"The past can't hurt you anymore, not unless you let it." Kazuya's voice was little more than a murmur.
He checked his room to make sure nothing was out of place. He didn't want anyone to question him about what he did in this room last night. So far, nothing was out of place except for that one box on the foot of his bed. Come to think of it, this box always there to save him. With the help of this box, he could able to clean and hide his cuts. This box also one of the reason why he was not afraid to do it over and over again. That box was there for a reason and he will not going to waste the use of it. It never crossed his mind that last night someone was there for him too. A part of him chose to forget that a person was always there for him because it's easier to talk to him that way when they meet. Kazuya won't feel guilty or awkward when talking to that person.
Kazuya pushed the first aid box under his bed with his foot. He slung his bag over his shoulder as he made his way out of his room. The familiar warm rays from the morning sun met his skin. He looked silently at the cerulean blue sky that had a few fluffy white clouds that stray freely in the broad space of the sky. The sun was already so high in the sky, brightening the whole place with its hot rays.
Yesterday's gone.
A new day for him to do what he wanted.
It's time to start his daily practice by teasing some people. Lips curled into fake smile that can fool everyone as long as he remembers.
The catcher had noticed a few things as he made his way down the stairs. He noticed the whole place was oddly quiet and no baseball players could be seen. The doors were all closed as he passed each doors. Somehow, this scenery was a bit refreshing.
As he made out at the courtyard, the first string baseball field was coming into view. His lips curled into a tiny smile. He loved baseball so much.
One of the first years named Kanemaru stopped next to him as Kazuya placed his bag on the bench in the dugout.
"Have you seen Sawamura, Miyuki-senpai?" The dirty wheat blond asked, somehow, his eyebrows was knitted together into a frown.
Miyuki shook his head, readjusting his Seido hat on his head. He was going to ask why the first year was asking him about the southpaw when the other suddenly bowed and left him while grumbling about not going to help the southpaw on his English homework.
He shrugged, eyes shoot to the direction of the bullpen. He could see a lone figure behind the net. He wondered why no one was pitching there; it passed six in the morning already yet only a few players can be seen around the place. He decided to check out that mystery person after he put his gears at place.
He raised an eyebrow when he was met with the monster rookie holding a baseball on his pitching hand.
"Want me to catch your balls, Monster Rookie?" The catcher smirked as he could imagine what will be the answer of the pitcher. He was sure Furuya won't hesitate to accept his offer. It was very rare for him to volunteer to catch for someone outside of his obligation. If he didn't really need to catch for someone he would not volunteer.
Furuya stared at him blankly, hands around the ball visibly tightened. Miyuki noticed this as well.
The reaction Kazuya had received from the pitcher bemused him a bit.
"Are you just going to stand there like a statue, Miyuki-senpai?"
"Oh- Looks who is the impatient one now." Miyuki shook his head and pulled his head gear over his face. He walked towards the direction of the catcher box and squatted down.
"Give me your best pitch." The catcher's lips parted to a sly grin.
Almost fifteen minutes had passed when Kazuya suddenly produced a long, deep, audible breath. He stood up to catch another wild ball, "Furuya".
Satoru was readying to catch the ball when his name was spoken by him. He only stared at his catcher to let the other know that he was listening.
"Your control is no where to be seen today. Try your best to throw it at the strike zone." Kazuya squatted down again to position himself to catch, signaling for the younger one to throw a fastball only to receive another off-course pitch.
"It's clear something is in your mind today. You better run around the field to cool off, Furuya."
"Are you not going to catch for him, Miyuki-senpai?"
Kazuya knew who the person Furuya was talking about was. Something was not right at this pitcher if he didn't complain about him making him to run and now, he was asking about his rival. Instead of answering, the catcher remained silent and stared straight back at Furuya's eyes.
Another catcher came, interrupting the staring contest between the two.
"Furuya, I was searching for you. Let's go. The coach wants to talk to you." Ono grabbed the wrist of Furuya and lead him towards the gate after acknowledging Miyuki's presence.
The regular catcher sighed as peeled off the rest of his gears.
Today was definitely weird for him. Weird in a way that Furuya was too quiet and tense and also he didn't see some faces.
