It was the day after Deimon's victory and there seemed to be a buzz stirring in the air. A new rumor was going about. What could it be about? It was rather obvious. It had to be about a member of the football team. But which member? The Ha-ha brothers were gathered around their desks informing Sena of the rumor that was floating around.

"Last night... after our party... they said..."Jumonji said in a low voice.

"That he was seen..." Kuroki continued.

"With a beautiful girl!" Togano ended.

Sena's eyes widened in surprise as he coughed out,"A girl?"

The Ha-ha brothers nodded in unison.

"Are you sure?"

The "brothers" nodded again.

"Who is she?"

The "brothers" shrugged.

"No one knows," was Jumonji's reply.

"So we were thinking," Kuroki started.

"That you should ask him about the girl," Togano finished.

"ME?"

The "brothers" nodded a little smugly as Sena walked slowly out of the classroom.

"Why is it always me?" Sena mumbled as he made his way down the hall.

Sena sighed and quickened his pace a little. He glanced out the window to see if anyone was at the clubhouse when he collided into Musashi and Hiruma.

"Watch where you're going, shrimp."

"Hiruma-san!"

Sena bowed quickly and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. Hiruma raised his eyebrow as he blew a bubble.

"Hiruma, as I was saying. There is this rumor going on about you."

Hiruma sucked the bubble in and chewed on his gum.

"And? I don't care what they say."

"Hiruma."

Sena looked up at Hiruma-san and Musashi-san nervously. Surely the Ha-ha brothers would understand if he slipped away and asked the question later.

"What? I freakin' don't care what they say about me."

"But I do! Hiruma, you are a close friend of mine and I do not like lies being spread about you. So tell me who that girl was that you were seen with last night. Your girl friend?"

Sena sighed softly in relief. Since Musashi asked the question, he didn't have to. He'd just tell the Ha-ha brothers the answer Hiruma-san gave Musashi-san.

"Ke ke ke. So what if she is my girlfriend?" Hiruma smirked.

"Then... I suppose I have nothing to worry about..."

Hiruma started walking off.

"That girl is a woman."

"A woman?" Musashi and Sena exclaimed.

Hiruma turned and gave them a crooked grin.

"Yeah."

Musashi and Sena turned bright red.

"Ke ke ke. She's my mom."

Musashi and Sena's jaws dropped as they watched Hiruma walked off. His answer was rather unexpected. After all, Hiruma never spoke of his mother before. He had mentioned his father once or twice in passing, but otherwise he never spoke of either of his parents. His teammates assumed that he didn't like either parent so it was rather shocking to hear that he was with his mom. Musashi recovered and set his mouth to a firm line. This must have been why Hiruma had been acting strangely the past few days. Sena looked up at Musashi.

"Um... Musashi-san?"

"Yes?"

"Did he really just say that he was with his mother?"

Musashi nodded.

"He really said it."

"Wow... This so... weird..."

Musashi nodded in agreement.

"There are soo many questions I will have to ask him later."

After practice that day, Hiruma was sitting on his sofa waiting. The night before he had finally seen his mom again after ten or so years. He bounced his knees impatiently. His mother was going to call him. He was nervous but excited that she was going to call him. She had told him last night that there were several things she wanted to talk to him about. What could it be? Hiruma closed his eyes and leaned his head back. While he waited, he would just think about what had happened last night.

It was getting very late. Hiruma yawned and gazed sleepily at his laptop. Yeah, it was really late.

Huh? What's this?

Hiruma pulled off a jacket that had been placed on him.

Weird... I don't remember putting this on... Wait a sec... This is that stupid manager's jacket. What was she thinking?

Hiruma huffed and tossed the jacket onto a nearby chair. He swiftly packed his laptop and yawned again. He used up a lot of energy during the game so he was going to take it easy the next day.

Ooops... Almost forgot. Gotta make that phone call to Mom...

Hiruma pulled out his cell phone as he slung his computer bag onto his shoulder.

Today was kinda special... I guess it wouldn't hurt to call her cell...

Hiruma slowly made his way out of the classroom as he dialed the number.

Ring. Ring.

She's not gonna answer, stupid.

"Hello?"

Hiruma's heart jumped.

"H-h-hi..."

"Youichi?"

Hiruma put a hand on his chest and leaned against the door of the classroom.

"Mom?"

"Youichi... You've grown so much. I was able to come to your game."

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Hiruma gulped as he could hear his heart pounding.

"You actually came?"

"I'm at the school right now."

"At Deimon? Now?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

Hiruma's mother looked up at the school building then glanced around.

"I'm over by the clubhouses. I believe I'm at the front of the school."

"Okay. I'll be there in a minute."

Click.

Hiruma's mother smiled softly. She would finally see her son again. After about three minutes, she could hear footsteps coming from behind her. She turned quickly and looked up into her son's eyes.

"Hi, Mom."