"Previously on Hemophobia.
"My brother knew for the past seven years. And he didn't tell me."
"So, what happened to your legs this time?" the brunet asked bluntly: "Last time you were incapacitated during a war. What happened?"
"Well, I can pay for your surgery," Tenma announced suddenly making the two brothers' eyes widen.
"I will take everything you love and rip it to shreds. Just like you did." The man smirked as he looked at the boy thrashing, trying to free himself from his grip.
He would certainly take pleasure in killing him.
Commentator's font
'Thoughts'
"Conversations"
Sudden flashbacks
Tenma was having a hard time breathing, he instinctively touched his scarred right eye. He then gripped his head tightly.
He wanted to scream out loud, yell out in agony but he couldn't.
He promised he wouldn't do anything anymore, but all promises are meant to be broken. His eyes became blood red, all light vanishing from his eyes. He wanted to lift that man and crush him.
But something touched his shoulder, as he noticed the warmth of the object on that part of his body, he turned around to see Kyousuke looking worriedly at him. The brunet's eyes turned to normal and he collapsed.
Kyousuke was devastated as he saw the brunet fall on the ground. He knew something was wrong as the man passed by them because the brunet's whole demeanour had turned somewhat dark.
He picked the brunet up and frowned as he noticed how light-weighted the teen was and ran towards the manor's direction.
Several minutes later, he pressed the bell, notifying Aki of his presence. She came outside and saw a panting Kyousuke with a passed out Tenma on his back.
She gasped and ran to take Tenma from the exhausted teen, leading him inside with Tenma in her arms. She told the navy-headed to wait for her in the lounge while she took Tenma to his room.
She came back a few minutes later and offer the boy a cup of water (a/n: when I have a guest, the first thing mother tells me to do is to offer them water. But you can imagine whatever you want. I don't mind.)
"What happened to him?" she asked the boy, trying to hide her emotions but her shaky voice betrayed her.
The navy-haired boy didn't know what to tell him, he didn't want to lie to her 'cause it wouldn't be fair. But at the same time, he couldn't tell her the truth as it wasn't his story to tell and he wasn't completely sure why it had happened either. Although that strange man certainly had something to do about it. So what to do? He contemplated his answer for a while before saying: "I don't know. We were coming back from school when he suddenly collapsed."
That wasn't exactly a lie, they were coming from school after all although they had decided to pass by the hospital and he only left out the detail of the strange psychopath that passed by them. So yeah, it wasn't exactly a lie.
The woman seemed to accept his answer but that only made her more worried as theories on what made the brunet pass out passed through her mind but she didn't voice out her thinking.
The navy-haired boy excused himself saying he had a few things to do, namely a few homework. Well, in the end, he did indeed lie but that was because the atmosphere was becoming a bit too silent and awkward for him.
The next day found a brunet walking down the stairs, wincing a bit as he took each step. He mumbled an almost silent greeting and exited the room before Aki could say anything.
Tenma decided he wasn't going to participate in the morning practice and told Endou, earning him worried looks from Kyousuke and Shindou and narrowed eyes from said Coach. The man said nothing and agreed to Tenma sitting out practice.
After morning lessons the team went to the club's briefing room with Endou entering last. He started by saying: "Our match up for the first match in Holy Road has been decided. Raimon is playing against Tengawara Jr. High," he concluded, earning a few grunts from the soccer players.
"Tengawara, huh?" Kuramada repeated in a displeased voice
"Those guys are known for playing dirty," Amagi added.
"Tengawara's team uses a very solid defence formation," Endou continued as the screen of the board was lit, presenting Tengawara's formation. "Whether it comes to shaking them up from the sides, or using long passes to break through the centre, Shindou, your judgement as captain will be the key to this match."
"Aren't there any score orders from Fifth Sector?" Kurama suddenly asked, interrupting anything Shindou would have said at that moment and Endou didn't say a thing.
"That's right," Hamano said, "Although we did come second to the championship last year, I wouldn't put it past them to give an order in the first match considering the trouble we gave them at the Eito's match."
Everyone glared at Tenma at the mentioning of the Eito Academy match though Kurama's glare was a lot less subtle.
