Goal

Disclaimer: I don't own Eyeshield 21 or any of its characters.

Author's Note: This hardly has anything beyond what the manga and anime has and this one is quite short. I have an AN at the bottom, please read it as it's an important announcement.


"The football sandwich value meal…now specially priced at only 380 yen!" Sakuraba held a plate of food sailing on a football looking sandwich. He paused for a moment and placed down the plate on another incoming football sandwich all the while keeping the football sandwich that was already on his plate. Sakuraba winked and spoke, "It's a touchdown…for your taste buds!"

American Burger

"And we're back from commercial." The news crew seemed excited that they were finally able to get directly on air, especially as they were covering Sakuraba Haruto.

"Thank you for joining us! Sakuraba Haruto is about to make an appearance!" At that announcement, a gigantic roar erupted from the bleachers where all the girls sat at. Screams, squeals, and shouting of Sakuraba's name came from those girls. "SAKURABA!"

Sakuraba waved with sweat dripping down his brow at the excitement of his fanclub, which only served to make the girls scream even louder.

"Hurts my ears…" One of the Shinryuuji tried massaging his ears to stop the ringing the fangirls were causing.

"Hey, hey! Since when did the Jari Productions guy become an ace?" Agon leaned back against the bleacher's back bars, not looking the least bit disturbed at the noise. He smirked as he looked down and saw the referees trying to quiet down the crowd.

"I don't know how we're going to quiet them down."

TWEET. "Attention please!" TWEET. The head referee crossed his wrists over each other and blew his whistle hard in an attempt to quiet down the crowd, or more specifically, the fangirls. It took them nearly five minutes until the crowd got down to a minimal level of noise that they were now able to continue. It wouldn't do good if the ball was in play and the players couldn't hear the whistle, it'd turn out to be an unfair game all the way through.

Sena watched as Ojo's players switched from defense to offense. "All of the White Knights are different from before."

"Right." Kurita took off his helmet for a breath of fresh air. "Offensive and defensive players usually switch off."

"Huh? But our team doesn't do that…and I don't really see Kongo-niisans and Ikkyu-niisan doing that either…" Sena craned her neck to stare at Kurita, a confused look making its way on her face.

"That's cause they're a bunch of bastards that have a load of fucking stamina. And we don't have enough players, dammit!" Hiruma glared at Sena causing her to shrink back a little from the intimidation she couldn't help but feel, especially after knowing his conniving ways. Hiruma lightened his glare and turned away to stare at the Ojo White Knights, Sena following his gaze.

She spotted Otawara at the end of it. "They only have one player who does both."

"Otawara's playing offense and defense?" Agon peeked through his binoculars at the lineman that nearly squished his little sister.

"Of course. As far as power and bulk, he's the only one who can compete with Kurita." Unsui crossed his arms and looked down at Sena anxiously. He's happy that she's enjoying American football, but the fact still remained, her body isn't made for this type of sport.

"He better only pay attention to that fat ass." Agon growled, eyes flashing.

It was as if Kami-sama heard him as the Shinryuuji Nagas watched Otawara's advancement towards Kurita. "Kurita!" Otawara strolled towards Kurita, snatching the down poll and sign from one of the referees. Reaching Kurita, Otawara gave a war cry, bent the steel pole, and threw it down near Sena, who became frightened. At the sight of where Otawara threw the pole, Kurita frowned and picked it up, blocking Sena from view. "Hah." Otawara seemed smug as Kurita checked over the condition of the poll. With relatively ease, Kurita used his strength to straighten the poll and handed it back to the referee.

After the initial shock wore off from Sena, she couldn't help but think, That was weird. Hiruma dragged her into a newer position as the next play was about to begin, but she couldn't help looking around again, seeing her niisans and neechan before the newscaster caught her attention.

"At last, Haruto Sakuraba's first play of the year. I wonder what kind of amazing catch we might see!"

"Where should I be looking? Who throws the ball?" asked the female reporter.

The male one let out a sigh. "The quarterback! The one in the middle there gets the ball first." He stopped to point and show her Ojo's quarterback. "Takami Ichiro…He's a quarterback who sticks to the basics and hardly ever makes a mistake. He utilizes his height to throw precise passes."

