On An Island

After taking off their Holsters and Swords and after watching Katsu and Saku play for a bit.

Shelly gets interested.

Shelly: "So in the actual game as long as you catch it you get points?"

Saku: "There's a lot more that goes into it but, yea one way is if you catch the ball at the end of the field you score. There is usually another player on defense that 'covers' the offensive receiver to make it harder for them to catch the ball though."

Shelly(runs up in front of Saku): "I'll do that! I'll cover you."

Katsu is now giggling and Saku shakes his head.

Katsu: "Other than Quarterback, Cornerback is regarded as the one of hardest positions in football. Based on the immediate disadvantage by the offense knowing where the ball is going and knowing the cadence to start the play."

Saku: "Ok, but you have to start..." 

He lightly grabs her shoulder and puts her in position. 

Saku: "...right here."

So once Katsu takes a step back, you're allowed to 'bump' my chest with your hands up until I get 3 yards behind where you are now. There's no grabbing at all. After 3 yards you have to follow me on my route. Then once he throws it, we have to jump for it."

Shelly: "What if neither of us catch it?"

Katsu smiles at her new interest they can all share from now on and her questions that make it even better.

Katsu: "That's technically a 'win' for you on defense. It's the trade off for the disadvantage. Since there was no progress made by the offense, the ball goes back to where it was when the play started and the offense now has 2-3 chances to advance the ball 10 yards."

Shelly looks like she's calculating the measurements around her. She nods and smiles.

Shelly: "Ok, I think I got it. So I just have to prevent Saku from advancing 3 yards on his 'route'?"

Saku(chuckles): "Yea, sure. (looks at Katsu) I'll just run a simple 'FlyGo' route, you already know that sideline spot I like."

Katsu(nods): "On one. On one."

Saku gets into his stance, left foot in front and his right in back for balance. Shelly lines up across from him a little more than a yard away.

Katsu looks at Saku on his right to check if he's ready. Saku looks to his left and nods.

Katsu: "Red 40. Red 40. Seeeet. GO!"

Saku takes his release step to start running the route but before he can get his right foot planted in the ground Shelly's two open hands hit him square in his chest and send him flying backwards.

Saku sits up and Katsu looks just as dumbfounded with the ball still in his hand. Shelly is practically standing over him.

Saku gets pissed thinking she's trying to intimidate him. As he starts to get up Shelly's small hand reaches out to him. Saku looks up at her beautiful face and the fake Morta sun behind her head. He takes the helping hand up and Katsu has tears in his eyes.

Katsu(to himself): "We could've had this all along. If I hadn't messed up."

Saku: "Ok, so it's not just fighting, you're an all around athlete. 'Fool me twice.'(looks at Katsu) Hitch n' Go.(smiles) On 'two'."

Katsu smiles and nods and Saku lines up in his stance again. Shelly adjacent from him, her cornerback stance perfectly squared on him. Saku nods to his left at Katsu.

Katsu: "Red 40. Reeed 40. Seeeeeet. GO!"

Shelly goes to hit Saku's chest, knowing it would happen, the other "Beast of HFF" braces his back leg and takes the impact, but it still hurts...

Saku(pretending to be fine): "Encroachment! *cough*"

Shelly looks confused then remembers.

Shelly: "Ohh so that first 'GO!' doesn't have to start the play? And if I touch the offensive player before Katsu's position steps backwards, it's a foul?"

Katsu nods and smiles.

Katsu: "Yep. You good Saku?"

Saku: "Yea...same thing. On one this time."

Shelly: "Now you lost the advantage."

Saku(lines up in stance): "You still don't know the direction of we plan to throw the ball."Shelly(surprised): "That IS a disadvantage!"

Katsu holds the ball in his outstretched arm, slightly bent at the knees.

Katsu: "Red 40! Red 40! Seeeeeet GO!"

This time Saku smacks her hands away on her attempt to bump his chest off his stance. His left arm goes over her head in a swim technique and he gets a step on her. 

Saku does the 'Hitch' move by quickly doing a stutter step, pretending to stop and turn around, it doesn't fool Shelly and she's able to regain the lost step. Now step for step with Saku during the 'Go' part of the route, it is just a sprint towards an open area of the field.

Katsu throws a perfect spiral in their direction. Saku sees exactly where it's heading and drifts towards that way.Saku sets himself up for a perfect over the shoulder catch, but from right behind him, Shelly jumps up with her arm stretched towards the sky. 

Her right hand accidentally swipes down on Saku's sweatshirt hood. 

She perfectly snatches the ball out of the air, with just one of her small hands for an interception into a back flip. Saku falls back from the tug and lays on his back looking at the 'ceiling'.

Saku: "Pass Interference!"

Shelly lands perfectly on her feet from her, 'would be' highlight reel interception.

Shelly: "What? It was an accident?"

Katsu stares in shock at his first ever thrown interception.

Then, he smiles at seeing his adopted sister play the game he and Saku love. 

Katsu: "Even if it's an accident, if it's a penalty, it's a penalty."

Shelly stands there holding the ball with two hands, confused.She smiles after realizing...

Shelly: "My first catch was a pass from Katsu."

She looks at the ball, grips the laces how Katsu showed her, and throws a not so perfect spiral towards Katsu from 50+ yards away. He doesn't move as the ball sails directly towards him. Then, as if he's been able to do it his whole life, he catches her pass. 

They both smile at each other for different reasons.

Daisuki comes out of the military office and Friend gets up.

Daisuki: "And you wanted to yell at me this morning? Our elevator is ready we got 5 mins to get on!"

The three rookies scramble to get back into the office and get their equipment back on. When they're all ready Daisuki has already opened a portal closer to the elevator. They throw their backpacks on and hop through the shortcut. 

The door to the office opens and 'someone' runs into the building as Daisuki hops through a still wide open portal hole.