Here I am again, with a new story. You have probably guessed it from the title, it's another one filled with drama.
Spoiler alert: I promise I am not going to kill Fudou or Kidou again. I hope that eases your minds.
I am writing a lot of things at the same time, and yes, also a happy story for the two of them. I am only asking for patience and I hope you all will put up with me again while I guide you through their miserable lives once again. I will write something happier for them, I just need some time.
There's a warning for language, drugs and violence.
Please enjoy, and let me know what you think. I've worked pretty hard on this.
Fudou staggers through the dark streets of the slum of this city, with just a few working street lights to illuminate the poorly maintained road, until he reaches an old, dilapidated and vacant building. The heavy lock on the door has been broken for many years and squatters, the homeless and some other junkies have free access to the many empty floors of the abandoned building that used to be an office once. Three flights of stairs until he reaches the floor he's staying. The stench of marijuana, alcohol, sweat and urine almost doesn't bother him anymore. On the ground are a small dozen mattresses used by the junkies and homeless people who are coming in and out. Sometimes they are there, and then they disappear again for a few nights. Whether they stay someplace else, have a job abroad or have been arrested, nobody knows. Nobody asks and honestly, nobody gives a damn.
Yo, boss. You alright?" The voice is coming from somewhere in the large, dark room. All the windows are taped up with wooden boards, causing to block all the sunlight, even during the day. The only mere source of light comes through the gasps and holes in the timber. The electricity has been shut down long again went the company went bankrupt, then the scum of the city got drawn to it and settled in the abandoned building, including Fudou and his gang.
"Yeah," The sixteen year old grunts. "'m Fine." He stumbles on to the nearest, shared bathroom, or rather toilets of the former employees. Fudou is leaning with his hands on the sink and looks at his reflection in the polluted, broken mirror. He has a black eye, a swollen lip and the bridge of his nose is cracked a bit too far to the left, probably broken again. He'll ask one of his members later to punch it back into the right direction, but after he had something to attenuate the pain. Laboriously he tries to take off his torn shirt. He has a couple of bruised rips but nothing appears to be broken this time. That's good, he can't afford another visit to the hospital. He fought on the streets with a junkie who was convinced that Fudou stole his weed, he was high as fuck, the crack head. He wants nothing to do with those addicted fools. Sometimes he smokes a joint, along with his group, but he is not an addict and he won't allow any one of his members to get hooked on that dangerous stuff. Fudou feels no sympathy for these losers who gave up their entire butchery for drugs. They lose their home, their family, job, social contacts. Literally everything. Lucky for him, that's not something he needs to worry about. He has nothing, there ain't anything left for him to lose.
He presses a piece of wet toilet paper against his wound, it stings as the hell but the first aid kit they found a few months back is already completely empty. It's not the first fight either he or another member of the gang had. They never go to the hospital, none of them will ever take a step inside. It'd show them that they're weak. Fudou's been there once, but not on free will. He had been perishing in pain for days, not wanting to lose their leader, they eventually brought him to the hospital where they had an emergency surgery to remove his appendix. A few days after they released him, and the only thing that remembers him of the visit is a nasty scar. Whenever someone asks about it though, he'd tell them they stabbed him with a knife. Fudou presses another piece against his right eye, the cold water against his bruised skin feels refreshing. The wounds remind him of when he lived at home with his parents and had to absorb the beatings that were meant of his mother. Fudou was only seven when he was already walking around with countless, unexplainable bruises and broken bones. Fudou adheres firmly to the sink. One thing's for sure, the life he is living now is much better than it was when he still had a "family". He will never go back to the evening full of bickering, shouting and violence. He's better off alone.
Somewhere on the other side of town, the more affluent section, is someone suffering from a different kind of abuse.
"Yuuto," Kidou's father's voice breaks the silence that was hanging between them during dinner. "There came a letter for you today." Kidou puts down his cutlery and makes sure his mouth is empty before he answers the man across the table. "What letter, father?"
"You should tell me." He pulls out an envelope from his blazer and slowly shoves it into his direction over the large table. "Could you tell me what that stamp tells you, Yuuto?" Kidou glances quickly at the stamp of the formal –looking letter. The stamp is brown with a colourful, old building on the background. "It looks like it is from Italy, father." The sixteen years old replies, a little hesitantly. "Good observation. Now, what could a formal letter like this addressed to you possibly mean?"
Kidou's eyes widen behind his regular, transparent glasses. He started wearing them after he outgrew the goggles Kageyama had given him. He keeps them at a special spot in his room, still. His hands are trembling as he holds the envelope in his hands, it has been opened already. His father read it before he could. "They want you to play in the League in Italy," Mr. Kidou holds up his hand and waits for his son to return the envelope before he continues. "we've discussed this matter before, Yuuto." There's a hint of disappointment in his voice.
"I didn't ask for this! It must have been coach's doing! Father, I would not do this without having your permission."
"And you are well aware you do not have my permission, but worry not, your loyalty to the Kidou family warms my heart. It was your old Commander who arranged this, it seems he sent these letters long before his death so you would get scouted." Kidou balls his fists tightly under the dining table, out of sight of his father. Kageyama did this for him? He must have known before he sent these that he would not survive until Kidou's graduation year in high school. That thought saddens him, he had been prepared for his own death, but at the same time he feels joyful. His Commander went through this much trouble just for him to get scouted by a team from abroad. It confirms for him that Kageyama had cared for him all those years, even if he chose winning over him in the past. He truly had been a good man.
"It is certainly a kind gesture that he would arrange this, but as we know now; completely unnecessary." Kidou watches him as he tears the envelope. He didn't even get the chance to read it with his own eyes. "Because we made an agreement, didn't we, Yuuto?"
Kidou grinds his teeth but respectful as he is raised he answers his father as if he is expected to. "After graduation I quit soccer and focus on my studies so I can take over your company some day."
"Excellent, and?"
"Soccer brings no benefits for the future and thus I should focus on my career. The best way to do this is enrolling to the university next year and start as an intern at your company."
