"I can't believe you actually thought this far ahead… no wait… Your predictions are terrifyingly accurate sometimes, or you knew no one else would take advantage of this." Asami muttered, reading the contract over that was sent to every high school before the tournament saying that whatever team in Kanto won, the other teams would cooperate for nationals to help them win it all.
"Obviously we would make it to the Christmas Bowl so now it's time to collect on that promise. You and the fucking manager need to call them all up and tell them to get their asses over here soon as practice starts!" Hiruma cackled from the confines of his Oxygen Capsule that was propped up and taped onto a Segway.
She gave him a skeptical frown, far too tempted for her own good to pull the capsule backwards so he couldn't keep hovering over them and making demands while trying to heal his broken arm.
"If I do that, will you stop wheeling around on that thing like the world is ending?!"
"Kekeke no. That means the fucking manager will do it all, I don't compromise with those kinds of demands, fucking priss."
Her right eye twitched in annoyance, calm exterior slowly disintegrating. "So you're going through all the trouble of using that thing but not even resting properly?!"
"I'm resting just fine!"
"No… you're… not!" Asami protested, trying to drag him down to pull the capsule onto its back.
He slammed on the accelerator to resist her pulling.
"Cut it out, I have to whip these brats into shape before nationals!" He yelled, inching forward on the Segway.
"Doburoku sensei has the exercises covered, and everyone will have personal coaches; they don't need you!" She insisted, pulling with all her might.
"Since when do you act all shitty and protective like the fucking manager?! I'll be ready in time whether I lay around or not."
Asami mumbled under her breath, letting go suddenly so he'd run himself into a wall which would have been deserved if he was clumsy enough to not catch himself in time. Sadly, Hiruma was far from clumsy.
"It's not like that; I just can't trust you to take it easy on yourself when winning is at stake. You know they'll train and do their best with or without gunfire."
"Ah now there's an idea… help me install a minigun on top of this thing; and make it retractable."
"Youichi! Listen to me for five seconds!" Her fist banged against the window, eyes locked with his and almost pleading.
"Back then, I know you forced Mamori to wrap up your arms, and that pain you endured… There was nothing more I wanted then to drag you out and make you stop; you never know when to quit… enough so you could die one day for the sake of winning."
Asami paused, remembering when he was collecting material for his threat notebook, challenging whoever stood in the way of his dream, even his opponents were capable of bringing the city to its knees, Hiruma would do whatever it took when something he wanted was in his sights.
"You're reckless… I hate it. Even if you say you take less risks compared to back then… that's a lie, you still play with fire."
The blonde blew a bubble with his gum, eyes neutral before smirking at her. "If I play with fire, you can't help touching it as well, right? Cause during that time… you were completely engulfed in it."
She frowned, leaning on the capsule in temporary defeat. "That's not the same in the slightest. You were looking for trouble, but things are different now. We all care about you and I guarantee if I asked everyone what they wanted more, either winning or your safety; it wouldn't even be a contest."
Hiruma scoffed, shifting his focus to his laptop within the capsule, "So what, you want me to say sorry for getting rammed by that fucking caveman?"
"No, I want you to be more responsible and less reckless because we care-"
"Yeah yeah, quit your damn bitching."
Asami shrugged, knowing that he at least could keep that in mind now and whether to regard it or not was his own choice… so long as he knew.
"It's good we had this little chat, I like to make sure you at least hear me out once in a while. Communication skills are the key to many things, and I don't mean your usual negative way."
"Oh fuck off already."
The brunette gave a light knock on the capsule, beaming innocently as she held up Hiruma's minigun. "If you tolerate it, I'll help you install this..?"
He stared as the temptation overtook him. "… Fucking shit."
"Hehe, I knew you couldn't resist~"
The next day everyone from various teams arrived to help Deimon with training, the afternoon starting with Hiruma yelling, "Cry tears of joy guys! It's the super wonderful personal coaches from hell!"
