Click...

"Crap, I'm gonna be late!" Ryuunouske exclaimed, picking up his bag and leaving the salon.

"Ryu... have you got all you need? Your bento box is still here." His mom said as he began pedalling his bicycle.

"Mom, I'm already late for the entrance ceremony." He said, leaving the area.

Nakamura's cut and ink, that's the name of the name of the salon where he helps his mom out in.

He pedalled his bicycle faster before leaving the quiet streets.

He stopped when the traffic light shone green. He then looked at the time on his phone and then back at the light.

He turned to his right and saw people staring at him and whispering to themselves, their hands over their mouth.

*Urgh...*

A few seconds later, he began pedalling again.

He turned a corner, and the school's imposing structure came into view.

"Please, where's the hall where the new students are having their entrance ceremony?" He asked a girl after locking his bicycle.

"It's in... ah..." She shifted immediately after looking up at him.

"The ceremony...?" He asked.

"I-it's... It's... in the school g-gym. See those other guys, that's where they are going." She said before immediately scurrying off.

"Hm."

He walked towards the building before joining the other students. It didn't take five minutes before the ceremony ended.

*Crap, I didn't even get to hear anything since I came very late. And as usual, I was avoided.* He thought, his hands in his pockets as he walked towards his classroom.

"Oh my, who's that kid?"

"He must be a transfer student, I've never seen him before."

"He looks like trouble, I'd rather avoid him."

*I can't believe I thought transferring will change something.* He thought, seating on a seat beside the window and looking out, his hand under his jaw.

"Hey." He heard someone call as he looked at his right.

"Hmm? What do you want?" Ryuunouske asked, looking away.

"Whoa, the piercings are really sick, man." He said, sitting beside me.

"Yeah..."

"Hajime, Shimada Hajime. Nice to meetcha." He said.

"Nakamura Ryuunouske, nice to meet you too."

"Ha... you put on a fierce face, I thought you'd not even listen to him." A guy said, sitting in front of me.

"Yo." Another guy said, sitting beside him.

*Who are these guys? Don't they know others will talk bad about them if they're close to me. People usually don't come up to me because of my appearance. They saw me as "intimidating." I never thought anyone would try to sit close to me of their own volition.* He thought, his head bent.

"I'm Kojima Juro. Nice to meetcha!" The guy in front of me said as I looked up at him.

"Uchida Haryu, nice to meet you."

"Ah... I'm Nakamura Ryuunouske. Nice to meet you too." He said.

"But dude, those piercings are sick." Juro said.

"Well..."

"See, Hajime-chan has one too!" Juro said, pointing at Hajime.

"Heh...?"

"Shut up, Juro."

"He pierced it during our third year of middle school thinking he'd become rebellious."

"Juro?!"

"By the way, what middle school did you transfer from?" Haryu asked.

"Um... it's Chiba. Chiba middle school."

"Chiba?"

"Yeah."

"Heh...?"

"You're really tall. Do you play basketball?" Juro asked as Ryuunouske gasped.

*Why's he asking about sports? I didn't expect such a question.* He thought, biting his lower lip.

"Nah, I don't." He replied.

"Hmm, really? Well, the three of us used to be part of the football team back in middle school. We plan on continuing." Juro said, grinning.

*Football... I love playing football, but...*

"Do you plan OK joining any club?" Haryu asked.

"Hmm? Oh, not yet. I've not thought of anyone."

"Well, why don't you try playing football with us." Juro asked.

"Juro?! You can't just up and ask anyone to join the club." Hajime said.

"Well, I mean..."

"Um... I used to be in the soccer team back in middle school." Ryuunouske said as they turned to him sharply.

"For real?"

"Yeah."

"Where you in Chiba's line up? I don't think I ever saw you." Haryu said.

"Well... it's a long story." He said, looking away.

"It doesn't even matter. Let's go join them after school!" Juro shouted, grinning.

*He's a loud one.* Ryuunouske thought, a smile planted on his face.

"Ah!!" Juro shouted.

"What?"

"You just smiled."

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

"Wh-what? I didn't."

"You did!"

