5. they're my rules (so I write the story)

"Hey, do you know anyone that's a stalker or a paparazzi?" (Kirino, I'm gonna stop you right there.)

Or, in a slightly estranged turn of events, Kirino begins to cultivate his ultimate team to take over the world, all while Ichino cries in the corner and Shindou worries for his childhood friend's morals.

Of course, they found nothing wrong with his legs.

It could be psychological, or it was just exhaustion. They're leaning towards it being a psychological problem right now, and maybe they're right. Maybe, at the core of it, that's what this is-- remnants of trauma.

PTSD came in many forms, after all.

Regardless, something about the situation just told him that this would be a regular occurence herein. He'll have to adapt to it.

He barely listens to Coach Kudou when he tries to tell him everything will be fine.

Then Coach Kudou goes to another room to talk to the doctor, and Kirino wonders if he'll have to talk to a therapist if they think he's not coping well. Sounds like a pain.

"Woah! I'm sorry!"

Kirino jerks out of his thoughts when a figure running past accidentally trips over his foot.

Quickly, he leans forward and hooks his arm over the figure, barely catching the boy on his body and his wheelchair before they all go crashing onto each other.

"Ow, ow," Kirino winces, arms, awkwardly clutching to the figure that's now sprawling over himself. They're both on the chair, in some floundering sort of hug.

Immediately after their balance is gained, the figure on top quickly jumps back and stands up, looking over Kirino with enough panic for a country.

"I'm so sorry! Oh god, are you okay? I didn't look where I was going I'm sorry I think I elbowed you or kneed you somewhere I'm so so sorry please tell me I didn't hurt you--"

Kirino's aching a little from a nasty knee to knee and a few awkward bumps, but it's nothing that won't fade in a few moments. So he chuckles, "no, please, I'm fine. Are you okay though? Did you hurt yourself?"

Then he looks up.

Amemiya Taiyou stares back, pale and worried and looking as if he'd just committed an inexcusable crime.

Kirino gapes.

"No, I'm fine. Perfectly fine," the orange-haired boy quickly says, relieved-- but his eyes still run all around the pink-haired senior, trying to find any sign of an aggravated injury. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be running in a hospital."

Kirino forces his own mouth shut, and manages a smile in response. "As long as you don't try again, I guess," he says, looking over the boy to find any particularly nasty bumps-- but since the boy's wearing long sleeves, he's pretty well shielded.

That's a relief.

"I'm Kirino," he introduces himself, trying to change the subject. He's pretty sure the boy will apologize until sunrise if Kirino doesn't do this. "Kirino Ranmaru. Nice to meet you."

And Taiyou straightens. "Ah-- I'm Amemiya Taiyou," he says. Then he freezes, like he's suddenly spotted something really obvious-- "is that a Raimon soccer jersey?"

As expected from the famous Airheaded Sunshine Boy of Arakumo (epithet courtesy of the soccer fans of the future,) he immediately turns the conversation into soccer. Kirino didn't expect any less.

"Yeah, I'm a Defender," Kirino tells him. "What about you, Amemiya?"

Kirino admires the way Amemiya slots himself onto the bench beside the wheelchair, sparkling with the eagerness to engage in a soccer conversation already.

"I'm a Forward," he says, then he chuckles, sheepish. "They're not letting me play as often because of my health, though."

Kirino, knowing the boy does make a full recovery eventually, can't help but empathize.

"Same here," Kirino tells him. When Amemiya looks over, Kirino turns to his knees, gripping his fist at his lap with a sort of sigh. "I'm a time bomb, I think."

He's surprised when Amemiya leans over, taking Kirino's hand in his. Kirino looks over, and the boy grins.

"Then we're the same, huh?"

Kirino chuckles. The smile was infectious. They exchange contact information, and in seconds, Kirino is basking in familiarity.

-

Taiyou is an honorary member of History's Strongest Eleven. Or Chrono Storm, as they tended to throw the name around like a medal.

Kirino was never quite close to the sunshine boy until then.

When they didn't make the cut for Earth Eleven, they gathered to brood over it with cake and coffee. Nishiki tagged along, of course.

(Shinsuke was part of them at first. Then he snuck on board the spaceship and Taiyou booted him out of the gang. To this day he's still crying about it.)

It was a hilarious combination. The excitable samurai wannabe, the straight-laced mom friend, and the cinnamon soccer idiot. This weird combination just strolled into a coffee shop, what could've gone wrong?

