Chapter 2
Forming the battery

Four breaking pitches, Abe listed them in his head after he listened to Mihashi's explanation. He easily noticed the lack of proper terminology of the different throws; Mihashi only had them described by hand gestures. So it was probably enough to verify that the blond did not have any coach that taught him to pitch. He placed his hand under his chin as he observed the flustered expression sported by Mihashi. Somehow, Abe felt slightly disconcerted with the long and unblinking stare that Mihashi gave. His silvery irises felt oddly cold even for him.

"I see." He remarked at first, the pieces of the puzzle gradually settling in his mind. His pupils darted to side as he saw Kanō who stood not too far. He was still baffled as to why the other pitcher kept a cursory look over him, as if Kanō appeared overly cautious. "That makes sense," he only muttered next. He turned back to the blond pitcher. "Mihashi, let's set up some signs," Abe saw how Mihashi flapped at his words. Pitchers seemed to have their own idiosyncratic ways; Abe thought that it would be best to let it slide away first.

"Wait a minute," Kanō entered the dialogue. Mihashi turned a solaced look at the other pitcher, while Abe only sent an inquisitive stare. The questions were beginning to pile up inside him, Abe deduced. About the certain intrusion, Abe would not know, but he already decided that those little quirks presented him something. "Mihashi's not particularly well yesterday," Kanō voiced out. "I know you want to test him out," he added, much to Abe's amusement, "but I don't think Mihashi would play best if we put him out in a trial play right now." He explained. Abe turned to Mihashi.

"I-I-I'm fine, Kanō-kun," and he sounded more perplexed than Abe was curious to the pitchers. "I'm fine… even yester—"

"That is what you always say, Mihashi," Kanō retorted and Abe realized that Kanō was annoyed by Mihashi's contradiction. From how Kanō's brows furrowed, Abe assumed that the pitcher was trying to recommend Mihashi a break, but the blond did not understand what he wanted.

"So you're thinking that it's not good for Mihashi to pitch if he's not in his best form?" Abe assumed, even though his guess was partially correct. And what else are you thinking? Abe asked in thought.

"I'll admit that Mihashi is a really good pitcher," Kanō said at first. "But, as a pitcher, I know well that it's not desirable to pitch lousily," he explained his point. Kanō paused for a while, looking deeply at Abe's grayish dark eyes. "Even a catcher knows that,"

Yes, that's right, Abe mentally said, slightly pleased that the other pitcher sounded very reasonable. Since they know each other, perhaps I can believe that Mihashi's not in his perfect form. He concluded. But, even so, Mihashi's pitches are still really amazing, he added, giving a brief peek back at Mihashi.

"What do you pitch?" Abe now focused his attention at the other pitcher. "So you were the reserve?" He saw Kanō nod at him.

"I'm not really far behind Mihashi," Kanō answered. "Mihashi's control is out of this world." He pointed out. "I know you really wanted to test his skills out, but I won't want him to pitch if he's not in his best." Abe understood that. Kanō continued. "But you won't be disappointed with Mihashi, I tell you." Abe saw how Mihashi frowned at Kanō's pronouncement. It seemed that there was a history behind these two, Abe felt.

"My pitches are faster than Mihashi's," Kanō explained. "But perhaps it'll be better if I show you than explain to you, right?" Kanō asked. "Abe, I know that you have already a plan in mind," Abe was slightly surprised that this other pitcher seemed to have noticed. So I'm not the only one who's looking far out, Abe thought. True, he gave particular interest to the pitcher duo, but it only seemed that he had invited their attention to him as well. While Mihashi seemed apprehensive, Kanō was particularly wary and observant. I wonder how these two opposites go along with each other.

"Hanai," Abe turned to the tallest teen. Kanō followed his gaze.

"What is it?" The teen answered, hands behind his head.

"Can you get in the batter's box?"

"Sorry," Hanai replied. "I'm not joining the club, after all." He dropped his hands and spun behind. He started to walk away from them when Abe continued to speak.

"You were a cleanup hitter, right?" Abe's expression was frisky, something Kanō noticed. "Let's have a three at-bat game," three fingers were then flashed towards Hanai.

