Summary: Victorious, Inazuma Japan return home after the FFI and resume their normal lives...until some realize that a champion archer transferred during their absence. The new girl seems pleasant enough, but something's out of place...but what? OCxCharacter

"There are only two ways to live your life.
One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as though everything is a miracle."
- Albert Einstein -

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Chapter 3: When Anxiety Becomes Joy

Aya adored the color blue. It was the color of the sky, the color of the ocean she loved to gaze at along the coasts of California, and the color of her eyes, which Kura-kun often admired before he was hospitalized.

Aya stared up at the cloudless fall sky, its azure glow making it look like rolling waves. She was lying on her back on the edge of Raimon's soccer field, away from the rest of the gang so she could immerse herself, alone, in the giddy feeling that was threatening to explode from her chest.

Two weeks after she and Gouenji had their private talk, Aya braved herself to give Amakusa Kurannosuke a call that she hadn't given in almost a year. She could remember her conversation with Kura-kun as lucidly as if she had just called him a minute ago.

Aya called her friend's number and waited for a response. She didn't have to wait long until a warm, gentle voice answered.

"Hello?" Aya's voice hitched. It was him! Her heart thumped in her chest.

"Hello? Kura-kun? It's me..."

"Aya-chan? Is that you?" The boy on the other end raised his voice and spoke quickly, as though in disbelief.

Aya remained silent. Her lip quivered. Just hearing the boy's familiar voice was enough to shake her resolve.

"Aya-chan? Aya? Are you there?" Kurannosuke's voice quickened—he wondered if something had happened to her while he wasn't by her side.

"I-It's nothing, Kura-kun," Aya stammered. She wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her sweater. "How have you been?" She heard the boy sighing in relief on the other end.

"I've been doing alright…I miss your visits though," he confessed. "I heard from Marui-san that you moved to Japan. How's school? Still doing soccer?"

Aya faltered. Did no one tell him that she had changed to archery? For him? Why not? She had practiced her butt off to win the archery championship in Korea. She couldn't count how many times her hands and fingers had blistered and bled, and how many times she had to bandage them to alleviate the pain. Why had Kura-kun not been informed? Well, he might have been better off not knowing, she thought.

"Yeah…school's been fine. So, uh…Kura-kun?"

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry," Aya said softly.

"What? Hey, can you talk a little louder? I didn't catch that."

"I'm sorry," Aya said a notch louder this time.

"Sorry for what?" Kurannosuke asked. He chuckled.

"I, uh…about the accident in Korea…"

"Don't worry about that," the boy said. "I never resented you, and I never regretted saving you that day. It's true that I was upset at first, but I realized how much more it would have hurt me if you had been the one in the hospital. Now, the only thing I kept wishing for was for you to contact me. What were you doing all this time? I really thought you disappeared."

Aya was stunned. She choked back the lump in her throat as silent tears rolled down her cheeks. Before, if her tears had been in devastation, these tears were shed in pure joy.

"Kura-kun…Kura-kun I'm so sorry." Aya wept.

"Oh, come on. Stop crying, you crybaby." Aya could hear the older boy laughing. "Just make sure you call me now and then, especially when you have a big match. I wouldn't want to miss watching your soccer games for anything, especially after I get out of the hospital next month."

The line went silent. "Next month? What do you mean?" Aya's head spun as the words sunk in.

"Didn't anyone tell you?" Kurannosuke asked. "The doctors here found a way to fix my arms and leg. I won't be able to use them much after the surgery, but the doctors said that if I practice a lot, then I might be able to do archery again." He panicked when he heard a heavy thud. "Aya? What happened? Are you alright?"

Aya had dropped her phone in surprise. She was covering her mouth with her hands to suppress her urge to scream with joy. She felt so foolish. Not only was Kurannosuke not angry at her, but she also had no reason to give up soccer in the first place. The irony of the situation made her sheepish. After she had regained her composure, Aya picked up the phone. "Sorry, Kura-kun. I was just surprised," she said. "But I thought you didn't want to get surgery."

