Meet me at the steel tower.
- kazemaru.

A simple request, really. Inazuma town was quite small, but very lively, never anything close to boring. Especially after joining the soccer team, Kazemaru seemed a lot happier. He loved his new friends, he could be open and honest with them, and never have to worry about a thing. Except there was that one particular female that always made him lose his train of thought. Now, we know this story very well. So, Kazemaru decided to man up and confess his feelings. If she rejected him, then he'd try again next year, and then the next.

He slipped the note in Park's locker, and took off for practice. While they were kicking the ball around, Park didn't make any move to ask him what he needed to talk to her about. She was either being really cooperative, or he got the wrong freaking locker. While he was panicking, Kazemaru missed a pass.

Just then, a stranger was watching everyone practice from the sidelines. Haruna though he was a student interested in joining the soccer team, but that thought was soon proven wrong.

His name was Ichinose Kazuya. A boy who flew in from America for the sake of seeing his closest friend, Kino Aki, as well as Domon Asuka. He practiced with the team for a while, well, mostly with Endou. Shoot after shoot, for an hour straight.

Endou, Domon and Ichinose tried their luck at a move called Tri-Pegasus, but no dice. They went at it for quite some time, until it was time to go home.

Kazemaru had to prepare himself.

After practice, with heart in his hand, the tealette made his way to the tower. Endou wasn't around, so that was perfect. The sun would soon be setting too, there was nothing more mood setting than the sunset after all. Kazemaru climbed up the ladder and brightened up after spotting the white haired female. She'd gotten there before him, despite always being late to practice.

"You showed up. . ." Kazemaru exhaled, honestly, he couldn't believe it. He'd thought up everything he was going to say, but as soon as he set his eyes on her, it was all gone. Park looked over her shoulder and smiled.

"Why wouldn't I?" She grinned.

"R-right. . ." He couldn't help but smile to himself, too. Nervously, the tealette joined her beside the railing to watch the sun. Watch it set fire to the sky, and burn the town to ashes - oh, this is a. . . This is a little too grim for this story, whoops.

"The sunset's pretty today." Park chirped.

"Yeah. . ." To be fair, he wasn't exactly watching the sunset. He was definitely looking at something pretty though. Kazemaru nestled his eyes shut for a moment before heaving a deep breath. "Listen, Park. There's something I've been wanting to tell you for a while." He lifted his head, and courageously looked at her.

"What's the matter?" The female tilted her head.

"I really-"

"Oh wow! You guys are here too!" A very, very familiar, energetic voice interfered. The other two looked over to the ladder, and there was their beloved captain; Endou Mamoru. The brunette scrambled up to stand beside them. "Here for special training?" He grinned.

"Well, not really. Kazemaru needed to tell me something." Park shook her head. Oh god. . .

"Really? Kazemaru what's wrong?" Now Endou was also concerned, even though it was NONE OF HIS BUSINESS. Kazemaru slowly turned away from them, come up with an excuse, quick, quick.

"I-I thought maybe we could come up with a new Hissatsu together!" He perked up, catching interest of both his friends. "Since we're both defenders, Park." Kazemaru breathed out.

"Oh, of course! That sounds perfect, I'd love to!" She clapped her hands together, smiling brightly.

Perfect, he managed to at least cover up for himself. Although, he went home that day feeling completely crushed inside. He prepared for so long, and it was ruined. Endou was his best friend, he would never blame him for it, but seriously. . . Maybe he needed to explain the situation to that boy, just so it didn't happen again. Kazemaru was so sure that he'd be able to confess that day and get it all over with. Make or break his future, or whatever.

No. He was going to do it tomorrow. He was going to confess, and everything would be fine.

Endou took both Park and Kazemaru to his house - where everyone from the team was gathered, including Ichinose. Despite Kazemaru's crushing defeat earlier, he still managed to smile and have a good time. The boys all sat in the living room and laughed as Endou told his ridiculous stories. Park and Kino helped Endou's mother with cooking, until everyone called Park over for a soda drinking contest rematch.

She faced off with Endou, and as expected. . . She won.

The next day, Domon, Ichinose and Endou managed to perfect the Tri-Pegasus, with Kino's help of standing in the middle of the point they intersect.

Everyone was prepared for disaster, but it seemed that it wasn't needed.

