History TearJerker / Eyeshield21

* The last stand of the [[HardWorkHardlyWorks Yuuhi Guts]]. With their coach's plan to replace the entire team with top athletes from other sports proving fruitless, the fill-ins feign injury to let Atsumi and his teammates take the field against Deimon, even though they're already down 40-0. As Atsumi gives a brief RousingSpeech and leads his men on to the field for what is almost certain to be his last game in high school, the team's manager and sole cheerleader Katsuko Konjo cheers them on from the sidelines while waving the team's flag with tears in her eyes. And even though the real Guts [[CurbStompCushion manage to score against Deimon]], [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome they still lose by 50 points because Deimon at this stage are simply that much better]]. It's the sporting manga equivalent of FaceDeathWithDignity, as even Hiruma treats the doomed Guts as {{Worthy Opponent}}s.

* The last stand of the [[HardWorkHardlyWorks Yuuhi Guts]]. With their coach's plan to replace the entire team with top athletes from other sports proving fruitless, the fill-ins feign injury to let Atsumi and his teammates take the field against Deimon, even though they're already down 40-0. As Atsumi gives a brief RousingSpeech and leads his men on to the field for what is almost certain to be his last game in high school, the team's manager and sole cheerleader Katsuko Konjo cheers them on from the sidelines while waving the team's flag with tears in her eyes. And even though the real Guts manage to score against Deimon, [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome they still lose by 50 points because Deimon at this stage are simply that much better]]. It's the sporting manga equivalent of FaceDeathWithDignity, as even Hiruma treats the doomed Guts as {{Worthy Opponent}}s.

** Made worse by the fact that as Habashira breaks down we see flashbacks to Hiruma practising with all his friends... while Habishira threatens one of his own players with a knife and his [[SheIsNotMyGirlfriend girlfriend]], Megu, stands around the corner crying silently. [[http://www.mangareader.net/134-6885-21/eyeshield-21/chapter-110.html See for yourself]].

* When Yukimitsu, who has completed the Death March, is passed over for still not being good enough to play. Sure, [[spoiler: Hiruma is only saying that to keep the others from questioning his permanent bench status before he was needed,]] [[http://www.mangareader.net/134-6865-17/eyeshield-21/chapter-90.html but his reaction later...]]

** An earlier flashback, from Maria and Marco's joint perspectives is just as bad. They give you the buildup, and how hard the two of them tried to build a team...and then it ends with this shot of Marco, [[http://www.mangareader.net/134-7043-14/eyeshield-21/chapter-268.html all alone]].

* Habashira Rui breaks down because his team chooses not to continue a losing game, starts crying to Hiruma because the two of them are NotSoDifferent, but he's managed to surround himself with real friends who are just as dedicated to the game as he is.

* The last stand of the [[HardWorkHardlyWorks Yuuhi Guts]]. With their coach's plan to replace the entire team with top athletes from other sports proving fruitless, the fill-ins feign injury to let Atsumi and his teammates take the field against Deimon, even though they're already down 40-0. As Atsumi gives a brief RousingSpeech and leads his men on to the field for what is almost certain to be his last game in high school, the team's manager and sole cheerleader Katsuko Konjo cheers them on from the sidelines while waving the team's flag with tears in her eyes. And even though the real Guts manage to score against Deimon, [[RealityEnsues they still lose by 50 points because Deimon at this stage are simply that much better]]. It's the sporting manga equivalent of FaceDeathWithDignity, as even Hiruma treats the doomed Guts as {{Worthy Opponent}}s.

** Made worse by the fact that has Habashira breaks down we see flashbacks to Hiruma practising with all his friends... while Habishira threatens one of his own players with a knife and his [[SheIsNotMyGirlfriend girlfriend]], Megu, stands around the corner crying silently. [[http://www.mangareader.net/134-6885-21/eyeshield-21/chapter-110.html See for yourself]].
** We also see Hiruma threatening his own team with a GUN, showing that he really is not that different. Megu looks more sad and understanding than disappointed in him, listening to Habashira cry, and fighting off her own tears that he couldn't achieve his dream. The real difference is more the fact that sena&co are genuine nice guys, who ended up earning Hiruma's respect and thus forged a true friendship whereas Harahibara's teammates are just spineless delinquants. It thus gets even more tragic since it means that it was only luck that decided it. Hiruma was lucky enough to meet sena&co, Rui was not.

** The next year, Kurita also bought 100 cream puffs, only to accidentally fall asleep and wake up in the middle of the try outs with only the club's existing members in the club room. The next scene combines tear jerker with a crowning moment of heartwarming when he realizes that dozens of people have actually come out, and they're all eating his cream puffs.

* The Devil Bats apparently lose to Shinryuuji when Kurita is unable to get in place for the next set in time after a desperate long-bomb play. Especially painful after Agon's mocked him for being fat and slow the entire game. [[spoiler: Changes to tears of joy when the Devil Bats get one last chance because of [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome CATCH MAX!]]]]

** Made worse by the fact that has Habashira breaks down we see flashbacks to Hiruma practising with all his friends... while Habishira threatens one of his own players with a knife and his [[SheIsNotMyGirlfriend girlfriend]], Megu, stands around the corner looking very sad and dissapointed in him. [[http://www.mangareader.net/134-6885-21/eyeshield-21/chapter-110.html See for yourself]].

* One of the earliest examples was a flashback to Kurita's 10 grade year. Expecting many people to try out for the American football club he bought 100 cream puffs to share with others, when not ONE person came, he was forced to eat them all alone in the dark.
** The next year, Kurita also bought 100 cream puffs, only to accidentally fall asleep and wake up in the middle of the try outs with only the club's existing members in the club room. The next scene combines tear jerker with a crowning moment of heart warming when he realizes that dozens of people have actually come out, and they're all eating his cream puffs.

