*Snow Kids' Hotel*

*Mei and Tia's Room*

Tia watched the genesis stadium from the balcony of her room. It was something she enjoyed to do every morning because the entire place was nothing more than perfect, amazing and beautiful. Rocket was joining her sometimes, whenever she needed moral support or an advice or the need to have him with her. And today was no exception.

"Rocket, the team is falling apart, I can already feel it" she said letting herself to be enveloped in a hug from behind. His strong arms wrapped around her petite waist and his chin rested on her shoulder as the wind blew around them.

"You too huh?" he said with a thoughtful look, his breath and voice, gently tickling her ear.

"I mean look at her!" Tia insisted, turning to her best friend, who was crying her eyes out on her bed "She's been like this ever since D'Jok left and I've tried everything to cheer up!"

"Did you try shopping?"

"Three times already" Tia sighed covering her face with her palms, feeling the morning's coldness sending her chills. Rocket rubbed her arms with his hands to warm her up. He was quite surprised, even shocked a little bit. Mei? Refusing to do shopping? That means she must really love the selfish ginger... who would've thought? "Mark and Micro-Ice are even worse!" Tia continued "I don't even want to start with them"

"Sweety listen to me" they turned face to face and she was all years "Now take a deep breath" she did as she was told "There, feeling any better?" a little bit actually, as if one of her worries left "Mark, Mei and Micro-Ice aren't exactly in the best shape at the moment. What we need to do is to wait patiently for them. They know how much the Cup and the Team mean to D'Jok, once they woke up to reality, they will become stronger because they want to carry on for D'Jok. All of us want to win the Cup with D'Jok by our side. Once they realize it too, Snow Kids will become a team again"

"Thank you" Tia whispered wrapping her arms around him "You always know what to say"

"What kind of boyfriend would I be, if I didn't know how to cheer up my girlfriend?" he smiled before he pressed his lips against hers in a kiss. "And don't worry so much about D'Jok" he added after they parted away "It's like repeating my history with Netherball, I'm sure he isn't going to repeat my mistakes. Once he's calm and collected he will come back on his own. Plus, knowing D'Jok, there would be no way he would have chosen to stay here. But as long as he's with Sonny, for him it's like taking a vacation. Everything will be fine, you'll see" they shared another kiss, this time a deeper one, Tia allowing his words to sink in, as a cold breeze hit them again. They couldn't care less about that breeze.

*D'Jok and Micro-Ice's Room*

He buried his face in his pillow as deep as he could. He wished to disappear from this world. Or for everything to be a dream, so when he would wake up, D'Jok would be there babbling about what a great player he is. Damn that ginger boy for buying those bottles! Damn him again for taking the whole blame! And damn his own self for suggesting to drink! It was all his fault and he knew it.

Thran and Ahito always tried to cheer him up, even if it was always in vain. However, they stopped trying after he shouted a less polite thing. "Stop bothering me already! How would you two feel if the other was gone? Would you like to be bugged 24/7?" yes, he had said it. Actually shouted it. Because D'Jok was like a brother to him... and Micro-Ice had just lost his brother...

Back there, after he woke up, with his head hurting, he frantically looked around, remembering why he was out there in the first place. There was no sign of his best friend. Absolutely nothing. The boy vanished away the second he got the chance, without turning around. When Micro-Ice looked to see what was in fist, his eyes widened. D'Jok had left him the bracelet! The bracelet he never took off! The bracelet that helped him find his father! But why?

His hand started to tremble, holding the bracelet like it was a very fragile object. Was it D'Jok's way to say goodbye forever? He didn't know..., but he knew he was crying when he felt salty tears falling down on his cheeks. After he returned to the hotel, he became completely morbid.

"Staying with Sonny, who is not seen twice in the same place? D'Jok, I wonder if this is how much our friendship means to you"

Was there any joy in playing football if he wasn't playing with his best friend?

Micro-Ice buried his face in the pillow again, still hoping everything was nothing but a dream. A very ugly dream.

*Mark's Room*

To say he was feeling bad and guilty was the understatement of the year. How could he be so stupid? He knew his parents were in town and at some point, they were going to notice sometime through their fight that their son slipped away from the room and left.

Now everything is doomed. D'Jok left and the pain Mark felt inside his chest was unbearable. Strange enough, no one blamed him, when they really should throw him out of the team. If his mother noticed later, or if he begged her more not to tell the League, then he would have been suspended, not D'Jok.

He looked at the balcony of the room, the guilt was eating him alive, and knowing how much D'Jok loved to play football, he thought a few times about throwing himself over.

"Come in" he called, hearing the door's ring.

"Hello Mark" Yuki said entering the room, with her hands behind her back "How are you doing?"

"Great" Mark replied sarcastically, hiding his face from her.

Yuki put her hand on his shoulder, smiling softly, making him look at her "Listen, no one blames you for what happened. And neither should you blame your mother, she just did what a mother should have done. D'Jok is going to be back sooner than you expect, you'll see"

"It's easy for you to say" the boy replied bowing his head "D'Jok loves football more than anything, and I just threw him out of the team and banned him to play. I'm such a horrible person, I can't even look at myself in the mirror Yuki!

"Don't worry" she said hugging him tightly "We are here for you. I think you should talk to Micro-Ice and Mei, they are the same as you. Everything will work out in the end"

"Thanks Yuki..." Mark said sincerely, smiling a little "You're simply amazing"

"What are friends for, right?" she winked, smiling back.