Chapter Four: Pitching Love

Sho walked around Junes. He was looking for a gift to give to Labrys when he finally confessed. He was up all night but couldn't form a decent poem for Labrys. Minazuki wasn't any help, always saying the direct approach was the best one but Sho's fear of rejection was too much for him to just go do it. Somewhere in the store Sho heard Yosuke and Teddie, no doubt Teddie was messing around and Yosuke was threatening to cut his pay. Sho sighed as he looked at the jewelry.

"Oh, hello sir!" A young woman working that section greeted him, "Can I help you find anything?"

"No, I'm fine." Sho replied, continuing to look through the selection. He had no idea what Labrys would like however, so his choices were complete guess work.

"Hey there Sho-san." Sho turned to see Yosuke come up to him.

"Morning." He replied.

"Oh, looking for a gift or something?"

"Yeah."

"Who you getting it for?" Yosuke probed for answers.

"None of your business, that's who."

"Alright, take it easy." Yosuke chuckled, "But you'd be better off heading to the city to find a good gift, our selection isn't that great right now."

"I see. Thanks." Sho decided to take his advice and left the store.

It was a nice day out considering his dilemma. Sho took his time walking to the station, the next train wouldn't be here for another half hour at best. He felt his pocket vibrate and pulled out his phone, a gift from everyone after he was accepted into the group. He had gotten a quick text from Labrys.

"Of all the people to text me right now." Sho mumbled.

"Hey Sho, we're all planning to have a party at Yukiko's Inn this Friday after closing. Hope you can come!"

Sho thought over his schedule. Friday was his main day for homework. If he worked overtime on Thursday he could make it. He didn't want to seem rude so he replied briefly.

"Yeah, I think I can square off some time." Sho replied. Not even a second after Labrys replied. She always was the fastest, mostly because her cell phone was for show as the real phone she had was integrated into her brain.

"Okay! See you then."

Sho reached the station then and just in time. The train had arrived so he hurriedly bought his ticket and got on. He leaned back in his seat, thankful the train was quiet and fairly empty, and closed his eyes for a quick nap.

Line here

Sho woke up and just in time at that. The train had pulled into the city station. He got up, briefly stretched, and got off. After leaving the station he looked around. He cursed the fact he rarely came to the city and was not that familiar with it. He could have asked someone to come along, but he acted out of haste. He looked around in a daze, at a loss as to what to do.

"Oi!" He turned at a faintly familiar voice and then cringed in disgust as he saw Junpei Iori walk up to him.

"Oh, it's you." Sho grumbled.

"Hey, that's not a nice way to talk to someone wanting to help." Junpei laughed.

"Help how."

"Was passing by on my way to practice and noticed you looking pretty lost. Figured I'd ask if you need a hand finding anything." Sho considered this. He didn't think highly of Junpei, but surely he must at least know the way around town.

"Alright, fine."

"Great, come on. Let's go or we'll be late!" Junpei started off.

"H-Hey! I thought you were-!"

"I'll show you around after. You can watch my team's practice or at least tag along for something to drink." Sho wasn't going to deny it. He was pretty thirsty.

In about twenty minutes they arrived at a baseball field near a large bridge. A group of what seemed like old middle school or young high school students were waiting around.

"Coach is here!" One noticed.

"Alright gang! Let's get this ball rolling!" Junpei said energetically. The kids all cheered as they got their bats and started practicing, Junpei coaching them as they did so. Sho took one of the sodas from the cooler nearby, seeing as how Junpei gave him permission. Sho was pretty surprised, Junpei seemed like a good coach.

"Guess he really is good for something." Sho chuckled.

"Huh? Sho-san was here?" Labrys asked.

"Yeah, looks like he was looking for a gift for someone." Yosuke grunted as he hoisted up some boxes.

"Huh…I guess I missed him." Labrys sighed. She really wanted to help him spill his feelings to that girl he said he liked. She sighed, "Well, thanks Yosuke-san."

"Yeah, oof, no prob." Yosuke said. Labrys left Junes then. She closed her eyes.

Tracing cellphone signal. Trace found, following path. Labrys managed to follow the trace of Sho's cellphone to the train station. She glanced at the train schedule. Sho left Junes not long ago according to Yosuke. But given the time he would need to return soon. She ran through the possible places he went to and narrowed it down to one. He was in the city. The next train wasn't coming for another hour and she didn't want to wait.

"Having problems sister?" Labrys turned and saw Aigis.

"Oh. Aigis."

"Mitsuru-san and the others are about to leave for the city on business. Do you require a lift?" Aigis smiled as did her sister.

"That'd be great. Thanks sis." Labrys felt an odd warm flood her.

"So, what's on your mind kid?" Junpei asked suddenly, coming up to Sho and sitting down as the team continued their practice.

"Eh? The hell you talking about?"

"Come on, I know that look." Junpei sighed, "You're fancying someone aren't you?"

"So what if I am?"

"Can't bring yourself to fess up?" Junpei commented. Sho glanced at him.

"Huh, you're sharper than we give you credit for."

"Let me guess, you don't want to tell her because you're scared that she'll reject you or it will ruin your friendship, am I in the ball park?" Sho sighed.

"Yeah, that's pretty much it. I wanted to come and find something to give her as a present here."

"Trying to bribe her?" Junpei sounded pretty annoyed by that, "Look kid, you just gotta go for it."

"Told you!" Minazuki gloated.

"Think of it like this." Junpei pointed to one of his star batters who was working on his game with one of the main pitchers, "The pitch is the question of love." Junpei began an analogy, "That moment when the ball is rushing up to you is the suspense of waiting for her answer. The moment you hit that ball is the moment she says yes."

"And what if I miss?" Sho poked a hole in the coach's logic.

"Baseball has the rule of three strikes. Love doesn't have any rules." Junpei smiled, "Even if you miss, you still have chances." Sho looked at the two kids throwing the ball back and forth.

"Yeah….." Sho muttered to himself as the crack of a bat sent a ball flying out into the river, "I do still have a chance." Sho stood up suddenly.

"Whoa, in a hurry?" Junpei asked.

"Yeah. I've kept her waiting long enough." Sho said, and ran off for the train station. Junpei smiled as he watched him run off. He adjusted his cap slightly.

"Go get 'er champ."

Vayne: Sorry for the short chapter x.x next one should be better XD