Again, before practice, Kazemaru asked Park to meet him at the steel tower. This time, he'd made sure Endou wasn't going to show up - he was too caught up with Ichinose to ruin the moment again.

Kazemaru made sure to get there even earlier, so she wouldn't have to wait. He stared out into the distance on the tower, ecstatic when she showed up yet again.

"Ahh, climbing that ladder is such a workout." She jested, followed by a soft laugh.

"Sorry, I don't mean to tire you out." Kazemaru chimed. Just like that, he was reminded why he liked her so much, and why he always lost his breath around her. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine! Thank you. How about you?"

"I'm great."

They smiled at one another, before looking back at the view. The sunset that never let you down, no matter how many times you'd seen it. The great ball of fire in the sky was just as beautiful every time, and would be even more beautiful crashing into the ear-. Oh, gosh, not again.

"So-" they both said at the same time in unison, blushing, then turning away.

"Y-you go first." Kazemaru barely glanced at her.

"Um. . . Were you ready to practice, or did you want to meet for another reason?" Park asked quietly.

"It's just that- I didn't get to tell you something important last time." Kazemaru started. Okay, deep breath, you got this. "Par-"

A kitten.

A kitten had fallen from the sky, I kid you not. A black kitten fell from the top of the steel tower, and subconsciously, Kazemaru caught it. Both him and Park stared at the feline for a while, before trying to figure out what really happened. A cat was up here? Why the hell was a cat up here? Also, holy shit, this could have ended terribly if he didn't catch it.

"What the heck?"

"O-oh my god, oh my goodness, oh no, this is terrible uhm-. . ." Frantically and profusely sweating, Park scrambled to get away from him. "K-Kazemaru I-I'm terrified of cats."

"What? Really?" His eyes widened. How could she be afraid of kittens when she was like one herself? "U-uhm, I'll go put it back on solid ground. You stay here."

"A-actually, I should really get home--! Uhm, good luck! See you tomorrow!" And, she was gone. . . Left him with the cat. He looked down at the innocent thing and frowned.

Kazemaru placed the cat down on solid ground and watched it scamper off with what seemed to be it's mother. A sigh slipped past the tealette's lips. . .

The next day, again Kazemaru asked for Park to meet him. Although this time it was at the riverbank.

Before that, Ichinose ripped up his expensive plane ticket - and joined Raimon. It was just then that Haruna appeared, out of breath as usual. Raimon's next opponent would be Kidokawa Seishuu, Gouenji's old school. . .

Instead of walking off separately, Park and Kazemaru watched to the riverbank together. They walked in silence, but it was hardly awkward. Park actually found it quite comforting. She liked the feeling of having company without the need of talking. Kazemaru on the other hand was a wreck.

He'd always been someone confident, and yet when he was around Park, he was reduced to being self-conscious and nervous.

The riverbank was empty, so Kazemaru felt the slightest bit more relaxed. Well, that was until he remembered Park thought they were there for training.

"So, what kind of hissatsu were you thinking of? I thought maybe we could do a block together, but then I considered a shoot so . . I don't know." Park carefully placed her bag down by the bench, and Kazemaru did the same.

"Before that. . ." Kazemaru trailed off, looking to the side. Anything to avoid eye contact.

Park tilted her head to the side. She knew something was wrong, but she didn't want to be annoying and pry at him. If he wanted to tell her, then he would tell her.

Kazemaru glanced at the girl.

Park Mio. Raimon's only libero. A girl who was once abused by her biological family, but lost her memory at the age of six. Now, she lives happily with her adoptive grandparents. She's good friends with everyone on the soccer team, they care deeply for one another. She's one of the kindest people he'd ever met. Her dazzling smile makes his heart skip a beat.

Kazemaru didn't think he deserved her.

"Actually, it's nothing. Let's get to practice." The tealette shook his head.

"Uhm, alright then. If something's wrong, you can tell me, you know? You shouldn't suffer alone." Park's gentle eyes watched him.

"Thank you, but I'm alright." Kazemaru forced himself to smile.

Park wasn't buying it, but she wasn't going to bother him about it. She mustered a smile for his sake, and placed a hand on his shoulder. That alone made him feel the slightest bit better.

At that, they went ahead and began to practice together.