The Soccer Club

When people force you to show your talents...

"So, Gazel-san...where did you go at junior high?" Aki asked me.

"Some school at Hokkaido." I replied.

Fuyuka said, "That's a faraway place."

"Yup." I agreed.

"Why did you go here then?" Aki asked me.

I folded the last towel. I replied, "My mom's birthplace is here. She wanted us to know more about this place."

And because I don't want to go back to Hokkaido.

The two made 'O' shaped mouths. I grinned at them.

If you're wondering where we are; we're at the soccer club's room. It wasn't that far from the soccer field, which is good since I hate to walk very far places and back again.

Suddenly, the door opened. On the other side were two girls, one brunette and one blonde. The brunette had her long hair tied into a ponytail. Her eyes were wide and blue. She wore the school's uniform with some white gloves.

The blonde had her long mane tied into two pigtails. Her eyes were dark pink. The duo wore the school uniform except that they have yellow ribbons instead of green.

The blonde raised her eyebrow at me and said in a low voice, "Is she a new recruit?"

"I have the equipment ready," the brunette added.

Aki flushed, clearly embarrassed about the whole situation. Aki said, "Kato-senpai! Sasaki-senpai!"

"What?" the duo asked simultaneously and looked at her.

Fuyuka sweat-dropped and replied, "We're just managers, senpai! We're not recruiting anyone!"

The duo looked at each other, and then laughed. The blonde grinned at me and said, "Just kidding. You new here?"

"Yeah." I replied and then turned to Fuyuka, remembering something, "Hey, Fuyuka-san? How did you become managers easily?"

Aki smiled as she replied, "We signed up yesterday."

"Seriously?" I said. But wasn't there no school yesterday? Then I remembered: we did have an orientation yesterday. Whoops.

The blonde put her arm around my shoulder and stated, "I didn't introduce myself, right?"

I shook my head.

"Well, I am Sasaki Aya, 2-B! Please to meet you!"

"I'm Kato Jun, 2-B!" the brunette introduced and grabbed my hand and shook it, "Yoroshiku!"

"Suzuno Fuusuke, 1-C." I said and gave them a smile.

"It's a long name!" both of them mused.

"You can call me Gazel, for short." I told them.

Aki grinned at us and said, "Let's go, minna! We're finished."

Aki and Fuyuka were setting the equipment, while the duo and I were on the other side of the bench.

(I called them 'the duo' because it fits them.)

The duo just kept asking me questions. Sasaki, preferably.

"What's your favorite color?" she asked.

I shrugged.

"Favorite fruit?"

I shrugged.

"Favorite dress?"

I shrugged.

"Winter or summer?"

"Winter." I replied.

"Finally!" Kato said.

I rolled my eyes and let out a chuckle.

Sasaki pointed and said, "Looks like the boys are back!"

True enough, boys went down to the soccer field. I glanced at them as I thought I saw someone familiar. My eyes laid on Kiyama… so he was in the soccer club, huh?

Kato sighed dramatically and stated, "Lookie here. First day of school and she's got eyes for someone."

"Young love," Sasaki said dreamily.

I blushed red and glared. I denied, "What?! No!"

They grinned at the same time. They seriously look as if they were sisters. I wouldn't be surprised if both of them were adopted and really are sisters in blood.

"Fuusuke-san? You're a manager?" a familiar voice asked.

Sasaki greeted him, "Hi, Hiroto!"

Hiroto? I think I've heard that somewhere…

I looked up to him. Their soccer uniform looked like the ones Inazuma Japan had for the FFI. Kiyama's bright teal eyes bore to me. His red hair was redder than usual.

"I'm not. And how did you know my name?" I replied.

Kiyama grinned at me and replied, "Well, you should be. I knew your name because of your brother; we're both in the math club."

"Uh..." I said simply and blinked at him. That stupid sibling! He just grinned.

"Ja ne!" Kiyama said as he run off to the field.

I swear Sasaki and Kato were grinning like idiots right now. I glared at them. The duo just continued grinning at me when a man entered the field.

The man was probably in his mid-thirties. He had a fair skin tone, dark blue tousled hair and onyx eyes. He wore a dark gray coat and some denim jeans. Inside his coat was a green sweatshirt.

He lacks a beard, I mused, and people like him must have beards.

The duo stopped and turned to him. They greeted politely, "Good afternoon, Takasu-kantoku."

That was probably the sanest action they have done.

All of the members greeted him except me. However, the coach turned to me and asked, "Suzuno Fuusuke, right?"

I widened my eyes. How could this coach possibly know me?

"H-hai." I answered.