"A game?" Hanai twisted his head back.

Abe only gave out a smirk. "Can we get just the infielders in?"

"Just infielders?" Hanai retorted, easily discerning the subliminal hint Abe just sent. "So you don't like it that I'm not joining the club?" He assumed, aware of the marked challenge Abe just issued. He was not going down, Hanai thought. "But are you sure about that?" Hanai dared back. "It looks like I'm going to hit a big one."

"If you could actually hit a big one, I'd beg you to join us." Abe finally dropped the bomb against Hanai. Kanō felt laughing at that point, but he'd just probably set off a different effect if he did.

Ignoring the furious reaction from Hanai, Abe asked Mihashi and Kanō to follow him to the field's dugout. Kanō clapped Mihashi by his shoulder and guided his blond friend just behind Abe's footsteps. But they were oblivious of the hidden stares Abe gave them as they moved on. There's something definitely going on between these two, Abe placed in his mind once again. Right now I don't have any idea, but if it affects their pitching, then it's definitely something I must know, he placated himself, in order to concentrate first at the incoming trial game.

"You intentionally provoked him," Kanō spoke up and he didn't need to specify to whom he had directed his words. "You stirred him up so his focus would be edgy,"

"Let's just say that it's part of the plan," Abe replied. He wondered if Kanō was truly as observant as he appeared, and if he was such a deep thinker as he sounded. "Or should I say I also intentionally up-ed his focus so that I could change his mind." He added. "He was a cleanup batter, so I think it's important if he joins the club."

The trio finally reached the dugout. Abe sat at the edge of the nearest bench and watched how Mihashi managed to trip himself when he strode against the seat's foot. Kanō was quick to reprimand the blond; Mihashi apologized as soon. His eyes are wide open, Abe thought, it's impossible to miss the bench in front of him. He only watched as Kanō forced Mihashi on the bench. Kanō remained on his feet, with his arms folded in front of his chest. "You're going to learn the signs we used?" Kanō rose.

"Aa," Abe answered absentmindedly. "Ano, Kanō, I'm just wondering if Mihashi really can't play this one," the catcher put up what was in his mind. Kanō obviously flinched upon hearing it, a sign that Abe observed and took note of. I knew it, he mentally said. Kanō doesn't want Mihashi to pitch in a practice trial, he speculated.

"A-A-Abe-kun…" It was Mihashi who spoke next. "Kanō-kun… he's worried for… me." He stated, which piqued up Abe's attention more. Abe observed how Mihashi looked straight at him. Just like he noticed earlier, the blond tended to look directly at the person he spoke with. But the intensity of his gaze was a little bit unnerving. But as Abe continued to watch Mihashi's stare, there was a little thought that sprouted within him. It's not like he's looking straightaway, he supposed. It's more like he's looking far away from me, he concluded. He's like looking pass through me.

"Why? Is there something wrong with you?" Abe asked and he was amazed with the synchronous comical expression that Kanō and Mihashi showed.

"No, no, no," Kanō waved his hands frantically. "There's nothing wrong." He said, as he awkwardly scratched his cheek. "I'm just really worried that Mihashi has been really sloppy these weeks." He shared. "We haven't really played baseball for a while,"

"Sloppy?" Abe repeated the word. "I don't find his pitches sloppy." He told Kanō. Honestly, Abe wondered about the remarkable control Mihashi had. Even though the pitches were slow, it was patched up with Mihashi's amazing control of the ball. But it's not clearly the point, Abe added in thought. There was something that Kanō was trying to hide. "Kanō, you're a pitcher too, right?" Abe said. "But you are not intimidated by the fact that I'm zeroing Mihashi as the pitcher of the team," he stated his observation.

Kanō tensed up. Bingo, Abe remarked. I did not notice it earlier, but even Kanō encouraged Mihashi to become the pitcher for the team. Abe looked at the strained expression Kanō now made. "Do you see Mihashi as a better pitcher?" Do you see yourself as inferior to Mihashi? The second question only remained in his thought. He did not want to infer, but it was one of possible reason for Kanō to push Mihashi as the pitcher. It was now apparent that there was a lingering tension between the two, a hidden fact shared by the duo of pitchers.

