"Alright, everyone! Listen up!"

Inside a well-lit locker room, ten middle-school soccer players tensed up in front of their team captain as their time grew nearer. Cold sweat poured down their necks, well before the game has even started. It was the grand finale, after all. For most of them, who were already in their third year of middle-school, this would be their last chance to prove to everyone that their school's middle-school division team was the best in the nation. To show the various high-school team scouts that they had worth as future varsity players. This was it.

The team captain looked at each of his teammates fiercely before raising his fist towards them.

"This is the only chance we're going to get to prove to everyone that they are wrong," he bellowed gallantly, the passion he spoke with so great it made each and every one of them feel like they could accomplish anything, as long as he was there to lead them.

"Prove to everyone that Kotemori is the best there is in this division! We won't settle for second anymore!"

"""Yeaah!"""

"Uchiha."

A spiky raven-haired boy with obsidian eyes nodded with ferocity and more than a fair bit of excitement. One of the two aces of the Kotemori Soccer Team, he had made a name for himself for the insane natural talent he possessed in playing the game. His godly ball dribbling and passing, coupled with the rumor that he could see your moves before you could even make them, were enough to strike fear into any defender he would come across. He is the Playmaker of the team, and is more often referred to as the Supporting Shadow, a part of an infamous duo that has steadily been making its name known to the amateur soccer scene in Japan, Sasuke Uchiha.

"Nara. Aburame."

A bored-looking pony-tailed boy with brown eyes and an aura that exuded extreme apathy sighed at the mention of his name. He scratched his cheek and returned his captain's look before settling on nodding back in affirmation. His apparent lack of interest in anything didn't bother his team in the slightest. They all knew what he was capable of. Only an ignorant fool would disregard this boy – the lazy genius who's IQ has been confirmed to be a staggering 205. He was the team's commander on the field, leading from behind in his position as the Right Back Defender, as if he was manipulating everyone's shadow, Shikamaru Nara.

At his side was a bespectacled brown-haired boy with dark, narrow eyes, who stoically watched their passionate captain raise the spirits of the whole team. His unnervingly cold eyes, which were capable of processing, predicting, and using everything there is to see on the field against his enemies, no matter who, or what the variable is. This served to solidify his reputation as the Parasitic Insect Defender: he who uses his enemies against their own offensive, Shino Aburame.

"Inuzuka. Lee."

On the right, messy brown-haired boy with brown vertical slit-like eyes grinned savagely, exposing his pronounced fangs, giving him a dangerously wild look. He looked as though he was holding himself back from shaking in excitement, as was expected from Kotemori's Left Winger: the Whirlwind Wolf, Kiba Inuzuka.

"Yoosh!" On the left, a boy with shiny black hair, round eyes, and very thick eyebrows shouted in response, tears threatening to fall from his eyes at any moment. He exuded a crippling amount of passion and will, so much so that even his teammates refrained from gazing at him when he was worked up. He is Kotemori's Right Winger: the Green Beast, Rock Lee.

"Hyūga. Akimichi."

A boy with long black hair and an expression so serene, you could mistake him for having fallen asleep while standing. The calmness he exuded right now was nothing compared to the crippling waves of submission and defeat his enemies would feel when they entered his space of divination. Gifted with a near-superhuman spatial awareness, the team's Sweeper: Neji Hyūga, easily crushes the spirits of those who dare try to get past him: The Revolving Heaven.

"…munch munch…" A boy with a bulky build and spiky brown hair quietly munched away on the pack of chips on his hands. Chōji Akimichi: the goalkeeper of the team. Throughout the entire season, not a single goal had gotten through his defense. He was a rock. An ever-assured wall for the team. The Human Dam.

"Atsuha, Kiri, Wataru." The three rookies of the team – first years who had been under the care of the eight third year students. They were the future of the school's soccer club. They stood proudly, as if to show that they, who were once flightless chicks, were now ready to say goodbye to their nest and set out to the open world.

