Prejudice

Krizzie: Konnichiwa minna-san!!! I'm absolutely full of plans for this story!!!

Yuki: Yeah… and I'm absolutely lost…

Krizzie: Yatta! I have six reviews! Thanks to emina, elle, aAYARIi, Mini-Chobi, KBAP and Anonymous!!! You guys ROCK!!!

Yuki: Wow… some people actually like this story.

Krizzie: Don't mock me. (glares)

Yuki: I'm not. (challenges glare)

Krizzie: Whatever.

Chapter Four: Heart's Recall

Ozora Tsubasa took pride in having a reputation as one of the greatest soccer players that had ever lived. He also prided himself with the fact that almost nothing could distract him except for football. But lately, that hadn't been quite the only distraction.

On the contrary, football didn't even have anything to do with his current reverie, and he's teammates told the team psychiatrist that their captain had been so lost, "so out of it" as a certain Wakabayashi had quoted. So dazed that even Morisaki could catch his supposedly undefeatable drive shooter, if you call his latest shot one that is.

And today was no exception. Genzou watched with tired eyes, as Tsubasa swept the defender side of his team in lazy steps, his eyes blank and expressionless. Izawa, as seen by the keeper, furrowed his brows before he took a shot that easily went in. The forward eyed his captain with shock at his supreme lack of reflexes.

Genzou, already bothered, stepped out of the net, grabbed the guy by the elbow and took him to the benches to give him a little talk. The other players watched as Genzou steadied their captain with a firm hold on both Tsubasa's shoulders. "Tsubasa, we have a game in a couple of days. Do us all a favor and snap out of your sexual fantasies for a moment!"

The team purposely looked elsewhere as Tsubasa's dark orbs widened and scanned each one of them. "I…I'm not f-fan…fantasizing about a-anything, okay?" he said defensively, trying to make his point across most especially to Genzou.

"Yeah." Genzou said derisively. "I know, but I need you to wake up. Bolt awake and whatever term mankind has… formulated to put it."

Tsubasa nodded solemnly, the sullen look on his face made even worse by the unhealthy paleness of his cheeks. "Sure Genzou. Sorry for acting so stupid these days. I'm just… preoccupied." he looked away. "But not of what you accused me earlier, I'm afraid. I just haven't been getting much sleep lately. Forgive me."

Hajime rolled his eyes, the dark orbs glancing sharply, mockingly, at Tsubasa's direction. "We can see that." His voice made the pointy-haired boy cringe.

Izawa crossed his arms and inspected Tsubasa closely. "Genzou, do you think he would be okay to play? I think he's sick." The forward didn't seem to care at the moment about the other guy's feelings. Either that or he lacked sleep as well. He had the tendency to get cranky when he did.

"He's not sick. Let him be." Reijan said before she handed him a small jug of water to drink. Izawa thanked her and drained it down. She also gave one to Genzou and Tsubasa. "He's just dazed. Give him some Tylenol to at least help him keep his balance and plenty of rest. If that doesn't work," she stole a look at the SGGK. "then take genius's idea here and get your pretty captain to a nightclub. Your pick."

"Go to hell, bitch." Genzou snapped, growling when he only received a bored glance as reply.

Tsubasa nodded, somewhat glad that she wasn't reprimanding him, albeit subtly. "Yeah, you're right Satsuko-san…" Everyone looked at him. "I'll grab some aspirin, I'll be okay… I just…" He let the thought trail off.

"Don't bother." Reijan shrugged nonchalantly. "You're not obliged to pour out your frustrations just because I'm of Eve's descent." she said scathingly before trudging out to hand out the towels.

"Ignore her Tsubasa." Ishizaki said with a growl, glaring at the girl's back. "She just doesn't recognize your talents, the little jerk she is."

"But she is right Tsubasa, get your act together." Teppei said, giving Ishizaki a warning glance. He was sure to kill the defender if Satsuko chose to quit her job and they were stuck cooking their own meals (Or suffering to eat Shizuka's. No offense but Reijan is way better with the stove) in the dorm. He gave his steadfast look to Tsubasa. "We all know how we, and most especially, you, would feel when you make mistakes on the actual game."

"I know." Tsubasa sighed. "Just let me think okay? I'll sort it out, I promise."

Genzou looked at him seriously. "Sure, but you know you can talk to me whenever you're ready Tsubasa. In fact, I'm sure the other guys wouldn't mind, would you?" he shot the team a glare and they all complied.

Tsubasa offered a weak smile. "I know… thanks guys."

Reijan watched all these from afar. Though her veneer wasn't really that convincing, she was silently pleased, if not stupefied, with how the team interacts with one another. Not only do they understand each other, but they try their best to help one another, even if they weren't in the field, and that, in her opinion, is what teamwork really is. They amazed her, not like how flashy superheroes do, but like that amazement of a child when they realize their dreams, and found someone who had accomplished a similar one.

Though that led her to think… if only they don't act like a bunch of sentimental freaks bonded by an underground frat…

"They're close, aren't they?" Shizuka commented beside her. Reijan replied with a simple nod. Shizuka smiled at her direction. "You know Rei, you should try to talk more, and lessen the sarcastic remarks. Almost all of them dislike you, you know." Shizuka said, careful with her words. She had to admit she, herself, was intimidated by the team cook.

"Whatever." Reijan muttered before she went back to the kitchen to prepare the boys' lunches, as is her job. She stopped midway. "And stop calling me Rei."

