Disclaimer: I don't own Ao no Kanata.

"*Yaaaawn*" Masaya let out as he stretched and looked at his clock.

He thought back to yesterday's events. He'd been so adament to not involve himself with FC, yet it was ironic. Here he was joining of his own accord because of a new girl. After leaving his house, he walked by himself, though on his way to school Asuka ran towards him.

"Cooooach!" Asuka waved.

"How many times must I say, it's 'Masaya'," he told her.

"Ah, sorry!" Asuka said, bowing rapidly.

"Calm down, it's fine," Masaya said and then sighed. 'What an odd girl she is.'

As they walked, Masaya avoided her gaze when she gazed at him with such cheerfulness. Yet just like yesterday he kind of enjoyed how kind she was. For her sometimes odd behavior, she was a very sweet girl. He dare say she was cute.

"Hmm?" Asuka asked, noticing him looking at her.

"Nothing," Masaya said looking forward. "The club activities take place after school, so we'll need to wait after school for me to sign up for the club."

"Yes, I look forward to it!" Asuka said, smiling with her eyes closed.

'Truthfully I don't want to completely join, but this girl,' Masaya thought. 'I just can't leave her alone. And, I feel compelled to want to do it for her.'

"By the way, shouldn't we fly to school?" Asuka asked, receiving narrowed eyes from him before he stopped.

"I, don't like flying with my Grav-Shoes," Masaya started in a quieter voice. "If I can help it at all, I usually want to avoid flying to school."

"But why?" Asuka asked, worried. "It's much faster."

"...Let's go," Masaya said walking forward, not wanting to reply to it.

"Y-yeah," Asuka muttered, but continued to wonder why he didn't want to on their journey to school. 'Why is he not fond of using Grav-Shoes?'

Getting to school, they were greeted by Aoi. "Yo," she greeted with a hand gesture up.

"Sensei," Masaya greeted.

"Hello," Asuka likewise greeted, and then talked away. "Listen listen, Masaya-san is going to join the FC club!"

"Oh?" Aoi asked, grinning at Masaya. "So you've finally come around."

Masaya looked away with slight red cheeks. No way he was saying why he was joining.

"For now, we'd best get inside, class should start in a few minutes," he said, avoiding any more delving.

"Good idea, I was about to do so myself," Aoi said, walking with them.

Getting to class, Masaya went over and took his seat as class begun. Eventually lunch time came around, and though he wanted to leave, Asuka approached him.

"Want to eat together again?" Asuka asked.

"I was actually about to ask you that myself," Masaya stated with a friendly face.

Misaki and Madoka made noises of amusement, but not loud enough to be heard. Once he and Asuka left, Mashiro came in.

"Huh? Where's Asuka-Senpai?" Mashiro asked looking around.

"Left with Hinata like yesterday," Madoka replied.

"Oh, I wonder..." Mashiro grinned.

"Yes indeed," Misaki grinned.

"Well leave them be, this is the most sociable he's been in a long time," Madoka stated. "He was never that much into taking part in our conversations, but he really seems to be taking a liking to Asuka."

"That's true," Misaki admitted. "It's a good thing."

Meanwhile, Masaya and Asuka went to his special eating place devoid of other people. Laying out their food, they dug in.

"I wonder, how is it you didn't know about the Grav-Shoes even though you had your own pair when we first met?" Masaya asked.

"I knew people of this school use them, but I never heard anything about flying with them," Asuka said with a finger to her in thought.

"You are a transfer student, so I can see why you would be unfamiliar with things here," Masaya said.

"Yes, that was awesome when Misaki-chan flew me into the air with hers," Asuka said.

"I remember, you had a fun time even if you were scared at first," Masaya said with a small chuckle.

"Hehee," Asuka laughed. "But what about you?"

"Hmm?" Masaya asked.

"Well...you seem so versed in the ways of FC," Asuka gently said. "The way you guided me in those matches, it's as if you've played before." Masaya grew quiet. "It's okay, Masaya-san doesn't have to tell me anything if he feels uncomfortable."

"Thanks," Masaya said. "Let's just say I have some knowledge."

"You do, and I want to know more of what you know!" Asuka said excitedly. "Masaya-san is so knowledgable about the sport!"

He stared at her with a smile on his face, he just loved being in this girl's company.

A memory manifested itself in his view:

Aoi was practicing on her own, while Masaya as a kid stared at her from behind a bush. Once she landed, Aoi heard the slight rustle.

"I know you're hiding, come out," Aoi ordered, and her alert expression vanished on seeing a little boy. "I've heard of you...Hinata Masaya was it?"

"Correct," he said confidently.

"You're that kid I heard was seeking me out," Aoi mused. "What brings you here though? What exactly do you want from me?"

"That's, I want to get stronger with you!" Masaya stated with a straight face.

"Me?" Aoi asked, blinking.

"I want to fly higher than ever, and reach new heights with you-w-what's so funny!?" Masaya asked in embarrassment.

"Sorry sorry, it's just I couldn't help it at seeing how serious you look saying it," Aoi said. "Just because you want me to teach you about FC doesn't mean this will be easy."

"I know, but I want to shine bright just like you!" Masaya told her in admiration.

"Very well, then let's begin," Aoi accepted with a gentle smile on her face.

Snapping back to reality, he answered her.

"Then prepare yourself, because I'll be your coach from now on," Masaya said confidently.

