[One Shot] Right Here Waiting
Title: Right Here Waiting
Rating: T
Word Count: 1,600
Disclaimers: I do not own any of the characters used here. They belong to their respective owners, namely the creators of Eyeshield 21.
Summary: He wasn't expecting this. But this is all part and parcel of growing up and learning more about the Fucking Manager.
Notes: Oh, how I struggled with this one! I've been meaning to write another one shot in Hiruma's POV, but he's really a tough one to write! Anyways, together with the "Blackmail" prompt from hiruma_x_mamori, one particular song really helped shape up the idea for this one shot, and thus this fic was born. It's called "Right Here" by Staind. Take a listen to it here.
I touched on the blackmail prompt really lightly so I hope it's all right. I tried to keep it in the best way I can. I hope Hiruma isn't too OOC, and despite the light angst at the beginning, you'll enjoy this somehow. ^^
~*~
Hiruma strode forward in big steps, his mind racing. It was now dark, and the air was cold as winter had finally settled in. He knew it was risky, walking down the icy path, but he had to find her. He had to talk to her.
“What do you mean you’re still playing? The doctor just said you can’t!”
The pain in his right arm began to throb, despite being in a cast. She wasn’t answering her phone, she wasn’t at her place, and neither was she anywhere in college. He had just passed by the park and there was still no sign of her. He cursed under his breath, which came out in a soft ball of mist.
“I’ve always let you have your way before because you were always knew what to do and you always thought ahead! Why are you so careless now?”
Her words kept ringing through his head. Careless? Him? He thought she knew better than that. But as he recalculated what they had spoken prior to that, it did seem careless of him.
After all, this was their last game together in Saikyoudai.
“I know winning means a lot to you, and there’s so much for you to prove in the next game… But Hiruma-kun, if you’re permanently injured…”
Yes, there was a risk he could permanently injure his right arm for the rest of his life if he decides to use that new strategy. It was a strategy that required a lot of strength, and so he began to train himself hard, until…
“You know what you’re doing? Hiruma-kun, your arm was swelling during practice! What would have happened if I didn’t see that?”
She was over exaggerating. His arm wasn’t swelling as badly as she thought. And that fucking doctor was only good at increasing her fears. Fuck, he even signed a letter to state that Hiruma shouldn’t play in the next game! He remembered placing his left hand into one of his pockets, and was about to reach for the devil’s handbook that would be the doctor’s undoing until…
“I can’t believe you tried to blackmail the doctor! It’s a good thing I stopped you!”
No, it’s fucking not. He can’t, he won’t miss the next game for anything. He had something to prove, something he had been working on for years. He won’t let his fucking arm or anyone stop him.
“… Then I’ll leave.”
What?
“If you still intend to play, then I’m leaving. I’ll even leave Saikyoudai.”
Who the fuck does she think she is? She can’t just up and leave just because of a fucking arm.
But she did. She walked right out of the clubhouse, leaving Hiruma to his thoughts. His first thoughts ranged from she wouldn’t do it, to let her leave. Then suddenly Hiruma was filled with a feeling he had not expected to feel about the Fucking Manager.
Fear. Cold, dark fear. He thought it was because his chances of winning without the Fucking Manager were lower now… But no, the more he thought about it, the more it became clear.
He could not imagine going through any game, or any form of obstacles before him, without her.
Has she really gone? Has she started preparations to leave Saikyoudai? His left hand reached into his pocket one more time to feel the thick black book, assuring him that he still has the power to keep her with him.
But would it be right?
Hiruma had reached Deimon now. He didn’t expect to come this far, and wondered whether he should check somewhere else. That was when noticed that one of the lights on the school field was on. Maybe one of the students was spending extra hours training? But he had to be sure… so he rushed towards the field.
And there she was, sitting on the familiar bench where she would watch over the team, and where Hiruma would glance over constantly for information and gameplays. She was clutching a football, and she seemed almost frozen as the cold wind blew, strong and biting.
“… Of all the fucking places.”
He watched her jump in surprise, her eyes wide as she looked to see him before her. “Hiruma-kun…”
He took this chance to analyze her face. Yes, she had definitely cried. But it seemed light judging by how her eyes weren’t swollen. “You really do enjoy giving me a hard time, Fucking Manager.”
