THE PAIN - Inazuma Eleven Go Fanfic

CHAPTER 52: SILENT OVERTURE

The Shizen team remained in tears, their emotions raw and unguarded after the stirring performance. The violinist, his blond hair catching the stage lights, placed his instrument gently on its stand and approached his teammates, his eyes filled with concern and confusion.

"What are you all doing here?" He asked softly, when he reached them. He moved towards Osamu, who was still visibly emotional and was comforted by his lover, Reina. "Osamu-san? Minna? Why are you all crying?" His gaze swept over the team, each member avoiding his eyes, unable to fully compose themselves.

Arion's gaze fell on Hiro, who was on his knees, his head bowed low. Arion knelt beside him, placing a gentle hand on Hiro's shoulder. "Hiro?" he asked, his voice filled with gentle curiosity.

"We're not crying," Hiro muttered, his voice thick with unshed tears. "It's just... dust or something." He hastily tried to brush away the moisture from his eyes, but his attempt was futile.

Arion chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling despite the lingering sadness. "Then what's that in your eyes?" he teased gently.

Hiro sniffed and wiped his face, his attempt at bravado crumbling. "It's your fault," he retorted, though his voice was choked with emotion. "You just changed your hair all of a sudden... You look like some kind of royalty."

The attempt at humor drew a few chuckles from the team, lightening the heavy atmosphere, if only for a moment. Ryuu, standing beside Hiro, smirked and delivered a light tap to the back of his head. "Baka," he said affectionately. "Way to ruin the mood."

Hiro rubbed the spot where Ryuu had hit him, still sniffling. "Seriously, though. Look at him," he insisted, trying to deflect from the deep emotional impact the music had stirred within him.

Arion shook his head with a soft laugh, his heart warmed by his teammates' playful banter. The atmosphere shifted subtly, from one of overwhelming sorrow to a more bearable, shared grief.

Osamu stepped forward, his eyes red but filled with a sense of resolve. "You always surprise us, don't you, Arion?" he said, his voice cracking slightly as he spoke. He wiped away his lingering tears and managed a small, supportive smile.

Arion smiled back, the connection between them palpable. "Osamu-san... minna, I'm sorry if I made you all cry," he said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "I think I just got carried away."

Suddenly, Ryuu enveloped Arion in a tight hug. Arion was taken aback for a moment, but then, tears began to well up in his eyes. He let them flow, finding solace in the embrace of his best friend.

One by one, the rest of the team joined in, surrounding Arion in a group hug. Their collective warmth and presence created a cocoon of comfort around their precious captain, each of them offering silent support and understanding.

In the midst of the embrace, Arion's voice choked with emotion, broke the silence. "I miss her," he murmured, the weight of his loss evident in every syllable.

The team heard his words loud and clear, their hearts aching in response. They knew he was referring to his mother and someone who had meant the world to all of them.

Meanwhile, up in the gallery, Shindou, Tsurugi, and Kirino watched the poignant scene unfold below them. What they had initially perceived as a simple meeting turned into a deeply emotional encounter. Seeing the Shizen team break down and embrace this mysterious violinist was far from what they had expected.

Shindou's gaze remained fixed on the group below, observing the raw, unfiltered emotions of the Shizen team. "This wasn't just about a performance," he muttered, more to himself than to the others. "There's a lot more to this than we thought."