"This is it," a spiky blonde-haired boy with tanned skin and six lines painted on his face turned around to face the exit of the room, where the loud cheers of the audience: middle-schoolers, parents, and teachers alike, resounded. He is the team's striker, Naruto Uzumaki: the Fire Shadow. Well-known for having recorded an astounding nine goals in nine straight games, as well as for breaking the record of most goals in a single season, he is the team's other ace.

"We promised to win this last season. Let's not break that promise!"

And so, the Kotemori Soccer Team, infamously called the Anbu for their sheer skill and efficiency, set off. They had a championship to win.

As everyone had expected, the game went on to be a one-sided stomp. The opposing team: Wakasado Middle School, couldn't even hold a candle to Kotemori, even when the latter tried to take it easy in an effort to make the game more interesting. As it went, the final score was a demoralizing 11 to 0. The opposing team's fans had already left the venue well before the second half even started. After all, what was the point of watching your own school get pounded to the ground as if they were mere insects?

The team sat down in the locker room dejectedly, their faces of disappointment and frustration unfit for the supposed winners of the entire league.

"Well, that happened," Naruto chortled gloomily, apparently expecting a bit more of a fight from Wakasado. The game that had just ended was anything but fair. It was a complete massacre.

Sasuke snorted. "This was the expected outcome, idiot. It's your fault for getting us hyped up."

"Oi!"

Everyone chuckled at their brief banter, peeving Naruto even further. Shikamaru, who had made himself comfortable on the locker room's ground, palmed his face and sighed.

"You wanted to win, but now that you did, you're still complaining. Troublesome."

Rock Lee raised his hand to inform(warn) everyone of his incoming (deafening)response. "Shikamaru-san, I think what Naruto-taichō and everyone else feels is the lack of youth in the competition!"

"…munch munch… Yeah, it felt like everyone gave up on trying to win when it became clear that we were so much better than them," Chōji added.

"Hn. Loathe as I am to admit it, the lack of motivation from all the teams we've faced made this victory a hollow one for me," Neji voiced out his opinion as he leaned serenely on his locker.

"Yep." "Same here."

Atsuha, who was shifting uncomfortably as he watched his older teammates fully disregard their win at the biggest stage for middle-schoolers, and only complain about the lack of competition, stood up abruptly.

"Senpais!"

"""?"""

The sudden attention made Atsuha's knees quiver even more, but he persevered and swallowed the lump on his throat.

"While I understand that you guys wanted to have fun and enjoy your last year, please, I beg of you! Don't take the joy of winning away from those of us who are happy with celebrating that alone! Our school is now the best because of this win!"

They all stood silently, digesting their underclassman's thoughts.

Atsuha clenched his fists. His feelings had already broken out of its cage, and all that was left was to empty it all out.

"B-besides, is it not your fault for coming together as a team, even when you guys are all skilled enough to carry a team on your own?!"

His statement pierced through the eight moniker-bearers' hearts. He was right. By coming together as a team, they had formed an unstoppable machine that tore through anything and everything in its path. They had no competition, when those who could match them were already their teammates.

Naruto stood up. "Atsuha-kun is right."

Atsuha blinked at the approval, snapping him out of his emotional stupor. "Eh?"

"If we want competition, we can only find it in each other. I have an idea."

Everyone listened intently at their captain.

"The eight of us are graduating from middle-school in a couple of months. I think we should all split up instead of going to a single high school like we originally planned."

Shino, who had been quiet up until now, pushed his eyeglasses up and cleared his throat before speaking up.

"Sorry, Naruto-kun, but what you're suggesting is something both outrageous and inconsiderate, yes."

"O-oh, sorr–"

"Yes. I would imagine that our parents would be less than happy to find out that we're rescinding our applications to Sobu High. Even worse, if they find out we're doing it for something as petty as a desire for a challenge in the amateur soccer scene."