"Yes!" Asuka yelled with joy.

The two ate their lunch, both in good moods.

Once school was over, Masaya went with the girls and Shion to the trailer.

"Why are you coming?" Mashiro asked curiously. "Didn't you say you weren't going to join?"

"He did," Aoi said as the others looked at her. "Let's just say he's had a change of mind."

Asuka smiled at him while he avoided her gaze with slight sweat. Mashiro, Misaki and Madoka grinned at this.

"AHHHHH!" Shion yelled, grabbing Masaya firmly by the shoulder. "I knew Hinata would find it in his heart to help this lad out!"

"Good for you, onii-chan," Madoka said nervously. "But I think you're crushing his shoulders!"

"No way, he can take my spirit-!" Shion said before paling and letting go as Masaya fell limp to the ground, twitching.

Madoka had elbowed Shion hard in the gut. "What have I told you about getting too excited to the point you hurt someone?" she warned with an evil eye.

"That's impossible for me not to be so happy when my club is saved!" Shion argued.

"That's not the point!" Madoka yelled in frustration.

Asuka helped Masaya up, while Misaki and Mashiro sweat dropped at Madoka and Shion's bickering.

Getting to the trailer, he signed the signature with his name. "Okay, that should do," Masaya said.

"Alright!" Asuka said, latching onto his arm with hers.

Shion twitched, noticing Madoka's mean glare. He refrained from grabbing Masaya so as to not invoke his little sister's anger.

"Are you sure?" Aoi asked one more time to him. "I don't want you to feel as if you have to for any reason."

"No, I want to do this," Masaya said. "...Um you can let go of my arm."

"S-sorry!" Asuka stuttered, embarrassed by her own action.

"What's wrong mister coach?" Misaki asked with a toothy grin, noticing the red on his cheeks.

"I have no idea what you mean," Masaya said calmly.

"Really? Is the coach flustered from Asuka?" Madoka asked with a grin.

"Shut up!" Masaya yelled, losing his composure. 'Geez these guys!'

"Look at that, Masaya is tsundere," Mashiro noted in enjoyment.

"Am not!" Masaya yelled.

"See?" Mashiro asked, trying to hold in laughing.

"A-anyway, get started with practice!" Masaya ordered in annoyance.

"Yes!" they all yelled in unison.

"*Sigh*, I'm already tired..." Masaya complained, rubbing his head. "Well whatever."

Misaki seemed to be doing fine on her own, and Mashiro having switched to All-rounders was doing well. However, Asuka was still doing a little sluggish.

"Steady yourself!" Masaya yelled out from on ground, and as she did just a bit better he continued. "Yes, just like that!"

"Kurashina is quite the klutz," Aoi said amusingly.

"Yep," Madoka agreed.

Masaya though wasn't exasperated, and smiled at the girl trying her best. Asuka too smiled at him while flying about better.

After a bit, practice was stopped by him. "You all did fine," Masaya started. "So rest and we'll be here tomorrow after school."

The girls nodded and left. "For your first day as coach you did well," Aoi said, remaining behind.

"I suppose," Masaya said.

"Seeing as this is a full club now, how do you feel about a co-op between our Club and Takafuji's?" Aoi asked.

"Takafuji?" Masaya asked curiously. "The one Satou comes from?"

"That's right," Aoi stated. "And there is a boy I know there who would be very happy to meet you."

Masaya blinked from that statement. "I have no problem with it, and it could be good training for Asuka and the others," he said.

"This could be a good experience for you too," Aoi said.

"I doubt it," Masaya said. "I'm just the coach who is helping them out and trains them."

"That's true, but," Aoi said, and then decided to say no more.

Meanwhile the girls walked together.

"It's great we have a full club established at last," Madoka said.

"Yes, Masaya-san joined," Asuka said, clearly in a good mood.

"Indeed he did," Mashiro said with a hint of amusement.

"You were pretty happy, just saying," Misaki told Asuka.

"Of course!" Asuka proclaimed, looking at the sky. "He was kind enough to help me even though he at first didn't join us. And, I really am glad to be friends with him like you guys."

"At this rate I can say you two are closer than I've been with Masaya the whole time," Misaki admitted.

"Really?" Asuka asked.

"He doesn't socialize with us a lot, yet he really likes to chat with you," Madoka told her. "I think that's a good developement for him. And you really like being with him, don't you?"

"I do," Asuka said with a smile on her face, to which the others smiled at her as well.

"He's like a fish who found it's water, and she's like water aiding a fish," Mashiro stated.

Later at night, Masaya layed on his bed. 'Asuka is doing better, but that Air Kick Turn...' he thought, recalling how she messed up everytime she tried again. 'Was it beginners luck? No, to do something like that even by chance, there must be some meaning to it. Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part, but I want to help her master it.'

Getting up, he went outside. In the mean time, Rika was working on her dairy from her window.

"Let's see, today's events...huh?" Rika asked, noticing Masaya walking outside. "Hmph, it's just that pervert!"

She watched as he walked almost into the street and looked at the sky. He seemed in thought as the wind blew his hair.

"I'm not completely confident in being their coach," Masaya admitted to himself. "But, it's not so bad either. And I want to see how Asuka progresses. I just really wonder if the day will ever come when I can be truly freed from the past."

He then went back in for a nights sleep.

A/N: Most probably know why I don't care for Mashiro's Speeder deal at this point, so I won't say it again.