Chapter 7
She blinks and her mind wandered back from her musing. Kaoru is now back home nursing a cup of Earl Grey, as she waits for him to return back from his night outing with Kurita. When the girl open the door to her apartment earlier this evening, the last thing she expects to greet her is paper flooding her living space, spilling onto the doorway. A humming sound emitted somewhere under the recruitment brochures as more A4 size are being spit out continuously from an unknown source.
The blond devil is busy typing on his laptop as the owner tried to waddle through the growing tide of posters. "Tadaima, Youichi. I'll help you stack them up after my shower." He grunts in reply without diverting his sight from the screen. After clearing and stacked up all the papers, they tied them up into several stacks, a height of a small child. He carried them out with him, leaving none behind in her quarters and left the building.
He'd mentioned about distributing flyers with Kurita before the school starts to residences of potential players to her over dinner weeks ago. They've established a pattern over time; the teens would have dinner over at her place, both taking turns to cook for each other for a week, depending on who's free at that time. For Kaoru, it helps her as she finds cooking therapeutic. As for Hiruma, well, he cares. Unless it warrants, Hiruma preferred not to use vocal to express; found it too easily misunderstood due to humans' different perceptions. Only through his actions will one understand his intentions.
The rattling sound on the table draws her attention from the clock to her vibrating handphone. "Got home. Finished everything. Don't tell buttama about your transfer. Will not sleep a wink until 1st day of school. P.S.: GET SOME FUCKING SLEEP IF YOU'RE READING THIS NOW!" Kaoru blinked at crude message and chuckled. She should get some shuteyes. She reflected today's event over her mind as she prepared for bed and recalled Sena as among the potential blackmailed subjects in the Akuma's Handbook. When her head hits the pillow, her thoughts are still running at warp speed, analyzing any hidden implications of future turmoil in school. The last thought in her mind as her eyes gets heavier with sleep was 'God bless Sena if Youichi ever finds out about his legs.'
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On the 1st day of Spring Semester, est. mid March
Kaoru stared at the mirror in her closet. It's a lucky thing she didn't have an elder sister like Mamori to fuss over. The grimace on Sena's face is still fresh in her mind. Poor kid, he looked like the suit nearly swallowed him up whole. The image reflected a girl with short hair, neatly parted to a side, clean pressed uniform. She eyed at the scarf round the collar of her blouse. " This is not me," she muttered as her hands undo the knot and pull the offending cloth out.
Kaoru looped it around her neck and tied it like a bandana. Then, she reached for a tube of goo and squeezed a large lump on to her palm. Rubbing both hands together to spread the substance evenly through the hands, she applied it on to her head, making it as messy as possible. Armed with a brush and comb on each hand, she rearranged the matted hair to her liking. Once satisfied, she grabbed her school issue bag and head out. Hiruma must have already left, since no one answered her knocks on the door.
At the school compound
Kaoru make her way towards the administrative office, with a number of students checking her out as she passes by. She didn't spot Sena or Mamori anywhere so she guessed they've might not reached school yet. She noticed numerous club stands at the main gate recruiting freshmen. Some club members shoved flyers into her hands as she bypass them. All of which are dumped after a quick glance. After announcing her arrival through the clerk, she was being brought to the principal's office by the Disciplinary Master.
Seems like her request to be put into Year 2 Class 1 has reached the ears of the adults. All the teachers in the common room are staring at her like she's some kind of freak show. Those nosy pokers sorely tried her patience. Luckily, the interview with Principal Kogure Masanori was short and sweet. No questions asked about her wishes, although the eye exchange she'd witness between them when they think she wasn't looking tells her that they're as curious as they come. The interview ended with the headman extending an unusual request that should she ever wish to swap to another class, they'll do it, no questions asked.
Kaoru nodded her head solemnly, her expression serene while her mind is laughing like a maniac. They don't know her true intentions; let them be ignorant. After an introductory tour of the school premises, they finally arrived outside her assigned class. The bell had rung a long time ago and everyone has scrambled back to their classes. The DM entered first, giving the students a brief foreword of a new pupil, who will be joining them. Kaoru stepped inside when her name is called. Nodding to the homeroom teacher, he walked away and shut the door behind him.
Possessing a keen sense of hearing, she overheard a soft sigh of relief coming from the other side of the door. Her eyes scanned the interior of the room and notice two prominent missing figures. Huh, so that's the reason and it's definitely not Kurita. After writing her name on the chalkboard and reintroduced herself, the teacher, Mr. Tanaka, asked her to pick a seat among the empty lots in class. Turning her head about, she did make a few selections but decided to choose somewhere closer to the sliding doors. Instinct tells her it will come in handy.
