Disclaimer: I don't own Ao no Kanata.

The next day, Misaki remained in bed.

'*Sigh* guess I'll have to keep away from the trailer so I don't have to deal with being bugged by them to join,' she thought, covering her eyes with an arm. Getting up, she looked around her room. "I'm so tired still, but since I'm done with FC, I need something to replace all that time. And doing some house chores could be just the ticket."

Her grandma was outside enjoying the outside breeze. "Times like this make me wish I was young again," her grandma said. "But I can't turn back time. Ah, what I would give to be a healthy young girl once more."

"Morning!" Misaki called out, walking up to her.

"Oh morning, heading out with your friends?" her grandma asked.

Misaki shook her head. "I want to help you out with some chores," she said.

"That's very kind of you," her grandma said with a smile.

Elsewhere, Shindou was meditating at a temple he goes to, and couldn't focus entirely. He knew the cause of it of course.

'This is no good,' Shindou thought while getting up. 'Tobisawa's hatred at me was real, no doubt about that. However, I don't want her to play FC with hate. To do that, I'll have to pry open her heart and hear the true Tobisawa.'

He then headed to the trailer Masaya and co go to. Getting there, he noticed Masaya, Aoi and Madoka on ground, but on looking in the air he didn't see Misaki, just Asuka and Mashiro.

"Shindou-san?" Masaya asked, walking over to him.

"An unexpected surprise, what are you doing here?" Aoi asked, grinning.

"To have a talk with Tobisawa, but I don't see her around," Shindou said, then noticed the gloomy look on Masaya and Madoka's face.

"We had to kick her off," Aoi finally said, breaking the silence. "Her behavior was not acceptable, and she refused to listen. Tobisawa had a fall out with us after you left to put it simply."

"...I see," Shindou said in a quieter voice. "Then in that case, can you tell me where exactly she lives?"

"And why would you want to know?" Masaya asked.

"I told you, I want to have a talk with her," Shindou said. "But as it stands, I have no idea where she lives."

"I can tell you, but are you sure that's a good idea?" Masaya asked with sweat. "You're the last person she would want to see after all."

"That's true, but I'm resolved to do this anyway," Shindou said.

"Well we're not sure what you're up to, but could you try to bring her back?" Madoka asked. "Even though she insulted the team and acted mean, she's still our friend."

"I'll do the best I can," Shindou said, knowing Madoka spoke sentiments that they all probably shared.

So Masaya told him where she lived, and Shindou made his way there.

Meanwhile with Misaki, she was in her room tidying up some clothes in her closet.

"Hmm, maybe I should get a new pair of these," Misaki muttered, taking out one of her black night shirts which was wrinkled. "Or give it to Mashiro to divert her annoying clinginess to me."

"Misaki, you have another friend!" her grandma called out, opening the door before closing it after the guest walked in.

"Hello-" Misaki greeted with a friendly face, assuming Asuka or Mashiro came over for a visit, but it wasn't someone she was the least bit happy to see.

It was Shindou, and he expected such a reaction. After a few moments, Misaki's glare vanished and she sighed.

"Can we talk?" Shindou started.

"Be my guest," Misaki said, trying her best to keep patience.

So he sat on her bed as she sat next to him. "Do you remember what you said?" Shindou asked as Misaki looked curious. "You brought up how I allowed you to truly believe that you made me put up a good fight against you when I didn't at all."

"Here to rub it in?" Misaki asked, looking away from him with annoyance.

"Wrong," Shindou said. "I can kind of see where you're coming from."

"And just what makes you say that now?" Misaki asked, not buying it.

"My final opponent was against Inui," Shindou said with eyes filled to the brim with seriousness.

"Ah that girl!" Misaki recalled. "I heard you lost."

"I was decimated pretty easily." Shindou admitted. "When the match first started, I thought I was doing somewhat well, but in the end Inui was simply toying around with me. In that moment, I remember what you said, and I could now understand how you must have felt when the same happened with you and me. Only in our case it's worse-I never tried to give you advice after the match, nor did I give a glimpse of my real strength in our match to show you still had a lot to work towards to prove a match for me. Tobisawa, I am sorry for that," By now Misaki's anger started subsiding. "That said, I have a question for you."

"What's that?" Misaki asked.

