Chapter 10
It was hard, but somehow Harry managed it. He was really proud of himself by the end of the class, it had taken a lot of willpower, but he'd done it. He knew Amu wouldn't like it if he laughed at her in the middle of class like all the others when the teacher once again called her 'Himamori-san'.
It was even harder not to laugh at the teacher's clumsy behaviour. He was almost like Quirrell, his first year Defence Against the Dark Arts professor who had been possessed by Voldemort. Though when he thought about it, his new teacher was a lot more positive and clumsy where his old professor was more like a nervous and healthier version of Mad-Eye Moody.
Amu was still a little mad at him about being left alone just as she'd had to deal with her first X-chara, though Harry didn't think it was different from her defeating an X-egg. She would have probably been madder if he'd been too tired to help her and had just stood there, almost asleep on his feet, but he didn't bother telling her that. Instead he just told her how proud he was and promised to show her all of his transformations and help her with hers.
Harry had known very well that she could do it just fine, but if he said he'd help her with them, she would be more confident to use them when the time came. Of course, he would eventually tell her that he hadn't really taught her anything that would help her with her transformations, just gave her the courage to do so.
Amu started grumbling the minute they got out of class. Harry listened with half an ear, concentrating on his charas, who had been oddly quiet, only making a small comment here and there. He wondered if maybe they were missing Sirius, because they used to always hang out with him and help him prank people so that their victims never figured out who was actually behind the pranks.
"It's not interesting at all!" Amu suddenly yelled, facing her charas. Harry let out a choked laugh, still trying not to anger Amu. Fortunately she was distracted when they turned a corner and Kukai ran past them, down the stairs.
"Kukai!" Amu exclaimed in surprise and stopped walking. Harry walked out from behind her and looked at the soccer boy who also stopped and turned around
"Oh, Hinamori-san, you seem to be free." He remarked obliviously and Amu blushed red. Harry covered his mouth with his hand so she couldn't hear his snickers or see his smile. Yet another person who was making fun of her for having free time. Harry wondered if he had heard what the new teacher was calling her, or if it was just a coincidence
"Bye then!" the Guardian yelled after Amu stayed silent, and continued down the stairs. Harry noticed he had a green sports bag with him, and was probably going to soccer practice. Harry only ever played it when he was in a muggle school before Hogwarts, but even then no one had wanted him on their team and wouldn't pass him the ball because Dudley had told them that he wasn't a good player.
He actually didn't know if he was a good player, because nobody would pass him the ball, and when he did get it somebody would quickly take it from him, but if Quiddich was any indication then he would be pretty good. Not that those two sports were anything alike. At least he knew he was fast and had enough stamina to play if he wanted to.
Even before he became the Master of Death he was pretty fast because of Dudley and his friends chasing him, but now that his health was practically perfect and his body didn't suffer from mild malnourishment any more, he was sure he was even faster.
"It really isn't 'Hima'," Amu muttered sullenly. She couldn't sulk long though, as Nadeshiko popped up behind her with a big smile on her face. Harry looked at her suspiciously, he hadn't seen her coming at all. It freaked him out how she could appear out of thin air so suddenly without anyone noticing.
"Amu-chan!" Nadeshiko exclaimed happily. Amu immediately tensed and quicker than the eye could see she was cowering on the stairs. Harry sighed and shook his head, he wouldn't be surprised at all if she was the kind of person who was afraid of ghosts. He imagined she would have fainted if she'd gone to Hogwarts, then she would have missed the sorting and they'd have had to sort her the next day, but she would have been too shy and so it would go. It was an amusing thought to say the least.
"Harry-kun," Nadeshiko nodded in his direction, sounding more subdued, but her smile still in place. Harry nodded and smiled back. Right now she was his favourite Guardian, if only because he saw her the most and she got along so well with Amu. The fact that she made delicious cookies only added points to her in his book.
"Y-you shocked me!" Amu accused, pointing at Nadeshiko. It wasn't all that dramatic, considering she was still sitting on the floor.
"She falls to the same trick again." Miki observed and Harry wondered when this could have happened before. Probably the day they'd made the cookies, before he had come and offered to help. Amu was easily scared.