Well, let's just say none of them drank their coffee and they spent their time ranting to each other like drunkards.

They go on coffee dates, and they specifically call it that (with extra emphasis on date with a heart at the end of text messages) just to irritate Shindou and Sata. Zanark also often bursts right out of time just to yell at Nishiki, which is still the funniest thing in the world.

There was a time Kazemaru infiltrated their ranks, and Coach Endou right about barged into the coffee shop screeching.

It's such a strange relationship they had, yet it was so much fun just fooling around. They had little in common, yet so much to bond over.

Kirino sighed, realizing that he'll possibly never build a relationship like that with them again. They can still be friends-- but it definitely wouldn't be the same.

Nothing would, ever again.

-

"We're having a match with Eito in a week, and we're supposed to lose," Kirino says. "Three to Zero."

Ichino and Aoyama are already in his room, sitting around a mess of papers and sketches.

At the sudden declaration, Ichino drops his pen. "What?"

Aoyama just notes that down on the side, "Eito, Raimon, three, zero." Then he looks up, "anything else?"

Ichino buries his palms into his face and groans, "I'm tired of playing the straight man!" he yells.

"Yeah, because you're bi--"

"Not the point!" Ichino snaps, face heating up. "How the hell do you know that anyways, Kirino?"

"Oh, we got him to swear," Kirino observes, impressed. "Anyways, I'm sure Tenma will do something. He and Shinsuke still don't know about the score-setting yet."

"Agh, that's gotta suck," Aoyama notes that down, "you think windy sugar boy will manage to score a point on his own?"

"Don't call him that!" Ichino squeaks, "that sounds wrong on so many levels-- don't write that down!"

"Nah, he'll need Shindou's help," Kirino says. "Tenma's charisma stats are through the roof. He's the kinda cheat player you'd see at the top rankings of every mobage, y'know. That and the element of surprise, it'll be an easy goal for us."

"And he's the kind that moves your heart without even realizing it himself," Aoyama says, posing dramatically with a sigh. Then he blinks, realizing something. "He's a total natural. He'd make a killing at a host club."

"Don't stereotype him..." Ichino mutters, "oh, you guys aren't even listening to me."

"I don't think the club will take it too kindly," Aoyama says, "I mean, I'd be pissed too. Fifth has their eyes on us, and Sugarboy will only make it worse."

"Well, this is the thing," Kirino says, "they might try to replace us all again, or they might just take Coach Kudou away from us."

"Yeah, they totally would," Aoyama sighs, "think the next guy's gonna be from Fifth? That might give us more opportunities, but it's not good for our team."

Kirino hums.

"Actually, I heard a really interesting rumour from recent soccer news..." he trails off. When he looks to the side, wondering why Ichino hadn't said anything yet.

Ichino's crying.

"...stop ignoring me already..." he sniffles, rubbing at his cheeks with his sleeves.

And Kirino and Aoyama panic. They start swearing and yelling and apologizing, converging on the boy in an absolute mess of limbs and hair and shit we messed up this is your fault, no it's obviously yours--

"Crap! Uh, we're sorry! Ichino, we're sorry!"

"We went too far, we didn't mean to!"

Kazu opens the door to see what the commotion is about.

He closes the door.

"Don't leave us! HELP!"

-

Ichino and Aoyama stay over that night to plan world domination.

By the time they wake up again, breakfast is on the table and Kazu's already gone for work. There's pudding on the table, but there's also a note saying ITS FOR NANASUKE, NOT THE OTHER TWO.

"Ichino, you're officially Kazu's favourite," Aoyama reports.

"Because I cried?!"

Ichino sits on the sofa, Kirino seated on the bean bag in front of him and between his legs as the gray-haired boy works on the pink mess of hair before him.

Kirino's still in the process of waking up, face buried in a pillow at his chest as he groans softly into the cotton. Ichino has a comb out, trying to work out the knots.

Aoyama picks up a piece of toast and a mug of hot chocolate.

"Can you do my hair too?" Aoyama asks.

Ichino snaps, "both of you are so lazy!"

Then Aoyama snaps a picture of them to send to Shindou, just to make sure they know that Kirino is alive.

"Hmm?"

"Oh, Kirino's finally awake," Ichino looks down, "how long did that take? Thirty minutes? Aoyama, are you taking a video? Why are you taking a video?"

Kirino stretches, like a cat.

