-Inazuma Town-

Tenma was returning back to Aki's mansion, having finished playing soccer with the entire team since it was his last day on Japanese soil. Tenma was both happy and a bit sad that this didn't affect them all that much but he was happy that their goodbyes weren't the least bit sad. Tenma continued on home when he turned to a corner.

"Huh? What are you doing here?"

-Room 315-

"Are you alright Kyousuke?" Yuuichi asked. "You seem occupied about something."

"Eh? Oh, it's nothing." Tsurugi answered.

"Visiting time is over." A nurse came in and said. Tsurugi got up and said goodbye to his brother. He now was on the streets, thinking back to practice.

So Tenma was going to leave soon, huh?

Tsurugi sighed to himself when he heard a bit of a commotion. He followed the noise a bit before he found Tenma, arguing with a large, burly man who looked to be in his late thirties, wearing a dirtied up coat. He nearly mistook for a mugger had it not been for the next few words.

"But you said tomorrow dad!" Tenma said back.

"Well, someone who was going to London suddenly canceled their flight today." The man explained. "They called me asking if I wanted to book you today and I said yes."

"What about my opinion in the matter?" Tenma asked desperately. "Whether I leave today or tomorrow-"

"You are leaving right now." That man said.

Tsurugi could see Tenma's face twist. "Then at least, can I say goodbye to my friends? I told them I was leaving tomorrow and-"

"There's no time for that." The man cut again before taking Tenma's arm. Even now, the man's voice remained calm yet deep, husky…not at all friendly in any manner.

Tenma began struggling to get the man to let go of him when he suddenly turned.

"Or is there something you would like to say about it?" the man asked, facing at Tsurugi's direction.

-Rairaiken-

"I can't believe Tenma's leaving!" Shinsuke cried while lapping some noodles from his seventh bowl. It wasn't so much that his friend was going somewhere far. It was that he was leaving so suddenly without giving anyone time to prepare. Amagi and Sangoku sighed.

Hikaru sighed too but it couldn't have been helped. This really wasn't any of their business. It was a family matter between Tenma and his father and that was why, whether they liked it or not, there was nothing they could do.

"Hey, cheer up. It's not like this will be the last time we will see him." Sangoku tried to encourage. "We can always visit him and we can keep in touch with letters and e-mails."

Shinsuke smiled but he still wished his friend would stay a little longer.

Then they heard the door slide open. They turned from the noise and were shocked to see Tenma, carrying a beaten Tsurugi.

"Tenma? Tsurugi? What happened?" Hikaru panicked. Tsurugi groaned as Amagi and Sangoku helped him to seat.

"Where did you get all those bruises?" Sangoku asked. Tenma looked down with a guilt-ridden look.

"It's my fault." The child whimpered. The others were surprised but Tsurugi shook his head.

"Unngh…don't blame yourself…"

"Wait, what are you two talking about?" Sangoku asked. Tenma looked at him.

"My dad…"

-Minutes Earlier…-

"Tsurugi?!" Tenma gasped. "H-how long have you been there?"

"Long enough to know what's happening, I'm sure." The man said. Tsurugi nodded. "So you don't have objections?"

"You aren't going to cut me before I actually say anything are you?" Tsurugi asked. He looked straight into his eyes.

They say eyes are the window to a person's soul and this man…they were tired, as if he had seen and experienced a lot of things that not many have.

The man didn't react and only raised an eye at him. "I see. You aren't very smart one are you?"

"Wha-" Tsurugi said in surprise but the man shook his head.

"Forget it. Kids like you don't do anything except waste my time."

He gave Tenma a hard pull that made him whimper as he was taking him away when Tsurugi yelled at him to stop. The man stopped before turning, this time, his eyes flickered irritation.

"You better say something or I won't stop the next time."

He didn't look like he was joking. "I don't really care if you take the kid away but right now we have a tournament to finish since he caused this whole mess in the first, it's only right that he stays until the end of it." Tsurugi said. Tenma looked at his father, biting his lip while praying as his father looked at Tsurugi.

