Chapter Forty Eight: Getting Wires Crossed

Disclaimer: I do not own Eyeshield 21.

Song Playing: Two By Two- book of mormon

Theme 67: Confused

"So..." Small talk was not something that Doburoku excelled at but the silcence was just too much for him to bear for a moment longer. Musashi was sitting all serious at the table reading the day's mews paper and the Anezaki girl was tidying up the shelves. It was after hours so everyone else had gone home. Hiruma would be back from his convenience store run any time now but he couldn't wait that long for someone to say something. "I couldn't help but notice that you and Hiruma left together before practice was over yesterday."

Said manager gave him a careful look. From over her shoulder. If this conversation was going were she thought it was going she didn't want to hear it. Still she had to give him the benefit of the doubt. "We had some errands to run for preparations for the next game."

"Is that what they're calling it now a days?" Doburoku leaned a little heavier onto his push broom, expression thoughtful. "Back in my day we just called it going on a date."

She shouldn't have given them that benefit. She had heard him say similar things throughout the small time he had arrived. It aggravated and horrified her to no end that he saw them that way.

A high pitched contained screech hurt his ears as he watched her storm away. Presumably to do something productive, though he had a deep rooted suspicion that she just didn't want to talk to him anymore.

The door slammed shut behind her.

In the corner the kicker turned a page. His eyes never leaving the small newsprint. "They're not dating but they still have the potential to start."

The dusty rusted wheels Doburoku's head started creaking. "So they're both in complete denial?"

Musashi shook his head ever so slightly. "No. It's a one-sided love."

Suddenly the coach felt a pain start in his gut. This, he was seventy five percent sure, was guilt and not the later stages of alcohol poisoning. "The poor girl. Is that why she gets so angry when I mention them? She can't-"

At this the designated kicker let out a low chuckle. "Oh no. Anezaki is completely oblivious to him."

"What?" Musashi was lucky that the quarterback had confiscated his jug until the working day was done or the young old man would have found him on the wrong end of a rather large spit-take. As it was the new coach nearly sprawled to the floor when the shock of the statement caused him to jerk violently, losing his balance that rested heavily on the push broom. Doburoku knew he was getting up there in his years but he didn't think he was old enough to be losing his hearing. But maybe his body was older that he liked to admit if his hearing was this bad. "Are you- do you mean-? Surely not-"

"Hmmm?" The high schooler calmly flipped through the sports section.

Doburoku composed himself as best as he could. "What did you say?"

Musashi took this as a sign that this was going to take some explaining. Carefully he folded the newspaper. Focusing more of his attention on the conversation. "Anezaki isn't interested in that way."

"That means-" Doburoku paled considerably as the realization came to him.

Musashi nodded solemnly. "Hiruma's the one holding back."

"No."

"Yes."

Well, there was no arguing with that. If there was one thing you could count on Musashi for it was his reliability. If he was saying that their quarterback was head over heels with a girl who was horrified to even be associated with him in that way then that's what was happening. Wonders apparently never ceased. The coach glanced sympathetically to the still closed door. "But shouldn't someone tell her-"

"Over your dead fucking body."

Doburoku clutched his heart.

He didn't need to turn around to know who was standing right behind him. In fact, he really didn't want to turn around. He had the strong suspicion that if he did see the expression that went with the tone of voice he had just heard he would just drop dead. So he opted for letting his push broom clatter to the ground, his eyes darting about the room in fright.

"Would you look at the time I have to-"

He was out the door before he could even finish his poorly constructed excuse.

"Fucking lush idiot." Hiruma pulled up a chair next to his much older looking friend. "There's not even a clock in here."

There was more silence.

Subtly piercing blue eyes slide to the side to stare menacingly at the serious looking kicker. His tone much calmer and more deadly than it had been previously. "Same going for you old man. Not a fucking word."

Musashi just shrugged his shoulders and went back to reading.