"Our company, soon enough my son." His father picks up his cutlery but he doesn't eat. "Something else, did you get your study results back today?"
Kidou flinches subconsciously, he hoped he would have been able to delay telling his father about his test results, since he only knows his grade for Japanese so far, and it's not the kind of result his father will be pleased to hear about. "Just one, father. Japanese," He hesitates, lowering his gaze to his unfinished plate. His father patiently waits for him to continue and something tells Kidou that he is already aware that his only son failed to live up to his expectations once more. "A 96, father."
"The people in the Kidou Financial Group must always be at the top. You once told me that you would fulfil your obligations as part of the Kidou family. I kept my promise regarding your sister but I haven't seen any progress coming from you in return, and you are still playing soccer. Sometimes I doubt your true intentions, my son."
The young boy scoffs quietly. "You told me to leave everything to Kageyama, that makes me question the value of your judgment" Kidou immediately regrets his words, this was a dangerous move. "Father, I— my sincerest apologies father, I did not mean it like—"
"You can leave now, Yuuto. We are done talking for the day."
"But father…!"
"No. Please leave your phone on the table and retreat yourself to your room. I do not need you and your filth speaking mouth in my presence. We will continue this conversation once you have learned how to respect your elders. Now go."
"Yes, father." Kidou places his red cell phone on the table, bows and proceeds to leave the dining room; his head ducked down in shame. "You will never be a part of my family with this inappropriate behaviour." His father says softly, but loud enough for him to hear. Kidou shuffles slowly towards the staircase and puts his hand on his stomach. Right now the only regret he feels is that he wasn't able to finish his plate. He'll have to wait for the lunch at school tomorrow, because he's quite certain they will not be serving breakfast tomorrow morning.
"Bread, oranges, tomatoes, eggs," Kidou mumbles to himself whilst checking if everything on his list is in his shopping basket. One of their maids slipped on the wet floor when she was cleaning the bathroom and it caused her to sprain her ankle. Instead of asking another maid to come to work on her free day they made some simple changes in the schedule and gave the injured girl some simple tasks she could still fulfil. Kidou offered to do the groceries for them. It's early in May and Kidou wouldn't mind to walk home again for a change, he'd do the shopping on his way back to the mansion after school. "Oi, you over there!" An employee calls out. Kidou raises his head, there's an employee holding the arm of a boy around his age. Ripped jeans that appear to be rather worn out than stylishly torn like a lot of teenagers wear their jeans there days, an oversized Addidas vest and a mohawk. "Let me go," the boy struggles in order to free himself from the man's grip. "I didn't do anything!" That voice! Oddly enough it doesn't surprise Kidou in the slightest that he runs into his old teammate whom he hadn't seen in months here. He stuffs the list in his pocket and heads into the direction of the commotion. "Did you find what I asked for?"
Fudou turns his face towards him and grins broadly, to him it doesn't feel like coincidence either that they meet each other here. They always seem to find each other in times of need. "Naturally. Do you think I'm stupid or something?" Without any effort Fudou adjusts to the situation. "Don't answer that. I got the chocolate you like, by the way." Fudou empties his pockets in Kidou's basket. "Wanted to surprise you but this fool thought I was trying to steal it."
Kidou sighs deeply while letting his eyes slide over the acquisition Fudou just gained to his own groceries. "I told you that it makes you appear more suspicious than you already exude, maybe if you'd get rid of the mohawk it'd help, and you didn't get anything I like. You know I don't like nuts in my chocolate."
"Sorry, forgot." Fudou shrugs nonchalantly while brushing his fingers through his hair. "But I like my hair this way." He brings his focus back on the man who had just been trying to stop him from shoplifting. "Whaddya lookin' at, creep?"
"It's alright, sir. He's with me." Kidou smiles while nodding at the confused man. Against his will, he lets go of Fudou's arm and apologises for his mistake, but he still keeps a close eye on the two. "Thanks for helping me out." Fudou says when the man gets asked for help from an old lady. He reaches out for the candy he put in Kidou's basket but the other quickly pulls it away. "Since you were intending to steal it, I'll pay for it this time."
During the time the two of them used to spend together Fudou learned when to protest, and when to shut his mouth and listen to his friend. He realises now it's not the time to argue with him, and even though he doesn't like Kidou's decision; with a silent nod he confirms that he agrees to it. "I refuse to pay for that, though." Kidou points at his friend's chest.
"You noticed." He snickers as he unzips his vest and takes out the cheap can of beer he put there earlier before the employee caught him. "And even if I wanted to purchase it for you, we're underage and there is no way they'll allow us to take it out of the store."
"I got a fake ID." Fudou smirks.
"And they know my age. Put it back and I'll meet you at the checkout."
Kidou purchases the whole lot and they leave the store together. He refuses to let Fudou near the bag until they sit down on the grass together, beneath them are kids playing soccer on the Riverside pitch. Kidou gives him a can with Pepsi and one of the few chocolate bars he bought. "Honestly, you couldn't buy— or rather, steal something more healthy?"
"Wasn't in the mood for healthy stuff." He says while stuffing the chocolate in his mouth. Kidou gives him some bread next, he'll explain the situation later to the maids. Fudou doesn't reject it, he seems to be starving. It makes Kidou wonder exactly how thin he is underneath that huge vest. "Where have you been all this time? I haven't seen you since you know, you got suspended in your first year."
"Yeah, that." Fudou snorts loudly. "Teikoku just wasn't my thing. It's a school for rich kids, I ain't got the money to afford that kind of education anyway. It's pretty exclusive, y'know. They allowed me to finish my years there as kind of apology for what Kageyama put us through during Shin Teikoku, and he promised us a scholarship too after all if we'd join. On top of that, it's always good for the reputation of the school to have someone who won the World Championship graduating. But the suspension in my first year of high school seemed to be a good reason for them to stop my funding, so I kind of couldn't return."
"I see," Kidou breaks a piece off the bread and puts it in his own mouth. "I had no idea, sorry. So where do you go now?" The second year's eyes slide over Fudou's body once more, noticing the absence of a school uniform.
