Disclaimer: I do not own Eyeshield 21 or any of its characters.
"How was your weekend Mamo-chan?" her friend, Ako asked.
"Sigh. Same same." She answered, dejected.
"I hate to say this but I'll say it anyway…"
"I told you so!" Asa, who just came in the classroom, interrupted.
Mamori and Ako regarded her with disbelief.
"What?" she asked nonchalantly, "You'll say it anyway Ako-chan."
"Yes! I was about to say it until you came stealing my line." She pouted.
"No one's stopping you to try again." Asa urged.
With renewed spirit she opened her mouth "I told…"
"How childish of you guys." Mamori interjected, feeling pathetic. She should have spent her weekend with Ako and Asa, they invited her to go shopping with them but she declined because she already agreed to Hiruma's invitation, not that she has a choice. Add the fact that her dream really convinced her to not cancel. Why did she ever think that her library dream would somehow come to life?
"Hey!" Ako complained, oblivious to Mamori's inner mourning.
"No need to repeat the obvious Ako-chan." Mamori said, low in spirit.
Both of her friends turned serious. "What's wrong Mamo-chan?"
"I don't know… I just feel like I'm not really living my life… that I'm somehow being short-lived. I mean we're in our third year and all I've been doing is studying… doing club activities… being the responsible manager…Always doing what I'm expected of. Is that really living? I want to explore, to widen my horizon, to discover new things, to have fun with my friends…" she stopped to look at her friends, "to meet new people, to date, and ultimately to…fall in love. Isn't that the goal of any young teenager?"
"Then you can be that Mamo-chan. It's not too late. And with your angel-like looks you'll even have a life that any other teenage girl would die for." Asa encouraged, fully understanding where she's coming from.
"Of course you can have that Mamo-chan. You just have to change your perspective a little. Analyze less. Enjoy more. Be just a girl instead of trying to be some superwoman." Ako second emoted.
A little light emerged from Mamori's eyes, "You're both right. I can do that. I can be just a girl and enjoy life but… enjoy while knowing my limitations." Well she just can't go acting irresponsibly now could she.
"Of course. So how about today after school?"
"There's football practice. How about tomorrow? Hiruma-kun will take the team to god knows where for a secret training."
"Perfect." Ako high-fived Asa.
"Mamo-nee is something the matter?" Suzannna asked, her antenna on alert.
"Why do you ask Suzanna-chan?" Mamori was busy looking at her clipboard.
"There's just something different with you Mamo-chan."
"Oh. Don't mind me." She responded. "Will you look at that Sena has improved his speed yet again." she shared, discreetly trying to change the subject.
Suzanna suddenly jumped for joy and started cheering for Sena who was trying to outrun the hungry Cerberus.
Mamori silently went back to the clubroom.
Hiruma followed her movements from the side of his eyes.
Well played fucking manager.
Mamori was having the time of her life. She was together with her two bestfriends, enjoying good coffee partnered with fun sensible conversations. She was laughing her head off.
"Excuse me." A man in his mid-forties came to their table. "I'm sorry to disturb but I can't help noticing you Miss. I'm Matt Farell and I'm actually looking for a new face for our new line of clothes and you are perfect for that job." He was looking directly at Mamori.
"Me?" Was she in some kind of gag show?
"I understand that this may come as a shock and may be unbelievable but looking at you… I couldn't pass up such a rare opportunity. Anyway here's my card. My company's name is there. You can check it out if you want." He turned professional. "Think about it Miss. You could save our asses here… it took us almost a year to find someone suitable for the job. Call me."
They waited until the man was out of the door before her friends started shrieking. "Mamo-chan! Oh my! You'll be famous!"
"We don't even know if it's legal or not. What if he's in some gang looking for prostitutes to be sold off or worst he's some serial killer targeting students. Let's be realistic here." Mamori sanely reasoned out.
"Then why don't we find out." Asa took out her cellphone and dialed a number. She was talking on the phone in no time. She was nodding her head. She bid goodbye and closed her phone.
SHE SCREAMED.
"Mamo-chan! It's true. They were named by a famous magazine as Enterprise of the year for four consecutive years now. Their business is based in the US and they are currently in search for the next face of their new clothing line which they are about to launch next year. And Matt Farell is the one in charge of finding that next big thing." She emphasized the last three words by looking at thin air with her hands clasped together.
It was Ako's turn to scream. "Mamori this must be the sign you were asking for. A chance to live your life to the fullest and what did I tell you, it might turn out better than any teenage girl's and it surprisingly did!"
Both of them were already way ahead of themselves. "All those expensive clothes, designer bags, shoes…" Dreamily imagining being in the piles of the aforementioned things.
