Tied Up 〔An Eyeshield 21's Fanfiction〕

Ch. 28: Huge Hurdle & A Faint Hope

"WHAT?! Kid was there?!"
"That's what I said, fuckin' girl."
"And you showed them how you would counter his shotgun?!"
"Yeah."
"Are you insane? That's your trump card and yet―"
"Let them know. It's not a big deal."
"... I bet you've seen the video?"
"Yup."

Rie sighed quietly. The obstacle was too high. Also, the absence of kicker put them in a disadvantaged position. Yet, she also knew that Musashi wouldn't come right away, due to his father's condition. So practically, even though she tried to come up with numerous strategies, Rie herself believed that tomorrow's match was going to be long and hard for Deimon.

"And after you watched it, you did realize that bump probably able to mess with Kid's throwing time, yet you can't stop Tetsuma with it, right?"
"We can't do anything to hold that guy."
"I'm thinking of making Kurita blocks him as I said in the note but probably it's impossible."
"Yeah, fuckin' fatty won't be able to keep up with him."
"Why did it has to be Seibu?!"

An exasperated groan and sigh slipped past her lips. She knew that it couldn't be helped. The closer they were to the Christmas Bowl, their opponents would be harder. It was so damn obvious.

"The only thing that we can do right now is practice," he said as he got up from his seat to put his and Rie's plates on the sink. The blondie followed him before she reached her arms out, wrapping her arms around his torso and leaned her head on his back.
"Don't tire yourself out, okay?"
"I know," he replied. "I'll stay again tonight. I want to discuss about tomorrow's strategies."

Hiruma turned to her and ruffled her hair.

"Rest plenty if you want to be there on the field tomorrow, stupid manager."
"Okay, okay," she said. "I got it, captain."

...

"How's today practice?" Rie asked when her boyfriend came back.
"Just like usual," Hiruma answered as he took off his shoes.
"You're not pushing yourself that hard, like what I told you to, right?"
"Stop interrogating me, fuckin' manager."
Rie sighed. "Can't I worry for my boyfriend?"
"And why should you worry? I'm just doing everything like as I always did," he shrugged. "You're worrying over nothing."
"You have an important game tomorrow!"
"All the more reason for me to train harder."
"Stupid demon."

There's no humor in her tone of voice. She was being serious as she thought it's really important to keep oneself from tiring their body off before the D-day, in order to maintain their condition. In the other hand, it's not as if as Hiruma didn't know the importance of resting. He didn't train that hard. He also made the others' training menu much less intense than their usual. He admitted that he was being an asshole by responding that way to Rie's concern. But he really couldn't help it since he was frustrated. The next day's game was too hard, that it managed to take quite a toll on his mind.

"Take a bath first before you join me for dinner."

Nevertheless, the blondie tried her best to keep her emotion at bay. She tried to be considerate towards him. After all, he's the captain. His responsibility was far more bigger than hers. She believed that albeit he didn't show it, he also worried about the game against Seibu, just like her.

They ate their dinner in silence. It's not like they got into a big fight, but none of them tried to open a conversation.

"Just leave it there. I'll wash the dishes later," she said when he got up after finishing his meal.
"I can do it myself."
"Okay."

That's the only conversation that they had after they argued at the entrance of her house. After that, Hiruma went to sit on a sofa in her family room, doing something regarding tomorrow's plays. He actually needed to consult Rie about his plans. Yet they were in the middle of a 'cold war', which made it difficult to do that. It would be really easy if he just say sorry, but his pride wouldn't let him.

The clock struck twelve, yet the demonic captain hadn't slept yet. Rie was being Rie. Even though she had slept since ten, she put an alarm so she could wake up and check on him. She knew her boyfriend too well. She knew that he would push himself to the limit if it's for the team, and for his dream.

"Go to sleep, Youichi."

Her voice surprised him. Hiruma didn't think that she was still awake, nor that he noticed she opened her room's door.

"I still―"
"This time I really don't care about whether you will get angrier at me or even curse me," she said as she walked to face him. "You need to sleep, right now."
"... I'm not angry at you," he replied with a mumble.
"What did you say?"
"I said, I'm not angry at you."
"Is it your way to say that you will not listen to me, since you're not angry?"
"No, you idiot! I'm not angry at you from the beginning! I just frustrated!"

A wide smile grew on her lips, before she chuckled lightly.

"Yeah, I know," she said as her hand reached out to caress his cheek.
"Sorry for throwing it at you."
"It's fine. I understand," replied Rie. "But you still need to go to sleep right now."
"Okay, okay. I got it," said Hiruma as he got up from his seat, only to crushed her in a tight hug. "fuckin' wifey."

...

"And the other day, fuckin' shrimp and monkey followed Musashi to the hospital where his father is."
"Huh?!" She exclaimed. "What did they say to him? Did they tell him to go back and such?"
"They did."

It seemed like, there were so many things happened during her absence. She fell silent when she heard Hiruma's answer.

"You know, before the Field Day, I came to visit Musashi's father. I told you before, that my mom was once their client."
"Yeah," he replied shortly, as he pulled her closer, held her in a warm embrace. "And then?"
"Musashi's father said that he had already told Musashi to go back to what he was, a normal high school boy, and enjoys things that he likes, including play American Football," Rie said. "Yet, he thought that he should stand in his father stead so their company won't be collapsed."
"I know. Yesterday, he said that he still wants to play. I heard it all, along with fuckin' fatty."
"That's a relief."
"Yeah."

It marked the end of their conversation that night. No saying good night or whatsoever. Even though they didn't look at each other's face, both of them knew that their significant other was smiling. It was a huge relief to hear that fact, even though there was never a single day that they stopped believing in him. They were always waiting for him, for their precious friend.

...

I really don't have any idea about what to write in this chapter, since I intended to write Deimon vs Seibu's game in chapter 29. But then, I kept writing and it led to another quarrel of Hiruma and Rie. Well, even though it isn't much, I hope you guys enjoy it and sorry for the long wait! 😔