"Oh, you know," Fudou scrunches the empty can in his hand. "I stopped going all together, with the grades I got in only the first few months, there wasn't much of a chance for me in the first place." When he sees the concerned frown on his friend's face he quickly adds: "But I got a job now, a steady one, cooking for some restaurant." It doesn't seem to relieve Kidou.
"A minor serving full time in a cook in a restaurant without any education?" He questions, but Fudou merely shrugs again. "Told you, got a fake ID and shit, and I know the owner. It's a nice guy. I started with just doing dishes, and that was the plan too, but he recognised my value. Apparently there's something out there I'm actually good at." Kidou scoffs and shakes his head. "As long as you're happy."
Fudou gets a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and puts one between his lips. He offers Kidou one too but he kindly refuses. "You're smoking?" Kidou doesn't know why it is surprising him. He should have known, he could have figured it out.
"Yeah," he lets the smoke he inhaled escape through his lips as he speaks. "picked it up from my co-workers. They all smoke."
"And you thought it'd be a good idea to smoke with them?" His tone is disapproving, but Fudou doesn't seem to care, or he's very good at pretending that he doesn't. "It's nice."
"It's bad for your health."
"Is not like I'm still playing soccer." Fudou rests his head on the grass. "You?"
"Yeah." Kidou keeps his gaze on the kids on the field. He recognises one of them, the girl. Her name is Kisaragi Mako, the daughter of a restaurant owner in Inazuma Town's shopping area. She has grown since the last time he saw her, and her abilities seem to have increased. She's a lot faster compared to two years ago, when she helped Endou practice together with her friends. "Going abroad next year to play there? Lemme guess, somewhere in Europe?"
Kidou stiffens, clenching the blades of grass between his fingers tightly. "You're right," he hopes with his whole heart that the laugh that followed after wasn't as fake in real as it sounded in his head. "Italy." Fudou whistles before taking another draw of his cigarette. "Nice, so you got in?" Kidou starts pulling on the grass until he ends up with a hand full of it. "I did." Liar. Kidou hates himself for lying to one of his old, best friends. He doesn't know why he's doing it, maybe because he isn't able to admit for himself yet that he has to quit soccer soon. Or maybe it's because he still hopes that his father will change his mind about his decision and will allow him to travel to Italy to play soccer there. It would be a great opportunity for him after all, not everyone gets an invitation to play in a league in Europe.
"Lucky you." Fudou flicks off the ashes from the cigarette he's holding between his fingers. There follows a long silence between the two of them, the atmosphere clearly changed and neither of them is sure how to carry on the conversation. Kidou feels terrible about his lie, and he can only assume that Fudou must envy him. Even though he quit now due the circumstances, Fudou loved soccer.
"If I could I'd take you—"
"Maybe I should—"
They start at the same time, then they both apologise and suggest the other should speak up first. "You go first." Fudou says, after a brief moment of another silence.
"Ah, it's just a stupid thought. If I could I would take you with me."
"Heh," Fudou grinds the butt of the cigarette over the grass to extinguish it. "I know you would. It's nice of you, but you don't have to. Got my job and all, too. It's alright, really." Kidou isn't sure why Fudou would pick his job over the opportunity to play soccer abroad, but then, there might not be a place in the Italian League for Kidou either. There is no need to question Fudou's decisions right now, even though he doesn't support them. Dropping out of school, stealing, smoking and drinking too. What else is there he doesn't know about? They haven't seen each other in months, he never stood still by what could have happened to his friend.
Fudou pushes himself up on his elbows. "Thanks for today, really. It was cool of you." Kidou turns his face to his former best friend, or best friend. He's actually not sure what they are right now. Fudou said often enough that he doesn't have any, nor needs them. But he has always told him that Kidou is special though, and he didn't mind having him around. "I just hate you less than I hate the rest of the world". Kidou smiles when he remembers that line. "Friends look after each other. You'd have done the same thing for me."
The older and slightly taller one of the two shifts closer. "What makes you think I would?" Kidou has to remind himself to keep breathing, but he finds it difficult now that Fudou is this close. He smells like cigarettes and something sweet, probably the chocolate he had earlier. It's a strange combination, but oddly enough, he wouldn't describe Fudou's scent as something unpleasant. "You already have." If Fudou would lean in any closer right now, they would be able to— but Fudou withdraws himself. "So is that it, paying off your debts? Feeling of guilt taking you over now because you got me suspended last year?"
"Fudou, don't be ridiculous. It's not that. You took the fall for me, and I appreciate that still, but it has nothing to do with feelings of guilt. I am worried about you, that is why I am trying to look after you."
"And that's why I haven't heard from you since. You were most likely so bloody relieved when they suspended me. No-one would ever find out your little secret." Fudou snarls, his tone his cold and distant, very different from before, but unfortunately very familiar too.
"They wanted to kick you off, I prevented them from doing so and let you get suspended for a week instead."
"Well, aren't you the friend of the year!" He sarcastically claps his hands together. "Maybe they should have given you a reward or something. It's a pity that all your hard work went in vain, I never returned anyway. Either suspending me or kicking me off, it wouldn't have made any difference."
"You leaving school was your choice, it had nothing to do with me."
"BECAUSE IT WAS SUCH AN EASY CHOICE TO MAKE."
Both guys are quiet now, and so are the kids down at the pitch. All five of them are looking up at the two arguing boys. Fudou stands on his feet again and dusts his clothes off, snorting. "Yeah, listen Kidou, I gotta go. It was nice catching up with you."
Fudou turns away from him, raising his hand, and Kidou watches him leave. He's about to leave again just after Kidou found him. When will be the next time they see each other? Knowing Fudou, it could take years until they finally run into each other again. "Wait!" Kidou calls after him. "Tomorrow, same time, same place?" Fudou stops walking, it seems like he's considering something because he doesn't answer right away, but he's not walking away yet either. "Can't tomorrow." He replies, and pauses again. Kidou is expecting him to leave now, but the brunette actually looks back over his shoulder to look his friend in the eye. "Next week will do. Same time."
