“Wakashimazu san!” Takeshi’s plaintive cry resonated across the moonbathed expanse of grass.

The goalkeeper seemed not to hear; he continued toward the locker room like a lost specter, finally disappearing into the darkness blanketing the entrance. Takeshi sighed with frustration, slowing to a stop just before the lawn gave way to the pavement. It was hopeless. How could he talk to him if he couldn’t hold him still?

“Damn those long legs of his!” came Sorimachi from a few yards away. The brown-haired forward’s face was flushed from exertion. He leaned over and rested his hands on his knees, panting. “I don’t get it--he’s walking and we’re running. At what point do we give up and call for a pizza?”

“We’re not going to be able to stop him,” Takeshi said sadly.

Sorimachi eyed him suspiciously. “So then what? We can’t let him go, Takeshi--not again. We’re going to have to split up and cut him off both ways.”

The boy shook his head. “It’s no use. When Wakashimazu san’s upset, he loses all sense of reality. I don’t think even Hyuga san could convince him to stay.”

Sorimachi listened with rapt attention, then straightened and clapped his friend on the shoulder. “Let’s go, Takeshi. You take the front, and I’ll take the back. He’s not going anywhere.”

Takeshi half-heartedly nodded his assent. “Hai.”

“Yooooshi!” The two boys exchanged a high five before going their separate ways. Takeshi padded forward a few steps, watching Sorimachi disappear around the corner of the building. He had obviously assigned himself the more complicated route on purpose, and Takeshi breathed a noiseless ‘thank you’ before flinging open the locker room door. “Wakashimazu san, please wait!”

Wakashimazu turned slowly, his figure nearly obliterated by the veil of twisted shadows scattered by the surrounding lockers. Dirt shone as livid as bruises against his pale face, but his eyes were clear and calm. He gazed at Takeshi serenely, waiting for the boy to muster up the courage to address him.

“We’re here to stop you, Wakashimazu!” In a melodramatic gesture, Sorimachi sprang into the back doorway and planted himself there, his arms spread to form a barricade. “You’re not going anywhere!”

Wakashimazu took a step back, glancing around the room as if assessing the possibility of a more innovative escape. The windows. The skylights. He drew in a deep breath, shifting his eyes from the young midfielder to his brown-haired companion. “What are you two doing here?” he asked quietly.

“Didn’t you hear us?” Sorimachi demanded, pointing an accusing finger at him. Takeshi tried to silence his friend, but to no avail. “You aren’t running out on us this time, Wakashimazu. We won’t let you!”

The goalkeeper’s expression hardened. “What are you talking about?!” he snapped, his black eyes flashing with anger. “Go back to practice!”

“No!” Takeshi said sharply. “We’re not going to leave you, Wakashimazu san! I know you’re upset, but you have to pull yourself together! We need you!”

Wakashimazu’s right eyebrow twitched. “You need me?” he echoed, his voice a harsh whisper. “You need me?”

Takeshi nodded, suddenly frightened. “Well...yeah! Of course we need you! How could we not need you?”

“You’re the best goalkeeper in the world!” Sorimachi piped up. “After all, who else could stop Hyuga san’s--”

Takeshi clapped a hand over his mouth before he could finish. Wakashimazu exhaled slowly, bowing his head to the floor. “Wakatta, wakatta.” He gave them a weary smile and edged past them, but stopped before the door. “ What a day this has turned out to be. .. I stopped Hyuga san’s shoot, didn’t I?” He leaned his forehead against one of the lockers. “ I stopped it. I beat him at what he does best. Isn’t that what happened?”

“ Uh huh! You were amazing!” Sorimachi said enthusiastically, sidestepping Takeshi’s elbow. “Our captain would never believe it--but you’ve become really powerful! I bet you could take on Schneider all by yourself!”

“Be quiet!” the younger player whispered indignantly “Everyone knows it wasn’t Hyuga san’s fault he missed that point. If it weren’t for those stupid girls with their flash cameras, he never would’ve messed up!”