The girl also took note of the unusual amount of empty seats and spaces given to one particular chair at the back of the class. No prize guessing the mystery of that phenomenon. She also dubbed her fellow classmates, a herd of sheep, for fearing their resident devil, even though she understood the reason why.
As soon as she settles into her seating position, the door slides open with a bang and a tubby body squeezed himself in. His eyes looked around quickly, and then halted when he spotted Kaoru. "You're here in this class!" he shouted, heading towards her at ramming speed. Everyone scattered away from Kurita's path, least to be run over by the huge linesman. He immediately freezes in his track before her and gave her a gentle welcoming bear hug. She hugged him back gleefully.
Every pair of eyes are so riveted at the scene before them that they failed to notice another tall figure entering the room, with his shotgun slung onto his shoulder. "Damn buttama! You wanna destroy this place! Told you to slow down!"
At the sound of his voice, everyone's attention, sans Kurita and Kaoru, turned to the door. Instantly there was a mad scramble for their seats, chairs screeching and bodies bumping on to each other. They gave Hiruma a 3 ft berth as they quickly settled down. Mr. Tanaka coughed and politely asks the two boys to get to their seats. The devil purposely took a roundabout tour of the class, using the in-between spaces to get to his seat. They cowered and bowed their heads as he stroll passed their tables. Finally plopping down on to his chair, Hiruma lifted his legs and deposit them onto his desk. Both Kaoru and Kurita anime sweat at the gesture. "We'll catch up later, perhaps during break." She nodded and turns her attention back to the teacher.
The morning went by peacefully, even with the akuma in class. Kaoru keep glancing at her watch; it's almost break time. When the bell finally rings, most of the students scurried out of the class. She went up to the linesman's table and asked him where does he habitually eat. "At the club, but I'm too excited to be hungry." "Then Youichi must be at the roof, spying as usual," muttered Kaoru when she realized the absence of evil aura in class. He nodded, thinking to himself, It's a bit surprising to have Hiruma giving someone permission to call him by his given name.
"I'm going to the club now, see you later." As he was about to leave, Kaoru stopped him.
"Matte yo, Kurita. Here's a present for you. Thanks for the last time."
"Iie, betsuni. That's what friends are for." (refer to a/n at bottom)
She shook her head, and thrust the box into his hands. "Take it, it's what friends do to say thank you." He looked down at the gift in his grasp, and nodded. "Mm, arigatto, Kaoru-chan." She waved back at the giant as he leaves the class. Slowly, she lowered her hand. She walks back to her place, glancing about to see if anyone is paying any attention at her. Kaoru took out 2 bento sets and tuck it into a smaller sling bag that she brought along. With the bag sling securely round her body, she moved quietly to the sliding door.
Once outside the class, she closes her eyes, mentally mapping out the layout of the school and the route to get to the roof access. When she lifted her lids, her eyes gleam as she turned her body towards the direction of her destination, with her body slightly crouched. With a single step forward, she sprinted off, dodging people along her way. Everyone that she passes stood rooted as they wonder who on earth just went by. As she's about to approach the staircase, someone zips pass right in front of her (it's Sena if you're wondering). Oh shit…she cursed mentally, as the distraction causes her to change direction, setting her in a collusion course towards a pair of girls. They saw Kaoru and instinctively backing their steps slightly, with their arms folded in front of them to act as a barrier.
Her reflexes kick in; she immediately stretched both her arms out, using the shoulders of the two students, Kaoru flips over their heads. Upon landing in a runner's start-up position, she grunts slightly at the pain. Lifting her hind legs, she ignored the twang at her old injury and dashed off again. She vaguely hears someone cried in astonishment at the background as she leaps up the steps three at a time. Luckily she took some painkillers this morning; otherwise that earlier maneuver would have sent her flat onto the floor when she landed.
Seems like the daily training with the guys have finally paid off; she has regain back her stamina she's used to during her days in junior high, and her speed is remarkable. She skidded into a halt at the entrance of the roof access, breathing at a faster pace. Hiruma hear her arrival by the screeching sound of her sneakers on the concrete. He turned, observing her as she catches her breath. She pressed the button on her watch, and look at the timing she set earlier. "Not bad, still maintaining at a constant speed of 4.6s. Here, bento." Kaoru handed the bag over to her neighbor and went to a spot to sit down. She rubbed both her legs to cool down then massaged her right knee as Hiruma sat down beside her and digs in.
She swallowed some painkillers before tucking in to her lunch. Hiruma notices her actions. "No training for you for a week." Kaoru nodded slightly, feeling a bit disoriented as the double whammy effects of the drugs kicks in. "Provisions," she spoke softly. "I'll get them, since the gums ran out couple of days ago." "Domo, You-kun." Kaoru only call him that when she's too tired to call his given name in full. She fell asleep under the allure of the warm sunlight as Hiruma continues his surveying. Even with the ring of the bell, he didn't wake her. Only the cool evening wind blowing at her face did she wake up from her slumber.
