A pleasant apartment appeared before Sena's eyes, it was Karin's home. It was raining very hard, so he escorted her to the porch so she wouldn't get wet.
"So this is it."
"Y-Yes, I'm sharing the apartment with a friend."
"Well, I guess I'll see you soon... A-Ah, I'll call you!" said the runner.
"Yeah, th-thanks for everything. I'm glad to be able to work with you."
Not knowing how to say goodbye, the Teikoku quarterback extended her hand in a greeting that Sena accepted. The blonde shook her hand as she walked into the building.
(Woah... I was finally able to do it).
The auburn haired young man landed in his home, looking older after so many months. To think he would have the opportunity to visit America as a Notre Dame student.
"I hope I don't wake them up-"
"Senaaaaaaaaa!" shouted his mother coming out to greet him despite the rain.
"Ah! Mom, calm down, haha, I'm here now."
...
"Come on, tell, tell, did you make friends in America?"
"Only a few..."
Her father was reading the newspaper while the two of them chatted, they had already had dinner and were killing time before going to sleep. At the sound of the page turning, his mother attributed a grimace.
"How are you?"
"We're good, we're good. We're proud that our Sena is in college."
(I'm glad too)
"You sure are tired, you should go to sleep? Of course, if you want to, you're an adult now." she chattered with a veil of reverie.
"Be casual, mom..."
When Sena left the table and had climbed the stairs, her father peeked a smile between the sheets of the diary.
"... Sena, why so happy? You disturb me max." asked Monta, they were in the third class and still his friend didn't change his goofy face.
"It's just that... U-Uh, Karin is really nice. We have a lot of things in common..."
He explained while playing with his fingers.
"You like her."
"Eeeeeeh? No, no, no, I don't... I don't know."
"Okay, okay, but you're interested. What are you going to tell Suzuna?" he questioned with concern.
"E? Would I... have to tell her something? Ah, sure, for the help she was going to give me. I think... I think I still need it."
(You seriously don't know what I mean...), the receiver thought disappointedly "Be that as it may, you should say something to her... Hey, do you have the notes? I missed writing about the second topic."
"Ah, yes, don't worry. They're pretty picky at Notre Dame... So I've gotten better at the notes thing."
(Stop praising your school, I only asked for the notes).
"Hey Sena!" greeted Riku, arriving in a rush that pushed half the student body away.
"Riku! We never meet in the halls, how are you?"
"Good, there seems to be a stranger on the football field who won't leave, could be from another team."
"Tsk, the competition is spying on us! That's not honest!" opined Monta.
"A spy?" he mused as his phone rang.
The Notre Dame anthem blared at Enma until she managed to see the notification.
"You have an obsession, man..."
(It's from Suzuna...)
"I'm just saying be discreet when we practice, don't overexert yourselves or we might show him more than we should." advised the white-haired young man, losing himself in the crowd again.
"I wonder if it's dyed or natural..."
"Suzuna wants to meet at her house after school." said Sena, intrigued and ignoring the doubts of the contrary.
"Okay, I'll put on my going out clothes."
"E-Eh... I mean the two of us."
"...?"
Monta used his finger to point at himself and his friend to prove the point. He had mentioned two people and the two of them were... two people.
"No, me and her."
"Aaaaah! Ha, to have started there..."
(I hope it's all right)
On Enma's football field, there were two groups of people, the trainees and a hooded man at the top of the stands. His jacket covered his face preventing him from being recognized at first.
"It's scary... Is it legitimate for him to come see us?" asked Monta.
"Yes, there's nothing to prohibit it, he's within his rights to spend his time with us... It shows that we are improving, today the practices are over! Let's define who will be the eleven players on the field for offense and defense." indicated Coach Takaoka.
"Yes!" they nodded in unison.
"Man, rookies versus veterans. We're going up against Kurita, Kotaro, Unsui... I'm starting to doubt." thought aloud the boy with the thick eyebrows.
"Fear not, we too have improved." spoke Eyeshield.
