Gridiron Titan: The Rise of Deimon - eyeshield 21 fanfic

Ojo Locker Room – Halftime

The Ojo White Knights were gathered in their locker room, the hum of their fans outside still palpable through the walls. The atmosphere was a mixture of frustration and determination. Despite being down by a point, there was no doubt in the air. Ojo had been tested, and now, the real work began.

Coach Gunpei Shoji stood at the front, arms crossed, staring at the whiteboard as the players sat in front of him, exhausted but attentive. The tension in the room was thick, but there was also a sense of focus, a belief that they could turn this around.

Gunpei cleared his throat and began his breakdown of the first half.

Coach Gunpei Shoji:

"We're down by one. But we know it's close. We've seen what Deimon has. They're dangerous, but we've got to stop underestimating them. I don't care if it's 'just another game' to you guys—this is the game. These Demon Bats are no joke. And we need to adjust if we're going to take them down."

The players nodded, some still panting from the physical exertion of the first half, others deep in thought.

Gunpei:

"Let's talk about what we've learned so far. First things first, we underestimated Deimon's offense. That number 21—Eyeshield—he's fast. Really fast. We didn't prepare for how quick he is on the field. He's more dangerous than we gave him credit for. We need to find a way to slow him down. We've been using Shin on defense to cover him, but we need to tighten up, especially with their passing game."

Gunpei flipped the whiteboard over to a diagram of Deimon's offense. His hand pointed to the positions as he spoke.

Gunpei:

"Number 21 his running speed is no joke, but his ability to accelerate quickly after a short distance? That's the problem. He can change direction at full speed like it's nothing. We can't afford to let him get into open space. Shin, you need to be even more aggressive in coverage. I need you to anticipate and jam him at the line. Don't give him a chance to get that head start."

Shin, seated in the corner of the room, leaned forward slightly, nodding.

Shin:

"Understood. I'll get in his face early. But the problem isn't just him. Their quarterback, Hiruma—he's the one calling the shots. He's a genius. He knows exactly when to exploit our weaknesses."

Gunpei gave a tight smile, his voice dripping with intensity.

Gunpei:

"Hiruma's a mastermind. But his offense has a clear rhythm. The problem is—his team relies too much on their big threats. Eyeshield, yes. But the guy you need to watch for is number 22."

The entire room went silent, all eyes on the coach.

Gunpei:

"TJ. That guy is a powerhouse. He's big, strong, and fast. He's been playing tight end, and even double coverage hasn't been able to stop him. We've seen it already—he bulldozed through our defense, even when we had two players on him. Our corners are weak, they've been struggling against their passing game. Our center, Otawara, has been holding his own against Kurita, but we need to make sure TJ doesn't get a free pass through the middle. He's catching everything that comes his way, and we can't let him wear us out. So we're going to do something different. I want multiple players focused on TJ, wear him down. Don't let him get those easy gains."

Shin (interrupting):

" I've never seen anyone that hard to bring down."

Gunpei:

"Exactly. TJ is dangerous because of his mix of size and agility. He's the focal point in their passing game, but he's also a huge threat in the run game. If we focus too much on Eyeshield, he'll burn us. I need you to play smart, don't overcommit. But when you get the chance, go after him. We'll need to contain him."

Gunpei turned back to the whiteboard, scribbling a few notes.

Gunpei:

"We're going to switch things up on offense. Takami, you'll have more of a hand in getting Shin into space, using his speed on a few screens. We need to make sure he doesn't get boxed in. But more importantly—we need to stop getting greedy. They're good at covering the deep routes, and Takeda, I know you've been jumping for the deep ball—but we'll work on some quick, short routes to keep the chains moving."

Takami, Ojo's quarterback, nodded, already imagining how he would move in the pocket.

Takami:

"We need to focus on moving the ball down the field. Their defensive line isn't perfect, so we'll have opportunities to chip away. We just need to be patient."

Gunpei, sensing the players' frustration from the earlier mistakes, softened his tone slightly but kept the edge in his voice.

Gunpei:

"We've let a couple of big plays get away from us. The blown coverage on Sakuraba—" he turned to the recievers with a knowing look, "—that's there weakness. Their pass defense has been weak, and Deimon's corners are inexperienced. We need to take advantage of that. Sakuraba's the key. He's the target. Focus on exploiting that weakness in their secondary. We know they're shaky out there, and their coverage can be beaten. We need to attack it."

He glanced at the players with a firm stare, making sure they understood.

Gunpei:

"Eyeshield's speed isn't the only thing we need to control, but the passing lanes. Hiruma's playcalling is precise, and we've seen how they move the ball. I want us to anticipate those throws, not just react when they come. Their corners are green, and that's something we can use."

He looked around at his team, a steely determination in his eyes.

Gunpei:

"We've been here before. The game is far from over. They might have the lead, but we've got the tools to take this back. Stick to your assignments, watch their tendencies, and go after Sakuraba. Don't let up. If we do that, we'll be back on top before long."

