Hey guys!

This one-shot is different from the ones before this. It's not Tenma-centric and it's a little sad, but I really wanted to write something like this so I decided to just go with it. I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: don't own

~'0'~

Kariya Masaki, despite all his complains and teasing, loves his team.

When he joined Raimon, he never would've believed what they would become. He remembers, oh, how he remembers, the loneliness and fear from before his friends. When he was all alone.

He remembers his parents. His father, his eyes a bright golden and his hair the same teal color as his son's, found handsome by many. His mother, with brown eyes and locks, at first sight not very special. People always wondered how his popular father ended up falling in love with his plain mother, until they see her smile.

He remembers their love. His father, despite having many admirers, fell for a girl with a beaming, loving smile, with brown eyes that could see beauty in even the saddest things, always happy and cheerful.

His mother, who never thought she stood a chance with the handsome neighbor. Who managed to break down his walls, reveal the mischievous man underneath, someone who had been hidden for far too long.

He remembers how much they loved him, their only son. How his father would come home after a long day of work yet still manage to play games with him. His mother, always ready with a gentle yet exasperated smile when he played another one of his pranks.

More than anything, he remembers their deaths.

Car tires screeching, his mother's yell and his father's shout of ''Masaki!'' as he pushed his only son out of the way, the fire burning only a few feet from his face.

He remembers their funeral. Gloom and grey. In the Kariya household it would be a day that would usually be spent watching old movies and eating homemade cookies. That day, though, it was filled with condolences and suits. The scent of lilies filled the air yet Masaki hated it – his parents shouldn't be buried with lilies, they had always loved the bright yellow sunflowers, which always reminded him of his mother's smile and his father's eyes.

He remembers coming to Sun Garden. The other children were different, too different. Some were too young to remember how their parents died. Some were older or had more time to get over it. They would try to make him feel better, but they just didn't understand. Didn't understand what it was like to see his parents' bodies, to know his father protected him at the cost of his own life, to never see his mother's sunshine smile again.

He remembers soccer. How Hitomiko told him about Raimon and all their accomplishments. How she gave him a soccer ball, trained him personally. How he grew and blossomed under her tutelage. How the skills he acquired set him even more apart from the other orphans.

And as he watches his teammates, laughing and shouting as they practice the soccer that connects them all, he sighs softly.

It's a bright and sunny day, one that reminds him of sunflowers and lemonade, of swimming in the small stream behind his old house.

A shout brings him back to the present and Masaki turns his gaze to his team again. They're in the middle of training, some kind of practice match, it seems. Usually he'd join them, but today he told coach Endou that he wasn't feeling well, so he was allowed to sit this one out.

It's not a lie, technically. He's just not sick.

Masaki shoots a look at the managers. They're busy with preparing water bottles for when his teammates take a break, while Otonashi and coach Endou are discussing something.

No one is paying attention to him and so the tealhead allows himself to sag even further in his seat, curling up just the slightest bit. He's not sick, no, but he'd be surprised if he slept more than three hours last night and the waves of emotion crashing down on him leave him even more exhausted.

Saturday it's the third anniversary of his parents' deaths.

  ~'0'~  

For the rest of the week, Masaki doesn't join his team in practice with the excuse of 'being sick'. He thinks that maybe they suspect he's not being completely honest, but fortunately they don't question him. Not that it's surprising. The few times he's looked in the mirror, he's struck by how pale he looks and how dark the rings under his eyes are.

It could also be that his friends have noticed the difference in behavior. He doesn't even try to pretend to be happy, instead withdrawing himself from all conversations and staring at nothing most of the time, lost in thought.

Whatever the reason is his team doesn't confront him, he's glad for it.

He knows they're worried and that knowledge makes him feel nauseous – he doesn't want to hide from them, but it's all he's ever done and he doesn't know what else to do – but he pushes it away.

Every time he tries to open his mouth to explain to his team why he's feeling down, he comes up short.

Because how, exactly, do you tell your friends that you're having a bad week because the anniversary of your parents' deaths is coming up?

'Hey guys, I'm sorry if I've been acting weird but next week it'll be three years since my parents died, funny right, I'll be joining practice again soon, anyway gotta go now! Toodles!'

Yeah, like that would go over well.

Masaki sighs as he stares at his untouched food. He's gotten used to the life at Sun Garden, really, but right now it just feels wrong.

He misses his parents.

His home.

He's aware of Hitomiko keeping an eye on him, but thankfully the woman doesn't say anything about it. He knows she just wants to help, but he honestly can't deal with it right now.

Giving up on eating for now – he'll just take a snack if he gets hungry later – he pushes his plate away and stands up. After a muttered ''thank you for the meal'', he retreats to his room.

