Tied Up 〔An Eyeshield 21's Fanfiction〕

Ch.17: An Unexpected Visit

"Stop bugging me!"
"Just tell me where are you now, fuckin' girl!"
"I've told you that I'm in Okinawa!"

They had been talking for around 2 minutes, arguing and shouting at each other. She thought that he was annoying while he thought that she was just stubborn as ever.

"Okinawa is huge, you idiot. How can I find you in a such wide area, in a such huge island?"

For some seconds, Rie was shocked and unable to say anything. But, she regained her consciousness in no time.

"Where are you?" Now, it was Rie who asked him.
"Naha."
"And what are you doing here?" Her tone sounded cold.
"I've told you, I want to take you back to Tokyo and--"
"You serious about it?! What about the practice?! You don't have much time left until the tournament, you know?!"

She never thought that he was serious about his plan which he told her yesterday. He would never leave Tokyo for 2 or 3 days and go all the way to Okinawa just to bring her back. Yeah, all because of the Tokyo Tournament.

"Of course I am. And if you're that worried about the team, then why didn't you come back?"
"Shut up and don't try to change the topic."
"So, where are you, Rie?"

Ugh, why did he call her by her name now?

"Emerald Beach."
"Okay. I'll see you there."

Hiruma hung up the call, leaving an angry Rie on the other side. Why she couldn't ignore him? Instead, she gave away her location. She pulled her hair out of frustration.

"Stop doing that if you don't want to be bald, fuckin' girl."

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( Hiruma's PoV )

Her bewildered face ―mouth gaped, eyes widened― is kinda amusing, if I may say.

"Yo." I raise both of my eyebrows.
"H-how did you get here so quickly?" She stutters, still mantains a surprised expression.
"I got my own way."

I shrugs as I lift my cellphone. Yes, actually, I've put a tracking application on her phone, since we entered high school. Of course, she never know about it. Seeing her got hurt by that fuckin' dread made me did it. Once, although sounded nonchalant, I told her to call me when the fuckin' dread troubled her.

"You tracked me?! Then why did you call me and keep bothering me?! I mean, what's the point?!"

I don't know what changed her. She became furious in a short time. First at the airport, then she's gone and her voice on the phone told me that she was angry. No. She is still angry.

"Just to check that the tracker is really working or not."
"You love to get on my nerves, huh?"
"What's going on with you exactly?"

I know that her beloved mother has gone. I know that she continuously blame herself for it, because she was so busy with the club's activity. I know she needs time to grieve. But, for how long?

"You don't need to know."
"I'm still your captain."
"I'm not playing with the rest."
"Then, I'm your friend."

I tell her what she had told me before, at our last night in America.

"So, what?"
"I just want you to go back and live your normal life again."
"You think that's easy? My mom isn't here anymore! Plus, I don't want to go back. I told you that--"
"At least, live with your father, you idiot! Don't live all by yourself in your current mental state! You need someone to share your sadness, your sorrow!"
"Stop pretend that you care about me, you bastard!"

Her words are able to make me surprised, as I widen my eyes, although she can't see it.

"What do you mean by pretending?" My voice turns low and more serious than before. Rie groans in frustration and anger.
"Why do you love to play fool these days?!"
"I ask you because I don't know!"
"You always enjoy it, you only love to play with my heart!"

Tears creep from her eyes.

And I'm stunned.

Literally.

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( Normal PoV )

"Stop pretending. It's okay if you don't care about me, because it hurts even more if you pretend to."

She hated to be weak, even in front of her longtime friend. She just wants to appear mighty and 'okay', everytime. But, here, at not-so-crowded part of the renowned Emerald Beach, she poured out everything. The scene was kinda similar with the night when Rie told him that her mother was died. She put her 'okay-mask' off and let Hiruma saw her all vulnerable.

"So, what causing you to think that I'm pretending?"

His voice was cold as usual. Rie wouldn't surprise by his tone, but the question made she raised her eyebrows. Another unexpected question.

"Because I feel like that."
"Idiot."

It was an immediate reply, like he knew she would say that. Then, he flicked her forehead, left a visible red mark on it.

"What's that for?!" Rie snarled.
"Isn't it enough?"
"What do you mean with enough?! I didn't do anything wrong! You have no right to--"
"How I called you that night and that wallpaper."

Her eyes widened in an instant when she finally got what his words implied. Still, her pride didn't let her maintained that shocked expression for too long.

"You're only say--"
"No. I'm not saying that just because I'm concerned about your feeling. Don't get too confident, fuckin' girl." He cut her words again.
"If it's true, then say it." Rie challenged him eagerly.
"You know that I'm not a type of--"
"Then I'm not going back."
"You left Tokyo for this reason? Tch."
"Don't you dare to change the topic, Youichi." She warned him, still with her serious face. He groaned, which made she used all of her will to hold back her laughter.
"... Suki da*."

Although his voice was low and his words were quick, she managed to catch it. Yet...

"I don't hear it." Rie teased him while tried to suppress her smile.
"Who do you think I am, fuckin' girl? I'm not gonna fall for a cheap trick like that."

Ah, too bad he realized it.

"Then, will you let me do one thing?"
"What?"

Without any warning, Rie jumped and clinged at Hiruma. Her slender arms circled his neck perfectly.

"Thank you." She whispered, a grin lit her face. Rie was happy, for sure. But maybe, she would regret her actions ―jumped and hugged him― because actually, she missed the chance to see his smiling face.

A genuine, small smile, that no one had seen it before.

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* I like you
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.
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Thank you for the comments on the previous chapter. I got encouraged by it, actually.

So, this chapter is the second part of the Rie―Hiruma's relationship's beginning (the first one is the previous chapter). And I want to clarify that when Hiruma told Rie that he's at Naha, he lied to her. Yeah, just in case you get confused, teehee.

I hope it isn't too lame and you'll enjoy it. Ah, please give your thought! Sankyu~! 💖

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Additional Note: If you can choose, what will be your choice? Back to Tokyo immediately or stay at Okinawa for one more night and day?

Your answer probably will make me reconsider the next chapter's plot. 😄