Then he yawns, rubbing at his eyes. "...Morning practice?"

"Holy crap Aoyama, send me that video after this, I want it."

-

Aoyama and Ichino hide around the corner as Kirino approaches the Shindou house.

The gates are locked and everything. The guards standing outside the door greets him as he approaches. But Kirino places a finger at his lips, smiling cheekily.

"Don't tell Shindou yet! I'm playing a prank on him," he says.

The guard just sighs fondly and lets him in.

Kirino retains his air of naivete until the guard looks away-- and Kirino breathes out heavily. His breath comes out foggy, and he wills the mist to form around him.

It wouldn't be the first time Kirino has done it, so though the guard is slightly alarmed, he's not wary.

Kirino reaches for the mailbox beside the gate.

-

"For the last time, stop using your hissatsus whenever you want!!" Shindou yells at the club for the third time that week. "I hate getting complaints from teachers because Shinsuke emulated spiderman in traffic or because Tsurugi decimated a man!"

"Tsurugi decimated a what?"

"They were bullying a bird," Tsurugi holds his hands up in his defense.

"Don't just Death Sword everything!" Shindou yells, "and whoever used One Night Castle, it's been there for a week already!"

"So it's a One Week Castle now?"

Hayami makes a crying noise, "we don't know how to put it back down!"

Kirino watches this from the sides, sipping on a packet of juice. Aoi hands him the training menu with a dry laugh.

"You're not going to help him?" she asks.

Kirino hums, stating, "I'm only the team Mom from Monday to Wednesday."

-

"C'mon, hide it now. It's our first piece of evidence," Kirino hands it to Aoyama.

They made it to the riverbank, sitting by the benches as Kirino and Ichino stretch out, ready to get some individual practice in. Aoyama just sits beside them. He didn't bring his spikes, so he's stuck on manager duties.

Aoyama just frowns at it. "Three to Zero, just like you said. They're really shoving it in our faces that we shouldn't go against Fifth Sector, huh?"

Ichino hums at that. "Is it really fine for us to take it?"

Kirino shrugs, "I'm sure Tsurugi will be happy to shove it in our faces instead. And the coach gets one too, so it's probably fine."

"Probably, you say?" Aoyama says, "well, this feels very spy-like, so I'm having fun."

"I think it's fun, too!"

They all freeze.

They have no idea when she got here, but Yamana Akane is sitting beside Aoyama on the bench, a bright smile on her face and her pink camera in her hands.

They all leap back, squawking in surprise.

Akane takes a picture.

"What are you guys doing?" Akane asks, innocently, with the smile of a witch that has just gotten a year's supply of blackmail.

"Uh," Ichino is hiding behind Kirino now, scared shitless.

"A-" Kirino clears his throat, "Akane? How long have you been uh, listening to us?"

Akane smiles, flowers of moe blooming around her. "Since you were at Shindou-sama's house! Whatever you were doing looked interesting, so I followed you guys over here."

They have no idea which is freakier. The fact that they didn't even notice her until now, that she was awake before them, or that she's stalking Shindou's house.

Aoyama and Ichino are both hiding behind Kirino now.

Kirino sweats cold, but he sighs fondly at that.

"Well, we're trying to overthrow the current soccer government, wanna help us? It's a super secret project." He says, because when you put it so frankly, it sounds crazy.

Akane beams, not even hesitating. "Yes, please!"

(Ah, she's crazy, they collectively realize.)

Kirino raises a thumbs up, looking over his shoulder at the two behind him. Then, with all the tone of 'this was definitely planned I swear', he establishes, "okay, we got our espionage expert."

"Just like that?!" Ichino squawks.

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, just accept it," Aoyama hisses.

Team World Domination has grown a little, and Kirino has no idea what the hell's going on, but everyone's having fun and they're all being adorably passionate about it, so whatever.

-

As expected, they get the news today. They're having a match with Eito, and Shindou miserably informs the team about the score setting he's heard from Tsurugi.

Coach Kudou has little to say about it.

And no one quite has the heart to tell Tenma and Shinsuke about it, because they seemed so enthusiastic about practicing and everything.

So Kirino tells them.

Because it's kinda cruel to make them realize midway through the match tomorrow. Might as well lay them down nicely now and let them cry for a night.

"To tell the truth, Tenma, Shinsuke," Kirino speaks up, "it's a practice match, but it's not much of actual soccer. There's a score set and everything, so it's not fun at all."