"Hey, you two, stop! We don't even know if I'll be great in front of the camera."
Both were taken out of their trance.
"Only one way to find out." Asa waved the calling card.
"Alright. I'll just try. What are the odds that I'll be accepted anyway."
"You're a natural. One look at you and I know you'll be a gem. Trust me Dahling' I've been in this industry far too long to know talent when I see one." The gay photographer praised her in English.
She smiled a thank you in return, fully understanding the language but was too overwhelmed to even form a single word.
She felt dizzy, her head heavy. Everything felt surreal. She was wearing an exquisite gown made for and worn by a princess, wearing it even made her feel like one.
She did not expect this. She did not even believe for this to be possible. It's like her own body has a mind of its own, regally posing in front of the camera once the flashes starts.
She squinched her eyes shut and slapped both sides of her face. If this is a dream please wake up now, Mamori. But once she opened them she was still there.
She looked around, lights surrounded her. She was in the midst of professionals. Of artists. Could she really do this? There are still a lot to consider like her school, her family, her friends and most importantly her future. Is this her future? Is this what's meant for her? Thoughts continuously flooded her mind.
"Well how's my gem?" Matt Farell proudly asked. Proud of himself for his sharp keen eyes and proud of her because she did not disappoint. She turned out to be quite a talent, posing instinctively in front of the camera, her form and bodyline wonderfully angled producing excellent shots.
"Truthfully, very overwhelmed." She gave him an uncertain smile.
"No pressure Anezaki-san although I can only give you at least a week to think it over. We're way behind schedule." He gave her a pat in her shoulder.
"Thank you Mr. Farell that may be enough."
Mamori was silently eating and glancing at her mom from time to time. She was both thankful and surprised when her mom allowed her to try to model.
"What is it Mamori? You've been fidgety the whole time."
"Well mom… I've been considering taking the job. Do you think I should?" she was seeking advice from her mom.
"I know this is something you just can't decide overnight. Your future is at stake here but life has always been loops of uncertainties sweetheart and sometimes life can be too cruel. But there is such a thing called choice, my dear. You have the power to make your life worth living. You design your life. It's not an easy decision and I'm afraid that this time only you can decide for yourself. I'm your mother Mamori but I can't control your life and I can't make decisions for you especially now that you're almost becoming your own woman." She cupped her face. "You're mature enough to decide for yourself and besides, you know yourself better than anyone else. All I can do is to support you. But let me ask you one thing Mamori, if you let go of this opportunity would you still be able to live with yourself? Think it through Mamori. It would be a hard decision but ultimately you have to make one." her mother hugged her with so much love and understanding.
"Think it through Mamori." She kissed her cheeks.
"So are you going?" Ako questioned during lunchtime. Mamori begged them to keep it a secret until she made her choice.
"I thought it through last night and I decided to go. It's an opportunity of a lifetime and I don't think I'd like myself very much if I let this chance go to waste. I do not want to wake up one morning regretting. And I realized that either way I will have what ifs… because if I do grab this chance then maybe one day I will have to question myself what if I didn't and if I didn't take this then what if I did… do you get me? Whatever choice I make I still have things to give up… things to leg go off. So might as well live my life a little dangerously. Enjoy the ride while I still can. A time will come when we have to leap to get to the place we want to go and I think it's my time to leap."
Ako and Asa sniffed, trying to stop their now pouring tears.
"When will you be going?"
"Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? So unfair of you Mamo-chan!"
"Trust me, it'll be for the best. If I stay here too long I might want to change my mind so…"
Both her friends sent secret messages to each other.
"Have you told them?"
"I will later after they return from their secret training. They're getting stronger you know… and Sena's growing up… he doesn't need me now to protect him." She wistfully looked up at the sky. One of the last times she'll be looking at the sky from Japan.
"We will miss you Mamo-chan… Please don't forget us… Call us once you land safely…" they hugged each other.
All three of them cried and started making promises of never ending friendship and constant communication.
She was at the rooftop enjoying her peace and quiet, treasuring it for the moment. The team will soon arrive, so she would have to bid peace and quiet goodbye but somehow she missed the team's screaming… Hiruma's cackles… Cerberus' barks…
She stood near the fence. She was trying to form the right things to say once the team arrives when her train of thought was interrupted by familiar wails of fear and panic. They were coming from the sky so she looked up and saw Hiruma kicking the boys out of the airplane.
"Hiruma-kun!" she shouted.
Hiruma might have heard her but ignored her just the same.
