There Kidou and Haruna were preparing for their trip to Inakunijima in Inazuma town. Here on the island, Hiura was confronting the truth of his life.
He had been practising with his team when Michinari-san had come to visit them on the field. It had surprised him when the captain's dad had sought him out instead of his son.
"What happened Michinari-san? he questioned the older man. "I just came from visiting your grandmother" he saw the man started to speak before he hesitated for a bit. "Maybe Asuto-kun and Mansaku-kun should join us in this conversation" he suggested.
Hiura tilts his head in confusion before obeying him. He looked towards the field where he could see Asuto and Mansaku glancing worriedly towards their directions from where they were playing. He gestured towards both of them to join him. They immediately understood and came running over.
Once both of them had joined, he continues speaking " Hiura-kun, what do you know about your grandma's health?"
Hiura bows his head down "Baa-san has been sicker lately but, she says she is fine and would recover soon."
"Do you believe that?" he was questioned.
Hiura frowned " I want to believe it, it just feels different this time. She has been sick before but, not like the way she is sick this time."
He sends an apologetic look towards Asuto before hesitantly adding" It feels just like it did before Asuto's okaa-san died."
He hung his head in shame for bringing her up. It had only been a month since she died. The wounds of her death were still fresh for everyone on the island, specially Asuto. Hiura too was affected by her death. She was like his second mother.
He felt someone grip his shoulder. He looked up to see Asuto who was giving him an encouraging look. He breathes a sigh of relief Asuto was not angry with him. He focused back on Michinari-San, who gave him a small smile.
"You think something would happen to her" he stated.
Hiura just shrugged. He does not need to say it out loud. Michinari-San has just vocalized his biggest fear. He does not want to lose his baa-San. She is all he has now. He will be completely lost without her.
"Your fears are valid, Hiura-Kun. All of us are worried about her. However, that is not why I am here today." Michinari-San started seriously. "Your grandmother gave me a task a few days back. Do you know want to know about that task?"
He had the attention of all three of them now. Seeing Hiura nod slowly, he started telling him all about it. "She had called me last week to work on her will. She likes us has the same concerns about her health. While we were working on the will, she asked me to find your siblings".
All Hiura could do was blankly stare at the man. "What on the earth was he talking about?" "Siblings as in plural?" it does not make any sense. Baa-san, Otoo-san and Okaa-san never talked about other children.
Michinari-san, after noticing that Hiura was lost started explaining more. "You have an older brother who is a year older than you and a twin sister. You might have heard about him. He recently played for Inazuma Japan and is currently playing for Raimon middle-high school. His name is Kidou Yuuto, and your sister's name is Otonashi Haruna. I believe she is a manager for both these teams."
Hiura's mind was working in an overdriven mood. He was having a real hard time believing 'The Kidou Yuuto' was his brother. One of the well-known names in soccer in Japan was his brother, and what was this about a twin sister?
"Why didn't Baa-san told me about it? Why are you telling me about it?" he managed to ask.
"I am afraid I don't have answers to either of those questions. Your grandmother wanted me to tell you guys about it, so I did." Michinari-san replied.
Hiura realizes he won't be getting an answer to his questions. It would be better to talk to his grandma about it. He instead asked another question that came into his mind. "Do they know? My brother and sister?"
"I got in touch with your brother earlier today. It was I who informed him about you and your grandmother. Apparently, both your siblings thought that all their relatives are dead. They are all that's left of the family. They had no idea that they have a brother or that their grandmother is alive" Michinari-san replied.
"Just like me" Hiura muttered.
"Your brother was quite shaken by the news. I think you are handling it better than him that the moment," the older man added.
Hiura couldn't understand how was he handling it better? His mind was running all over the place. His emotions were all so confusing. What was he feeling right now? He had no idea. Four words kept flashing in his mind- Baa-san, brother, sister and lies.
He was interrupted by Asuto shaking his shoulders. He focused back on his surrounding to see three worried faces staring at him.
"I think you spoke soon Michinari-san" Mansaku muttered quietly.
"Don't worry. I am fine." Hiura cuts him off.
"You are not fine. Don't argue about it." Mansaku contradicted.
Hiura started to defend himself when Asuto told them to stop." Now is not the time" he said indicating towards Michinari-san.
"Gomen-nasai" they apologized to their guest.
"It's alright. I had seen you guys fight worse before" Minchari-san gave them a small smile.
He checked his watch before addressing Hiura " I need to leave now. Hiura-kun, while I don't know the whole story or why you were kept apart from your siblings. What I do know is that your grandmother loves you. She always wants the best for you. Do keep that in mind when you talk to her."
Hiura agreed. He knows that it was true. He couldn't understand why he has not been told about it. He does know that His grandma won't want anything bad for him. She must have a good reason not to tell him about them.
They were interrupted by Michinari-san's phone ringing. "Hai Michinari Hachiro speaking" he answers.
"Michinari-san, this is Kidou Yuuto here." came the response.
"Kidou-san, What can I do for you?" he asked the young man.
Hiura perks up on hearing Kidou name. "Is that my brother on the phone?" he thought.
"No, I just wanted to tell you that my sister and I would be in Inakunijima by this Friday night. Two of our friends would also be coming with us on this trip" Kidou informed him.
"That's good to hear. I would be there to receive you" he responded.
"Arigatou gozaimasu. I shall see you on Friday." Kidou concluded.
Michinari-san looked up at Hiura's curious face. "Your siblings are arriving this Friday with their friends" he informs him.
Hiura couldn't believe his ears. He would be meeting his siblings in just three days. He was excited as well as scared on the mere thought of it.
Later he was at the cliff with Asuto and Mansaku. They had come here after Michinari-san had left. The captain has been understanding enough and had let them leave practice without asking anything. Hiura was sitting on one of the rocks while Asuto and Mansaku were standing around him.
"What are you going to do now?" Asuto asked him
"I don't know. Wait for Friday I guess" Hiura told him.
"How are you feeling?" Mansaku asked him.
"I told you that I am fine" he replied.
Mansaku shakes his head at his stubbornness. "You don't need to lie, you know. You just found out that you have siblings that you knew nothing of. One of them is Kidou Yuuto, the genius playmaker. There's no way you are fine." he straightforward stated.
"You don't have to be so blunt about it" Hiura grumbled.
He felt Asuto sitting down beside him and wrapping his arms around his sides "he is right though you don't have to hide your emotions from us" Asuto softly told him.
Hiura sigh before telling them " I don't understand what I am feeling right now. It is so overwhelming. It feels so surreal, just like a dream."
"That's understandable," Mansaku told him as he joins them on the rock.
"I don't think I am ready to meet them or if I want to meet them" he admits quietly.
"Of course, you want to meet them. You are just scared right now" Asuto comforted him. "Also you won't be alone, I bet the whole team would be ready to be there with you when you meet them. All you need to do is ask" he adds.
"We would be there. You won't be alone" Mansaku reminded him.
"Thanks, guys, you are the best friends I could ask for" he was thankful for them.
"We are always there for you" Asuto reassured him.
"When are you going to talk to your grandmother about it?" Mansaku asks him.
Hiura frown "I think I will wait for them to arrive before asking Baa-san about it. Considering her health right now, I don't want her to stress about it twice. After all, she would also have to explain it to them" he decided.
"Whatever you want" They decided to support him.
Hiura does not know what the future has for him or how it will be like meeting with his siblings. He knows he is not ready for it for now.