Author's Note: The point of view will change many times in here.
Chapter Seven: Finally Found You
"You've been living in a tent?" Riku deadpanned.
Shizuka had finished explaining how she was living on her own, surviving off convenient store food and using nearby houses' bathrooms for hygienic matters. It was certainly not a lifestyle suitable for a girl. Riku had been searching all over the Kanto region for her and he even made a trip to Hokkaido. Aiuchi Hina, the leader of the Wild Fannings, had reported to Seibu's team captain, Ushijima, that Shizuka had quit. Since then, Seibu had not seen Shizuka around. Both Riku and Kid tried getting in contact with her, but she ignored their calls every time. With the help of a few people, Riku managed to track her down, but he did not imagine that she'd been camping in a playground for months.
"Couldn't you have gone to a hotel?"
"As if I have the money," Shizuka pouted.
"Why didn't you return our calls?"
She didn't respond.
Quitting the cheerleading squad was one thing, but disappearing for months and not leaving any clues of your whereabouts was another. And, Shizuka usually didn't like to make people worry so something must have happened to cause her to leave so abruptly. And here Riku thought she was happy being with Seibu. Picking up a bag on the ground, he then handed it to her. She stared at it, unmoving. He reached into the bag and pulled out a white cowgirl hat with a black ribbon laced on the brim.
"You left it behind," he said.
"I don't want it."
Something's up. Kid personally picked out that hat for her. She used to wear it all the time and now she doesn't even want it. Digging into the bag once more, Riku showed her an envelope sealed with dry wax. Imprinted in the wax was the picture of a cowgirl boot; it was the symbol of the Wild Fannings. She looked away. Riku clicked his tongue against his teeth. She wouldn't even accept a letter that her former teammates wrote her. Shizuka clenched onto the chains of the swings, her veins pulsing. She did miss Hina and the others, but she had an idea of what the content of the letter was and couldn't bring herself to read it. Riku put the hat and letter back into the bag.
"I'll be leaving for America to meet back with everyone," he said. "I can tell that you won't be coming with me."
"I'm waiting for someone and I can't leave until I see them again."
"Someone?" He leaned forward with interest.
"Yes, someone important," Shizuka clarified. "Don't misunderstand. Kid is too, but I can't see him. At least not now."
At least she still thinks about the team. Riku felt a bit reassured. He had an inkling as to what may have triggered her departure, but it was something Shizuka and Kid had to resolve on their own. Even if he wanted to help, it didn't seem like she was accepting any from him. He had no place for meddling, but he wanted to know who this "someone" she was referring to.
"I'm going to tell them that I found you so they can stop worrying," Riku stated, taking the bag. "I'll be going."
Once he was gone, her shoulders tensed. Clutching a fistful of her dress, her eyes burned into her lap. At first, she wanted to run off when she saw Riku, but now a part of her wished he could have stayed to keep her company. Everyone was training for the Autumn Tournament and she wasn't going to bother any of them just so she could stop feeling lonely. She had to sort out her issues and become stronger in her own way for the coming fall.
"It's not too late to start over. If anything, you can always find a new dream."
Jumping off the swing, she headed for Deimon High School. The school gates were closed, but she climbed over them. All the staff members were on vacation so no one was going to catch her. Running to the sports field, it felt like forever since the last time she stood on that grass. Setting a timer on her phone, she positioned herself on the starting mark. It had been nearly two years since the last time she timed herself on the forty-yard dash.
It was the second morning of Deimon's training camp in America. They were at the airplane terminal, waiting to board the plane. Mamori was already inside, watching the team stand in a line as Doburoku spoke to them. Gulping down his sake, Doburoku announced their options: return to Japan for a fun summer vacation or go to Hell with the Devil Bats for forty days. Sena recalled the conversation Hiruma and Doburoku shared the previous night, where Doburoku objected to the Death March. Sena did not want to receive an injury that would ruin his athletic career nor miss out on the festivals that would take place in Tokyo. However, the will to become stronger, once again, tugged at his heart. He did not want the results of the Spring Tournament to repeat itself. The way he was now, he could not defeat Shin.
Sena gaped in amazement as Monta tore up his ticket. Then came Yukimitsu and everyone from the line.
With this, the Devil Bats are going to train with their full strength. I want to fight too. I also want to win. Sena wrinkled the edge of his ticket, his fingers preparing themselves. Shizuka, I know I told you to wait, but what will waiting do? Waiting isn't going to do anything for either of us! Take your time? There's only forty days until the Fall Tournament; we don't have time to waste. Ripping the ticket in half, he stepped over the line.
"Kobayakawa Sena, number twenty-one. My position is runningback!"
"Ya-Ha!" Hiruma fired into the air.
The Devil Bats were going to reach the Christmas Bowl.