Everyone's jaws drop.

Ichino facepalms in the corner. ('What happened to put them down gently?' he can hear the frustrated groaning already.)

"Eh?" is Tenma's confused response.

"The Fifth's soccer administration works on the basis that everyone can play on an equal ground-- so wins and losses are distributed by the Holy Emperor, including practice matches," Kirino explains, "you learned communism in history class yet? This is that."

There's a moment of shocked silence.

"This is bad, Shindou," Hamano says, "Kirino's lost his filter."

"Did he just straight up call it communist or am I hearing things?" Minamisawa says, raising a hesitant hand, "because if he did, we're screwed, and I want a recording of this to laugh about ten years later."

"Don't worry, I have the entire thing on video," Akane assures him, cheerfully

"Ah, thank you, that solves nothing," Hayami says, deadpanned. Then immediately he explodes, "Kirino-kunnnn!!" he sobs, "you know you shouldn't say that!!"

(Because, the government is shit, yes, but if you insult it you could still get arrested for defaming them. It's law. It's one thing to yell it when they're in the club room, and another thing to yell it when Tsurugi, a Seed, is listening.)

Kirino shrugs at that. "It's the truth."

"Wait wait, what?" Tenma repeats. "Set scores? What does that mean, Kirino-senpai? Can we uh, get a proper explanation...?"

Hayami cries. Ichino joins him with a soft apology. The club all give Tsurugi a nervous glance, and the striker sighs, looking away with a scoff.

"I didn't hear anything," he says. Everyone in the club breathes out in relief.

Then Shinsuke raises his hand, "I failed history last year, what's communism?"

Everyone lunges at Kirino before he talks again.

-

As expected, Shinsuke and Tenma are upset about it.

At the riverbank, they sit around the bench. Kirino, Shindou, Tenma, Shinsuke and Aoi-- Shindou is only here because he didn't trust the boy to make it home on his own.

In fact, if Shindou wanted Tenma to follow the score order, talking him out of his hero complex is probably more effective than leaving him in the dark.

"It's been like this for a while now," Kirino tells them. "Of course, no one likes it, but Fifth Sector is the governor of soccer, we have to do what they say."

Tenma frowns at that, "but that's unfair! Soccer's not fun like that."

"We know," Shindou says, fists clenching. "Obviously, we all want to play soccer like we normally do in practice. But if we don't follow the Fifth's orders, we could be disallowed from playing soccer altogether."

This causes the three First Years to gasp.

"Wait, what?!" Tenma gapes, "that's ridiculous!"

"Yeah! It's just a ball game!" Shinsuke says, "they don't have the right to do that!"

"They do," Kirino interrupts. "It might just be a ball game, but it's what controls the prestige and position of junior high schools today. It's important enough that the school might prioritize the club over its members-- that's what's going on in our school now."

"Is this politics? Because that would explain why I don't understand a thing of what you're trying to say."

"It's okay Shinsuke, you'll get there."

"Don't pat my head."

Aoi laughs as Shinsuke whines, trying to bat away Kirino's hand to no avail.

It's ridiculous each time Kirino thinks about it. Sure, Gouenji-san is moving to fix it, but there's surely a better way to go about this before it even gets this serious to begin with.

Like, it's soccer for fuck's sake.

You're bringing politics and war into a little sport like this? Get real already and put all that stupid effort into helping the poor or something.

"The Board Chairman is completely on Fifth Sector's side," Shindou says, "remember the match we had with the Black Knights? If my Keshin didn't awaken then, none of us would be playing soccer today."

Tenma pouts. "I feel so bad for soccer. It's not meant to be played like that, but the adults are just using it as a political tool."

And Kirino chuckles at that. "You feel bad for soccer?" he asks.

Shindou can't help but smile a little too, the edges of his lips curving. "It's not like it's alive, you know?"

Tenma blushes a little, "that's just how I say things! Don't tease me!"

Shinsuke beams, "I think it's a really nice way to put it!"

"C'mon Shinsuke, you're just making me embarrassed now."

-

-

They walk the kids home, then Shindou walks Kirino towards his house.

Shindou has Kirino by the wrist, and they hadn't spoken a single word yet. 

They're both tired, it's been a decently long day, and they were going to make up for the miserable situation with Kirino spending the night at Shindou's.

The walk was peaceful either way. It's the quiet comfort they were used to.