"N-N-No… Kanō-kun… is a good… pitcher," Mihashi told him. For another time, tears welled upon his eyes. Abe now confirmed that the blond had an extremely low level of confidence, as if his personality had been broken down – that he seemed to feel that he was a failure. "Kanō-kun respects my decision… I won't leave… the mound… I don't want to give up the mound." Mihashi's tears ran down over his face again. Abe was silent for that second. Normally, he would have asked Mihashi to stop crying, but there was a deeper reason for those tears.

If Mihashi thinks he's selfish, then I can see Kanō as a selfless pitcher, Abe slowly turned to Kanō. Even if he's a pitcher, he doesn't make a great deal about Mihashi monopolizing the mound, Abe thought. But Kanō even wants for Mihashi to pitch for the team, his brows met together with that idea in his head. Of course he couldn't understand at first. Abe just knew that there was an underlying reason for the strange interaction between the two pitchers. However, Abe recognized that it made the pitchers reluctant about themselves. Just for now, he needed a confirmation.

"Kanō—"

"I'm not intimidated," Kanō spoke, cutting Abe off. The former tried his best to look away from the catcher. "I'm only thinking what's best for the team. Mihashi and I are both pitchers – that's true – but I'm already admitting that it will be best if we have Mihashi as the team's regular pitcher." He stated. "I already know Mihashi's skill, so I don't have to complain. I have long acknowledged his skill, so there is no reason for me to feel intimidated." He added. Abe saw how Kanō looked sadly at Mihashi. "And there is something I want Mihashi to prove,"

But you sound that you are looking down at yourself, Abe could not stop from commenting. It was fairly obvious that Kanō was hurting. Mihashi seemed unmindful, but Abe didn't know if the blond was pretending not to care or he had heard the same lines before that he didn't know how to respond to it anymore. "And what is that?" Abe was only able to ask. It was enough for him to understand the subliminal statements thrown below their conversation, but Abe felt that he was still a stranger to intrude with the two pitchers' dilemma.

"Mihashi is not an ace because of favoritism," Kanō said.

Something clicked inside his head. Abe's eyes were round in realization. It was not that Kanō was merely looking down at himself. Kanō might have felt that way, but it was only second to what he truly wished. Even Kanō recognized how Mihashi undervalued himself and he now knew that Kanō pushed the blond because it was one of the ways to prove that Mihashi was not really a pushover, a fake ace. So Kanō only want to make Mihashi feel that he can be a real ace, Abe finally comprehended. Turning back to the blond in question, Abe muttered soon,

"Mihashi," Abe called out the blond's name in stern but supportive tone. "I'll make you a true ace." The catcher saw the surprised expression that was etched upon the pitcher's face. "In exchange, pitch the way I tell you to. I hate pitchers who shake my signs off." And then the trio was silent. Mihashi only looked shocked upon hearing those words from Abe, but Kanō was torn between two emotions – one that was surprised and one that was extremely happy. Abe just noted all of it, not once commenting on the strange reactions they gave him.

"Alright," Kanō finally broke the silence off. "I'll let Mihashi pitch for this one." He announced. Abe looked at him incredulously at first, before he traded a grateful expression to the pitcher. "I'll teach the signs that I and Mihashi used back in Mihoshi. "Make sure that you remember them well," he added. Abe then learned the signs that the two pitchers used. But, at the back of his mind, he still wondered as to why Kanō took the initiative for the things that were related to Mihashi. It really made the impression that Kanō was trying to hide a secret from them.

. . . . . . . . .

"Mihashi can locate his pitches in ways that even pros can't." Abe now explained the wonder that was Mihashi's pitches, after they were able to struck Hanai out. It was amusing as to how Hanai felt baffled with the pitches thrown against him; Abe felt ever-confident because of it. "If we use that well, quite frankly, we can get any number of outs from Hanai." He continued to expound. If Abe was correct, the root of the problem was Mihashi's lack of confidence. He just needed to correct that. Abe then approached the blond pitcher.

