Tracing Memories

24: F o r c e d

While we were spending our days happily and carefree, the world around us and with it, soccer, slowly changed and it wasn't long before we were affected by it too, especially you and me.

I barely knew anything at first. After junior high, I lost touch with soccer as I focused more on my art. Everything I got to know was from you only, as short and precise as that was. But this time, you refused to say anything. However, I could tell it was something grave. You looked stressed and upset all the time and the rare smiles I got to see on your face before, were all gone. You spoke even lesser than before and it looked like you were in deep thought at all times.

I tried asking you several times what was it that bothered you so much but as usual, you didn't tell me. After asking you for a while I tried to find out about it on my own. As I searched through all the trustworthy sites on the internet I finally realised what was the cause of your gloom.

Soccer was changing forever.

I let out a gasp as I read through articles after articles making sure I was not misinformed. It all made sense then, your mood, your behaviour, the gloominess on your face, everything. Your beloved soccer was getting destroyed. I immediately thought about calling you. I knew you, along with our friends, would already be planning to take some action. I wanted to be of as much help as possible.

I called you three times but you didn't pick up. This worried me. You never did this to me. I then called Yuuka.

"Yah, you should get here." She answered gravely.

"Is he okay?" I asked, worried.

"Just get here." She answered and hung up.

I rushed my way over to your home, as the sun rose overhead, only to find out from Yuuka that you had been locked up in your room since morning. She was incredibly worried and told me she had tried to talk to you but you didn't answer. I reached your closed door and knocked on it for a while calling out your name yet there was no response.

I stood waiting right outside your door for another twenty minutes. In the meantime, Yuuka asked me if I wanted to sit down but I couldn't think of myself when I was so worried for you. I knocked on the door between intervals but in vain.

After twenty minutes, the door unlocked but didn't open. I quickly opened it and rushed inside. I was stunned when I looked at you because you looked completely different. You had your hair down and they now had blue highlights in them.

"What's going on?" I muttered faintly as I stared at you wide-eyed.

"Why are you here right now?" You asked, to my astonishment.

"What do you mean why am I here?I'm worried about you, Yuuka's worried about you. She is the one who called me here. Are you okay?" There was surprise in my voice. You were acting strange and it was bothering me.

"Tell Yuuka not to worry. I'll explain everything to her later." You commented in a busy tone.

"And what about me?When are you going to explain things to me?" I struggled to stay calm, "I know what's happening to soccer." I took a step forward and took your hand in mine, "You don't have to worry. You, me, Endou, Kidou and everyone...we will find a solution to this like we always have in the past."

"You don't have to worry about that." You then looked at me with conviction. I knew you had planned something but it worried me since you were reluctant to tell me anything.

You walked away from me, freeing your hand from my grasp, to the other side of the room looking at some documents. I stood there confused, trying to make sense of everything unfolding in front of me. Finally, my brain gave in and I got annoyed by your silence and refusal to share anything with me.I stormed up to you and made you face me,

"Shuuya!Tell me right now what are you going to do!" I exclaimed.

"I can't! I can't make any mistakes." You replied in an agitated tone and turned your attention to the papers again.

"But you can tell Yuuka?" I turned you towards me again holding you by your arm.

"I have no option but to tell her. I can't leave her alone. I have to watch over her." I could tell you were getting annoyed by my incessant questions but I could not let you throw yourself into a dangerous situation.

"Does Endou know?And Kidou?Have you talked to them?" I fired a series of questions.

"Kira, just leave me alone, will you?!" You suddenly yelled and glared at me. I did not look away and kept staring at you. We remained that way for a couple of seconds before I finally spoke,

"Fine!Don't tell me anything. Like you always do." I yelled back before walking away.

As soon as I closed the door behind me, I knew I had made a mistake but it was too late to do anything. Besides, I knew that even if I returned you wouldn't tell me anything.

Yuuka looked at me with a stunned face. I knew she had heard our conversation or more like our fight. I softened my expression and walked up to her,

"Promise me you will tell me everything he does. "

She nodded, reassuring me and with that, I left.

A/N: When you literally have to create part of the story to fill plot gaps the show creator never cared for. All I wanted was a season showing the main cast's college years but instead, we get a bizarre re-telling of the original story, (*cough*ares*cough*).  -__-