Here's chapter 2~

I'm not gonna lie, this is so fun to write XD

Miyuki and Sawamura with a little girl? Please, that's so much fun lol

Thanks for reading and reviewing,

Anime4us

Chapter 2

"Clara, someone special is here to pick you up tonight." The daycare lady stated with a sweet smile.

Clara looked up to see a tuff of blonde hair and bright blue eyes that practically matched her own.

"Uncle Mei!"

Mei bent down to catch the girl as she jump into his arms, hugging him.

"Did you win, did you win?!" She asked excitedly.

"Is that even a question Clara?" Mei asked, raising a brow at the girl, though a smile was tugging at his lips as the younger girl giggled.

"I'll just need you to sign her out."

Mei stood with a nod, Clara balanced in one arm as he picked up the pen and signed her out.

"Have a good evening Narumiya, Clara." The caretaker stated with a smile as the two left the room and made their way to Clara's cubby.

0_0_0_0

Sawamura glanced around, watching as his customers chatted and enjoyed the sweets both he and Haruichi made throughout the day. His eyes landed on an overflowing garbage just as Haruichi stepped out from behind the counter, garbage bag in hand.

"Thanks Haruichi." The ex-pitcher stated, receiving a smile in return. "Good evening." He then called as he heard the door jingle.

"Daddy!"

Sawmura looked up as he heard his daughter's voice. Just as quick as he had heard the voice, small arms wrapped around his legs.

"Hi angel. Did you bring Mei home with you?" Sawamura joked.

"Yea! Uncle Mei picked me up today!" The girl stated happily.

"Hey Eijun." Mei stated, smile in place as he walked to the counter.

"Hey, nice no hitter." The ex-pitcher stated as he set an Americano out for the blonde southpaw.

"You caught the game two days ago?" Mei asked with a smile.

"Kazuya and I watched it together." Sawamura confirmed.

Mei wrapped his hands around the warm mug. Clara came running out from the back, small apron on as she went to pick up trays for the boys.

"Thanks for picking Clara up." The ex-pitcher than added.

"No problem, you know, I don't mind this type of stuff, almost makes life seem a little more normal, y'know, away from being fawned over and all."

Sawamura rolled his eyes as Mei calmly gloated.

"Ah, hello Narumiya." Haruichi stated as he came back from tossing the garbage out back.

"Kominato, how's it going?"

"All is good thank you."

The door jingled, grabbing the boys' attention. Miyuki walked in with a sigh, briefcase slung over his shoulder.

"Mimi!" Clara called happily.

"Hi angel." Miyuki stated, the tired look washing from his face as Clara came towards him.

"Guess what?" Clara asked.

"Hm?" Miyuki hummed.

"I learnt how to spell words that start with 'h' today!" The younger blonde exclaimed.

"Oh yea? Like what?" Miyuki asked.

"like house! H-o… um.. u-s…e!"

"Very good." Miyuki stated with a satisfactory nod.

"Welcome home." Sawamura called out, arms folded and balancing him against the counter. "How was the case?"

"Same as always." Miyuki stated with a smirk. "Thanks for picking Clara up Mei." The ex-catcher then added as he walked towards the small door that let him behind the counter and into the private living area.

Sawamura watched Miyuki smirk and talk as if the case was no big deal, though spending more than ten years with him meant that he was able to pick up on some of his tells. Just from the way Miyuki was standing, it was easy for the ex-pitcher to pick up on how difficult the case had been.

He has been a little stressed lately.

The front door jingled, earning his attention for a split second. A couple teenage girls came in, smiles on their faces as they turned towards him. He waved, as they were some of his regulars, before Haruichi moved to take their order.

"Head up and take a shower. Aren't you going out with Kuramochi tonight?" Sawamura asked as Miyuki passed by him.

"Are you staying I stink?" Miyuki asked with a raise of the brow. "And, yea. He said something about stopping by to pick me up in an hour or two." The ex-catcher stated before shrugging.

0_0_0_0

"Ugh. I need a girlfriend." Mei drawled as he turned away from both Miyuki and Sawamura and focused on the drink in his hand.

"Being you, you'd think it'd be easy, no?" Miyuki called from behind him.

"What are you insinuating Kazuya?" The older blonde asked, not bothering to turn towards the couple.

"That you can't even score a date, even with being a great athlete and all."

"There was a small compliment in there." Mei stated before turning towards Miyuki. "I can score a date, but it's all pointless one night flings. I want something more concrete."

Miyuki watched as Mei's eyes fell on Clara.

"I will show you a merciless death." The ex-catcher stated with an innocent smile.

"I'm insinuating that perhaps starting a family would be nice. Don't be nasty. Sheesh." Mei said as he set his empty cup on the small plate that came with it.

"Oh? Where have these intelligent words come from? Where's the Mei that only spoke of being ace?" Miyuki's words came out condescendingly.

"Living the life a certain Seido catcher had promised a certain Seido southpaw about ten years ago." Mei through back, smirking as Miyuki's jaw clenched somewhat.

"Enough you two, you're ruining the relaxing atmosphere I promise in this café. Mei, even if I didn't get to become ace, good things came from that promise falling out."

Miyuki looked away as Sawamura's gaze tried to meet his own. He heard the ex-pitcher's exhale of annoyance before he felt two hand on his cheeks, gently forcing him to look back at the shorter boy.

"Plus, you made better things happen." Sawamura stated before smiling.

Mei groaned at the scene in front of him. Miyuki's cheeks darkened a tint as the café around him bustled.

"I'm gonna head upstairs and take a shower, I'll come down in a bit, to help close." The ex-catcher stated as he pulled away, feeling a little lighter.

Sawamura smiled as Miyuki headed up the stairs.

