"Did you dumbasses really think you'd have a nice peaceful vacation over summer break? Well it's over now! Meet on the Saikyoudai field tomorrow bright and early for practice from hell!" Was the pleasant text all three future University students read when their cellphones toned at the same time that afternoon.
"I was wondering when he'd make his move…" Asami noted, rolling her eyes at Hiruma's usual flashy ways.
"Took that trash long enough. I was starting to get bored," Agon mused, taking a bite of his burger.
"Looks like practice is finally going to start up again; it'll be oni intense!" Ikkyu grinned from his spot next to Asami while Agon stat across.
"Speaking of that; you're coming to the gym tonight, yeah?" Agon asked, "Unko-chan's gonna be there too, training for Enma's trash team."
"Unsui-san still works out faithfully huh? It'll be good seeing him. He's going for quarterback right?"
"Obviously. He's gotta put all that worthless accuracy he's practiced so long for to use. Normal guys can't change their specialties so easily," He shrugged nonchalantly.
Ikkyu laughed but then recalled the female's presence and quickly included her, "Do you know anyone who's going to Enma, Asami-chan?"
She smiled knowingly, "Only the finest center, previously the strongest high school player in Japan~"
"Of course the fat trash is joining a trash team," Agon scoffed.
"Funny, I seem to recall him protecting you pretty well during the World Cup…" She tapped her chin in fake inquiry.
"Yeah till he has to do anything besides being a fatass wall… his speed is as quick as normal trash walks."
"Watch your mouth." Asami stated coldly, intolerant of any insults towards Kurita.
"Make me." He bit back.
Ikkyu's hands waved wildly, trying to settle down the tense atmosphere that usually didn't fall over them this easily. "Ah- but never mind about other teams! We just have to focus on our own!"
"Yeah right… it's only fun if you have god awful teams to beat," Agon sneered.
Asami felt her temper slipping, irritated how stubbornly he insisted on keeping up his arrogant attitude in favor of the truth: that he actually enjoyed the cooperative sport. He demonstrated that most obviously during Japan's game against America but maybe she wouldn't be surprised if he ever admitted the progress.
"Say what you want, they'll be formidable sooner or later… And you shouldn't be so cocky as a freshmen, you'll have to beat out all the upperclassmen for a chance at a starting spot whereas I'm pretty sure Kurita was a sure thing right off the bat… He got a great scholarship for being such a boost on the line while all the positions you play are basically filled." She mused, sipping on her straw.
"Do you remember who you're talking to?" Agon laughed, "My first year at Shinruyji the team was losing to Oujou's golden generation and with only five minutes left in the game I turned it around and bailed out their 'perfect record.'"
It's true that his skills were no joke… every time he joined in the game they'd often overtake the enemy team by 20 or more points and was defiantly the high school ace; but this was an entire new playing field and it wouldn't be so easy anymore.
"College is way more competitive than high school, Agon, especially since the Wizards have a reputation for being the strongest team in the entire league. The upperclassmen are obviously going to be a problem but are you even sure you can beat out the ace's coming in the same year as you? Is Akaba going to beat you out or Yamato when he joins?" Asami continued, elbows set on the table to lean on her palms with a determination to see him squirm.
It worked to an extent; a vein pulsing in Agon's forehead with her prodding because no matter how hard he tried to think everyone else was trash, American Football was a team sport and if he tried to do it all alone it'd end up like the Kanto Tournament where he lost to Deimon. Saikyodai collected the most brilliant minds in Japan, genius in terms of academics and all around talent.
She was surprised when it wasn't Agon who spoke up first, but Ikkyu.
"You shouldn't doubt him Asami-chan. I know firsthand what Agon-san can do when he really tries: he won't lose." He replied, eyes blazing in confidence.
A bit shocked, she stared for a bit at the unwavering faith as Agon rolled his eyes, "Listen to your boyfriend Princess, those trash can try all their lives and still never reach my level."
She couldn't help but feel a bit cornered after speaking her peace, like the two were on a wavelength of their own and she was opposing it. After a few seconds of silence, she suggested they go shopping and the two men agreed.
Maybe she wasn't used to being on the outside of their banter, letting their conversation continue as she walked to the side of them mostly in her own thoughts rather than chiming in. The brunette should have been aware of it, ever since joining the American Football scene and meeting the players that had so much passion for their ambition regarding it that only another teammate could understand.
She'd always tried so hard to join in on their world but it seemed there would always be things she didn't understand and a certain pride she couldn't support… things they had to accomplish by themselves and only with each other as a team.
"Asami-chan, are you okay?" Ikkyu asked, snapping her out of her stupor.
"Yeah I'm fine, just spacing out…" She waved off the concern.
"I was going to grab us all some snacks, what would you like?"
"Um… Can you get me a banana crepe? I'd appreciate you forever~"
"No problem," He laughed, "Stick around with Agon-san, I'll be right back."
