Tied Up 〔An Eyeshield 21's Fanfiction〕

Ch.04: Dilemma

'How can I tell Youichi? If he knows first, then it will be a big misunderstanding. But, I don't have a courage to tell him, because... it's true that I don't want them to go to Shinryuuji and leave me, even though I told them that I will be alright and always support them.'

ー◆ー

It was a dilemma for her ―to tell or not to tell―. She couldn't concentrate in her classes on that day. She got scolded many times at class, made the whole class surprised, even Hiruma was surprised because she's an honorable student who excels in every subjects. When he saw her troubled face, he knew that something had happened. Something bad.

ー◆ー

(Hiruma's PoV)

School has dismissed. It's usual for the four of us to practice after school. Rie's face when the class has over still full of mix up feelings. Fear, sad, frustrated, if I may say. She's like hiding something really important, or maybe really bad. That fuckin' fatty and fuckin' old geezer have changed already, leaving me in the club room alone. I start to change when suddenly, I heard the club room door open. It's Rie.

"I'll skip today's practice. I'm not feeling well."

I change my uniform in front of her casually. It's not a big deal to change in front of your *cough* best friend *cough*, right?

"I'll allow you if you tell me what happened to you."

Now, I can't believe what I've said. Since when I start to care about someone else business? Heh. I must be mad.

"You don't need to know."

She sighs, as she turns her back to me and walks away. I reach her wrist to stop her.

"Ah!" Rie exclaims.

Of course, I feel annoyed. I mean, I didn't grab it so hard, so she shouldn't scream like she was hurt or something like that. But, when I want to click my tongue as a gesture of my annoyance, I realize that her wrist bruised and the bruise shaped like a hand print. That hand seems gripped her wrist powerfully.

"Where did you get this?"
"It's none of your business."

She jerks her hand and leave me by running. There's something fishy about that bruise. And I need to know that.

ー◆ー

(Normal PoV)

It was a rainy night. Back at his home ―actually, it's a hotel that he had threatened its owner, so that he could stay there for free―, Hiruma opened his notebook to watch something that his 'handmade' CCTV ―which he had installed in the entire Tokyo― had recorded yesterday. He did that all night until finally, he found the one he might looking for.

"Fuckin' dread?"

Before he could watch it, his cellphone rang. It showed 'リエ' (read: Rie) on its screen. He pressed the green button.

"What is it?"
"Can we meet, right now?"

He glanced at an alarm clock on his bedside table. The clock nearly struck 2.

"It's already late. Let's talk tomorrow."
"But--"
"Go to sleep, fuckin' girl."

Hiruma ended the call. He continued to watch the recording. Then, knocks on his door interrupted his activity.

"Who the hell is that?!"

He who's filled with rage, opened his door just to found a drenched girl in front of him.

"What are you doing here fuckin' girl?!"
"I've told you that I have to meet you."

ー◆ー

(Hiruma's PoV)

Seriously, what was she thinking?! She sure is crazy. It's already 2AM and it's raining. It's not like either of us will die tomorrow, right?

I pass her a towel, to at least dry her clothes, although it won't work completely.

"Thanks," she says as she sits down on the sofa.
"Ck. Where's your umbrella?"
"The wind blew it away."
"If you know that the weather is this bad, you shouldn't come at the first place, you stupid. We can talk tomorrow at school. Why are you in such a rush?"

I plop down on my bed and start to watch the recording again, of course after I put on an earphone.

"I came here because I want to talk to you," Rie walks towards my bed, "so, don't--"

She walks backward suddenly. I lift up my face just to meet with her full-horror one. To my surprise, she starts to cry.

"You knew it already." She mutters, but it's loud enough for me to hear it.
"Know what?"
"You can blame me or hate me or do whatever you want to me. I won't ask for an apology because I know that I can't be forgiven."
"What the heck is going on?! I don't know anything!"

Really, she drives me crazy. Can she speaks properly and explains everything?

"You watched it, don't you? It explained everything. How selfish I am to wish that we'll always be together, that you will cancel your plan to go to Shinryuuji, even maybe from the bottom of my heart, I've made a wish that Agon will enter Shinryuuji with that damned sport merit program, so Kurita will fail and you all will stay by my side, entering a same high school as me!"

She cries louder as she runs towards my room's door, and I lose a sight of her in a second. At that time, I don't try to stop her. Instead, I watches the entire recording.

"Now, I know what the problem is."