Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story except for a few that don't exist in the original story.
A/N: I'm SO sorry for not updating! School started, and it's a new school… I'm in a completely different country, so please forgive me! Anyways, thanks for all the reviews, everyone! I'll remember quality not quantity as well! Also, if you have any suggestions (as always) I'll accept them and maybe put them in the story. You will, of course, get credit for it!
Chapter 4
"Sena!" Takami, who had escaped the grasps of his holders, shouted.
Recognizing the voice, Sena's eyes widened. "Takami-san?"
"Takami," Shin almost hissed in anger, which he himself did not understand as to why he did it. "How do you know Sena?"
The quarterback glanced from Shin to Sena and almost realized immediately of the situation. Takami got the feeling that if he didn't give an answer that satisfied Shin, he would get tacked… painfully.
"Sena-san," Takami added, knowing Shin would probably get angrier if he knew how close the two actually were. "Is a friend of mine whom was introduced to me by Hayato."
Shin felt irritated again. Why was this Hayato popping up everywhere Sena was? For some reason, he wanted to slam this 'Hayato' and break his bones. He shook his head and remembered where he was.
"Coach!" he shouted.
The old man who had been watching this entire time found Shin's actions slightly—no, very amusing. So when he was called out, he was a little confused of what Shin would need of him in such situation.
"Yes, Shin?" he called.
"May I—" Shin paused, as if thinking about how he should phrase his words. "May I talk to Sena-san for a while?"
Coach clicked his tongue, and half smiled. His football player was almost growing up. Of course, his smile disappeared in a flash.
"Alright!" he barked. "But only for five minutes! The rest of you, ten laps around the field as punishment for eavesdropping!"
'But you did too,' Takami thought silently, waving goodbye to Sena.
Shin, of course, didn't miss the action between the two, and scowled. Sena, oblivious as always, mistook Shin's rudeness to be a side effect for training for so long.
The whole team groaned, not because they had to run, but because they wanted to listen more but couldn't. As they jogged away, they still tried to listen to their teammate's conversation.
"Sorry about the distractions, Sena," Shin said softly. "What was it?"
Sena gulped. "I—I thought you didn't want to be my friend anymore since you were avoiding me."
"Avoiding you?" Shin frowned. "But that's because I was overdosed."
Sena, confused as ever, stared at Shin. "You… do drugs?"
Shin shook his head. "No, but my team mate Sakuraba… He's an expert in girls so when I told him about my problem, he said I was overdosed with you, Sena. So, I took some time off our training and I seem to have gotten better."
"Er—Shin…" Sena bit her lower lip. "What were these… feelings that you got?"
"Well," Shin hesitated. "It's hard to explain. My heart thudded fast and my palms got sweaty. I felt this nervous feeling in my stomach and happiness sparking inside… Why?"
"Shin, I think you were overworking yourself, not overdosing," Sena laughed. "And if that's the reason why you were avoiding me, I think we had a little mis…understanding."
Shin stopped. "Misunderstanding? I understand that I thought… Sakuraba thought I was overdosed… What did you misunderstand?"
Sena smiled sheepishly. "I thought you didn't want to be my friend anymore, Shin. You were avoiding me and—and I was confused."
The two of them smiled and the rest of the team were finally done one lap. Coach was satisfied that the two had seemed to 'finish' their talk and ordered Shin off.
"Sena, my game is at 4 tomorrow. Will you come?" he breathed.
"Of course!" Sena replied. "Definitely."
Shin disappeared in the dust and for a few minutes, Sena was alone. At least, until someone troublesome appeared. With his godly reflexes, he past all the other students unnoticed and when he found Sena standing on the sideline, his first reaction was to hug her.
"Ow—who-?"
"Sena!" He gasped. "Are you okay? Hurt? Did someone bully you? Did someone hit on you?"
"Agon-nii!" Sena laughed. "Yes, I'm okay. No, I'm not hurt. No I didn't get bullied. No one hit on me."
Agon let out a sigh of relief but his eyes automatically began to search through the people who were running, glaring at them to see if any of them were interested in Sena.
"Eh? Isn't that the four eyes Hayato brought over once?" Agon peered at Takami. "So he's part of the White Knights too, eh?"
"Yep!" Sena said. "I'm going to watch their game and support Shin!"
Agon felt something dreading inside of him. "Support… Shin…?"
Sena nodded. "Mmhmm! I think I'll make a bento for him, too!"
"Shin…" Agon growled. "What's so special about him? You never come to Unsui and my games…"
"That's because you always talk loudly about how you'll kill anyone who comes near me so I can't make any new football loving friends!" Sena pouted. "And besides, Shin is a precious friend of mine—our misunderstanding was finally erased! I don't intend on letting you ruin our relationship!"
'Relationship… Relationship,' the words echoed in Agon's head.
"Fine," he said in a cold voice. "Sena, why don't you go on ahead. I want to have a little talk with Shin."
"Agon-nii…" Sena warned.