"Same place." Kidou falls in, smiling, but the smile quickly vanishes as soon as his friend is out of sight. If it had not been guilt before, then he certainly does feel it now. He was the one responsible for Fudou's suspension, and it made him quit school. In a way, did Kidou ruin his future? He covers his face with his hands, thinking back about what happened nearly two years ago.
It was the day they graduated from Raimon Junior High, after they tied again with their match against Teikoku, 1-1 this time, they played another match. This time Kidou had put on the Teikoku jersey again and functioned as the captain of the team. Co-captain, if you would ask Fudou. Fatigued, but not completely worn out yet, both teams sat together, reflecting on their years of rivalry. It's unclear who came up with the idea, and Fudou swears it wasn't him, but somehow they all headed over to Kidou's mansion for an after party. He would have enough room, and food for both teams. Kidou's father agreed, surprisingly enough, said it was a gift from him to his son for graduating to let all his friends come over, but there would be some rules that had to be strictly followed. The guests were only allowed in their ballroom, God knows why they have it and when they would ever need one, and their huge ass garden. If they would break anything they would have to pay back for the damage, and Kidou's father assured them that everything in this house would be unaffordable for every single one of them. Of course, with the exception of the daughter of the president, Kidou's old man seemed to adore her.
Fudou has separated himself from the partygoers, he isn't in the mood to talk to his Teikoku classmates anymore and no-one from their old Inazuma Japan team bothers to talk to him. The only exception is Tsunami, who tried to include him a couple of times. Fudou appreciated it, he truly did, but after spending a full hour listening to Tsunami's rattling; everyone would need some time alone. Fudou's eyes slide across the room, Sakuma is chatting with his best friend Genda. Endou, Gouenji and a couple of others went outside to play soccer, again, the garden is big enough for it after all. Or do they own a soccer field too, next to their tennis grounds? Fudou forgot, either way, their host of the night is nowhere to be found. When he spots Kidou's sister on the other side of the room with her friends Fudou confirms the midfielder must be somewhere, alone.
Fudou leaves the crowded room and leaves through the wide-opening doors. He doesn't have to be sneaky, even if there would be anyone noticing that he left, they wouldn't care for the reason. Fudou inhales the cold, fresh air outside. That's better, much better. He walks down over one of the many grind paths, this garden alone is a labyrinth for someone who hasn't been here before, and it's especially difficult to follow in the dark. There are small lampposts placed here and there next to the path, but it's more for decoration than actually lighting up the place so he can see where he's walking. Kidou did give him clear instructions one time, well, not intentionally, and it weren't really instructions for him specifically.
Since Kageyama had that accident Kidou had been having panic attacks at night. During the Football Frontier International, Fudou's room had been next to Kidou's and he could hear him suffering at night through the thin walls. One night he woke up, hearing Kidou scream for help in the other room. He rushed over and tried to calm his friend, but nothing seemed to work. Kidou was gasping for air and squeezed Fudou's hand so tightly he thought that the other was going to break it, or at least heavily bruise it. That's when he thought of what his mother used to tell him whenever he had a nightmare. He asked Kidou to think of a place from his childhood that made him happy and describe it to him. Slowly, and with difficulty, Kidou began to describe a place in their garden. A quiet place, he often went to as a kid when he first got placed in the Kidou-family. He told him that one time he had gotten lost in the huge garden and that's when he found it. A huge tree with two strings tightly attached to a thick branch, and a small piece of wood to sit on. Somewhere, in the back of his new garden, he had found a swing. Kidou had asked one of the gardeners once why they had a swing in the garden before he arrived, since his new father didn't have any children of his own, but the man told him that there wasn't any swing as far as he knew. Kidou hadn't spoken of it anymore since, it became his little secret. Whenever young Kidou felt upset he'd leave to the garden and look for that tree. He'd find a lot of comfort there, and while speaking about it and Fudou caressing his untied dreads Kidou was able to breathe normally again.
They were silent for a long time, the only thing audible in the room was their breathing. After a while Fudou asked casually if he wanted to talk about it, you know, the question you ask knowing that you won't get an answer. But against his expectations, Kidou started to talk again. You wouldn't think so at the first glance when you see the genius game maker of Inazuma Japan, but Kidou has a lot of hidden fears, most of them regarding the fear of failure. Failing as a son, failing in the eyes of his old Commander, failing as teammate and failing as an older brother. Kidou had been through a lot the past few days, of course there is the pressure of winning the Football Frontier, he had all of this going on with Kageyama, and now his sister had gotten kidnapped too by some freaks claiming to be demons. Of course he'd blame himself for it, he promised not only his sister's parents that he would protect her, but also himself that he would not let anything happen to her. Fudou sat next to him on the edge of the bed and listened, he let Kidou talk about what's on his chest, something he obviously had never done before.
They created an hissatsu technique together, they broke Kidou's curse from that man, defeated Kageyama and a team full of angels and demons to rescue his sister, but what happened this night brought them closer than ever.
That's how he got to know Kidou's secret, hidden place, but now he has to find it. Suddenly he realises that the young Kidou had found it by accident, so maybe following the path wasn't going to lead him anywhere. He stepped off it and started to make his way over the grass through the dark, hoping that he wouldn't fall in the pond that's located somewhere in the middle. After searching for twenty minutes Fudou is about to give up, this garden is unbelievably big. While people suffer in small allies with no place to live, here's the Kidou household with a garden with the periphery of his own entire house. Fudou is about to give up, he wrestles himself through some wild bushes and suddenly he finds himself in a clearing, and there it is. The tree Kidou described to him, and in the light of the moon, the said genius himself is visible too; sitting on the swing. Fudou approaches him slowly, not wanting to startle him too much. "Thought I'd find you here."
Kidou's head jolts up after those words and quickly turns into his direction. He smiles however when he sees the brunette. "You found me." His voice is softer than Fudou is used to. "Yeah, that's what I just said, smartass." Fudou sits himself on the grass, right in front of Kidou. "Was one hell of a journey to get here. You said you happened to find it by accident as a kid? Impressive."