Naruto deflated as Shino shot his suggestion down in a logical and reasonable manner. He smiled sardonically and sat back down.

"Y-yeah, I guess that would be bad. I'm sorry, guys."

Sasuke rolled his eyes and sighed.

"It's not a bad idea to me though. Sobu isn't the only high school I took the entrance exam for, and it's getting pretty annoying seeing this idiot's face every day–"

"Oi!"

"–so that's why, hearing this idiotic plan of his, I think I'll take him up on his offer. I'm going to attend Kaihin Sougou High."

His sudden declaration opened the gates for everyone else's opinions.

Rock Lee stood up and pumped his fists, saying, "Naruto-taichō and Sasuke-san's overwhelming youth has inspired me to make my own decision! I, Rock Lee, have decided to attend Minegahara High instead!"

"As much as I hate agreeing with Uzumaki about anything," Kiba gruffly spat out, crossing his arms.

"I think, for once, he's right about this. I'd rather face my angry parents than to play another year against shitty teams. I'll be attendin' Minegahara High too, so no one else can come, okay?!"

Lee, upon hearing Kiba's statement, teared up and cried out, "Yoosh! Kiba-kun and I shall sharpen our youth and patiently wait for everyone!"

"Y-yo, get the fuck off me! S-stop, Lee!"

Shikamaru, who still hasn't removed his palm from his face, sighed for the umpteenth time today.

"Jeez, you guys. My mom's gonna kill me if I tell her I want to go to a different school. Sobu's one of the top schools in the prefecture, you know? How troublesome."

"S-so where are you planning on going, Shika?" Naruto asked.

"Isn't it obvious? I'm going to Kaihin too."

"WHAT?!"

"What? You honestly thought I'd want to be in a team with you and your constant noise and idiocy? I'll pass, thanks. The prestige of Sobu ain't enough of a trade-off to convince me otherwise."

"W-why you?!–"

Shikamaru chuckled at his reaction, before shaking his head.

"And besides, you said you wanted competition, right? Well I want that too. I want to say I've beaten the best, not played with the best. That's why I'm excited to face off against you in the future, Naruto. It's still troublesome though. sigh."

Naruto's brain analyzed what he had just heard, and sensed a compliment somewhere in his statement.

He sighed in resignation, before grinning. "Feeling's mutual."

"Neji-kun, Akimichi-kun! What about you guys?"

"Fumizuki."

"I only really took Sobu's entrance exam, so I guess I'm going with that. …munch munch…"

Shino sighed. It seems he was alone in the sentiment of not being in favor of Naruto's plan. He had no choice, however, and as everyone turned their looks at him, he nodded.

"I see. Yes, if it's like this, then I guess I do not have a choice in the matter. I will be attending Fumizuki with Neji-san then."

With everyone's school having been decided, Naruto cleared his throat once more and stood up to address the team one final time.

"Then, I guess this is it for us. Atsuha, Wataru, Kiri. We leave the team's future in your capable hands. Do us proud, okay?"

"""Yes, taichō!"""

"As for you guys," he turned to the eight other players, with whom he had shared the last three years with on the team.

"Let's make a promise."

He held out his hand and urged them to pile theirs on it one last time.

"We will meet each other at the top of the league. There, we can find the competition we seek: with each other."

Everyone's hands came together as the team made their farewells with each other in their hearts.

"Then, we can finally achieve the thrill we've been chasing after. Promise me, you'll never give up until then, got it?!"

"""Yeaah!"""

They who were considered the best in the roles they'd taken up had come together to win. In the end, winning wasn't their priority anymore. The thrill of the competition, the challenge, and the desire to finally be tested to their limits. That was their priority now.

And the only way to reach it was to split apart.

Spring Break came quickly after the Nationals, and Naruto found himself at a loss on what to do to pass the vacation. Their school had allowed for the students to have an early spring vacation, adding a total of twenty-one days to the original ten days vacation for spring. His friends were busy with managing their sudden switching of their school of choice late into the year, and Chōji was currently on a vacation outside of the country, which left Naruto alone and with nothing to do.