Watching him head off, she gave Agon a wary look from the bench he'd taken a seat on with his elbows taking up most of the top of the backrest with his legs spread lazily apart. Asami settled at the far end with just enough space to avoid touching him.
"You not like that he takes my side about that shit?"
She winced, knowing she'd be unable to avoid talking about this, "It's fine; I respect his opinion. You should feel lucky he thinks so highly of you."
Agon tipped his sunglasses down, eyes wandering her form with a smug sort of look. "You know I would have backed you up back then. No one fucked with you when you were my girl,"
"That's not necessary; I never needed your type of 'protection.'" She insisted, leaning back and shrugging her shoulders, "It was more 'isolation' than anything. No one would come near me when you were around or if they even knew we were together."
"So what? You didn't need anyone else when you had me for the long haul."
"That's not how relationships should work, Agon. You have to be able to get along with more than one person because if you don't and they leave you, it's devastating." Asami explained, knees locking together.
"Ahhh…? Even if you add everyone together, one or a lot doesn't matter because trash is still trash no matter how many pieces you have." He exhaled.
"You're hopeless sometimes… I don't know if you're actually serious about trying to get me back or not but you know things will never be the same as they were back then. I'm a different girl, and you're different too. Even if you try to hide it I know you're not just here to mess with me."
"What else would I be hanging around for?" He challenged.
Her eyes finally met his, tone serious, "For Ikkyu."
"Ikkyu? C'mon princess, yeah he's not worthless but I don't hang around him cause it's fun, I just like your angry reactions."
"You're full of it… You think you're using him but I know you wouldn't actually do anything to hurt him. I didn't want to comment on it because I knew you'd deny but you're smiling and laughing for real, and not because of the things I say,"
One of Agon's impossibly muscled arms removed itself from its perch on the top of the bench, turning to lean forward and into Asami's personal space which noticeably overshadowed her smaller form, "And here's what I think… You like him but not the same way, I know what you look like when you really want someone and I don't see a trace of that when you're around him… so tell me who's the one denying things."
She sucked in a deep breath, knowing all along Agon could easily read people but hardly ever took the time to do so; when the tables were turned she felt a wave of nerves wash over her.
"I thought I could… but this isn't about me, I've just been enjoying my time the same as you," Asami shook her head and avoided his tinted stare.
He wouldn't let that go on for long though and reached out and grabbed her jaw, jerking it back to face him, "Oh yeah? Having fun using him? Maybe that slimy trash really did turn you into a poster girl bitch… or did you learn that from me?"
Her eyes widened, breath hitching in her throat in fear but then anger flooded her core and made her shove his wrist away, standing up with fire in her eyes.
"Maybe I was just tired of being alone! I didn't want to make the same mistake twice now that I've graduated from Deimon and only cling to Hiruma like I did with you… I can't do that again, and I never wanted to use Ikkyu I just thought it was the only way I could get close now that everyone split off to separate schools," She was angry at first, but as she spoke her tone was strangely weak and sad. "I'll never let that happen to me again…"
He didn't react at first, expression unreadable thanks to the sunglasses he always wore but then he stood up too, stepping a bit too close. "So that's it, you just wanna add me to your collection of friends?"
She wasn't deterred and stared up, "Yes. I actually do."
Agon stood still, expecting more along the lines of 'I've hated this entire ordeal and being around you is miserable so get out of my life for good' but she wanted him as a friend? Honestly? After he'd sabotaged her Deimon friends, insulted and was indifferent towards things she cared about at a point in time he was supposed to be her greatest support, using her for his own fun and then leaving her to pick up the pieces till he broke her down yet again.
Asami had never made much sense to him. At first he thought she just had terribly low self-esteem, not caring when he asked her out, made her do things she was uncomfortable with, and never truly complained when all the while she knew he was cheating, lying, and manipulating her. Something like that should stick with a person forever… but now he's almost growling when remembering a similar instance.
When Kurita had protected him from Mr. Don in the World Cup, ignoring all the times he'd called him a fat trash and tried to make him feel like it no matter what he accomplished as well as single-handedly shattering his dream to attend Shinryuji. Yet Kurita never looked at him hatefully or tried dishing out insults of his own and it made no damn sense.
The dreadhead's hands reached out to her in a way that would terrify most who knew what he was capable of but fingers set themselves at the side of her head, thumbs lying at the edge of her cheekbones while the others threaded through brunette hair.
"You still make no sense to me princess and as much fun as it'd be to mess around with you again I think I'd miss this," He sighed.
Missed the way she always saw the good in him and hardly ever gave up trying to keep him, even before he realized it that faithful night before the big game against America, she'd reached out even when he didn't see the value. Maybe it was possible for Agon Kongo to really care about someone besides himself.