"And how did you find it?" Kidou's smile has something mocking, yet curious at the same time. Fudou looks away while muttering: "By accident." The younger boy chuckles and shakes his head, even though he came here to be alone; he doesn't seem to mind Fudou's company. "What brings you here, were they looking for me?"
"No, not really, don't worry. Don't think they noticed that either one of us is missing yet, there's a lot of space, and a lot of people."
"I see." Kidou seems relieved. He wants to be alone, but he doesn't mind having Fudou as company, Fudou notes. "You were thinking about him, weren't you?" He asks, but Kidou doesn't reply. He doesn't need to, Fudou knows the answer. "Must have been tough for you today. Graduating from Raimon, playing as the co-captain of your old team." Kidou scoffs when Fudou says that, at least Kidou still knows how to laugh. "I brought you something."
Kidou watches his friend curiously while he's searching in his pocket. "Got it!" Fudou holds it up, in the faint light of the moon Kidou recognises a little, plastic bag between his friend's fingers, something he wishes he wouldn't recognise. "Put that away!" He hisses. "If my father sees—"
"Your old man won't see, smell or notice anything. This is your secret place, remember?"
"Secret, not untraceable."
Kidou watches in silence however while Inazuma Japan's joker is preparing the little present he brought with him, and Fudou himself has never been this focussed before. Papers come in all shapes, sizes, colours and designs. Novelties aside, the best skins are the ones which stick where and when you want them to. There's nothing worse than spending half an hour on your masterpiece only to have it fall apart at the crucial moment. Rice or wheat straw are recommended - the thinner and finer the better. Most of these designs are based on using standard size papers but work just as well with king size. Paper never got anyone high so he aim to use as little as possible, carefully dividing the mix over it. He puts in the roach before rolling it and then the more tricky part comes. He picks everything up and starts rolling outwards in the middle, while letting his thumbs do most of the work, he adds pressure to it with his forefingers. The mix is firming inside the paper and once it's an even consistency he tucks down the facing paper edge with the tips of this thumbs, wraps the excess paper around it, and it's ready.
"Fudou," Kidou starts again when the other receives a lighter from his pocket. "I don't think this is a good idea."
"It ain't, but it'll ease the pain you're feeling. Come on, just this once." Before Kidou can protest Fudou has already lit the joint. "Don't worry," he mutters with the stick between his lips. "I'll guide you through it." Fudou inhales once, waits a few seconds, and while he exhales his passes the joint to Kidou. "Alright, there's not much to it. Draw in the smoke with a deep breath, for example when the doctor asks you to inhale deeply. Just do that exact same thing." Kidou's fingers are trembling, but he does as his friend says.
"Inhale deep enough so you can't hold anymore in your lung. Doesn't have to be a 'hard' hit, just slow and steady, and keep packing it in your lungs until you can't inhale any more. Yeah, good, like that. To make sure you're doing it right, open your mouth. No smoke should escape if it's in your lungs, then exhale."
Kidou is trying his best to keep up with his friends' words, but the fact that he's actually smoking a joint right now and filling his lungs with toxic makes him feel a little dizzy, on top of that, he has never smoked before and the urge to cough is becoming stronger within seconds. He quickly gives it back to his friend and a severe coughing attack follows. It's gross, his mouth feels dry and it's like his chest is on fire, yet when Fudou inhales for a second time and offers him the joint again, he agrees and brings it to his lips once more.
It's been more than fifteen minutes, the time seems to have slow down and they feel an even slower transformation of the active brain consciousness. It's as if has caused them to enter a surreal world of an alternate reality where the thoughts are deeper and the connects seemingly improbable dots intuitively. "He really, really wasn't that bad, after all." Kidou says suddenly. "I mean, he did bad stuff and such, but he's a good man. Very...good. He even healed that girl's eyes. Good men do that, right?" Fudou snickers and leans with his back against the tree while listening to his friend rambling about their Commander. If he would have been sober, he would have noticed the difference of vocabulary Kidou uses, but he's not. Nothing seems off to either one of them. "He was nice to me, ...most of the time. Those trainings he put me through, they were such a bloody pain, but he taught me everything I know about soccer. In a way, I am still playing his soccer. Our soccer, maybe."
Fudou doesn't reply, he's just snickering— or rather giggling at this point, against the tree. "I loved that man." He's sighing dreamily almost. "He was almost like a father to me. More than Kidou-san is." Kidou has never addressed to his father like that before, somehow it feels good. "Kidou-san is a nice man, really, but Kageyama-sousei understood me. Understood my feelings for soccer. Kidou-san just wants me to quit sooner or later and take over his business, like a real son would do. But I am not his son." Kidou giggles, and Fudou finally seems to be aware of Kidou again and paying a little attention to what his friend is saying.
"Yeah, that reminds me. What is your name?"
They're both silent, looking each other directly in the eye. Then they burst out into laughter and Kidou lets himself fall from the swing onto his best friend who is still sitting on the grass. "My name's Yuuuuto~" He giggles against Fudou's chest and mutters: "You're warm." Fudou's arms wrap around the younger one of the two and nuzzles with his nose in his dreads. "I love you too, by the way." Kidou moves his head up to look Fudou in the eye and cups his face between his hands. "You're an inappropriate brat, and I hate you, but I love you." Fudou scoffs, he finds himself being unable to look away from those enchanting, crimson eyes. Somehow what Kidou just said is making a lot of sense to him. He doesn't know who started, was it him leaning down, was it Kidou closing the gap— or was it something they both did, but he finds himself with his lips pressed tightly against Kidou's. After awhile of lip locking and subtle caresses, neither of them has withdrawn themselves from the kiss, and Fudou takes it to the next step. His tongue brushes over Kidou's lips and a split second after he can feel the other's lips part. Fudou gratefully takes this invitation and uses it to deepen their kiss. It's slobby, but neither of them cares, what's important now is that their lips are sealed together, and that it remains like that.