Konishi was on the veteran's side, wearing his thirty-fourth (34) bib. Along with the other players, the height difference in favor of the sloth was beginning to show. Riku and Sena exchanged glances. The short-haired rookie Yasuda was also nearby, playing runningback.
"Wait... So, who's the quarterback?" asked the light-speed runner.
"..." Monta used his finger to point in his friend's direction.
(Eeeeeeeeeh?! Me?!)
"No. I'll be the quarterback, it's a three runner formation. Maximum use of speed to overcome their experience, ta-ha!" spoke one of the hopefuls.
They all already had their uniforms, the red background with a black ash tower across the chest, the symbol of the "fires" of Enma, the arsonist. The friendly match was about to begin, they would change players every ten minutes to test them all and they were obliged to make at least one pass and one run of each type to analyze in depth.
(The kick is coming), Sena thought excitedly.
The ball was shot through the air with great power, allowing himself to be caught at the twenty-two-yard mark.
"Max catch!" exclaimed Monta, arriving in time and getting another two yards by virtue of his moderate speed.
"The kicker is decent, he could get good distance field goals." opined Jimmy.
"He lacks control, he sent the ball too close to the receivers. Raimon didn't have a hard time getting to catch it. He lost two yards because of that, every millimeter counts." stated Takaoka, not entirely satisfied with that analysis.
(Woah, he finds fault with everything...)
It was the rookies' turn to attack, starting from quite far back, but not that far back.
"We'll start with a run up the middle with Kobayakawa-senpai to test the line and see if we can get past Kurita-senpai. The two open receivers will run a hitch route to give me vision, if you don't find room open up the middle of the field horizontally. let's go!" the quarterback ordered.
(He called me senpai but we're the same age...), thought Sena.
"Hut!"
The freshman received the ball from the center and instantly handed it off to his designated running back, the Notre Dame newcomer. Knowing Kurita, he foresaw the places through which he might make his way. Unfortunately, the line couldn't get spaces and he had to slow down.
(I have nowhere to go!)
He turned and returned the ball to the quarterback, who sent a low pass to Monta on the right wing.
"Sgh! Receiving!"
They gained 5 yards, but checked something more valuable: the line was failing to get past Kurita.
"They knew it would be a challenge to get through the middle, but he wanted to test the ground on first down. It wasn't too bad." opined the coach.
"I think the right wing would be a better option." stated Jimmy.
"Huh?"
"Mizumachi is tall and has good technique, on this play he almost knocked down his defender."
"... Hm, that's right."
The rookies tried another attack, this time on a semi-deep pass that couldn't be completed because Kurita managed to pierce through the defense and pressure the quarterback.
(Tsk, if we keep this up we're going to lose the first blitz), thought the young quarterback "Yasuda, you're up this time. You'll make a run and the line will open up space for you down the left sideline."
"... Good." declared the alluded one earnestly.
"Hut!"
He received the ball after Riku and Sena passed close to the quarterback, diverting the defense's attention. As soon as the brown-haired hands touched the seam, he took off on a high-speed run that broke through the walls and was brought down after twenty yards.
"Woooooo! Y-You've made it to the midfield!" exclaimed Kurita.
(That boy is good), thought Sena.
"Well done!" complimented the quarterback.
They were already going for another first down. Riku got the ball and charged the defense with a block by Mizumachi.
"Ha ha! You can't beat the scroll!" said the blond, knocked down his defender and opened up space with that screen.
The freshmen gained another ten yards.
"They're harder to beat than expected." declared Unsui on the bench.
Pass to Monta for four yards. Yasuda run gaining six yards. Being thirty yards from the end line, Kurita took a big puff of air and at the sound of the next 'hut' knocked down his blocker and brought down the quarterback with a slap.
"Hiiiik! Cgh." he coughed as the ball escaped his hands.
Konishi leaped to grab the ball from the crowd.
"Interception." sentenced Takaoka with a smile.
"The senpais got serious..." commented Jimmy with surprise.
It was the big guys' turn to strike, being seventy yards away from scoring.
