One Day After Practice

Ignition

"Mamori-nee, you coming?" asked one of the football players.

"No, I think I'm going to work here a little longer. Later, guys."

Mamori smiled and waved goodbye without looking up from her notebook, while her football team filed out of the room. Eventually only she and Hiruma were left. Normally he would be on his laptop, polishing a weapon, or coming over to look at her notes... Today he was leaning stiffly against the wall, across the table from her. He was trying to look unaffected despite the sling on his arm and he wasn't looking her way. She leaned forward on her elbows and looked him over.

"Hiruma-kun, you've been quiet for a while now..."

"Oh yeah, manager?" he asked, still staring into space.

"Yeah, coach. Any particular reason?" she challenged.

"Hm..."

She frowned. "You're still in your football uniform. Planning on staying like that forever?"

He frowned right back. "Not that it's any business of yours, manager, but probably." He chewed his gum and popped it nonchalantly.

Mamori raised her eyebrows and thought about that for a moment. Then her eyes slid over to his sling. She drummed her fingers on the table, not liking where her thoughts had just taken her. "You need someone to help you change, don't you?" she decided.

Hiruma scoffed and pushed off the wall.

"To freaking help me change?" he asked skeptically. "You think I'm going to let anyone help me?" He shook his head and stalked to the door.

Mamori walked ahead of him and locked it before he got a chance to open it. It clicked ominously and she froze in the ensuing silence. Hiruma froze too. Then he slowly turned to face her. Mamori bit the inside of her cheek, taking a moment to think. He'd said he wouldn't let anyone help him-not that he didn't need help. Since she was used to dealing with him, it was obvious to her that he did need help. But what was she going to do about it?

This time Hiruma's expression was questioning. He was probably too surprised to react any other way. She wondered if he had any inkling of what she was thinking when she locked the door--of her being the one to help. Looking into his eyes, she thought he probably did know. But he still asked.

"What do you think you're doing, manager?"

His lips turned up and then he spread them wide, showing off his sharp, gleaming teeth.

Mamori felt her back straighten in response and her shoulders set. She knew he was just trying to intimidate her, and that was not going to fly. She narrowed her eyes and faced him as bravely as any football player on the field would and opened her mouth.

"Take off your sling," she demanded.

Hiruma cocked an eyebrow. Mamori cocked any eyebrow right back. Finally, she took a step to the side and put herself between him and the door. He turned with her and refused to even take a step back. So now only a about a foot separated them. It was not the most comfortable of places to be--for anyone--considering who he was... But Mamori swallowed that fear. She tilted her head back slightly to keep looking him in the face, raised an eyebrow expectantly and said, "Take-off-your-sling, Hiruma-kun."

Hiruma schooled his expression into blankness. Then he asked with complete disbelief, "Do you mean to tell me you plan on getting me to undress?" He grinned again and reached in to his shirt to pull out his threat book. "Keh. Everyone's going to love to hear that little Miss-"

Mamori winced, realizing that this was exactly the type of thing he could put in his threat book-something she wouldn t want anyone to know about. She flushed with shame and anger. Then she grabbed the wrist of his injured arm. At that moment Hiruma's knees weakened and he tipped slightly to the side in an effort not to go down. He shot her a glare that promised death.