Fudou isn't sure how long they've been away, and how much time they spent on kissing each other, but something tells him they need to return. "Oi, Yuuto?" He strokes over the boy's dreads. His eyes are shut and his breathing is soft and regularly. "Dontcha go falling asleep on me now! I don't know how to get back, and no way in hell that I am going to spend the night here."
"I'm awake, I'm awake." Kidou mutters, followed by a wide yawn. "It's not that far from here, actually. But you'll have to help me get up." Kidou chuckles, clinging heavily on the body of his best friend.
Kidou was right, it didn't take that long until he saw the lights of the mansion again. He wonders if he had been walking around in circles all the time, or that he actually found this tree by getting lost. It doesn't matter either way, they're almost there and Fudou's glad that they are, because Kidou is barely able to stand on his own feet, and it's not like Fudou is able to walk this much under the influence of weed with someone clinging on his shoulder.
Somehow they made it to Kidou's room without too much trouble. Kidou pointed him the way to another entrance through the kitchen, and whilst giggling and telling each other to be quiet the two flopped down on Kidou's bed. The owner of the room immediately curled up to a ball once he felt the comfort of his own bed and shut his eyes again. "You might wanna tell your maids that they need to make a lot of breakfast for tomorrow, you'll be starving." But Fudou receives no answer. "I'll be going then." Fudou heads towards the door, before he leaves the room he looks over his shoulder one more time. Kidou isn't moving. Fudou sighs deeply and walks over to his sleeping friend. "Honestly, what are you without me?" He huffs while trying to undress his friend, or at least his jacket, shoes and socks. He unties his friend's dreads and finally Kidou makes a move, or rather, he mumbles Fudou's name in his sleep. The brunette smiles faintly and presses a soft kiss on Kidou's forehead. "Sleep well. I'll tell the others you were feeling unwell, and that the party is over." He's certain that his friend doesn't hear him anyway, he won't even remember much of this night, but Kidou looks so innocent in his sleep that Fudou can't quite help himself. "Here," Fudou crouches and puts what's left of his weed underneath Kidou's pillow. "in case of need." Then he leaves the room and quietly shuts the door behind him.
Kidou never mentioned it, they did speak about the night together. He thanked Fudou for sending away the guests when he was feeling unwell, he heard what he did from Sakuma and thought it was real kind of him, but that was all there is. No mention of the tree, no word about the weed, and especially nothing about the kiss that happened between the two of them. It's better to just forget the night altogether, is what Fudou thought. He did, almost, until somewhere in their first year of high school. They enrolled to Teikoku together again, with Sakuma and Genda. They ended up in the same class, and they saw each other during soccer practice too. One day, Kidou showed up, hyper as a child. No-one understood why Kidou seemed so happy that day, but Fudou quickly picked up the signs and took him apart. It didn't surprise him at all that when he lifted Kidou's goggles, for some reason he put those on again, he saw two crimson eyes look at him, surrounded by red sclera.
"Jesus, did you use it on broad daylight? What's wrong with you, dude." Kidou just laughs at him and Fudou sighs heavily, putting the goggles back over his friend's eyes. "You better keep these up if you don't want to raise suspicion. Damn, I can't believe you actually used it. I thought you would have gotten rid of it already by now."
Kidou wildly shakes his head. "No, I didn't. I didn't really know what to do with it so I kept it. Hidden of course. In a drawer with my—"
"Yeah, yeah. It's alright. Don't need to know all of that. Why'd you do it?" The only answer he gets from Kidou is a shrug, and he's still shaking his head as if he can't stop. Fudou holds his face between his hands to make him stop. "Better." Fudou's eyes widen slowly. "Ah, it's that day, isn't it? He passed away on this day. Damn, Kidou, if that's still getting you this worked up than you should see a therapist. Well, a little too late now, ain't it?" Fudou is just talking to himself, Kidou can't follow what he's saying. "Now we gotta figure out what to do with you. Can't bring you home without your maids asking questions, so I guess you should stay here." Kidou seems to find everything Fudou is saying extremely funny because he can't stop laughing. "You gotta keep yourself under control man." Fudou flicks his friend's forehead. A frown forms on Kidou's face but it doesn't last long, the finger Fudou used to flick him with seems to be distracting him. Fudou moves it around in front of Kidou's face and watches him trying to keep up with the motion of his finger. "Either way, I'm not gonna let you do this alone." He touches Kidou's nose. "Whoop!"
"Bloody hell, you're far gone."
A little while later the two of them are on Teikoku's rooftop together, a place where they can be alone, and smoke weed whilst grieving together.
"I remember, you know."
"Hm?" Fudou lazily turns his face to his classmate. They're sitting in the sun against the walls of the staircase that would lead them back into the building. Fudou took off his blazer and uses it as pillow to sit on. "You thought I didn't, but I do. I remember it clearly. Well, not clearly, it's all a little hazy, but I do remember some parts."
"What the bloody hell are you talking about?" Fudou groans while tugging on his tie, it so hot out here. He should have brought some water.
"That you kissed me."
"Oh." Fudou finally stopped moving and has all his attention for his goggled friend now. "For the record, you were the one who kissed me." He mutters under his breath.
"No, I didn't, but that's not the point. We kissed, Fudou, and we just pretended it never happened at all."
"Yeah, so? Friends kiss each other all the time. No need to get so worked up about it. We were just experimenting or something, I guess."
The both of them are silent and Fudou proceeds to tug on his tie. Why is it so difficult to take that bloody thing off— and why is it so extremely hot today? Suddenly Kidou's fingers pull his own hands away and he loosens his tie for him. "Do you...want to try it again?" He asks, quite bluntly for Kidou Yuuto. Fudou doesn't feel like answering his question, instead he holds Kidou's chin and kisses him for the second time. "But this is... the last time..." he mumbles hastily against Kidou's lips. "Yeah," Kidou replies while pushing himself up and moving himself on Fudou's lap. "but this time, it was definitely you who kissed me first."
