Stirring the Flames

The Many Troubles of Protecting Tenma

Author's note: This took a long time because of multiple reasons (work, new project, not my favorite episode, emotional scenes that I rushed through, etc.). But I'm finally done with this and we can start on the Mannouzaka. Once again, there is canon divergence here and Tenma's side plot will eventually gain some traction.

Outside Tengawara, Raimon was waiting on the bus for their missing midfielder and some of them were growing annoyed.

"How much longer are we going to wait here?" Minamisawa grumbled while combing his hair with his fingers.

"Until Tenma gets back." Shindou told him with a roll of his eyes. Minamisawa only gave the captain a bitter glare and turned away, not wanting to interact with the captain or Sangoku and Shinsuke. Almost everyone else was doing the same, too angry and shocked that the crew went against the Fifth Sector.

"What were you thinking Shindou?" Kirino hissed at his best friend. "You went against the Fifth Sector and made Raimon win the match! And you mastered your Keshin! They're going to come down harder on you now!"

"Sorry." Shindou winced a little. He never intended to worry his best friend like this. He knew Kirino was harsh on the matter out of concern for him. But in this instance, he cannot give in to his unspoken request. What he felt during the match is something he cannot simply ignore again. And Kirino knows that based on the soured look on his face.

"Shindou, I'm scared that the next time the Fifth Sector comes to Raimon, it will be to take you and Matsukaze away."

And Shindou felt guilty for making his friend feel like that. He too had those fears. Ever since he awakened his Keshin, he knew the Fifth Sector was eyeing him to add into their ranks. It was why they got Kudou removed. And they now want Tenma too.

"Sorry I took so long!"

Speak of the devil, Shindou let out a small breath of relief when the junior climbed up the bus. "What took you so long?"

"I got lost on the way out. Luckily Kita-san was kind enough to escort me out." Tenma waved at said captain outside the bus with an innocent grin. But upon closer look, Kita was sweating nervously...and was that Hayabusa attempting to hide behind the orange haired captain?

Shindou slowly turned to Tenma with a tick on his forehead. "Tenma, what did you do?"

"Nothing to them." Tenma hummed with a small nod at the coach. "I just went to find what I was looking for and I did."

"And...?"

"I may or may not have ran into some Fifth Sector agents who wanted me to come with them. But I declined."

'More like I had to use self-defense to fend them off and scared Hayabusa-san further. And that's how Kita-san found us."

Everyone was staring at him in various degree of disbelief, even Endou and Otonashi. Endou then stood up and nodded at the driver. "Furukabu-san, let's go now."

As soon as the bus pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road, Endou turned to Tenma with a serious look. "What happened just now? The Fifth Sector accosted you?"

"Yes. But I made my point clear that I'm not joining them." Tenma said calmly.

"And they let you go?"

It was Tsurugi who said that and there was incredulity bleeding into his usual condescending tone.

"I made some good points to them." Tenma said with a small knowing smile at Tsurugi. The punk grimaced and kept quiet.

Endou shook his head but inwardly relieved that Tenma was safe. Aki had told him about a little tidbit that Tenma is actually more than capable of taking care of himself, case and point, just now and the kidnapping attempt the day he became Raimon's coach. He nearly had a heart attack when Aki told him about it but she strongly reassured them that the Fifth Sector agents were taken care of by a new tenant across the street who was military apparently. And Tenma was holding his own before the stranger helped them.