"Everything has to be 'from hell' with Hiruma doesn't it...?" Mamori sighed, gathering materials the pairs would need for today's regiment.
Asami laughed, "Yep, everything's more enjoyable and memorable if it sticks with our theme…"
The primary lineup of Deimon would each have the best in their field train them, each with their own specialties that matched up as follows:
Sena and Shin, Kurita and Gaou
Monta and Ikkyu, Yukimitsu and Tetsuma
Taki and Akaba, Ishimaru and Riku
Komisubi and Ootawara, Juumonji and Kakei
Kuroki and Mizumachi, Toganou and Banba
"It is kind of touching to see all of them here together for a common goal… but please try to avert your gaze from the linemen Asami-chan, you're frightening the onlookers." Doburoku sensei eyed the brunette who was outwardly smiling pleasantly but her menacing thoughts made the air around her dark and ominous.
"Ah, please forgive me; I'm afraid I might not be as quick to forget as the rest of you…" She replied, tone sickly sweet and dripping with fake sincerity.
Even if Hiruma was willing to invite that beast to a party straight after he'd been recently crushed by him, Asami hadn't forgotten what happened prior. No one would ever get away with harming what was hers, dear friends especially.
Most people knew the brunette to be cheerful and kind no matter what the situation, aside from her teammates who had learned in time that certain things could not be forgiven by the angelic face behind the DevilBats. She'd only ever shown this side to those football club members, but she couldn't help but react now.
A fearsome black aura surrounded her, eyes daggers when she glanced upon the hulking form of Gaou who was the only one suitable to train Kurita. She knew this, but that didn't mean she was happy about it.
It would be hard for anyone not to notice such a sharp stare, the outrageously strong lineman turning to meet the malicious gaze while grinning widely. "Small weak things like you should be more careful who they scowl at, little miss." He towered over the female who only ever increased the hostile air.
No she wasn't quite over the fact Gaou had run wild to crush the people she cared about, nor was she likely to forget any time soon even if she had nothing to challenge him with… If the ill intent hadn't struck fear into his heart, which for a violent beast like him wouldn't be likely.
Even if any of the other American Football players wanted to step in, they were frozen in place by the fierce atmosphere and especially the shock of seeing Asami so enraged.
"K-Kurita, do you think you could… do something to stop them?" Sena poked the large Deimon center with nervous sweat beading on his forehead.
"I'll try… Though I haven't seen Asa-chan this mad before…" Kurita gulped, taking his time to approach the standoff.
"…Or large barbaric halfwits like you should keep your sadistic tendencies to yourself and learn some control." Asami beamed as if she'd just spoken the most loving of compliments; air around her twisting in malicious intent to betray her true thoughts.
Gaou's laughter echoed like thunder, "The only thing I care about is crushing worthy opponents, and you don't fit that description in the slightest."
"There's more than one way to eliminate a beast… but perhaps if you bow down and apologize, I might forgive you in a few years."
"A-Asami-chan, Gaou-kun is helping us train now so… you don't have to be upset..!" Kurita interjected nervously, immediately shuddering when she laughed sadistically.
"If forgiveness was enough, there'd be no need for hell!" She grinned in a way that Hiruma would have been far too proud of.
At this point, almost everyone was unsettled and staring, even the emotionless Shin's eyes widened at who was thought to be as calm and collected as she actually had twisted and sinister intent for whoever crossed that line. Perhaps the Commander from Hell had rubbed off on her.
Gaou laughed as well, grinning at the threat like it was a refreshing declaration of war. "I like your spirit, Ane-san. Find the strength to fuel that talk and you'll really be interesting."
[Ane-san is a slangish term for big sister]
Mouths hung open in shock, not expecting Gaou to respect her fury... He actually found it endearing?
"Accepting your help is as enjoyable as pouring salt into my eyes, but if you're here you damn well better make Ryōkan much stronger or I'll have even more reason to spit on your grave." Asami scoffed, strutting away with a flip of her long hair.
"All women should be like that." Gaou nodded, receiving baffled expressions from most of the DevilBats and coaches alike.
