Thanks so much to Mist455 for talking to me throughout the writing of this chapter and helping me make up my mind on a few key details!
ALSO this chapter will take place from Sena's POV throughout the last 3 (incredibly brief) chapters.

Loose Ends 4

Sighing and rubbing at his eyes with the heel of his left hand, Sena pushes himself out of bed. It was his Saturday off, finally. He looks around his and Monta's flat, blinking. Something was going to happen today, he could feel it.. He rolled over sluggishly- he'd never get used to waking up at 4:30 no matter how many years he'd been doing it. He rolled up his bed and stashed it in the closet. He tiptoes around Monta's mess and heads to the bathroom where he washes his face and gets dressed for his workout.
It starts out the same everyday: stretches, squats, push-ups or chin ups, and then he would go out and run as fast as he can for as long as he could. It kept him in shape, and it had become a habit in high school. He never really had a reason to not do it, so he did.

High school, hm? He doesn't really think he's changed much since then, but... he had to have... He used to have to have a reason to do anything, not the other way around. Sure, he could still be timid, but not so very much. He still had that determination burning in his gut. It had actually become a bit of a problem, he had nothing to apply that niggling determination to.

Sena stopped and looked around. He had gotten quite far today, but... Where was he? He looked around and wiped his forehead with a corner of his sleeve.

"SENA!" He was tackled from behind.

"Wha- Suzuna!"

"You really did come to see me!" The chipper girl looked up at him with a wide smile.

"Uh... not really, I saw you yesterday on my way to work, remember?"

"Well, yeah! But that's not often enough."

"Oh, you cut your hair" He said, avoiding the complaint. "It was so long."

"Yeah, but this is just so much easier to take care of you know? And it's cuter when I have to wear my hat, don't you think?"

"I suppose. But instead of cutting your hair, maybe you could find a better job?"

"That's such a hassle," she huffed. "Besides, I like my hair short."

"Well, that's alright then." He looks around again. "Do you... know where we are?"

"What, you don't?"

"Not really." He laughs, embarrassed.

"Woooooooow! Well. You're kinda far from home, is that where you want to go?"

"That'd be good."

"Okay, well, follow me!"

"No, really, it's okay to just tell me where I am, I-"

"Come on!" She tugs his hand.

"You'll get in trouble! your boss-"

"That old perv can go ahead and fire me, see if I care. He keeps telling me I need to get married and quit anyway."

By the time she got him near his home, Sena was more turned around than ever.

"I should really start paying more attention to where I'm going..."

"I'll say! It's dangerous to just wander around!"

Sena scrunched his face a little, "You sound like Mamori, I'm not a little kid, you know." The girl rolls her eyes and shakes her head.

"Well, still, watch where you're going, we can't have cute little Sena going missing, right? Even You-nii might get involved if that happened."

"I don't know about that," Sena says through a chuckle. "I don't think he's the type to be interested unless there's something in it for him. He's got an unexpectedly nice-ish side sometimes, but we don't even talk."

Suzuna stares at him for a long moment. "You're super oblivious, yeah? Even after all these years, it never surprises me!" Sena arches an eyebrow at her.

"Yeah, okay. I have to do my cool down and get to Deimon, so... I'll see you later. Try not to get fired!"

"Whatever! Call me later, all right?" They waved as they parted ways. Sena half-laughed through his nose; Suzuna never made much sense to him, but she was always refreshing to have around.

He unlocked the door to his apartment and debated whether or not he should go on to do a cool down what with taking so long to get home. A glance at his clock let him know he still had a while before he should leave, but he decided against it anyway and headed toward the shower.

(warning: woops tense change!)

Sena steps out fifteen minutes later in a clean white tee and black shorts feeling squeaky clean and rubbing his hair with a towel. His ears twitch a little at the buzzer by the door. He pushes the button and, "Kobayakawa Sena speaking."

"Sena-kun! It's Mamori." He smiles to himself and buzzes her in.

"Come on up, Mamo-nee."

A couple seconds later he opens the door to his childhood friend, who hadn't gotten much taller since high school.

"Hi!" She says with a bright smile.

"Hello." He closes the door behind her and she makes her way to Sena's side of the room.

"I see Monta hasn't gotten any cleaner." She says fondly, pushing her long hair behind her shoulders.

"Not even a little. So whatchya here for, Mamori?"

Mamori looks at him, an apology in her eyes already, "Well, I'm afraid I can't make it tonight. I've got a bunch of tests to grade and then I forgot I promised a friend I'd go see her tonight."

