The next morning Mamori steered all the players away from the construction site and towards the field once they'd changed into their uniforms. "Yesterday we sort of practiced in groups, but from now on we're officially going to break you up. First, the line, with Kurita as leader!" Komusubi, Kurita, and the three punks lined up together. The leader and his mini looked excited at the prospect of class, but the other three scowled like they wanted to kill someone. "You're going to practice blocking and tackling. For now, Edward will join you guys." Ed sauntered over to the small group and the three Hah brothers glared at him. He just smirked.
Mamori continued. "Next, the backfield, with Hiruma as leader!" The guns started clicking and terror filled the three other faces. "You're going to practice passing and running plays."
Sena cried behind his eyeshield. I think I'd be better off in Kurita's group.
The line team left the right side of the field to be torn up by gunfire and unpacked the blocking equipment. Kurita grabbed one of the pads. "Alright, we'll use these to practice against each other. The one holding the pad will be the defensive player, and the one pushing will try to knock him down. Edward, you'll hold the pad for Jumonji." The blonds glared at each other as Kurita handed out the other assignments.
Ed splayed his feet and bent his knees. Then he noticed the punk walking away. "Where you going, stinkbag?" Jumonji whirled around. Ed grinned a challenge. "Don't think you can knock me over?" And in he came. The taller blond slammed into Edward, leaning forward and pushing his weight into the pad.
Edward leaned away from the onslaught, letting the other lineman think he had the upper hand. Then with a quick thrust, he toppled the punk over on his back. Jumonji growled at the figure standing over him. "You need to keep your feet spread wider for better balance. Try again." He unhooked his left hand from the pad and extended it to the downed player.
He grabbed the hand and tried to pull Ed into the dirt with him, but the teen just did a back hand spring and glowered at him. "Cheap tricks like that don't work with experienced opponents." He spread his feet and brought up the pad. "Try again." Jumonji charged.
He hurdled towards Edward again, but this time pushed in the middle of the pad, not the top. Edward grinned at him over the piece of equipment. Then a single shove and the punk was staring at the blue sky again. He wiped his forehead and looked over at where Kurita was holding off Togano. "Hey Kurita, I think Jumonji needs help with his balance."
Kurita called a halt to practice and walked over to the two blonds with the other three linemen trailing behind. "What's wrong?"
"I keep knocking him flat on his back, and I'm not even trying." He grinned at the punk as his face went red with frustration.
Kurita frowned. "Jumonji, how were you standing?" The taller blond thought for a second before putting his feet together, locking his knees, and leaning forward.
"Oh, that's not it at all!" The big boy rushed to demonstrate. "Your feet should be apart a little wider than your hips, and you need to bend your knees. You balance your weight on the balls of your feet." He helped coax Jumonji's legs into the right stance. "Now try again."
Jumonji threw himself at Edward, but again locked in a struggle with the boy. This time, though, he bent his knees instead of focusing on just power, and kept his heels in the air. When Ed tried to knock him on his butt again, he was forced to take a few steps back, but stayed on his feet. Kurita watched with a smile and said they should switch positions now.
The punk grabbed the pad and twined his arms into the holds. He glowered at the shorter blond. There was no way this kid would put him on the ground again, not know that he knew how to stand. Ed walked up and put his hands around the middle of the pad, elbows bent close to his sides, knees loose and weight on the balls of his feet. He pushed.
Jumonji took a step back. How was this shorty doing that? He braced his legs against the dirt and pushed back. Ed glanced down at Jumonji's feet. "You're off balance again!" He thrust forward with his hips and knocked the boy flat.
The punk growled and rocketed to his feet. "Again." He held up the pad and Ed charged right in.
Halfway through practice, Kurita told Edward to go join Hiruma and the others. "I can only work on your blocking and tackling. You need to train with Hiruma for the running and passing plays. Jumonji, you can try pushing against me."
The lead punk walked over and Togano, Kurita's original blocking partner, stepped out of the way. Kurita held up the pad and Jumonji planted his feet and pushed. Wow, Kurita thought, he's much better than yesterday. That prompted him to pull aside the other three and give them a quick lesson on balance and where to place your hands.
The next day, after their work at the construction site finished, Kurita had Ed practice against Togano and Kuroki. After a brief trash-talk and baiting session, the two punks attacked without mercy and both got lessons on putting his lesson about stances into practice. "Don't put one foot too far in front of the other," he heard Ed coach, "or your opponent can slip a foot in between them and trip you."
"Is that-urg!-even legal in football?" Togano asked, still trying to get Ed in the dirt.
"No, but it's something to keep in mind," he added as he leaned towards Togano, pressuring him to match the push with his own strength. "Remember how those Zokugaku punks tried to pull illegal moves? You don't know when someone else might do that."
"Where did-huff-you learn that?" Togano slid back a few inches, and Kurita was proud to note that he didn't lock his knees to stop the motion.
"Martial arts training. I started when I was about seven." He thrust back and finally pushed the other lineman down. "That's why I'm stronger and faster than most kids my age." He extended a hand down. "Come on, my turn to play offence."
And there's the birth of one of my home grown moves. I can't wait to use it in the Taiyo game.
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