The first thing she noticed is that her head is on someone's shoulder and a coat, twice her size, is draped over her. Kaoru lifted her head and looked blearily up at the pair of emerald eyes that was watching over her. "Give me 5 more minutes," she mumbled and went back to her original position. Hiruma shook her, not giving her an extra second of dozing. She grumbled a bit but obligingly removed herself from his shoulder and yawned. Slowly, she stood up and tests her right knee, wincing a little at the lingering pain. Signing mentally, Hiruma slung her arm over his shoulder and helped her down the flight of stairs to the nurse's room. No one's around since the last bell of the day has gone off and everyone has gone home.
"We're having dinner in school. Wait here while I go to Son Son." Kaoru waved him off and went to sleep again on the bed. When Hiruma came back, she's still fast asleep. "Oie, wake up, I've found a miracle. This year, Christmas Bowl will be within reach. Are you listening at all, baka neko?" He used his hand and shook her shoulders violently. Kaoru swats his arm away and buried her face deeper into the pillow. "Fine, but you're still gonna listen to what I've discover. The kid, Kobayakawa Sena, is going to be the star runningback for Deimon. He'll be Devilbats's tramp card."
Kaoru shot upright from the bed, then hugged her head as blackness descends over her vision. Sena and Amerfuto string together in a single sentence! This is not good. Hiruma lifted a brow at her reaction. She rubbed her eyes and focus her sight on him, "Why him?"
'I saw him earlier as I left the store with these,' he lifted the plastic bag, " when he cut passed me and continue dodging the moving crowd at that speed." Pulling out a couple of boxes of sandwiches, he threw one at her. "Seems to me on his first day of school, he's been picked at by some punks. A cut in that speed and a spin without any decrease in acceleration. I'm no fool to ignore that talent."
"What about the punks? What happened in the end?" Wings and tail suddenly sprout out of nowhere as he starts to laugh maliciously. "That chibi got away safely, of course. As for the three punks, let's just say they wouldn't be bothering him any longer." Kaoru felt a sudden pity for those unfortunate souls. "You do know that he's Mamori's childhood friend and playmate." Shrugging, he takes a bite out of his dinner. As she was about to sink her teeth into the bread, Hiruma's stare tells her that she forgotten to mention something.
Kaoru backtracks the conversation up to the part where she woke up in a hurry. "My reaction towards your choice, right? I met him, Sena, and Mamori during the acceptance ceremony." She hesitated, and then continues. "His speed is not a mystery to me. He nearly ran into me as I was turning into a corner. His precise braking, then dodge to the side with minimal effort before taking off at that neck-breaking speed is something I'll never forget."
"Kekeke, so that's settled. The pipsqueak is the team's runningback, jersey number…hmm, ah! #21. He'll be Eyeshield 21." Hiruma's grin just got more satanic as more thoughts started to generate in that mind of his.
"Youichi, you do know the actual meaning behind that number, do you?" Kaoru commented as she watched the devil wrote down the scary ideas he concocted up. "It's the Notre Dames University's…."
"Wakateruyo! How many people actually knew the name 'Eyeshield 21'? No one in Japan! Unless they're sports journalists who did research on American Football College, kuso chibi is quite safe."
"Murphy's Law, Youichi…" Kaoru stopped mid-sentence when he holds a finger out and silent her. "Trust me, I know what I'm doing." The coolness of his fingertip burns into her warm lips, reminding her of his calm and analytical nature. Hiruma is not a man who would risk anything without thinking through. She nodded, sighing aloud, letting him know she agreed against her better judgment.
Polling for Kaoru's potential boyfriends, (I'm thick skinned, so what! --)
1) Takekura Gen (Musashi) from Deimon
2) Juumonji Kazuki from Deimon
3) Habashira Rui from Zokugaku
4) Takami Ichirou from Oujou
5) Kidd from Seibu
6) Kakei Shun from Kyoshin
7) Akaba Hayato from Bando
Others, give names if you choose this.
Author's notes: Ya-Ha! Thanks to dittogirl for reviewing. One is better than none! If no choice have been posted before Monta's appearance, I'll set a scene where the devil and the cat get themselves in a compromising situation. It will definitely spoilt the Hiruma x Mamori, or even prompt the discovery of the green-eyed monster. Call me evil! Mwahahaha. Regards to the item Kaoru gave Kurita, it's a cake that everyone saw in the manga and TV series. The incident happened during her training with the guys before the school starts. If anyone is interested in knowing, tell me and I'll post it up.