The homeroom teacher walked in a few minutes later and introduced himself.

*Nah, not the way I expected today to go. I'm sure mom would be happy when she finds out.* He thought, reminiscing what his mom told him that morning.

"Ryu, try your best to be careful today, okay? You're starting in a new school. Don't try to pick up fights. This is a new school so make good friends, okay?"

*Haha.* He thought, looking out of the window.

After all activities for the day, the four of them went straight to the football club to meet the coach.

"Heh...? You want to join our club. Well, it's only natural since we're the coolest team in this school." The coach said with a smug look on hus face.

"Urgh..."

"So! If you want to join such an important club, then show your worth!" He shouted.

"Yes, sir!" The four of the said.

"When the second and third years come, you'll have a quick match with them."

"Huh?!"

"We're just first years."

"And we are only four here."

"Who said you're only four." Someone said, walking towards them with some other guys.

"The new kids are about 10, I guess. It's more than enough."

"So it's a full squad match then?"

"No, it's isn't."

"Huh?"

"I can't accept all 10 of you. Only about two can join."

*Huh? What does that mean?* Ryu thought.

"Huh?! What the hell's with that setting?!" Someone asked.

"I mean, my boys are way better than you can be. I don't even think we need more players. You guys would just be more problem for us, Ouch!" He screamed as someone hit his head.

"Who the fuck are you?!" He asked, standing immediately.

"Need I remind you that this isn't the basketball team?" The person who hit him asked.

"Aki... haha, did you hear all that?"

"Like hell I did! Why would you want to scare all our first years away?" Akihito asked.

"Who's he?"

"Who knows."

"Ah... sorry kids. I'm the football teams coach, Yamamoto Akihito nice to have you on board." He said.

*Ha... thank goodness he's the coach.* Ryu thought.

"Hm?" He asked, looking at Ryu.

*Huh? Huh? What's it?!*

"What's your name?"

"Ryuunouske, Nakamura Ryuunouske!"

"Hmm... I've never seen you in the middle school football team. Is this your first time?"

"No, I got transferred."

"Ah... is that so?"

"Yes sir."

"Make sure you tie up your hair when training or playing for us." He said, walking back.

"Yes sir."

"Haha, I got scared there for a second." Juro said as they walked out of the school premises.

"For real. I didn't think he wasn't the coach."

"Thank goodness he wasn't. But who knows when they'll kick us out. That Akihito guy looks dangerous."

"Um... guys, I'm going this way." Ryuunouske said.

"Ah... we planned on going out for fun." Juro said.

"I'm sorry, I didn't plan for an extra time. I gotta help out at home." He said.

"No problem, we have a full year ahead." Hajime said.

"Yeah."

"Bye, Ryuunouske." Haryu said.

*Ryuunouske?*

"A-ah... bye, Uchida-san." Ryuunouske said, hopping on his bicycle before pedalling away.

"Why are you still in a daze?" Hajime asked.

"I mean, he called me "Uchida-san"."

"Maybe he's still not used to it. I'm sure he's also surprised as to why you addressed him with his first name."

"Maybe..."

"Mom, I'm back." Ryuunouske said, closing the door of the salon behind him.

"Ryu, welcome home. I prepared something, it's upstairs." His mom said, styling someone's hair.

"You don't need help down here?"

"Eat first, you must be tired." She said.

"Mmn."

He left the salon and went up the stairs. After freshening up, he ate and went downstairs.

"I'm here, mom." He said, picking up an apron.

"Ah... Uzui-Kun asked for you. Apparently, a friend of his wants you to draw a tattoo on him."

"Okay, I'll be going to his house now. I'll just gather some stuff." He said, picking up a kit.

"Be careful, okay?"

"Sure, sure." He said before walking out of the salon.

"Hey, Ryuunouske! How's it going?" Uzui asked.

"Normal, I guess. Where's the person I'll be tattooing?"

"He's in there. That's my little cousin. Make sure to make it less painful." He said, the last part in a whisper.

"Sure!" He said, walking into the house with Uzui.

"Thanks for the food." Ryuunouske said, placing his chopsticks beside his empty bowl.