Or at least, it would have been if the lady with the awful curly hair didn't suddenly pop up right there.

"You're the captain, Shindou Takuto, aren't you? This is my son, Hayato. He'll be playing in the match tomorrow with your team, you see."

And then she made a show of pulling her son to meet them, like some sort of awkward introduction to her old friend.

Hayato looks miserable, as he should-- it's the face every child makes when their mom is enthusiastic about something he isn't, and he's reluctant to hurt her feelings, so he just goes along with it.

"I heard your family is fond of classical music. Please, accept these. They're concert tickets."

Kirino frowns at this. He didn't remember anything like this last time around, but judging by the way Shindou's hand is gripping tightly around his wrist, KIrino can tell that he hates this situation very, very much.

And Kirino almost growls when Shindou is forced to let go of his hand to receive the bribe he didn't even want to take.

She's pushy, and it's hard to refuse anything.

You're not exactly supposed to be rude towards anyone older than you-- that's the Eastern upbringing, after all-- which is why Shindou only manages to stutter out fragile, polite refusals that the lady bulldozes right past, pretending not to hear

Kirino grimaces at Hayato-- and the boy catches his gaze, flinching back.

Kirino notices that and breathes out, bringing out a smile instead. Oh, no no, he can't look that angry in front of a parent, he'll get the club in trouble.

Anyways, Kirino takes the tickets from Shindou's hands, straightening it and handing it with both hands back to the lady.

"Pardon me, auntie," he interrupts, "as much as we'd love to help you out, the score order is something decided by the Fifth-- and as I've heard Eito is very specific to a points system sorted by their coach. They won't take it well if we interfere--"

"Do not interrupt me," the lady cuts in sharply. "I am not talking to you, young man."

Kirino's smile stiffens.

The lady scoffs pretentiously. "I know what I am doing, and adults have their own reasons for doing what they do. Don't act smart on things you do not understand, what a rude young man you are."

Shindou bristles behind him, and Kirino reaches a hand back to set on his shoulder assuringly.

Kirino chuckles in a feign of clumsiness "I'm so sorry about that, auntie. The truth is, the Raimon Soccer Club is under very tight supervision from the Fifth right now. If they find out we accept bribes like these, I worry that you will be troubled."

On cue, a camera flashes from behind Kirino.

Heads swirled in alarm, but the cameraman was long gone.

Kirino smiles again, his expressions darker than before.

"See? Now depending on what you do next, we might be able to prevent a major scandal being exposed to the Fifth and our schools. I'm very sorry again, but I just really don't want you to be in trouble because of us, auntie."

This makes her flinch in fear, stepping back.

"I--" she hesitates, then she reaches out and snatches the tickets back. "Listen, you two. This conversation did not happen, and nothing of any sort was discussed today. Understood?"

Then she grabs her poor little Hayato and they march out of there quickly.

Kirino waves at them cheerfully, "have a nice day, auntie!"

He turns back around to Shindou, and the boy just looks flabbergasted. He's looking up and down Kirino so rapidly, like he can't even believe this is Kirino he's looking at. His jaw is agape, and he's struggling to understand what just happened.

"Wha-- Kirino, you-- huh? That was--"

Kirino resists the urge to laugh.

Then he looks over Shindo's shoulder and hollers, "thanks for that, Akane! Your timing was perfect!"

Shindou swirls around to see Yamana Akane beaming at them, camera in her hand.

"It's okay, Kirino-san, I'm glad I could be of help. It was fun."

"Akane?!" Shindou yelps, surprised to see her. She was hiding behind the telephone pole, smiling innocently. "Uhm, how long have you been there?"

"The whole time!" Akane says cheerfully.

Shindou's face scrunches up in the most impressive grimace he's ever made, and that expression probably means he's debating between bashing his skull against the wall and wanting to go home and sleep, preferably immediately, now.

He pinches the bridge of his nose, nursing a headache.

Yeah, it's been a long, annoying day for him. First the practice match tomorrow, then the devastating score order, then Tenma's stubborn hero complex, then the bribery, and then he finds out he has a stalker.

And Kirino is smiling, so he definitely already knew about Akane.

"You're insufferable, why are we friends," Shindou mutters to himself.

Kirino just smiles in response and Shindou groans.

He has so many things to worry about.

Ugh. He should've handed off the captain band to Sangoku after all...

And in the sweetest, friendly senpai voice, Kirino says, "Akane, it's getting late, so you shouldn't wander out here," he purposefully omits the stalking part. "You'll get approached by creepy old ladies."

