AN: sometimes i hate not being able to write it the way i wanted it to be

Hana2- thanks for reading the new chapter and reviewing. yeah its hard to write soccer games and im really happy i did it great. i guess me watching games too much paid off. though it is such a drag. i dont know about the world youth arc, because that requires a lot of soccer games to write and i dont know if people would want to read it too. so... yeah... anyway thanks again

yeah i dont own captain tsubasa

Chapter 39: Heartbeat

He thought that when the match ended, they would have a bit of respite until they have to play again October for the first round of the qualifies, but that wasn't the case at all.

Immediately the day after, they had to go to Tokyo for a conference with the Association, telling them their game plan for the following months. They would have to be back in Tsumaigo to start preparing for the first in about two weeks, a week after summer vacation started. They would be there until the end of summer vacation and come back again a week before the first round that would be happening in October.

At least they have the week off before they have to get back to training.

But even they were packed for the first three days of the week.

The day after the conference with the Association. They had a press conference. It was almost all fine and dandy. It wasn't there first time doing it after all. But whoever decided to make it a public conference deserved to think about his life choices. Never in his life did he see such a huge gathering of rabid fangirls right in front of him. Like, was that how popular soccer guys are for females? They didn't even do anything but kick a ball around a grassy field. And apparently, since he was dubbed as captain, his popularity boosted up more. Some of them even tried to yank his shirt out, it was scarring.

Most of the time, he had to keep close to Misug-kun (who knew how to handle them efficiently and without getting himself mobbed) just to keep himself safe and uninjured.

Why did they even need the press conference for? He's pretty sure that they have enough publicity.

But that wasn't even the last time he had with those fans. Before this whole fiasco with Koizawa and his team, he along with Hyuuga-kun were going to be in an interview for a talk show because they were going to be the new captains for the two favorite teams for high school soccer. He didn't even know how the media knew. They weren't supposed to know until what, the fall?

Well, he couldn't do anything about it and just came to the interview to make everyone happy. It went okay. But the questions they were asking the both of them were kind of uncomfortable. Why would they need to know what brand he likes the best? Yeah, he did lean more into Adidas, but what reason do they need this for?

When all of it was over, Hyuuga-kun just told him to humor them, even if more fangirls will try to mob him next time, but wearing more Adidas merchandise.

God save him.

Never had he been more grateful to come back to Nankatsu when he arrived home. And when he came to his room, he just plopped into his bed to snooze the day away. He did kind of feel bad for breaking his promise to Daichi to play with him, but he was just too tired he couldn't even be woken up.

And all of his plans of talking with her also went out of the window because he was too tired. He was planning on making everything straight too. He thought it was about time. This has been dragged to long. And, he already knew what he feels for her. It's about time he made things straight.

Hopefully, when they all meet up tonight for the summer festival they have time to talk.

Because and he wasn't even going to deny it, but he couldn't wait to have her in his arms.

Maybe that's why he couldn't stop feeling jittery as them boys stood on the edge of the street where all the stands were lined up. They were waiting for the girls, who was supposed to be here a couple of minutes ago. His friends were all complaining on what's taking them too long, because if they didn't come any sooner, then they're going to run out of the good stuff. Personally, he didn't mind. He was sure that the girls were still making last minute touches. It's not every day you get to wear a yukata.

Okay, maybe he did mind. He was excited to see how she would look in a yukata.

And she didn't disappoint.

"Hey guys!"

They all turned around to see the four of them quickly walking to them fast. All of them were wearing yukata's, but there was only one person who he couldn't take his eyes off.

Compared to the three other girls, she was just leisurely walking behind them, taking her time to get to them. Her white yukata that was patterned with light blue flower petals fit her perfectly, as her hair was halfway up while the rest of it fell down past her shoulders like waterfalls. There was a light layer of make up on her face that

She took his breath away.

"Hey," he greeted her as she arrived before them.

"Hi," she greeted back, a smile on her face. "Long time no see. How was the life of a sports celebrity?"

He sighed exasperatedly as they all started walking down the street. Their friends walking before them, leaving them trailing behind all of them. He was fine with that. This way they could have some privacy.

"Ugh," he said. "Don't even get me started. I'm more tired doing that one interview than playing a match."

She chuckled beside him, and he felt his heart flutter at that sound. Man, he just didn't see her for a couple of days and he missed her that bad.

"Hey, at least it's just your first one," she told him. "It's not as bad what Hyuuga-kun had to endure. He's not just a sport celebrity, but he's actually becoming quite the teen star."

"Really?" he asked bewildered. So that's why he was so calm throughout the whole thing.

She nodded in confirmation. "Apparently, he has the looks for it." Then she giggled mischievously. "And who knows, with how everything is going for you, maybe you'll be one too."

"No thanks," he answered quickly as he shoved his hands on his pockets. "I'll pass. I don't really want to be surrounded by that many girls."

She only chuckled again as he smiled from hearing it.

"Besides, the only girl I need is right beside me," he added cheekily.

He couldn't help but smirk when she suddenly turned red and look away from him.

"You are so mean!" she whined as she refuse to look back to him, flustered. "God, Tsubasa. I told you not say things like that. I don't think my heart can take any more of those kinds of remarks."

He chuckled at her embarrassment. For some reason, he always liked seeing her flustered. Maybe it's because he's the only one who could.

"Why?" he started cheekily. "It's the truth."

This time, she whipped her head to look at him, the red on her cheeks turning darker than before as she looked him in disbelief.

"You- I- argh!" she exclaimed as hide her face behind her hands.

"Woah what is going on there?" Ayame asked as she turned around to where they were. "I heard my cousin sound like a dying whale. Everything alright? Don't tell me you did something wrong to her, Tsubasa-kun? I left her in your care because I trust you."

