"This is very special indeed." Ako says as she watches her friend finish another box of creampuffs.
"You used to have no time for this and now you're free from that devil." Sara adds.
Mamori wipes the side of her mouth with a napkin and smiles. This is the second day that the three friends go out after class. Yesterday they went to the arcade and now they decided to go to a small café where Mamori could eat the creampuffs she bought from Kariya.
"I'm really amazed… how on earth did you manage to last that long with him?" Ako inquires.
"You know I did all that for Sena." Mamori answers with a smile.
"Yes, but Hiruma-san…" Sara says, lowering her voice as she utters his name, "I mean… he's ruthless."
Mamori recalls what happened yesterday. Her heart still hurts with a mention of his name. It is true that she had cried herself to sleep last night but she decided that she would get over it. Today, she would not get affected no matter how many times she hears his name.
"He is ruthless." Mamori answers, not even mentioning his name inside her head.
She wanted to feel hate, to really loathe Hiruma for being the demon that he is. But Mamori knows him better than that. Being with him as the manager of the Devil Bats she learned that Hiruma's motives aren't always that evil.
Mamori takes another bite from the creampuff. If she can only have a second chance again she would definitely prove to him that she is not a danger to the team.
Just as she starts thinking of plans, she suddenly sees Sena walking past the café's clear window. She smiles and knocks at the glass. Sena instantly looks up and sees her. A wide smile formed on Sena's face and he instantly went inside the café.
"Mamori-neechan!" Sena says happily almost shouting from the excitement. He had been worried since yesterday and now that he sees her, he just wants to know when she will come back to the field.
"I see you're happy. Did you guys win?" Mamori asks.
"Yes! Everyone worked really hard. With this, I'm sure we'll have a chance at Seibu!... well probably… I hope so."
"Sena's being pessimistic again." Sara jests as Ako giggles with her.
"Sena, are you having trouble with your task? I mean, without a manager, you're the first person who would feel the consequences."
Sena thought for a second. First, he just knew that Mamori got fired because of the whispers among the members after the game. Hiruma didn't tell them anything yet. Second, he doesn't really feel any additional burden since he's only acting as a secretary in front of Mamori.
"Uhm… Actually I need to organize something… but I'm not sure if I can finish them by tomorrow." Sena lies.
"Really? Maybe I can help you!" Mamori says with a smile, "I don't like the way I got kicked out of the team and it feels like I just dumped everything to you… so let me help."
Sena's smile grows larger. "Hold on I forgot them! I'll just get them for you." He then dashes out of the café.
"Sena, but the school is quite a distance from here-" Mamori tries to call Sena back but even before she could finish her sentence he was already back.
"Ah, it's already in my bag." Sena says scratching his head.
Of course he went back to the clubroom and just grabbed the papers, tape and other things on top of the table that seemed important, but that would take a lot of time for a normal person. If he said that, Mamori will know he's Eyeshield 21, so as much as Sena didn't want to, he lied again.
Sena places the things he got on top of the table. He can see Mamori's eyes turning serious, she knows what these things are and it seems he got the right things.
"Is this a tape from today's match?" Mamori asks
"Yes, I think that's Yuki's copy… "
"Yuki?"
"I mean… my copy… of course I'm the secretary. But Yuki helped me in taking the video so he also got a copy…" Sena says as he gives out his fake laughs.
"Ok. I'll organize and analyze these and give you the final output tomorrow. How's that sound?" Mamori smiles,
"Sure! That would be amazing!"
"So you two will be going home now?" Sara asks, noticing how the two childhood friends seem to be happy with each other.
"Yeah. It's been a while since the two of us walked home together, right Sena?"
Sena can't be happier. Maybe now he would find the real story behind the whole manager issue.
Mamori thanked her friends promising that they will go out again. The two left with Sena happily telling Mamori everything that happened on the field today. Mamori was just happy to listen. Even if it was only for a day, she missed the Devil Bats.
"Sena, swear to me that Hiruma wouldn't know that I helped you…ok?" Mamori suddenly says out of the blue.
Sena gulps, he doesn't even need to do any of these.
"Uh… sure…." He agrees.
'You're not the only one here that can make plans Hiruma.' Mamori thinks happily.
xxx
Now Hiruma knows the reason why he is annoyed. Yuki might be a genius but he sure sucks at recording the match. It would have been ok if only he doesn't fanboy to Eyeshield 21 a lot. He zooms in to Sena even when not needed and his fanboying were clearly heard all over the match. It's a nice blackmail material but this kind of tape won't be helpful when shown to the team.
