Chapter 10: The Yakuza Squad; Part III

It’s the big day. I called Miroto and told everybody to meet me at the park at 4pm. I also told him to meet me there 4 hours early. Right now, the only two people that have an actual chance to stop them are Miroto and I. Kari said that I received a phone call yesterday from Terrance. I told her to tell me what the message was when she gets seated tonight. I gave her center field tickets for her family, Terri, and Rina. I left out the house and to the Chief’s office.

When I got there, he looked worried. “Hey Chief, what’s the matter with you. You look a little tense.” He gave me a concerned look. “Jody, I should’ve never appointed you the position of captain if I new you would’ve made an irresponsible decision like this.” I tried to cheer him up. “Aw, c’mon chief, you know me. You gave me this job for a reason right? I promise you, these six people I’ve got have a lot of talent. Under my supervision, they will help me put the Yakuza Squad to prison for life. Now I’m begging you Chief, have a little faith for me. You did give me the job of Commanding Officer for a reason. Why else did you hire a 14 year old with a lot of experience on the street?” I think he’s cheering up already. “Jody, just make sure that no one gets killed out there, that’s an order. I have confidence in you Jody.” I gave him a center field ticket so he can see that he’s overreacting.

Its noon and Miroto is right here where I told him to be. We got in a little sparing session so we could get ready for tonight. I kind of feel like Martha Stewart a little making all these preparations. “(while training) Hey Jody, that team you mentioned. They sound tough; do you think we got a chance up against them?” “(Out of breath) Of course, but honestly, some of us will get hurt, maybe injured.” “Well, if we got a fighting chance, we better keep training like this for the next two hours. I don’t want any of us getting in a tight situation during the match.” Well, well, well; looks like someone’s getting a little confident already.

It’s 5pm, the crowed started pouring in. My entire squad was suited up. We were ready. Just then a news crew crowded around my team.

“Hello and good evening to everyone watching. I’m Ayako Mori, and I’m standing alongside with the team known as the ‘Tokyo Gangstas’, led by TSF’s Commanding Officer Jody Riley. Mr. Riley, what do you predict of tonight’s outcome of the game?” What and why the hell is a news crew interviewing me for something important like this. I might as well go along with it.

“I’m not promising anything, but the only thing I’m predicting is that our opponents, the Yakuza Squad, are going go be sent to jail for life.

“Now in response to that is it true that you made a bet with the Yakuza Squad following today’s event?”

“That’s right, that’s standard underground rules in an underground matchup like this. You make a bet and you play it through to see what happens?”

“And actually what was the bet that you set up for this match.”

“The bet is if my team wins, the Yakuza Squad will face a life’s sentence in prison. If we lose, then the whole city has to pay a sum of ¥55,670,026.”

“I have just one more question for you Jody, are you a hundred percent confident that your team will make it out of here without getting seriously or fatally injured?”

“Not only that we’ll win, but I vow that none of my teammates will be leaving here crippled or dead. I’m Jody Riley, and I always keep my teammates and friends from getting hurt.”

“With that much confidence coming from a 14 year old, I don’t think we need to worry about seven of our own citizens getting sent away with stretchers. We will keep note on everything that’s happening during today’s event, so stay tuned and keep a lookout on for updates on today’s contest.”

I turned away before she even got a chance to finish. I looked to the crowd and saw who showed up. Everyone I gave a center field ticket to was right there waiting for the game to start. Kari was trying to get my attention; I forgot that she had a message from Terrance to me. “Hey Jody, Come here! I have to tell you something! I rushed over there in an instant. “What’s cracking Kari? You had something to tell me right?” “Yes, Terrance wanted you to call him ASAP. He wanted to know how you were holding up over here.” Why didn’t I see that coming? “Wait a minute, that’s not all. I also have a surprise for you once the game starts. Trust me; you’ll be glad that I did it.” A surprise; I wonder what it could be. I can’t worry about that, I got a game to win.

Okay, it’s game time. Now before this game gets under way, we went ahead and did a coin toss. The Yakuza Squad got it, so they got to set the point system up while we chose who goes first. They picked 48 points as usual, while I chose to go first. I huddled my men in a circle so that I can get them pumped up before the game. “Alright, ya’ll ready. I hope none of you are nervous. I need for everyone to get focused. Remember, this isn’t any ordinary team we’re facing up here. They’ll try anything to injure you so keep concentrated. Now…” I heard some music bumping on the speakers. I recognize this song anywhere. It’s ‘Lets Get Dirty’ by Redman. There’s nothing like a little beat banging joint that gets you in the feeling to play. “Surprise Jody, I hope you like what I got!” Huh, Kari gave me a good idea on how to give our team an edge. “Okay boys, you hear that. Sounds good doesn’t it? Kind of gives you that feeling right; the feeling like you can do anything right? Feel that beat. Let it take you there. Now are ya’ll ready? One, two, three (everyone) break!”

