Current mood:	full
Entry tags:	drabble, es21, yukimitsu

[ES21] Like Water
Title: Like Water
Series/Pairings: Eyeshield 21; Yukimitsu
Notes: For 31_days: September 6 / there's an art to this. In the Happiness for Now universe.
Summary: Football isn't as easy as it looks.

Like Water

There are a few things he realizes when he begins to play football. One is that some modicum of athleticism is necessary. Two is that the ball is remarkably difficult to hold onto. No matter how much he had been looking forward to carrying the football, it slips from his fingers again and again because he isn't fast enough or strong enough or skilled enough to protect it.

He practices for hours more than anyone else, and he still can't protect the ball.

He sweats and bleeds and bruises, and he still can't protect the ball.

He runs across America, and he still can't protect the ball.

Logically, he knows that Hiruma makes the right decision when he cuts Yukimitsu from the regular team, and replaces him with two players from the basketball team instead. But still, it makes him wonder if his situation is hopeless after all.

He has never wanted something so badly. He has never worked so hard for something. But the magic addition of hard work is doing nothing to produce his desired results.

Yukimitsu clutches the football tightly in his hands and closes his eyes. There are tears on his cheeks and despair on his tongue.