"Hokkaido's ace striker..." he mumbled. I figured I only heard it since the others didn't widened their eyes or even made their jaws drop.

I, fortunately, maintained my face structure. I didn't want people to know the true colors of my past. And I am not gonna tell you either, so shut up.

"I am Takasu Kazuki, the coach of this team," he introduced. He turned to the members and yelled, "Start your practice!"

"Hai!" they chorused, and then went to the field.

They began kicking soccer balls or even done stretching. I certainly didn't care; maybe I can go home now. So, I stood up and prepared to go…

But, no, that wasn't certainly what fate wanted me to do.

Sasaki pulled me back to the bench. She grinned at me and said, "I'll introduce you to the people."

The duo began pointing some random people. They told me that there were a lot of sixteen-year-olds in the team: meaning most of them were first-years. The second-years were only two. When I asked them why, Kato replied that the other second-years were scared to join.

I would've asked them why when a soccer ball went sailing to the bench.

"Gazel!" the duo shook shrieked and shook me. I realized it was coming to me, but I simply blinked at the ball. I stood up and held out my hand, catching the ball easily.

"Whoa." the duo said in amazement.

I caught it. I grinned triumphantly as I thought about it, I finally managed to catch a ball.

What? Sometimes, strikers should also learn how to goal keep.

Endou Mamoru (I remembered most of their names) caught up to me. He beamed, "Sugoi, Suzuno! Er, right?"

I smiled at him and handed him the ball. I thanked him,"Thanks, Endou-san."

He grinned at me and took the ball. I remembered how they say in my school that a smile like his was a smile for soccer freaks- maybe I was right. I wouldn't be surprised.

"You have gotten better, Suzuno. I remembered you couldn't even catch a ball back then." the coach commented, "Why not try it out on the field?"

"Yeah!" Endou approved. If he was weirded out by the comment the coach said, I did not know. Simply, he pulled me to the field.

"O-oi!" I yelled at Endou. "Endou-san! Let go!"

"We have to-?!" he was saying, before he was interrupted.

And my hand suddenly was free from his grip. I looked beside me to see who has my hand now. It was another boy, unfortunately. He had this crimson red hair with a tulip on his head and his eyes were golden. He obviously wore the soccer club's uniform. It made me uncomfortable since his hand was warm. WARM!

"Burn!" Endou said, shocked.

'Burn' rolled his eyes and stated, "I said my name's Nagumo. Besides, she's wearing a skirt."

Endou's face flushed and he apologized to me, "Er...right. Sorry."

I smiled softly at Endou and said, "It's fine."

Burn, Nagumo- whatever- frowned at my direction.

Nagumo/Burn softened his grip on me then trudged to another direction. Aki then replaced Nagumo/Burn by taking my hand and lead me to the soccer club's room.

Once inside (and sure that no one else was eavesdropping), I asked Aki, "That red-headed boy, his name was Nagumo?"

Aki nodded and replied, "Yeah, why?"

"Endou called him Burn." I pointed out.

Aki grinned at me as she handed me the Inazuma High soccer team uniform (let's just call it 'the uniform'). I frowned at it. I didn't like playing soccer right now. Especially with Kiyama and Nagumo/Burn watching me… they were warm- I didn't associate with warm.

"Burn's his nickname. Call him Nagumo." Aki replied.

"Alright, where do I change?" I asked Aki.

She pointed to some stalls beside her. I sighed and went in.

Some minutes later, I was running down to the soccer field with Aki.

"We're here," Aki breathed out, panting with every word.

I smiled at her and stated, "You should get more exercise."

Aki only grinned back as a reply. Takasu nodded at me to go to the field.

"Right." I said.

When I reached the other side of the field, I glanced at the soccer club. Somehow, the members' names were now easier for me to remember.

The forwards were Gouenji and Nagumo (which bothered me greatly). Kiyama, Kidou, Sakuma and Fudou were the midfielders. Stuck in the defense line was Kabeyama, Handa, Hino Isao and Hayata Kei (Hino and Hayata were both second-years). Stood in a goal keeper position was, as usual, Endou.

"Shall I?" I said as I caught a ball from Kato.

"Whatever, Ice Princess," Nagumo mocked.

I glared daggers at the guy. How he managed to come up with the horrible nickname, I do not know. I dropped the soccer ball.

Then there was the whistle.

Thanks to all those who reviewed! :D

SilverShadowNinja : Thank you very much! Actually, it's Inazuma High School, not Raimon. Though, I suppose I never found a story about Inazuma High. x]]

Ala2-Kordy : Gee, thanks! I love your stories, too! xD

AyasumiMamera : THANK YOU! :D

Disclaimer: I do not own IE.