Stopping for lunch at Footers, Sena was verbally tackled by the Ha-Ha Brothers. Getting a ketchup bottle shoved into his face, he attempted to shush them. Everyone knew his identity except for Mamori, who was speaking with the restaurant's manager. He wondered when she would figure it out or when he would tell her even though Hiruma told him not to. His phone rumbled in his pocket. It was not a signal of an incoming call; it was a signal that his batteries died.
That's right! I need to tell Shizuka not to wait! Sena pulled at his hair when he remembered he didn't have a phone charger. Would Shizuka be waiting for his return for forty days? He loosened his grip on his hair and his hands dropped to the table. No, I'm certain that right now...Shizuka...is doing her best. She may be waiting for me not because she's lonely though. But, because she's waiting to tell me how much she would have excelled by then. I'm sure of it.
Typing away on his laptop, Hiruma watched Sena put his phone away. "Finally realized it? You're not leaving Shizuka in the dirt; you're making her run through it."
"What took you so long, Riku?" Ushijima laughed, patting him on the back. Riku recently arrived at the Ben Ranch, having missed Deimon. The team was taking a break from training, chowing down on burgers and fries. Flipping patties with a pair of tongs, Ushijima asked him how he wanted his meat cooked. Well-done was how Riku liked it.
"I found Shizuka-san."
"You did? That's awesome!" Ushijima handed him a burger, topped with rings of pineapples and smothered in teriyaki sauce. "This is Shizuka's favorite. Give it to her for me."
"I found her, but she didn't come," Riku said.
Kid happened to pass by and Ushijima called him over.
"Did you hear that? Shizuka didn't come. What is that girl doing?" Ushijima exclaimed. "Here, you eat this." He gave Kid the burger. Plopping more patties onto the grill, he rapidly clipped the tongs together. Knowing that Riku found her set Ushijima at ease, but hearing that she didn't come pissed him off to a greater extent.
Picking up the burger, the sauce oozed onto Kid's fingers. Biting into it, he watched Ushijima grumble to himself. Riku finally got his burger after his senpai stopped talking. Ushijima had a habit of babbling and others had the habit of not listening to him. Swallowing the last bite, Kid cringed at the sudden sweetness of the pineapple. Going to wash his hands, Kid motioned for Riku to tag along. As they went to find an outdoor sink, Riku told him about his encounter with Shizuka, who he managed to find with the help of a member from the Bando Spiders.
After drying his hands, Kid draped the towel over his shoulder.
"She's living in a tent?" he asked, checking to see if he heard wrong.
"A tent in a playground."
That was a sight he wanted to witness for himself. He knew Shizuka since middle school. "Knew" as in he knew her name and that was about it. Even after building their relationship last summer, she never struck him as the kind of person who would be as silly as to live in a tent. Given her financial situation, there wasn't much she could do, but why a tent? Shizuka had many friends scattered all over Tokyo; she could have stayed with one of them.
"Do you think she'll come back?" Riku decided to ask.
Kid shrugged.
"If Shizuka-san doesn't want to then she doesn't have to."
It was uncommon for Kid to speak with such an icy tone. There were only a few things that ticked him off; the number one button not to press was his childhood friend. Riku was not sure if Shizuka was one of those provoking buttons, but with Kid's sudden cold demeanor, maybe she was. It had been a while since he heard Kid refer to Shizuka with an honorific. If memory served him correctly, when Riku spoke to Shizuka, she did not attach an honorific to Kid's name.
Thin slices of beef were laid over a yakiniku grill. Shizuka fanned at the smoke emitting from the grill while Koutaro practiced his kicks at three o'clock in the morning. Shizuka brought the portable grill to their school after receiving a lively call from Koutaro. He'd been training the whole day and wanted her to bring him a snack. Shizuka's idea of a snack was a tad obscured, but Koutaro didn't mind. He loved meat. Sending the football through the goal post, he combed back his hair.
"That's smart!" Koutaro snapped his comb shut and went over to Shizuka.
"It's not smart. It's three in the morning," Juri chimed in.
"Not smart? Shizuka's unsmart for living in a tent," he countered.
Koutaro had a habit of picking on her about that. He didn't know her reason nor did he really want to. It was her business and he was allowed to tease her about it. Who wouldn't? Juri shook her head at his comment before sitting on the grass that bordered the track. Shizuka and Koutaro had the tendency to make fun of each other with no ill intent whatsoever; it was all for kicks. They were always teasing each other, even when they first met. It was only by accident that Koutaro and Juri met her at the riverbank last summer.
Stuffing himself with barbecued meat, Koutaro pointed his chopsticks at Shizuka.
"This year the kick team will win!"
"You have a lot of competition," Shizuka warned, fanning herself.
"We'll defeat anyone who gets in our way. So whatever team you're part of, they better be ready."