Sena blinks and then laughs. "That's fine Mamori! I don't expect you to put me above everything! I'm sure we'll find another person to go with us. And if not, then oh well!"

"Are you sure you don't mind?" Mamori asks with a concerned face. "I feel really bad."

"Uh-huh. Monta will probably want to go to that swanky bar you hate so much."

"Ugh. Just mind who you talk to there, Sena, I don't think it's a very good crowd for you."

"Mamori-"

"I know, you're not six. But that doesn't stop me from worrying!"

"I know. You just worry to much, I don't want you to have another ulcer."

Mamori makes a face. "I told you, that wasn't what-"
"Yeah, yeah." Sena flaps a hand at her. "Anyway, you should get going, right?"
"Well, actually. I was wondering if you were hungry!"
"Always!" The man chuckles, standing and helping his friend up. "What do you have in mind?"
"Just, I don't know, soba?"
"Sure. I don't have to be at Deimon for an hour or two anyway. Just let me grab my bag and we'll go."

"So you're still coaching, huh?"
Sena slurps up the tail end of a noodle and replies, "Yeah. Whenever I can, which seems to be less and less these days." He looks grim at the last part.
"You really enjoyed being on the team didn't you?"
"Uh-huh. It was so exciting, and everyone was so passionate!"
Mamori grins at him, "When you talk about it, you look like you did then. You're all grown up now, Sena."
"Ehe, you know, you sound like a mom when you say that."
"Shush yourself!" She half shouts jokingly. "You know, I was really upset when I found out you were Eyeshield. I thought you trusted me, and..."
"I know, Mamori, but you'd've made me quit, so I had no choice. And I still trust you! I never didn't."
"I know, I just felt that way." She sighs and leans her face against a hand. "We were weird kids weren't we? All of us, I mean."
"Some of us more than others." Sena laughs as he swallows more noodles.
"That's for sure." Mamori looks down. "Hey, have you kept in contact with anyone?"
"Well, not all of them... I talk to Suzuna a lot, and I tried to call Kurita a few times, but I think he changed his phone. Um, Jyuumonji texts me sometimes and Monta and I hang out with him-"
"Not just you and him?"
"Well, not really why?"
"Just wondering... Anyone else?"
"Actually there's a funny story. I was at the store yesterday and I thought I saw Ichimaru and I ran over to say hey, and it was some old guy."
"Sena! That's horrible! He was your friend, I can't believe you mistook him for someone completely different."
"Hey! That's not fair, can you even remember what he looks like?"
"He was the kinda bald one with glasses, right?"
"No, that was Yukimitsu. Now who's bad?" They both laugh with each other and Sena glances at his watch. "Oh! I have to go! I'm going to be late!"
"Right! Have a good time, Sena!"
"It was nice seeing you Mamori!"

Sena could feel eyes on him, making him nervous. He fidgeted with his clothes, trying to distract himself. He looked at his watch for the fifth time. Just where was Monta? He said he'd be there an hour ago. The brunette glances at his shoes. It probably wouldn't do to go for a run in his current clothes, plus he was still tired from his run that morning and helping out the Devil Bats. God he was sore. Sighing, he leans forward just a bit, and when he looked back up, Monta was there, grinning.

"Sorry I'm late, buddy! I ran into some problems on the train!" Sena mouthed the words along with him. He was sure Monta had some secret girlfriend or something, and that he stopped to visit rather often. Sena wouldn't know, he hardly sees Monta, despite living with him. His friend wraps an arm around Sena's shoulders and squeezes. "But I just know you can find it in your heart to forgive me."

"Yeah, yeah." They both chuckle and Sena shoves at him lightly. The crowd around them quieted suddenly and Sena turned to see what had happened to a warm, ambient noise. He turned to a sharp face framed by slicked back blond hair and green-blue eyes that were- the man turned away.

"Hiruma!" It had to be, those ears and those eyes- it had to. He heard Monta give little

'Huh?' from his side. The man stopped, almost like he was frozen. " I knew it! It's him, Monta! It's really Hiruma, can you believe i- Hey! Hiruma come back!" Hiruma hightailed it out of the club and the former running back frowned. "Maybe I was wrong."

"No way you would be wrong about that guy." Monta mocked; Sena pushed at his shorter friend.

"Well, I guess there's no harm in finding out right? And if I'm wrong it's a good chance to apologize.

"Dude, you aren't wrong. The way he booked it outta here? No way."