The two took it a little further this time, tongues were intertwined once more, shirts got unbuttoned and Fudou's hands were roaming over Kidou's bare abdomen. In spite of the state they were in, they made it back to class. It was definitely not Kidou's brightest idea. Not only were they unfocussed, it was apparently a more difficult task than they thought to keep their hands off each other. Naturally, their classmates noticed their odd behaviour and in the lunch break Sakuma and Genda took the two apart, but there wasn't much reasoning to do with them.
"What have you done to Kidou?!" Sakuma grabs the brunette by his collar and pushes him backwards until his back is pressed against the wall. Fudou, being swift as ever and alerted by the drugs to either flight or fight, does what first comes to his mind and his fingers fold around Sakuma's throat; preparing to strangle his attacker whenever he has to.
"Fudou, Sakuma, cut it out!" Genda jumps between the two of them. "We agreed on a much softer approach." Genda is much stronger than the both of them, and quickly has his friends freed from each other's grip. Sakuma scolds Fudou quietly and takes a step back to give the goalkeeper more space.
"Heck, I don't know whatcha talkin' 'bout, I didn't do nothin' to Kidou."
"That's double negative." Kidou chuckles behind his hand, finding the scene that occurred in front of him rather amusing than worrying. Sakuma snorts while rubbing over his throat. The welts that Fudou left behind on his skin will probably be clearly visible tomorrow. "That doesn't matter now, Kidou." Genda sighs deeply and turns towards Fudou. "We're not stupid, Fudou. I have an older brother who uses and it's not necessarily something bad, we'd just prefer if you wouldn't get Kidou involved with your business."
"I told you, it wasn't me! He's the one who showed up high at school before I even saw him, I just thought he shouldn't go through it alone so I joined in later." Fudou replies while trying to keep Kidou away from him. Apparently he's the hyper and touchy type when he's stoned, the complete opposite from how he usually is.
"And who gave him the weed?" Genda's voice is calm, it's easier to cooperate with him for Fudou, than the quick tempered, overprotective forward. "You got me, but it was long ago. Didn't think he'd still have the stuff, or use it."
"You shouldn't have given it to him in the first place! This is typical Fudou, you are so irresponsible. What will happen if his father would get a word of this? They might kick him out of the team! Did you even think about the consequences for Kidou? You are ruining his future Fudou!" Fudou shuts his eyes, he wishes that Sakuma would stop talking. He wishes that everyone would just leave him the bloody hell alone. "Oi..." Kidou's voice is soft. "My father can't find out about this."
"See," Sakuma continues, talking to Genda now. "I've always known that we can't trust this guy."
"What the hell do you know?!" Fudou is on the point of attacking his classmate again, and he would have, if Genda wouldn't have been there to stop him. With one hand he keeps Fudou pressed against the wall, and with his other elbow he keeps Sakuma on a safe distance. "You don't even know why he used! You think that you know Kidou, but you don't! You don't know shit about him! You don't know what he's been through, the way he suffers without anyone noticing. I bet he never even told you about the tree."
"Tree, Kidou, what tree?"
Kidou's eyes switch between his three friends, in his head he's still thinking about what would happen if his father would find out about what he did.
"Let it go, Sakuma." Genda meddles himself into the conversation between both of his overheated friends. "He doesn't know what he's talking about right now. We said what we needed to say, didn't we? This is the last time Fudou got our friend involved with drugs," Both of their faces turn to Fudou, and Genda's voice is a lot sharper now. "right?"
Fudou snorts, but that's enough for Genda to understand. He lets down his arms so that both boys are free to move again. "Let's go, Sakuma. We should figure out what we will do with Kidou for now." Fudou sinks down on the floor, his back still against the wall. He doesn't understand what they're doing, he already took care of Kidou. He doesn't need them, they don't need them. Fudou is able to hear Genda and Sakuma's conversation as they are walking away from him. "I told you that he can't be trusted."
"Yeah, well what about you?" Sakuma and Genda, who are holding Kidou upright between the both of them, stop walking. Genda whispers "please don't" to the forward, but it's already too late. The argument has started again. "With your stupid eye patch," Fudou is pushing himself up on his feet again. "Don't think you've ever shown your friends what's underneath it. You claim to know everything there is about your precious Yuuto, while you don't let us know shit about yourself. Does Genda know? Does anyone fucking know what you're hiding behind that hideous thing?" He slowly approaches Sakuma, who is frozen on his place, fists tightly clenched together. Genda realises that they're right back where they started. "Sakuma don't let him get into you—"
"I can speak for myself."
"Yeah," Fudou, a little taller than the bluenette, is now standing right before Sakuma. "Let him speak for himself." With every word he spits out, Sakuma is able to feel his breath on his own skin. It stinks of marijuana. Sakuma is able to see him in a way he's never done before. He has never been this close to his teammate, and he's certain he never wants to again either. Fudou's eyes have changed, there's something dangerous in them. "So what's behind it, Sakuma? Are you simply crossed eyed, or is there some nasty scar you haven't told us about? Maybe you're even missing your eye." Fudou's finger slips under the fabric of the eye patch. Sakuma is too stunned to move, he doesn't even twitch when Fudou touches him. He's staring at him dumbfounded, rage and deep hate burning in his visible eye. "It's about time we find out, don't you think?"
Sakuma is finally coming down to his senses and acts quickly, he raises his hands to place them on the taller boy's shoulders and roughly pushes him away, but unfortunately for him; Fudou's fingers were still holding the fabric. Whilst being pushed back, he forces the eye patch with him. Sakuma stares at him, and Fudou stares right back. "Shit."
Both of the eyes of the forward widen when he sees his own eye patch in the hands of his teammate. He has actually crossed the line this time. With a loud scream of agony, similar to his cry when he first tried Kotei Penguin 01, he covers his right eye with both of his hands. Genda, who had been watching the scene in horror the whole time, rushes over to his friend and covers him with both of his arms, letting him sob there. "Fudou, what have you done?"
