PIECE: Second story requested by Shiranai Atsune. Hope you like it as well! Ah, the cover was also made by Shiranai Atsune (technically...), so~ check out her deviantART sometime if you haven't already! I DO NOT OWN SUISHOU YUSABURU, SHE RIGHTFULLY AND COMPLETELY BELONGS TO SHIRANAI ATSUNE! ...Ah, darn. *Yeah, and... even though I've uploaded this thing elsewhere or something... I'm still gonna put a "demo-read" next to the chapter title just in case... (covers face shamefully

After the match with the fake aliens' team, Haruya Nagumo and Suzuno Fuusuke in particular, Fubuki decided to use his team mate's support and his own determination to create a whole new self, by putting together his real self and his brother- Atsuya. Right now, he never felt any better, and he was careful not to suddenly switch personalities between offense and defense, not wanting to scare the others.

Fubuki held the ball close to his chest and arrived at the Inazuma soccer field near Raimon High. There was a river located right next to it, twisting and turning seemingly endless, the water was clear enough for anyone to see the bottom; during sunsets, the water glistened along with the setting sun, glimmering a bright golden color. This was his second favorite location after entering Raimon High.

As for number one, of course it was Captain Endou's training spot- the square in front of the Inazuma Tower. Looking down from there, you could see the entire city; and it was also because of it that he could quickly become friends with his team mates naturally.

He stood on the field and looked around. There was only him on this great expansion of land.

It was always just him.

Ever since his family was taken away by a sudden snow avalanche.

He raised his hand and touched his bare neck. His white scarf from before was given to Captain Endou back then. As a graduation memory for himself.

"I'm just like a soccer ball, I just keep rolling forward." He had once blurted out, Endou had praised his quote for being quite sensational. The truth was, those were words he spoke from the bottom of his heart subconsciously.

Now he was finally free. Free from the cage that was forged by Atsuya and the phrase "perfect".

"Defense is not useless, if there weren't any defenders, then even if a forward managed to steal the ball, he still won't be able to shoot." Fubuki muttered to the ball he was still clutching onto, as if it were an actual human being. His voice was low with a certain amount of richness to it, a shallow and light smile floated upon his gentle face.

He was always like this. Kind, calm, gentle and considerate, he was able to bond with anyone. The complete opposite of Atsuya, who had a straightforward personality.

"Even though they say that, but if I can't do anything when it comes to offense, you would definitely look at me oddly, wouldn't you?" He stared towards the goal, his fingers tightening upon the ball. "Atsuya."

Atsuya had long disappeared, gone. The thing inside him was not Atsuya, it was simply a split personality he had developed under unnecessary pressure. This was only some type of mental sickness.

He would have to get used to being alone somehow. It was impossible for his team mates to always stay with him every minute of everyday after all.

"Then, I'm going to start practice now." He backed up behind the center line, then kicked the ball up lightly, following the action by jumping up, and stretching his right leg out to the very max it could get. "Wolf Legend!"

There was a "Fwoosh!", and the ball hit the net directly with absolutely no flaws worth pointing out.

"Very good." He praised himself under his breath, his fists balled tightly together. There was still a long way to go after that, unknown and hard games were waiting for both him and everyone else. "It won't do if I can't get any stronger..."

Silver purple hair danced and flowed in the wind, his agile figure glided across the field, the background was featured by the slowly setting sun. The scene was as beautiful as a painting drawn by a famous artist. The teenager boy kicked in yet another goal, then another.

"Ah!" He exclaimed, watching as the ball glided onto the wind track and bounced off the goalpost, reflecting back in a beautiful arc, flying towards the outside boundaries of the field. "Ah, this is bad, it failed."

Fubuki turned around to chase the ball, but then noticed that the ball had rolled underneath the feet of someone else. That person was just staring down at it intently.

"Excuse me, that..." He raised his arm and waved towards the figure to get its attention, but the next second, he was rooted to the spot in awe. "Ball..."

He watched as the person first used the tip of her toes to curve up the ball, it stuck there without even wavering. Then a shallow but interested smile appear upon the person's face as she lightly kicked the ball upwards so that it now rested upon her knee; twitching her knee ever so slightly, the ball bounced up onto the person's forehead; the ball searched for its balance a bit upon her forehead for a few seconds before rolling down smoothly along her back, it was then kicked back upwards by her backward raised heel, then safely landed back upon her head. Then it was the knee, foot, ankle, following the same routine once more. That ball seemed to be taking a walk along the person's body line, moving as though it were actually alive, like it was a part that had grown out of the person herself.

