Chapter 5

Mamori breathed deeply. And finally asked, "Hiruma-kun, are you gay? I mean, are you into men not women?"

"FUCKING MANAGER," Hiruma said with a dangerous emphasis.

Agon was enjoying the show.

Their teammates flinched at the direct question that Mamori asked. Asking that question to a straight guy was just inappropriate. It was rather like an insult. No wonder she apologized first and asked Hiruma not to get angry at her.

Mamori raised both hands in front of her as if to protect herself from an oncoming attack. He looks furious. "H-Hiruma-kun you promised." Hiruma was already towering over her and Mamori had stood up and took steps back. Maybe she should just run away? But she has to finish the task at hand.

"I always knew you were an idiot but I underestimated you. Who would have thought you were this idiotic?" Hiruma continued advancing towards her until her back hit the wall.

"What are you talking about? I'm not an idiot. Come on, Hiruma-kun. You promised to answer honestly." Mamori had a look of 'please don't hurt me' painted on her face.

"Who put you up to this?" he had cornered her now.

"Hiruma-kun, please just answer."

"You're an annoying woman. I don't understand why I was able to put up with you all these years," Hiruma stated.

"Eh? Hiruma-kun please stop saying such ominous words." She felt like he was ending their relationship. Was there even one in the first place? She could feel Agon laughing at her. She gestured a 'Damn you' to Agon behind Hiruma's back. She nervously looked at Hiruma, he was really pissed.

"What was that?"

"N-nothing!"

"Do you know what you're question meant?"

"Eh?"

"It means you've never trusted me all these years that we are together."

"Eh? No. Hiruma-kun, that's not it. Of course I trust you."

"Then what are you asking that question for?"

"I had to. I needed to ask it. I told you it's nothing personal. I warned you right? I swear I had to ask it. But I didn't doubt Hiruma-kun. Not one bit." Mamori said but she sounded like she was reassuring herself.

"Keh. And so what if I am?"

"Huh?"

"So what if I am gay?" Hiruma said and there were violent reactions at the back. Yamato choke on his drink and was coughing violently. Taka's book fell from his hands and he had an expression that said, 'then what was all my peptalk for?' Akaba broke his guitar strings. Juumonji was telling himself 'that's not possible.' Ikyyu couldn't speak since he was still deciding if this was a good thing for him or not. Banba had accidentally crushed the apple he was eating. Agon was wondering what's going on. The rest were slack-jawed and it may take some time before they could speak. It was an insane revelation. Hiruma Youichi, the scary Captain of the Saikyoudai Wizards was gay.

"Eh? What are you talking about Hiruma-kun? You can't possibly be gay," Mamori was blinking rapidly in disbelief. She had turned pale.

"What if I tell you that the old man and I had that kind of relationship?"

"Old man? You can't possibly mean Gen-kun?"

"That old man exactly. Didn't you notice we both leave together quite often? We were of course, indulging ourselves."

"That's not true. Please stop lying Hiruma-kun," her face was aghast.

"You wanted me to answer. Now you don't want to believe me. So what if I'm gay does that make me any less? I can't play football anymore? I can't be captain anymore? You can't be my manager anymore?"

"Eh? No. Of course not! I'll still be your manager. Hiruma-kun is still Hiruma-kun." That's right. Being gay doesn't make him any less. He is still Hiruma Youichi no matter what. The first string members of the team seems to agree on that and nodded thoughtfully. The others are having a hard time processing it and couldn't make a decision. But somehow, Mamori's chest just hurt so much. It was getting harder and harder to breathe. "It's just that, if Hiruma-kun is gay then – " what have I been waiting for all this time? She wanted to say, but words failed her. Does this mean she had lost the fight before it even began? Tears uncontrollably streamed down her cheeks and she sobbed. Why was she even thinking something like that? She didn't realize she was trembling.

