Different from the rest

chapter 3

Tuesday morning

"Alright class, for this next science project you'll have to work in groups of 3 or 4, start forming them then come and tell me the groups." With that being said the students started discussing with eachother, talking about who's going with who. Shindou and Kirino shared a look, and nodded at eachother

'Now we need one more person.' Both of them thought as they looked around the class, then Kirino layed eyes on the brunet who was right in front of him and tapped his shoulder, the said brunet turned around and the second year asked

"Would you like to work with me and Shindou, Tenma?" The brunet glanced over to Shindou who nodded in reply, Tenma smiled at him, he then turned back to the pink haired defender and said

"I would love to." With a soft smile. The trio went to the teacher to tell him their group, afterwards they each went back to their own seats, getting ready for the next class

"But when and where are we gonna do the project?" Asked Tenma to the two second years, the older students looked at eachother for a second before Shindou spoke up

"How about we start today at my house?"

"Fine by me." Responded Kirino

"Same." Replied Tenma, just then their geography teacher came in so they turned to the front but they were glad that they managed to discuss this matter out as soon as possible.

~'0'~

After class

Class was over, for now, and Tenma was about to go and eat somewhere else like he usually does, but on his way he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder, he turned around and saw the captain with the pink haired defender right behind him

"Where are you going Tenma?" Asked Shindou - the one who stopped him -

"To the roof." He simply answered, not expecting the next question to pop up

"Mind if we tag along?" Asked Kirino, the brunet looked at the two senpais and judging from their smiles they were both on the same page

'I'm not used to eating lunch with anyone else, but I mean...it wouldn't hurt.' Thought the brunet while debating whether he should or not, but at the end of the day it would be rude for him to say no "Sure." He replied with a warm smile. The three students then went up to roof and there they ate their lunch. All three of them brought their own bentos, Shindou's bento was quite sophisticated looking but somehow felt flat, Kirino's was pretty much the same, but Tenma's bento had a warm and comforting feeling to it, it certainly didn't look as elegant as Shindou and Kirino's but if the two of them could choose one bento out of the three it would be Tenma's.

After 30 seconds or so Tenma noticed that the two senpais kept glancing at his bento box, he didn't get why they would do that when they have their own high-class bento box, but at the same time he did kind of understand why, their bentos were made out of necessity and his was actually made with love as most people like to say. He felt kind of bad for them, and in a way they kinda looked like pleading puppies to him

"Can you guys eat it for me?" He offered in a unsuspecting way, the two boys looked shocked at him and Kirino muttered

"But isn't that your lunch?"

"I'm not hungry today, can you guys eat it for me? I don't wanna waste food." He said in the most innocent way possible, the two senpais were still kinda shocked but nonetheless they accepted his secret offer. Before the first bite they were still hesitant, they looked at the brunet once again and he just nodded as a silent reply, the two senpais finally gave in and took the first bite

"This is delicious!" Commented Kirino, eyes widened in surprise

"It really is, it tastes really good. Your mom must be a great cook." The last part Shindou directed it to Tenma, the younger midfielder giggled which made the two boys confused

"That was not made by my mom." He said as he looked at his bento box, the two senpais just raised an eyebrow of confusion "I made that bento myself."

"What!?" The two of them said in union, Tenma just laughed at their reaction - even though he had expected something more dramatic -, eventually his laugh and the two second years shock died down, the two of them were complementing his cooking skills

"Ok I get it, but maybe you should be finishing your lunches because we're running out of time." Said the younger midfielder as he showed the time on his watch, the game maker and defender took his words for granted and finished their lunch including Tenma's, as for the said brunet he was texting his brother telling him about today's project that he had to do at Shindou's house, then they went back to the classroom.

~'0'~

During training

It was a tough day of training but they were lucky that it wasn't Kidou's hell schedule. Currently they were on a break drinking water and talking to eachother, Shindou and Kirino were both sitting on the benches beside eachother, Tenma was sitting on the grass talking to Shinsuke fairly close to the captain and defender, just then Tenma heard something slicing through the air, he also saw something shine right in front of his eyes, and judging by the trajectory that it was going it was targeting the oblivious captain. Tenma acted as fast as possible grabbing the captain's arm and pulling him beside himself on the grass, not even a second later the knife stabbed the back of Shindou's bench creating some cracks in it as well. Everyone was shocked and terrified at the same time especially Shindou, who was slightly shaking

'What would've happened if Tenma didn't pull me down in time...?' The more he thought about it the more terrified and grateful he got. He then averted his gaze to the brunet who didn't look anything like the rest of them, he looked serious and not surprised at all

"Thanks Tenma..." Whispered Shindou as he straightened his posture up, voice shaking, the brunet who was initially looking at the direction where the knife came looked towards the captain and saw how pale and shaken up he was

"No problem." He said as he placed a secure hand on the older midfielder's shoulder, and they both smiled at eachother. Then Tenma averted his gaze to examine the knife, and he saw that his friend Shinsuke was about to touch it

"DON'T!" He screeched making everyone jump, Shinsuke pulled his hand away "Do not touch it bare handed, there could be toxins on it." With that being said Shinsuke turned pale too and hid his hand behind his back, Tenma let out a long sigh before turning to his coach and saying

"Coach I think it's better if we leave it to the police."

"Oh, umm... Yeah." Responded coach Endou who was at a loss for words "Alright everyone go back home, we're gonna call the police and leave this case in their hands." Everyone agreed with that suggestion, and they all went back home still feeling quite scared of what just happened.

~'0'~

Tenma, Shindou and Kirino were on their way to Shindou's house to do the project, throughout the way Shindou was trying to get rid of the image of being stabbed by that knife if Tenma hadn't acted fast enough, as for Kirino and Tenma they were comforting the game maker from almost being killed right in front of the entire team. Shindou finally managed to calm down but his expression and paleness were not getting any better

"Thanks Tenma for saving me back there." Said Shindou to the younger midfielder, Tenma smiled warmly at him and responded

"Like I said~, no~problem!" He said in a joking tone which earned a few amused chuckles from both senpais and it also lightened up the mood a little, and before they knew it they had arrived in front of Shindou's gate.