Author's Note: This story is coming to an end. I am posting the last few chapters. I've never really written stories, so this has been a great experience for me personally. It's been fun...but time consuming. Most importantly, I want to thank all of you who have followed along. Who knew there would be people out there who want to read something I've written? : )

*** Chapter 36 – Remember Me ***

"Rai-chan, I need you to help me. I want Nankatsu to have a solid chance at the junior high Nationals. But without Wakabayashi-kun and Misaki-kun, the team needs to improve greatly. I was hoping that you'd help me come up with drills and run them with the team," Tsubasa asks after soccer practice.

It's been a week since Wakabayashi left for Germany. I've pretty much forced myself to keep my life the same as it was before...yet, without him, everything seems completely foreign to me now. It feels like a part of me is missing. The world around me is the same, but I'm walking around without my arm, or my leg...

I've spent the nights writing to Wakabayashi, but writing just isn't the same. We both knew that there would be some things that just can't be replaced, no matter how many photos, or letters we send. But knowing about it, and living it, are two different things.

Tsubasa has been a great friend. I'm so happy he's decided to continue at Nankatsu, rather than go to Toho. I don't know what I would have done, if he left too. This past week, we've stuck closer to each other than ever before. For some reason, being with him reminds me of Wakabayashi. Not that Tsubasa is anything like Wakabayashi, but I know the respect and admiration that Wakabayashi and Tsubasa had for each other, and it just feels like Wakabayashi is there, with us, when we're together. For some reason, Tsubasa seems to be a willing partner in all this. He naturally gravitated to me too. I think it's because he misses Misaki, Wakabayashi, and Roberto. Roberto, whom Tsubasa adored and idolized, left recently and very suddenly. I know Tsubasa must really be hurting inside. We hardly talk about it though. We don't have to, because we feel the same pain.

"Well, Rai-chan? Can you help me run the drills?" Tsubasa asks again.

"Me?" I ask back, incredulously.

"Well...yes. Wakabyashi-kun did it when he was captain. I've pretty much followed what he did, since I've been captain, but I need something more. If you help me, that would be great. Oh. I'll need you to do some of the drills too. You know, fill in if anyone's away, and we're short on people for some of the drills..." he continues.

"Tsubasa-kun, you want me to help you run, and do the drills too?" I look at him in surprise.

Tsubasa looks at the ground and starts to push imaginary dirt around with his shoes.

"Tsubasa-kun. What's going on? Why are you asking me this now? And how do you know if I can play soccer well enough to actually do the drills with you guys?" I ask, suspiciously.

"...uhm...well...uhm..." stutters Tsubasa.

"Tsubasa Ozora," I say, firmly.

"...Ok. Ok. Wakabayashi-kun said I should ask you..." he says, giving up.

"Wakabayashi-kun? What did he say to you?" I ask, surprised. Wakabayashi, what are you doing?

Tsubasa blushes, knowing that now he'll have to come clean with me.

"He said that you play really well, and you should practice with us. He said you could run soccer drills with the team. You could really help me, and... it would let you play soccer, even though you don't seem to want to play for any team right now..." he says, clearly uneasy that he's been caught.

I look at him, trying to understand what is going on.

"Rai-chan... he wants you to play. He said you played with Misaki-kun before. Actually, he said that technically, you wouldn't be playing...just practicing. I don't know why he thinks there's a difference, but he said I should tell you that, if you hesitate... oh...darn. There. I've said everything. Even things I shouldn't have..." he looks flustered for a while, but then stares back expectantly.

"I...I...don't know, Tsubasa-kun..." It's been so long since I've really played...

"Come on Rai. Just try it out. Please. Do it to help me. I know you're going to help me, right?" he gives me a wide-eyed, hopeful, pleading smile.

"...And did he tell you that I'd agree if you asked me like this? ...if you pleaded with me to help you?" I ask.

"...yes," Tsubasa admits, after some hesitation.

I sigh and shake my head at their craziness, "Ok then."

How can I argue with someone that is a world away?

Later that afternoon, when I went home, I found a package at my front door. It was addressed to me, but had no return address or postage stamps. It must have been hand delivered. I went into the house and opened it. A small, pretty jewelery box was inside, but there was no note or card to suggest who it was from. I opened the box and found a pendant on a silver necklace. The pendant was in the shape of a circle with little blue and yellow gemstones. As I looked closer, I noticed a tiny hinge on one side. It wasn't a pendant, but a locket. I carefully opened it, and found a picture of Wakabayashi, smiling back at me, on one side.

Right. I should have known. I can't stop him from doing what he wants. He wants me to remember him, and he's thought of a myriad of ways to ensure that I do. Did you ask your brother to leave this at my doorstep?

Well, Wakabayashi, you needn't have gone through all the trouble. I can't help but remember you, I thought to myself, as I fastened the necklace around my neck.