The catcher decided to eat breakfast at the cafeteria before the line get so long. He didn't like his homeroom teacher to scold him for his tardiness. Once he finished his food he slipped out of the dining hall to change from his baseball uniform to his school uniform. He arrived at their classroom early with fifteen minutes to spare. He glanced at the empty seat in front of him then sighed. He felt bored but Yoichi haven't arrived yet, teasing the shortstop was always entertaining for him because his fellow team mate knew how to react in a very funny way.
He would wait for Yoichi to arrive. Until then, he had to make sure he won't die from boredom.
But to his chagrined…
Morning classes ended, lunch break ended and afternoon classes ended but Yoichi didn't arrived.
His day was officially ruined.
He gathered his belongings and quickly left the classroom.
Miyuki chose to practice his batting. Nori was going to pitch for him but this time he would bat it not catch.
As he readied himself to bat, his mind couldn't help but to remind him on why his mood was terrible. Where the hell Yoichi was? Kazuya even tried to visit him but the green haired shortstop was not around, he knew from experience that his classmate won't skip classes without any plausible reason.
He was too busy to notice that two balls already passed while he was having an internal monologue.
"Miyuki-senpai?"
Another ball passed, almost hitting him on the chest.
"…Miyuki-senpai?"
A hand had touched his shoulder.
"M-miyuki-senpai?!"
A sudden loud sound from behind startled him, dropping his bat at the process.
"I-I'm sorry, but you were so quiet that you're making Nori-senpai worried." The younger Kominato bowed for his rudeness for screaming at his upperclassman a few seconds before.
The bespectacled second year turned his head at his fellow second year pitcher and truthfully, Nori was a bit pale and wide eyed.
"Sorry, Nori." Miyuki grinned sheepishly. He didn't want them to question him any further. Not now. What's wrong with him today? Normally, tiny things didn't affect his mood easily but today was different.
"Have you seen Eijun-kun, Miyuki-senpai?" Haruichi's small voice interrupted him once again. The first year felt nervous the moment his question slipped out his mouth. Somehow, his mind was telling him that his upperclassman won't answer him.
What's with people keep bothering Kazuya today because of a certain brunet pitcher? Last time he checked, Eijun doesn't need anyone to babysit him. For God's sake, the southpaw was already a highschool student. Kazuya and Eijun were not even close—to be honest, even Kazuya wasn't sure himself if what was their relationship. It made him frustrated not to know where Eijun was right now. Like he care about him but being asked many times about the whereabouts of the southpaw and he didn't have any answer made his mood turn towards the danger zone. Come to think of it since morning, the first year pitcher never approached him.
Wait a minute. Eijun never approached him to beg the catcher to catch his pitch earlier.
Don't tell me.
Yoichi was with Eijun the whole day.
Assuming that the brunet was also absent as well.
Why would those two be together the whole freaking day?
The way the catcher reacted gave Haruichi a good idea so he didn't pursue his question anymore because he did want his day to end well.
"Give me you best pitch, Nori", Kazuya challenged his fellow second year. Unknown to him, black dangerous aura was slowly leaking out from him.
Nori nodded shakily and pitched a sinker. His control and height was good but somehow, the pitcher paled as the sound of bat hitting the sweet spot of the ball resounded in the whole field. The impact of it sent the ball over the fence. Ah. It's gone.
All the other players seemed frightened and bewildered at their captain hitting a homerun.
The pitcher threw another ball and it went over the fence again joining the first ball.
Nori pitched five more but Kazuya managed to send them all over the fence.
"Let me pitch at Miyuki-senpai, Nori-senpai". A hand held him at the wrist, looking up at the person who saved him from pitching at their moody captain. It was none other their monster rookie. Nori sighed in relief.
Other players had stopped to do their practice to witness Furuya pitching against their captain.
Furuya pitched a fastball at his upperclassman. He chose not to hold back.
But, Miyuki managed to hit it too, sending it to the other part of the fence.
They all wondered who pissed off the captain. Some of them wished that they weren't the one who set their captain in such a scary mood.
This scene continued until a familiar annoying laughter echoed around the field.
"Hyaha! What the hell are you doing, Miyuki." Kuramochi was standing at the gate entree of the baseball field. He was wearing a yellow hoodie, sneakers and pants, his hands stuck in the pant's pockets.
Somehow, Kazuya's free hand rested on the sleeve where the concealed bandages were messily covering his sins.
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