Chapter 3

Two weeks of intensive soccer training had Toshi feeling confident. His brother had worked him hard with what he could remember from when he played and he was sure that he wouldn't let Yoshi down. Though, it had taken an argument between grandfather and Yoshi to make him feel that confident.

He still felt bad about it but when his grandfather had found out that Toshi was going to try out for soccer he had started to yell at Yoshi for "forcing his interests on his younger brother" Yoshi had argued back finally yelling at the top of his lungs that Toshi was better than he was when he had wanted to play and that he could be a great asset to the team.

Toshi took a minute before his turn to look in the crowd. He saw both Yoshi-nii and Toki-nee but neither his father or grandfather. His stomach clutched. He had wanted to show his dad how his hard work had paid off. Why couldn't he take an hour to come see when Yoshi-nii had taken days off work to help him. No, don't be whinny. Be happy of who is here…it'll effect the game if I'm not feeling positive. Or at least…that's what Yoshi had said.

Tokine looked over at Yoshimori. She had been angry with him earlier when he had begged off math tutoring. That is, until she saw why. Yoshi had been adamant about being at Toshi's try outs to be supportive and had promised to be totally focused after try-outs. Then he had begged her to come with him so he wouldn't be Toshi's only loved one there.

Her heart warmed at how supportive he was being towards the youngest Sumimura. She knew how busy he was lately, her mother had commented often enough about how hard they were working when she was asked by Shuji to check on the two boys.

She smirked to herself. She also knew he had make-up homework to do from last week when he procrastinated too long. Though she knew it was actually from when he was helping his little brother and couldn't blame him too harshly she still thought that if he had done that instead of baking a soccer cake he wouldn't have to play catch up with homework.

She turned her eyes to the field and watched Toshi line up with the other boys. She hoped he did well. Tokine knew he'd try his hardest and it would be good but she hoped it was good enough. How stressed must Yoshi be. She couldn't imagine the stress and worry going through his head at the thought that he forgot to show Toshi something.

Tokine's eyes slowly traveled back to Yoshi. She watched a dribble of sweat make its way down the side of his face as he continued to focus fully on his little brother. He had said, only a few minutes after arriving, how he had wished he had a camera to record to show their father. Her eyes softened in sympathy as they turned back again to the field. Yoshi was trying so hard to be a good brother...but if he continued to stretch himself this thin, he would surely break.

Yoshi forced his breathing as slow as possible and focused his whole attention on his little brother. This was a bad idea…I shouldn't have brought Tokine. His stomach clutched. Then again, if I have to make a run to throw up she'll still be support for Toshi.

Lately Yoshi had been getting severe headaches. Headaches that would rob him of his sight and breath, making his stomach turn and him break out into a cold sweat. He'd become hyper aware of his surroundings and it often felt like the sensory input was on overload. He felt a milder version of this when he would be pulled from the blank state.

A whistle blew and the tryouts began. Yoshi decided he should try and enter the blank state. He didn't think he'd be able to keep himself from being sick all the way through to Toshi's turn if didn't, but then what would Tokine say…

Another blow of the whistle pierced through Yoshi's thoughts. He just had two more to go before it would be Toshi's turn. He could make it. Yoshi focused on his brother and watched him shift nervously.

Another whistle blow, Yoshi saw Toshi jerk and tense this time. Yoshi decided to use his hyper awareness to test something. He reached his subconscious out towards his little brother and tried to send a calm feeling to him. He didn't know if it worked but the longer he focused on Toshi the less he fidgeted in line.

Another whistle blow and Toshi looked up from the ground. He turned slowly to look at the crowd and seemed to make eye contact with Yoshi before turning to take his turn for try-outs.

Yoshi held his breath when he reached over and gripped Tokine's hand for comfort. They would have a long week waiting for the team to be posted but the smile on Toshi's face while he did his best, was well worth the time and effort that both boys had put in practicing.

Now, they just had to wait…