Hiruma had to edit through the whole thing to turn it into a more presentable data. On top of that he also have to reread and modify all the member's data adding all the new things he noticed from today's game, he also have to research for developments on Seibu since they are their next enemy… on top of that he also have to read the developments with the other teams from the strongest to the weakest. On top of that he also have to scan through today's news and new American football articles. On top of that he also have to go through all their plays and make quick changes…
The list could go on and on, Hiruma is already changing the order of his to-do list as he drags around and cut the video clips from today's match.
He knew his workload will double but he can only feel it now. He can only sigh and predict how much work he has to do after their match with Seibu. But then again, he will also need someone on the benches during the match with Seibu… but then again, he will need to plan with someone beforehand.
He really needs a manger… he really need one now!
He clicks to start rendering the video. As the progress bar goes from 0% to 1% he goes around and opens his data to start on his next task. On the way to the other main monitor his eyes flashes to the spy monitors.
"Oh yeah… I have to remove the bugs from her fucking room." Hiruma mutters to himself.
He then smiles evilly, "How about a parting peek!"
He then went towards the monitors and opens Mamori's.
He doesn't really know what to expect. Was he hoping that she's still crying like yesterday? Was he hoping that she move on?
But whatever it was he was hoping, it all vanished for once more his manager had surprised him.
"How the fuck…" Hiruma's eyes goes wide open as he sees the data and tape from today's game all over Mamori's desk.
Hiruma then loads his gun and fire consecutive shots to the ceiling, "THAT FUCKING SHRIMP WILL FUCKING GET IT!"
He knew that it can only be Sena… or Monta. But the monkey isn't clever enough to even think of something like this so it has to be Sena.
This is classified information and no one outside the team should get it… even her. She is no longer affiliated with the team so she should not be able to see what is happening inside. Hiruma knows she wouldn't leak information but it irritates him just to see a non-Devil Bat holding that information. He has been trying his best to tell himself again and again that she's no longer part of the team. He haven't made any announcement yet but he will as soon as he knows that he already fully accepted it. . Those brats are not helping him let go and it infuriates him.
"Hmm … that seems odd." Hiruma then hears from the speaker, he didn't notice that he turn the mic on.
Hiruma then pauses, he looks closely at the monitor.
"What's odd?" Hiruma asks, not really expecting an answer.
Mamori then goes to her notebook and scribble something. She looks at the video once more and turn it back a few seconds, she scribbles again.
Mamori is in the way, Hiruma can clearly see what was in her monitor and the things around her but he cannot see what she is writing.
"I see… then with this…" Mamori mutters as her hand gets a piece of paper, she reads it and smiles, "Yes…"
Hiruma focuses on her. He is already standing in front of the monitor feeling like a god looking down on a mortal. His eyes locking at the woman in the monitor as she scribbles and looks at the various data. He enjoys looking at her work like this. She is serious and she knows what she is doing. She is focused and motivated. He can also see that she is enjoying it… and that's rare. It's not normal to enjoy work. He doesn't know for what purpose she is working this hard but he is pleased.
"but you still cannot forget the feeling of having someone that understands you. You say you're used to it but you have already experienced how easy it is when you have someone to share the load with you. You can't deny it… but it is more efficient than before."
Doburoku's words went by Hiruma's head once more, echoing deep inside his mind.
"It is true…this is more efficient." Hiruma silently agrees.
He glances at the clock, it is already three in the morning and she's still awake… furthermore, she's staying up late because she's analyzing Devil Bats related stuff.
He continues to remind himself that she's not their manager anymore... she is not his manager anymore. But as he looks at the woman in the monitor with that kind of determination reflected on her actions his decision slowly weakens. He doesn't want to move on or push her away anymore. He wants to hold on to her and pull her to him once more. And he is sure that this kind of 'pull' is something that transcends mere physical attraction. This is a kind of pull that will help them in getting to the Christmas Bowl.
'If that's not a manager, I don't know what is.' Hiruma tells himself.
Hiruma turns the monitor and speaker off and went back to his seat in front of the main monitor. He re-arranges his tasks removing some of the things he needed to do. He sees the video had finished rendering but he doesn't even think about watching it again. He sits back as he reads…his mind acquiring the information from what he is reading and, at the same time, thinking of something else…
"I need that fucking notebook."
xxx
Sena finally arrives at his classroom just to see Mamori already waiting for him.
"Sena! Good morning!"
Sena smiles.
"Good morning, Mamori nee-chan." Sena greets.
Mamori takes a brown envelope out from her bag and hands it to Sena, "here are the things you gave me yesterday. There's a notebook inside where the summary and other notes are written. I made it very simple for you to understand." She says with a smile.
Sena doesn't really know what to do now but he is thankful. He looks up to her and smiles, "Thank you."
"Now, I better go to my classroom, see you later Sena." Mamori waves as she turns around and run towards her classroom.
Sena just waves at her and smiles. He still doesn't know what to do with the brown envelope.