Shin:

"We'll shut down Eyeshield and TJ. We'll play smart defense."

Sakuraba:

"I'll make sure I'm wide open this time, no mistakes."

Takami grinned, the intensity now back in his eyes.

Takami:

"Let's not make it easy for them. Ojo doesn't lose."

Gunpei gave a small nod, and the team stood up, ready to head back onto the field.

Gunpei (firmly):

"Let's go out there and remind them why we're the White Knights. Keep your heads in the game. We've got one half left to prove who's the better team."

Hiruma sat at the head of the locker room, his usual smirk now replaced by a sharp, calculating expression. The team was tense, but Hiruma's mind was already racing through the events of the first half. The Devil Bats had a slim lead, but the game was far from decided. His eyes scanned his players, analyzing their faces, their body language. They were ready, but they still needed a push, and that's where he came in.

Hiruma leaned back, his feet up on the bench in front of him as he flicked a piece of tape between his fingers. He wasn't worried—he never was—but he knew the second half would be a battle. The Ojo White Knights were more than capable of taking control if they figured out Deimon's weaknesses. And they were already beginning to.

Hiruma:

"Alright, listen up, you idiots." He slammed his hands together, his voice cutting through the tension like a whip. The room fell silent as all eyes turned to him. His tone was biting, sharp. "We've got a lead, but it's not enough. They're figuring us out. Don't get cocky."

He scanned the room, making brief eye contact with each player before continuing.

Hiruma:

"First off, our defense is a mess. Our pass coverage? Pathetic. Those guys we're using on coverage—our corners? They're barely even football players. We've got basketball rejects trying to cover wide receivers out there, and it's showing. Their passing game is wide open, and we're getting burned by blown coverage. Daiki—what the hell was that back there? You're letting him get wide open for a touchdown like that?" Hiruma shot a quick glance at his defensive backs. "I don't care if you're a basketball player or whatever. When you're on that field, you're a football player. You need to know how to cover your guy, or I'll send you back to the gym."

The players shifted uncomfortably at the mention of the blown coverage, but Hiruma wasn't done.

Hiruma:

"Now, on offense, we've got a problem with blocking up the middle. Their center, that Otawara guy? He's a beast, and he's pushing Kurita around. He's strong, no doubt. We're gonna have to tire him out. Multiple guys. Keep hammering him until he starts dragging his feet. We can't let him bulldoze through the middle and disrupt our plays." He grinned, his voice taking on that dangerous, confident edge. "But don't get too caught up in that. Their weak spot is their corners. They've got experienced football players on the field, but their coverage is a joke. Their defensive backs don't know how to handle you guys. All you need is a couple of solid moves, and you can burn them. Sena, get your head out of the clouds and start running those routes. You're faster than they are, and we can exploit that."

Hiruma's gaze shifted to TJ, who had been a standout on both offense and defense in the first half. TJ's dual-threat ability had been keeping Ojo's defense on its toes.

Hiruma:

"Listen up, TJ. They're going to try to double-team you. They're already ganging up on you to try and neutralize you. You've got to make sure you don't get bogged down in that. You're a mismatch for them. Keep fighting through the double coverage. I've seen you break tackles like it's nothing, so use that. If you're open, I expect you to make the play. Don't let them off the hook."

Hiruma's gaze hardened as it settled on Sena, who was sitting nervously on the bench, hands clenched around his helmet. The rookie had shown flashes of brilliance in the first half, but he was still hesitant—nervous. Hiruma wasn't about to let that slide.

Hiruma:

"Sena. Eyeshield. You're a damn machine, but you need to act like it. I know you're not comfortable, but I need you to trust your speed and your instincts. I don't care what the defense is doing. Don't hesitate. When you're on that field, you're faster than anyone else. Play like it. Stop second-guessing yourself. You're the one who's going to break them wide open."

Sena nodded, his nerves beginning to fade. Hiruma's words had always had that effect on him.

Finally, Hiruma turned his gaze to the rest of the team. His eyes glinted with a predator's instinct.

Hiruma:

"Listen, this is the game that defines us. It's not just about winning. It's about showing everyone that we're not some joke of a team. We've got two quarters left. Two quarters to prove that we're not going down without a fight." He leaned forward, voice lowering. "They think they've got us. They're underestimating us. They think we're weak, that we'll crack. They think they've got a shot, but they're wrong."

Hiruma stood up and slammed his hand down on the bench, making the team jump slightly.

Hiruma:

"Now, get your heads in the game. We're not leaving here without a win. This is our time, our field, and our glory. We've got 30 minutes to turn this around. So go out there and show them exactly who we are."

With that, Hiruma stepped toward the door of the locker room, pushing it open with his usual confidence. The team, fueled by his speech, followed suit. They were ready. They were going to take the second half by storm.

Hiruma:

"Let's go, Devil Bats. Time to make 'em regret underestimating us."