Fitting into Mao's newly formed American Football Club, the Demon Devil Bats; was almost a complete change of priorities. Hiruma had strange ways of making her music lessons evaporate while fabricating new music based clubs to eat away her time while she was actually at practices.

"Blitz! It's a Blitz! I knew that one!" She called from the sidelines, watching Kurita, Hiruma, and the blackmailed slaves do some formations.

"What do you want, a high five or some shit? Shut up and memorize what I told you!" The commander from hell scolded her, earning a grumble of complaint before she ducked her head back into the playbook.

One other way they discovered some students would willingly participate in the practices was if Asami simply attended. She'd asked them ever so sweetly if they'd be willing to help out and all's it took was a small cheer for them every once in a while and those guys were energetic in hopes of showing off.

"Way to go Asami-chan, you're figuring it out so quickly!" One of the no-names gave her a thumbs-up.

"Even I didn't know that one! You're really impressive!" Another chimed in.

She blushed and squirmed happily before Hiruma aimed a gun at them demanding they pay attention. It was surprising they were willing to put up with it for her occasional attention but teenage boys were like that sometimes.

"Keep up the good work!" She laughed, earning a few dreamy sighs that turned into shrieks when the rifle was fired.

When the practice was done, the temporary replacements quickly scurried away when they realized they couldn't get close to Asami with Cerberus standing guard.

"What a fucking pain… I'll be glad to be rid of these shitty stand-ins when we get a real team." Hiruma complained.

"It's the best we're probably gonna get until high school." Musashi shrugged, just having joined as their kicker.

"We're going to Shinryuji next year where we'll have more reliable teammates!" Kurita cheered.

"And from there we'll make it to the Christmas bowl, Ya-ha!"

The strongest team in the Kanagawa area by far was Shinryuji, known as the "Gods of Kanto." They'd won the Kanto tournament for 8 years straight since the founding of the school and Kurita dreamed of playing American Football there so that's where the trio was going to go.

Asami would have thought about joining them, but it was an all-male school so for now she'd do what she could to be a dependable manager.

Every day she looked forward to being around her friends, the three of them being the first people she actually felt comfortable around, like she didn't have to be as careful what she said…

If you asked him, Hiruma wouldn't say it was life coaching or anything but he subtly encouraged her to come out of her shell, when he wasn't busy that is.

For once, it was ok for Asami to be true to herself and honest without constantly straining to impress everyone. With Hiruma, Kurita, and Musashi, their small group made it easier on her. With that common goal they shared of improving and making it all the way up to the Christmas Bowl, they made it easy and exciting to chase that dream and she promised that she'd show up for as many games as she could.

Early that morning, the four of them were to meet in the classroom and talk about the high school team.

"Strange for him to be the last one here… but what's that Musashi?" Asami cocked her head to the side and took the papers from his hand.

"It's an entrance exam for Shinryuji." He stated simply, handing another one to Kurita.

"Eh…? There's a test to get in..?" The center questioned nervously, looking at the sheets.

"Yeah, this is a copy of last year's test,"

Their manager's eyes widened, glancing over the questions. These weren't simple problems that someone could cram study for and pass. She wasn't even sure she'd be able to do it well... and all her grades were pretty high.

"I… can't solve even a single problem…" Kurita gulped, now extremely worried this would prevent him from going to the school of his dreams.

It was then that the door slammed open against the wall, Hiruma kicking it in with a package in hand that he tossed at the three. "Kekeke… the Shinryuji Naga accept two students on a sports merit. One of them will probably be a genius cornerback, Ikkyu Hosokawa but this year one slot is empty."

Pulling out a stick of gum, Hiruma grinned, "Musashi and I can enter through the normal exams so I put you up for the sports merit program, fucking fatty!"

"Hirumaaaa!" Kurita rejoiced, hurling himself at the quarterback in pure joy while the blonde shot at him to keep him at bay. Musashi and Asami merely laughed, grateful Hiruma had looked into this so carefully.

Without knowing that, Kurita might have been forced to be left behind even when the American Football Club was his idea in the first place and that thought was unbearable. It seemed all obstacles were out of their way, and Asami was so proud of them and excited for their big chance.

"After school you have to put that on for practice! I wanna see you look all official before you guys leave me," Asami teased, picking up the robe within the package Hiruma had brought.

"Defiantly looks my size," Kurita laughed, stretching it to full width, "I can't wait to try it on!"

"It'll suit you for sure." Musashi nodded.

"Don't worry fucking priss; I'll look into making you Shinryuji's first cheerleader!"

"I already told you, I'm no cheerleader, got it?!"

There was a skip to her step while she was walking home after practice that afternoon, the excitement of her friends contagious as she watched them get stronger every day. Her parents hadn't suspected a thing, not being the nosy types so they wouldn't interfere with her new found pastime so long as Hiruma kept covering for her.

She felt lighter then she had in a long time… until reality came harshly crashing down.

Arms were around her in a second before she could react, freezing in place when a familiar voice whispered in her ear, "It's been a while Princess… you haven't been calling me back as often."

Asami shivered; dreadlocks in her peripheral vision as she remembered another person she absolutely couldn't show her confident progress to. "Sorry Agon… I've been busy with all the new music programs my parents set me up on…" She laughed nervously, turning around to give him a proper hug.

"Ahhh… so I've heard…" He chuckled, letting her embrace him, "Too bad they don't know you've just been wasting time."

She froze, his words striking terror into her heart as she'd been caught in a lie.

"Making up shit for them is one thing… but lying to me? I'm hurt." Agon sighed in mock disappointment.

The brunette finally gathered what courage she had and drew back to look at him, tinted gaze hard and unreadable, "You didn't think I'd notice? Well you were wrong."

Her throat felt dry, fear flooding into her as every failure she worked so hard to prevent came caving in, "I-I'm so sorry… Please forgive me; I never should have kept it from you…" She gave her all into apologizing in hopes it would appease him but that was wishful thinking.

"You're damn right about that; now don't you want to know how you can make it up to me?" He smirked, something cold in the look that froze her to the core.

"Yes…" She spoke softly, courage failing her.

One of his hands gripped at the hair at her scalp, pulling tight enough that she winced in pain.

"Don't you fucking ever speak to those pieces of trash again."