"Mihashi, you definitely have enough appeal as a pitcher." He told the blond. Abe just needed to affirm that Mihashi could do the task as pitcher. With Mihashi, he was sure that he could strike out any batter.

"Um… I-I… think you're the amazing one, Abe-kun." The teen with the silver irises suddenly spoke back, which mildly surprised the catcher in front of him. Abe regarded him for some seconds, trying to form the meaning behind those words shed towards him. With a thin smile forming on his lips, Abe did know what.

He understands well, he kept on looking at the blond. Without me calling the pitches, you're just a pitcher who throws slow balls, he said in thought. It was better that way. Abe had doubted Mihashi at first when they started the trial game, but he felt really satisfied when the blond pitched the way Abe told him. Just remember how powerless you are, he added. Abe knew himself that his game-calling did have some risk, but when he noted that Mihashi had also taken the risky path, he knew that Mihashi would not simply shake him off.

For the next three years, you're going to pitch the way I tell you to, he maintained in his head, before he stepped towards Mihashi's side. He placed an affectionate hand over the blond's shoulder. "He's going to become a pitcher who can get any kind of hitter out." He said aloud. "Now, if we have the fielders that can catch the ball and hitters that can score one run we can go to the Koushien." Abe told them as a positive remark. It would be good if he lightened their moods right now – it was always the best start.

But the other pitcher, Abe looked at Kanō, who also observed him from afar. I don't think that he'll be as complacent as Mihashi is, he supposed. He had learned from their interaction that Kanō was not as simple-minded as Mihashi was. He was observant and perceptive as well. He might even be as skillful as Mihashi was. But Abe was slightly wary of the other teen. Now two people had the knowledge of what made Mihashi reluctant to play – Abe and Kanō. Abe understood that they had the capability to influence Mihashi right then and on and he knew it might give rise to a problem.

Mihashi's obedience is a great value for my pitch-calling, Abe reasoned, as he watched the team crowd Mihashi for verbalizing his uncertainty about Koushien. But I don't think Kanō would be totally compliant about how I call the game, he thought. It was clear that there were some hints of Kanō's overprotectiveness of Mihashi. Abe pondered if it would affect the battery in that manner. Mihashi even realized his own weakness, but Kanō was totally against the self-pity Mihashi had for himself. Perhaps Abe was trying to capitalize on Mihashi's personality, but he also only wished for the blond's own good.

This is just the first day, after all, Abe finally concluded. It was too much to think so far ahead for their first meeting. It was not about being careless, but Abe had to gauge the pitchers first. It would just be for the sake of the team, for the sake of winning, Abe reasoned. But there was one thing sure for that day: when he said he'd make Mihashi a true ace, Abe stated that in the belief that Mihashi could really become one. It was not an empty promise. Abe knew it would come true.

"You really did well today, Ren." Kanō commented as he watched his friend ran his hand over the metal fence that outlined the whole field. The two of them had remained in the area after the baseball club finished the meeting. They were allowed by Momoe-san to stay, with the reason that they would survey the area. After all, it was the first time that Kanō and Mihashi had reached the field. Kanō observed how Mihashi's cheeks burned red after being complimented. The blond's lips parted open then shut close repeatedly, obviously failing to word out his thoughts.

Kanō only chuckled. "Have you finally memorized the field's area?" He asked Mihashi when the blond dropped his hands to his side. Aside from his sense of hearing, Mihashi's sense of touch also improved considerably when he became blind. It was one his ways to memorize things and places aside from relying to his hearing alone.

"Yes… the outfield's… grassy," Mihashi responded, trying to remember the sensation he felt when he and Kanō reached that spot a while ago. "Shū-chan… Abe-kun's game calls are… amazing." He suddenly switched the topic. Kanō nodded, even though he knew Mihashi won't see it.

"I know." But Kanō looked bitter. "By the way, you didn't get confused when Abe gave you the signs, Ren?" He asked. "I don't know if he memorized our signs, so I was wondering if the sounds his hands made distracted you." He said.