Not bothering with turning on the lights, he instead closes the door behind him and immediately makes his way towards his bed. He falls down on it, hiding his face in the pillow.

The tealhead turns his head to look at the rest of his room, but doesn't move otherwise.

Only a year ago, every single thought of his parents hurt, especially around this time of the season. He'd shut himself in his room for almost two weeks, trying to distract himself with anything he could think of, not daring to remember anything.

He still does that, now – locking himself in his room – but it's... different, somehow.

Just the thought of trying to distract himself is tiring.

Instead he thinks of his team.

It's strange, how much has changed since he joined Raimon. The first week as part of the soccer team was weird and, admittedly, hard. They were so cheerful and determined and just plain alive, and they reminded him so, so much of his parents.

All of them did. Sangoku, with his gentle mother-henning. Shindou, with his patience. Hikaru and Shinsuke, with their optimistic views on, well, everything. Aoi, kind in her worrying and knowing when to stand back. Tsurugi and his silent attitude. Tenma, with his bright smiles that remind him so much of his mother. Kirino, with his exasperated yet humored sighs whenever Masaki plays another prank, like his mother used to do.

He hated Kirino at first. He's not sure why – anyone else would tell him that the pink-haired defender hadn't done anything to him – and it's also not because of something he did or said.

There's just this something that caused his breathing to start wavering, his chest restricting, and no matter what he did he couldn't make it stop.

So he pushed the elder away. Made sure to aggravate him, to make Kirino hate him, because merely the thought of talking with the defender hurt.

Because, while there's not something that stands out, it's in all the little things. The things that remind him so, so much of his parents, and that used to hurt.

But after Masaki was accepted by his team, he started to get to know them. Grow closer to them, befriend them.

And the first time Kirino accepted him, during the match against Gassan Kunimitsu where Kirino said he was needed, it didn't hurt anymore.

And as time passed, instead of growing nervous at seeing the others who reminded him of his parents – Shindou, Tenma, Hikaru – he started to look forward to seeing them.

It's been three years since he's felt this warm, this light, this happy, and he never thought he would feel this way again. Not after he lost his mother and father.

But somehow, someway, Raimon managed it.

Managed to break down his walls and create a place for themselves in his carefully guarded heart.

  ~'0'~  

It's Thursday and Masaki has finally walked away from practice.

Just watching them hurts and he can't take it anymore.

So he stands up and disappears from the field, instead walking around the school grounds. Eventually he sits down under a tree and leans against it, watching the darkening sky. Practice should be over by now, but the tealhead can't bring himself to stand up and return to the clubroom.

He doesn't think he can face his friends right now without crying.

Hiding here until he's sure the rest of his team has left is a good idea, but unfortunately not one everyone agrees with.

''Kariya?'' a soft voice breaks him out of his thoughts.

Masaki's gaze snaps towards the source, a little apprehensive but also shocked. He's never heard Kirino so uncertain and worried before.

The defender is standing a few feet away, his expression as concerned as his voice was. When he sees that he has the tealhead's attention, the pink-haired teen offers a tentative smile. ''You suddenly walked away from practice. Is everything okay?''

Damn. Masaki thought no one had seen him leave. Apparently, he was wrong.

Instead of saying that, the younger boy merely shrugs.

He's not sure what kind of expression he's wearing, but from Kirino's concerned frown, it probably looks as lost as he feels.

Or maybe it's just because he still hasn't said anything.

Whatever it is, it has Kirino even more worried than before. The defender hesitantly crosses the distance between them and sits down next to the tealhead, leaving enough space between them for the other to move away if he wants to.

Kirino searches for words for a long moment and Masaki lets him. He's not sure what his older friend wants and he's not keen on finding out, but he's too tired to walk away again.

''Kariya,'' starts the elder and Masaki flinches violently.

Usually he wouldn't mind being called that – he's proud of his last name, dammit – but right now, it only hurts more.

Kirino doesn't miss his reaction and reaches out, but then stops. His hand hovers uncertainly between them for a long moment, and then slowly lowers again. ''You've been acting strange,'' the defender finally settles on saying, his voice quiet and gentle, as if talking to a wounded animal. ''We're all worried about you, but no one really wanted to confront you about it.'' He snorts, but without humor. ''Whatever 'it' is.''

Masaki looks away, unable to meet those kind, concerned, caring eyes. ''I'm fine,'' he answers, his voice monotone as he tells the lie he's been telling for three years now.

''You're not.'' Something in Kirino's voice is sharp, even though it still sounds gentle, and the tealhead flinches again. The older defender sighs softly. ''I know you're not okay and it's fine if you don't want to tell me, but please don't say that you're fine when I know you're not.''

Shocked golden brown eyes snap up to his friend's face.

No one's ever said that to him.

And somehow it's enough.