Minoru called the H-J-S on the first play to see what they got. Miroto managed to get past the team and got a touchdown on the first play. That made their team mad. I don’t think anyone that faced them got a touchdown on the first play except me. On the extra play attempt, Minoru called in a passing play for 2 extra points. The crowd gave us a standing ovation after that play. Now the Yakuza Squad has the ball. I gave out 2 audibles; one for Eiji and me to go for a zone coverage and for Koji to blitz their QB. Koji was unable to get the QB on time, but Eiji was able to get the interception and go in for a touchdown. The crowd was fired up. I was really surprised. I didn’t think this game would be this easy. Something is not right about this matchup. So I had Minoru switch me and Miroto up for this play to see what happens. He called a running play. When the play was called, I had a lot of room to run. They wasn’t coming for me, they were going for Minoru. I had no choice but to fake a fumble and try to help Minoru out. Tetsu grabbed the loose ball and ran in for a touchdown. While he got the touchdown, I got hit while trying to save Minoru. It’s nothing that I can’t handle. Because of that late hit, my entire team almost broke out into a fight with the opponents. I told them not to worry about it and keep themselves concentrated.

We are now up 14 points. The Yakuza has the ball now. Since that last play, I called for no audibles. I need to see what they’re up to. They called a running play; the RB used his elbows and head to stiff arm my team to get in the open, like if he was actually fighting his way open. “Okay, if that’s how it is…” When he came at me, I flipped over him and grabbed his shoulders. I pulled him back so far into the ground that it caused a fumble. I picked the ball up and started back down the opposite side of the field. I almost got the touchdown, but was stopped so hard that I caused another fumble. The other team got the touchdown and the 2 extra points. I got even madder.

Just then, ‘We Fly High’ by Jim Jones started playing. “Okay, I’m ready when ya’ll are boys. Let’s Go.” Minoru called for a passing play. He also called an audible to switch routes between me and Ryo. It seemed to work, as Ryo caught the touchdown pass. That didn’t stop the Yakuza as they tried to get another late hit off of one of our own as we tried for the extra 2. I was lucky that the hit didn't hurt Ryo, but I had to stop this before one of my men gets injured.

The score is now 22-8. I had an idea for the upcoming play. I put my team in a huddle. “Alright, listen up. The Yakuza Squad is trying to injure our team off of late hits. We’re not going to try that, but I got something else in mind. For this entire game, here is what’s going to happen: Eiji, you and I are going to be in man coverage. Miroto and Ryo, you two are going to be QB Spy’s. The rest of you are going to blitz the line. Your jobs are to hit their line with everything you got. Ready, Break!” The play was called. The QB got the ball off in time, but their receiver was in for it. When he came down, I knocked his legs so that he lands on his head. It looks like their receiver is out like a light. The crowd let out a huge roar. “Ha, looks like you’re down a man huh?” I underestimated them as they scored a touchdown and 2 extra points on the next play.

Now it’s our turn to score. Minoru called for a rushing play. Miroto managed to get the ball off, but Tetsu got hurt badly on that play. Now that got me mad, so on this next play, I told Minoru to call out “Ariel Assault”. When it was called, I delayed the wall jump because I knew their LBs were going to come at both of us hard. When they did, we made sure we knocked them out cold while we scored another touchdown. On the extra point attempt, our entire team didn’t make it on purpose. Instead, we managed to injure 2 extra players. Not only that, but they managed to take out 4 of ours on that same play. I can’t believe this, the score is now 28-16 and only Miroto and I are left.

We never gave up. We played until both of our teams were tied to 42. I can’t believe they managed to catch up to us, let alone us being able to keep up with them. The crowd started to go crazy as we were nearing the final plays of the game. “Hey Jody, I think we can make it. I don’t know about you, but I’m not ready to give up yet. Even though we’re both banged up, I’m still ready to go all the way.” I’m glad that Miroto has some spirit left, because right now we’re facing up two of the biggest on the team, the DL and the captain, the QB. It’s now our ball, and since I’m the captain I’m going to have to lead Miroto and me to victory. At the last minute, I made an offense version of “X”. I lined Miroto and me a couple of spaces apart from each other. When the play was called, both of us are to run in the direction of an upside-down “V”. Before we meet, Miroto slows down so I can back lateral the ball to him when we start to intersect into an “X”. The play was called. When I toss the ball, both of us got tackled hard. They picked up the loose ball and started back down the field. Miroto managed to trip the DL up in a way to injure his leg, while I managed to catch up to the captain and fumble the ball back. The 2nd fumbled resulted to a touchback as I dived in to get on top of the ball.