"Why do you take FC so seriously?" Shindou asked.

"That's..." Misaki trailed off.

"Is it worth causing pain for your friends?" Shindou asked quietly. "Don't beat around it, tell me why you're so devoted to FC."

Misaki jolted, and then looked down with a guilty look. "It's just, FC is something I can put so much passion into," she started. "For once I found something I can truly put my all into, something that really motivated me. That's why I have to do my best and win, otherwise...I'll go back to having no motivation like before."

"Can't you do both, put your all and have fun?" Shindou asked as Misaki faced him. "FC is all about having fun, win or lose doesn't matter. However, it is because FC is so engaging and fun that we can get into it and take it seriously. The problem, is you're too competitive and get too worked up when it comes to FC. If you fail, get up and keep trying. And that also means you need to learn to trust in Hinata-kun. I could clearly hear you refusing his orders in our match, that's not good. Unity between coach and player is vital."

"I just, I don't know what to do," Misaki said sadly while Shindou put a hand on her shoulder.

"You don't have to be the best," Shindou stated. "Just be you. FC has no limits, we can always improve ourselves, and that includes you. You and Kurashina proved that to me by mastering the Air Kick Turn, something usually only pros can use. I was impressed with you both. Don't give up on FC. If you truly love it, just have fun and keep getting better. Do so and you win every time, win or lose."

"Fun, don't have to be the best..." Misaki muttered among other things thoughtfully.

"Yes," Shindou said, smiling at her.

After a few moments, Misaki smiled while closing her eyes. "What have I been doing?" she chuckled. "You're right, I have a lot to learn. It's just like you said, Shindou-san. I need to lighten up about FC and enjoy myself more. I was so focused on being the best and only winning that I lost sight of myself."

"I'm happy to hear that," Shindou said, and then got up off the bed. "One last thing, be sure to apologize to your friends. I don't know precisely what happened after I left after my match with Asuka, but I know that you weren't nice to them by the sound of it."

"Mmm," Misaki said, especially feeling guilt ridden about what she said to Masaya.

"Then I guess I'll take my leave-" Shindou started, walking to her door, but he felt two hands around his body lock him in place, and someone's body against his back. "Tobisawa?"

"Thank you, for putting up with me," Misaki said gently. "And, I'm sorry for being such a jerk to you."

"It's alright," Shindou assured, putting his hand on hers.

After a few seconds, they let go and he left. Grabbing her Grav-Shoes, she put them on, and after taking a brief breath, left the house.

Once arriving at the trailer, she saw Masaya coaching Asuka and Mashiro as they practiced together.

"Something's different about Arisika's form," Aoi noted.

"She's trying to expand beyond the basics," Masaya explained. "That's why she asked Asuka to give her a hand."

"I'm glad for her," came Misaki's voice, alerting Masaya and Aoi of her presense, along with Madoka.

"Eh!?" Madoka exclaimed.

"Geez, Asuka-Senpai is just too scary!" Mashiro groaned as she kept trying to score on her. 'Satou, I understand my weakness. I was too focused on sticking to basics. Going out of the comfort zone is what I need to do. And one day I'll beat you!'

"Mashiro-chan is working hard!" Asuka said, pleased to see her putting in such effort and then stopped as Mashiro froze. Looking where Mashiro was, she spotted Misaki.

Instantly they flew down. "Why are you here?" Aoi asked, breaking the dead silence. "I thought you by your words made it clear you were done with this team."

"I thought so too," Misaki started, then her tone grew humble. "Listen, I haven't been a team player. Winning was all I cared about until now. While all of you just played for fun and were enthralled by FC, I only valued winning and being better than anyone else. FC was the first time I ever got this motivated and poured my all into something. So I wanted to always stand at the top, and lost my temper when things weren't going my way. Truth is, I am a jerk, taking out my anger on my friends and being a bad sport. I'm really sorry about that. But I'm okay now, because I have a new goal."

"A new goal?" Mashiro asked curiously.

"Yes, to enjoy FC while pouring my all into it still, and loosening up," Misaki said, smiling at them. 'Isn't that right, Shindou-san?'

"Really!?" Asuka asked which earned her a nod from Misaki.

