—OoOoO—

Oregairu by Wataru Watari & Ponkan8

Ao Ashi by Yugo Kobayashi

Genre: Sport, Friendship, Slice of Life, Romance

Summary: What if Hachiman is not a mere high school boy but a former of football player in his middle school? More importantly. he is one of big shots in his generation!

Prologue.

—OoOoO—

Youth was the most enjoyable period in the life cycle of a human being. Youth gave you many privileges that you couldn't enjoy at any other level. As a high school student, your brain was developed enough to take responsibility for yourself. However, because the special rights were still protected, you didn't have to think about the future or the obligation to earn money for your daily meals. In other words, no matter how much you fail, all of that was still allowed when you were in those times.

Youth was a time full of excitement. Youth was the time when enthusiasm and rebellion were at their peak. Youth was a place where pleasure and destruction were separated only by a dim line.

Cheerfulness, enthusiasm, friendship, dedication, to sadness were spices to taste your youth. For this reason, it was not uncommon for trivial things that seem simple to be so disturbing to those who were in these phases.

"Yumiko, you've been in a bad mood since after school. I mean, can you really just let it go?"

A group of six students was seen hanging out in a cafe. In more detail, they comprise two girls and four boys with different traits.

"What do you mean, Tobe? I'm doing okay, you know?"

"No, no. I think everyone here is aware that you're still bothered by losing to Yukinoshita-san in the tennis match this afternoon, right?"

As if in response to Tobe's words, the whole gang was shocked by the words, as if he couldn't read the mood. They simultaneously turned to the girl called Yumiko, only to find that her expression grew sour.

Miura Yumiko was her full name. She was a sophomore at Sobu High School, like the rest of her clique. Yumiko was a beautiful girl with dyed blonde hair with the ends curled like a drill. In normal conditions, it was quite difficult for her to conditioning her face so that many were afraid of her curt expression. However, she was actually a kind-hearted girl and took great care of those around her.

"To be honest, it also makes me curious. I mean, you're not usually in this bad mood. Is it really because of Yukinoshita-san?" asked another girl in the group.

Yumiko stared at her for a few seconds, looking at the only her girl friend present today.

"It's not. Even though Yukinoshita has a shitty personality, losing or winning in the match is normal," she replied while running her fingers through her hair.

Yumiko's statement made her friends even more curious. She could have lied to cover up the truth, but they were sure that she wasn't the type to lie about such things. What's more, Ebina Hina—another girl's name in the group—knew very well the girl's stature because they've been together since the first year.

Seeing her friends questioningly looking at her, Yumiko took a deep breath. She realised she had no other choice but to explain.

"Well, I'm not actually really mad or anything. However, I think I'm just disappointed because the Hikio right now looks like a dead person with no purpose at all."

They fell silent at this explanation. Yumiko's words were far from what they expected. Moreover, a name that she spit out was something they didn't expect. It was Hayama Hayato—the most striking boy with blond hair—who was the first to wake up from his daze and give the first response.

"Hikio?"

Yumiko realised the nickname might sound foreign to her friends. However, before she could clarify, Tobe had already gotten ahead of her.

"Is it Hikitani-kun?"

Unfortunately, this time it was Yumiko who was taken aback by the name that was spoken. But it didn't last long, as she immediately understood where it did come from.

'Well, the kanji in his name can be read that way, though.'

Yumiko considered whether she should correct him. However, she withdrew after reflecting that she also gave the boy in question a unique nickname. Hence, she just nodded and left it be.

"He is," she said briefly.

Before she could continue, another boy in the group interrupted with a question.

"Eh? Who is this Hikitani, Tobe?"

"You're terrible, Yamato. He was on a team with Yukinoshita-san this afternoon. Did you forget?"

The boy named Yamato wore an expression as if he had an epiphany.

"Oh, come to think of it, Hiratsuka-sensei once wrote his name on a board."

Hayama Hayato only glanced at the conversation between his two friends. He then looked back at Yumiko with a myriad of questions in his head.

"Seeing you addressing him like that, I assume you are familiar, or at least, have known him for quite long?"

Miura nodded and replied, "Hikio and actually went to the same middle school. Hell, we were even in the same class in our third year."

It was a fact that made them all gape. It wasn't like they had not even thought of the possibility. It's just hearing the explanation straight from Miura's mouth gave the bigger effect than they had imagined.

"So, Hikitani-kun is also from Funabashi Academy?" asked Ouka, one of the boys in the group.

"I already said that, didn't I?"

Ouka cursed at his stupidity. He kept his face from losing his pride while cursing himself.

"Perhaps Ouka-kun meant, was Hikitani-kun also a tennis athlete like you?" asked Ebina correcting her friend's question.

What Ebina asked represented all of their questions. The question was not without reason. During the tennis match between him and Yukinoshita against Yumiko and Hayama, they could see that the boy they called Hikitani had pretty good posture.

On one side of the table, Hayama was looking at Yumiko with interest as he ran through several possibilities in his head.

'Moreover, the way he changed the ball's speed and curved it using the wind is truly magnificent. To be honest, he had good vision and he would not have come up with the idea if he had no experience.'

Funabashi Academy, often called Funabashi Municipal School. A state school with a high sports orientation, each in the junior and senior high level. For the high school level, you won't be able to find another school that was as successful as Funabashi Academy in Japan in term of development of their young athletes in general.