“I wonder,” Wakashimazu said in a muffled voice, turning his face slightly to give them a melancholy grin. “I wonder if I could have done it if no one interfered. Was it because of them that I succeeded? That camera flash right when Hyuga san tried to score? Or could it have been--could it have just been me?” Tears were starting in the corners of his eyes, but he made no attempt to wipe them away. “The way you two talk....you make me wish I could find out the truth. ”

Takeshi and Sorimachi exchanged bewildered looks. “What are you saying, Wakashimazu san?” Takeshi asked uneasily. “You aren’t going to--”

“You two had better get back to practice,” he replied. “I’m counting on you. Remember that.”

Takeshi gasped. “You aren’t going to quit, are you?”

Wakashimazu laughed briefly, then shrugged. “ I don’t know. I haven’t decided yet. What’s the matter? There’s no reason to worry. You have Wakabayashi playing for you now. You don’t need my help anymore...”

The two boys stared at the floor in heavy silence. The goalkeeper, upon seeing their reaction, placed his hand on the doorknob and waited.

“You’re wrong!” Sorimachi said bitterly, his own eyes stinging. “We need you now more than ever! If you leave, we won’t be a team anymore!”

“Listen to him, Wakashimazu san!” Takeshi pleaded, catching his sleeve and pulling him away from the exit. “Wakabayashi san is hurt! How can we win with an injured goalkeeper? We want you with us all the time--but we really need you now! You can’t back out on us when we have no one to turn to!”

Wakashimazu didn’t answer. He gently freed his arm from Takeshi’s grasp and wandered away from the exit, sinking down onto one of the benches. He sat there in silence for several minutes, resting his chin on his hands, his stubborn expression wavering with emotion.

“Have some pride,” Sorimachi said suddenly.

“Pride...?” Wakashimazu echoed weakly, slumping forward so that his head was practically in his lap. “Pride....!” He shuddered violently, his hair falling against his knees.

“Oi...” Sorimachi whispered to Takeshi behind his hand. “Maybe we should get a doctor or something. I don’t think he can last like this much longer.”

The goalkeeper, still trembling, began to rock back and forth gently, hugging his sides if trying to hold himself together. “Wakashimazu san...” Takeshi faltered, reaching out to place a hand on his shoulder. “Hang in--”

“Don’t touch me!!!!!!” In a terrifying motion, Wakashimazu threw off his arm and leapt to his feet squarely between the two boys. He tossed his hair out of his eyes and began to laugh hysterically.

Takeshi bit back a scream.

“You want me to have pride?!” Tears were streaming freely down the goalkeeper’s dirt-streaked face, but he cackled like a man possessed. “Me!” He thrust a finger in Sorimachi’s direction. “Why don’t you ask Genzo Wakabayashi about this precious pride?! Why don’t you beg him--get down on your hands and knees and beg him to play for you?! Better to have him injured than not at all! Better to have an injured goalkeeper than one who was born part woman!!”

Sorimachi stumbled backwards, and Takeshi caught him before he fell over. “What the hell---” the brown-haired boy spluttered. “You’re mad because of that?! Oh man!”

“Wakashimazu san,” Takeshi said in a gentler tone, “Hyuga san didn’t mean that, really! It’s just--”

“Like hell he didn’t!” Wakashimazu cut him off angrily. “Do you think I’m blind, Takeshi? Do you think I don’t have eyes? I think about this every day--every time I see my reflection in a mirror! How dare you patronize me?!”

“Hyuga san wasn’t himself when he said that!” Sorimachi protested. “He was mad at you for beating him! Honest! He would never say a thing like that if he was in his right mind!”

“Well, it had to come from somewhere.” Wakashimazu eyed him suspiciously, finally wiping some of the wetness from his cheeks. “You don’t just pull insults like that out of thin air, you know.”