"What the hell?! Since the beginning… Hey!" Ikkyu tore off his helmet and continued lecturing his student, giving him a slap on the back of the head. "You're not oni getting it! I doesn't make sense; the only one not motivated is you Monta!"
"Oh, oh wait… Calm down Ikkyu…" Yamabushi cautiously warned the second year, not understanding why he was getting so riled up.
"But that guy… He's just being weak! To think I lost to a guy like him, it makes me look stupid, get it?" Ikkyu shouted, pointing at the Deimon receiver in frustration.
Monta paused, eyes downcast as he wore a pained expression, "I'm sorry… even though you went through the trouble of coming for a personal practice… I'm sorry..!"
The small group stared as he jogged away, wondering what was going through the normally upbeat and optimistic boy's mind.
"That fucking monkey! This contract is only valid for so long!" Hiruma griped, waving the paper in his hand from the safety of the oxygen capsule.
"I'll see what's bothering him later Hiruma-senpai," Sena frowned, watching Monta's form disappear in the distance.
The quarterback turned towards him on the Segway, minigun popping out from the top, "Now you're slacking too, fucking shorty?! Get back to work!"
"Sorry your time training was cut short, Ikkyu. Not much else to help with at the moment…" Asami added; approaching him while Sena sprinted off to start running the squares again with Shin before the bullets flew.
"A-Ah, don't worry about it…" Ikkyu's attitude quickly shifting from agitation to a calm exterior only betrayed by a blush and the fact he was unable to meet the female's gaze head on.
"No, I feel awful wasting your time, but Monta will come around again! Next practice will certainly be better." Asami persisted in expressing her remorse, unable to take the hint and drop it.
The shorter male gulped; face heating up even more when she drew closer to insist on apologizing more. She assumed he was avoiding looking at her because he was upset after all and trying not to make her feel bad… but the sad truth was the fact that Ikkyu was pitiful at talking to women, and going to an all-male school hadn't helped him conquer that issue.
Although she'd known him two years prior to this day, he still had quite a bit of difficulty looking his crush in the eye although he wouldn't dare admit that in the early days of their acquaintanceship.
"I can maybe get you a drink or find something in the clubhouse!" Asami clapped, determined for Ikkyu to forgive her and she took his hand and led him off so he'd be forced to be pleased with her again.
Ikkyu's head was spinning, not certain why she had to take things to such extremes in order to be sure people were happy with her. Knowing what others were thinking and reading the signs accurately defiantly wasn't her strong suit.
"A-Asami-chan, I'm not upset, I promise!" He finally pleaded, certain if she kept holding his hand like this all the blood heating up his face would pour out his nose resulting in certain embarrassment.
She cocked her head to the side, frowning at his change of heart at least as far as she could see. "Well alright, I trust you… at least sit with me for a moment though, just to be sure." She decided; sliding onto the bleachers and patting a spot next to her.
Ikkyu took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself to hopefully impress her.
"I hope I didn't scare you earlier… Seems I made quite the scene." Her voice spoke with a rather depressed edge to it.
"N-No not really! We just weren't… expecting it I suppose. Never saw you get mad before," He laughed anxiously.
"It would probably be strange since you knew me from back then… But since coming to Deimon, I've tried to stop hiding my negative emotions from everyone, silly as it sounds."
He waved his hands, trying to comfort her, "There's nothing wrong with that, I'm glad you're being honest with everyone! I never really could tell before, but I always hoped you were alright,"
She smiled at him, "It's fine, no one else really saw through it either… But even if I'm less pleasant then before, I actually feel… happier I think."
Ikkyu blushed, her genuine and sincere glow that was getting to him in a way that made his heart want to leap from his chest. "That's oni great! Being happy, I mean, you deserve to be… that is…"
Beaming further, Asami wanted to show so much more appreciation to the cornerback but resisted the urge, simply leaning her cheek onto his shoulder, "Thank you,"
Yes, Ikkyu Hosokawa could die happily now.