LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 9: Chapter 9 - Devil Bats VS Cupids
In front of the north gate of the train station in the morning, the players of the daemon devil bat team, who were "invited" by Hiruma sat together listlessly.
"Good morning Sena! Thanks for helping me yesterday! Where's Hiruma?" Ishimaru, the volunteer from the track team, who had just arrived at the station with a bag pack slug over his shoulder greeted sena who was looking around.
"good morning, Ishimaru-senpai, Hiruma-senpai,Kurita-senpai. TJ and the others havent arrived yet?"Sena first bowed politely then asked if the others are on the way
"YO, That bastard yank not here yet?" ask Hiruma with his hands in his pocket.
"Hiruma you bastard!!! You asked us to come but you came so late!!?" "Yeah, That's Right!!"
"Hey Hey Hiruma, no need to worry. I'm here haha" Tj who has just arrived appeared behind Hiruma before he could blow a gasket.
The stadium was filled with anticipation as the Deimon Devil Bats gathered on the sidelines. The air buzzed with excitement, though the team's attention was split. Two figures stood out in the crowd, watching intently from the opposing team's side.
Hiruma's sharp eyes locked onto them, his grin widening. "Look over there," he said, nudging Sena and TJ. "See those two? That's Shin Seijuro and Sakuraba Haruto. They're not playing today—they're here to scout."
Sena followed Hiruma's gaze, spotting the tall, imposing figure of Shin and the more composed Sakuraba standing beside him. Both had an air of confidence and focus, their eyes scanning the field like predators evaluating prey.
"They're scouts?" Sena asked, his voice trembling slightly. "Why are they here?"
"To watch us," Hiruma replied, his grin never fading. "Shin's a beast, and Sakuraba's got skills. They're from the Ojo White Knights, one of the best teams around. They want to see what we're made of."
TJ tilted his head, studying the two players. "So, they're not playing, just observing?"
"Exactly," Hiruma said. "They want to size us up before we face them later in the season."
Sena swallowed hard. "They'll see everything we can do…"
"Which is why we keep you two off the field until the second half," Hiruma explained, his grin turning mischievous. "Let them think we're just a bunch of weaklings. When we unleash you, they'll have no idea what hit them."
TJ smirked, understanding the strategy. "Element of surprise. I like it."
Sena, still uneasy, looked between Hiruma and TJ. "But won't they figure out we're holding back?"
"They might," Hiruma admitted. "But by the time they do, it'll be too late. Shin and Sakuraba will be taking notes on a different game than the one we'll show them in the second half."
Kurita, standing nearby, nodded in agreement. "It's a smart plan. We'll keep them guessing."
Hiruma's eyes gleamed as he glanced back at the field. "Exactly. Now, all we have to do is stay sharp and give them something boring to watch. Save the fireworks for later."
With that, the Deimon Devil Bats turned their focus back to the game, knowing that the real battle was yet to come.
The first half of the game between the Deimon Devil Bats and the Cupids was a battle of attrition. The stands were filled with murmurs and occasional cheers, but the game itself lacked the explosive energy spectators craved. From the sidelines, Shin Seijuro and Sakuraba Haruto watched intently, their eyes narrowing as they analyzed every play.
On the field, the Devil Bats were struggling. Hiruma did his best to command the team, his sharp passes finding their targets, but the replacement players were overwhelmed. One after another, they fumbled passes, dropped balls, or simply froze under the pressure.
"Damn it!" Hiruma growled, clenching his teeth as yet another receiver missed a crucial catch. "Catch the damn ball!"
Kurita, anchoring the line, held strong against the opposing team's rush, but it was clear he couldn't carry the defense alone. Despite his best efforts, the Devil Bats were being pushed back.
In the stands, Shin's eyes narrowed as he observed the chaotic plays. "Their team is unbalanced," he noted, speaking to Sakuraba. "They have a strong quarterback and lineman, but the rest of the team is weak."
Sakuraba nodded, crossing his arms. "Their receivers can't catch, and their defense is barely holding up. If this is their best, we don't have much to worry about."