Asami smiled, arms wrapping around his torso to close the gap and hug him. He gave an irritated groan at the contact, one hand reaching around to return it if only to feel the familiar sensation of a woman's chest against his while the other ruffled her hair, successfully messing up the bangs she kept tied up and out of her eyes so that bits and pieces stuck up in a strange way.
Ikkyu's return wasn't very convenient, noticing the intimate embrace and unable to help but frown, clearing his throat at Agon's back till Asami broke free with an embarrassed squeak and disheveled hair. The cornerback's glare was steady, still holding a tray of snacks as he silently questioned the two with his eyes.
"Don't look at me, she was the one who latched on," Agon shrugged, carelessly placing the blame with all thought of the previous moment discarded.
Her mouth dropped open, hands clenching into fists in annoyance, "It wasn't like that, I didn't-" She started.
"Here Agon-san, we'll be back in a second," Ikkyu spoke over her, handing the tray to Agon who would undoubtedly not hold back and already was picking at all of their food, sitting back on the bench and giving the couple a lazy wave.
The shorter male led her off to an uninhabited corner of the mall they were in and turned to her with a chilling look.
"Ikkyu, I can explain…" Asami started.
"No don't; it's fine Asami-chan… I know how Agon-san is," He sighed, trying to ease her mind, "He can't help himself sometimes and I expected this sort of thing would happen sometime,"
She didn't answer at first, a strange question bubbling in her mind, "If you know this… what are you going to do?"
He leaned against the wall, hands shoved in his pockets with a leg kicking forward as he frowned at the floor, "It's fine like that, I wouldn't dream of saying anything,"
One of her brows quirked up, "But what if it had been different… more serious… wouldn't you do something then?"
"Agon-san is Agon-san, I can't tell him what to do, and you two have a history I don't really understand. I'm not going to get oni defensive and demand he stays away… I'll just live with it."
She didn't like the sound of that at all, but a part of her expected that sort of answer from him. Ikkyu liked her and respected her, but not as much as he admired Agon: he wouldn't put their relationship in jeopardy over some white-knight instinct. It somewhat hurt her to picture that, but it also made a strange amount of sense and showed his priorities.
"I get it Ikkyu, you don't have to worry about that. I want you two to keep this up without me from now on." She answered.
His posture froze, snapping back up in panic, "No, Asami-chan, I didn't mean it like that… if it were anyone besides Agon-san you know I'd do whatever it takes to make you feel happy and safe." He begged.
The brunette smiled, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear, "I know that, and I respect that. I'll be honest with you, I think you and Agon have the makings to be best friends… and who knows how close you'll get? He needs that and you."
"Please… Asami, I want you to stay with us…" He pleaded.
"We'll be around each other a lot in practice, not to mention once the school year starts," She tried to mimic his pouting face but broke character and reached a hand out to hold onto one of his shoulders, "We're friends, you, me, and Agon. That's how I want it to be, but you don't need me to hang out with him, Ikkyu."
His eyes widened and an embarrassed flush overtook his face, "I know that but… it's easier with you there too, and I care about you… I don't think it'll be the same."
"It won't be the same, that's true, but it'll still be fun. Besides… with American Football practice starting up so soon, it'll be a lot harder to get together but I don't want you to give this up." She leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "You'll be fine. You're Ikkyu Hosokawa after all, brilliant aerial genius who knows how to treat people kindly despite your talent. You'll do wonders for him."
Ikkyu blushed, touching the cheek she'd smooched with a reluctant smile, "I suppose you're right… but thank you Asami-chan."
"Now go on and eat some of those snacks before Agon hogs them all… the jerk doesn't gain weight no matter what he eats and it isn't fair," She huffs, waving him back.
He gives her a sly grin, turning to do as she ordered before offering one last comment, "Ah and… your hair is a little…" He motioned to his own head and made spiral shapes all around before starting to walk off with a laugh.
Asami gasps and looks in a nearby glass door to see a vague reflection of her bangs flying out in all sorts of different directions and loops of hair and lets out a loud and annoyed groan before fixing it as best she can.
A/N: And that's all I'm doing for their first year of college/summer! I just wanted to do a quick development thing for Agon and Asami with Ikkyu before I moved on to the next part... [And it turns out I'm actually guilty Agon/Ikkyu shipper... but I'll leave their relationship to interpretation ;) but tfw you accidentally use your OC's fanfiction as an agenda to ship your ES21 OTP...] This fic was a bit shorter than I expected and I considered making more plots for it but the next one will be longer, I promise.
So yes, this story is a Trilogy! I might make it a tetralogy but the fourth part would be after everyone's done with college... though it's debatable I go that far even though I do have a few ideas in mind. The next season/part will take place for the rest of their college years... the year Sena and the others move to college and join the newer American Football teams (or where canon leaves us off in the very last chapter) I can promise there will be plenty of action in the next story. Does Asami ever confront Hiruma about the relationship she wanted? Find out in the next part~