"Don't rush. Relax a little."

0_0_0_0

"Kazuya's words are as sharp as always." Mei drawled.

"You need to stop throwing that in his face." Sawamura stated with a sigh.

"I'm only kidding." Mei said as he sat against the counter.

"I know that, you know that, but he still thinks it's his fault from time to time." Sawamura stated with a shake of his head.

"Look at you Clara. Getting so big now."

Sawamura glanced over as an older couple spoke with his daughter. Her smile practically made the café glow.

"Yea! I'm gonna be taller than daddy! Probably not Mimi though…" Clara stated before sighing.

The older couple laughed lightly at the younger girl's words.

"You have a nice place here." Mei stated with a small smile.

"It's my pride and joy." Sawamura stated as he pushed himself up.

"Would you trade it all if you could pitch again?" Mei asked all of a sudden.

Sawamura glanced towards the southpaw before chuckling.

"You know, none of this would have happened if I was still playing baseball. I wouldn't have this café. I wouldn't have all the relationships with the customers that keep coming back, telling me that my sweets are the best. You're asking me if I'd trade my current life for baseball? You're asking me if I'd trade Kazuya and Clara for baseball? I loved playing the sport Mei, but there isn't a force on earth that would make me crazy enough to trade the life I have now so that I could play again." The ex-pitcher stated, eyes back on the conversation going on between his daughter and the older couple.

"I don't blame you." Mei said after a long silence. "Sometimes, I sit at practice and wonder if I'll ever find someone to settle down with. I get jealous y'know?"

"Betcha that took a lot to confess." Sawamura joked.

"I'm serious."

"She'll come along. Be patient."

"I'm going to be twenty eight soon. If she could show up sooner than later, that'd be fantastic." Mei said before sighing dramatically.

"How's practice going?" Sawamura asked, deciding to change the subject. "Any exciting recruits maybe?"

"I've a new pitching coach. She's barbaric." Mei stated before chuckling.

"Oh?" Sawmura hummed.

"Sometimes we'll go the entire practice without letting me touch the ball. Isn't that crazy?" Mei asked as he glanced towards Sawamura.

"Not as crazy as you still being here."

Mei rose a brow as Sawamura jumped. They both turned towards Miyuki as he stepped out from the private living area and came into the café.

Sawamura glanced up at the clock, noticing how it was nearing closing time. The clock read 7:46 pm as the ex-pitcher turned back towards his ex-catcher.

"Did you rush to come down and help?" He asked with a raised brow.

"Me? Nope." Miyuki stated with a small smile.

"You're already done working for today… You work too much…"

"I don't think of this as work. I enjoy it." Miyuki stated as he began pulling some of the empty pastry trays from the display.

"You enjoy washing dishes?" Sawamura asked while raising a brow.

"It can be therapeutic y'know?" Mei supplied.

"Perhaps you should indulge then?" Miyuki asked.

"Alright, I get it. Night guys." Mei stated before huffing.

"Night Mei." Sawamura said with an apologetic smile.

"Thanks again for picking Clara up." Miyuki stated before the door fell shut behind the professional player.

0_0_0_0

Haruichi thanked the last few customers before the door closed behind them. He made his way towards it, flipping the 'We're Open!' to 'Sorry, We're Closed'.

"Good work today Haruichi!" Sawamura called from across the café, cloth in hand as he wiped tables down.

"You to Eijun." Haruichi stated with a small smile.

He too, made his way to behind the counter and grabbed a cloth to start cleaning tables. The door jingled, causing him to turn towards the door with an apologetic smile.

"Sorry, we're close-" Haruichi's words died in his throat before a huge smile broke across his face.

"This is probably one of my favorite things ever."

Haruichi dropped the cloth onto the table he was cleaning before making his way towards Kuramochi. The older male wrapped his arms around the tiny pinklet's waist.

"What's that?" Haruichi asked.

"Seeing your whole face light up when I walk in." Kuramochi stated with a soft chuckle.

Haruichi smiled before pushing himself up on his tippy toes to plant a kiss on Kuramochi's lips.

"Let's keep it PG thirteen shall we?" Miyuki called from out of nowhere, causing Kuramochi to scowl.

"Uncle Kura!"

"Hi beautiful." Kuramochi stated as Clara came out of nowhere. "Are you showing these guys how to run a café?" The shortstop asked, small smirk in place.

"I'm helping Mimi clean dishes!" The young girl stated proudly.

"Oh? Sounds good. Make sure he does a good job."

Miyuki rose a brow at Kuramochi's words before shaking his head as Haruichi laughed.

"Need a hand?" The shortstop then asked, looking up at Miyuki.

"No, the two of you can head out, I'll finish up here." Sawamura stated with a smile.

"I'll help Eijun out. I'll see you when you get home." Haruichi said before pressing his lips against Kuramochi's cheek.

0_0_0_0

Sawamura sighed after having to practically push Miyuki out the door. He straightened up, leaving Haruichi to finish by putting the chairs up as he made his way to the back to finish up the dishes.

"I'll help you daddy!" Clara stated ever so happily.

"Thanks angel." Sawamura said as he started washing the dishes, handing them to Clara to dry.

Cleaning was something that Sawamura actually came to enjoy, especially when he could joke around with his daughter or simply talk about how her day had gone.

"And then Tasaha said that he wanted to draw me. It looked so bad!" she said before giggling "He made my hair purple. Purple!"

"Sounds like you had a good day." Sawamura stated as he handed Clara the last plate to dry.

The ex-pitcher than got to work on drying the cutlery, not wanting Clara to be drying knives.

"I'm heading out Eijun! See you tomorrow morning!" Haruichi called.

"Alright. Night Haruichi!"

"Night uncle Haru!" Clara added before smiling.