Akane smiles with all the knowledge of a very good witch who knows she's earned herself a prize, "okay, Kirino-kun!"

Kirino sighs contentedly. "Okay, then if your Shin-sama is done picking up his jaw, let's walk you home, shall we?"

Shindou blushes at the nickname.

And Kirino extends his hand toward Akane, urging her to take it.

"Yes, please," Akane takes the hand, flowers blooming beside her, because an embarrassed Shindou is cute, and who's to deny this princess treatment from Kirino?

Akane extends her other hand toward Shindou, who blushes harder.

"Yay! Shin-sama is walking me home, I'm happy!"

"C'mon, Shin-sama, take her other hand already," Kirino urges him cheekily, his voice lilting. 

Shindou flusters, "both of you stop that already!"

-

-

"Are you still mad about that, Shindou?" Kirino chuckles. He comes out of the bath to see Shindou brooding on his bed, obviously nursing a headache.

Kirino sits down by the bed.

Shindou sits up abruptly, throwing his pillow before him.

"I can't believe that kid! His intentions are so- so obnoxiously ignorant!" he gestures angrily. "It's not like we have never thought of rebelling or doing whatever we want! Why can't he understand that we're holding back because we don't want to be selfish?!"

Kirino watches the outburst fondly.

"I mean, we all want to play soccer normally, like that match we had last year in the finals," Shindou says, "the score orders suck, yes, but--" Shindou throws his hands into the air and lets out a loud, frustrated groan.

The captain proceeds to claw his hair out, and Kirino reaches out to pat him on the head with a fond 'there there' motion.

(It's not as if the people of this era know of the Resistance, so it makes sense.)

Soccer is a sport that requires a large group of people, so without a club or local team, practice matches were impossible to come by. Hardly anyone played the game for the sport now-- the Akizora Challengers were one of the only few left in Inazuma Town.

So having an active club in school was important. You could play all you wanted, albeit the occasional score order-- if you were lucky, you get a no-order game to have fun.

On the flip side, if you disobeyed-- you could get kicked out of the club, you could get sabotaged by your coach and your teammates, or your entire club could be evicted in exchange for Fifth agents.

There's little you can do when the government is corrupt and all you had to speak for yourself was your underage opinion for your measly hobby.

So there had been no next to no gain in the large risk Tenma made them take, which is why everyone was furious the first time around.

"I think it's worth a try," Kirino says.

Shindou looks up, confused.

"The most important battles have always seemed impossible at first," Kirino turns to him. "You know the story of Jeanne d'Arc? No one believed a girl like her, but she raised her flag and still led them to victory, didn't she?"

"The Siege of Orleans," Shindou says.

Shindou pulls his knees to his chest. Kirino hums at that.

"I'm sure a lot of people think the same way we do," Kirino says. "If we show them that it's possible, we'll find people that are willing to help us out, don't you think?"

"I get what you're saying, Kirino, but it's wishful thinking at best," Shindou says. "We can try what we want, but they'll take us out of the picture once we're worthless. I seem to be worth something to them because of my Keshin, but what if they go for the Coach?"

And well, he has a point there.

Oh. That's right.

"I've heard a very interesting rumour in recent soccer news," Kirino says, suddenly remembering something. He leans in closer, smiling slyly.

He had wanted to tell Ichino and Aoyama this last night, but they were distracted.

Shindou raised a brow at him, skeptical, but he didn't push him away.

"Did you hear? Endou Mamoru broke his arm in a training accident, so he's taking a break from the international team this year."

Shindou's eyes widened.

"Wait, seriously?"

Kirino grins.

"And you know what else I've heard?" he says, leaning closer so he's sprawled over Shindou's knees, "apparently, he's on his way back to Japan."

Shindou gulps.

"You don't mean..." he shakes his head, "no, no, that's impossible. Even if he offers to or volunteers or receives highest recommendations, I doubt the Fifth would allow for him to take over. It's impossible."

Kirino chuckles, "c'mon, Shindou, have some wishful thinking."

"That's too much wishful thinking!" Shindou snaps.

Kirino gets up with a pout, scooting to the futon beside the bed.

"Well, whatever then," he says, giving up for the night. "Don't gawk at me if my hunch is right!" he says, setting under the covers.

Shindou rolls his eyes, reaching for the lights.

"Good night?"

"Good night."