He watched her look away and kept silent for a moment. “I’m sorry…”
No, he didn’t want a fucking apology. He kept watching her as he watched her nervously rub her thumb against the thread of the football, still clutched tightly to her chest.
Then she spoke up. “I figured it out.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Figured what out?”
“Why you insist on playing the next game,” she breathed softly. “The last game.”
He pressed his lips tightly together. He had not expected that. “Full of surprises, aren’t you?”
Mamori took a deep breath. “I called your father.”
Fuck. “I thought you knew not to get involved, Fucking Manager.”
She shook her head. “I knew… but I also knew something didn’t seem right.” She looked at him steadfastly. “Hiruma-kun, you fool… You should know by now that you’ve surpassed him.”
She really did figure it out. “Not just yet,” he replied.
“He’s been to your games and you know that!” she cried. “I thought he made it clear as well!”
“That fucking man knows nothing!” he shouted back, anger boiling within him. “He can say whatever the hell he wants, but I will not fall into his level!”
“You won’t! What makes you think that?!”
“Like hell you’ll know what I think, Fucking Manager!”
Tears were brimming in her eyes now. “You’re afraid your arm would make you just like your father… Am I right?”
He hadn’t thought of it that way. He only thought that if he stops now, he would be a failure. He hated to admit it, but she had a point. As quickly as it came, he felt his anger subside. He kept silent as she got up and walked towards him. “You’re nothing like him, even he acknowledges that…” she whispered. “Why can’t you?”
He thought for a moment, then sneered. “Being nothing like him gave me the drive to keep going,” he admitted. “It’s got me this far.”
She sighed, looking at the football in her arms. “This game means a lot to you… to us. But no matter what… I can’t bear to see you permanently injured.”
“Is that why you plan to leave?” he asked.
She shrugged. “I hoped that if I left, the strategy wouldn’t work as well and you’d be forced to abandon it.”
“The strategy doesn’t involve you,” he said, curiously.
“I know,” she replied, but she looked directly into his eyes as she said it. He wasn’t sure what she meant at first. Then it all made sense to him. Why he felt that cold fear when she left, why he searched long and hard to find her…
Hiruma cackled softly. “Damn it, Anezaki, you’re a scary woman. You’ve got a power much stronger than any blackmail material I have.”
She smiled as her eyes darted further from him and towards the vast field. “I’m still not that powerful,” she murmured as she placed the football she was holding back on the bench. “Cause even though I was so determined to leave you, look where I ended up? Back in Deimon, back on the same bench where you once always expected me to be, and somehow, right here waiting…”
He didn’t reply. Her words merely cemented his desire to always keep her by his side, for them to always be together. Regardless of how strong she may seem, she’s still fragile, and so he made up his mind.
“About your arm…” she hesitated.
“Fuck it,” he said, looking back at her with his heart feeling a lot lighter. “I still intend to play. There’s no way of backing out now. But we’re gonna have to work on a new strategy. Don’t expect any sleep.”
She gasped. “Hiruma-kun? Are you really…?”
“You still have that report due, right? Kekeke, looks like you’re gonna have it rough the next few days. You can blame yourself for that,” he said, as he turned to leave. “Now let’s get the fuck out of here…”
He felt a light tug on his left arm, and suddenly she was holding his left arm tightly, hiding her face at the back of his shoulder. He saw a smile at the corner of his eye, but felt the warm tears pierce through his sweater.
He reached out for her hand and held on to it. Both their hands were cold, but it felt warm as they held each other close. They walked out of Deimon, then she said, “Your father’s coming for the game, you know.”
He grinned. “Let him come. He’s seen it before, and he’ll see a hell load more of what I’m capable of in the next game.”
She smiled contently. But her expression suddenly changed as she remembered one last fact. “The doctor’s letter!”
His grin grew even wider which he knew would make her even more worried. “I’ll take care of that.”
“Hiruma-kun!” she cried, but let out a sigh as she couldn’t hide her smile. “Fine… I really can’t stop you for that one. Just don’t… ruin the doctor too much, okay? Or I’ll smack you with my broom.”