On the field, the Cupids capitalized on the Devil Bats' weaknesses, driving the ball down the field. Despite their dominance in possession, they only managed a single field goal, putting the score at 0-3 in favor of the Cupids.
Hiruma's frustration was evident as he stalked the sidelines during a timeout. "Keep it together!" he barked at his team. "We're still in this!"
The whistle blew, signaling the end of the half. As the players made their way off the field, Shin and Sakuraba exchanged a glance.
"We've seen enough," Shin said, his tone calm but decisive. "There's no point in watching any longer. They're not a threat."
Sakuraba nodded, turning to leave with Shin. "Their quarterback and lineman can't carry the team alone. They'll fall apart in the second half."
As the two scouts made their way out of the stadium, they missed the knowing smirk on Hiruma's face as he watched them depart. The real game was about to begin, and the Devil Bats' true potential had yet to be revealed.
As the second half began, Shin Seijuro and Sakuraba Haruto exited the stadium, confident they had seen everything they needed. Unbeknownst to them, the real show was just starting.
Hiruma smirked as he watched the two scouts leave, their backs disappearing into the crowd. He turned to his team, eyes gleaming with a predatory excitement. "Alright, it's time to let the dogs loose."
On the sidelines, TJ and Sena stepped up, ready to take their positions. TJ, towering and composed, adjusted his gloves, while Sena, nervously shifting his weight, took a deep breath.
"You ready?" TJ asked, clapping a hand on Sena's shoulder.
Sena nodded, determination flickering in his eyes. "Yeah. Let's do this."
Hiruma's devilish grin widened as he addressed the team. "TJ, you're in at tight end and linebacker. Sena, you're running back. Let's show them what we've got."
The Field – Third Quarter
The Devil Bats lined up for the first play of the second half. The crowd, having seen a lackluster performance earlier, leaned in with cautious anticipation. Hiruma snapped the ball, and the game transformed.
TJ, a 5-star recruit with a menacing presence, plowed through the defense like a freight train. He snagged a short pass from Hiruma and bulldozed down the field, shrugging off defenders as if they were paper. The crowd erupted as he crossed the goal line for a 50-yard touchdown.
"Who the hell is this guy?!" a Cupid defender shouted, baffled by the sudden change in momentum.
On the next defensive drive, TJ continued his domination. Reading the quarterback's eyes, he leapt and intercepted a pass, sprinting down the sideline before being brought down just shy of the red zone. His first interception set the tone for a defense now infused with energy.
Sena, with newfound confidence, took the next handoff. His small frame darted through gaps with astonishing speed. The Cupids barely had time to react as he weaved through defenders, breaking free for a 60-yard touchdown run.
"Where did that come from?!" the Cupid coach shouted, frustrated by the sudden onslaught.
Fourth Quarter – Devil Bats Take Control
TJ's presence on defense was relentless. He registered two more sacks, crashing through the offensive line with an unstoppable force, while also notching another interception and several solo tackles. His second interception was a game-changer, as he returned it 35 yards, setting up a short field for the Devil Bats.
On offense, TJ and Sena continued their tear. Hiruma, capitalizing on their talents, launched a deep pass to TJ, who leapt high above two defenders, snatching the ball out of the air for a 45-yard touchdown. The crowd was on their feet, the energy palpable.
Sena followed with another dazzling run, slicing through the defense for a 40-yard touchdown, bringing his rushing total to 145 yards with two touchdowns.
TJ capped off his stellar performance with one final touchdown, a 30-yard pass where he shook off two defenders, dragging them into the end zone. His receiving total soared to 185 yards with three touchdowns.
Final Score: Deimon Devil Bats 35 – Cupids 3
As the final whistle blew, the Devil Bats celebrated their resounding victory. TJ and Sena, standing tall in the middle of the field, exchanged a high five, their first game together a stunning success.
On the sidelines, Hiruma's grin was ear-to-ear. "Guess we'll see Shin and Sakuraba again sooner than they think," he chuckled, the Devil Bats' future now looking much brighter with TJ and Sena on board.