Family isn't always by blood

Chapter 2

Shindou POV:

“Shindou!”

Shindou turned to look at the person who was calling him. Not to his surprise, it was his best friend, Kirino, who was apparently the last person, excluding himself in the clubroom.

“Yes? What’s up?” Shindou asked, pondering on what his childhood friend would want.

“Nothing. I just wanted to talk,” Kirino said simply with a shrug, “Do I need a reason to talk to my best friend?”

“No, of course!” Shindou said, lifting his bag to his shoulder before walking to the defender.

“So… How does it feel to be top academic again?” Kirino said with a sly look in his eye.

“Like normal?” Shindou asked, confused by his friend's question.

“Ugh! You are like the only person out there who would not be excited to win that! It must be because you won too much…”

“Maybe,” Shindou shrugged, hoping the conversation diverts from him.

“Hmm… You know who really surprised me?”

“Who?”

“Tenma! Like I never expected him to even think about winning, yet look at him! Aoi-chan seems to be fairly convinced that he won…”

“You're right… I have to admit, I was surprised too…” Shindou said, “No offense to him, but he doesn’t… He doesn’t…”

“Give off the vibe?” the pink haired defender added, to which Shindou nodded.

“Yeah! Like he never skips out on soccer and always stays after practice to the point that it feels like that’s all in his life. It always feels as though he has nothing better to do. Like he’s got no life outside of the range of soccer. But to think that he genuinely wants to do good in school seems like a big jump from his normal soccer geek self…”

“That’s what I thought too…” Kirino agreed before pointing to a bunch of small figures at the front of the school, “Oh look! No one left yet!”

The two friends ran to catch up to the rest of the team.

“Captain! Kirino-senpai!” Tenma shouted, waving at them, bringing the team’s attention to the two second years.

“Are you guys heading home, yet?” Shindou asked, “It’s getting pretty cloudy out.”

“Mhm!” Shinsuke nodded, “We were just talking about Coach Endou!”

“What about him?” Kirino asked, sharing a confused look with Shindou.

“Coach looked so sad!” Tenma said, his voice wavering, before gasping, “What if it was my fault? He kept looking at me weird at practice! What if I didn’t do good enough! What if I did something to him! Or if I hurt his feelings! I swear I never meant to hurt his feelings! I didn’t mean to hurt anyone’s! Oh! What if he kicks me off the team! Or worse! What if he never forgives me! Oh no! How did I let this-”

“Tenma!” several voices, including Shindou’s own yelled.

The ex-captain shared a look with Sangoku before taking a deep breath and bending down so that he was at eye level with the little first year, “I doubt Coach Endou’s mad at you! Like you said you never did anything. Maybe he was just having a bad day!”

“Mhm! And there is no way Coach will kick you off the team and not forgive you! I mean you're our captain! If you’re off the team then so am I” Sangoku said, no hesitance in his voice.