He cackled as he held her hand even more tightly.
Rating: T
Word Count: 1,600
Disclaimers: I do not own any of the characters used here. They belong to their respective owners, namely the creators of Eyeshield 21.
Summary: He wasn't expecting this. But this is all part and parcel of growing up and learning more about the Fucking Manager.
Notes: Oh, how I struggled with this one! I've been meaning to write another one shot in Hiruma's POV, but he's really a tough one to write! Anyways, together with the "Blackmail" prompt from hiruma_x_mamori, one particular song really helped shape up the idea for this one shot, and thus this fic was born. It's called "Right Here" by Staind. Take a listen to it here.
I touched on the blackmail prompt really lightly so I hope it's all right. I tried to keep it in the best way I can. I hope Hiruma isn't too OOC, and despite the light angst at the beginning, you'll enjoy this somehow. ^^
~*~
Hiruma strode forward in big steps, his mind racing. It was now dark, and the air was cold as winter had finally settled in. He knew it was risky, walking down the icy path, but he had to find her. He had to talk to her.
“What do you mean you’re still playing? The doctor just said you can’t!”
The pain in his right arm began to throb, despite being in a cast. She wasn’t answering her phone, she wasn’t at her place, and neither was she anywhere in college. He had just passed by the park and there was still no sign of her. He cursed under his breath, which came out in a soft ball of mist.
“I’ve always let you have your way before because you were always knew what to do and you always thought ahead! Why are you so careless now?”
Her words kept ringing through his head. Careless? Him? He thought she knew better than that. But as he recalculated what they had spoken prior to that, it did seem careless of him.
After all, this was their last game together in Saikyoudai.
“I know winning means a lot to you, and there’s so much for you to prove in the next game… But Hiruma-kun, if you’re permanently injured…”
Yes, there was a risk he could permanently injure his right arm for the rest of his life if he decides to use that new strategy. It was a strategy that required a lot of strength, and so he began to train himself hard, until…
“You know what you’re doing? Hiruma-kun, your arm was swelling during practice! What would have happened if I didn’t see that?”
She was over exaggerating. His arm wasn’t swelling as badly as she thought. And that fucking doctor was only good at increasing her fears. Fuck, he even signed a letter to state that Hiruma shouldn’t play in the next game! He remembered placing his left hand into one of his pockets, and was about to reach for the devil’s handbook that would be the doctor’s undoing until…
“I can’t believe you tried to blackmail the doctor! It’s a good thing I stopped you!”
No, it’s fucking not. He can’t, he won’t miss the next game for anything. He had something to prove, something he had been working on for years. He won’t let his fucking arm or anyone stop him.
“… Then I’ll leave.”
What?
“If you still intend to play, then I’m leaving. I’ll even leave Saikyoudai.”
Who the fuck does she think she is? She can’t just up and leave just because of a fucking arm.
But she did. She walked right out of the clubhouse, leaving Hiruma to his thoughts. His first thoughts ranged from she wouldn’t do it, to let her leave. Then suddenly Hiruma was filled with a feeling he had not expected to feel about the Fucking Manager.
Fear. Cold, dark fear. He thought it was because his chances of winning without the Fucking Manager were lower now… But no, the more he thought about it, the more it became clear.
He could not imagine going through any game, or any form of obstacles before him, without her.
Has she really gone? Has she started preparations to leave Saikyoudai? His left hand reached into his pocket one more time to feel the thick black book, assuring him that he still has the power to keep her with him.
But would it be right?
Hiruma had reached Deimon now. He didn’t expect to come this far, and wondered whether he should check somewhere else. That was when noticed that one of the lights on the school field was on. Maybe one of the students was spending extra hours training? But he had to be sure… so he rushed towards the field.
And there she was, sitting on the familiar bench where she would watch over the team, and where Hiruma would glance over constantly for information and gameplays. She was clutching a football, and she seemed almost frozen as the cold wind blew, strong and biting.
“… Of all the fucking places.”
He watched her jump in surprise, her eyes wide as she looked to see him before her. “Hiruma-kun…”
He took this chance to analyze her face. Yes, she had definitely cried. But it seemed light judging by how her eyes weren’t swollen. “You really do enjoy giving me a hard time, Fucking Manager.”
