. Sakuma couldn't deny he enjoyed her presence at the café, specifically coming on his shift. At times, Shinobu even brought several friends with her, to which she refers as her 'gang' in her messages. He recognised a few faces from Raimon, which he would love to know how they even became friends. Said gang also included Fudou. Fudou Akio, a guy full of mysteries, since Sakuma considers him as someone completely unreadable. He's probably the leader of the gang or something, as his reputation is the worst; always bringing trouble wherever he goes, impatient as he is. Thinking about it, the blunet realized how long it's been since he talked to him. Years ago when they were fourteen, they were teammates and rivals, where they very often hung out together, shockingly. Sakuma frowned as he remembered his annoying ass personality along with his sharp tongue from back then.

sent 18:06

Sorry for not telling you, I'm really busy these days..

Technically, he was not wrong. But he wasn't that busy that he couldn't tell her about his upcoming birthday beforehand. Sakuma is simply not really used to celebrate his birthday anymore, since he turned thirteen or somewhere around that time. Most people he was friends with didn't even know his birthday, that was how bad it was. It's a little better since, fortunately. Perhaps deep down Sakuma wishes to be as involved in his friendships like Shinobu. Going out until its super late and messing around. It wasn't a particularly good thing to do, and wasn't Sakuma's style either. Yet he could find a new side of himself and actually have fun. Every day. If he became closer to Shinobu, there was a potential chance to talk to Fudou again as well. He seemed to have changed these past four years. Growing out his hair was the first obvious thing Sakuma noticed; it did fit him more, although it was still messy as ever. However there was no doubt he was still a troublemaker, maybe a little worse than before. But that's nothing new to him.

The blunet sighed as he locked his phone and placed the black screen on his abdomen, slowly slouching unto the cushions. Sakuma knew his hair was a mess when he reached for a strand on his shoulder, fiddling it between his tingling fingers as they still stung from the cold. A good, warm shower was definitely needed. Sakuma stayed in his slouched position for a few more minutes, too comfortable to move. But before he began feeling sleepy, he was reminded of things such as the project he was working on that needed to be finished for next week. The project he's working on with Kidou… When Sakuma thought about Kidou, even someone simply mentioning his name was a small stab in the blunet's chest. And it was getting on his nerves, that he was still so heartbroken now. Kidou probably forgot about it since then. He was never interested in love—at least that's what it seemed to Sakuma. Always so focused on his studies. If it's what makes him happy… The blunet ran a hand through his long blue hair, trying to resist his torturous thoughts. That's right, a shower.

After many efforts to just stand up, the blunet placed his phone on the wooden table in front of him before walking to his bathroom. He gently removed his eyepatch first, glaring at his now exposed eye in the clean mirror above his sink. His sclera was completely black, almost stealing away the bronze of his iris. He blinked continuously as his eye wasn't fully adjusted to the light yet as it watered a little. Sakuma didn't like it. This eye of his that looked so wrong, almost frightening to look at. Yet, he learned to live with it. It wasn't as if he had a choice anyway, as he was born with it. Although the blunet lacked in self-esteem to leave with his eyepatch. It was a habit since childhood to wear an eyepatch each time he would step outside. After his eye adjusted, he continued undressing from his Teikoku's deep green uniform, and turned on the water to shower.

"Hey, ya know Sakuma? Sakuma Jirou?" Sipping on her coffee from Starbucks, a young girl with vibrant pink curly hair asked the taller male sat opposite her. Her eyes were glued on her phone while her rose acrylic nails tapped repeatedly on the screen as she scrolled down a conversation. "Yeah? What about him?" The other teen replied after yawning like a lion, his eyes now slightly watery. His brown curls were in a mess, and his shirt wasn't buttoned all the way due to the heat in the room. "Well, it was his birthday a week ago," Shinobu began explaining with a smile, pulling the cup away from her lips, her lip gloss leaving a glittery stain on her straw. Resting her chin on the back of her hand, Fudou could tell that this expression meant Shinobu had something in mind-often being a bad sign. "And I was thinking about giving him a secret birthday party!" She exclaimed with a grin, lifting her sapphire orbs upwards to look at Fudou. The brunet instantly raised an eyebrow at her idea, almost letting out a laugh.

"A week after?" Fudou smirked, although he truthfully didn't have any objections with her plans, yet. If it was an excuse to party then why not, honestly. "Yeah, well, that's because the party pooper didn't tell me it was his birthday!" Shinobu frowned, puffing her cheeks in annoyance. "Turning eighteen isn't something to scorn at, y'know!" The brunet instantly grinned as he remembered the chaos of his eighteenth birthday party, undoubtedly organised by the one and only Shinobu. "That's for sure." Fudou was already smiling ear to ear with the thought of wrecking Sakuma's place. The blunet needs some spice, some reckless fun in his life otherwise he's going to turn like goggle-man, and Fudou didn't need another Kidou. One is already too much. The teen grabbed his cup and began gulping down his drink swiftly, looking forward to this. "I kinda want him to join the gang by the way," Fudou's eyes suddenly widen in surprise, almost spitting out his drink on his friend. "Wh-what?!" He choked on his word as he coughed, Shinobu grinning at the sight. Fudou knew Shinobu was growing closer to Sakuma, but he wasn't expecting her to enjoy his company this much. Plus, his relationship with him is a little awkward as they didn't hang out for so long. But he does remember how fun he was to tease years back. Perhaps it wasn't such a bad idea, but he couldn't imagine Sakuma, an intelligent student surrounded by troublemakers like him. It was almost funny to think about.

"Hey, I saw how you stared at him before, I bet you want to talk to him again." Shinobu giggled childishly, rubbing salt in the wound. "Don't get weird ideas into your head," Fudou frowned, almost embarrassed as he realized he surely couldn't hide anything from Shinobu after all. Alright, he might have glanced a little at the blunet while they hung out at the café he worked at—but nothing to interpret from that.

"Yeah, sure… Well, I'll invite him to hang out with us sometime. Y'know so you can talk n'all and then BAM! Secret birthday party!" Fudou raised his eyebrows once more at his friend's excitement. If Shinobu wants to do something, there's a small chance you can stop her. And this was one of these times. "Do what you want." Fudou sighed, gaining a 'yay' from Shinobu before she began texting on her phone once more. The brunet sipped on his coffee again, looking out one of the big windows of the café. Talking about the blunet triggered memories Fudou had with him, which were mostly not too bad. Yet a few are not surprising they caused Sakuma to distance himself from him. After all he was just some rude asshole who was always causing trouble. But even someone like Fudou noticed how Sakuma seemed… Strange. Definitely hiding something. It wasn't just fatigue or stress, it's something deeper, more painful. Fudou has a talent to read people's emotions, and someone miserable is the easiest to tell by their behavior and body language. As sensitive the blunet is, although he tries to hide it, he's probably still heartbroken from back then. The brunet knew about Sakuma's crush on Kidou since middle school, and when he finally confessed to goggle-man, without astonishment Kidou turned him down. Being around someone you love who doesn't love you back is painful, making the wound even harder to heal. Let's say Fudou having multiple lovers throughout the years helped him work that out, truthfully.

But this was just Fudou's interpretation. He wasn't sure if Sakuma even wanted to come back to being friends with him, or whatever they were before.

Perhaps he would. And if he did, Fudou was surely not going to waste time to give him a taste of what real fun is.

Author's note: Thanks for reading! I hope you liked it and look forward to the next chapters~

Cover image; zerochan/1297931