He remained quiet for a few minutes.

"…I knew it." The man sighed before turning. "Youngsters like you only know how to waste my time."

Tsurugi looked at him in shock. "Wait, what?! Did you not hear a word I just said?"

"Oh, I heard you." The man said. "Loud and clear and not a good enough reason for me to let Tenma stay."

"Look-" Tsurugi said before the man turned and froze Tsurugi dead on his track. His previously tired eyes were now filled with determination, as if he was ready to fight the death any given moment.

"You said you needed him stay, right?" the man asked.

"T-that's right!" Tsurugi said. His legs were trembling for some odd reason.

"Then tell me, why exactly does he need to stay?"

"He caused this mess for us so it's his responsibility to stay!" Tsurugi explained.

"And when exactly did that happen?" the man asked. Tsurugi looked at him in bewilderment. "From the look of your matches, you all seem very willing to share the burden of that specific responsibility."

Tsurugi and Tenma looked at him in surprise. "D-dad?! How did you know that we were fighting against Fifth Sector? I never told you that!"

"I have my contacts. Not a lot gets by me without me finding out." The man answered.

"Well, then you should know the reason why he shouldn't leave." Tsurugi said.

"And that's…?" the man asked, a question that surprised Tsurugi. "You're team aren't you? At least eleven people are needed to make it up. Since there are sixteen of you, it shouldn't make a difference if one member leaves."

"Yes it does!" Tsurugi said. He was bit surprised himself since it was unlike him to say something like that. "Each-"

"That's odd." The man said. "I thought you didn't care if he left? That means you don't see him that much of an importance to keep around."

Tsurugi was shocked but more because he was willingly saying this in front of his own son. Tsurugi gritted angrily as he saw Tenma's equally shocked reaction. "Wait, he's your own son and your saying this in front of him?!"

The man did not react. "So you are agreeing with me?" was all he said.

"Huh?" Tsurugi said.

"You're only taking it as an insult because you're taking what I'm saying as the truth." The man said with a sigh. "In short, you do think he isn't that important and therefore, there shouldn't be a problem if he left. Anyway, your reasons are useless now. Tenma, please say goodbye to your friend."

Tsurugi was shocked at Tenma's father. How could this man just go and say all that in front of his own son and continue treating it like nothing?

"I know one more reason as to why he should stay!" Tsurugi growled angrily.

"And what is it?" The man sighed.

"He's better off here than with someone like you!" Tsurugi said loudly, to make sure he heard what he said. And he did, and he got a reaction. Tenma yelped as the grip on his arm tightened.

"Say that again." The man dared Tsurugi angrily.

"I said he's better off here than with you!" Tsurugi said before walking closer. "Or having to do anything that you want him to do for that matter!"

Tsurugi was about to grab Tenma away from him when a hand extended to his neck. He choked as he was now hovering from the ground, unable from the man's grip around his neck.

Tenma screamed in horror and grabbed his father's arm. "What are you doing?! Let go of him dad!"

Tsurugi continued to choke as he desperately tried to loosen the man's powerful grip.

"Here's a little advice." The man said with a hint of anger. "I'll admit it. You're gutsy but you need to show a little more respect to your elders. So you better know your own place, brat."

Once he finished his sentence, he hurled Tsurugi to some nearby garbage cans. Tsurugi screamed from the impact as Tenma cried out from what was happening. For some reason, his father let go of his arm and so Tenma was able to go and aid his friend. He took a step closer as Tenma checked Tsurugi's injuries.

"Since you want him to stay so much," The man suddenly said. "How about we see whose determination is stronger..."

-Current Time at Rairaiken-

"So what did he say?" Shinsuke asked, still not believing that the father of someone as open and friendly as Tenma would be so brutal.

Tsurugi looked at him. "A soccer match. If we win, Tenma stays but if he wins…we can't complain on whatever happens next, even if it means never seeing him again."