"Yes, there is an order for this match," he admitted, not wanting to deceive them. Besides they had to agree to want to fight Fifth Sector of their own free will otherwise the rebellion wouldn't be of a group of teens who wanted to play real soccer but of teens who were deceived to accomplish that goal.
"What? Why didn't you tell us?" Sangoku asked
"Because there was no need to," he replied, receiving shocked gasps from most of the players in the room. "We're going to win this match!"
"If you do that, the soccer club will surely be finished this time," Sangoku raised his voice, shocking the others by standing up suddenly.
"No matter who it is, I won't let anyone decide the results before a match," Endou simply replied.
"Coach, please understand that we're putting up with this because of our future," the third-year tried to convince the older man.
"No, I don't get it. I don't even want to try. If that kind of soccer is useful for your future, then it's not even soccer anymore." Endou replied and Sangoku gave a disapproving grunt at his answer.
"Sorry, but I disagree with you on this," he said, "No matter what you say, I'll be following Fifth Sector's order. Whatever it is."
The rest of the team approving of his decision and following him outside the room, except Shinsuke, Shindou, Tsurugi and Tenma who hadn't said a word since the whole ordeal started. There was no one at practice that day, due to Tenma and Shindou not wanting to play and Shinsuke couldn't practice by himself.
After afternoon lessons as Tenma was going back home, he sat down at the stairs leading to the riverbank field, thinking about what happened the previous day.
Flashback
Aki put the teen to bed and exited the room, looking at the door worriedly before walking towards the stairs.
The brunet's face contorted in pain, biting his lip from yelping in pain. He was sweating bullets and he suddenly woke up, pulling the covers off, flinching away as if trying to hide away from something. He couldn't do this.
He went to the toilet and closed the door on himself. He knew he promised not to do this anymore but he couldn't stop. He needed some way of releasing himself from 'him'.
Slash.
He slit his wrist and continued on the other one too, even going as far as slashing his thighs.
He was starting to pant a bit, the sight of too much blood nauseating him but he couldn't stop. Once he started again, it was difficult to stop it because this was the only way of truly relieving himself from the cruelty of the world.
Once he noticed what he did, the damage was already done and the blood loss was quite a lot but he didn't care. He felt a whole lot better, He quickly expertly bandaged his wrist and thighs being and cleared up the evidence of ever being there. Knowing she would be devastated if she found out what he had done. He exited the bathroom, staggering.
End Flashback
The brunet didn't notice how much time had passed that he just stood there thinking of his previous actions but when he eventually decided to go home, Sangoku arrived in his bike and stopped in front of him: "What are you doing here?"
He lifted his head to reveal empty eyes that crept the third-year out a bit: "Sangoku-senpai."
"Running errands?" he asked, noticing the things he had in the bike basket.
"Yeah, I'm in charge of dinner tonight," the elder replied a bit unnerved at the brunet's monotone voice.
"Oh, then I'll leave you to continue your work senpai," the brunet said, turning around to walk away but the voice of the latter stopped him: "Hey Tenma, wanna come over?"
The brunet was taken aback by the question. Out of all people that would say that to him, Sangoku was the least expected (after Kurama) especially after what happened earlier that day.
Tenma tried to refuse the offer but Sangoku wouldn't hear any of that so the next few minutes found Tenma and the elder walking towards the third-year's apartment.
The table was filled with goodies that the elder had prepared for dinner. Tenma didn't want to be disrespectful, so he could not let Sangoku's effort to go to waste.
"It's good," he said after taking the first bite: "Almost like Aki-nee's cooking."
"Aki-nee?" Sangoku asked, giving the brunet a perplexed look.
"She's one of my relatives and helps me with a lot of things. I'm currently residing at her manor due to certain circumstances," he replied.
"I'm home," a feminine voice said, entering the kitchen. The woman was like a female version of Sangoku entered she was just less tan. She wore office clothes and had a necklace.
"Welcome back. You're early" Sangoku said as he recognized the voice of the woman that entered.
"Yeah, the meeting ended earlier," she answered, her eyes shifting to the other member in the room.
"Oh, a friend?" she said when she noticed the seated brunet: "That doesn't happen often" she finished.
"Good evening," Tenma greeted politely standing, "I'm one of his juniors in the soccer club, Matsukaze Tenma."
"So you're from the club huh Tenma-kun?" She repeated.