"I guess. I'll be right back, all right?" Monta was already distracted, ordering a drink from

the bar.

Hiruma was two blocks away when Sena caught up to him.

"Hiruma! Wait!" The blonde turned around and Sena almost took a step back. He hadn't gotten a good look before but somehow Hiruma hadn't changed at all since he had seen him last. He hadn't aged a day anywhere but in the way he dressed. Although, Sena probably couldn't attest to even that much, he'd really only seen Hiruma in his uniforms. There was that one time in Vegas, but that probably didn't count. Hiruma grunted at him with an annoyed face and Sena could feel the spark of disappointment in his gut. He gripped his hands into fists and gritted his teeth. He needed to prove to Hiruma that he wasn't the same timid kid from all those years ago.

"Are you busy right now? Monta and I were just about to catch this movie and we have an extra ticket because Mamo-nee can't come, so you could-" Mamo-nee? Are you seven again?
"Busy, meeting someone." Was the curt reply.
"Are you meeting Kurita, then? I think he changed his number, I haven't been able keep in-"
"I gotta go, shrimp."
"Oh, sorry, okay! I'll see you around, right? It was a nice surprise to see you." Sena smiled at him, and he realized he was standing a little too close; that he's closer to being Hiruma's height and that their faces are almost even. Hiruma must notice too, because he looks away, like he's uncomfortable. Sena's smile falls because maybe Hiruma really has changed.
"Right. See you." Hiruma looked at the space just over Sena's shoulder, avoiding eye contact and then turned and left.
Sena frowned deeply and turned, jumping when he bumped into Monta.
"Monta!"
"That was downright embarrassing." Sena shoves him a little.
"Shut up, you're embarrassing."
"Ohhh, good comeback, Sena, way to go."
"Mamori says hi, by the way, and that you're still messy and a dork."
"She didn't say that! No way Mamori would."
"If you say so." They walk in silence toward the movie theatre for a bit. "Y'know. It's not as fun without Mamori. Maybe we should just wait. We can go back to our house and watch movies there."

They're in the middle of Marebito when Sena's phone goes off. He checks the caller ID and doesn't recognize the number. He flips his phone open and answers, surprised to hear Kurita on the other end.
"Kurita! I actually saw Hiruma earlier, is he there?"
"Noo, he's at work but we were talking about you a little bit ago!"
"Nothing good, hm?" He ignores the faces Monta is giving him.
"If you're not busy next Sunday, we wanted to do something with you! Mo-Mont-Morio can come too!"
"Monta you mean?" Sena sticks his tongue out and mouths he got your name wrong, "Anyway, no, I'm not busy. Will Jyuumonji and Yukimitsu and everyone else be there too?"

"I don't know, we can ask!"

"No, no, I'll ask him if that's okay."

"Yeah, of course. Just let me know what he says, alright?"

"Okay, I'll let you know tomorrow."

"Okay, see you so-"

"Wait! Kurita? I have to ask you something."

"Yeah, Sena?"

"You said Hiruma wanted me to come too, right?" Sena frets with the edge of his shirt

and turns his back to Monta.
"Yeah, why?"
"Well when I saw him earlier he didn't seem like... I mean, he left in kind of a hurry."
"You know how Hiruma is, he was probably just late or something."
Since when was Hiruma ever late? "Hmm, if you say so."
"He'll be there."
"Okay, see you Sunday! It was nice talking."
"Bye!"
When Sena turns back toward Monta, he's looking at him expectantly.
"Well? What was that all about?"
"I dunno, you tell me." Sena collapses backwards and stares at the ceiling. "Well, do you want to see Kurita and Hiruma next weekend?"
"As in, in my free time? Like hang out. With Hiruma. In my free time?" Monta arches an eyebrow, "Especially after today?"
"Yeah. They want me to ask Jyuumonji too." Sena sighs.
"Are you going to?"
"I dunno. Only if you won't come. I don't really want him to come, but five would be an awkward number of people, right?"
Monta doesn't answer for a minute, just turns the movie back on. "I'll go, I guess."
Sena rolls onto his stomach and props his head on his hands to see the TV better. He falls asleep like that and wakes up late the next morning


Fun fact: this chapter is longer than all the previous chapters combined, lol.

Let me know if you think I should alternate between Sena and Hiruma as far as POV or what you think should happen in the next chapter, or just talk to me, because I write a lot faster with someone to bounce ideas (related or not!) off of.

AND LOOK. I GOT IT IN A DAY EARLY.