"No, nothing that involves fists or fights… Just a talk… man to man." If looks could kill, Shin would've died a painful death already.
"Alright," Sena sighed. "But if you fight him then I'll cut all ties with you!"
Agon's mouth gaped open as Sena dashed away, his anger and jealousy against Shin gradually grew.
'I'm going to make his life Hell,' Agon thought and he stood, aware of all the stares from the White Knights. He was going to wait until their practice ended and talk to Shin about something… Something that would probably make him upset.
The Next Day
"Sena—"
"Sorry Mamori-nee I have to go!" Sena yelled as she zoomed past Mamori.
Mamori, wondering what Sena possibly had to do every single day. She shook her head and sighed, but smiled in the end.
'At least she isn't depressed like the past few days,' she thought.
Sena
Sena smiled as she skipped down the stairs and hailed a taxi. In her hands was an obento for Shin-san that she had tried to make for the first time in her life. She got in and sat down, her fingers tapping the chair as she wished that the car would go faster.
When they finally arrived, Sena hurriedly paid the driver and ran towards the stadium. There, she saw familiar figures.
"Takami-san!" Sena waved her arms. "Shin!"
The two turned, but the two of them had completely different expressions. Takami had a look of relief, but also confusion, while Shin just seemed downright depressed yet motivated.
"Erm—" Sena stopped in front of them. "Is something wrong?"
"Actually," Takami scratched his head. "We've… encountered somebody that we've know for quite a while, Sena—san."
Sena frowned and tried to think of who it was. "Huh?"
Without a word, Takami pointed to something behind her, and when Sena turned, she gasped, dropping the obento. She quickly scrambled to get it, but when she got back up, she continued to stare at the boy.
"Hayato?" she whispered.
Shin
Shin grit his teeth and ground them together as he saw Sena's reaction to this Hayato. Agon had told him that he'd be here. At first, he had not believed him. After all, Agon would only be doing it to make him feel this uncomfortable feeling again. But then, when he saw him, he felt so angry and this… this burning anger that twisted his gut. He had tried to ram over and choke him, but Takami and the others had stopped him.
"How—" Sena's eyes never left the ginger. "He… He's supposed to have left—to-to Paris! He gave up on football, so why…?"
"Sena," Shin noted how hoarse his voice sounded. "Who is… he?"
As if she'd realized he was still there, Sena blushed and tried to stammer out the words, Shin stopped her instead. He stomped right over towards Hayato, and grasped his jersey.
"Hey! Someone stop him!" Coach yelled.
Shin could feel someone faintly pulling on his jersey, and without even looking, he knew that it was Sena. He felt someone gripping tightly onto his arm, trying to jerk him back, but it didn't work.
"You are Hayato, right?" Shin's eyes burned with anger. "I will make you never want to touch a football ever again!"
With that, Shin headed straight for the bench. Then, he sat down, arms crossed, and glared at the field. For the first time in his life, he was impatient, hoping the game would start.
Sena
"Shin—" Sena exclaimed, but stopped. She somehow knew that talking wouldn't solve anything. Sighing, she turned back to Hayato. "I'm sorry for what he has done."
"Fuu," Hayato sighed. "It's alright. The beats of today's rhythm is just off."
Sena leaned down to take a good look at Hayato, her old best friend. An automatic smile appeared, out of habit. "Mm… Yes. You still have the habit of speaking in musical terms, don't you?"
Hayato froze and stared at Sena. "…Do I know you?"
Sena's smile disappeared in a flash and she stood up upright. Of course he wouldn't remember her. She was overestimating her importance. "No—no. I'm sorry. My friend… said she knew you. Excuse me."
Sena slowly walked away, her head bowed. Tears sprung to her eyes and she felt like crying, but she held it in. Even if Hayato did not remember her, she would forever remember that one child who had pulled her out of despair and hell.
Takami
Takami narrowed his eyes. "Why did you lie?"
"Hmm?" Hayato looked at the sky, as if trying to ignore Takami's statement. "Lie about what, Taka?"
Irritated of the sudden nickname, he slapped Hayato on the back. "You knew it was Sena the moment you saw her. And yet you acted as if you had seen her for the first time."
"Sena… Fu… That's a name I haven't heard in a long time," he said. "I think I'd like to be alone now, Taka."
"Hayato—"
"You're right. I knew it was Sena but seeing her with another guy… Seeing the obento she made for him… it hurts. Now, please… go."
Takami sighed and slowly slumped away and gave Hayato one last look…
Hayato
The pain was still there.
Ba-dum.
Ba-dum.
In rhythm… beat… He could hear the music pounding in his head. He would have to write it down on paper later.
His eyes fluttered to Sena, and he could see the glistening light of tears in her eyes.
Pain.
He grasped his jersey and grit his teeth. It hurt so much to see his Sena like that, in pain… crying… He had fixed her, with his music… And yet, hurt her when he had left.
Maybe it is better for her to be with Shin.
He heard the familiar voice of his coach calling all members in, and he slid on his helmet and mouth guard.
Only if he can beat me.