"How come we have to have practice over break?" Yawning as he followed his friends to the field, he could feel his shoulders drooping and feet dragging with each step. He was exhausted and sweating, the heat boring into his skin and causing beads of sweat to roll down his sides, causing his shirt to stick to his skin.

Even he couldn't muster up the energy for practice in this heat. Furuya was barely hanging on, already struggling for breath and dumping his water bottle over his head in an attempt to cool down. Haruichi wasn't much better, lagging behind and stumbling every few steps.

When they got to the field, they found the rest of the regulars already there. Miyuki and Tetsu were sitting in the shade of the dugout, their shirts crumpled nearby and their bare backs resting against the cool brick.

Jun was nearly passed out on one of the benches, his socks and shoes tangled with his shirt near the captains. Kuramochi was down to his boxers, sluggishly fanning Ryousuke with his shirt while the pink haired male was doing the same as Furuya and dumping his water over his head.

Tanba had his shirt tied around his head and was occupying the other bench in the dugout. Everyone else was scattered in the shade, attempting to find relief from the burning sun. Even the coach had shed his shirt and was standing in the shade.

The first years collapsed into the dugout, none wanting to move in the oppressive heat. "Now that we're all here," The coach began, causing all his players to groan, "Chris will assign you all individual training menus. The heat is supposed to continue for the next week, so you all are to complete your training menus on your own time as practice will be cancelled until it cools off to reduce the risk of heatstroke or injury. That is all!"

"We came out in this fucking heat for that?" Kuramochi groaned, falling back and letting his head hit the ground.

"There's no AC anyway," Miyuki drawled, "So what does it matter?" Nobody had the energy to reply, simply letting out moans or groans. Chris didn't bother wasting time and simply called out each regulars' name, handing them their menu when they finally found their motivation to move and throwing the scrolls at the regulars that were too slow.

Once he was finished, he headed back to his room and to his personal fan, leaving the rest to the heat. Honestly, walking to the field only to hand out training menus and announce practice was cancelled was ridiculous in his mind.

Eijun didn't want to move. It was cooler, even if only slightly, in the dorms, but he really didn't want to move. It was too hot to move. It was hot enough to melt skin. Lifting a hand to his face, he squinted. Was his hand melting?

Dropping his empty water bottle on the pitcher seemingly studying his hand, Miyuki decided it was too hot to say something snarky. Clutching his menu and shirt in one hand, he dragged himself back to his room where he could strip and hopefully cool down at least a bit.

Dropping his shirt and water bottle as he entered his room, Miyuki fell back onto his bed and pried off his shoes. He grimaced as he peeled off his socks that were soaked in sweat and clung to his legs even though he hadn't done much of anything yet.

Undoing his belt and stripping off his pants and underwear in one motion, he pulled on a new, not sweaty pair of boxers before lying on his bed. He wished the school didn't turn off the AC over breaks. Didn't they know that some students stayed in the dorms?

He didn't want to do anything. It was so hot, he was sweating just lying there. 'I could go to the pool…but I don't have any more money. And it'd probably be crowded.'

Stretching his arms above his head and unintentionally catching a whiff of himself, the catcher decided a quick bath wouldn't be such a bad idea. Gathering his things, he lazily made his way to the bath, not bothering to put on anymore clothes.

Trudging into the changing room, he slid out of his boxers and set them in a basket before wrapping a towel around his waist. Sliding the door for the bath open, he paused. Staring for a few moments, he didn't notice as his shampoo and soap fell from his hands. He barely managed a step forward before falling to his knees, vomiting up his breakfast.

Finally reduced to dry heaving, the second year risked another glance up. His stomach churned once more at the sight, though there was nothing left in his stomach to upheave. His throat was raw and burning, and his glasses were fogging up while simultaneously sliding down his nose.

Mouth opening and closing, but having nothing to say, the catcher barely registered water dripping from his chin. He couldn't take his eyes off the wide ones before him. Dull golden eyes bored into his, brown hair falling listlessly in front of the wide eyes. His head was tilted, as though resting on the edge of the tub, with his arm hooked over the side. Red beads of water trailed along the arm and down the hand, collecting on the tips of the fingers before dripping into the growing puddle on the ground.

The rest of the pitchers body was hidden in the murky red water that filled the tub. Miyuki didn't know if that was better or not. It was only when it brain finally started registering the scene before him did the smell truly hit. It caused the catcher to once again attempt to empty his stomach, one hand coming forward and covering his nose and mouth. It was unbearable.

The last thing he remembered before blacking out was someone grabbing his shoulder, attempting to pull him away, and the look in those dead eyes, asking why he hadn't gotten there earlier. Asking why he hadn't saved him.

/

So this is one of my first attempts at horror. (And meaning for it to be horror) Let me know what you think and if you want more!