Love After Marriage

"There's a guy out there who's going to be really happy that you didn't get back together with your crappy ex-boyfriend."

(/∇\*)。o○

Chapter 1: Fiancé at First Sight

It's Saturday morning with very much welcomed cool temperature and sunny weather. And deeply appreciated by people who are using the airline services and their loved ones who pray for their safety. Among the many people at Tokyo International Airport who're walking to their respective destination, inquiring things at the counters and such, are two teenagers. They are at the sitting area with some other people that they didn't know, waiting patiently for the arrival of their best friend. The two did their best to avoid eye contact with other people, afraid that people might feel 'welcomed' enough to approach them and ask for autographs, shake hands, making small talks about how they are their biggest fan or taking pictures together.

Sitting on one of the blue chairs with his legs crossed and a tablet in his hands is Kidou Yuuto. Throughout the three years since the end of Football Frontier International, 'fondly' referred to as FFI, he kept his usual braided hair, although he changed his googles for one with lime green lens and white body frame. He's wearing a black shirt topped by a red and white jacket, paired with dark blue jeans. The command tower of Inazuma Japan had gotten a slightly tanner skin. His red eyes are following the words in the text that he's reading, and at times, his attention shifts to the person in front of him who has started pacing back and forth ten minutes ago.

Once in a while, Endou Mamoru would glance at his watch to check the time and his eyes trailed off to the arrival gate 4. The captain of Inazuma Japan now has longer hair styled in spikes. Still keeping his orange headband on his head, the goalkeeper wears a casual light blue short-sleeve shirt and black jeans. His sight directed on the floor, if not on his watch or the arrival gate. Being kept waiting is not one of the things he is capable to deal with yet. He can be patient, yes, but in some situation, he'd be as restless as he is currently, especially if it's something to do with his family or friends. Or a soccer-related matter. Another impatient sigh left his lips as he somewhat glared at the arrival gate.

"He's late."

"The receptionist did announce that the flight will be a bit late, didn't she? Why don't you sit down and calm down? He'll arrive safe and sound in a few minutes definitely." Smiling at that while his eyes are still on the tablet, Kidou replied in a soft tone, hoping to ease some patience and calmness into his best friend of almost five years.

Endou resisted the urge to roll his eyes and plopped down on the seat next to his best friend. "I know that! But he's supposed to arrive fifteen minutes ago!"

"Relax, Mamoru. It's not like your whine will boost the plane's speed or fasten the time. We have no other option but to wait."

"But what if-"

"Why don't you be a little more patient, save your complaints for him and ask him for long-hours of practice with you. I'm sure he wouldn't be able to say no." A sadistic gleam appeared on Kidou's goggles.

Endou's eyes widened before he grinned. "Only if you'll join us."

"I'll be standing nearby, collecting every data I can get while I watch the two of you succumb into extreme exhaustion." Kidou smirked at the idea and will very much enjoy himself when the time comes.

"Now that's a little cruel of you, don't you think?" A familiar voice came from behind them.

The two turned behind and saw their long time best friend, Goenji. The ace striker now has his hair spiky hair straightened down, making his hair reaches his shoulders, azure highlights at the ends of his hair. Like his two best friends, he has also gotten tanner. The ace striker wears an unzipped long-sleeved orange jacket, revealing the black T-shirt he put on underneath. His top outfit matches the grey jeans and the orange and white stripes sneakers he chose to wear.

"Shuuya!" Endou was the first to respond. The goalkeeper quickly stood up from his seat and glomped him in pure happiness.

Kidou looked a bit surprised before he finally regained himself and nodded his head in acknowledgement, a small smile on his face.

He, along with a few others near them, watched in amusement as the ace striker of the national youth team tried to push his silly-grin-printed-face away from him, which only serve to make Endou tightened his hold around their very missed best friend. It had been about half a year since they last saw Goenji. Right after the press conference regarding their victory in AFC U-19 Championship, Goenji took the first flight to return to Italy, where he had continued on his training with Levin Murdoch. The former European MVP had offered to become Goenji's mentor after FFI ended, and since then, the two started travelling while practicing soccer.

"Let me go, Mamoru." Goenji looked down pointedly at the goalkeeper, who paid him no attention, his silly grin trademark still on his face.

"Well, we waited for you for a long time, Shuuya. And he's starting to fidget all over and worry himself needlessly." Kidou replied on behalf of the not-speaking captain as he kept his tablet in his bag.

"I did not worry needlessly!" The captain protested, putting up the most serious face he could. "His plane was behind schedule!"

"Yeah, for fifteen minutes!" Kidou retorted with a raised eyebrow.

"A-Anything can happen in fifteen minutes! What if the pilot lost his sense of direction and he landed the plane at Korea by mistake?!"

"If he can make a mistake like that, he wouldn't even qualify to become a pilot!"