"I'll go tidy up." He said, taking the plates to the kitchen.

"Ryu... how was school today?"

"Uh... it was cool, mom."

"Cool? Only that?"

"Mom, it's okay. Nothing's gonna happen."

"You know that's not..."

"I joined the soccer team."

"What?"

"You heard it right, mom."

"Wow, that's some progress you made there. Did they make it hard for you? Hope... well... you don't look like anything's bothering you. I hope you have a good time there." She said, smiling.

*Ugh... the way she acts caring sometimes scares me. But...*

"Mmn... thanks, mom." He said.

"Yo yo yo! Ryuunouske!" Juro shouted as the three of them walked towards Ryuunouske, who locked his bicycle.

*Can't get over how loud he is.* Ryu thought.

"Um... Good day to you three."

"Huh? Loose up, man." Haryu said, slapping his shoulder.

"Ah-Haha." Ryu laughed nervously as they walked towards the school building.

"We'll be having our first practice match against the second and third years today. I can't wait!" Juro said happily.

"Aw, come on. Let's do karaoke one." A girl said, walking past them with three other girls.

"No, I have things to do today. Sorry, Yuki-san, sorry Harumi and Akane too." The girl said, smiling at them as Ryuunouske gasped.

*She's really pretty.* He thought, still staring at her.

"Hm?" Juro asked, looking from Ryuunouske to the girl.

*Heh...?* Juro thought, grinning.

"That's Sugawara Himekawa." Juro said as Ryuunouske turned to him sharply.

"Eh?"

"Ah... Sugawara-San. She was the Student Council President back in middle school. She's got the brains and looks. She's short, though. Haha." Haryu said, smiling at Ryuunouske.

"E-eh? W-who are you talking about? I-I have no idea what you guys are saying." He said, looking away.

*He looks really flustered.* They all thought staring at him.

"Okay! We have the first, second, and third years here. Let's begin practice. " The coach said.

"Hey, I'm the team captain, Ichikawa Souma. Nice to meet you all." A guy said, standing in front of them.

"Nice to meet you!"

"Hmph! This years first years all look like wimps."

"Yeah, but look. We've also got a violent one here, who knows, he might be all about violence. Hehe."

"Grr... those second years really know how to run their mouths." Juro said.

"Ignore them. Let's just beat them with what we know how to do best." Hajime said.

"Yeah!"

"Okay, first years, pick out your formation and arrangement."

"Guys, let's do this... whisper whisper whisper."

"We are set, Coach."

"Okay, let's hit the field then." He said, walking out of the room.

"I heard the football team is having a tryout."

"It's more of a practice match. Wanna go watch?"

"Of course. Although it's pretty much obvious, who's gonna win."

"Yeah, last year, the second and third years played well."

"Let's go!"

"Himechi, let's go watch the practice match." Yuki said.

"I thought you wanted to join the female basketball team."

"Yeah, but they decided to watch the boys match."

"Ugh... I wanna stay here."

"Himekawa-chan, why don't we all go together."

"Yeah." Some girls in class said.

*Since they insist on being persistent.* She thought.

"Okay, let's go. Yuki." She called, walking out of the classroom.

"..."

"What's going on? The second and third years... haven't scored any points." Someone said.

The guys on the pitch kept huffing and puffing.

"Don't give up guys, they might be giving us a hard time, but it's not like they've scored either." The captain said.

"Haha, that was a nice defence, Shide-kun." Hajime said, breathing heavily as they high fived.

"Ha... ha... ha..." Ryuunouske pant, his hand on his knee.

*Ah... what am I even doing? I'm dragging the team back by not scoring.* He thought, looking up at the sun.

"Ryu, let's change positions. Come forward." Haryu said.

"Sure."

*I need to score at least one. They're all doing their best out here.* He thought, biting his lower lip.

"Ryuunouske..."

*Ah, dammit. I need to do something.*

"Ryuunouske!"

"Hmm? Oh, sorry, Shimada. What were you saying?"

"We are here too, man. Don't try and take the whole burden on yourself." He said.

"Ah..."