"Kekeke. That's my surprise for a job well done!" Hiruma continued to kick each member of the team out of the airplane. He was enjoying himself too much.
The Devil Bats players were in the mercy of gravity as they were falling down fast.
"Must press the right button." Sena opened his clenched eyes and saw how fast he was falling. "Ahhhhhh!" he closed his eyes again but this time tighter.
"Mukya! Is it the red or white button?" Monta helplessly looked at both buttons and remembered their captain's exact words Choose correctly fucking brats. It's either you fly like a bat or explode to tiny pieces like a devil bat firework.
Devil Bat color is red so maybe I'll choose red but what if Hiruma-san knows that we'll choose red and instead made the white button the right button that will open the parachute, they all tried to think like Hiruma but failed generously.
I'll choose red.
I'll choose white.
Red.
White.
All of them chose a color.
Kami-sama….
I still have to tell Suzanna-chan that I…
Mukya! I want too see Mamo-nee…
I'm hungry…
Twirl… twirl…
Kami-sama…
Hiruma you bastard…
Then they heard explosions.
"Sena!" Mamori shouted. She ran to the football ground. She saw everyone panting from exhaustion and shaking from the ordeal. They lay flat on the ground breathing hard.
"Mukya I chose the right button!" Monta proudly stated.
"What button did you chose Monta?" Sena asked weakly.
"The white one."
"Me too."
"But I chose the red one."
"I did too."
Leaving everyone confused.
Hiruma came down from the airplane. "Kekeke. No button was right or wrong. Whatever button you choose it will activate the parachute."
Pure evil.
They looked at Hiruma through torture-tormented eyes and crumbled on the ground.
Hiruma's definition of fun is truly torture.
"So mean of you Hiruma-kun." She could imagine the mental torture they have gone through from choosing between the two buttons, between two choices... and infinitely one goal, saving their lives. Coincidentally she was also at their position not so long ago and maybe everything would turn out just fine like how everyone was still alive now.
She cleared her throat, "Since everyone is already here then I'd like to make an announcement."
Hiruma popped his gum.
"I don't know how to begin saying this but I'll just go straight to the point. Starting today I'm officially quitting as your team manager." She said a little offhandedly.
The team looked at her with shocked faces and a single question ringing in their minds, which Sena voiced out, "Why Mamo-nee?"
"I'm leaving Japan. My flight's actually tomorrow. We'll you see…" she started narrating how she ended up going to the States.
"Wow! Mamo-nee that's wonderful." Sena was sad but he was happy for his Nee-chan. He did not doubt that she'll do well as a supermodel, it's his nee-chan they're talking about. "One day, I'll meet you there Mamo-nee."
"I'll hold you to that Sena."
"Mukya! Me too Mamo-nee… I'll see you there so don't go getting married yet…" Monta sniffed from crying.
Mamori laughed but nodded just the same.
"Fighting, Mamori-san!"
"Thank you everyone."
"Won't the captain say something?" fucking old man asked.
"Tsk. She needs no words from me."
"How about bon voyage, Hiruma-kun…"
"Then bon voyage, fucking ex manager."
When past midnight came, the noise in the clubroom came to a halt, as each member silently left the clubroom with light hearts and heavy feet. They bid their last goodbyes to Mamori since she requested that they need not come at the airport to avoid emotions from cracking and minds from changing.
They longingly looked at the football field that once brought them together and helped forge bonds that outstood and will outstand the tests of time.
At the center of the field stood the manager of the team, the big sister, the mother, the clean freak... and at more than one time the devil's support... though the devil would never admit to such ludicrous fact.
The easy breeze of spring lingered through her skin causing her to momentarily shiver.
And everything went black.
Alarmed, she pulled the intrusive thing that fell on her head with a thud and was hindering her sense of sight. It was a jersey jacket and it was not just any jersey jacket... it was the captain's. She could smell the faint hint of gun powder and Hiruma's own unique scent which did nothing but tease her from burying her face into it.
"Control Mamori... Control..." she summoned.
"Quit gaping at it!" an annoyed masculine voice reprimanded from her back.
She did not realize she was staring at it for a full minute.
"Did you give this to me Hiruma-kun?" More like threw she corrected inwardly.
"Fuck no. It just randomly fell from the sky."
Smooth Mamori... Just smooth… she berated herself. The answer was as clear as day.
She silently coated her thin school uniform with his jacket. She relaxed and wallowed on the sudden warmth that encased her. They stood side by side in the center of the field. No words were exchanged, nor were feelings conveyed but Mamori was flooded with relief and unexplainable contentment. It occurred to her, that time and again this has always been enough... for now at least.