The manager sighed and offered the towels herself, trying to hide her frustration. She figured it would only make things worse. And Shizuka didn't like complications. It disturbed her.

After handing the last one, and after collecting the empty water bottles, she went to the kitchen to help Reijan, her ponytailed hair swishing behind her as she jogged away.

"You know, I'm glad Shizuka's here." Shingo said bluntly, unscrewing his bottle. "If it was only Satsuko-san was here..." He shuddered at the thought. Ishizaki and a few others nodded in agreement.

"Well, I happen to think we need Reijan here." Izawa said, not bothering to use an honorific.

"I'm not implying that we don't need her." Shingo clarified after he threw the empty bottle on the trash bin beside the wall. "I'm just saying that she's… strange… in some ways more than one."

Izawa tapped a finger on his chin. "That's not how it sounded. You sounded like you wanted to fire her or something and I won't like that. I happen to like her here very much." They all raised a brow at him, more in shock than disgust. After all, he was one of the major targets of the girl's sharp tongue, aside from Ishizaki and Wakabayashi. Izawa raised a brow back. "What? I like her stew."

Genzou was the first to break from the trance. He chuckled. "Yeah, and I love the way she makes her sauce, there's none like it even if you circle the world." And that was true, after all, the keeper had once been a routine traveler.

Tsubasa beamed. "And I love her riceballs! They taste just like my mom's!"

Izawa grinned as the other players made their own contributions.

"So she's a great cook, so what?" Ishizaki said with a frown. "It doesn't give her an excuse to go all mocking all the time, especially with me!"

"I don't blame her. You could just be so annoying sometimes Ishizaki. Besides, don't you always clean your plate up when it's her dish?" Genzou remarked before he got up. He patted Tsubasa on the back. "Well, speaking of which, I'll go check what's on the menu tonight."

Izawa watched the captain while everyone else was taking their leave. "Hey Tsubasa-kun…"

"Hm?"

"Are you worried about that girl with Sugimoto-san?" he asked, ignoring the grumble of his stomach. He placed a calloused hand to muffle it. "She seemed pretty down that night." he observed his captain's movements, scared when Tsubasa doesn't seem to be moving at all. "Do you like her?" he asked in a hushed voice.

Tsubasa smiled. "Well, she's very pretty, I can't deny that," Actually, I think she's the most beautiful creature I've ever met. "but not within my standards. She's a maid. Besides, I don't even know her name. Well, why don't we go check what Reijan had whipped for us, hm, Izawa?"

Izawa ignored the subject change and pressed on. "Didn't Sugimoto-san call her Nakazawa?" Izawa said, trying to make his captain crack. He knew Tsubasa was infatuated with the girl. He just wanted him to be happy, even if it cost him his lunch. Besides, he knew Reijan would always leave the leftovers in the fridge. "You want me to look up on her? I know a thing or two."

"No need Izawa. I told you, she's not within my standards."

"Your standards, my ass. You like her, captain, stop denying it."

Tsubasa sighed in exasperation and brushed back his hair. "Izawa, I know what I'm doing. Now why don't we close this subject down?"

"Fine!" Izawa snapped, his anger still boiling inside of him. Why didn't Tsubasa just accept that he was attracted to that girl? Why?

--

Taro cautiously brought his hand on her forehead. "Sanae-chan, your fever doesn't seem to be going down." he reported with a worried look in his eyes. "Are you feeling uncomfortable? If this keeps up, I'm afraid I'll have to call a doctor."

"No need Taro-kun." Sanae gently took his hand away. "I'll sleep, maybe when I wake up, it's going to disappear." Or better yet, maybe I'll disappear.

Taro nodded before bringing the blankets up to her neck. "Well, rest. I'll cover up your chores."

"I owe you a lot Taro-kun."

Taro smiled. "You could pay me back by getting better."

Sanae smiled and Taro chose that moment to walk out of her chambers towards the kitchen. Fortunately, the family was out for the day, arranging plans for their little demon princess to once again come face to face with the infamous Ozora Tsubasa, in, of course, the said demon princess's demands.

Taro went over to the sink and washed his hands. He opened the fridge and took out a quarter of chicken. "Well, how about some roasted chicken?" he said in his usual chirpy voice as he carefully placed the raw meat on a newly-washed platter.

His hands began to move, but, Taro realized after a while, his mind was still focused on his friend. "Sanae-chan…" he muttered, worried. "Please get better."

--

Chairs were pushed back one after another as the team settled on their preferred tables. For today, Reijan had cooked them fried fish with vegetables, and the team was somewhat disappointed, because they expected to be loaded with REAL meat. Shizuka said she recommended a daily diet, and, as usual, Reijan obliged. She was famous for avoiding all arguments when it didn't include wisecracks and snide remarks.

And besides, Shizuka was their meal manager, no matter how much of a worse cook she is.

Shingo brought his hands together. "Well, I'm hungry."

"Itadakimasu." they all said in unison.

Ishizaki groaned. "This looks like my mom's cooking…" he muttered dejectedly.

Shingo nudged him but before Ishizaki could even decipher the silent message; his dinner had been whisked away and ungracefully thrown out the window to end up in the stomachs of poor, homeless kitties.

Yuki: Well, that was short. After those long months…

Krizzie: FORGIVE ME MY FAITHFUL READERS (if there are any)! But school had been so… well… laboring.

Yuki: You said it.

Krizzie: Hai. Hai. Please review.