This struck a chord in Shizuka. Koutaro noticed the sudden change and began combing his hair frantically. It was rare for her to react this way and he did not know how to handle the situation. He looked to Juri for advice. She had no clue either. Cramming a ton of beef into his mouth, he poured a bottle of yakiniku sauce to mix with it.
"This is awesome! Shizuka sure can cook," he managed to muffle out.
Juri smacked herself in the forehead.
Swallowing the clump of food, he pounded his chest to help it go down. To his relief, Shizuka smiled a little. She began to load the grill. He crouched down across from her and helped. Sighing, Juri joined the two morons and helped herself to some food. They chatted about what it was like to live in a tent. When Shizuka said she wanted to be adventurous, they called her silly. There was no need for her to tell them the real reason. Koutarou used the last bit of the sauce and Juri whacked him across the head with the empty bottle.
Out of nowhere, he got onto his feet and shouted, "Please go out with me!"
"Yeah, yeah. Now stop saying stupid things!" Juri dismissed him with a wave of her hand.
Kotarou went to practice some more afterward. This was the second time he'd asked her out. Both instances was when Shizuka was around. Although Juri never agreed, she never rejected him either. Shizuka believed that the only reason why Juri wouldn't say "yes" was because she didn't want to distract him from football. That was what made her such a strong manager. How it reminded Shizuka of her days with Deimon.
"Say, has anyone ever confessed to you?" Juri asked.
"Don't be silly," Shizuka chuckled.
"Oh? So no boyfriends?"
"Not necessarily." Shizuka folded her hands together, grinning slyly.
"I'm not going," Mamori stated. "Please hold your knee still."
Mamori and Hiruma were in a secluded area by the truck. She had left the others to check on his muscle pains. All the newcomers, excluding her, were convinced that Hiruma had no trouble running the Death March while carrying such heavy gear. What Hiruma had no trouble doing was masking his own struggles from the team. Wrapping the cooling bandage around his knee, she could not knot it when Hiruma began to wobble his leg. She managed to secure the bandage after a few attempts.
"Geez, you're so stubborn. You could learn a few things from Shizuka," Mamori scoffed.
"Ke ke ke ke! Learn from flower girl?" Hiruma could have burst into tears at her humorous words if he weren't so exhausted.
"I guess you're right." Mamori cleaned up the First-Aid Kit. She had to admit, Shizuka was not the best role model. In her own way, Shizuka was also stubborn. She never really took anyone's advice and kept her problems to herself even when her friends wanted to help. It was due to her obstinate nature that caused her to break in the end. Even then, her friends still tried to help her, but then she stopped attending school. Mamori could not help Shizuka if she couldn't even find her. "Do you think she'll be alright?"
Hiruma blew a bubble. After reaching a certain size, it popped, splattering all over his mouth. Sucking the gum back in, he continued to chew. A lot has happened since that spring. It's up to fucking flower girl to decide what she wants to do. The fact that Shizuka finally came out of "hiding" meant she was preparing for the second step. That second step was to come to terms with football. Would she continue to sulk about that incident or would she move on?
Sena eavesdropped from his spot at the front of the truck. Shizuka will be alright. Definitely. Throwing a pebble up and down, he missed it and it landed with a thud. Hiruma and Mamori looked towards his direction. That was Sena's cue to get out of there.
Riku just got out of the shower. Passing the living room, he saw Ushijima shouting at his phone. Iseri was there too, trying to calm him down. Apparently, Ushijima had called Shizuka twenty times, but she wouldn't pick up. He probably wanted to hear why she didn't come to Texas. Hanging the towel around his neck, Riku watched Ushijima badmouth her again, calling her ungrateful and inconsiderate. It wasn't anything anyone hadn't heard before, including Shizuka.
"Why hasn't Kid done anything? Doesn't he care?" Ushijima fumed, flinging his arms into the air.
"Ushijima-san...Kid-san has his own way of handling things," Riku finally said, "and so does Shizuka."
The team captain dropped his arms to his side and relaxed. Riku knew he was just worried about her. The whole team would be together again soon and no one would have to worry anymore. Ushijima's phone rang all of a sudden. He received a message from Shizuka. It read: "Please stop bothering me. You're so inconsiderate."
Steam shot out of Ushijima's ears. "Who is she calling inconsiderate?"
Iseri laughed. That was the old Shizuka, always butting heads with Ushijima for fun.
Going back into the hallway, Riku saw Kid leaning against the wall.
"Kid-san?"
"They seem very lively in there," Kid chuckled.
"A lot of energy after long day of practice." Riku didn't dislike the small talk, but he had a feeling Kid wasn't here just to chat, especially not this late in the night. "Kid-san...just so you know, Shizuka seemed to be doing well, despite her circumstances."
He'd hit the jackpot.
Kid smiled slightly and almost sadly. Hearing that was enough.
Author's Note: Next chapter will be another side story, another insight to the past.