"Better stop munching those creampuffs now or you'd end up like fucking fatty instead of a supermodel." he menacingly advised.
She gave him a warm smile instead of a retort. It was after all their last night together. "I'm generous at the moment so I'll let that slide and any other remarks that you'd like to add Hiruma-kun."
"Keh. Where's the fun in that."
Silence fell again as both of them were preoccupied, Mamori with thoughts of the future and Hiruma with whatnots. They stayed still for a couple of minutes, just looking forth the dark sky... Until Hiruma started to take his leave.
Mamori quick in her action yanked his jacket away from her body, "Eh, you forgot your jacket Hiruma-kun."
"Keep it." He stated simply.
She was about to smile from his sudden concern when he added, "Even your fats can't shield you from the slight chill creampuffs."
Despite herself, she laughed.
"I will surely miss you Hiruma-kun..." suddenly panic stricken she started to babble, "I mean you know... not just you but everyone else on the team. Sena, Monta, Kurita, Yukimitsu, Daikichi, Tetsuo, Muasahi..."
He popped his bubblegum and gave her a disinterested shrug, saving her for anymore unnecessary embarrassment.
She inwardly sighed. Relieved that Hiruma was not the least bit affected by her sudden slip... though she admitted there was a slight pinch in her heart.
He lay calmly on the team's bench busily cleaning his gun, his eyes glinting when he shouted to warn her. "Careful on your way out of the field... I might have forgotten to diffuse a few bombs here and there."
"Very funny, Hiruma-kun..." But she did cross the football field with diligence and with extra caution. No harm in trying to keep all her vital parts intact. She could hear Hiruma laughing from the distance. She bit her tongue gently to distract her from shouting at him. She can't lose her concentration as important matters were at hand.
"Some guy you are Hiruma-kun..." she breathed out instead. It was spoken too soft for him to hear or was it? But either way, no response came from Hiruma. She let out a sigh of relief when both her feet landed out of the bomb site but subsequently almost lost her balance when a bright shiny object was whirled at her.
A triumphant smile decorated her face as she held it.
"Damn, looks like you learned a thing or two from practice."
With a sudden pounce of energy, she was about to boast when her smile suddenly disappeared as she realized what she was holding... It was a gold necklace adorned by an elaborate red football outlined in gold as its pendant.
Her beating heart rang in her ears. Blood started to rise from her veins making her face red. And Oh her knees... were they even called knees when they can barely support her?
She tried to think but words were far from her, very far from her.
"It's a bribe for a future deal." he simply stated. Her knowledge of speech still lost to her, she waited for him to continue. But it looks like that was all she was getting from him.
In no time he was on his move, walking out of the school premises.
Helpless, she followed him.
She was almost at the school gate when he stopped just outside the gate, making her retrace her steps. They were positioned face to face, the open gate separating them.
"Just a damn advice Anezaki, once you wear that then that seals the deal."
Finally getting enough air, she was able to speak. "How would you even know if I will... wear it I mean?"
He just looked at her with his piercing green eyes and his usual grin when his on top of everything. When was he ever out of the loop anyways?
Resigned she blew her bangs away from her face. "Alright, I'll keep that in mind Hiruma-kun."
She even gave her salute.
"As long as you damn remember that Anezaki there's a good chance you'll save your soul or fucking lose it... whichever you will choose."
"I think that's one of the longest statements I've heard you say Hiruma-kun." she humorously deduced, then added, "But don't you think it's unfair on my part not knowing whatever this deal we are talking about?"
He gazed into her, his stormy green eyes meeting her baby blues.
Hypnotized and suddenly daring, she raised her arm to gently touch his face. Her warm palm made contact with his cold hard face. She waited for him to slap her hand away but Hiruma made no movement to do so.
She stifled a sigh. Any girl could just drown into his eyes. For an instance he let his guard down, his nonchalant façade falling… And for this short precious seconds, she could see the Hiruma no one dared to see… the Hiruma he allowed no one to meet even himself.
He reached for her outstretched hand which was palming his face and for a brief moment held it into his. She could swear he tenderly squeezed it before he let go. And he was back.
"Kekeke. Works for me." And he was off to only the devil knows where.
She held the necklace close to her heart and whispered to the wind, hoping that it would send her message to its intended recipient.
"One day Hiruma-kun… One day…"
A/N: And that's the end of this story! The direction of the story might have been way far from the previous chapters but well that's just how I write I want to thank everyone for their support especially for those who added this fic to their favorites and for those who placed this on alert. My endless gratitude to you guys. Perhaps a sequel is in order? Until then, Ciao!
PS Sorry for the long update. Life was toxic so yah.