'Yeah, like I just didn't say that.' The first-year thought rolling his eyes slightly.
"Coming back from practice?" she asked and Tenma hummed in approval.
"You guys are aiming for the championship this year too right? For Holy Road," she asked again and Tenma glanced at his elder who was a bit nervous.
"Come and eat while the food's still hot," Sangoku said, not letting Tenma respond. Well, not that the brunet wanted to give the woman a reply.
"My son doesn't talk about soccer much," the woman commented as she took her seat on the table, "Maybe it's because he's reached that age," she said, moving her head closer to Tenma who just stared at her highly amused though the emotion didn't show on his face.
"With no father around, he doesn't talk to me that much anymore. It has me in a pickle." She said, "Tenma, are you like that with your family too?" she asked and Tenma's expression darkened for a slight second. The emotion passed so fast through his face that the others in the room thought they imagined it.
After the dinner, Tenma said, looking at the smiling faces of the mother-son pair: "Thanks for the meal"
"But you ate next to nothing," Sangoku said, his tone filled with worry. The brunet did not respond and silence filled the room making it quite awkward.
"Tenma-kun, what's your position?" the woman suddenly asked.
"The normal position I occupy is that of a midfielder but I can take any other position if the situation requests for it," he replied, cleaning his mouth with a tissue.
"Mmmh, does that mean you have made shoots?" she asked pure curiosity on her face.
"Shoot? Yeah, I've made a few. But I don't think you've ever seen the matches I've played in," the brunet responded.
"So, what's your speciality?" she asked again, more interested in the brunet's soccer abilities.
"Well shit, I think this just became an interrogation,' the brunet thought and said:"Well, dribbling. When it comes to dribbling I've never fallen second to anyone,"
"Really?!" the woman exclaimed excitedly and Sangoku didn't have anything to say since the brunet was a lot better than he let on and he had a feeling that wasn't the only thing the brunet was good at.
A throne room.
A navy haired was in front of him. He didn't recognize him but he had a feeling he had always known him. In front of them, smiling, stood a brunet with a long cape behind him and a crown on his head. He seemed like he was saying something but he couldn't hear what. Next to him was a light blue-greenish haired and a dark blue-haired boy.
He looked at himself. He was dressed like a knight just like the navy-haired the only difference was that the latter had a blue cape.
'W...why am I dressed like this?' he thought, moving his hands to notice that that was indeed his body. He turned around to see other people but their faces were somewhat blurry. But he noticed the colour of their hair: a pink-haired, a purple-headed, a light-blue-haired, a black-haired, another navy-haired, a maroon-haired, a second black-haired, a teal-haired, another with blueish-purple hair, a grey-haired, a dark-brownish-haired, an orange-haired.
They were adults. But why were they so familiar?
Tenma looked at the absent gaze of the elder and stood up. He went to the woman who a minute ago excused herself to prepare some tea: "I have to leave now. Otherwise, my Aki-nee will get worried," he told her.
"Of course," she said smiling at the brunet at lead him to the front door, before exiting the room, he bowed down and thanked her for the dinner once again.
She sighed as she noticed Sangoku still seated on the dinner table. He had a contemplative and serious look on his face.
She shook him and he jumped slightly in fright and stood up to go to take a shower not wanting to think about what just happened.
When he finished, he got dressed and started doing his homework (a/n: such a good student you are Sangoku.) His mother soon came to offer him a cup of tea and asked: "Hey Taichi, did something happen to Tenma?"
"Not that I know of," he replied, "Why do you ask?"
"He seems different," she started, "Like something terrible has happened to him. His face lacks warmth. I can't explain it but his cold demeanour implies he lacks the warmth of the love of a parent somehow."
Sangoku looked at her wide-eyed, how had she notice so much in just a few hours of meeting the brunet? But, then again she was a mother, she probably had a knack for noticing things like this.
That night Tenma couldn't help but do it once again. He was crying while slashing his wrist although he didn't notice it until he felt the wetness of the tears on his face. He knew he wouldn't be able to play at his full abilities the next day in the match (a/n: well, not that he needed to) but he couldn't help it.
Cutting was the only thing that could let him forget even if just for a few hours by making him focus on the pain.