Fubuki simply stood there, rooted to the spot as the unknown stranger continued to play with the ball as if she was having a great hit out of that, he didn't dare utter a single word. Until a certain someone finally felt the presence of an audience near her, she stopped all actions at once.

"Ah, sorry, this is your ball, no?" That person smiled brightly, as if she were still sunk in the enjoyment of ball kicking just now. "I apologize for intruding on your practice."

The other smiled as she kicked the ball back to him. Fubuki quickly snapped his attention back, receiving the pass with his ankle by instinct, then realized shockingly. "...That was a pretty smooth pass."

"Really? Thank you."

Not too light and not too forceful, a smooth passing path. Fubuki nodded slightly, holding the ball in his hands.

He started to observe the other person in a casual manner. Long black hair that was tied into a ponytail plus two loose locks dangling in front of her shoulders which were white, fiery light blue eyes, even the hoodie, t-shirt and baggy sweatpants plus dusty and muddy sport shoes made her seem like a pretty messy person. But that cool yet friendly smile upon her face seemed to wipe out all the bad points.

"The point is, your technique is quite good, as if the ball grew out of your foot." Fubuki walked a step closer, since the person was slightly taller for a girl, even he had to raise his head just a bit, his expression and tone showing mild respect. "Do you play soccer as well?"

"Ah, a little." The person simply shrugged, giving him an answer in a rather nonchalant manner, then looked at him curiously, and using the same curiousness, looked around a bit. "Practicing all by yourself? Isn't that boring?"

"Nn..." Fubuki mulled this over for a bit before lifting his head up, smiling a shiny bright sunshine smile. "If it isn't too much of a bother, would you like to practice with me?"

The other person raised an eyebrow. "Me? Can I?"

He nodded vigorously. "If it were Captain, he would say so as well."

"Captain? Oh... Endou Mamoru, right?"

"Eh? You know?"

"Of course, the middle school games are quite popular and were seen as important in all high school clubs." The person scratched her already quite messed up hair. The thin smile near the corners of her mouth never left.

"High school? You're a high school student?" Fubuki blinked a couple of times, slightly bewildered. Since this person didn't seem to be any shorter than a couple of certain managers that were the same age as him; though if he compared her with the more matured Raimon Natsumi, she did seem slightly younger and more immature.

"First year at Galourmore High, although I haven't reached the age of sixteen yet." She tilted her body slightly before reaching out her right hand towards Fubuki, she had some sort of gentlemanly air around her. Her shallow smile had broadened slightly into a playful smile instead. "Suishou Yusaburu, a pleasure meeting you."

"I am currently a member of Raimon Eleven, Fubuki Shirou." He was stunned for a moment by the sudden outreach of her hand right in front of his nose, but soon returned the smile, reaching his own hand out for the shake. "Although I'm staying here for now, I was actually from Hokkaido's Hakuren Junior High."

"...What a coincidence, my hometown is Hokkaido as well." Suishou stated, walking past him towards the field. "Aren't we going to start practicing? I can't wait anymore."

"Hokkaido? Where in Hokkaido...?" Fubuki turned, but accidentally crashed into the other person's back instead. He groaned slightly as he rubbed his nose, then noticed her tilting her head and glancing towards him.

"What's wrong?" Uuu... it's a good thing I didn't turn fast, or my nose would be swollen by now. Suishou examined the boy from head to toe, then moved back from toe to head carefully a couple more times before stating in a worried tone, "But are you sure you won't have any problems later?"

Hearing this confusing comment, Fubuki simply stood there in a stunned manner, blinking. He looked quite cute that way. "Why would I have problems later?"

"Since you look as if you'd get blown over by the wind, heh. I sure don't want to be thought of as a bully."

"So that's it." Fubuki looked at himself, then grinned in an amused manner. "Thank you for caring, but I'm not weak at all. To add on to that, you are almost the exact same height as me, just, well... slightly taller... so you don't have to worry about people misunderstanding you to be bullying me."

Suishou squinted her eyes, from the look on her face, she wasn't convinced at all. "Huh~ so you're saying I look old?" Fubuki didn't answer, his eyes formed into half-moon shapes as he smiled cheerfully. "...Geez." She bit her lip lightly, as a teenager who was trusted under the national laws to be responsible for herself, generally she would feel much less obliged to argue with her senior. Though then again, inner personalities were another subject. "Na, which position do you play? Fubuki."

PIECE: Still getting used to the formatting. Seems to be a bit complicated (?). Kind of scared by the picture... the file was quite big for some reason (dang). So~ I had to upload it twice, lol.