Disclamer: I do not own Eyeshield 21 in any form or its characters. This story is fictional and I wrote it just for fun and personal entertainment.
Warning: Rated T to be safe, due to Hiruma's coarse language.
A/N: So, here it is, my first HiruMamo in english. I love constructive criticism. Thank you very much *bows*. For now, enjoy!!
I want to dedicate this fic to Jillian Leonhart for all her support. Jill-chan, hope you like it!! :D
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CHAPTER 1: HE LIKES ME...HE LIKES ME NOT
It just couldn't be worse, really. She couldn't tear her eyes from the curious object that lied on the table. It had some sort of attraction power over her. She saw Suzuna flipping through its pages a little while ago as if it was nothing. She had wondered then, why the younger girl enjoyed so much time reading stuff like that. It was just a magazine for football's sake!!
On the cover of said magazine, it was written in bold, bright capital letters "Ways to know a guy likes you!" Oh, c'mon! What's so interesting about that anyway?! True, it has been bothering her a little bit...Ok, maybe it was REALLY annoying her to no end... Crap.
The Deimon manager sighed and looked at the window; her eyes captured the sight of two little birds, nuzzling into each other in a tight embrace, she wasn't sure why but it made her feel quite sad. Her gaze returning to the previous spot on the table as the memories of the last hours rushed her mind.
A few hours ago...
"Mamo-nee! You HAVE to look at this!!" The young cheerleader said eagerly, showing Mamori a magazine.
"Oh, it's a...magazine...What's with that?" Said Mamori, a little confused.
"I know it's a magazine, but look at the title!!" Suzuna pointed at the bright letters.
"Umm, it says 'Ways to know a guy likes you'...What's so interesting about it?" Asked the older girl, who was indeed, curious about what Suzuna had in mind.
Suzuna gave her a devilish smile.
"Oh, I thought you could tell me..." The younger girl said with a mischievous look that sent chills to Mamori's back.
"Suzuna-chan! What do you mean?"
"Mamo-nee, this is the perfect occasion to find out!"
"To find out? About what?!" Mamori was getting a little exasperated. She had so much work to do!! Not to mention Hiruma gave her a little extra load. 'Those fucking tapes won't edit by themselves! Kekeke!' the demon had said before heading to the practice field a little while ago.
"To find out if You-nii likes you!"
"Not again! Suzuna-chan I've told you thousand times, Hiruma-kun and I don't have that kind of relationship!" Then it hit her. Suzuna was teasing her, again.
"So you're saying it could happen..."
"No! I'm just trying to...What I mean is...Well he's not..." Poor Mamori sighed; she was so tired because things always seemed to end like this.
"Look Suzuna-chan, just leave this matter alone alright? It'll never be like that"
"Or maybe it will" Mamori was getting annoyed by this useless predicament. They were partners! No need to rush things saying they were dating or something. So, Mamori gave her one of her 'I'm-getting-tired-of-your-teasing-looks' hoping to end the conversation quickly.
"I'm just saying it will be a good idea for you to check it out. Think about it, you can once and for all prove me he's not interested in you. Demon or not, he's still human, a boy to be precise. And unless he was gay or something (which he IS NOT) this can be your chance to find out!! 'Every guy behaves the same when it comes about women' Well, that's what the article says anyway..." The young cheerleader sweatdropped and turned on her heels, so her back was facing Mamori. And she continued.
"But, if you're right and you can prove me You-nii doesn't like you then I...I'll stop teasing you with him...I Promise...But! Here's the condition: Find at least one thing that proves he doesn't likes and you'll have to explain it with a convincing argument. So, if you manage to do it and convince me, it's your win, if not you'll have to date someone I personally pick for you!"
This surprised the young manager a little bit. Was that another tease?
"...A-are you serious??..." Mamori couldn't believe her ears. Suzuna made a promise of stop teasing her with Hiruma. After a few seconds of thought, she determined maybe it was fair, this was her only chance and all what she had to do was to play along. Finally Suzuna would stop telling her how cute she and Hiruma looked together, she'd stop disappearing after the practice games and leaving her all alone with the quarterback and many of those cupid-kind-of things she always did to try to make her 'closer' to Hiruma.
It's not it annoyed her, well it actually did, but all Mamori wanted was just prevent people to get the wrong idea. That's all. Hiruma and her are and will be comrades, partners and classmates. It is something that will never change.
"Fine..." She finally said. "I'll do it. I accept your challenge, Suzuna-chan"
"Ya! Mamo-nee!! Ok, it's settled. But remember: If you loose you'll have to date the guy I pick for you without any resistance..." A devilish crossed the cheerleader's face. Ah, but Mamori was clever; she knew that if she loses Suzuna will surely pick Hiruma for her to date. So, even if she lost (and that's so not going to happen!!) Suzuna wasn't smart enough to lure Hiruma-kun into a trap and make him date Mamori. This was going to be so easy, and either way it would be her win and not Suzuna's.
"Only one reason, huh? I'm pretty sure I'll have plenty of material and convincing arguments to show Suzuna she's wrong... See? As you said Suzuna-chan...It's settled and it will be my win!"
That's right, she almost forgot the little challenge she made with Suzuna a few hours ago.
This was her chance to prove that neither, Hiruma or she was interested in each other, at least in the romantic way. True, she had grown closer to him in the past months. She learned how to get along with him and how to understand him. Besides Musashi, she was the only human being who wasn't afraid of him. Also, she was the only female with whom he shared a relationship similar to friendship. Taking in consideration, the fact he usually ignores girls. They both held a very strong bond, even if they didn't realize about it.
As a tag team there's no one who can stand to their level, they're way too smart. Maybe the only one capable of that was Yukimitsu, but even he is no match for the smartest couple of Deimon High. Probably Hiruma acknowledged and let her enter the team because of her intelligence and analog skills... But, if they worked so well as a team...Would be the same as a cou...
No, no, no! She had to stop making such assumptions! There's no way they'd end up together! He's so different from her, that demon...so tyrannical, coarse, rude, cruel, irresponsible, vulgar... mysterious, smart, brave, strong, cute...Wait. WHAT?!
Oh, this was bad. Really, really bad. She got carried away by her own reflexive thoughts. It was impossible, not even logical, and not even...real.
She felt uneasy, the more she wanted to forget what happened, the more she recalled it. 'Hiruma' and 'cute' in the same sentence is not only not possible but grammatically incorrect! There's no way to put both opposite words in the same sentence unless in the middle you add 'is definitely NOT' or 'will never be'. It didn't suit him, AT ALL.
While her head was still a complete mess she went to the locker's room, she had to calm herself with something. Maybe editing that videotape would ease her mind for a while. 'Where did I put that videotape?' It wasn't in her locker, and obviously wasn't in his locker, he the-one-who-can-not-be-mentioned by her own mind right now. Mamori started searching all around the clubhouse, until it hit her. She left it on the table.
A strong wave of relief showered her. Now, she can finally do her job. When Mamori was about to pick said tape her eyes found another interesting object next to the tape. It was the damn magazine, the little piece of crap that made her whole day miserable.
"Ok, I've got enough of you...I'll put an end to this foolish comedy..." So instead of picking the videotape, Mamori took the magazine. It was now or never. After all, she made a deal with Suzuna, if she could prove that Hiruma lacked at least one (if not all) of this ridiculous article's "advices" then she'll have nothing to worry about silly questions of her liking Hiruma and vice versa.
So, she began reading.
A/N: Please let me know what you think!! :D Constructive criticism is highly appreciated. ^3^