Yo! Chapter two already… Thanks to those of you who reviewed!!
Review again. :D
theif_uchia: Thanks a whole bunch for the reviews. This is actually my first time publishing something that's not a one-shot, so forgive any abruptness, character problems, etc.
NeoGene : Oh you'll see. Quite a lot of problems to say the least.
SplitPersonalities : I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint you, then. Hopefully, you'll find the other story, although not as good as ours. ;)
Chuya: Then here's the next one. :D
Anon: You'll see what Deimon does. After all, it is Hiruma. And thanks for pointing out the spacing problem. I didn't realize that my stupid thumb was still having problems… :\
The Gentleman J : Alright, I hear you. Here's a better Takami. And expect the Shin problem. It's going to come out… sooner or later.
Lazaros : Then here's our goal: To finish this story no matter how long it takes.
azurese4: LOL. Yeah, I know. We were actually debating whether to put Sena in Shinryūji before deciding on Oujou. LOL. Can you imagine Agon's face?
Disclaimers: blah blah we don't own Eyeshield 21… blah blah blah…
On with the show!
Enjoy~
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Chapter 2: World of Speed of Sound
The next day, Sena walked casually towards the school gate. When he looked up, he noticed a certain tall upperclassman from yesterday. With a bright smile, Sena called out to him.
"Takami-senpai!"
Sena picked up an easy jogging pace towards his sempai. After all, it wouldn't do to reveal his speed now. But then he paused when he realized that Takami wasn't alone. "Uh…" Sena stood dumbfounded at the tall blonde smiling down at him.
"Is this the freshman you were talking about Takami-san?"
"Yeah." Takami said, "Sena-kun, this is Sakuraba Haruto, Sakuraba, this is Kobayakawa Sena-kun." Takami introduced.
"Nice to meet you!" Sena said and bowed.
Sakuraba continued smiling. "Nice to meet you, too!" he said, extending a hand out to the younger boy. "Let's get along well."
Sena nodded, feeling his lips stretch into a smile. See, I can make friends, too! He took Sakuraba's hand gratefully. Now I can tell Mamori-neechan all about this!
"Takami, it's almost time," Sakuraba said looking at the giant clock on the school. There was an air of excitement around Sakuraba.
"Time for…?" Sena asked curiously. Could this have something to do with the meeting that Takami-senpai said yesterday?
"We're in the American Football club." Takami instructed as Sakuraba nodded.
"American… football?" Sena questioned. What's that? I don't remember ever hearing about it before. Is it something like soccer?
"Yeah. Hey! Why don't you come watch our practice? Who knows? Maybe you might want to join as well!" Sakuraba asked cheerfully.
Takami looked uncertain at that. "But would that be alright? Sena-kun is so small, after all." But then he paused, realizing he might be offending the younger boy. "I'm sorry, Sena-kun. It's just…"
"No," Sena said, shaking his head. "I understand." Even here, I am… "But I'd love to see the practice."
As soon as those words left his mouth, Sena found himself being dragged to the practice grounds. I can't show them my speed. That's my only secret weapon in case someone tries to bully me. A certain tall white haired boy from yesterday came into mind. And since American Football is also a sport, I probably would get hurt if I do something stupid. And since I don't have anything but speed, I probably won't be able to be of much help. His earlier years of PE class came to mind. Sena found himself feeling rather depressed again. I guess I could try to be a manager.They get to participate in a complete different ways from the players, too. Besides, I can manage managing. Sena thought. At least Mamori-neechan will be happy that I joined a club…
"This is it!" Sakuraba pointed at a large green field with white markings and numbers on it, "Today is tryouts, so there's probably not going to be any real fun. Why don't you tryout with us, too? It'll give you a basic understanding of the game," Sakuraba suggested.
Takami frowned at that. "Sakuraba, I don't think Sena-kun should-"
"Takami-sempai! Sakuraba-kun!" The three of them looked up to see a girl run up to them run up to them. "We-…Oh! Hi there, I didn't see you!" She said kindly as she shook Sena's hand, "I'm Wakana Koharu, Oujou's manager. You are?"
"Kobayakawa Sena, I was asked by Takami-sempai and Sakuraba-sempai to come here." Sena replied with a smile on his face.
"Really?" She looked at Takami, then at Sakuraba with a raised eyebrow. "Is that so?" The two shrugged and went their ways, waving quick goodbyes to Sena.
"They said that I might be inspired to join the team. But to be truthful, I'm more interested in being a manager," Sena admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.
Koharu jumped, looking obviously delighted. "That's great! I'll teach you all about being a manager! Call me Koharu-neechan, got it?"
"What the hell are you guys doing?!?!" Sena was so startled that he fell over. He saw an old man twitching, yelling at them to come over here and do the tryouts. What a scary guy… wait a minute, is he the coach? Oh no… Sena thought, worrying already. I'm dead, aren't I?
But Koharu was already prepared. She took Sena's hand with a bright smile. "Come on, Sena! I'll show you what being a manager is all about!"
Sena followed Koharu, helping her and doing what she tells him to do. Being a manager is pretty hard. Looks like I have lots to work on... Sena thought as he got water for everyone on the team. He greeted everyone with a smile like Koharu had told him to do. By then, the members were beginning to warm up to him and began to joke around with Sena as well. Sena smiled. See? I can make friends, too! I was wrong to think that I'll just be bullied! High school really is the best time of one's life!