Seeing as how it was pointless for him to play soccer without a proper team, he spent the first few weeks of spring lazing around the house until his mother finally had enough of it and forced him to go outside, which brings us to the present.

"…" Naruto had been standing in front of a bookstore in the local mall for a few minutes now. It wasn't as though he found the idea of entering such a place revolting; no, the reason for this was the poster stapled on the window of the establishment. He had been staring at it for a while now, still in disbelief.

New Release! Best-selling novelist, Jiraiya-sama presents: Make-out Voyage: The Journey of Love! Limited edition signed copies available here!

"Sigh. Ero-sennin's still going at it, huh?"

Naruto's godfather, Jiraiya, was a world-famous author. He wrote the worldwide phenomenon: Make-out Paradise, and received critical acclaim from every single critic in existence. Though the novel was nothing but smut to Naruto's eyes, people thought otherwise. It wouldn't be an exaggeration for him to say that about 80% of Japan's adult population have read the books, and that's only the adults. It baffled him how much people loved the old pervert's works, but he didn't really care too much anymore.

"Man, I hate seeing that pervert's face in these posters. Doesn't look like him at all."

He shook his head and finally entered the bookstore, quickly making his way to his desired genre section. He was here to find a certain book he had been wanting to read for a while now. Shikamaru had recommended it to him about a week ago, and only now was he making an attempt to acquire said book.

"Let's see… W… Hmm…" He squinted his eyes as he made his way down the isles, looking for the W category in the Adventure section. "Ah, there!"

As his sights found his objective, he quickly made his way to that bookshelf. His eyes skimmed through the titles, constantly recalling the title of the novel Shikamaru had recommended.

Where The Fire Leaves Danced

It was an unknown novel, one that wouldn't ever see much financial success. It got Shikamaru's attention, however, and that was all Naruto needed to be assured that this was a good book.

As he reached his right hand out to take it from the shelf, another hand did the same. With both of them latching onto the book, Naruto turned to face the other party.

"A-ah, excuse me fo–" his words were cut off as he laid his eyes on what was possibly the prettiest girl he had ever seen. Her long lustrous black hair and cool blue eyes made Naruto's breath hitch. It was the normal reaction, for he was a boy, after all.

The girl returned his gaze and looked at him apologetically. She let go of the book and bowed her head slightly.

"My apologies. You can have the book if you'd like."

Her cold, sharp voice knocked him out of his musings and Naruto shook his head.

"N-no, you can have it. It's fine, miss!" he tried to smile to show that he was fine with it, but her piercing stare made him nervous. He gulped.

"…"

"…"

"Well then, don't mind if I do. Thank you." With that said, she quickly took the book and made her way to the check-out desk.

Naruto stood unmoving on his spot, taken aback by what had just occurred. He sweat-dropped.

'Was I actually expecting her to keep that back-and-forth up?!'

After checking the shelves for the possibility of another copy, which he highly doubted existed due to the unknown nature of the book, he dejectedly made his way out of the bookstore, lamenting the fact that he wouldn't be able to read Shikamaru's recommendation until probably weeks from now.

As he exited the building, he began to make his way back to the station. He slotted his hands into his pockets and dejectedly resumed walking, only for him to be stopped by a sudden tap to his side.

"U-um, excuse me," a voice called out to him from the side. He looked to his side and saw the same girl he had been facing a few minutes ago. Again, the ethereal beauty that the girl possessed flustered Naruto, putting him on the back foot once again. Her lips were pursed, and she must've been pretty embarrassed calling out to him like this. He knew he would've been.

"A-ah, it's you. I-I mean! How may I help you?" When in doubt, be respectful. That mentality had been pounded into his head by his mother, quite literally too, and it was all he could fall back on in a situation as unfamiliar as this. He never was good with dealing with girls.

She raised a brow at him before clearing her throat.