"Okay, Konishi, red-B star play. You know what to do." indicated Unsui with a smile as he walked onto the field.
Within seconds, the black-haired sloth had traversed ten yards and was in position to receive. His defender inevitably stumbled as the veteran stopped mid-run, instantly catching the ball with a modest leap and gaining another eight yards on the strength of it.
"Woooaaaaaaah! He's really good!" said Monta on the bench.
"That elusiveness...that calm... That's him!" exclaimed Sena.
"Who?"
"The Japanese guy who came to Phoenix, the same team as Kakei-san, and didn't perform, was The Raven Koshiro."
"That guy didn't perform?"
"I-It's just... he was late for practice and fell asleep in class, I guess they got sick of him."
"Woah, someone like that in Enma? He got rid of his defense so easily, I want to compete with him!"
The veteran offense faked another pass to Konishi, but Unsui himself made a discreet run with Kurita's help, another twelve yards. On the order of the next offense, a deep pass to one of the receivers ended in a TouchDown after running for several yards.
"... They're unbelievable."
"Hm, the old coach didn't leave me a bad team..." Smiled the coach.
The rest of the game tried to be even, but the veterans crushed the rookies 48 - 7.
"... Wow... Whew, what a tough one. They really are amazing, as expected of them." gasped Sena, leaning back on the field.
"I can't imagine a better team! Is the competition so good that they failed to qualify for post-season the year before?" asked Monta, next to him.
"Yes." said Takaoka, surprising them both and entering the field "Oujo, Fukaneri, Hageshi... Saikyodai is not the only tough opponent here. All the star players and all the players who improved over the years gathered in this league. Many missed expectations by a little bit and didn't shine, but with a little improvement now they are starters."
"It's going to be... tougher than I thought it would be." confessed the running back.
"Facing defenses worse than these? Woah."
"That just makes it more exciting, doesn't it!"
"You're right! It would be boring otherwise, we'll win the Rice Bowl by giving it our all! Effort max!"
The coach smiled in front of the two enthusiastic youngsters.
(Uncle Doburoku, you've prepared them well), she thought.
"Fuaaaa, I missed playing like this. It's like every practice is a nationals showdown. " Monta dramatized, thundering his bones, and boy did they ring.
"E-Eh... I don't know if it's that much, Notre Dame's practices were awesome. Like every one was a World Cup against the U.S., Clifford-kun, Panther-kun, everyone was giving their all to prove they deserved to be starters." declared Sena, waxing lyrical as he recounted his experiences.
(And you say I exaggerate...), he thought indignantly "And did you ever get to face Koshiro?" he asked with intrigue.
"Aah... We had a match against Phoenix once, but I didn't get to face him because we both played offense. But what I saw was amazing, we almost lost that game because of him, no cornerback could tag him, he always managed to sneak away." he explained in wonder.
"Wait, was he a receiver or tight end?
"Oh? He was a back like us, but apparently he trained in the gym? He's actually pretty versatile, they call him a split end.
(He'll be fun to play with), Monta thought.
"Oh I have to go to Suzuna's house, sorry I'll see you tomorrow!" he waved starting to run, but bumped into a stranger "Ah, excuse me."
"Wait... it's-"
"Atsumi-san!"
The Yuuhi Guts quarterback revealed his face in front of them.
"I thought it was a bit improper to watch your practice without properly introducing myself... This time won't be the same as that game three years ago. Yuuhi University burns in spirit." he said as a warning, but the slight smile on his face showed that it was friendly.
"Don't think Enma will be easy to beat, we will give our all to win!" assured Sena.
"All max!"
"I hope so..."
Yuuhi's captain went away pleased. The little players of old Deimon looked at each other excitedly, they now had another reason to participate in the Rice Bowl. The runner was lost at full speed in the distance.
(Hm... It's... here), mused Sena arriving at the address Suzuna gave her "Ah? I'm familiar with this building, from where...?"
She approached the residence and pressed the doorbell to be opened. After a while his friend in blue descended, excited to see him.
"Sena! Sorry if I broke any plans, I have lots of ideas to help you." she said inviting him in.
