Disclaimer: Pot and ES21 belong to their respectives authors, I receive no benefit from story.

Ratings is for Hiruma and Agon's language and for future development.

Keep it mind that the story is un-betaed, english is not my first language and it's the longest thing I have ever written in a language that is not my native one. Hell it's the longest thing I have written in years!

This is not the first PoT/ES21 crossover. I know of one, well two, other. They were written by .Tofu-Melon and they are Machination and its sequel Machination: Another Day.

This chapter will probably be edited later this week.

Chapter 1: Listen to your mother.

He surprised everyone by registering in a school where the tennis club was quasi non-existent and the academic level quite low. When his mother told him he was more or less forbidden to participate in tennis tournament for the three years he would spend in high school, this was not the kind of school she had in mind. No, she would have preferred for him to attend one of those highly reputed private school. He hadn't really appreciated she had banned him for no apparent good reasons. He hadn't had really a choice in the matter, his father quickly shut up by a "contradict-me-and-you'll-sleep-on-the-couch-for-two-monthes-and-I'll-burn-all-your-magazines" kind of look. And so, he was here, in Japan, freshly back from America where he had spend the last two years winning tournaments one after another.

Today was the day the entrance examination's results were published, so he came and with no surprise, he saw he was accepted. His senpai had told him that every applicant was usually accepted due to the low number of students going to the school. He had come alone and didn't waste time fetching a school information packet since he was supposed to meet one of his old teammates later. On his way back, he noticed two upperclassmen throwing a weak looking boy while congratulating for passing the exam.

He was supposed to come back soon for the opening ceremony but for the moment, he had an appointment he didn't want to miss so he left the Deimon High School ground.

He had free access to the school and its office since last year thanks to a few persuasive words to the principal. It allowed him to have access to most student files in order to complete his information on them. In this case, it was more to obtain a replicate of the new students' list to have some kind of basics information on them before the full rapport his slaves would later send. Hacking in the school database, he made a copy of the first years' files and pasted it on his laptop. He then went back to his other nefarious activities before going back to that hotel where he was lodged for free. It was time to acquire some blackmail material.

Class had begun. Loyal to his character, he had taken to sleep in English class, made no effort to socialize, and had found a nice secluded spot for him to spend lunch dozing near the practice fields. He had received several pamphlets advertising for different kinds of club but, from the disciplinary committee to the baseball club passing by the flower arrangement club; since it wasn't tennis he had absolutely no interest to join them. After school, he went directly home, or if he had previously made plans, went to wherever he was supposed to go. From his middle school days, he had kept contacts with few of his schoolmates, mostly the regulars. Even them, dispatched as they were across Tokyo's high school, it was difficult to meet on a regular basis. Only one of them was attending a high school close to his home and to his new school, and so, he had taken to spend some time with him more or less on his own freewill. After all, he might appear not to care but in front of those blue eyes, there was little he could do without retaliation. He had learned his lesson well when he was twelve, despite having more leeway than most people. After all, no one said no to one Fuji Syuusuke and leave unscathed.

Since there were few tennis players in the school and none in his class, he had gone unrecognized for the moment. No fangirls had tried to molest him, no autographs had had to be signed and he hadn't been dragged to whatever sport team needed new athletic member. Most of the annoying acquaintances from his past, such as that Saru-saa, had no idea where he was, so he was not challenged to matches every other day. In a way, it was peace and he was quite determined to make it last and in no way involved himself in the school's life.

But, due to his unwillingness to develop relations with his schoolmates, he had yet to hear about that unique senpai, feared by everyone, from the students to the faculty, who could make his life take a drastic change. And so, just like that, his tranquility was broken.

*******************************************************

Unknown to our protagonist, meanwhile, in the American football club house such a conversation was taking place.

"We need eight more players by tomorrow's game!!" Hiruma Yoichi explained to his two incredulous teammates, a shit eating grin on his face, a hand on his hip, the other holding one of his guns. Ignoring whatever arguments Kurita and Sena presented and imposing the freshman as the eleventh player in the team despite his wish to only be the club's secretary, he ordered them to gather three new players each under the threat of a penalty game. Sena and the others left to seek help from the other sports club in a strange order. By fate or by will, oddly enough, Kurita was first to visit and to be rejected, then Sena who didn't manage to convince one of either despite the close call with the member of the track team Ishimaru, and finally Hiruma.

