AN: finally i can actually move on with the plot

Sone-yeah, i figured its about time. tbh i couldnt write them fighting anymore. it hurts me too much to write them like that.

Caty- lol, when i actually try to be a writer and use literary devices. yup the first part of their conversation was similar to their first conversation in Hikarigaoka Park (i cant believe you picked on that! im so happy). Emotional Tsubasa, and not the really possessive kind needs more love. like if you actually read the manga, he's such a crybaby! like he cries a lot. but when it comes to sanae he's so... insensitive i guess, so i just made him show that he does have emotions concerning Sanae. hooray for the sweetest tsubasa ever.

yeah i dont own captain tsubasa

Chapter 37: Fly

Something changed between them after that night, but at the same time, nothing did. She could still see that Tsubasa loved her unconditionally, but somehow he mellowed out, she guessed. Sure, everyone could notice how they made up. They're talking again after all, and they were basically stuck to the hip like always. Except, Tsubasa, even though he was still affectionate as usual, didn't seem to be as showy, she guessed. Sure he would nuzzle and kiss her, but he wasn't as playful. Every time he would show affection to her, it was so intense, and-and- hard it never failed to take her breath away.

It was as if they were starting all over again.

They were in Tsubasa's room, just hanging out. Supposedly, they should be packing for the last training camp before they start the tournament, but with what's happening in Burunga right now, they didn't even know if they have a one to begin with.

She knew that Tsubasa was still tense, even if all their tension between the two of them have disappeared, Tsubasa did still have problems with this.

He was looking forward to this, really he was. Not just because he was excited to go against strong opponents once more, but… this was his opportunity to prove to the Sao Paolo higher ups that he made the right choice to stay in Japan, that he improved and grew stronger, that waiting three years to join a professional team was the right choice.

That staying with her was the right choice.

Tsubasa was never going to admit it, but they both knew that he lost a huge opportunity when he refused Roberto's offer for him to join Sao Paolo last year. And no matter how much she was happy that Tsubasa chose her over such a big thing for his career, it would kill her to know that she was the reason why he couldn't move his career, his dream forward.

It was unfair. Tsubasa had been working for hard for his dream, only for her to ruin it.

That's why, she hoped and prayed that no matter what happens, this tournament goes on.

Tsubasa laid his head on her lap, dozing off as she ran her fingers through his hair. The breeze passed through his open window, giving them a little bit of retreat from the coming summer heat. She knew he wasn't sleeping, probably deep in thought with the same thing she was just thinking about.

He slowly opened his eyes, and Sanae peered down at him, smiling when he finally had them fully opened.

"Hi," she greeted him, pushing a strand of her hair behind her ear.

Tsubasa returned her smile and gently put his hand on her cheek, directing her to lean down to him. Sanae didn't protest and met her lips to his for a kiss.

It didn't last long, they separated just after a few moments, but it was enough to take the air out of of her lungs.

She opened her eyes and smiled once more seeing him smile. It was different from the frown he had on while he had his eyes were closed.

"I love you," he told her. She knew she should be used to it by now, since he had been saying it more often than before, but still, she didn't know whether she was going to be used to it.

"I love you too," she replied back with the same fondness he had.

She stroke his face with one of her finger, Tsubasa closing his eyes as he reveled in in her touch.

"What were you thinking about?" she asked, still stroking his cheek.

"Hmm?" he asked.

"Just awhile ago," she replied, cupping his face. "You looked like you were in deep thought."

Tsubasa turned to face her hand, kissing the palm before taking a deep breath and releasing a sigh. "Just stuff," he answered, opening his eyes and turning to face her.

"What kind of stuff?" she said.

Tsubasa shrugged. Sanae huffed, and took her hand off to poke his cheek with an index finger instead. He gave out a half-hearted whine in protest, but released a defeated sigh in the end.

"It's just… the whole thing with the tournament…" he paused. "With everything that happened between us… I haven't actually put that much into it. And now that I'm not worrying about anything other than that… everything's just hitting me really hard."

He threw an arm to cover his eyes. "I'm- I'm scared," he admitted quietly. "Scared that it will be cancelled and I-I-"

You wouldn't be able to prove to Sao Paolo how amazing you are, she finished in her mind.

She was right though, that he was thinking about his future with Sao Paolo. And she just hated how he was feeling because part of it was her fault.

Gingerly, she took him off her lap and put his head on a pillow. Tsubasa took his arm off and looked at her in confusion. She ignored it to knee beside him and cupped his face with both of her hands and directed him to look at her in the eye.

"We're going to have the tournament," she told him with a determined spark in her eyes. "I don't care when, or how, or whatever, but we're going to have it. Even if I have to go Zurich to convince them to have it, I will make you play on that field."