Fudou looks up at Kidou, still holding the eye patch tightly clenched in his hand. "Are you out of your damn mind?! He is our friend, you bloody idiot!" This is the first time anyone has ever heard Kidou curse someone else. "You are the one responsible for this, you gave me those drugs. If it wasn't for you I would never have—"
"What is going on here?"
Kidou abruptly turns around when he hears the familiar voice behind him. "S-Sensei..."
Kidou is nervously tapping with his foot on the ground, waiting for the principal to call him to his office. They sent both Kidou and Fudou home yesterday, they tried to ask them questions about the matter, but neither of them made any sense during their interrogation. Genda and Sakuma told their part of the story after the forward calmed again, and some spectators told the principal what they saw. No-one said a word about the drugs, and now it's their turn to try their story again.
"Kidou Yuuto, you may come in now."
Kidou walks into the office, he had been here before, but usually only to receive good news. The principal must have thought the exact same thing. "I never thought I would have you in my office for a matter like this, Kidou-san." He smiles comfortingly when he notices the nervous expression on his student's face. "Don't be so worried, Fudou-san already confessed everything. You only need to confirm his story."
Kidou nods slowly, that's right. He only has to confirm it. Yesterday in the office the principal told him he was going to send Kidou home because he seemed still in shock because of the incident. Kidou had been very thankful that the best man wasn't going to call his father about the matter, and just let him go home. When the duo left the school grounds they didn't go home however. The principal might have believed that Kidou was in shock, but there is no way his father would have believed his words. Fudou and Kidou stayed in the park together for a while, until their stomachs started to grumble. They went together for ramen and discussed the story they would tell the principal the next day together. Fudou said he was going to take the fall for him. He was the only one under the influence of drugs, and Kidou had been in shock, as the principal thought he was. Kidou would be out of the spotlight and his father would never find out, but what would be the consequences for his friend?
The principal believed every word Kidou said. Fudou arrived under the influence of marijuana on school yesterday morning and Kidou had taken him to the roof to calm his head. When he thought it was safe, they went back to class. Kidou, who obviously had no idea about how drugs exactly work, didn't know that Fudou would riot the way he did. He attacked Sakuma and Genda tried to stop them both. All of their stories added up, and the principal allowed Kidou to go back to his class.
"What will happen to Fudou, sir?"
"Ah, well I will have to discuss the matter with the other heads of the commission. If he is lucky, we will not inform the police, but we will have to remove him from school."
Kidou's eyes widen, they aren't just going to suspend Fudou, he will have to leave their school, and that will all be his fault. He can't allow that to happen. "Sir, Fudou made a mistake and he regrets it. I think a week of suspension would be enough."
"You think?" The principal chuckles softly. "I understand that you're coming up for your friend, Kidou-san, but I am afraid that I have no other choice. It's either this or we will have to inform the police about the incident. If that happens then Fudou-san will be in more trouble than he would be now."
"A week, sir, and when he returns Fudou will apologise to Sakuma." Kidou repeats himself, he has an idea. "Or would you want my father to find out that the school his son is attending to had a student come in, high on marijuana, and not even one teacher noticed his odd behaviour? How did it get into the school, is someone dealing perhaps, maybe there are more students involved. Would you want this to get to my father? You can be expecting an inspection soon, sir, and it might not turn out well for the reputation of the school when they find out a case involving a student using weed gets muffled under the table. Do you want that to happen, sir?"
The head of the school is gazing at his student in awe. "Fine!" The principal wipes with his handkerchief over his forehead. "One week of suspension for Fudou Akio. That's all there is. No police, no case, and no inspection."
Kidou bows with a content smile on his face. "That's what I thought, sir. Thank you for your cooperation. I will send my father your regards."
Fudou had indeed gotten one week of suspension, but one week passed, then a month, but Fudou never returned, and Kidou hadn't seen him since. The first time they saw each other again had been in the convenience store.
Kidou kept his promise, and so did Fudou. The following week he found Fudou sitting on the grass, on the same spot they had been sitting the week before. They have fun together, they often play soccer together. Fudou is quickly out of breath, and not in his top condition as he usually was, but at least he's playing. Sometimes they have to hide from the rain underneath the bridge. Then Fudou smokes and they share stories. Kidou feels like he's getting to know Fudou all over again, but this time without an awful first meeting they had when Fudou approached Raimon. Kidou even dares to tell him the truth about Italy, that he's most likely not going because his father wants him to quit soccer. On his turn, Fudou told him that he doesn't have a job anymore actually, they fired him a couple of weeks ago. Kidou promises to help him look for one, from now on, they'll do it together. Fudou admits that there was another reason why he didn't go to school anymore. Yes, school hadn't been his thing, but Fudou is smart and if it wouldn't be for his lack of effort, he would be one of the top students together with Kidou. He never returned because he couldn't look Sakuma in the eye after what happened. He had no words to explain how much he regrets his actions. This time Kidou listens to the stories he has to tell, and he quietly decides for himself that he will help Fudou get through it. If he either wants his help or not.
Sometimes Fudou shows up covered with bruises, Kidou doesn't ask, and Fudou doesn't talk. They're fine like this, they don't have to know every detail of each other's life. Kidou brings a first aid kit with him and silently treats his wounds. After it, they will get on the pitch and play together. That's how they function, that is how their friendship works. They don't need words to understand each other's feelings.
They continue this for almost a year, the circumstances don't matter. It could be raining, it could be snowing, but they would always meet up at the same spot. They always come. Until this one day Fudou doesn't show up, and Kidou waits. Kidou waits for hours, until the sun has completely set. The next week he does the same, the following month he keeps returning to the spot they were supposed to meet, but there is still no sign of Fudou. Kidou wonders what happened to him every day, he worries about him but he's unable to reach his friend. It's like he has completely vanished from his life for the second time.
Please let me know what you think! I'm really excited to continue this.
The other chapters will be around the same length, it takes a while to write it and I have exams in a couple of weeks. It might take a while before I publish the next chapter, but it will be worth the wait, really!
See you next time!