Then Sena found the guy who had chased him yesterday. Sena froze, unable to give the guy the water properly. I thought too soon! He'll definitely kill me! Please don't look up; I want to live… He began to tremble. He held out the water bottle, but that too, trembled. The boy looked up, and Sena found himself staring into the most stoic expression.
"Uh… er… um… that is," Sena stuttered.
The boy nodded, taking the water from his hand without another world. Sena stared at the boy as the boy continued on to ignore him. Sena sighed in relief. Thank god. I don't think he realizes that he was chasing me.
"Alright then, it's time for the most dreaded part of the tryouts. The 40 yard dash." Koharu announced.
The students got in a line, trying to outrun each other. However, most of the speed was the same: 5.5 seconds. Sena frowned. If 5.5 seconds is the average, I wonder what time I'll get… But his musings were cut short by the no-emotion guy.
"Shin, it's your turn," Takami said, giving the linebacker a pat on the back. So his name is Shin... Sena thought.
"GO!"
Sena's eyes widen as Shin began to run. He stared openly as Shin slowed to a stop couple steps after the 40 yard line. Shin-san is so fast. I…I don't think I can keep up with that speed. Sena felt as if the world was about to end. If he became this fast only after a day…what's going to stop him from killing me the next time he chases me?
"Shin, your speed increased again, it's 4.37." Takami said, quite amused.
The group of students all nodded knowingly. Sena heard bits and pieces, but pretty much all the talk was the same. No one was as fast as Shin, and therefore Shin was the fastest linebacker in Japan right now. Sena stared at Shin's back with amazement. That speed…there's no way for me to beat it! Ah…that's why I'll always run. Because I can't fight against guys like that.
"How good is that?" One of the freshmen asked. Sena's ears perked. He looked up at Takami, knowing that the older boy knew practically everything on earth.
"Let's say Suzuki Ichiro got 4.4 when he became the steal leader... Now do you understand?"
"WOW!" The freshman said in awe.
"It's like sonic feet!" Sakuraba added proudly. Sena smiled. I guess they're all friendswith each other.
"Sooner or later, you'll be faster than 4.3!" Otawara said happily while patting Shin on his back.
"There's a tall barrier in front of this… The human limit for the 40 yard dash is 4.2 seconds. Even professional athletes find that time to be difficult. If 4.4 is the world of speed of sound, then 4.2 is the world of speed of light. That's what I meant by a tall barrier. It's almost impossible to cross…" Shin concluded with a dark aroma surrounding him. His mind was already on the small figure of yesterday. That man probably already surpassed it… My pathetic run in the world of sound.
"Ah! I almost forgot!" Takami said as he turned to Sena. "Sena-kun, why don't you run too?" he asked with joyous smile on his face.
"But…I'm only helping." Sena protested, realizing that if he were to run now, he might be compared with the best. He turned to look at Koharu, hoping the older girl would come to his rescue. But the girl was busy talking to the coach. Sena was on his own this time.
"Part of a manager's duty is to participate in team activities." Takami said, knowing how to rope the brunette already.
Sena sighed, resigning to his defeat. "If you say so," he said softly. If I run too fast, Shin-san might realize who I am. I can't let them see my true speed.
"Ready?"
Sena nodded, "Alright… start… Now!"
Everything seemed to slow as Sena dashed forward. No! I can't use all my speed! He slowed himself down just a bit right before the 40 yard line. This is for the best…for the best…
Shin's eyes narrowed. Odd. He's not running his all, he realized. His starting dash was fast but…or is he naturally that weak?
Takami's eyes grew, "Amazing Sena-kun!" he exclaimed, "With a little more training, you could become a valuable player! Why don't you give up on managing and come join the actual team?"
"Eh?!" Sena exclaimed, "Why? What was my time?"
"5.0 seconds on the dot." Takami said proudly. "It's exactly the same time as Sakuraba!"
Sena brightened. "Really?" he exclaimed, looking quite happy. But he quickly sobered when asked to join the team again. Sena thought hard about this. If I play a sport, I can become stronger. And by doing so,I can show Mamori-neechan that I can stand on my own two feet.He looked back at Takami. But playing a sport hurts… no! I don't want to be weak and protected anymore! But…if I had ran my all just then…I wonder what would've happened. Would Shin-san have realized…? Would he have beaten me up?
With a deep breath his looked up at Takami "Takami-sempai, I…I…" Sena gulped. "I'll do it!" he said, determination shining in his eyes. Takami smiled proudly at him. Don't worry Sena, I'll make certain that you aren't murdered on the field.
"Welcome to the American Football Club, Kobayakawa Sena." Takami said.
He noted that the coach had been staring at the latest run and Takami bit back a smirk. The coach was tapping his chin, looking rather thoughtful. But Takami highly doubted that the coach was thinking about using Sena. After all, Sena was too small to be used! That's right. With Shin's incredible run and Sakuraba's height…this year's Oujou will dominate the rest! We will defeat Shinryūji Nagaas well!
"Sena!" They turned around to see Koharu calling him over. Obediently, Sena walked over to her.
"Could you buy some cleats for the team? Here's the money and the list of all the sizes. Sorry for making you do this even though you just came here." She said in an apologizing tone. "But the coach wants me to measure everyone's bench press!"
"It's fine Koharu-neechan!" Sena said happily.
He ran off, his running a bit faster than his time. Shin saw the change and frowned. So I was right. He is fast. But why did he hold back? Was he scared that he might outrun me, thus causing people to look down on me? Now that I think of it, he was trembling earlier when he saw me. Is he a fan? But more importantly, is he the boy from yesterday? Shin turned to Takami. "Takami-san, there's something I want to check out…"