"Once again, I would like to express my gratitude for allowing me the honor to be the one to acquire this book. Thank you." She bowed to him for the second time today, causing Naruto to frantically wave his hands.

"Ah, n-no! It's alright, really."

"Still, to think that another person would be searching for such an obscure book written by an unknown author today is quite surprising. If I may ask, how did you come across this book?"

Her smooth and eloquent style of speaking surprised Naruto, who didn't expect such a thing from a cute girl. Her way of speaking reminded Naruto of Shino's. Maybe they were related?

"O-oh, a friend of mine recommended it to me, y'know? He knows my tastes when it comes to books, so he usually gives me recommendations. I'm not too knowledgeable with these kinds of things, so I rely on him a lot for that."

"Ah, that explains it," she said. Her tone had a tinge of what seemed to be disappointment, but Naruto wasn't sure enough to definitely say that it was. "Thank you for your time. I have to get going."

"I-it's no problem! Take care, miss," he replied cheerily, if a bit forced. The girl turned around and made to leave, but a thought suddenly ran through Naruto's mind and he called out to her again.

"Um, m-miss?"

The girl stopped and looked at him inquisitively from her side.

"?"

Naruto scratched his cheek. "If it's possible, would you be willing to let me borrow that book once you're done with it?"

She raised her brow at his request, before she fully turned to him. Her cold eyes trying to discern his motives for requesting such a thing.

"Why?"

It was a simple question, but Naruto didn't know why felt as if the answer he would give would decide his fate all of a sudden.

"U-um, you see, I really want to read that book. It's not a famous book, so getting a copy would be pretty hard, y'know? B-but my friend's recommendations are always great, so I want to read it, no matter what!" He got a little too heated at the end, but he hoped it didn't make him look weird to the girl in front of him. He shifted in embarrassment and waved his hands in front of him apologetically.

"A-ah, but it's fine if you don't want to. Ha-ha!"

"…"

"…"

"Pfft." The girl suddenly went into a fit of soft laughter, which left Naruto flabbergasted. Her melodious laughs gnawed at his heart, causing heat to rise from his chest to his cheeks.

'S-so cute?!'

She calmed down about a few seconds later, and her serious visage returned once more.

"Ah, if that's how you feel, then I'd be glad to share the book with you. Meet me in this bookstore next week at exactly 4 in the afternoon. Good bye, mister."

Before he could reply, the girl had turned around and left. He stood there, shocked, but surprisingly elated.

'She agreed…?'

He began walking, eyes unfocused. He was in a daze, giddy at the prospect of being able to see her again.

"Damn, I should've asked for her name."

Naruto was nervous. Today was the day. It was still just shy of 3PM, but he had been restless all morning, so he decided to leave the house early, despite the fact that the time it took for him to get to the bookstore was less than twenty minutes.

Now, at 3:27PM, he shifted uncomfortably as he sat outside the store, idly observing the people passing by him. Every minute or so, he would restlessly check the time on his phone, before returning his gaze to the constant stream of people going about their daily routines.

"Despite what your appearance may suggest, you seem to have an acceptable character thus far," the familiar cold voice from a week ago sounded out from behind him, sending shivers down his spine.

Naruto stood up abruptly and turned to face her, before looking at her worriedly.

"D-do I really look that bad?"

His sincere inquiry seemed to have gotten through the girl's ice-cold demeanor, and she flushed in embarrassment.

"A-ah, I apologize. I didn't mean to put it that way."

"Hmm?" Naruto eyed her weirdly, confused by what she had meant.

"Ahem. Anyways, here is the book you requested."

She reached into her purse and took out the book he had tried to acquire a week ago, before handing it over to him.

"Normally, one would ask for collateral when lending something to such an unknown entity," she began. Naruto looked at her nervously, quickly trying to recall if he had brought enough money.

"But seeing as how you had the decency to arrive earlier than our allotted appointment, I will choose to magnanimously trust your character for now."

