Author's Note: I've decided to do Ishimaru as well as Suzuna. Next chapter is the last one, I'm sorry and I'm not changing my decision. I'll explain my reasons next chapter.
Summary: Ishimaru might be plain and unnoticeable, but one man never forgot him….
A New Understanding
By: Bar-Ohki
It was a hard life to sit in the middle of a bus full of teammates and have them completely forget your existence. Ishimaru simply sighed and looked out the window, bored. He wasn't a regular member of the American Football Club, but playing with them was fun in its own way.
To Ishimaru's surprise someone sat down next to him. It was not uncommon to have someone sit down next to him and only remember his existence when they collided due to the bumps during the ride. Ishimaru sighed and continued to gaze out the window, having given up on having a social interaction a long time ago.
"Hey track star," Hiruma poked Ishimaru in the shoulder, "when's your next track meet?"
Ishimaru turned his head to see that Hiruma Youichi, the infamous commander from hell, was not only sitting next to him, but trying to have a conversation.
"Next Saturday." Ishimaru answered, still a little stunned that he wasn't being ignored. "Is there a football game then?"
"No." Hiruma answered, then paused in thought. "Isn't this next meet your finals?"
"Yeah." Ishimaru nodded.
Hiruma said nothing for a minute. "I'll excuse you if you don't come to practice next week."
"Thanks." Ishimaru smiled, really happy.
"How is your fucking team doing this year?" Hiruma asked, curious.
"We're on the edge," Ishimaru laughed, "if we win this meet we get to go to nationals."
"And if you don't?" Hiruma meet Ishimaru's gaze.
"We lose." Ishimaru answered. "It's no different than football."
"Yeah." Hiruma agreed, nodding his head slightly.
"You're not going to lend me Eyeshield, are you?" Ishimaru was hopeful.
"No." Hiruma answered. "I don't need him attracting attention from scouts."
"Ah, yeah." Ishimaru understood Hiruma's position, being a fellow captain himself.
"…Could I borrow you?" Ishimaru asked suddenly.
"What the fuck could I do on a track?" Hiruma couldn't help but to wonder.
"Either to throw or just for encouraging." Ishimaru answered.
"Ke!" Hiruma laughed. "Why would I get for that?"
"I don't really have anything to offer other than my continued cooperation as a helper for your team." Ishimaru answered.
"That's enough, track star." Hiruma smirked. "You're the first person who's had the fucking balls to ask for my help."
"Thanks." Ishimaru, nodded his head gratefully.
Hiruma simply smirked back and said nothing.
-at the mentioned track meet-
Hiruma wasn't the only one who showed up to the track meet, much to Ishimaru's surprise, the entire Devil Bat line up was there. Hiruma, as par requested, threw shot put, discus, and javelin. He totally botched the discus throws, but managed meet records in the other two events [1]. A short boy who wore a beanie and sunglasses, turned out to be Eyeshield 21 and he won all of the sprinting events he participated in. Monta, of all people, was extremely good at the hurdles and placed second in both hurdle races. Not to mention the cheerleaders kept everyone's sprit high.
Ishimaru was stunned by the development, but did not complain. He might have been a helper from the track team, but he still was a Devil Bat, and the Devil Bats looked after their own.
Ishimaru thanked Hiruma after they won the meet. But the thanks wasn't just for helping out with the meet, it was also for noticing and respecting his existence.
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Second to last chapter, tell me what you think.