"Wake up!" Kinkai screamed out, giving Todomatsu a light shake. "Come on, get a grip on yourself!"

Her voice sounded harsh, yet when Todomatsu returned to his senses, he could tell how distressed she was. There was no way she was the least bit angry with him. If anything, she was terrified. Todomatsu was her only friend, after all.

"You two live close, right?" the coach sighed after having lectured the player who injured Todomatsu.

Kinkai nodded her head vigorously.

"I can get him home easily," she sighed, looking down at her friend, hopelessly. "If he makes it..."

"I'm fine," Todomatsu sighed, attempting to stand up on his feet. But when he did such, he felt as if his left foot was broken, unable to support his body.

"Here," Kinkai turned around and squatted down in front of Todomatsu, her hands cupped behind her back. "Climb on."

"Like a girl could carry him," one of the players snorted as he grabbed the soccer ball, running across the field to talk with his friends.

"Shut up..." Kinkai muttered as Todomatsu climbed on. He didn't care if he lost all of his dignity by doing such.

He was surprisingly as light as a feather, not exactly what one would expect a boy to be at his age.

"How bad is it?" Kinkai questioned softly, standing up as Todomatsu wrapped his arms around her neck, not her chest like a pervert, in attempt to stay on.

"Here's some ice," the coach said, stopping Kinkai in order to wrap it around carefully Todomatsu's left foot.

"T-Thanks," Todomatsu cringed in pain.

As they exited the field, both Kinkai and Todomatsu remained silent, which was strange for the two of them. They always spoke on the way home. Always.

The sun was setting quickly as the two took the short back roads home, attempting to arrive to a safe place as soon as possible.

Todomatsu clutched Kinkai's shirt tightly in his hands suddenly, beginning to tremble on her back.

Able to feel his sudden change, Kinkai felt the urge to break their long silence.

"Are you alright?" Kinkai inquired nervously, slowing her fast walking pace for a moment. Her back was aching from the weight of Todomatsu at this point, but she had no complaints. After all the joy he had brought her, it was the least she could do.

"I-I don't..." Todomatsu's voice shook. "I don't want to have the surgery!"

A single tear ran down his cheek, landing on the girl's neck. Kinkai stiffened, quite alarmed that he was upset. She knew she would have to remain calm, despite how much she wanted to cry with her friend sometimes.

"You'll be fine though! You can live life like a normal person, and you'll be a god at soccer! You and me...we'll...we'll be world famous! Japan is only the beginning for us!"

Todomatsu burst into tears, unable to control his emotions.

"But what if something happens?" he fretted, trembling insanely. He was struggling to keep a grip on Kinkai.

"You'll be fine! Trust me, we both will be fine!" Kinkai soothed, stopping in front of Todomatsu's house. "Now, wipe up your tears! You're going to be alright from now on. Nothing bad is ever going to happen. The worst is most likely over. Plus, you're a really strong guy!"

The last part was all a lie.

Todomatsu's frightened voice turned ice cold as Kinkai knocked on the front door to his home.

"But what if my heart gives up on trying, just like I gave up two years ago?"

Todomatsu awoke.