Chapter Sixty Four: Sunshine In A Bag

Disclaimer: I do not own Eyeshield 21.

Song Playing: Why Not Me? by Alexander Rybak

Hiruma's Love Life Arc: 3/3

Theme 80: Ignorant

"Oh for the love of- he likes you! He's liked you for years so put the poor guy out of his misery and go out with him already!"

Immediately seven pairs of eyes shot straight for her in shock even as her own hand flew up to cover her mouth. But it was too late. From the stunned stares of her tablemates it was obvious that the cat was officially out of the bag. Now, Suzuna had been thinking those exact thoughts a lot over the last six years. Six years she had gone through that rant in her head. Today should have been no different but for whatever reason the thoughts had become words and by the time she realized that she was speaking out loud it was too late.

This was not the way their get together dinner was supposed to go and the rest of the original team were going to be both thankful and oddly disappointed that they weren't there to witness this momentous occasion . But the ones that were there, they were far from thankful. Kuirta choked on his food. Musashi's shoulders slumped as a sigh escaped his bristled jaw. Sena's jittery knee was cracking the table so hard in nerves that their drinks were dangerously close to spilling over. Kuroki looked torn between bolting for the mountains and wanting front row seats to the drama of the century. Doburoku had actually snorted his drink and the alcohol still burned the inside of his head. For once Hiruma's mind seemed to have gone completely blank. He had no words, no threats.

But no one, no one was more shocked than Mamori Anezaki.

It was different than the other six, though. Five of them were shocked that she would blurt out what they all had unanimously agreed was a secret they would take to the grave unless they wanted to suffer the slow painful wrath that would be Hiruma's punishment. But the sixth, the blond, in question was not only startled that she would blurt out his business like the Sunday news but also hurt. Terrified. He felt the blood drain from his face as it felt like somebody had punched him in the gut.

Mamori on the other hand... it was like her brain had broke at the petite woman's words.

Now she was used to people pairing up Hiruma and her. It had been that way since high school because no matter how many times she denied a relationship beyond friendship people were going to believe what they wanted to believe. This, however, was new. No one had ever said that he liked her. It was always she liked him. She was holding in her feelings. But she knew her feelings. Didn't she?

The last bite of her dessert fell off of her fork and onto the tablecloth, staining it with chocolate.

She took no notice.

What she took notice of was how pale Hiruma was looking. How he was staring at her but looked like he wanted to be staring anywhere else. She was poised for denials, ready to laugh the awkwardness off. The words were on the tip of her tongue ready to spring off into the air. Only they died as the realization that Suzuna's words were as true as they got. He wasn't a good enough actor to be looking that hopeful and that scared shitless at the same time.

She didn't know what to do.

Mamori nearly took out a busboy bolting out the door.

She kept right on going and by the time she slowed down she found herself in a neighborhood way out of the way of the restaurant district she had been in before. It looked like the stamina training that she had done with the football team all those years had paid off. The burn in her legs matched the burn in her lungs as she took in her unfamiliar surroundings. A school was just a few blocks away and it seemed a good a place as any to take a breather. She made her way onto the deserted campus and collapsed in an undignified heap on the field. Her breath was just starting to catch up with the rest of her when she heard someone approaching from behind. She didn't need to look to know who it was.

But she did.

Sure enough there was Hiruma, hands his pockets and his posture tense. He wasn't looking at her, which was a relief because she wasn't sure if she could handle the weight of his stare just yet. They existed in silence for a long moment before he took a seat right next to her.

It was as if his very being deflated. His shoulders slumped forward, he let out a sigh, and his eyes shifted from the trees to his shoes. She didn't recognize this man as the man she had spent the majority of her young adult life with. The change was so profound that she almost missed what he said next.

Almost.

He pinned her with what felt like all his hopes and expectations. "Would it really be so bad? If I liked you." She didn't know what to say and if she did her mouth wouldn't have cooperated anyway. It was like sawdust, her tongue glued in place. Her silence frustrated him and her kept on talking. "It can't be so surprising. You're smart. You're pretty. You get me and I like to think that you like me. After all we spend most of our time together, even when it's not about football. That has to mean something. So, why not me?"

"It's-" She stuggled for the word. "The whole idea is crazy! I mean I have a hard enough time wrapping my head around you being in a relationship, much less willingly and with me. It's so far fetched-"

She was interrupted by a stare full of something that she couldn't place and his voice: which was pitched unusually gruff and low. "Is it really?"

"What?" Her normally sharp brain was failing her.

"Stop and think about it." He was unusually still as he spoke to her. "Really think about it, us and then tell me if you still think it seems so out there insane that I could possibly like you."

"No." She responded with a sigh just a few moments later. "I guess it's not."

Her words seemed to give him an extra confiedence boost since he scooted close enough that their knees were touching. "Would you be willing to give us a shot then?"

Well, her dignity had pretty much flung itself out of the window when she bolted earlier. There was no real point in hiding. Sooner or later he'd find her anyway. And if she got right down to it, she liked him too. Maybe not as much as he seemed to like her but that could change with time. Anyway she'd never know for sure unless she shoved past all the what if's and doubts and just went for it. In the end it her choice was obvious.

So obvious, it was bordering on stupid.

The corners of her mouth kicked up in a wobbly smile. "Yes. I would."

His smile rivaled the sun.