The Secret

Chapter Nine: New Faces

Hello! The author is back! With a late update!

Since it's pretty late where I live, I don't really have much to say...

Oh. Cookies? (::) (::) (::) (::)

And now, into the story!

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"What choice do I have?" - Tsurugi Kyousuke

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"How come Tenma is still not here?"

It is the first thing Tsurugi asks since he arrives at the soccer club building, during a break in the middle of a practice section. Usually his captain will be here way earlier than the others, dribbling with Fei and his Dupli.

However, today is an exception. Not only he did not arrive early like he usually does, he also didn't tell anyone where he is or why he is not here. At first, everyone just assumes that the brunet simply sleeps in again, but all of them start to get worried when he doesn't show up for the first half of practice.

"You think he's okay?" Kageyama says unexpectedly, wiping his forehead with his towel. "He didn't seem alright yesterday, during afternoon practice. Perhaps he got a cold?"

"That's impossible!" Shinsuke widens his eyes. "He seemed fine during class."

Shindou rests his chin on the back of his hand, frowning. "Kageyama is right about him acting strangely during practice yesterday...but he doesn't have a fever, from what I saw."

"Everyone!" Otonashi's voice snaps them away from their conversation. The dark blue-haired advisor trots toward them with her phone in her hands. "Tenma-kun is not coming to school for today and tomorrow."

Aoi stands up in surprise. "How come?"

"Kino-san just sends me a message," the adult adjusts her glasses on her head. "Tenma has a doctor's appointment, so he will be taking his leave for two days."

"A doctor appointment that lasts for two days?" Taiyou narrows his dull blue eyes, the striker detects something wrong. "From my personal experience, a doctor's appointment usually only lasts for half a day. In my case, it lasts for a whole day. I've never heard of a doctor's appointment that's two days long."

"That's because..." Otonashi trails off in the middle of her sentence, hugging her arms together in unease. "Um..."

Sangoku stares at their advisor, confused. "Otonashi-san? Are you alright?"

"Oh yeah...how do I explain..." She takes a deep breath and exhales. "In order to explain this, I'll have to ask you guys to keep it a secret."

Tsurugi suddenly realizes what she's going to say.

"Tenma-kun...he has hearing problems." The adult says softly, her eyes on the ground. "Not only that...he was involved in a robbery, back in Okinawa...and was shot in the right forearm."

Well, the ace striker doesn't expect the second part, nor do Shindou and the others who eavesdropped on their captain some time ago. Fei's eyes are wide with shock, and Shindou has his mouth gaped open, same as Shinsuke and Aoi.

As for the rest of the team...they're definitely shaken all the way into their core. "A robbery?" Hamano repeats, clenching his hands on his googles. "And shot?"

"Hearing problems..." Kurama mumbles. "That explains why his hearing is terrible...perhaps he is using hearing-aids."

Otonashi waits patiently for the shock wave to pass, then continues. "That's why his doctor's appointment lasts for two days. The first day for his hearing, then stays in the hospital for one night. The next day, it will be for his forearm. Two days in total."