They dominate almost all fields in the Inter High championship, starting from football, baseball, basketball, volleyball, tennis, badminton, gymnasium, and many more. In fact, in football, Funabashi Academy was not only successful in the Inter High event, but they were also considered as the contender for the title in the U-18 level league championship, the Prince Takamado Cup. With their three titles, Funabashi Academy was the most successful high school in the Prince Takamado championship along with Aomori Seiran High School.

The reason for Funabashi Academy's success was quite simple. Even though it was a state school, the training was integrated with the junior high school with the same name. In simple terms, the coaching of this school imitated the concept of youth team in professional sport clubs. Because of that, those who come from Funabashi Middle School would mostly continue on to Funabashi High.

The reason for the system they have implemented until now also not without reason. Sports schools were all fairly expensive because they were organised by private foundations. For this reason, creating public schools, which were certainly cheaper than private schools, was hoped to accommodate children's interest in sports in a comprehensive manner.

"Well, Hiko wasn't a tennis athlete before," Yumiko replied.

Miura Yumiko was an alumnus of Funabashi Middle School. She used to be a tennis player, and once won the prefectural level until she progressed to Inter High, although her highest record was reaching the top 8 round only.

"Oh really? I thought he was also in the same club as you considering he played pretty good today," Ebina responded.

Miura shook her head and replied, "No, he was on the football team."

Once again, they all gasped at Miura's words. Specifically for Hayama and Tobe, who were both currently in the Sobu High School soccer club. Those who were familiar with Japanese football should know the reputation Funabashi Academy had, be it at the middle or high school level.

"Wait, really? He doesn't look like someone into football, though?" said Hayama who still couldn't believe it.

"Well, believe or not, that's how it is."

Tobe and Hayama looked at each other. They still had a hard time believing Miura's words even though they knew that there was nothing she would gain from lying.

"Being at Funabashi, it must be difficult to break into the starting eleven, wasn't it, even though it's only the middle school level?" Tobe replied while considering the conditions, "Was he not a good player, so he came to Sobu High School?"

As Tobe said, the competition for a seat in the first team was fierce. Moreover, at the high school level, players from other regions would join. However, his words without thinking beforehand offended Yumiko.

"What are you saying? I used to be the ace of the Funabashi Middle School tennis team, though? Do you think I'm a bad athlete and afraid to compete with new faces?"

Tobe immediately realised what he had just said. With a panicked face, he immediately put on an awkward smile and tried to calm Yumiko down.

"No, I didn't mean that, you know? We all here know that you were an ace of your team."

Yumiko snorted at his statement. She folded her arms across her chest and turned her face to the side. Even though it offended her, she couldn't just blame Tobe. The reason was, she never even told them the reason she stopped playing tennis and preferred to come to Sobu High. However, on the other hand, she didn't like it when they just belittle someone without knowing anything, especially if that person was someone she considered important.

"Just so you know, Hikio used to be in the first team and his role couldn't be replaced. He was even able to break into the main squad since his first year."

Hayama and Tobe were taken aback for the umpteenth time. They never imagined that there was a former core player from a giant team in their class.

"If he's that great, then why did he go to Sobu high school instead? What's more, he didn't join any sports club at all," said Tobe.

Miura was silent for a moment. Her mind was busy looking for reasons to protect the reputation of the boy who became the subject of conversation. She fell into silence. However, she gave up and lay.

"Who knows? It's not like I know everything about him. I don't even understand why he joined that obscure service club."

Hayama remained silent as he supported his head with his hands. While Tobe buried his back into the chair. On the other hand, a contrasting sight was seen on Ouka and Yamato's side. They both had no idea about what their friends were talking about. They only know the basics. In fact, if you ask the names of the football players they know, both of them would answer only Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

However, a different scene appeared on Ebina's side. She was not really an expert in football. However, the knowledge she possessed was at least better than the other two geezers.

"I am not really into the domestic football affair. I usually only watch the national team, though" Ebina said in response before she remembered something, "Ah, speaking about it, the news about the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia has also been widely discussed even though the event will only be held in August."

Tobe, who heard a beautiful girl who could follow their conversation, suddenly thought of something.

"Yeah. And it said one of Funabashi Academy's players was called up for the U-23 squad that was sent to the Asian Games."

"Ah, attacking midfielder of Aomori Seiran was also called to the team, wasn't he?" added Hayama.

The U-23 team, or under-23s, were the junior national teams divided into age groups. Depending on the policy of the association and tournament organizers, 85 percent of the players on the U-23 team were under the age of 23. Generally, the line-up for the Japan U-23 team was for those competing in the university league. However, it was not uncommon for young players from the Prince Takamado Cup to be called upon to strengthen the squad.

"Hmm, speaking of the national team, if I'm not mistaken, Hikio was also joined the U-15 national team in his third year of middle school."

Of all the information Miura spit out, what she said just now was the most unexpected. They must be speechless in the face of new knowledge about this mysterious young man. Even though there were many words they wanted to say, but they all choked up in their throats, as if their brains and mouths had stopped working in synchronisation.

Until in the end, only a short sentence could emerge from Hayama's mouth.

"What the hell?"

—To Be Continued—

Author Note: Wow, i didn't expect to find my old fict at my old computer lol. I still clearly remember i wrote this story in 2018, when Asian Game was about to be held in Indonesia. Back then i didn't include any Ao Ashi variable at all. However, when i found this, i revised it a bit and blend the universe with Ao Ashi verse. This is just a fad project, so i don't know when i will update it. Anyway, thank you for reading this story.