“Yeah...” The younger player sighed, lowering himself onto the bench the goalkeeper abandoned. “I guess you’re right...Wakashimazu san...” He stared at the floor uncomfortably.

“Just what are you saying?” Sorimachi asked.

Takeshi hesitated, twiddling his thumbs for a few seconds. When he looked up, his face was a battleground of conflicting emotions. “Don’t misunderstand me, Wakashimazu san. I think you’re terrific, but to me, Hyuga san will always be the best.”

The brown-haired forward took a step closer. “Why you little--”

“Stop that.” Wakashimazu held him back with one arm. “I’m listening, Takeshi.”

“Well...I’m not sure that Hyuga san said those things because he was jealous of your skill. I’m not saying that’s impossible...he does respect you a lot, but he knows what he’s capable of. He didn’t expect anything to get in the way of his shoot. And those two girls snapped a picture right in his eyes...if things had gone as planned, I don’t think you would’ve been able to stop the ball, Wakashimazu san. So--”

“He’s done it before, hasn’t he?” Sorimachi interrupted, color rising in his cheeks. “What makes this time any different? Hyuga san is my captain too, but I--”

“I’m not finished!!” the boy said fiercely. “That was different! No one should’ve been able to stop him! Those girls have been acting like a bunch of lovesick groupies ever since we got here! Following the four of us around after practice every day--”

“I never noticed,” Wakashimazu said.

“Who do you think they were taking snapshots of?!” Takeshi demanded. “Me?!”

Sorimachi gave him a puzzled look. The goalkeeper hid a smile behind his hand. “European women must like little boys,” he said.

Takeshi let out an outraged scream. “You two are impossible! We haven’t had a moment’s peace--and it’s all because of you, Wakashimazu san! It’s all your fault Hyuga san got so distracted!!!”

“My fault....” Wakashimazu’s mouth dropped open, and he blanched. “Sou ka...” He touched his face gingerly, as if struck by the boy’s words. “All this really is my fault,” he whispered. “This is worse than I thought.”

Takeshi, realizing the damage he had done, bit his lip so hard it bled. “Gomen nasai, Wakashimazu san,” he said sorrowfully. “I didn’t want it to come out like that. This has been bothering Hyuga san for a long time. I guess he finally reached his breaking point.”

“Yeah...” the goalkeeper managed to say. “Minna...I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything.”

“Wait a second!” Sorimachi’s expression grew dark. “Come on, Takeshi! You can’t tell me Wakashimazu’s the only guy those soccer groupies chase! What about Tsubasa or Misaki? What about Misugi? What about Matsuyama? What about--”

“It doesn’t matter,” Wakashimazu told him, his eyes filled with shame. “Hyuga san can’t score if he doesn’t practice, and we rely on him a lot. I caused this diversion--whether I meant to or not. If I stay out of the way, Hyuga san will be able to play without a problem.”

“Maybe,” Takeshi said. “But what are you going to do?”

“Hyuga san isn’t the only player on the team,” Sorimachi reminded him. “You can’t tell me you’re going to give it all up for his sake. Don’t you want to keep your position in tomorrow’s game?”

Wakashimazu nodded, but didn’t meet their gaze. “More than anything,” he said in a hollow voice.

Sorimachi shook his head, disturbed. “I don’t understand you, Wakashimazu.”

The goalkeeper gave them a long last look and started to walk away.

“Wait.” Takeshi stood slowly, brushing off his shorts. Wakashimazu stopped outside the door and turned slightly. “We can figure something out,” the boy said brightly, his smile quavering at the edges. “I promise. It doesn’t have to end like this. We’ll find a way to set things right!”

“You don’t have to worry about me, Takeshi.” The shadows of the trees cast a gloomy cloak over Wakashimazu’s lanky form, but his eyes glittered like stars breaking through the sky. “I don’t intend to let this go by unchallenged. Make no mistake about that.”