"No… I'm already familiar with our signs…" As he said that, Mihashi gestured them with his right hand. "The sounds made by Abe-kun were almost similar with how you do it." He told the other teen. "So… that was the reason why you told Abe-kun to… remember the signs well." Mihashi finally realized.

"Yes," Kanō responded. If pitching was tricky enough, the catcher's call was even harder. Mihashi only relied on the sound of the air around the catcher's hand when he made the signs. By memorizing the sound patterns for different pitches, Mihashi could identify the particular throw that the catcher wanted. But since it was the first time that the pitchers and the catcher had met, Kanō knew well that it would be tough for Mihashi. "I'm glad that he took the signs really seriously," Kanō sighed in relief. "I'm really worried because I felt that he's really suspicious."

"S-S-Suspicious?" Mihashi sounded worried. "Shū-chan, you're not referring about my…"

"I think he's been looking out to you for a while lately," Kanō exhaled uneasily. "Even though you already perfected 'looking' at the person you are talking to, I think the catcher's looking out differently at you." He shared. Kanō felt something wrong as soon. He sent a narrowed look at Mihashi. "Ren, you were blinking back then, weren't you?" He shot the question off.

Mihashi appeared stunned. "I-I-I forgot to… blink!" The blond suddenly acted restless. He cocked his head around as if he did not have a single thing to focus to. His mouth also varied into different shapes.

Kanō cupped his cheeks as he released a tired sigh. "You should always be conscious of these things, Ren." He looked at the blond who seemed like going into a breakdown.

"I-I-I'm… sorry…" Mihashi's eyes glistened with tears.

"Just forget about it," Kanō dismissed. "Next time, make sure that you are going to act normal, especially with your eyes." He berated Mihashi with a toned down voice. "Abe is very observant. I caught him looking at me too for many times lately. To be honest, I don't know what's going on with his mind."

"So… we must not go… near Abe-kun," Mihashi suggested.

"We can't do that!" Kanō responded. Mihashi shrunk in size. "He's your pitcher now, Ren. In Nishiura, you are going to form a battery that will make you a real ace." He said, remembering the words that came out of Abe's mouth. "You heard him say that, right? I know you are happy that someone finally told you that, Ren." Kanō said. "I don't want to let go of this opportunity. I want you to pitch with the best ability you have." He added. He was glad that Mihashi couldn't see him right now.

Kanō's tears already flowed from his eyes, but he kept his voice strong so that Mihashi would not think that he was crying already. Even if Abe appeared to be always scheming, Kanō also realized that Abe could help Mihashi out. The catcher sounded so serious and mature. Even though he hadn't fully trusted him yet, Kanō gave Abe the chance to make Mihashi feel happy about his pitching. He wiped his tears from his eyes. "I will protect you, Ren. And if this battery can make you be the best, then I will protect this battery for you," he added.

"Shū-chan…"

"Don't worry too much," Kanō smiled, and that time he felt bad that Mihashi couldn't see him. "The only thing we have to do now is to make sure no one discovers that you have lost your sight." Kanō assured the blond. "In that way, Abe will continue catching for you. In that way, you can grow more to become Nishiura's real ace pitcher." He told him. "We will realize our dreams here in Nishiura."

Shino'oka Chiyo was appointed as the team's manager after the club had been finally completed. Her first task was not too menial, but she also made sure that it would complete and perfect. Momoe-san had asked her to form a complete profile for each of the players of the baseball club.

Nevertheless, she took a brief break when she came across a particular information Momoe-san had given her from the faculty before she went home. She had finished five profiles that time, and now she bore a certain attention to the data on her hand. The details belonged to Mihashi, one of the two pitchers who joined the club.

But it weren't the specific details that attracted her interest. Shino'oka was focused on the picture that was pasted on right-upper corner of the paper she held. It was a photo that belonged to Mihashi, but it was taken from the time when he was still in middle school. She wondered about a certain detail that boggled her mind.

In the picture, Mihashi had a matching color of hair and irises – the warm color of gold.

But, Shino'oka thought, isn't Mihashi's eyes silver in color?

- Chapter End -

Post-chapter note: Mihashi's eyes is seen in the cover.