(a/n: I thought about ending it here but that would be too cruel of me so be aware of my infinite *cough* fake *cough* kindness.)
"The tournament to determine the best Jr. High schools, Holy Road will finally commence! The participating schools from the Kanto district are coming in. The Kanto district is well known for its top competition. The victor has often revered as a favourite for the National Championship!" a voice informs the crowd raging in excitement while the teams and kids with the Fifth Sector's flag march into the field.
"Beautiful," a deep voice inaudible to everyone but to his bodyguards said from a secured place in the stadium, "A tidy and well-regulated march. Beauty lies within management, Soccer is no longer an activity done with eleven people. The individual harmonies of all involved form the beautiful artwork that is in soccer."
"However," he said and his gaze shifted to the Raimon jr. High school, "If that harmony is shattered..."
"Does the coach intend for us to win?" Kirino asked his fellow teammates looking at the Coaches that all stood in front of the teams.
"If that's what he thinks, then he's got a serious head problem," Kurama answered annoyed.
"No matter what he says, we'll do what the Fifth Sector wants us to do!" Minamisawa exclaimed determinately.
"That's all there is to it!" Kuramada confirms the purple-haired boy firmly.
"They all seriously plan to lose," Shinsuke said sounding worried.
When they finished there, Raimon moved to the stadium where they were to play the first match.
"It's the first match in the Holy Road district preliminaries. Raimon is up against Tengawara jr. High! The path to the Championship starts from here. Raimon who won second in the National Championship last year is up against the famous Tengawara! Which team will proceed on the road to glory? I Kakuma Ayumu will be the commentator for today."
"I hope there will be no wrongdoings in this match like in the Eito match." The Chairman said looking at the field from the position he was.
"Yes, I made things very clear to Coach Endou, I'm sure he wouldn't like to end up like Coach Kudou," the principal said, assuring the elder man.
"Good. To make sure Ishidou-sama continues his role as Holy Emperor safely, the matches must go according to Fifth Sector's orders. So Raimon must lose this match no matter what," the white-haired man said.
Back to the field
"Rei," a voice said and both teams bow saying: "Let's have a good game!"
"It's too bad you have to lose in the first match huh?" Andou Tsuneyuki a forward of the opposing team said, gazing mockingly at Raimon making their eyes narrow.
"Now, now Andou, don't make fun of them. After all, we get to win against Raimon who arrived second in last year's championship," a blond, Nishinosora Yoichi, said: "Be happy about it."
"That's true," he said, after listening to what his teammate said, "Well, Raimon folks, do a good job in losing so at least the stands won't get bored."
"Andou!" an orange-haired said sternly looking at the three who were walking away then turned his gaze to Raimon's, "I'm sorry for my team's rudeness. It's unfortunate, I wanted to play a real match with you," the opponent team's captain walked away after saying that.
It was finally time for the kick-off, by the Tengawara.
The midfielder Hayubasa ran forward with the ball. But stopped when he came in front of Tenma. He tried to dodge the brunet but whatever he tried to do, he always found Raimon's midfielder in front of him.
"Matsukaze doesn't let Hayubasa pass by him easily."
He eventually managed to steal the ball from the Tengawara player and ran forward with the ball. The purple head player ran after him and tried to steal the ball from him but couldn't due to the brunet's superb control over the ball. Eventually, another player slid in front of him making him lose the ball and his balance. So he fell face flat on the ground making everyone on Raimon's field eyes widen.
"Oh no! Matsukaze is on the ground, he is not getting up. Why is the referee not doing anything?"
"Mmmh, that's what you get," Hayubasa smirked and ran to Raimon's side with the ball but didn't notice the brunet standing up and running back as nothing happened to him.
How much pain tolerance does he have to be able to stand up like that?' Shindou thought, looking at the brunet's apathetic face while running.
"The match continues, Hayubasa passes the ball to Kita."
To be continued...
Finally done.
I don't know if you guys noticed but the chapters are the same as the episodes like, this is chapter 9 and the episode in the anime is the ninth one.
I just noticed it now and found it quite amusing that I could keep up with something (in addition to my studies) other than mangas for the first time in my life. (Lol)
Don't forget to review and follow. Flames are allowed only if they are beneficial and adequate for the story otherwise, they will be ignored and I won't even take my time to answer.