Number Three: Why Should I Care?
The next day at Deimon High School, Kurita and Moto got to the football field especially early so that they could practice. Moto was a shrimpy thing, so he was working with the tackle dummy (containing the stolen gear). Kurita was working on some ladder exercises when Mamori appeared from the left-hand corner of the field. She was carrying a painted streetlamp. Moto stopped feebly tackling the dummy and stared at the streetlamp.
"What's with that?" Moto asked.
"School project," Mamori responded, walking away from the field and up the staircase to the eastern entrance of Deimon High. Moto and Kurita went back to their work when they saw Hiruma wandering around aimlessly, scribbling something down in his black book and muttering to himself.
"Hmm… it would appear that Tenchi Hayate and Ryoko Masaki are secretly dating, as evidenced by the two of them making out on the third floor by the guy's bathroom…" he murmured, writing furiously. "And Reiko Kazaki, the Table Tennis co-captain, stole that sink from the girl's bathroom on floor two… who the hell steals a sink…?"
"In a better mood today, Hiruma?" Kurita asked. Moto tried to tackle the dummy again, but he tripped over the shoelaces on his cleats and did a face-plant. Hiruma looked up to see Kurita standing there, waiting for an answer, and Moto tying his shoe, muttering something about 'being an idiot'. Hiruma slammed his book shut and stuck his pen in his uniform pocket. He grinned, which was never a good sign.
"That depends," Hiruma answered cryptically before looking at Moto, covered in dirt. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
Moto looked up before glancing at his uniform. He laughed nervously. "I fell."
"Well, obviously," Hiruma snapped. "Where's Sena? And Mamori?"
"Mamori's taking a streetlamp up to school," Kurita told him. Hiruma blinked before shaking it off. He opened up his black book again.
"Mamori Anezaki… stole a streetlamp… God, what is up with stealing retarded objects today?" Hiruma asked himself as he put his book away again. Moto opened his mouth to say something, but thought better of it.
But Hiruma got in his face anyway.
"Did you want to say something?" Hiruma asked. Moto began to give that embarrassed laugh again.
"Uh… it was cardboard," Moto corrected, rubbing the side of his neck. Hiruma watched Moto massage his neck, then looked into Moto's eyes. Something about Hiruma's features changed, and Moto saw it. Moto bit his lip as Hiruma pulled out his book again.
"It seems like I've been doing nothing but write today," Hiruma muttered angrily to himself, turning away from Moto. "Why can't people think of better things to do, dammit…?"
Kurita was about to point out that not many people write down what other people do with their lives, but a dull thud echoed from the other side of the field. Cerberus, Hiruma's dog and partner in crime, had chased Sena across campus and caused him to run smack into the side of the football team's room.
"Where is Moto? He was here this morning…" Kurita wondered later that day. Inside the now spotless team room, Hiruma, Sena, and Kurita were sitting around, waiting for Mamori and Moto to show.
Hiruma snapped the barrel off of a starter pistol, inspecting the device. "Maybe Moto and Mamori are together."
"Huh?" Sena asked (rather brilliantly, I might add).
"You heard me," Hiruma replied bluntly. "Think about it. They're both late to practice and we don't know why…" A malevolent grin spread across Hiruma's face. "I get the feeling that THEY have NO IDEA what time it is…"
The color drained from Sena's face, and he turned away from Hiruma quickly. Hiruma shook the barrel rather violently, trying to get something out of it.
"Hey, don't blame yourself," Hiruma shrugged. "Mamori needs someone who can give her what she wants."
"Huh?" Sena asked, and this time he turned blood red.
"Oh come on, do you think I'm completely ignorant?" Hiruma spat, watching a rock fall out of the barrel. He got a look at Sena's face before retorting, "Don't answer that."
Kurita put down his teacup. "Actually, the girls are taking their physical exams today. Don't the guys do theirs tomorrow?"
Sena looked at Kurita as Hiruma snapped the barrel back into the starter pistol and fired a shot into the air. The ensuing bang knocked Sena out of his seat and made half of Kurita's tea spill onto the table.
"Yep, it works," Hiruma muttered before throwing it in the corner. It discharged, making everyone duck under the table for cover. Sena looked over at the corner of the room, where the barrel of the starter pistol was still smoking.
"Nice one," Sena mumbled to Hiruma.
"Shut up, pipsqueak," Hiruma spat back before turning to Kurita. "You said that the girls were getting their exams today?"
"Yeah, that's what it said in the school paper," Kurita nodded. Sena glared at Hiruma, positive that he wasn't looking in his direction. "Do you ever read what you sabotage?"
"No," Hiruma replied truthfully before jumping back into his seat. "So if it was the girls' examination day, why is Moto gone?"
Sena checked his cell phone as he got out from under the table. A text message had been left for Sena from Moto. Sena opened it up.
"He sent me a text message," Sena said offhandedly. Kurita looked over Sena's shoulder, while Hiruma pushed Sena's head slightly left to get a better look.
"It's from earlier today… before classes let out," Hiruma said.
"Sena – I won't be going to practice today. I think that I might be ill. I'm going home. Moto," Kurita read. All three of them sighed.
"Great, he's sick," Hiruma gritted his teeth in irritation. "I knew something was wrong with him."
"I hope it's not anything serious," Kurita frowned. He looked sad.
Sena reread the message. He had seemed okay earlier… maybe it was some passing bug. Sena put his phone back in his pocket.
"So how long is Mamori going to be up there?" Sena asked Kurita.
"I don't know," Kurita answered truthfully.
"Why do you care?" Hiruma asked, secretly pulling out his little black book. Sena flushed and muttered something unintelligible. Hiruma grinned, scribbling something down in the book. He threw it by the starter pistol, which discharged again.
"Hiruma, I think it's broken," Kurita observed.
"No shit!" Hiruma yelled, grabbing his book back and stuffing it in his uniform pocket. "Now I know why I stuck a rock in there in the first place…"
A/N: Ah yes, a gun that Hiruma couldn't fix. I love that idea.
A/N 2: I like all of the positive response to this. I was afraid someone would think it was weird. But isn't weirdness funny? So thanks for reviewing. I love you all.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Eyeshield 21. Well, duh. If I owned it… heh… I'd own Hiruma… heheheh… (looks around) What are YOU staring at, punk?