** Made worse by the fact that has Habashira breaks down we see flashbacks to Hiruma practising with all his friends...while Habishira threatens one of his own players with a knife and his [[SheIsNotMyGirlfriend girlfriend]], Megu, stands around the corner looking very sad and dissapointed in him. [[http://www.mangareader.net/134-6885-21/eyeshield-21/chapter-110.html See for yourself]].
** Actually, we also see Hiruma threatening his own team with a GUN, showing that he really is not that different. Megu looks more sad and understanding than disappointing in him. The real difference is more the fact that sena&co are genuine nice guys, who ended up earning hiruma's respect and thus forged a true friendship whereas harahibara's teammates are just spineless delinquants. It thus gets even more tragic since it means that it was only luck that decided it. Hiruma was lucky enough to meet sena&co, Rui was not.
*** That panel wasn't a flashback. Megu is around the corner, listening to Habashira cry, and fighting off her own tears that he couldn't achieve his dream.

* When Yukimitsu, who has completed the Death March, was passed over for still not being good enough to play. Sure, [[spoiler: Hiruma was only saying that to keep the others from questioning his permanent bench status before he was needed,]] [[http://www.mangareader.net/134-6865-17/eyeshield-21/chapter-90.html but his reaction later...]] this troper cried ManlyTears.

* [[spoiler: Gao. Broke. Hiruma's. Arm.]] If seeing that MagnificentBastard reduced to an injured casualty doesn't break you, everyone else's [[TeamDad honestly distraught]] reactions will. Made worse during his inner monologue because he realizes it's an inner monologue, he is trying to speak but no voice comes out.

** Actually, we also see hiruma threatening his own team with a GUN, showing that he really is not that different. Megu looks more sad and understanding than dissapointed in him. The real difference is more the fact that sena&co are genuine nice guys, who ended up earning hiruma's respect and thus forged a true friendship whereas harahibara's teammates are just spineless delinquants. It thus gets even more tragic since it means that it was only luck that decided it. Hiruma was lucky enough to meet sena&co, rui was not.

* The flashbacks during the game against the USA, showing the fracturing and collapse of Agon and Hiruma's tentative friendship. Agon is left with this sense of having lost ''something'', even as his own sociopathy prevents him from being able to understand ''what''.

* Just as Unsui thinks his hard work has finally paid off, he's told that the scholarship award he'd always been aiming for was meant for his brother. The scene is made all the more heart breaking when he, in tears, declares he's going to do all he can to make his BROTHER the best, making it clear he no longer sees his own worth.

* [[spoiler: Gao. Broke. Hiruma's. Arm.]] If seeing that MagnificentBastard reduced to an injured casualty doesn't break you, everyone else's [[TeamDad honestly distraught]] reactions will.

* When Yukimitsu, who has completed the Death March, was passed over for still not being good enough to play. Sure, [[spoiler: Hiruma was only saying that to keep the others from questioning his permanent bench status before he was needed,]] [[http://www.mangareader.net/134-6865-17/eyeshield-21/chapter-90.html but his reaction later...]]this troper cried ManlyTears.

* Chapter 245...[[spoiler: "Nothing good ever comes from chasing your dreams..."]] It doesn't help that the [[spoiler: Wild Gunmen]] are this troper's favorite team in the series, excluding the Devilbats...''waaah''...

** An earlier flashback, from Maria and Marco's joint perspectives is just as bad. They give you the buildup, and how hard the two of them tried to build a team...and then it ends with this shot of Marco, [[http://www.mangareader.net/134-7043-14/eyeshield-21/chapter-268.html all alone]].

* Habashira breaks down because his team chooses not to continue a losing game, starts crying to Hiruma because the two of them are NotSoDifferent, but he's managed to surround himself with real friends who are just as dedicated to the game as he is.
** Made worse by the fact that has Habashira breaks down we see flashbacks to Hiruma practising with all his friends...while Habishira threatens one of his own players with a knife and his [[SheIsNotMyGirlfriend girlfriend]], Megu, stands around the corner looking very sad and dissapointed in him.[[http://www.mangareader.net/134-6885-21/eyeshield-21/chapter-110.html See for yourself]].

** Made worse by the fact that has Habashira breaks down we see flashbacks to Hiruma practising with all his friends...while Habishira threatens one of his own players with a knife and his [[SheIsNotMyGirlfriend girlfriend]], Megu, stands around the corner looking very sad and dissapointed in him.

* The scene between Marco and Maria after Hakushuu loses to Deimon, and Marco realises that in [[LoveMakesYouEvil trying to win Maria over]] he's really driven her away. A ManipulativeBastard and dirty player he may be, but you still feel for the guy.

* Chapter 245...[[spoiler: "Humans having a dream only ask for trouble..."]] It doesn't help that the [[spoiler: Wild Gunmans]] are this troper's favorite team in the series, excluding the Devilbats...''waaah''...
* Devil Bats loss to Shinryuuji when Kurita trips and can't make it to the ball for the next set. After being called a useless fatty with no speed the entire game. [[spoiler: They still win because of [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome CATCH MAX!]]]]
* Habashira breaks down because his team chooses not to continue a losing game, starts crying to Hiruma because the two were not much different at all.

* When Yukimitsu, who has completed the Death March, was passed over for still not being good enough to play. Sure, [[spoiler: Hiruma was only saying that to keep the others from questioning his permanent bench status before he was needed,]] but his reaction later...this troper cried ManlyTears.

*Just as Unsui thinks his hard work has finally paid off, he's told that the scholarship award he'd always been aiming for was meant for his brother. The scene is made all the more heart breaking when he, in tears, declares he's going to do all he can to make his BROTHER the best, making it clear he no longer sees his own worth.