Hearing the words, "Set" come from Takami forced Sena to concentrate on the play ahead. This next play was important as it would be the start of Ojo's first offense and Sena needed to play with full concentration. A nervous tingling sensation swept through Sena as she got ready in her new position.

Looking at Deimon's positions, one of the Deimon Devil Bat's reserves said, "Anezaki-san, Ojo's offensive formation is kind of different from ours, right?"

Another of their teammates appeared on the other side of Mamori. "Anezaki-san, what about our defensive formation?"

Mamori sweat dropped at the attempted flirting display those two openly showed. "Uh…Yeah." She fished out a handbook and pointed to a scatter formation. "This is our usual formation." She pointed at another picture. "But it changes depending on the situation. For example, right in front of the goal line, they're likely to rush." Turning the page, she continued, "We would cover a rush with a strong goal line defense." The Scrunch formation. Mamori finished it off. "But we wouldn't or shouldn't use this formation away from the goal line. There's no one back here to prevent passes, see?"

"Uh, but," spoke another, pointing towards the field.

Takami, quarterback of the Ojo White Knights, was in the same stupor of surprise. "What…Are they?"

Ikkyu looked down with a nonchalant expression. "No doubt, oni, too much power difference. They can only try to stop the runs."

"Idiots." Agon let out a yawn. "The Knights will just go with the passing game, won't they?"

Unsui frowned, unable to shake the feeling that something was off. "Don't forget that this is Hiruma who we're talking about."

Over the announcement was the shout of, "For some reason, they're in a Goal line defense formation?!"

Hiruma could be seen grinning showing his canine sharp teeth, Sena tense and a bit stiff, and Kurita focused and determined. Mamori broke out in cold sweat as she held the video camera aimed at the Devil Bats trying not to shake.

Takami seemed to gain an understanding of Hiruma's motive. "I get it…They're focusing their defense on the runs. Kurita's going to try to get me before I can throw a pass."

That caught Otawara's attention. "Huh?" A look of a one-track minded determination played itself on his face. "THAT'S…NOT…GONNA HAPPEN!"

"HUT!" The ball was snapped and the play began. Kurita and Otawara clashed neither backing down - giving it their all.

Sakuraba saw his chance as did Takami. Takami threw a pass to the tall wide receiver who caught it with difficulty. Sakuraba went down completing a ten-yard gain. Whistles blew as the play ended.

Girls screeching along with cheers erupted from the stands. The Shinryuuji Nagas, however, were a different story.

"What was that? He caught the pass – couldn't he have run with it?" Agon stretched his arms, staring down at Sakuraba before turning his attention to the girls jumping up and screaming Sakuraba's name.

Unsui's face, on the other hand, was bunched up in incredulous disbelief. "He could've gone twenty yards."

"Why'd he just go down?!" cried Ikkyu, jumping out of his seat angrily. "That was a joke!" Unsui had to forcibly grab a hold of Ikkyu and yank him back down to his seat before he made a spectacle of himself, especially around rabid Sakuraba fangirls.

Agon scoffed as he heard girls continue to scream about an, "Ace Sakuraba".

"It was a good enough pass…If it were me, I'd kill him. Ace Sakuraba my ass."

"I taught Sena-chan to catch better and she's a running back," grumbled Ikkyu. "She can catch better than that third-rate receiver. He has no technique and could risk fumbles!"

"Calm down Ikkyu." Unsui felt himself starting to become irritated. It was hard dealing with the two of them at the same time. "The media and the fans put him up on a pedestal as an ace…It's hardest on him because he knows he's not an ace."

They watched as the next play happened. And the one after that, and the one after that, until the Knights were twelve yards to the goal line. They didn't know what Hiruma was planning as each play had Hiruma and Sena just rushing, but by the look on his face, they knew something was up.

"Now, at last, we're about to see a touchdown!"

"Set!"

Sena felt nervous as she watched Takami give out his "huts". Hiruma's plans swirled in her mind, waiting for its chance to take action. She knew if she screwed this up, she'd probably be ashamed to look at her niisans again, much less her own teammates. The simple thing she had to do now was put Sakuraba under pressure. He's not as good as Ikkyu-niisan, was the only comfort she had but enough to keep her moving forward.

