NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED.
I do not, can not own Eyeshield 21 and its characters.
I do, can own Seizu, the grandmother and baby Kenji.
This is the 2nd to the last chapter of this story. My baby (Proogression) is growing too fast. -silently sobs-. Anyhow, I present you...
Saikyoudai and Ouju were tied with 2 minutes left on the clock in the 2nd half of the semi-finals of the final Rice Bowl of their college life. With Ouju's possession on the ball and no time out, Saikyoudai's life hangs close on the cliff.
Hiruma sat at the bench as he rummages his brain for a solution for their predicament. He was not about to retire for College American Football and lose, especially with the explosive surprise he had cooking for who knows how long already.
Mamori knew that failure was not an option. Almost was not in their vocabulary. It was champion or else. But with all the plays they prepared done and most unsuccessful, she was starting to think that it was time they face facts. She knew Hiruma would be pissed at her for thinking so and she couldn't blame him. Here he was thinking his head off while she silently gives up. She was about to put her hand on his shoulders when she shot upright with a devious smirk. No matter how hopeless it seems, her boyfriend will always find a way. She just hoped it doesn't consist of him breaking his bones.
Just 5 yards away from their goal post and 30 seconds on the clock, Ouju will most definitely win if they would let them score one touchdown. So the Wizards only option is force an interception. But no one was stupid enough to play a pass against them in such a crucial time. In the end, the Wizards just have to force a set back on the run, ending the Ouju's offense.
By some miracle, the Wizards manage to do so. 15 seconds left on the clock, they set their last play in motion with Hiruma as the commanding head.
The last whistle blows indicating the end of the semi-finals. Time froze for a good measure of 3 seconds. It was either overtime or touchdown. Mamori wished it was the later.
TOUCHDOWN!
Fireworks were fired along with a loud YA-HA. Mamori ran towards Hiruma for a big hug. In her own dismay, he didn't hug her back. She pulled back and asked wordlessly if something was wrong.
"Look up" and she did. Her heart was caught in her throat. Her hands became shaky and she would bet that half of her died and revived within the last second. The sky was clear, except for the fireworks which formed 4 little (not so little) words.
MARRY ME FUCKING MANAGER
She looked at her surroundings. Found out that the original Deimon Devilbats was there along with the Saikyoudai Wizards supporting their commander from hell. She even caught a glimpse on the camera that was focused on solely on her. But what really got her was Hiruma, who was just standing there as if he wasn't trying to propose to her.
"Would it kill you to get down on one knee?" she stated in a little bit of indignant tone.
"Fuck yes."
"And I suppose you don't have a ring?"
"Fucking old man" Musashi came forward and handed the devil a small box without forgetting to give Mamori an assuring wink.
"Go on, open the box and get on one knee while you're at it Hiruma." Everyone snickered, including the spectators on their bleachers.
"Fuck no!"
"Youichi!"
"No."
"At least say the words to me."
"No."
"I swear Youichi you're the most unromantic person on the face of the planet."
"It's a fucking yes or no question. And if you know what's best for you, you'd say yes."
"You don't have to threaten me Youichi. Call me stupid but no matter what or how unromantic you are, I'll always say yes." and another explosion of fireworks went. Hiruma grabbed Mamori by the hip and kissed her passionately. Normally Mamori would have been embarrassed by kissing publicly not to mention it being televised but she didn't care for the time being. She just got engaged to the only man she could see marrying.
OoOoOo
Mamori woke up at 5 in the morning with a nightmare and one big realization. You know those times when you wake up suddenly when subconsciously an idea or a disturbing event came into mind. It bothered her to the extent that she could no longer sleep back. So she got dressed and went out. In 5 in the morning she was heading to his apartment.
Hiruma was surprised to see his fiancée on his apartment when he got home. Hmmmph fiancée, he like the sound of that word. He was back from another night job, those same jobs that she never approved of but never asked for him to quit. He was about to walk to her when he noticed the unusual expression she has on her face. He froze on his step.
"I can't." Hiruma didn't do anything but plainly stare at her in question. What the fuck is she thinking right now? What did she meant by she can't?
"It's ironic because we became friends because of that and then you'd just simply..."
"What the fuck are you mumbling about fucking fiancée?" it didn't go unnoticed by him, the way she flinches when he mentioned their new status to him/endearment.
"Did you give up Armadillo for me?" he wasn't able to look at her.
"Answer me Hiruma Youichi!"