He watched her look away and kept silent for a moment. “I’m sorry…”
No, he didn’t want a fucking apology. He kept watching her as he watched her nervously rub her thumb against the thread of the football, still clutched tightly to her chest.
Then she spoke up. “I figured it out.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Figured what out?”
“Why you insist on playing the next game,” she breathed softly. “The last game.”
He pressed his lips tightly together. He had not expected that. “Full of surprises, aren’t you?”
Mamori took a deep breath. “I called your father.”
Fuck. “I thought you knew not to get involved, Fucking Manager.”
She shook her head. “I knew… but I also knew something didn’t seem right.” She looked at him steadfastly. “Hiruma-kun, you fool… You should know by now that you’ve surpassed him.”
She really did figure it out. “Not just yet,” he replied.
“He’s been to your games and you know that!” she cried. “I thought he made it clear as well!”
“That fucking man knows nothing!” he shouted back, anger boiling within him. “He can say whatever the hell he wants, but I will not fall into his level!”
“You won’t! What makes you think that?!”
“Like hell you’ll know what I think, Fucking Manager!”
Tears were brimming in her eyes now. “You’re afraid your arm would make you just like your father… Am I right?”
He hadn’t thought of it that way. He only thought that if he stops now, he would be a failure. He hated to admit it, but she had a point. As quickly as it came, he felt his anger subside. He kept silent as she got up and walked towards him. “You’re nothing like him, even he acknowledges that…” she whispered. “Why can’t you?”
He thought for a moment, then sneered. “Being nothing like him gave me the drive to keep going,” he admitted. “It’s got me this far.”
She sighed, looking at the football in her arms. “This game means a lot to you… to us. But no matter what… I can’t bear to see you permanently injured.”
“Is that why you plan to leave?” he asked.
She shrugged. “I hoped that if I left, the strategy wouldn’t work as well and you’d be forced to abandon it.”
“The strategy doesn’t involve you,” he said, curiously.
“I know,” she replied, but she looked directly into his eyes as she said it. He wasn’t sure what she meant at first. Then it all made sense to him. Why he felt that cold fear when she left, why he searched long and hard to find her…
Hiruma cackled softly. “Damn it, Anezaki, you’re a scary woman. You’ve got a power much stronger than any blackmail material I have.”
She smiled as her eyes darted further from him and towards the vast field. “I’m still not that powerful,” she murmured as she placed the football she was holding back on the bench. “Cause even though I was so determined to leave you, look where I ended up? Back in Deimon, back on the same bench where you once always expected me to be, and somehow, right here waiting…”
He didn’t reply. Her words merely cemented his desire to always keep her by his side, for them to always be together. Regardless of how strong she may seem, she’s still fragile, and so he made up his mind.
“About your arm…” she hesitated.
“Fuck it,” he said, looking back at her with his heart feeling a lot lighter. “I still intend to play. There’s no way of backing out now. But we’re gonna have to work on a new strategy. Don’t expect any sleep.”
She gasped. “Hiruma-kun? Are you really…?”
“You still have that report due, right? Kekeke, looks like you’re gonna have it rough the next few days. You can blame yourself for that,” he said, as he turned to leave. “Now let’s get the fuck out of here…”
He felt a light tug on his left arm, and suddenly she was holding his left arm tightly, hiding her face at the back of his shoulder. He saw a smile at the corner of his eye, but felt the warm tears pierce through his sweater.
He reached out for her hand and held on to it. Both their hands were cold, but it felt warm as they held each other close. They walked out of Deimon, then she said, “Your father’s coming for the game, you know.”
He grinned. “Let him come. He’s seen it before, and he’ll see a hell load more of what I’m capable of in the next game.”
She smiled contently. But her expression suddenly changed as she remembered one last fact. “The doctor’s letter!”
His grin grew even wider which he knew would make her even more worried. “I’ll take care of that.”
“Hiruma-kun!” she cried, but let out a sigh as she couldn’t hide her smile. “Fine… I really can’t stop you for that one. Just don’t… ruin the doctor too much, okay? Or I’ll smack you with my broom.”
He cackled as he held her hand even more tightly.