Tsubasa looked at her with wide eyes, his hand holding on her wrist loosely.

She leaned closer to his face. "And even if we don't, Sao Paolo would make the biggest mistake of their lives if they don't take you."

Tsubasa still stared at her with surprised eyes, before his eyes glossed over and he suddenly flipped her to lay on her back and captured her lips with his. Tsubasa's lips had always been soft, but that didn't make his kiss any less hard. His hands gripped her wrists tightly beside her head. Tsubasa pushed against her lips lightly. She tilted her head more, molding her lips perfectly with his. He released her wrists and she immediately moved them to run them through his hair. Tsubasa smiled against their locked lips and sighed, making her smile as well.

He slowly separated from her, looking down to her while panting. Sanae peered up to him, also out of breath. They stared at each other for a while before both them dissolved into chuckles. Tsubasa dropped himself and laid his head on her chest, right on her heart, his shoulders still shaking from his chuckles. Sanae ran her fingers through his hair, smiling softly.

"You're the best thing that ever happened to me," he mumbled against her after finally calming down. "I'm not letting you go."

"And I'm not letting you let go," she sang. She dropped a light kiss on his head, before finally wrapping her arms around him and closed her eyes for a nap.

She will make sure that Tsubasa will be able to fly the skies he was meant to.

"You want Japan to host the tournament?"

Katagiri Munemasa stood stoically before the JFA Board. He knew it was a stretch to even suggest this idea, but so far this was the only idea that came into his head. And he wasn't going to waste the talent of these kids, whether they be Japanese or not, to go to waste. He had seen them, all of these young players give it all they've got in these matches they played.

"Don't you think it's a little bit too late to prepare for it?"

"I doubt FIFA would give their approval that easily."

"We don't have the necessary funds for this."

"Who are we even going to convince to support us?"

"Really, Katagiri I don't think it's possible."

Katagiri sighed and squared his shoulders. "We can do it," he said loudly, shutting everyone up. "I believe, no I know we can. We must make this tournament happen."

"And why do you think that, Katagiri-san?" President Ono asked calmly from where he sat at the head of the table.

"Because it would be a disappointing for the world to miss out on such talent," he answered directly. "Soccer is at its peak right now, producing such talents. Not just in Japan, but also all over the will be the gateway for them to show themselves to the world. How we can just let an opportunity just go to waste?"

The other members looked among themselves, contemplating his words. He did have a point. Because of this they managed to put more faith into the future of Japanese soccer.

"I agree," Natsukawa Kaede finally spoke for the first time since the meeting started. "Katagiri-san is right. I haven't seen this much talent for soccer, not just for Japan, for the whole world since it was our time. And even then, we didn't have that much success, what with Katagiri and Roberto Hongo-san's eye injury, Germany's Ludwig Schmidt's sudden retirement, England's Eleanor Clarence's leg injury, and all the other misfortunes we all had that time…"

She crossed her legs and leaned onto the table, putting her chin on her hand. "Don't you think it would be such a beautiful sight to see these children succeed because our tutelage?"

Then her eyes softened. "Besides," she added softly. "This might be the last time some of my girls would take the field…"

No one seemed to be have picked it but Gamo and Minatto, and if Mikami heard, he seemed to have understood what she meant.

After all, the girlfriend of his student was doing just that.

"Supposing we did do this," one of the members finally spoke. "Where are we going to get the funds for it? It's too late to raise funds to get them."

"I will handle this matter," Katagiri declared with conviction. "It will be my responsibility. I will find a way to gather funds needed for this."

The members looked at each other once more, still unsure of whether this was a good idea or not. Katagiri stood unmoving like a mountain in front of them. He will make this tournament happen, and he will do everything in his power to do just that.

Even if he has to meet his father once more.

President Ono gave a small smile. "Then, I better call Zurich. I suppose," he said as he stood up.

There was a moment of silence in the room and as the president left the room, everyone suddenly got into an uproar. Gamo and Mikami wasted no time and went to Katagiri.

"I'm counting on you, Munemasa," Mikami laid a hand on his shoulder. "I don't want to see these guys' effort go to waste."

"You better make sure this happen," Gamo said as he crossed his arms.

Katagiri nodded, "We're not going to make the same mistakes again."

"And you won't," Natsukawa joined in, Nagasato following beside her. "They're good kids, great even. They know what to do."

Mikami smiled and nodded, and all of them looked out of the window.

The skies were wide open, and they were sure that everyone will be able to soar in them effortlessly.

End Chapter

AN: let me just watch more soccer games and i'll get back to you guys. also please be sure to check out Here Comes the Sun. I think its adorable. and visit my tumblr! i need more friends to talk about CT with tbh

thanks bye