''No, I'm not,'' admits Masaki finally, finally, after three years of lying. His voice wavers and sounds softer than he would've liked, but at least it's not as dead as before.

He doesn't realize he's crying until a warm tear rolls down his cheek.

Kirino's eyes widen but despite his surprise, he doesn't hesitate in reaching out and pulling the younger defender to his chest. ''It's okay,'' he whispers softly in Masaki's ear. ''I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. It's okay.''

And for the first time in three long years, Masaki cries.

He wraps his arms around Kirino, clenching the back of his shirt tightly, and hides his face in his friend's shoulder. He can feel himself trembling uncontrollably and his hot tears roll down his face, but he doesn't care. Not this time.

He's not sure how long they sit there, but eventually his tears run out and he stops shaking. Despite that, he doesn't pull away and Kirino seems content in just holding him.

''Next Saturday, it'll be three years since my parents died.''

His voice is exhausted and it's painful to say it, but then it's replaced by relief.

He hasn't been lying, exactly, but he didn't tell anyone the truth either and it feels so, so good to finally do so. To finally let someone know what's wrong.

And Kirino couldn't have reacted better.

He can hear the older defender gasp, and then the arms around him tighten. Kirino doesn't say anything for a long time, but he's there and he's warm and it's better than anything Masaki ever could've expected.

Eventually, though, the tealhead slowly pulls away. His friend lets him, but keeps watching him with a concerned expression.

There's no pity and Masaki almost smiles at that.

''Three years ago-'' his voice breaks and he takes a shaky breath. Kirino grabs his hand and holds it gently, giving him an encouraging smile. ''Three years ago there was an accident,'' he finally whispers. ''A drunken driver- we were just walking home when my father- he was the only one safe.'' He takes another hesitant breath and his friend merely tightens the grip on his hand. ''But he- he saw the car coming and- and he pushed me out of the way. He saved my- my life...''

Masaki doesn't dare look at Kirino as he continues the story. He explains how he was placed in Sun Garden and how Hitomiko convinced him to join Raimon, all the while not looking at his older friend. Eventually, though, he glances up hesitantly. ''It hurt, at first,'' he whispers, carefully waiting for Kirino's reaction. ''You guys- you were so happy and determined and you reminded my so much of my parents-'' he has to pause for a moment there and the older defender gives him a gentle smile. ''But then- I don't know how, but the more time I spent with the team... the less it started to hurt, until- until it didn't.''

He's told his story now, but there's one more thing he wants to say. ''I tried- at first-'' he sighs and starts over. ''When I... joined Raimon, they- they reminded me of my parents, especially you.''

Kirino's eyes widen in realization. ''That's why you acted like that towards me,'' he says softly and Masaki gives an embarrassed nod. The older defender then smiles gently. ''Hey, it's fine.''

The younger's head snaps up, his eyes wide in shock. He was expecting anger and hurt, not reassurances and a gentle smile.

The elder chuckles softly. ''I get it,'' he tells Masaki. ''I'm not mad, I haven't been for a long time. I'm just glad I understand now why you acted the way you did.'' He scoots closer, letting go of the tealhead's hand and instead pulling him into another hug. ''I don't care about what you did and I'm not angry anymore. I'm just happy we've been able to help you,'' he says softly. ''You're part of the team. You're our friend and if you're hurting in some way, we want to help you.'' Kirino pulls away, letting his hands rest on Masaki's shoulders, and looks him straight in the eyes. ''Whatever you've been through, we don't care. You're part of the team. No matter what anyone says or thinks, you belong with us.''

At one time, Masaki might've been embarrassed to admit that he started crying again.

Right now, he doesn't care as Kirino pulls him into another hug.

It's what he's been waiting for, after all, for three long years.

  ~'0'~  

The next day, Masaki tells the team the truth.

Kirino is there the whole time, sitting next to him, supporting him, and he'd never be able to put into words how grateful he is for that.

His other friends are as sympathetic as the pink-haired defender, and he ends up crying again. He doesn't care, though, because he's so, so incredibly relieved by their reactions.

No anger, no pity.

Just honest, true sympathy and support.

And he remembers Kirino's words.

You belong with us.

And through the tears and the huge group hug that his fellow first-years instigated, he smiles and thinks, yes I do.

He's not sure what he did to deserve friends like this, but he's never been so grateful for something in his life.

  ~'0'~  

And when every single one of his friends is there Saturday when he visits his parents' graves, he blinks his tears away and smiles.

They brought sunflowers.

  ~'0'~  

I hope you enjoyed this!

Anyway, this wasn't supposed to be romance or anything. If you want to see it like that, fine, but personally I just see it as someone comforting his friend during a very emotional time.

Anyway, until next time!

- Yara Meijer