The ball was snapped. By the time Sena could locate where Sakuraba was, the pass was thrown. She watched the direction of the ball and saw Sakuraba. Zooming towards it, Sena caught Sakuraba's eyes turning to look at her for a brief moment.

It was like a moment flashed by as Sena recalled her short practice she had at Deimon a few days ago.

Sena tossed the football into the air using all of her force. Without a second to lose, Sena dashed off to where she could clearly see the ball landing. Ikkyu-niisan said to put my thumbs together for an overhead ball. She did as she remembered Ikkyu showing her and amazingly, she caught the incoming aerial ball. Her happiness was short lived as Sakuraba in a desperate attempt managed to knock the ball out of her hands. Sena's expression behind her eyeshield screamed horror as she watched the ball fall to the ground until a pair of hands snatched the ball still in the air. The grinning face of a maniacal blond devil greeted her.

"Good work, shrimp." Hiruma held onto the ball as if it were his lifeline. "YA-HA!" Rang through the air as Hiruma stormed down the field.

Sena had quickly stood back up from her position on top of Sakuraba. They had hit the ground with Sakuraba bearing most of the impact. Sena quickly went after Hiruma leaving Sakuraba slightly dazed.

In that instant when Hiruma turned around, Sena saw it as her turn to grab a hold of the ball again. Adrenaline rushed through her veins as she raced down the field hearing the cheers of Deimon. Sena nearly jumped as she felt a force slam against her back pushing her to the sidelines. She panted as she finish sliding on the ground and stood up to see her position. It was a short shock and surprise to see that she managed to get as far as thirteen yards till touchdown!

"AMAZING!!!"

"SO CLOSE TO A TOUCHDOWN!!"

The crowd was screaming in excitement. It was unusual for Ojo to face such an intense match from a school who was known not to do all that well in the sport of Amefuto.

The players went into formation as the plan began to set. "HUT!" The ball was snapped and Sena rushed forward and bypassed Hiruma, pretending to grab the football. She swerved to the right and ran straight on, giving the illusion of having the ball. Sena nearly panicked as Otawara came charging at her, who lead to a tilt of her head and gave Otawara the opportunity to see that she was without the ball and caused him to stop his pursuit of her.

Hiruma, meanwhile, pretty much tiptoed to the point of gaining five yards. His eyes wide and full of sadistic mirth and his lips parted showing his sharp teeth. Now all Deimon needed were eight more yards and they'd score a touchdown!

"Maybe…" Sena thought aloud, "maybe we can do it."

The Ojo White Knights, on the other hand, weren't looking too bright. Shogun had a deep frown upon his face and his gaze flashed to where Shinryuuji were sitting. "Shin," he spoke suddenly gaining the boy sitting at the bench his attention.

"Yes."

"Go put a stop to this."

"Yes." Shin rose off the bench and started forward.

Kurita started shaking and muttering, "Ow" one after another. His hands clutched onto the front of his helmet where behind the front of a helmet, one could clearly see Kurita's frightened expression.

"Heh!" Hiruma looked more serious than usual, a dark look appearing on his face for a brief second. "He's coming out this early in the game?"

Sena gave a start as she stared at the football player that has everyone on edge, even when Sena took a peek at her niisans. They, too, looked uncomfortably serious as Shin headed onto the field.

The male news reporter broke out into cold sweat. "I just remembered something," he said, "I'm the personnel in charge of the X League. But the coaches were alway saying:

'There's someone incredible in the football world. Every team would do anything to get him after he graduates.'" The reporter paused for a moment to collect his thoughts. "That's right...The strongest Linebacker in all of Japan, Shin Seijuro."


It looks like Shin's going to enter the game. I hope to make this next chapter as realistic as possible especially as Sena is extremely physically weak. Ikkyu and the Kongo Twins only gave her technique training. Now for the important announcement.

I know that I take forever to update, but I was wondering. Would you rather I update faster but with shorter chapters or update like normal with longer chapters? It's important, so please review or PM, I just need to know.

Quite frankly, I lost some of my books and have taken to using onemanga. School starts next month and I have doctor's appointments, school things, and a dentist appointment this month. If anyone also knows where I can watch ES21 anime, please tell me. XD

Otherwise, I hope you enjoyed.