DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN OOFURI
The boys showed up the next day with their heads not even in the season. Especially Mihashi who was in the pits, and he looked lack he hadn't slept and had cried for days.
"Listen up boys, we are going to continue this season without Abe, but we wont have to work hard to make up for him."
"Wait, what do you mean?" Izumi, asked, sitting down next to Mihashi.
"Because I've got a replacement for him ten times better!"
The words hit Mihashi like an atomic bomb. A replacement? Ten times better than Abe? Of course Momoe was just making a figure of speech so that a replacement for Abe did not seem like coal on Christmas morning.
"A replacement?! Are you serious?" A couple boys exclaimed.
"Yep. Our replacement hasn't shown up though.." Hanai mentions, still apprehensive about having Suzuki join the team.
Speaking of the devil, Suzuki showed up, wearing a cap and the school sweats. She had her hair tied in a small pony tail to tie up her thin shoulder length hair.
Momoe puts her arm on Suzuki's shoulder. "Everyone, meet Suzuki Oshima. Our new catcher!"
Everyone was at a dismay at the shady character standing before them. He was nothing as they imagined.
Mihashi was still in shock at the fact that Abe will be replaced by this person.
"Very well, Oshima, show us a couple of your swings. Mihashi, throw him a pitch."
Mihashi felt reluctant, but he was also curious enough to test this person's abilities. He grabbed a ball and stepped foot on the mound.
"Throw a fast ball." Momoe hollers.
Mihashi sighed and let it out. He pitched a fast ball, and Oshima watched it curve slightly as it seemed to float. It throws her off, but she regains control fast and swings the bat. It launches about fifteen feet in the air and Tajima runs to get it.
"Amazing!" He shouts. "Throw him another!"
Mihashi was surprised at Suzuki's quick reactions. Was he really better than Abe?
"I say we let him give Mihashi some signs. See how good this guy is as a catcher." Izumi shouts.
Suzuki seemed bored, but she grabs some gear, and a mit, and squats down.
Mihashi stares at the pitcher and pictures Abe on the mound. No. This person cant call Abe's sign. Because he isn't Abe.
What are signs, Suzuki thinks. Im hungry.
Mihashi waits to see if Suzuki dares to call a sign but the guy was taking his time.
Tajima approached the mound, holding his bat. "Alright buddy! Call for fast ball inside!"
Inside where?
"Just show one finger then four fingers. He'll get what you mean. "
This is confusing…
Finally, Suzuki decides to show his first finger. Or was it two? Wait, why did he say four then?
Mihashi sees that the catcher was pulling a finger. A simple fast ball? He pivots his foot and lets the fastball go and a confused Tajima misses it.
"Hey! It was supposed to go on the inside! What are you trying to pull?"Tajima pouts.
Momoe sees the tension in the air. "Alright. Lets see. Do you even know the signals?"
"No."
Mihashi trips on his feet. He doesn't even know signals. How is he supposed to be a catcher?
"The guy doesn't even know the basics?!" Mizutani complains.
Momoe pulls Suzuki aside. "Look Oshima,when playing Baseball, the catcher is supposed to read the batter's intentions, and that is when you signal the pitcher which ball to pitch. Tajima wanted a fast ball on the inside, which was one finger, then four. You signaled Mihashi a simple fast ball."
"His ball isn't even fast. It was like slo-mo." Suzuki mentions.
"It was indeed a fast ball, but he had complete control over it. But that's why there are different signals that changes it's speed. Communication between the pitcher and the catcher is crucial during a game. Of course you cant tell him verbally, you need to tell him through your fingers."
Suzuki was beginning to understand, and it was taking her interest. "Ok."
She crouched back down.
Tajima approaches the mound again. "Don't mess with me this time."
Suzuki looks at Mihashi from a distance. He wasn't exactly a big guy, and his face did not seem intimidating in any way. According to the fast ball she encountered when she was at bat earlier, really threw her off.
"A curveball."
Tajima turns around. "Huh?"
She begins to experiment with her fingers. If a fast ball is one finger, then a curve ball was probably a the second or the third finger. Then when would a slider come in? Surely a change up was probably five or four.
Alright, show me your curve ball.
Suzuki signals two fingers.
Mihashi reads it.
"I hate it when a pitcher throws off my signs."
Abe.
He throws the curve ball but hesitates and throws it away.
What? I only used two fingers. Why did he throw a Curveball Away.
Tajima notices the sudden change and waits until the last strike. Surely he would have no choice but to throw the fast ball inside now.
Come on. Do as I say.
Suzuki finally signals a fastball inside.
But Mihashi is fighting with himself.
I cant pitch with out Abe! I cant! I feel the most confident with him. Did I lose my will power to pitch?
Mihashi throws a slider.
"What the heck?! Dude, quit playing!" Tajima shouts at Suzuki.
He's blaming it at me. But that pitcher paid no attention to me and hes crying for some reason. Wierdo. It's like that guy had no intention in communicating with me.
Suzuki take off her helmet and marches towards Mihashi, grabs him by the color and looks at him eye to eye. "You shook off my signs."
Suzuki's voice sounded like Abe to Mihashi and he felt like he failed Abe. He dropped to the ground and began to sob. "I-I am nothing with out him!"
Suzuki looked down at him. "You miss your catcher?"
Mihashi hiccupped. "I cant play- w-with out h-him. My hand is s-slowly freezing… over.."
He grabs his collar again. "You're really naïve to think your talent comes from your catcher."
Mihashi looked at Suzuki. "But if that's the way you feel. Then good. Because I have no intention in joining your team."
She grabs her bat, and her cap and starts walking.
"He knows nothing about baseball!" Tajima mentions.
"Yeah, but did you see the way he swung Mihashi's fast ball? It was like he knew what he was going to pitch." Izumi interjects.
"Oh Oshima didn't know what he was going to throw at all. She's just that quick at reading movement and reacts just as quick. With her talent we'll have another clean up hitter other than Tajima!"
"D-Did she just say she…"
"No way.."
Momoe grins. "That's right! Suzuki Oshima is none other than a female sophomore!"
"IM DEAD." Tajima falls over.
Thanks for reading! :3
