#sena es21

[rolluptheclouds]

(About)

[spoilers for Eyeshield 21 manga]

When Sena comes into his own as an American football player, even though it is eventual, it always feels natural. Sena chooses those moments by himself - when he wants to to be faster than Shin, when he realises how much he wants to go up against Panther. Often, he surprises Hiruma with these moments. I love that about our shorter-than-average protagonist.

It shows that there is some fate, really, in Sena coming into the sphere of the Devil Bats. Hiruma is lucky to have spotted him that first time, racing from his bullies; and in the first place, Sena was in fact inspired by Kurita to stand up to them! You can see the extent of which Hiruma manipulates circumstances, escalating and scheming to make things happen - and yet, just as many things help to move the Devil Bats along because of Kurita’s passion and Sena’s sincere determination.

It's Sena who draws in half of the Devil Bats team & supporting team? He brought in Ishimaru, Mamori, Monta, Suzuna, Taki. Sena even indirectly brought the Ha-ha brothers, who in other circumstances might have probably never considered playing American football - Hiruma has dirt on them after they were chasing Sena.

Sena also helped to carry Yukimitsu during the Death March, although Yukimitsu's even being part of the team was one of Hiruma’s quiet acts of kindness, as Yukimitsu would’ve failed the Tokyo Tower trial otherwise.

Kurita of course drew in Sena to the club, and also Komusubi, and indirectly motivated the Ha-ha brothers to stay, as they have a minor rivalry with Komusubi. (Though ultimately the Ha-ha brothers - Jumonji in particular - are driven by wanting to achieve something for themselves, after having spent much of their school lives as juvenile delinquents and being seen as "trash".)

[rolluptheclouds]

(About)

[spoilers for Eyeshield 21 manga]

So, I did find those fics after all, and binged them over, I dunno, a month or so (￣▽￣)

It stuck out to me how some of the fic writer fandom had pegged Mamori as “oblivious”. About half of the team also took a while to figure out Sena's secret, including those who found out earlier but not because they guessed it but because of the reveal preceding the Death March. So I thought this a bit of an unfair characterisation, as Mamori is pretty sharp enough in other areas of their team management. But, once we’ve reached Sena's public reveal, it’s almost shocking that Mamori still didn’t know about Sena’s secret.

In the earlier part of the manga, Mamori notices Sena missing during games. Surely she would notice that it was a pattern?

She has looked out for him since elementary school and would likely recognise his movements and body language even if he were dressed differently. Heck, their friend Riku, who they haven't seen since elementary school, deduces Sena’s alter ego immediately.

I guess simply, it's Rule of Funny or a form of the Oblivious Younger (in this case, Older) Sibling trope. It's just... for fun, guys. A gag. I guess.

I do like to think that as Mamori becomes absorbed in her role as team manager, she stopped looking out for Sena during the games. Is this also part of the shift she personally goes through, where supporting Hiruma became more important than looking out for Sena?

Even at their school field day, she sees Sena during the competition, and she has her usual thought about protecting him - but it’s one of the few times she hesitates.