Hiruma was probably the most famous and even infamous member of Deimon student body. He was recognizable by the spiky bleach hair, the piercings, the pointed ears, the sharp odd-looking teeth, the grin, the black book in his hand or peaking out of a pocket, the guns, the dog, the attitude, etc at least by the second and third year. Most of the first years were still blissfully ignorant of his sadistic ways and this is how Satake (1-2) and Yamaoka (1-5), new addition to the basketball team, fell before the power of the almighty threat book of one Hiruma Yoichi.

By the end of the day, Kurita had failed to convince a single student to join the team, Sena after helping Ishimaru delivering the paper had only one person in his column and Hiruma had an amount of eighteen "volunteers".

And yet, my dear readers, you are probably wondering what is the relationship between the American football team and our protagonist, a tennis player studying in this school incognito. Well, it is quite simple but to understand one must first know the past or more precisely the past during which events were as such it prevented one Hiruma Yoichi to add a nineteenth ball to the board.

Earlier in the afternoon.

Class had just ended and he was tidying his books in order to go home. He had planned to quickly complete his homework, cuddle his pet, play some video games and if he was in luck, find his perverted father bored enough to brave the matrimonial wrath and challenge him to a match. But, apparently the Fates were not on his side today. Indeed, on his way out, passing in front of the room officiating as the baseball team club office, he bumped into someone, sending the both of them on the floor. Without noticing how the whole corridor and adjacent classes had frozen, he quickly got on his feet and mumbled an apology. It was then that he decided to raise his eyes to one he had collided with and not at all fazed by what he saw which was not worse than his experience with odd Japanese middle schoolers. The other boy, for it was a boy, had pointed ears and teeth, blond hair, and his shoulders there was a shotgun and in his hands, a small black book whose pages he was quickly flicking. Ignoring the slightly older boy, for he didn't look like freshman, he started to walk again passing him but didn't manage to go far enough in time to not be able to hear what was said.

"Echizen Ryoma, first year, homeroom 1, ranked three in the entrance examination, perfect score on the English part, worst subjects math and literature, possess both Japanese and American nationality, grew up in America but spend the first year of middle school in Seishuen Private School, prior to returning to the U.S. Accomplished tennis player, 6th time American Youth Champion, won in 20XX the National tennis tournament for middle school with Seigaku, son of tennis legend Echizen Nanjiroh, owner of one Himalayan cat named Karupin, no natural sibling, one cousin…interesting… forbidden to participate in any tennis team or competition while in high school..KeKeKeKe…"

Ryoma slowy turn to face the laughing boy, raising an eyebrow, hiding his discomfort being strangely reminding by him at the same time of his senpais Inui and Fuji. Since this combination couldn't possibly being healthy, he remained wary. "And?"

"Hiruma Yoichi. I am recruiting players for tomorrow American football game. You will come and play." Hiruma had seen his prey and had sunk his claw in it. He may not be of the same built than most players but he was still an athlete.

"Yadda." A short, concise and utterly typical answer was uttered by the tennis player. He absolutely had no interest in Amefuto and that's partly why he refused to cooperate to the "demand". Hiruma was not used to be rejected as such and narrowed his eyes, slightly glaring at his kohai. Ryoma was slightly sweating half expecting to see blue eyes on the face of his tormentor; he had a bad feeling about that one, as if he had just taken the last wasabi roll just under Fuji's nose. Though he was used to have other people know random facts about him thanks to Inui and Rikkadai's Yanagi, he was unsettled by this person, who he had never, probably, met before. He finally decided to send a glare in response at the blonde's general direction and turned away in order to, finally, go home.

Hiruma, sadly enough, didn't have enough "data" to be able to fully "convince" the brat to join them the day after being such a new addition to the school and to the district. Smirking, he made a note on his threat book and, gleefully, went to the next clubhouse, promising to himself not to forget the encounter and to make sure the brat will join the American football team.

Several hours later, we could find our hero lounging in is room, his cat on his lap, playing whatever tennis game had last caught his fancy. He had with no problem finished his homework earlier and was just passing time before dinner. His attention was caught by a soft noise against the outer wall of his room. Getting up, he went and opening his window, looked at his father, clad with his monk robe, a cigarette in his mouth, pointing the house with a wooden racket. "Seishounen, want to play? You don't want to get rusty, do you?"

"Tch, mada mada" He picked up one of his usual racket and went down the stairs. Just as he was about to exit towards the court in the garden, he was stopped.

"And where do you think you are going young man?" His mother was leaning on the doorway leading to the kitchen, an apron tied around her waist.

"Oyaji wants to play." The deal she had forced upon him was only concerning the school tournaments. He was free to do as he wished in his free time and so, he refused to back down in front of her narrowed eyes.