"Yeah, yeah, just what he said." Juro said.

"We are all here. That's why it's a team game."

"Thanks, guys."

*What was I even thinking? Of course, I can't do it all on my own. I need other people, especially when they've made their support known.*

"Thanks..."

"Hmph! First years, this match is ours. Don't think we'll let you guys win."

"Yeah, we kinda underestimated you guys, but now we win."

"Huh? The match isn't quite what we expected." Yuki said.

"Right? I can't believe the first years are standing their ground." Akane said.

*I don't understand whatever is going on here. I think I should have refused them.* Himekawa thought.

"Hell yeah!" One of the second years shouted as he scored a goal.

"Aww, they scored." Hajime said, his hands on his waist.

"Looks like it. Let's get a goal back." Haryu said.

*They look so calm. Were they thought to stay chill even when a goal has been scored against them? If so, then Juro...* He thought, looking at Juro, who kept fidgeting.

"😑😑😑. Looks like I was mistaken."

"The first years are gonna lose this match."

"Seems like it. The time is almost up."

"Well, it's just as expected."

*People think we'll lose. I mean, compared to a real match, there's a reward here.* Ryuunouske thought, looking at the others panting.

*But still, they really believed that we had a chance even after that goal. We'll score a goal, even if it's just one!*

The ball kept going round the upper-classmen as they passed to each other.

*Are they trying to mock us?* Hajime thought, clenching his fists.

"Ha..." Ryuunouske exhaled as he ran towards one of the upper-classmen and stole the ball.

"He got it!"

"What are you doing?!" The captain asked.

"Let's go assist Ryuunouske!" Haryu shouted.

"Yeah!"

"I have no idea how you stole that ball, but you're not getting past me." A big guy said.

"Ha..."

"Ryuunouske, pass the ball!"

"Why are you telling him that? It's pretty obvious that he wouldn't. Whenever he gets that way, he forgets football is all about teamwork."

"Ryuunouske is so stingy with the ball."

"Coach, he's not gonna help the team that way."

"Ryuunouske! You'll leave the middle school football team and learn some teamwork before coming back. You're suspended indefinitely."

"Ha..." He sighed before passing the ball over to Hajime, who waved at him.

"Nice pass!"

*I mean, even if I pass the ball, they might not score. Team work? I think I'm very bad at that.* Ryuunouske thought, jogging forward.

"Defend!!"

*They never really accepted me anyway, so what's that about teamwork? Even the coach who let me stay back then disliked me just cause of some misunderstandings. I prefer being responsible for my own mistakes and achievements. I'm stingy with the ball, I'm quite aware. The fact that I'm blamed when I pass the ball and it gets stolen is too bad.*

"Pass here!"

*Ah... what am I even thinking about? All that's in the past. I can just... start anew here.* He thought as Juro passed the ball to him.

"Shoot it!!!"

*I just have to rely on my teammates.* He thought, shooting the ball into the corner of the net.

"He scored it!!" Juro shouted as they all ran towards him.

"H-he scored..." the captain said as the coach stood up immediately.

*If I'm correct, he wasn't concentrated. I was already planning on making him leave cause it's not alright to get distracted while playing. And he scored against Tanaka! Tanaka wasn't even able to react.* The coach thought, looking at them.

"Hahaha! We got ourselves quite some first years. We might even be able to reach finals after polishing them." The coach said to the captain who nodded.

"They haven't practised together before, but the way they played together was nice."

"Yeah, time's up." The coach said.

"Awww, already?"

"Himechi, the game's over." Yuki said as Hime looked stunned.

"Hime?"

"Ah... let's go." She said, standing and walking out with the "girls"

"Mom... I'm off."

"Wait a bit, Ryu. Take something to eat okay. The salon has been doing well because of you. I can't have you falling ill." She said, handing a bento box over to him.

"Thanks mom, and it's not only cause of me. You made it happen." He said, grabbing the box.

"Have a nice day, Ryu."

"So should you!"

"Ah Ryuunouske, you're finally here." Juro said, waving at him.

"Thanks for waiting guys." He said, stepping down from his bicycle.