"If you hurt her Tsubasa," Ishizaki teased. "Then prepare for a beating. We don't forgive anyone that hurt Anego."

He laughed and raised his hand to gesture that everything's fine. "We're good," he answered. "Just teasing Sanae."

Ayame raised her eyebrows in amusement. "Ahhh," she remarked. "Is that so? Huh, I guess that's pretty harmless. Continue on, I suppose. Also you need to tell me these things so I have more things that can push her buttons."

"Sure thing," he answered, "I'll text it to you."

"I'll be waiting for it," Ayame said to him before finally returning to face the front and telling Misaki-kun to stop poking her side because she's ticklish there.

He chuckled one last time before turning to face her again, and this time she wasn't hiding behind her hands, but she was glaring at him though.

"Really," she said unhappily while crossing her arms. "Not only are you trying to make my heart explode, but you're also going to exchange notes with my cousin on how to embarrass me. Like she doesn't do it enough."

He gave out a hearty laugh and threw a hand around her shoulders. "Come on," he said. "You know we do it because we love you."

She sighed and rolled her eyes before uncrossing her arms. "Fine," she said, "I'll forgive you this time." Then she turned to look up to him and gave his cheek a chaste kiss. "But only because you're cute."

He was caught off guard by her remark, so he could only watch dumbfounded as she ran away from his arm, giggling along the way.

She turned to look at him mischievously. "Don't think you're the only who can play this game, Tsubasa," she winked. "Now, come on. Don't just stand there. We have a festival to enjoy."

He stared at her dumbly for a few more seconds, before shaking his head and moving to walk beside her.

He knew that tonight would be amazing, just because she was beside him.

"Dude, the fireworks are starting in 30 minutes," Taki informed everyone as he glanced at his phone. "We need to go the riverbank soon to get a good spot."

"We only have 30 minutes?!" Ayame exclaimed, trying to hold onto the huge teddy bear she one from one of the gaming stands. "Holy shit really? Oh my god, we need to get there right now before we lose all the good spots."

"Does the spots get filled in that quickly?" Misaki asked skeptically.

"It does," Shiori answered. "A lot of people watch the fireworks every year, so even when you decide to come to the riverbank ten minutes before it starts, chances are there's barely any spots for you."

"Huh," Misaki remarked. "Those must be awesome fireworks then."

"They fucking are," Ayame exclaimed. "So that's why we should stop dilly dallying here and go the river bank." She then tried to walk really fast, but that didn't work out greatly when there was a stuffed animal that was half her height was blocking her view.

They all couldn't help sniggering before Misaki took pity on her and offered to hold onto her bear for her seeing that she was not going anywhere when she couldn't even see where she was going. She tried to say that she didn't need his help, but even then she gave it to him while sulking.

Then they all started to follow the two who started talking discreetly in French. He was about to follow suit, but he was stopped when he felt a hand grab his wrist.

"Don't tell anyone," she smiled as she put a finger before her lips, "but I know a better to place to watch the fireworks. Come on."

She didn't even let him answer because she just started pulling him through the crowd. He looked back towards their friends who didn't even notice them leave them. Good, then this could be their chance to finally be alone.

This could be his chance to tell her what he feels.

He shouldn't have been surprised when they arrived at the place where she said the fireworks looked better. They always seemed to find themselves in Hikarigaoka Park after all.

"I discovered that the watching the fireworks here was better when I just didn't feel like being with everyone during this festival," she informed him as they took a seat on the grass. "I guess it was because the very person I wanted to be with was halfway across the world, playing his heart out for his beloved sport." She admitted sheepishly. "Though, I still can't get over the fact that he's finally beside me, going to be watching the same fireworks I wanted him to see those years ago."

He smiled at her bashful confession, his chest felt like it was flying from such a sweet thing coming from her. He just wished that this happened sooner, because the very thought of her being unhappy makes his chest hurt.

"Hey, I'm here now," he assured her, "and I'm pretty sure I'm real."

She chuckled at his statement and his gaze at her softened. It's been hours since she had her hair styled and her makeup was starting to fade, but damn did she still look gorgeous.

And every time that passed, every second they spent together only made him love her more.

"Sanae," he started. She turned to him, expecting for him to say something, and he was about to but a loud boom echoed in there years as the fireworks started their show in the sky.

"Oh!" she exclaimed excitedly as she turned to watch it. "You gotta see this first Tsubasa. Don't miss out on your first firework experience here in Nankatsu."

He tried to, he really did, but he just couldn't take his eyes off her. He was mesmerized by her. The way the lights from the fireworks illuminated her face, the way her eyes twinkled as she watched, the way her smile shone brighter than any of those lights in the sky, everything just took his breath away.

He was such a fool for making her wait. Not when he could have had someone like her in his arms.

Gulping, his arm moved on its own and landed softly on her face. It seemed to have caught her off guard because of the confused look she gave him.

"Tsubasa?" he barely heard her speak. He didn't say anything, because he didn't know what exactly was going on, he was already leaning closer to her. Maybe it was because he was just following his instincts, or maybe he wasn't. But he knew that his heart was just full of love for her and this was the only way he thought of her that could tell everything he felt for her.

He always did believe that actions speak louder than words.

As the fireworks exploded to the beat of his heart, he took her lips with his.

End Chapter

AN: welp, most of you are probably waiting for the kiss and here it is, except i dont like how it turned out. it looked so much better in my head. also the next chapter will be the last (i think) since if you guys do want to read world youth things where we explore more of tsubasa and sanae's relationship and other people, then i'll probably post it as a separate story. treat it as a sequel. anyway, i hope you guys enjoyed this scene more than i did writing it.

thanks for reading and please review (also please tell me if you want to read world youth stuff). cya soon!