T.A series Volume 7: Feathers of Fury

Chapter 13 - Nightmares and Dreams

As the cab approached their destination, the four children prepared themselves for the investigation.

They paid the fare and stepped out onto the streets of 鳥羽市 (Chōha-shi), with the row of mansions stretching along the quiet, upscale neighbourhood. The area had an air of sophistication and elegance, but beneath its polished exterior, a sinister mystery awaited Ranran and the boys.

"Neh, I have been wanting to ask you this for a while. Why do you..join the soccer club?" Takuma asked as Michio walked next to him.

"Ah, one day I saw a couple of boys in my class playing it, it looked fun, especially when I saw how they were able to dribble it with their feet."Shinichi suddenly beam as he talks about soccer," I heard them talking about it in class a few days later. At that time, I wasn't really hanging out with Ran and Sonoko as much due to...idiotic reasons. Anyway, since I thought had nothing left to lose, I joined the team."

Ranran who is walking next to Shinichi could see the genuine excitement in his eyes as he talked about soccer, and it was clear that the sport had brought him joy during a time when his friendship with Ran and Sonoko was strained. "But how come I don't see you play soccer anymore?" Michio found himself asking.

"I mean after those soccer mates sold me out for Rokuro, everytime I see a soccer ball.....I just have bad memories associated with it."

"You know, I can relate to that," Michio nodded understandingly as he revealed, "When I fell into a pool around the age of 3, I developed a fear of water that lasted even up till now. Still don't dare to swim."

"For me is different," Takuma recalled, "If I ever fall ill, I get anxious about going to the doctor, even for regular check-ups."

"Now that Ranran mentioned it, you used to be cooped up in the hospital due to some illness back then when you were younger, right?" Shinichi remembered.

"Yes, I had some health issues when I was younger, and I spent quite a bit of time in and out of hospitals. Although I don't fear the thought of doing surgery since dying would've been way better than being alive and being tormented by needle jabs and stuff...the expectation of getting good results from the doctors is by far the worst thing I had to deal with."

The four merely sigh about it while walking to Professor Shibuya's mansion.

"Did you have fun? After joining the soccer club?"Ranran asked.

"I did."Shinichi's smile grew a little wider.

"Don't underestimate him, Ranran," Takuma knowingly said, "I heard this through a mutual friend, that Shinichi was so good at it, he had already been scouted professionally."

"Eh?! You are that great?"Ranran's eyes grew big at the apprentice.

"Ahaha, I wouldn't call myself great of course."Shinichi chuckled before he added, "But I turned down the offer."

"Eh? Why?"Ranran asked.

"Why you say....you should know why...I want to be a Tantei!"

"Ah....but I think you quit too soon though." Takuma crossly said.

"I had no intention of quitting the soccer club, at least....not till that Rokuro incident happened. If...I ain't welcome back, it wouldn't really matter to me though since my no.1 dream as a Tantei still stands."

"Ah ha ha, soudesu neh."Ranran smiled back, before turning to Takuma to ask," And....was everyone aware of it?"

"Eh? On what?"

"That he was scouted?"

"Yeah, while I was playing American Football with the others not far from the soccer field in our school, all of his teammates were present in our school when it happened, "Takuma nodded to her. "He was so good in fact, he was the only one offered a scholarship to play at some reputable school for athletes."