"No problem, time's not really against us." Hajime said.

"Yeah, let's get going." Haryu said smiling.

"Am I the only one or are we constantly being stared at?" Juro asked as they walked into their classroom.

"You're imagining it, Juro." Haryu said.

"Exactly, everyone's just minding themselves." Hajime concurred.

"You guys... don't rub it on my face." Juro said as they sat on their seats.

"I don't think anyone even noticed that we played." Ryuunouske said.

"Not you too..."

"Haha, well we are officially members of the school football team."

"It's not like we'll be among the starters." Haryu said sighing.

"Right? Ha... I wonder when they'll let us play."

"They'll be a practice match tomorrow against Kyoei HS, first years you'll be taking them on." The coach said.

*Happened earlier than expected.* They thought.

"Now, you guys should run 10 laps round the school!" Souma said.

"Huh?!"

"10 laps? Isn't that just evil?!"

"You'll easily get tired running just 5 and you're telling us to run 10?!"

"Hehehe, that's for taking our practice match."

"What?! That's just childish!"

"Run, now! Or you'll leave the team." One of the second years said with a smirk.

"Well isn't that interesting." The coach said.

"Huh?"

"First years run the 10 laps, the rest 20. How's that sound?" He asked.

"Huh?! Coach, that's absurd!" Souma said.

"Run, or leave." He said as they backed away.

"Yes... coach."

"Huh? The football team are running some laps." Akane said.

"Your newest boyfriend is there right?" Harumi asked.

"Yeah, a second year."

"Heh...?" Yuki asked, sitting on Hime's desk.

"You've been acting kinda weird. Is it cause of work?" Yuki asked in a whisper.

"Oh... Yuki." She responded in a whisper.

"What's it? You don't look like yourself."

*Seriously what's wrong with me. I have to stay focused on other things.* She said, looking away.

"Not really. I'm doing just fine."

"Would you need help today?"

"Not rea... wait yeah." She answered showing her a picture from her phone.

"Heh...? You need me to take a picture of you in that?"

"Mmn."

"Yeah you're gonna look so cute." Yuki said.

"Stop that."

"So after school?"

"Yeah."

"Ah... they made us run the 20 laps after the coach left. I'm so tired." Haryu said, gulping down a bottle of water.

"Yeah, same here. I don't think I'd be able to stay up tonight."

"God, I have to have a quick shower." Hajime said.

"You done changing, Ryuunouske?"

"Yeah, let's go." He said as they left the club room.

"Ah!" Ryuunouske exclaimed.

"What's wrong?" Hajime asked.

"I left my stuff back in the classroom. I'll just go get it." He said, parking hus bicycle and running off.

"We'll be waiting here!" Juro shouted.

"Okay!"

"Mm-hm, Costume... set, camera set, I'm set. It's just left for Yuki to leave practice." Hime said.

*I made sure I saw everyone leave school before getting dressed. Can't get anyone seeing me this way.* She thought, humming before bringing out her phone.

"Ah... Class 1-5, 1-5." Ryuunouske said, walking through the hallway.

"Ah... when will Yuki come here." He heard someone say as he stopped and looked into the classroom.

"Ha...!" He gasped softly while looking stunned.

"Eh...? Where'd I keep my phone?" Hime said, looking inside her bag.

"Cat ears?" He said before clasping his hands over his mouth.

*Crap, I said that out.*

"Eh?!" Hime exclaimed in shock.

"I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to stare." He said, looking away.

*H-He's tall!*

*I knew it, she looked kinda familiar.* He thought.

"Y-you didn't see anything, okay?"

"E-Eh? Y-yeah!"

"Oh my God..." She said, slumping on the floor.

"I-is it that bad?" He asked, walking into the class.

*How did this happen?* She thought.

"U-um... hello."

*Why did someone have to see me today of all days?* She thought, burying her face in her palm.

BA-DUMP

"I-I have to go." He said before walking out of the classroom.

"Boo-hoo..."

*Crap, she's so cute.* He thought, walking into Class 1-5.

"What am I gonna do?" He asked, resting on the wall.