Chapter 3: The end of the Raimon soccer club?

Next day the holidays came to an end and school started again. Although Shindou had never disliked school, he was especially happy this year, since now at least Kirino wouldn't be able to avoid him because they were in the same class. But as he passed the main gate like always the brown haired boy stopped. What he saw couldn't be real, couldn't it? Normally he would look at the big soccer stadium whenever he reached the school ground. But today the spot the soccer building was supposed to be was empty. How could somebody be able to destroy it in only one night?

"That's what I would call overreacting." The rest of the Raimon players had already gathered in front of the big remains of the stadium and were inspecting the place now.

"You're right, Hamano", Amagi answered. "Just because we're rejected their challenge they destroyed our stadium … ."

"THAT is the work of the Silent Strikers?", Shindou asked unbelieving. "That's impossible … ."

Hayami looked at him. "Do you have another explanation?"

"Well." The brown haired boy didn't know what to reply. It was just way to exaggerated to destroy a stadium just because .Raimon didn't accept their challenge.

Then Kurama arrived. "I have heard that they also destroyed the soccer fields of other schools … ."

"That reminds me of something Endou-Kantoku once told me. When he was playing at Raimon, their school was attacked by Aliens. They played them several times and had much fun and in the end they made lots of new friends!" Tenma's voice sounded rather excited then concerned. "That would be awesome, right Shinsuke?"

"Yeah, let's challenge the Silent Strikers again!", the short boy agreed.

But the others looked rather doubtful. "They looked really strong", Hayami objected. "And we don't have a field to practice anymore … ."

"This would be a good opportunity to close the club, don't you think?", Sangoku suggested. "Honestly, who of us want to invest all the free time in a sport for kids?"

"How could you all forget how much fun soccer is?", Shindou asked. "And besides, can we really ignore what they did to us?"

"Who cares?", Kurama asked indifferent, already leaving the place. "I don't have time to play around."

Shindou tried to stop them. "But they attacked other schools as well, we have to stop them!"

"We can't do anything", Hayami answered. "It's only soccer, so the best is to let them do what they want."

"Let them go, Captain."

Shindou was really surprised to hear Tenma saying such words. "You too?"

But the other boy smiled knowingly. "I'll bring them back for sure. You should look after Kirino-senpai." When had Tenma become so mature? Or had he always been like this?

"We'll practice tomorrow afternoon at the Riverbank then", the brown haired boy decided. "I'll speak with to Otonashi-san to let her arrange a match with the Silent Strikers." It would have all been easier if Endou-Kantoku would be here. Why did he decide to visit Kidou in Italy at such a crucial moment?

###

"You're in no position to play a match", Haruna decided. Right after school ended Shindou had gone to the person currently in charge of the soccer club. During class the brown haired boy had tried several times to talk to his friend, but Kirino had successfully avoided him all day. "Right now the club has only five members. This is even more worse then when Endou wanted to face Teikoku back then."

"Five members?", Shindou asked. Who besides him, Tenma and Shinsuke was still in the club?

Haruna looked at him. "You, Tenma, Nishizono, Tsurugi … and Kirino. And besides I can't arrange a match with a club I don't know. It would be different if you would no their school."

Kirino was still in the club? "Thank you." Hastily he left the office to look for his friend. He had known it all along, after all he was his best friend. Kirino still loved soccer.

###

As he finally found Kirino it was already afternoon. Normally they would be at practice at this time, but in only two days everything had changed so much. His friend was standing on the roof of the school looking at the place where once the soccer stadium stood.

"Look, I bought you these." Shindou said instead of greeting his friend. He stretched his hand showing two hair ties. "Because you were so concerned about your hair yesterday. I'm so glad you didn't cut it."

Kirino looked at the present. His friend had chosen well, he liked the two red hair ties decorated with a small strawberry. There was only one problem. "I will look even more like a girl when I wear these, Shindou."

"You're still worried about this?", the other boy asked. "I know that it won't be important for you, but I like you as you are. If you're a boy or a girl doesn't matter, you're my best friend." Shindou smiled.

"You know me just to well", Kirino shook his head smiling as well. Strawberry was his favorite fruit. Then he took the gift. "If I wear this everyone will laugh at me though."

"At least it's better than wearing sunglasses", the brown haired boy answered grinning.

Kirino blushed. "You know, I was serious with that." It was cute. Cute? Ever since his friend has started to compare himself with a girl, Shindou had this weird thoughts in his mind. Maybe he had started to think of Kirino that way before, but hadn't notice. Maybe that was the reason he picked the strawberry hair ties instead of the plain ones Kirino normally used.

"Will you come to training tomorrow?" By changing the subject Shindou hoped to get back to reality.

"No, I can't", the pink haired boy answered silently, the sadness in his voice was unmistakable for Shindou, who had known his friend for ages. "I think I'll go home now." And without another word Kirino left.

The captain of Raimon watched his friend leaving. Kirino was suffering, he knew. But not to know why and being unable to help his friend made him want to cry too. Didn't Kirino think about what effect his behavior would have on him? And why was his friend still a member of the soccer club if he didn't want do play anymore? Nothing seemed to make sense these days …

Right now it doesn't look like it, but I promise starting next chapter it's going to be awesome. It'll show more about Kirino x3

Please review ^^