Sena turn around and sighs, "What should I do with this?" He utters, "Maybe I could give it to Yukimitsu. He might put it into good use."
"Or maybe I could put it into better use."
A sinister voice said those words in front of Sena, he could feel a shadow towering over him. A cold chill went up his spine as the words passed through his ears and into his brain.
He slowly realizes it. He wills himself to look up, afraid that all the warning signs in his brain are right. He knows the voice too well and he cannot be wrong.
"H-H-H-HIRUMA-SEMPAI!" Sena shouts and in an instant everything went black.
xxx
Hiruma didn't go to class once more since he was busy comparing notes with the manager's notebook. Once more she didn't fail him. They noticed the same mistakes and progress. She even noticed some things that Hiruma overlooked.
He was amazed at how much she got from that Eyeshield 21 fanvideo. He might be annoyed last night but he still did his best and had made a decent video from it but the manager didn't modify it and just watched it as it is... with Yukimitsu squealing and everything…
He didn't regret putting Sena inside a bag and hanging the running back inside the classroom just to get to this notebook. He's sure someone is bound to put Sena down.
As simple as the notebook is, the contents are priceless. It is the kind of information that if someone from outside Deimon would be able to get hold they could easily crush the Devil Bats.
Hiruma puts the notebook inside his bag and took out a cellphone, classes are already coming to an end and he must act now. He dials a number and listens as the line connects.
"It's me… I need a fucking car… "
xxx
Mamori happily walks with her friends once more. They were thinking of what to do today ever since the second period. Ako wants to sing but Sara wants to play in the arcade and now they are forcing Mamori to choose.
Mamori just lets them do what they want. If they really want to know what she wants to do then she will say that she wants to go back to the football field and take care of the Devil Bats… or she wants to go back to the clubroom and clean… or she wants to see Hiruma and plan with him…
Mamori smiles, she almost pulled an all-nighter last night. She missed working like that. She missed seeing the team's names and statistics and putting them in order. She missed the noise of the game and the adrenaline rush she gets from it. She feels alive as she watches every game… and she feels even more alive when she knows she is helping even a little.
With each little note she writes she can imagine Hiruma beside her, shouting for more instructions. She knows exactly what he would say to her and she knows what she will respond.
"Are you sure that fucking idiot can do that?" He would ask,
"Yes of course and his name is Taki!" She would answer.
Their drabble will continue as they exchange information with one another. And after all those gun shots, cursing and shouting they will finish. Hiruma will look over her work in silence and usually he won't comment on it… he usually pats her in the head or in the shoulder and she would know he is pleased.
"Mamori… what's wrong?" Sara suddenly notices.
Mamori looks up, and in an instant a tear fell down from her eye.
"Maybe we can do this tomorrow instead." Ako follows seeing Mamori like that.
"No… maybe we can do both. Tomorrow is Saturday after all." Mamori says.
"But you're crying and you look tired."
"And you said you didn't sleep well last night."
Mamori sighs, they were right. She might need plenty of rest tonight. It has been a very crazy week.
"Ok… I guess you two are right. Let's meet up tomorrow perhaps? I just need to sleep a lot today." Mamori says cheerfully.
The three goes their separate ways with Mamori walking alone. Mamori tries to put her thoughts at ease and not think about depressing things.
"Deimon can win without me… I don't have to worry about them." Mamori thinks,
But she knows it is not really that. She knows she misses the team but most of all she misses her quarterback. She misses working with them and working with him. She still wants to be a part of the team… a part of Deimon and a part of that Christmas Bowl dream.
"Hiruma-kun." She whispers to the wind as tears stream down from her eyes.
"You fucking called?" He says with a grin.
She then stops as she notices a car in front of her, the windows down revealing the driver with wild blond hair.
"Get in." Hiruma says.
Mamori takes a second to wipe her eyes. She stares angrily at him, "why would I?"
"We need to talk."
"Is there anything else to talk about? I'm not your manager anymore."
"Yes we need to talk… one, I put the fucking shrimp inside a bag and hang him in front of his classroom… and two, I have three boxes of creampuffs here and I don't like fucking sweets."
Mamori's eyes widen with what he said about Sena.
"Don't worry the fucking Ha-ha brothers helped him down…" Hiruma says as he rolls his eyes.
Mamori goes around the car, opens the door and sat beside Hiruma.
"You better explain to me what you did to Sena… and where are those creampuffs?!" Mamori says angrily.
Hiruma chuckles as he closes his windows. "You are a fucking amusing woman."
"Shut up!" Mamori says as she found a box on top of the dashboard, she takes it and places it on her lap.
Hiruma then starts to drive.
"Where are we going?" Mamori asks realizing that they will go somewhere.
"Somewhere we could talk.. " and with that the car accelerates even further.