"Oh shit!" Hiruma noticed what's going on. "Hey, Mamori calm down." He didn't even notice he had used her first name. "Hey," he was also panicking now. It seems he overdid it. He was just playing along since he had to clear up that whether he was gay or not, it makes no difference in the team. He would be just him like usual. But now it turned out like this. And here she said that she never doubted him, why was she falling for that now. He had held her now and hugged her sideways so she could breathe. She looked so close to hyperventilating. "Hey calm down. I was just kidding. I'm not gay. Okay?"

"Liar. Don't change things after you've said it. I'm fine. I was just shocked," Mamori tried wiping her tears to no avail.

"Oi, I was kidding. I'm NOT gay, okay. I just said that since you and all these idiots were doubting me. You can ask the old man, we never had an affair."

"Liar."

"Hey, I swear I'm not gay." He hugged her tighter to emphasize his point and he grinned at her as her breasts were pressed against his body. It's her fault for turning around to face him.

"Now you're trying to cover it up." Mamori dried her tears. Hiruma tried to kiss her to prove his point but she avoided. "I'm fine now. Sorry for being emotional. You don't have to pretend anymore. You can just be yourself."

"I am myself right now." he hugged her tighter as she tried to push him away.

"So what's the truth?" Yamato asked the question that everyone wanted to know. They were all confused. After they came to terms with it, now Hiruma was saying he wasn't gay. How to undo a bomb you already dropped?

"Of course I'm not gay. Why would you idiots even believe that crap?" Hiruma gave them a look of pity. "You're all idiots. I was just playing along since I wanted to clear up that being gay is not an issue in the team. We accept anyone in the team as long as they have what it takes to play football. Who cares about their sexuality if they are useful? I don't really mind you guys fucking each other as long as you don't let it affect your performance," Hiruma explained for them.

"I see. That's true indeed." Banba nodded. If there were gay men among them who were keeping the truth about their sexuality, they might quit the team if they would be isolated or looked at differently because of it.

Yamato laughed. "You really got us there. I agree about that."

"I knew Hiruma-san was not gay in the first place so I went through all the trouble the other day," Taka grumbled.

"Oi come on. Your book was on the floor just a while ago," Ikkyu reminded. Taka just replied with a 'Hmp.'

"Now I have to change my strings," Akaba sighed. "I don't mind gay members though."

"As I thought, it was impossible." Juumonji sighed in relief. He would never forget that Hiruma was the one who fixed him and his friends and he actually admire Hiruma a lot as a leader and as a person. It would hurt his pride though if he was beat up by a gay man since their stereotypical idea of gay was quite outdated. But of course a gay Hiruma is still Hiruma.

Almost everyone agreed with Hiruma's idea. There were those who thought differently but they could deal with it when the time comes. And as everyone talked, Mamori realized that Hiruma was still hugging her.

"So you're really not gay then. Please promise that your answer this time is the truth," Mamori asked for the last time.

"I promise that I am not gay."

"You're not a bisexual either?"

"I'm not. Although I don't really care about gender. If I'm interested in someone, I don't really care about their gender affiliation. But even if I say that, I never got interested with those of the same sex. I'm into the opposite sex. In short, women. Like this soft squishy woman in my arms right now," he grinned at her.

"Then let go of me already you pervert." But she was relieved. So much that if he actually let her go, she might slump on her knees. Maybe he realized it so he was still holding her.

"Don't be so cold now. You were the one who was begging just while ago."

"That's a different story," she complained. But she actually like getting hugged like this, just not in front of everyone.

"Kukukuku. We're not done yet. You still haven't settled the bet Anezaki. If you can't complete the last one, I still win," he laughed eerily.

"Ah, I thought so. You're the culprit," Hiruma turned to Agon.

"Don't be unreasonable Agon-kun. Hiruma-kun already promised that he was not gay. "

"And what if he was just using you all this time to cover up that he was gay. Would you accept it?"

"You wouldn't do that right Hiruma-kun?"

"Of course not. Why would I?"

"I see. You can't do it then Mamori-chan. If that's the case you're mine now," Agon grinned. "A deal is deal."