"Go fetch your father, dinner is done". Sighing, he went out and told his father to come in. Sitting together around the table, they started to eat and Ryoma was intent to spend the less time possible for the meal in order to have his match against his father.

But, apparently, his mother had another idea. "How is school going?"

Ryoma looked up from his meal and shrugged. "Fine"

"Any new friends?" His mother had a slight smile on his face and besides her, his father was looking quite agitated.

"No." Ryoma was starting to be suspicious. "Why?"

"Oh, no reason at all! Your father and I were just thinking" By the look on his father's face and the beaming smile on his mother, he had no doubt about who was doing the thinking. "Since we have already stopped you to join the tennis team, we wouldn't you to miss the better sides of the high school experience by having no friends. And since it's you, we doubted you would make one the usual way."

He was absolutely certain now that his father had nothing to do nothing with the direction this conversation was going. "And?"

"We thought that maybe you should be allowed to join a club at your new school apart from the tennis team, of course."

Ryoma was completely dumfounded. "You forbid me to play tennis during high school for me to concentrate on my studies and now you tell me to join a club. Yadda "

"Ryoma, please. There has never been problem with your studies. We just wanted you to develop other center of interest than tennis. And now, the only persons you talked to are us and your old teammates. Please consider another sports or even club, even that friend of yours who stopped playing…ah Fuji-kun have taken photography as a hobby."

"Yadda!"He stood and left the table, directing himself towards his room, ignoring his parents' protests and demands.

He absolutely had no intention to comply silently with his mother's wish. He will do it, and they knew it, but under no mean, he would not complain and bitch about it.

"So, what are you going to do about it?" They were on their way back from seeing their friends' first matches of the season. They walking leisurely, often stopping to take some photos.

"What do you want me to do? It's my mother, you don't say no to my mother without consequences." In a way, he knew he should not, as a rightful teen, comply with his mother's wishes but he had grew up seeing his father being blackmailed and submitting to her. "It's not as if she was wrong. When it comes to other sports, I know basically nothing, and none interests me."

"You don't have to attend a sport club, there are other kinds as you know."

Ryoma sent an incredulous look at his companion and snorted. "Do you really see me as the art type? I can't even draw a straight line."

"Saa, I guess it's true. I could always teach you about photography." He had his eyes closed, a soft smile on his lips as always.

"Fuji-senpai, I do not think it would be wise to spend more time with you in closed space. I might have to fear for my virtue." Ryoma let the smirk blossom on his lips, aware of the mischievous light in his eyes. The other glanced at him and let out a small laugh.

"Ryo-pon, I am afraid that I have already corrupted you. I don't even want to know what kind of devious behavior you had in the U.S. Wait, didn't you already tell me?" This kind of flirting was nothing unusual for them. It bothered most of their old teammates, but, they didn't really care it was just the way they were.

They had a connection that most people couldn't understand. The both of them were genius and when they were together, they didn't need many words. It was one of the few occurrences they didn't have to lower, simplify their reasoning in order for other people to comprehend them. It was that which pushed them, three years ago, to start hanging together after practice. It had started by just talking and before Ryoma's departure to America, they had developed a strange relationship. They would meet several times a week and after whatever they had planned to do, would end up at one of their house where they would debate (more like flirt actually) some before giving it up and start snogging. When Ryoma had come back, they had resume their sessions like the last two year had not happened. They were not really dating and there was no talk of love between them. They had no set rules and they had dates and adventures on the side. Sometimes they would not meet for several days in a row and other times they would spend the entire week together.

"Maa, if you want help picking which one to join, it will be my pleasure to come with you to look around your school after class. And call me Syuusuke already!" The game was on, and both of them knew how today would end.

"Mada mada dane, Fuji-senpai."

A few days later found Ryoma waiting for the older boy near his school gates. He had thought Fuji was joking when he told him he would help him choose whatever club he would join, and he probably was at the time. And yet, yesterday he told him to wait for him after class at his school. He was a little apprehensive at what the tensai had in mind.

"Ryo-pon, good afternoon!" And he was, smiling and waving. The other students stare a bit when they saw the boy wearing foreign uniform leaning down and pecking one of their own on the cheek. "Sorry for being late Ryo-pon! Let's go, we wouldn't want missing the different practices, no?"

"Hnn." Ryoma sent a glare to his senpai; he wasn't appreciating the fact he was being forced by mother to join a club that had no relation to tennis. She had cornered him in the morning to tell him that table tennis and badminton were not in his panel of choices apparently, that team sports were preferred. That was absolutely not his style but he, as usual when dealing with her, had no choice in the matter. It didn't help that his senpai took a sadistic enjoyment in his predicament, not that surprising considering his tendencies.