"Then, what if-"

"So Mamoru, you said you wanted to practice with me?" Goenji cut in, hoping to divert Endou's attention, and yes, it worked like magic.

Endou nodded his head eagerly. "Yup! Straight to the riverbank, then!" He punched high in the air and placed his arm on Goenji's shoulders, dragging him along in his pace.

"Yosh, let's go!"

"M-Mamoru, slow down, will ya'? I'm still feeling a little jet-lag!"

"Maa maa, Shuuya. I thought you've gotten used to it! You fly often, right?"

"Well...yeah, but-"

The two, unintentionally left the one third of their trio behind. Kidou stood beside Goenji's black leather luggage with a popped vein on his head, feeling every bit forgotten and lonely. "You owe me. Both of you." He muttered under his breath before he pulled up the handle and dragged Goenji's luggage behind him. When he caught up with the both of them, he and Endou shared a look before they turned to Goenji.

"Shuuya." Kidou said.

"Hmm?"

"Congratulations on your engagement." The two said in a low voice in unison, not wanting to risk anyone hearing them. The two of them seemed a bit unsure whether they should be congratulating him, given the fact that Goenji's marriage was an arranged one and he didn't even know who his fiancée is. Goenji looked a bit dazed before an appreciative smile curved on his lips. "Arigatou, Mamoru, Yuuto."

(/∇\*)。o○

"A-ano...Fuusuke-chan?" Clara asked timidly, her face flushed a bit.

Without looking up from the simply decorated menu that she was currently browsing, she replied shortly, "What?"

Reina watched her best friend's I-could-care-less attitude and sighed. "Is it really alright for us to be here?"

"Finally, a pair of teal eyes looked up from the menu. "Why wouldn't it be? Otou-san said I can take you two to accompany me, didn't he?" She replied, flashing back to the piece of memory from last night. Kira had called for her after dinner ended, and told her of the 'not-so-date' she has today. She asked him if she can bring some friends, and he said that it'll be fine because he will bring his friends too. "Or do you plan to leave me here with that guy and his friends?"

"O-of course not!" Reina denied. "That's not what I mean! What I mean is that this is the first time you will meet him. So...ano..."

"We'll only get in the way." Clara took over from where Reina had trouble forming the sentence.

The three friends are inside a private patron room in a high-class restaurant in Inazuma Town. The round, mahogany table covered with maroon table cloth is placed at the centre of the private patron room, with six chairs of the same material and design circling around it. On top of the table is an elegant-looking golden chandelier. The walls inside are decorated with wallpaper of light red and candle lamps. Aside from the dining table and chairs, there's also a small sitting area provided. Three sofa with a coffee table are at the corner of the room.

Tonight is a little wee bit special.

In a few moments, Suzuno will meet her 'maybe-or-maybe-not' fiancé.

Well, that will all depends on who and what kind of guy he is.

The three of them are beautifully dressed up for the first meet of the 'might-be' engaged couple. The three of them were suggested by Hitomiko to wear cocktail dress for the dinner date. Suzuno put on a lilac-coloured maxi dress with accordion pleats, the lower half of the dress reached a few centimetres above her ankle. The dress was matched with white, medium-height heels. Her hair had been styled into a princess braid. Reina and Clara wore the same dress as her, but the chose different colours. Reina chose cobalt blue while Clara's is fade yellow.

"Well," Suzuno put down the menu in her hands on the table, "it'd be awkward if it's just the two of us. Besides, I need you to help me get through this dinner and evaluate him."

"Evaluate?" Clara blinked, confusion shown on her face.

"You know what I mean! Test him, watch his body language, give opinions, stuff like that!" Suzuno flushed a bit as she was forced to explain further.

"That, we can do." Reina smirked wryly. "I know I'm excited to see Akane obaasama's grandson that she wanted to match-make you with so badly! Well, just a bit excited."

Clara giggled. "You know, Fuusuke-chan, if you do end up getting married to him, I know one person who will be crushed." She attempted to liven up the place, even Reina sent her a teasing smile.

Suzuno rolled her eyes and snorted. "Can we just stop talking about him for like...I dunno, forever? He's the last person on Earth that I want to talk about, the cheating bastard's the worst kind of guy I've ever meet and hopefully this one I'm meeting is nothing like him! If he is, I'm going to dump my drink on him and get the hell out of here!"

"Then I hope I'm nothing like him." A voice cut in before either Reina or Clara could reply. The three girls turned to the door and saw three guys in black tuxes. The whole room was silent as they slowly started recognizing the other trio.

The one on the right is Endou Mamoru, the captain of U-20's men national soccer team.

The one on the left is Kidou Yuuto, the command tower/strategist of the same team.

And in the middle is Goenji Shuuya, the ace striker.

Goenji was the one who broke the awkward silence. "Looks like we do cross each other's path again, Suzuno." He stared down into her teal eyes.

A small smile formed on her lips. "Although in a way we both didn't expect."

(/∇\*)。o○