"Oh, t-thanks, I think?"

She nodded. "Hn. Then, I will be expecting you to return the book a week from now, at this exact place and time. Is that understood?"

He could do naught but nod at her stern tone. She nodded back and said farewell before turning around.

"W-wait!" Naruto suddenly blurted out, though inside, he was berating himself for such a stupid action. 'What do you mean wait, you fool?!'

She heard him and faced him once more, an expectant look gracing her features. This was the second time he had called out to her just as she was leaving.

"What is it?"

Naruto gulped and fidgeted shyly, his fingers restlessly moving about on the book he was clutching. "U-um, how was the book for you?"

She raised a brow at his question, before placing her hand over her mouth and bowing her head to him.

"Sorry, but I'm not too comfortable spoiling books to people."

He rubbed the back of his head and smiled shyly. "Um, I didn't mean that. I just wanted to know how you thought of the book now that you've read it. Haha."

She bit her lip and seemed to mull over his words deeply before sighing and looking at her wrist watch.

"Hmm. I apologize, but I have an appointment to get to soon."

Naruto's spirits fell, and a crestfallen look took over his face.

"A-ah, is that so? Haha." He tried to return a smile, but his pathetic attempt only resulted in a god-knows-what face.

"B-but, I wouldn't mind sharing my thoughts with you next week… Just as long as you share yours…" she muttered, her voice becoming nothing more than a whisper towards the end, loneliness radiating from her words in spades. Naruto seemed to have heard it just fine, minus the intent behind it, and the spirit that had just left his eyes came back in full force.

"Really?!" he exclaimed rather loudly, before he realized what he had just done. He coughed and cleared his throat.

"I mean, really? That's great!"

She appeared to have been taken aback by his exuberant response, but she nodded nonetheless and said, "Y-yes. I have to go now. See you next week."

She quickly turned around and walked briskly away from the store. Naruto noticed her leaving and tried to ask for her name, but by then, she was already too far for his voice to reach her through the crowd.

"Ah craaaaap! I didn't get her name again!" he moaned regretfully.

He checked his phone and saw that the time was 3:50PM. Their encounter had not even taken twenty minutes, yet Naruto was already bothered by how much she has left an impression on him. Girls.

Naruto sighed and raised the book his was holding. He gingerly inspected the book's condition, impressed at how pristine it looked despite the one week of use it had endured.

As he made his way back to the station, he opened the book. There, written behind the front cover, was a name.

Yukinoshita Yukino

Yes, another new story. I've stumbled upon a roadblock on Drink Up, Goddess's next two chapters, which I had written already on the laptop that the government murdered. I've been trying to recall the things I've written, and trying to make new stuff up to replace the things I can't remember. At this point, I'm debating on whether I should just remake those two chapters from scratch instead of trying to recall them as I had originally written them, but I feel it would mess up the outline I made, especially once I get the HDD enclosure I ordered and access my files once more.

Anyways, about this story. I've been reminiscing about the old days when me and my friends would compete in middle-school (Grade 7 to 9) football (soccer) competitions. There was this team who would often just own every other team in the region, and I wondered to myself if they actually felt happy annihilating us weaker teams. I've also been looking to improve on writing the interactions of a group of friends/clubmates, seeing as how I've been focusing on 1-to-1 too much.

Basically, this story is like Kuroko no Basket, but the team of the protagonist are still on good terms with each other. Add in a dash of mathematics quiz bees and the behind-the-scenes drama that comes along with it, and viola. Anyways, hope you guys stick with me throughout this journey!

Here's the schedule I've drawn up, which has an 80% probability to be met, barring any unfortunate circumstances:

June 1 = 2 chapters for Drink Up, Goddess! (Artemis and Ares)

June 2 = 1 chapter for Perceptions (I've put my heart and soul into this chapter)

June 3 = 1 chapter for this story (Hachiman's perspective of the first day of classes)

That is all. Thank you!