"E-Eh, ah, right, I didn't know you were in an apartment by yourself."
"...? I'm not alone, I'm with some friends, I'll introduce you to them. I told them I was going to chat with you, so they won't bother, don't worry."
The time between their entrance to the building and the elevator dropping them on the right floor was a torment to his expectations, he wondered who he was going to meet in that room.
"Sena... I'm really glad you met a girl, I really am. I know it's wrong to feel a little jealous, but... uh, I'm rooting for you, yeah!"
"¿E?"
"Good! Let's go!"
(N-No, wait! You misunderstood...!)
He opened the door and casually greeted two girls. One of them had red hair and was lounging on the couch carefree; she greeted him in a passing manner, then returned her gaze to the TV; and the other one...
"Koizumi-san? "he asked quizzically.
"O-Oh! Sena, I mean, Eyeshield Are you Suzuna's friend?"
("Sena?"), thought the cheerleader.
"E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-E-Eh, y-y-y-yes. It's me." she answered as she could (No! This is all wrong, Suzuna thinks I'm dating Koizumi and they're living together, I can't ask her for help when they're both present).
"D-Did something happen? Why..." the ex-Alexander was going to ask.
"No! Eeeh, it's all good." she interrupted before everything got muddy "Can we go, Suzuna? I'm anxious to get started." he said to leave that room.
"Y-Yes..." she agreed (You really like it... So I'll help you in any way I can! You deserve to be happy!)
(Aaaaah~ This wasn't my initial idea).
"Well then, where do we start, cupid?"
Both of them were sitting, facing each other, on Suzuna's bed. It had an unhealthy density of pastel colors and everything looked too sweet.
"Your... room smells good."
"W-W-What? Haha, what do you say?"
"Well, ah, I have a drawback to acting in front of a woman."
"I see, I see."
"Suzuna, why did you put on glasses and office clothes?"
"I'm in my role, don't judge. Now, from what you tell me this girl is older than you."
"I didn't tell you anything like that."
"I ask the questions."
(It wasn't a question.)
"J-Just...! Ugh, it's hard to be Eyeshield when I'm Sena, and it's kind of annoying."
"Sena... You're always you, and it's perfect that way. What you need to do is... relax, don't think so much. If you mess up. Y-you're not going to! But if you do, it's a normal thing. Enjoy it." he comforted with a smile.
"Thanks..."
"Oh, pretend I'm a pretty girl. Try talking to me."
"I don't have to pretend that, ha ha." the runner said without thinking.
"...!"
"E-E-E-E-Eh, I mean, ah, you know you're pretty. Mamori is too, I mean, she's not the same, I mean... Ahem! I'll try."
(My hopes... Aah~)
"... Hey, babe."
"Don't make Agon's face when you say it." she advised disgustedly.
"But- Okay... H-Hello."
"Not Sakuraba's either."
"But I don't know any other! Oh, I think Yamato is popular too. " she recalled bringing her index finger to her chin to think it through.
"Don't imitate anyone! Be yourself."
"Good! Hello."
"Hello."
Then Sena fell silent not knowing how to continue.
"... You have to say something."
"Ah, normally I would have left by now." she clarified lifting her shoulders in innocence.
(And then you ask why it costs you...).
"I guess there's no point..."
"Tsk, of course it does. Look..."
The cheerleading captain grabbed the runner's hand. She made eye contact with him for a few long minutes and they were both starting to blush.
"Ah... hi."
"H-hey, d-did you see? It's not complicated, let it flow."
It seemed to Sena that Suzuna's blue hair framed her face especially that day, she looked prettier than usual. To him she always was, he didn't expect that she could be even more so.
"E-Eh... I..."
His red-haired friend burst into the room without knocking and saw them holding hands.
"A-Ah... Excuse me." she spoke in embarrassment as she left the quarters in a slam.
"W-W-W-W-Wait! I-I-It's not what you think!" exclaimed the cheerleader, running after.
(Now I have more doubts), the young man thought hopelessly.