Chapter 2

On her desk were piles of books and notebooks, different colored pens and highlighters. Sticky notes were all over the wall and her phone was placed on the corner of the table. Momoka was busy studying her lessons. Exams were still a few weeks away but she was starting to prepare for it already. Momoka had a dream and that's why she was there studying hard.

As she was going over her notes in Science, her phone suddenly lit up. A notification was seen on the lock screen telling her that she has mail. Momoka instantly grabbed the phone to check who it was that sent the mail. As if slightly disappointed, she read the message that came from her classmate.

For almost a week now since they met up, Momoka had actually been expecting word from her best friend Mika regarding Narumiya Mei. Last time, Mika had promised to help Momoka thank Inajitsu's ace by getting the blonde's number. Though oddly enough, Mika had not been replying or returning any of her friend's messages or calls.

"I wonder if Mika-chan is too busy with club activities…" the girl murmured. "If she can't get his number then I wish she'd at least pass my thanks to Narumiya-san instead."

Getting back to the mail, Momoka's classmate invited her to watch their school's baseball club's practice. It looks like they have a practice match tomorrow against two other schools. Remembering that her cousins are regulars, she gladly agreed to her classmate.

"It's been so long since I last saw them play, especially onii-chan. Plus, I think a break from all this studying would do me some good." Momoka placed her phone back down and then stood up. She stretched her arms up then sat back down again. "Okay, back to studying."

_._._._._

After the practice match between Seido and Inajitsu, Momoka went to buy something to drink. Along the way, she tried catching up to her cousins who were on their way to the other field.

"Eh! Seriously!?" The familiar voice stopped Momoka in her tracks. She hasn't seen the boy yet but she deeply hoped she would get to.

"I wonder if I should call out to him. He is busy talking with… Sawamura-kun was it and two more others from the team. I really shouldn't bother them. But… what if this is my only chance to talk to him…?" Momoka was having an internal debate and failed to notice that Narumiya has already noticed her presence.

"Ichihara-chan~!" Inajitsu's ace called out. Momoka turned to face him with cheeks lightly colored in pink.

"Narumiya-san!" Momoka couldn't help but be surprised by this chance meeting. It was the perfect moment she wanted but Momoka started to panic and completely forget what she had intended to say to him.

"Yo Ichihara-chan! What are you doing here?" Narumiya asked with a large grin on his face.

"Uhm, the thing is… I actually" Before she could finish what she was saying, someone appeared behind her.

"You didn't tell me you were going to watch today's practice match, Momo."

"Onii-chan!" Momoka gasped.

"Did you come to watch alone?" The person continued, ignoring Narumiya who was right in front of them.

"Uh no, I was supposed to watch with a classmate but she couldn't make it and since I was already here, I thought I'd go ahead and watch you guys play." He placed his hand on her head and gently patted it.

"I see."

Before the two started to enter their own little world any further, Narumiya tried to get Momoka's attention.

"Hey Ichihara-chan…?"

"Ah! That's right… Narumiya-san, let me introduce to you my cousin Kominato Ryousuke onii-chan."

"Are you acquainted with Narumiya?" Ryousuke asked in a slightly cold tone.

"Ah, yes! Narumiya-san showed me the way to the café where Mika-chan and I were supposed to meet up." Momoka sheepishly replied. "Thank you very much for that time Narumiya-san!"

"Heh… I guess Momo's been in your care then Narumiya-kun." A clueless Narumiya failed to sense the hostility that Ryousuke started to shoot at him. Instead, the rival school's ace placed a hand on the back of his head, rubbing it while he sheepishly laughed at the second baseman's statement.

"Wait a minute. Then does this mean you go here to Seido, Ichihara-chan!?" Momoka nodded.

"Let's end the chat here shall we, Momo. Inajitsu's up next again and it would be rude of us to keep them here."

"I understand. Well then Narumiya-san, see you." Momoka bowed before turning and walking away from Narumiya.

"Tsk~" All a displeased Narumiya could do was wave back goodbye and "I'll talk to you again later before we leave!"

"Hey Momo, mind telling me in complete detail about the day you met that Narumiya?" Ignorant of the slightly cold tone her older cousin had, Momoka agreed to tell him tonight.

_._._._._

"Was she the girl you were talking about before?" Harada, who stood silently behind Mei during the whole exchange, tried to confirm.

"Yeah! She's cute and nice right? Hehe~"

"That aside, I'm quite amazed you didn't recognize any similarity before." True. If Momoka's pink hair wasn't enough of a giveaway then one who is familiar with the elder Kominato would be made to think that the girl resembles someone.

"Still, I'll just go and wish you good luck Mei." Harada more or less knew that Ryousuke wouldn't simply let Narumiya get close with his cousin. And the only people oblivious to Ryousuke's cold demeanor was Narumiya and Momoka herself.

"What the heck Masa-san!? More than wishing me good luck it sounded as if you're telling me I have no chance to become good friends with her." Looking at Narumiya with pitiful eyes, the catcher didn't add anything more to say and started walking off to the other field.

"Wai- Wait a minute Masa-san! Aaaarrrggghhh!"

Omake

"So that's what Narumiya-san looks like when standing on the mound."

Momoka was watching the game between Inajitsu and Shuhoku from the bleachers. She couldn't help but admire Narumiya's profile from the mound. She was also amazed by the skills he had as a pitcher which made her wonder why she wasn't aware of who he was until now. The pinkette's face started to get hotter each time Narumiya went up on the mound and neither could she take her eyes off him. But during the top of the 7th inning, Narumiya really tried to show off. He threw his newest pitch which surprised the players from Seido which also earned him substitution out of the game. Narumiya's behavior surprised Momoka a bit but at the same time it also amused her.

"Pft! So Narumiya-san acts like a child sometimes. How cute~" This made the pinkette giggle and smile which lasted for the remainder of the practice match.

Was it too predictable? That's what I mainly want to know... But if you do have other things you want to voice out then I'll be waiting for your comments ;)

PS. I'm sorry it took so long. I was busy and yes I'll be focusing more on Moving Forward so it might be quite some time before chapter 3. I hope you guys can wait~ Thanks!