"Why don't you have a look at the soccer club's practice since you're free," Nadeshiko said, then turned to look at Harry. "You're free, right?" she asked, ignoring Amu and her charas, who were rubbing it in that another person thought she was free.
Harry was free, since Ikuto said he had things to do. Harry felt sad for himself, really, the only thing he did during the day was go to school and then hang out with Ikuto or obsess over Ikuto. He should really find himself a hobby that could be left alone while he was with Ikuto, but was still interesting. He put the thought away for later.
"Yeah, I'm free," He said and took Amu's hand to help her up. Nadeshiko looked like she had wanted to do that herself. Harry though fondly that Nadeshiko really wanted to be Amu's friend.
Harry couldn't always be completely correct.
"Pass! Pass!" Someone from the soccer field yelled.
"Here! Here!" followed quickly after. Ricky, originally a fan of Quiddich, but willing to change to soccer for the time being, flew closer so he could watch how the muggle game was played.
"I see, Kukai is the captain of the soccer club?" Amu stated more than asked. She was clearly exited by the fact. Harry himself had once been Quidditch captain, if only for a while. He remembered how hard it was to get everyone to listen, and of course how Ginny, the fierce red-headed saviour, who Harry still admired for being able to get all of the teams attention, had helped him. At least this soccer team seemed to have an adult supervisor who helped them train. Harry was incredibly jealous, though he knew that each house couldn't possibly get an individual instructor of their own.
Amu turned to look to her left and Harry followed her gaze to see Kukai run up to the teacher and apologize for being late. Nearby fan-girls called out to 'Kukai-sama', Harry had to once again suppress a snicker.
"He's really popular," Amu sighed with a rather sulky voice. Harry wasn't the only one amused.
"Oh my, are you jealous, Amu-chan?" Nadeshiko asked teasingly, turning to face her.
"How is that possible!" Amu shouted, her face slightly pink. Harry also wondered how it was possible for someone to want to be popular, though his opinion was greatly influenced by his own experience back in England where the reporters wouldn't leave him alone for even a second, and crazy fans followed his every move. Let it be said that Harry greatly enjoyed his privacy.
"Yamada, change positions with me!" Kukai yelled from the field to a boy with a blue shirt. The guy he was talking to raised his hand in a half wave.
"Alright, I'll be on substitutes then" The guy, Yamada, yelled and took off his shirt to hand to Kukai, just as Harry, Amu and Nadeshiko sat down, Amu in the middle.
"That ball passing just now is really good, Yamada," Kukai complimented, holding the blue shirt to his hip.
"Your regular player position might be in danger," Yamada teased smugly, but still raised his hand up for a high-five. Amu turned to Nadeshiko, as did Harry.
"Substitute...?" They asked together, then looked at each other and Amu blushed. Harry just chuckled and looked at Nadeshiko again.
"Those wearing the blue uniform should be referred to as regular players", She explained and looked at them, but mostly her gaze was at Amu. Harry hummed at her explanation and turned away to find Ricky. He was near Kukai's chara, Daichi, and they were talking hurriedly with exited grins on their faces. Harry guessed Daichi was explaining the game to him.
"What about those?" He heard Amu ask, but the rest was lost as he concentrated on the game. Maybe it was because it was almost a decade ago when he last played or saw the game and his memories had mostly faded, but Harry thought the ones who played now seemed to have a lot more fun, and were much better than when he was a child.
Then again, he was never happy when they played soccer and this was a soccer club. Of course they were better.
He was watching as Kukai play against Yamada, when Ricky flew back to him with an excited grin. Harry smiled at him and held out his hand, palm up so Ricky could land comfortably. The others quickly flew to him and started asking questions about the game. Actually Dan was the one asking question not letting the others say anything, his studious nature shining through.
Suddenly he noticed the ball rolling towards them. It stopped a few steps from them, so Harry got up before anyone could say anything and looked at the ball with interest, before giving a small shrug and kicking the ball hard, trying to see how strong his kick was.
It was surprisingly good, considering he hadn't ever played the game. He'd aimed at the goalkeeper, so he could start the game again, but maybe he'd kicked too high, too strong, as the ball flew to the left corner, the fingertips of the keeper brushing the ball lightly.