I checked on Miroto to see if he’s alright. He didn’t look strong enough to continue. “Jody, I’m sorry but I can’t go on.” I was more proud of Miroto than ever. “Don’t worry Miroto, you managed to hurt the DL. Now it’s just me and their captain. I’m proud of you homie. Here, let’s get you off this field before you get hurt even more.” The crowd started to chant Miroto’s name. The captain started to talk to me. It seems he wanted to make one final bet. “You know what little boy; let’s say we make this game a little interesting. Let’s start on both opposite sides of the field. Since you have possession of the ball, you call the play. How’s that sound?” I have a plan, so I agreed. Both of us stood on the 1 yard line on opposite sides of the field. I hiked the ball and started to run to the wall. When I hit the 50 yard line I started to aim for the wall. He knew what I was going to do, but he didn’t know what I was exactly trying to do. I delayed the time for me to jump off the wall, so he hit the wall face first before I even made it to the wall. Since he’s out, I scored the winning touchdown. The crowd began to go wild. I felt like a real hero and a star for a minute. Just then, I heard my friends said “JODY, WATCH OUT!” Just then I turned my head.

BOOOOOOOOM!!

(A Day Later)

“Huh. Huh! What Happened?! Where am I?!” Right now, I’m in a room with some computers and some machines. It looks like I’m in a room that’s been crossed between a hospital and a laboratory. Just then I heard a foreign voice, maybe Chinese. “I’m glad that you’re finally awake, Mr. Riley.” This dude looks like he’s in his 40’s. But then again he looks like he should be in his early 30’s. “I must say that I’m very pleased to meet the famous Jody Riley. I’m Dr. Lee, Chief Komoto’s reliable medical personnel. Not only that, but an accomplished Martial Artist.” Then I started feeling a little dizzy. “Well what happened to me? The only thing I remember was scoring a touchdown”. He told me that after someone yelled at me to watch out, the opponent tackled me hard into the wall, almost knocking me out for good. “Damn, how could I let that happened? So what else happened, did they put the team in jail or what?” He then told me that while the chief rushed me here to see him, the TSF got the entire team in squad cars and took them into holding. Just before I asked him another question, he answered everything I needed to know next. “Now before you say anything, your team is doing fine and your family are waiting for you back home. You know Jody, Chief Komoto cried for you in happiness as you turned this whole ‘bet’ thing you had going on into a successful ending. Now that we know each other very well, I look forward to meeting with you for now on. I will also be your teacher in furthering your fighting style as Chief Komoto instructs me to. I wish you luck on your future missions."

“O-ok. I guess I’ll see ya later.” Feeling confused on what the hell was going on, I started to go home. When I got there, the whole family crowded around me. Ms. Katanami started going haywire. “Jody, thank goodness you’re alright. How’s your head? Is your back aching? What about your legs...” I tried to calm her down a little. “Ok, relax will ya. I’m doing fine. I feel kind of better actually.” All of them looked surprised. Then Kari started to act just like her mom, “Umm Jody, Are you sure you’re ok? The doctor said that the hit you took could’ve been fatal. You’ve been out cold for almost a day and you feel fine? You don’t have a cast, scars, or anything!” “Now that you mentioned it, I don’t have a cast or scars on my body. What the hell…” I felt surprised myself. How was I able to heal myself so fast? Did Dr. Lee give me any medicine or something? I’d better see him as soon as I get home from school tomorrow.

Before I went to bed, I got a call from the chief. “Jody, this is Komoto. Dr. Lee told me about your condition. I don’t know how you was healed that fast but, I never got to told you how proud of you I am. A 14 year old kid, head of the TSF made a foolish and impossible bet with one of the dangerous people in the world, managed to keep his whole team and city safe by sending them away in prison for life just by playing football. You are really something else Jody. I’m glad that I picked someone like you to lead our group. I’ll see you tomorrow Jody.” The whole family then came in and congratulated me on a successful mission with tears of joy. It must have been 2 hours later until I was finally able to go to sleep.