So they walked around the campus, Ryoma batting away whatever propositions Fuji was advancing with snarky comment of his own. With no surprise, he was rejecting every club there was. One hour later had passed without any progress and finally, they headed towards the last sport club.

Anezaki Mamori was the new manager of the America Football club and she was going to do her job seriously even if she had joined just to protect her childhood friend Koyabakawa Sena from the evil way of one Hiruma Yoichi. In no way, she was going to give that… that gun-crazed delinquent the satisfaction to criticize her work. She was running errands for him and was hurrying toward the clubhouse to fetch whatever Hiruma wanted. She didn't want to live Sena alone in the clutch of that evil boy too long but as she was nearing the shack, she noticed two boys. One of them was from the school and the other, slightly taller, was wearing the uniform of a nearby school who had good reputation. He was knocking on the door and as expected no one was answering.

"See, no one here, let's go home." The smaller one was tugging the other one's sleeve, apparently quite unwilling to be there by the scowl on his face.

"Maa, they should be out training. Why don't we go look around the field?" Apparently, his companion was completely undisturbed by the reluctant behavior. He also had noticed the girl approaching and turned to face her. "Excuse us miss but you wouldn't happen to know where we could find the members of the American Football club, would you?"

"I am the manager, Anezaki Mamori, can I help you?" Now that she was closer, she could see that…well the both of them were complete stranger to her. The one who did the talking was a handsome and yet slightly feminine brunette with closed eyes and the smaller one had hair so dark it looked green with golden eyes and wearing the school uniform.

"You can. My Ryo-pon, here," the taller one ruffled the hair of said Ryo-pon and got a do-not-call-me-that-kind-of glare "wants to join one of your school's sport clubs. And I, being the nice senpai that I am, was helping him looking. So far, nothing had managed to catch his eyes and we have done every single one except yours actually. So, since we do not know a lot about the sport, we wanted to take a look on you practice." And with that, he passed an armed around his Ryo-pon's shoulders. "Ne, Ryo-chan?"

"Nnn"

Mamori let out a small giggle at the picture they were making and faced her schoolmate. "And you are?"

"Echizen Ryoma, first year." On another side, he was quite rude too. The answer had been nothing more than a grunt.

"Well Echizen-kun, I am afraid that it's too late for today, practice will be over soon. And I am afraid that practice is nothing exceptional since we only have three players. The rest of them are *hum* volunteers from other clubs. But if you really want to see American Football up-close, we have a match this week-end against the Oujo White Knights. You should come and take a look."

"Maa, I think it's the best solution. You will be able to learn the rules and see them in action that way." The still unnamed boy was looking down at his companion smiling. "We should be going, I am sorry to have imposed on your time; we will see you at the game." With just that, he turned away and half-dragged the other boy with him.

Mamori watched them leave, feeling weird as if she was missing something important from the scene.

"Oy, fucking manager! What are you doing? We are still waiting for the fucking material. And who the fuck are they?" And here came the team captain and quarterback Hiruma Yoichi. Apparently, she had taken too long to come back and he had decided to fetch her himself.

"Oh them, well one of them was a first year Echizen Ryoma and the other didn't introduce himself. They had some question about American Football. I told them to come and watch the next game." She was not going to be impressed by the guns he was waving around.

"What do you mean to come and watch? You fucking should have made him joined the….Wait, did you just say Echizen Ryoma?" Hiruma had stopped in mid-fire and was looking pointedly at her.

"Yes, first year Echizen Ryoma. His friend told me he wanted to join a sport club and they were looking around to know which. Wait a moment, it's strange most people know which club they want to adhere. It's as if he didn't know about the different sports." She was quite puzzled, most high schoolers do not go and look around clubs. They usually wanted to join one and none other.

"KeKeKeKeKeKe…….. That fucking brat….. KeKeKeKeKeKe!!!" She didn't know what had started this laugh but the maniacal grin on the face of Hiruma did not bode well for Echizen-kun. "Hey, fucking fatty, I found a new recruit."

Hiruma have already started to walk back to Kurita and Sena, waving his shotgun around. Yes, it didn't bode well at all.

"Do you really see me play American Football?" He had last long enough to exit the school ground before asking his senpai what he had in mind when he had accepted the manager's proposition. He didn't really have the built for and strangely enough, he was associating the sport with… guns-waving blond delinquent? He didn't remember where he got the image from.

"Saa, who knows? You may discover a hidden talent for the discipline. You never know. You could even enjoy it." Fuji-senpai was being faithful to himself, utterly unhelpful.

"Tch, whatever."

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