Tied Up 〔An Eyeshield 21's Fanfiction〕

Ch.13: A Step to Hell

"Let's say that this horse is Koigahama."

Doburoku pointed at the horse which was the most far away from the door. They were on the Ben Ranch, Seibu Wild Gunmen's ranch.

"And the teams get better as you head towards the door."

Hiruma, Rie, and Kurita listened to their coach seriously, although only Rie and Kurita who were seem like interested in it. Their captain leaned his back to the door frame, looking at the horizon.

"Koigahama, Zokugaku, Devil Bats, and Sphinx."
"W-what about Oujo and Seibu?" Kurita asked.
"Behind the fences out there, same goes to NASA Aliens."
"I think that our match with the Aliens was merely because of luck and Youichi's tactics. They couldn't predict some of our plays and they fell to his tricks," Rie threw a glance on Hiruma, "that's mean, we were not good enough if we want to win on the fall tournament. I'm saying the truth."
"Rie is right. Also, Seibu and Oujo have a few aces up their sleeve." Doburoku said.
"Where would you put Shinryuuji?"

Hiruma who has been quiet since their discussion started, suddenly asked.

"I'd say... over on America's west coast."
"That far?!" Kurita exclaimed in disbelief.
"I wouldn't be surprised." Rie said calmly while patted her huge friend's shoulder.
"You guys are still second-years. Your last chance will be the fall of your third year. I wonder how far you will all come in a year."
"Deimon sports team can only play up to their second-year fall season."

The devil's words made Doburoku bursted all of the sake in his mouth.

"W-what?! Are you serious?!"
"That's why we're gonna make ourselves into the invincible team within 40 days we've got left."
"It's impossible! 40 days isn't nearly enough--"
"We're going to do a death march!"

Rie gasped. Hiruma never told her that his true intention going to America and find Doburoku was only for the death march. Being the only girl in team made Rie sometimes listens to their coach story.

"That's a thing I won't allow you to do. It's not training, it's torture! The death march is a short-sighted stupidity. I've told you before, that it could end your career as an athlete and I'm the proof!"

Doburoku showed his injury on his right knee.

"Oh, so you have another way to make us invincible without doing a death march?! It's the only option we have! I came to America ready and willing to do it!"
"Calm down, you two! Sensei, can you think about another way, except the death march? And you, moron, stop being so stubborn. Listen first."
"Then you should think about it and came up with an awesome idea with brilliant brain of yours!"

A hand slapped his left cheek, hard, leaving a faint of red mark on it.

"What's that for, fuckin' girl?!"
"You lost your cool."

Her stern yet soft voice seemed has woke him up, as he closed his mouth shut, not saying any words. The same goes to Doburoku. Their coach was quiet, not able to answer her question.

"So, it means you'll allow us to do the death march?" Rie asked.

The former tight end sighed then pointed to the rest of the team, who were standing in the shadow, not far from them.

"They won't follow you!"
"I don't care! We're doing it!" Hiruma shouted again.

This time, Rie didn't try to hold him back. His desperation, his struggle to success, to go to the Christmas Bowl, to keep his promise to his friends, she saw all of it in his eyes.

"You'll die." Doburoku warned.
"Never! Not until we're in the Christmas Bowl!"

That's it. A decision decided at that tensed night.

ー◆ー

"Sorry. I've slapped you," Rie threw a small bundle of ice bag to Hiruma, "use that."

How she held her pride high, it's kinda annoying sometimes. She's not a type of girl who would easily saying sorry, even though she's wrong. But, she's indeed care of him, after all. A typical tsundere? Maybe.

"You're going with us?"

She stopped then looked at him over her shoulder.

"I don't have an urgency to go back. So, yeah."

ー◆ー

"Here's the deal. Me and the fuckin' fat-ass are staying here, in America, to train no matter what, because it's our last year. Also the fuckin' sleepyhead will accompany us. It's up to you to follow us or go back to Japan."

Hiruma, Rie, Kurita, and Doburoku stood next to each other.

"Anyone who's sticking with us, to stay and going through the death march, cross the line and rip that fuckin' ticket."

A white line Hiruma made with the point of his riffle has separate the team into 2 parts, the 3 founders plus their former coach and the new members.

"I'll remind you. No one has ever endured the death march and come out unscathed. Collapse, and we will leave you behind! There's no guarantee you'll even survive." A warning has been given by Doburoku.
"We're not forcing anyone. But, as you know, you earned a tie with Sphinx with much and much of efforts. And I doubt if you went to the extra time, you'll win. This year's fall tournament has the most competitive lineup in history, if I may say. You haven't seen Shinryuuji's game, have you? They're way much better than Oujo. So, to summarize it, the death march is our only way to victory, unless you find another way to make us invincible."

As the manager, Rie sure knows a lot. That's why she told them all of it.

"You can go home and enjoy your heavenly summer vacation or you can come with us to hell. Will you return home to peace and quiet or commit suicide by hopping on the Devil Bat Rig?" Doburoku added.
"There's no quitting once you have crossed that line, boys." Rie stated calmly.
"Still, there's no pressure!" Kurita cried, "You can still get on the plane and have a nice and easy summer vacation back in Japan."

Although Kurita was smiling, his eyes put hope on his new teammates. Soon, they all heard someone stepped across the line.

"Raimon Tarou, #80! Position: Wide receiver! My blood type is B!"

Rie who smiled at first, started to furrowed her eyebrows when heard Monta's words after he mentioned his position. But, it wasn't finished yet.

"My favorite food is banana! My favorite word is 'effort'! My favorite sport is--"
"Okay, okay, that's plenty--" Doburoku tried to stop Monta but got cut off.
"My favorite sport now is American Football!"

A grin rose on Doburoku's, Rie's, and Kurita's face.

"Yukimitsu Manabu, #16! I... don't have a position yet!"
"Komusubi Daikichi, #55, lineman, hng!"
"Komusubi-kun!" Kurita's grin became more wider.

There's quite a gap after Komusubi's declaration. The Huh Brothers seemed like hesitate for awhile but at the end, they came too. And the last is,

"Kobayakawa Sena! #21, position: running back!"
"YA-HA!!"
"Then, it's settled," Doburoku stated, "the participants for the death march across America are the entire Deimon Devil Bats' members!"

Rie chuckled in disbelief. Yes, she never thought they were willing to give up their summer vacation in Japan.

'Maybe, we could go to the Christmas Bowl this year.'