너는 최고야 ! [ You Are The Best ! ]

05. beating younger kids at sports makes you feel more powerful

They watched her leave the house again, and once the door was closed, it was nothing but silence. She'd barely said anything in the morning, and the two adults were convinced it was just phase she'd get over soon, but it was still unsettling nonetheless. Of course they wanted the absolute best for the young girl, but Kim couldn't help but hope this 'soccer' thing wouldn't go any further than it already had.

". . . Why is she upset?" Jae lifted his eyes to the dark haired woman in the kitchen. After she didn't say anything for a while, he decided to take a sip of his coffee.

"That stupid sport!" Kim suddenly piped up, the male immediately choked on his drink. Cho merely tilted his head as if to say 'what's wrong with him'?

"Pardon?" Clearing his throat, Jae furrowed his brows. "Sport? What sport? What are you talking about?"

"Soccer!" The woman threw her hands in the air frantically, she was so dramatic. "She wanted to join the soccer club and someone said there were no teams for girls, and she wasn't allowed to join the boys team Can you believe that?" As if she was in a rush, she started strutting to the living room where Jae and Cho were watching the television. Defeated, Kim threw herself down on the couch.

"That's awful, she must be really upset-"

"That's not what I mean!" Kim snapped, shutting up her husband in less than a second. "She used to play soccer with her brothers, god forbid she picks up that ball one day and somehow remembers everything." So she was concerned about other things, not Mio's disappointment in not being able to join a soccer club, but the odds of her regaining her memory. Now, the doctors had went to very extensive lengths to try and get her to remember, but the little girl couldn't think of a thing. No matter what or who she looked at, six years of her life were wiped clean from her brain.

But that was the good part. At least Kim thought so.

". . . I don't think that'll happen." Jae trailed off, eyes slowly averting to the plasma screen. It was a Korean drama, the family always enjoyed watching these together.

"I-" Kim was just about to start another rant when the house phone had started ringing. With a small sigh, she quickly stood up and ran over to grab it. Without looking at the caller ID, she answered the call and lifted the phone to her ear. "Hello?"

The familiar voice from the other line almost made her want to scream.



After moving to Inazuma Town, Park hadn't really gotten time to explore the area. It was normally just going to the market with her grandmother, or walking Cho around the park - then just going straight home. After school, she normally took only one route to get home, but after a bit of scampering around, she found a quicker method. It passed by the river side, with a lovely view of the Inazuma bridge. There was surprisingly a soccer pitch by the water, and it was actually being used at the time.

A bunch of little kids were playing, while an older boy stood at the goal. After peering a little closer, Park quickly recognized him to be Endou - the loudmouth that approached her the other day.

"Hi!" A female voice called out to the white haired girl who slightly jumped. It was the soccer team's manager, the really kind girl that followed loudmouth around. With a small smile, Park waved, but then she gestured her to come over. Reluctantly, she did scurry over to the other girl.

"Hello." Park politely dipped her head.

"Do you live down this way as well?" The manager asked, and Park quickly nodded. It wasn't long after that the brunette keeper noticed Kino had company and rushed over to say hi as well.

"Oh! You're the person from before!" He piped up. "I uh- what was your name again?" Sheepishly, he rubbed at the back of his neck with a breathy laugh.

"It's Park. Park Mio." Awkwardly, she responded with furrowed brows. They didn't actually start on a first name basis last time, in fact they only spoke for about ten seconds before he ran off with his wooden sign. 'Park' was considered a strange name in Japan, so she wouldn't be surprised if he asked about it or made a strange face - which he did neither.

"I'm Endou Mamoru!" With a bright grin, he reached out a hand. "Nice to meet you!"

With that, Park shook his hand while the manager introduced herself as Kino Aki. It was only thanks to her that the white haired girl wasn't a nervous wreck - Kino was a very kind girl.

"Hey, if you're not busy, do you wanna join us?" With glittering eyes, Endou lifted the soccer ball in his hands. "Let's play soccer!"

It was two middle school students against the elementary kids, basically eleven against two. Endou was pretty used to playing with the little ones, but Park was terrified she'd accidentally step on one of them. It'd been years since she properly played soccer, so she'd probably end up getting her ass whipped by a bunch of near toddlers.

After Endou gave the cue, the little forwards were charging ahead. Everything hit her like a bullet, the way to move her feet, where her eyes should look, and the right timing. While stealing the ball from a child was nothing to be very proud about, Park had still smiled to herself. It wasn't as hard as she thought it'd be.

To be fair, sometimes she'd just pass the ball to one of the kids and let them shoot - or else Endou would be standing there and not doing much. At one point she'd attempted to make a shot as well even if they were on the same team. He caught it, but pulled a cheeky grin and complimented her well. This went on for almost an hour until everyone was dead tired, sitting in the grass trying to catch their breath. . .

"So why don't you join the soccer team? You looked like you were having lots of fun." Kino chirped, tilting her head.

"Oh I-. . . I tried, but one of the teachers said I wasn't allowed, it's an all boys team after all." Park flattened the top of her hair, managing a sad smile. "I'm sorry."

The three sat in silence for a while as Endou threw himself back into the grass, arms behind his head. "Who cares? I don't see a problem with a girl on the team." He mumbled.

"Endou, it's the school rules." Kino had to remind him, but he only frowned.

"Well! The art club has boys and girls, why can't the soccer club!" The brunette jolted up into a sitting position. "I'll talk to the principal, I'm sure it won't be a big deal! So you'll join, right?" With eyes of hope, he stared at Park.

"In that case. . ." She smiled. "I'd love to."

The three had walked home afterwards, but at one point Kino and Endou took a different turn. The white haired girl scampered home the rest of the way, immediately getting mobbed by her dog as soon as she stepped inside. Usually her grandmother was in the kitchen around this time making dinner, but she wasn't there. Confused, Park looked over at her grandfather.

"Where's Halmeoni?" She asked, holding the fluffy white pom in her arms.

"She went to meet someone, she'll be home soon." Jae responded.

". . . Okay. I'll go to my room and finish my homework." Without bothering to question him, she scurried up the staircase with Cho.



Kim stared at the envelope being pushed towards her over the table, then lifted to the blonde haired woman in front of her.

"What's this?" She hesitantly took the envelope and opened the front flap, her lips parting at it's contents.

"Two thousand dollars." The younger lady stated with such nonchalance. "Send her to piano classes or private school, buy her clothes or whatever."

"I don't want your money." Kim practically hissed, tossing the envelope back towards it's owner. "I came to tell you to stop calling, leave us alone. I don't care who you think you are, but you're not that little girl's mother anymore."