"It doesn't concern you."
"The hell it does! Ha I just cursed. You made me cursed." Mamori replied mocking herself. Dead silence filled the room. Hiruma in his entire lifetime never heard anyone cursed at him. Not to mention it was from his fiancée. The mere definition of an angel from Tokyo had used the word hell addressing to him. This is fucking serious.
"Hiruma it concerns me as much as it concerns you!"
"It's not fucking important!"
"Shut up!" Mamori shouted on top of her lungs.
"What the hell is fucking wrong with you? What are you PMSing or something?"
'SLAP'. The 3 second glitch took effect on both of them. She just slapped him. He just got slapped by her.
"Hiruma I love you but I can't possibly marry you knowing that you have thrown away your dream because of me. I can't and I won't forgive myself for that."
"Fucking fiancee, you are my world now..."
"No Youichi, American football is your world."
"There's a limit to pointless dreaming fu..."
"Your dream isn't pointless Youichi!"
"What the fuck are you saying?"
"I'm saying that a part of my dream is to see you reach for your own dream. And if I'm the reason why you're giving up on your dream then I'm willing to let you go because Youichi I love you enough to make you choose Armadillo over me." her eyes were starting to wet. She toyed with the ring on her hand. Somehow she felt that it was weighing down on her. She doesn't deserve the ring. She should, she would. Mamori have to return it.
"Don't you fucking dare! I swear Anezaki" he paused. For the very first time in his entire life Hiruma Youichi didn't know what to say.
"You swear what Youichi?"
"Tche" Hiruma looked down on his feet. Where was the demonic Spartan everyone feared when he needed it the most? He just can't possibly let her do something on a whim, can he?
"I love you Hiruma. I really..." The mention of the 'L' word started a fire inside him. He interrupted her.
"Fuck! You can't fucking say you love me when you're trying to take off our engagement ring. You can't fucking do that!" Hiruma now shouted with all his might, his veins popped out of his neck.
"You've got to understand."
"Understand? You're the one who isn't thinking clearly."
"No Youichi. What kind of a wife would I be if I drag you down?" She was trying to calm down herself. Hiruma was starting to get pissed. She could hear it in his voice.
"I'm not fucking stupid and you aren't also. So let me make it fucking clear, the moment you take off that ring is game over for us. There's no rematch, no friendly game. It's full retirement package Anezaki. So think fucking twice before you do so."
For a moment he thought he had managed to change her mind. He thought it was just her hormones acting up. He reasoned with her, surely she can see his point in this conversation. All she was spouting were pure nonsense. Nothing that came out of her mouth makes any sense, right? And who said that she was dragging him down. It was his choice, something she shouldn't be bothered anymore. And besides they hadn't been engage for 24 hrs.
No one called off an engagement after less than 24 hrs. They are Youichi and Mamori, they were meant for each other. She'd only end up hurting both of them by being so stupid. She's Mamori, she's smart, and she wouldn't get through with this. This is all hormones, nothing else, right? Would someone just tell him his fucking right!
"I don't"
"What?" for the first time in the elapse of their heated argument, Mamori looked at Hiruma's blazing eyes. Her watery eyes meet his own which was emitting fire from his anger.
"I said I don't"
"Don't what? What the fuck?"
"I just don't Hiruma." He searched her eyes for a more concrete reason why she was doing this. But whatever it was, it was well hidden by the fog of the tears that were threatening to fall from them.
"Reach for your dreams Youichi-kun. Take over Armadillo, you're capable of that." Mamori took of the ring with every ounce of strength she had left. She grabbed Hiruma's left hand and handed him the ring and closed his hands with her own. At that time she couldn't fight the tears anymore. She just called off the engagement, broke up with the love of her life and he would hate her for it. But everything was worth giving up for, just for him to reach his dreams.
What she didn't know that day, what she failed to see was that single tear that had drop from him the moment she closed the doors. What she didn't hear was the sound of shattered materials as she went inside the elevator. What didn't stop her that day is the fact that she missed the moment he went down on his knees shaking. What she didn't know is how the remains of his heart tore into tiny little pieces when she rode that taxi back to her house.
Hmmmph, does anyone hate me right now? Rest assure that I am a HiruMAmo fan all the way, so I will find a way to make it a bit of a happy ending, I think. Bwahahaha.
Don't forget to R&R if you don't want to wait a year for the upload. Just kidding, okay half kidding. Til next update.