"I didn't," Kurannosuke said. "But that was only because the doctors were working on the surgery that I'm getting soon. It was in progress, so they wanted me to just get rehabilitation until the details of the surgery were finalized. I think things will turn out alright."

"I hope so. I'll pray for you," Aya said softly.

"Thanks. It was great talking to you again. I'll contact you after the surgery is over."

"Okay. Take care!" The line clicked and Aya could hear the phone beeping. For the first time during the conversation, the girl smiled. She was glad that she had listened to Gouenji's words. She was glad to have a friend like Kura-kun. And most of all, she was glad to have her beloved soccer back into her life. For good.

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"Aya-san! There you are!"

Aya looked up to see Aki running towards her. Aya had been walking towards the rest of the soccer club members when Aki called out to her. Aya grinned.

"Sorry about that. I had something on my mind so I left to cool my head."

"Oh! I see. Everyone was so surprised when you vanished. Kidou-kun was about to announce something exciting, so I came looking for you so you can hear the news too."

Aya smiled. "Alright. Let's go!" She grabbed Aki's hand and dragged her back to the gang.

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"…so that's what I was planning for us to do on our two week vacation," Kidou announced. He looked proud as he saw everyone's jaws drop open in surprise.

"You have a summer home?" Endo exclaimed. His eyes bulged.

"And you're inviting all of us to stay over?" Haruna asked. Her eyes shone and her cheeks were flushed. She looked like an excited puppy. A whole week with her brother! It was a rare occasion. She would definitely go. How could she ever refuse such a tempting invitation?

"Then it's settled," Kidou said. "I'll text everyone the location and time the day before we leave."

Everyone nodded, but the first and second year students looked at one another with dejected looks on their faces. After fidgeting a little, one of them spoke up.

"Kidou-sempai! We're really sorry, but we won't be able to make it," he said sadly.

Kidou looked down at him. He looked puzzled for a second, but then his eyes lit up in realization.

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot," he said. "The first and second years have their field trip then, don't they? Hmm…"

"It's okay," the first and second years said. "Please don't worry about us and have a great time. The school year is almost over, so the upperclassmen should go and spend time together."

"Are you sure?" Aya asked. She frowned.

"Yes!" they assured. "Please go and have fun."

"Then thanks guys," Endo said. "We feel bad that you all can't go, but the camp should be just as fun. I remember how much I enjoyed the trips for the past two years."

"Then since we got everything cleared up, let's go back to class," Gouenji said. He nudged his head towards the school building and walked towards it. Aya ran after him and the two walked back together. Everyone else followed behind.

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"So, did you contact Amakusa?"

Aya looked up from her locker. Gouenji was leaning against the locker next to hers. His eyes were gentle.

"Yes, I did. I had a great time. Thank you for encouraging me to talk to him." Aya blushed and a wide smile spread across her face. Gouenji smirked.

"It seems like all went well. Did something good happen?"

Aya closed her locker and placed her bag on her shoulder. She grabbed Gouenji's arm to keep herself from squealing.

"He's going to get surgery and it's guaranteed to be successful! He can go back to being an archer again! I can't believe it!" Aya squeezed Gouenji's arm. Gouenji gingerly patted his classmate's head with his free hand.

"It turned out just like I said it would, right? Good for you."

"Yeah. So now I can focus on having fun on the trip. I'm going to take pictures and send them to him." Aya suppressed another squeal and released Gouenji's arm. She then surprised the boy by grabbing his hand and running down the hallway, dragging him with her.

"What's with the rush?" Gouenji asked.

"Let's go to a café today Go-kun," Aya answered. "I know you don't have any plans today, so you have to come. My treat!"

Gouenji smirked and followed the girl without any hesitation. He was glad that things had been resolved between Aya and her friend because now, she was smiling brightly. It reminded him of Yuuka.