However, Mashiro signaled firmly with her head to Misaki she had something else to say, eying between her and Masaya to drive it clear. Misaki walked over to Masaya, and stared at him gently.

"Sorry for what I said," she said, looking down and then looking back at him. "The things I said, they were totally out of line like everything else. You're not useless to me as our coach, and I appreciate that you coach us. Not just that, but you're my friend."

"Misaki," Masaya muttered before smiling at her. "I do forgive you."

Misaki closed her eyes and grinned, revealing a bit of her teeth. "Now then, I'm allowed to join again, aren't I?" she asked.

"We took your name off," Aoi started. "But I can have you rejoin by placing your name back on it."

So they went in the trailer and grabbed the sheet and pencil. Handing it to Misaki, she put her name back on, thus making her the technically newest member of the team.

"Alright!" Mashiro suddenly grabbed Misaki's arm. "Now you have to call me the Senpai."

"Dream on," Misaki said before grabbing her and hugging her. "Besides, you're the most inexperienced of us right? As someone who's got more experience, I think it's fitting I'm the Senpai here. And as your Senpai, I'll be sure to help train you in getting better in FC."

"That sounds good too, tehee," Mashiro said while the others smiled at their sibling-ness.

"But first," Misaki started, looking at Asuka. "You and me are going to have ourselves some practice to make up for yesterday."

"Mmm!" Asuka nodded.

So they went out and practiced. Asuka was incredibly happy to see Misaki playing with them again. Shion was not present as often anymore due to his constant lack of doing homework, hence Madoka took his spot as the club president.

The next day went on like normal with everyone at school, taking lessons, and Asuka and Masaya eating lunch together. After school the gang trained as per usual with Masaya giving advice and orders from the ground. Once he called for training to cease, Asuka came up to him and they spent the rest of that day having fun downtown. Later, night settled in, and they stood next to each other at the beach near the water.

"I'm glad to see things wind down," Masaya said.

"Yes, I was worried when Misaki-chan quit and had a problem with Shindou-san," Asuka admitted. "But I'm happy that she came back."

"I am too," Masaya said. "It seems whatever Shindou-san said had a big effect on her. I can tell, she's a lot more easy going and less overly serious."

"Yeah, I noticed it too," Asuka said while smiling.

"Who knows, perhaps your cheerfulness rubbed off on her a bit," Masaya chuckled.

"Maybe," Asuka said, rubbing her head with a hand. A silence brewed in just before Asuka clenched her fist near her heart. "Um..."

"Hmm? What is it?" Masaya asked, noticing the change in her voice.

"Well," Asuka started before turning so she was completely facing Masaya, then continued with a sincere smile. "You said how I was precious to you." Masaya blushed as he nodded. "That really touched me, that you value me that much. Masaya-san is also very important to me too. When I'm with you, I feel like no matter who I'm up against, there's nothing to be scared of. And, I feel like we can fly further than anyone else together."

"You..." Masaya muttered as she continued.

"I think you're a really nice person," Asuka said gently. "And you've done so much for me, including risking your life for mine. I'm so glad I met you."

"Me too," Masaya, smiling at her. "Before I came across you, I really had not much drive for anything. But then things happened and I found myself unable to stay away from you. I enjoyed hanging out with you so much, and how positive and upbuilding you are. More than that, I started loving FC again, something I had closed myself off from. Meeting you was one of the best things to happen to me, Asuka."

"Masaya-san," Asuka said, smiling with glazed eyes.

"I want to keep going forward with you," Masaya started. "Just as you consider me a source of courage and strength, it's the same for you towards me. Being with you gives me strength, and I want to always be at your side."

"I feel the same," Asuka said.

"Also, I," Masaya said before bringing her in a hug, surprising her. "I love you."

"Huh!?" Asuka asked as her cheeks grew red and her heart beated very fast.

"That's right," Masaya admitted. "Therefore, will you go out with me? No matter what events we're faced with from now on, I want to be with you not as just friends, but as lovers."

After a few moments, Asuka smiled with glazed eyes and tears building up, while an incredible feeling of joy overflowed within her.

"I love you to, Masaya-san," Asuka said softly, hugging him back and closing her eyes. "Thank you."

Masaya was so happy that he couldn't put it into words. While they hugged, the stars sparkled brightly in front of them. It was a new start as they took yet another step together.