Chapter Text
Hiruma's sharp eyes never miss anything. It's one of his great strengths as a QB. He can read a referee's stopwatch from half a field away and see a pass target within a field of vision narrowed by the heaviest block line. So of course he can recognize his own father in the stands at the small field on Saikyoudai Elementary School campus.
Hiruma at 9 years old
They're fighting again. Hiruma can hear him from his room. He can't be sure how it started, since he had been sleeping, but it was likely something arbitratry. It always is.
Now it's moved onto how frequently his father has to travel overseas for his matches. It's true - he's hardly ever home these days.
"And Youichi!" He leans in a little closer against the cup that he has pressed against the wall. "He's always playing with that damned board by himself. He still won't talk to me, but the way he looks at me- it's like he's reading my every move, but I can't understand what he wants! How do you expect me to handle him by myself?!"
He's heard enough. Hiruma sets the cup down and sneaks out the window.
Present Day
On top of her managerial duties, Mamori also volunteers at the elementary school linked to their college's campus. She hasn't given up her dreams of becoming a teacher, but football has offered her new avenues of approaching education. Today she's organized an exhibition match between the Saikyoudai Wizards and the Enma Fires, part of a big community effort to get students into sports so they don't stray down the wrong path.
Hiruma, of course, is a volunteer. "It'll be a great opportunity to gather intel on the opposing team," he'd said with a gleeful cackle. He had0 offered to "help" enlist players, but she assured him she could handle it without his threat notebook.
Sure enough, she came through, even with several members from Saikyoudai's usual starters - not that it took much to convince Ikkyu. As for the Enma Fires, she just needed to ask. Kurita lives to play and even their captain, Unsui, knows that the team needs more experiences in real matches, preferably against other colleges in the league.
As expected, when word got around that the Eyeshield 21 would be playing, Mamori had no problem attracting an audience.
Hiruma at 10 years old
After school, Hiruma spends all his time at the American military base, watching the football matches. He's never had any interest in sports and he doesn't have the constitution for a game as rough as this, but from a distance, he sees the players as pieces moving across a board. And board games he understands. He starts placing bets and he almost always wins.
It's satisfying. Even though he can't play, it's the only time he really feels in control of his life.
His father is home more these days, but his parents still argue. He'd rather not be around to hear it.
Present Day
Hiruma has been dodging his father's calls ever since the old man left him behind in Japan to chase after his runaway mother.
His large collection of cell phones isn't there just for spare parts. Of course he never knows when he'll need to set up an illicit recording device, but several of those phones are burners that he can easily discard should his father ever actually manage to get in touch with him.
He doesn't have time for these meaningless displays the old man insists on showing. He's gotten too used to being disappointed.
Just like he does with all the calls and voicemails, Hiruma puts on his helmet and ignores the man in the bleachers. "Huddle!"
Hiruma at 11 years old
His father's match is over. Hiruma can already call it, having noticed how his strategies have changed. Hiruma sits back in his bed, watching the latest match unfold on live broadcast. His father is doing his best to hold his ground, but it'll be over in a few moves. The opponent isn't weak or stupid. He'll keep pushing forward while Hiruma's father struggles not to lose too much too fast.
Hiruma could perhaps have forgiven that had his father not also applied this strategy to his personal life. These days, his parents don't fight so much. But it isn't because time together has reminded them of how much they love each other or any bullshit like that.
His father just doesn't even have the energy to fight anymore. He knows how this will turn out, but he's trying to delay the inevitable, to keep from losing too much too fast.
In a race against time, time always wins. Even Hiruma knows that.
Hiruma turns off the TV. It's over. His father will lose.
Present Day
Hiruma believes in one adage: trying is meaningless if you don't intend to win.
As his team gathers around him for the huddle, he catches a glimpse of Kurita and smirks a greeting at his closest and oldest friend.
"Listen up, fuckers. We're going to attempt a break through the middle." Some of the newbies look surprised, as he expected. They aren't used to playing with him yet.
"But nobody could-"
"Knock down Kurita? I know, idiot. That's why we're doing it. We can only catch them by surprise once, but it'll work. Fucking Red Eyes, you reviewed the footage?"
"Naturally I prepared for today's performance."
"Good. All I need is an opening. Fucking Newbie, you just need to run that route like we practiced."
"Yes, sir!"
Hiruma took in a deep breath. "Let's fucking kill them!"
"Ya-ha!"
1st year at Mao
It's Hiruma's first year living on his own. His father has been forced to retire from the game, but now he's overseas chasing leads on his wife. When she left, neither of them had been surprised, so Hiruma doesn't know why he's bothering.
Perhaps this is for appearance's sake, so he won't have to face the pitying eyes of those around him.
Hiruma doesn't give a fuck. He decides to take this chance to distance himself from the both of them once and for all. He moves out without telling his father, blackmailing the owner of a business hotel in the city into setting him up for free.
At least his mother taught him one useful lesson before she left. Find someone's weak spot and you can make them do anything you want. If he'd found out hers earlier, perhaps he could have used it to make her stay.
As it turned out, his mother hated his observant eyes only because she thought he knew about her affair.
Present Day
Hiruma's plan works. The Fires are all expecting Akaba to run or Taka to catch a super high, long pass. They probably put all their eggs into Eyeshield's basket, hoping to at least prevent a throw by sacking him. But overestimating the opponent can work against you, too.
While the line protects him, Hiruma has Akaba using his infamous spider poison technique to hold Kurita, just long enough for Hiruma to test out the latest weapon in the Wizards' artillery. He barely manages to see the pass connect before the fucking chibi tackles him to the ground.
"You're getting faster, fucking chibi."
"So are you, Hiruma-senpai. Been training with Kid-san?"
"Maybe."
"Saikyoudai - first down!"
Hiruma grins and takes Sena's hand, rising to his feet.
3rd year at Mao
Hiruma never thought playing football would be so fun. He still doesn't have the constitution for the sport, even after hitting his growth spurt. It hurt, being rammed into at full speed by people more than twice his size, but it was fun. The thrill of putting a plan into action, taking control on the field, was unmatched.
That's when Hiruma decides to help the stupid fatty who had suddenly forced himself into his life. He'd already somehow spilled out everything about his personal life to the idiot, anyway. There's no going back now.
But if they're playing, he will only play to win. This isn't shogi and he isn't his father.
Present Day
Youichi may not have yet realized it, but he's changed. Hiruma Yuuya watches quietly as his son rises from the ground, helped up by a former teammate.
It reminds him of a day 3 years ago, when he'd watched the two of them play in a match side-by-side.
He'd taught his son to only think about the numbers, relating everything to shogi. But that mindset had destroyed his family. His son ultimately proved him wrong. He'd believed in something more powerful than the odds - he'd put faith in his teammates, and they achieved the impossible.
Now it's Yuuya's turn. I'm not giving up this time, son. I'm putting all my faith into you.