"...Harry, would you like to try out for the football team?" Kukai asked dazedly as he watched the goalkeeper pick up the ball. Harry looked at him, surprised, before a thoughtful look covered his face. Just earlier he'd been thinking of getting a hobby.
He shook his head mentally. He didn't have time for a hobby that was constant. He needed something that he could do when he wanted, and something he could put on the side until he had time. It was really going to be difficult to find something like that.
He shook his head with a small apologetic smile. Kukai looked like he was about to argue, but then sighed dejectedly and turned back to the game. Amu looked at his questioningly, but he just sat back down to enjoy the game.
"Hinamori-senpai!" Somebody screamed suddenly. Harry looked up to see the boy with glasses that he'd come to identify as Amu's fan, was walking towards them, or rather stumbling down the hill towards them.
"What?" Amu asked, her cool persona slipping on like a well worn glove. The fan- boy looked at her with stars in his eyes. Harry heard a distant whisper of 'Cool and Spicy'.
"I wanted to-" he said, but was cut off when Kukai scored a goal, causing his fan-girls to let out high-pitched screams of 'Kukai-sama' among others. Amu turned back to the game, and in the process ignored her little admirer. He let out a sad sigh and walked away. Harry watched him go with sympathy. Poor guy.
"You were great Souma-kun!" Nadeshiko praised the on their way back home. Harry wondered if their practices were always so long. The sun was already starting to set, making the sky tinted with orange. At least they didn't have to work in the morning, or at least he didn't think they did.
"Of course! I am the Captain after all," Kukai answered smugly. Harry could tell he was pleased by the comment. Amu giggled at that, but then stopped and sighed. Harry was almost completely certain it had something to do with the boy, Yamada, who hadn't made the team to play Seifu Academy. Amu had paid a weird amount of attention to him.
"What's the matter, Amu-chan?" Nadeshiko asked, and Harry shot her a grateful look. He really didn't know what to do in these kinds of situations.
"Nothing..." she tried to evade the question and blushed when Harry looked at her with a gaze that told her he knew she was lying. He'd done it enough times himself to escape the Hermione's questioning.
"Are you hungry?" Kukai asked teasingly. Amu puffed up and denied it. She walked a little faster to get in front of them and turned around.
"Okay, see you later!" she said with an easy smile.
"Come see my match tomorrow, yeah?" Kukai smiled while he said it. Amu brought a hand up and rubbed the back of her head, pretending to think up a reason why she wouldn't come.
"What's that supposed to mean!" Kukai yelled playfully. Harry rolled his eyes with a smile.
"Just kidding, see you there!" she smirked and walked away, leaving the three of them alone. Kukai waved her good-bye, then turned to Harry with a serious look.
"We know you've been hanging out with Tsukiyomi," he stated and started walking again. Harry followed easily and smiled again, aware of Nadeshiko's glare on the back of his head.
"I know you know," he said, knowing it annoyed Kukai. "What does it matter, anyway?" He asked, even though he knew that Ikuto and the Guardians didn't really get along.
Kukai looked at him for a second, assessing, then turned his eyes back to the road.
"Just..." he started, but cut off to sigh and rubbed a hand down his face, "Just don't let him meet Amu any more," He elaborated at Harry's questioning gaze, "You know about the Humpty Dumpty?" He asked. Harry nodded.
"Well, he has the Key," he continued and ignored Harry's surprise. "And we think he wants to steal the Lock, as well as the Embryo." He stopped again to look Harry straight in the eye with serious intent.
"Don't let him hurt her." It would have sounded better if he hadn't let the sentence trail off into a question. Harry smiled at him warmly, glad that the Guardians were already this protective of Amu.
"I promise," he said sincerely. Kukai nodded and Nadeshiko's glare disappeared, replaced by the usual pleasant smile
"Harry-kun, would you like to come to the match as well? I'll bring some food for a picnic," Nadeshiko changed the subject without any trouble, dissipating the growing tension. Harry looked at her, already day-dreaming of her wonderful food.
"Of course, I wouldn't miss your cooking for the world!" He told her with an adoring gaze. Kukai laughed and the remaining tension disappeared completely.