Dear Baka senpai's
It is I, your dear beloved SAWAMURA-CHAN!
It has been Two weeks, since I got here and three weeks, since I left you guys at Nagano. Can't say it was a mistake anymore... Seidou is amazing... No… Beyond amazing. Words cannot even describe the experience of it.
Also you guys were wrong, I didn't need the pepper spray to threaten my roommates if they do anything inappropriate. I believe they treat me with the out most respect and as a little sister. It's not like they grab places they shouldn't when we wrestle each other or that they stare when I change. You guys worried for nothing, besides they wholeheartedly agreed to help set up the curtain of the lower bunk bed so I can have my privacy.
Anyway~The first day at Seidou was hard… If only because Ogiwara was there and people kept looking back and forth between us… Anything you would like to say I know you set him up to this Wakakana it has your fingerprints all over this!
The players here are all so serious and fun to be around; (when there not ignoring me) I have sadly yet to prove myself that I do in fact deserve to be on this team... At least on my own without the coaches help... I kind of wished he ignored me on the first day of practice.
it's also kind of lonely... I'm so used to being able to crowd you guys and you guys me. But here... It's so different, it feels cold... Perhaps, I just need to get used to the atmosphere...? Which reminds me, since the first two weeks of spring, we've had training ever morning and evenings.. If only to see if we are fit for the positions we want; Now that i'm a player
instead of a coach I grudgingly apologize to you guys for the training I gave you guys...
I should of made you suffer MORE!...
These guys would of toasted you in the first round of Koshien and Regional s. I'm so ashamed to now have found that out and am so glad you guys turned down any offers to play high school baseball. They would have killed you on the first day of training.
Sadly I must go.
Your beloved coach
- Sawamura Eijun
The team were sitting down on the ground as they watched their coach with weary eyes. He had assembled them for a meeting, before they left school grounds.
The coach drew on the dirt, a small stick in hand. He knew despite his silence all his first string players eyes were on him.
"You boys get it, don't you, guys." He said."The fall tournament, confirms the selection. Then there's the final selection in the summer. Compared to those two, the spring tournament doesn't mean much. But today's our opponent is Ichidaisan High, the ones we lost to in the Fall tournament! We are going to return the favor to them ten times over!"
"YES SIR!"
Smirking he gestured to Yuki, who stood up and gathered his team into a huddle. "Yes, lets go as usual." The team followed their captain example. Stand up hunch down a bit, a hand over their heart. Smirking as they awaited for their captain to began the cheer.
"WHO ARE WE?" He yelled.
"THE KING SEIDOU!"
"WHO ARE THE ONES TO SWEAT THE MOST THAN ANYONE ELSE?!"
"SEIDOU!"
"WHO SHED MORE TEARS THAN ANYONE ELSE?!"
"SEIDOU!"
"WHO LOVES BASEBALL MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE!?"
"SEIDOU!"
"ARE YOU READY TO FIGHT?!"
They screamed.
"With our schools pride in our hearts we aim for just one thing!"
"OWNING THE NATIONALS!"
"OOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH!"
"LET'S GO!"
The team raised fist towards the sky, completing their cheer. Their aura's completely different pride and ambition shining in their eyes, standing up straight walking in sync. Like they were invincible, nothing not even an unstoppable force could take them down.
Their younger classmen looked at them with awe. As they walked past them towards the bus.
"A-amazing..." Someone whispered
"Their aura's are completely different..." Sawamura who stood apart from the group stared amazed at the sheer intensity of his upper classmen.
"Amazing isn't it?" Kaade whispered to his fellow pitchers. "To think in maybe a year or so it'll be us doing that."
And only one of us will have the Ace number… Was left unsaid.
Staring at the first string, Sawamura took in the forms and posture of all her upperclassman walking by. That didn't stop her searching for one particular person, despite the fact she had given him a dismissal a couple of weeks back; not that she was sure, he got the message, since he stilled seemed to eat with her and Ogiwara during lunch. She couldn't help but search for him. Finally her eyes landed on the catcher who walked forward with confidence, not even a glance of hesitation.
"I've seen that cheer on TV and I've really wanted to do it..." A blond teammate of hers said, as he talked to the rest of their fellow first years.
BAM! an echo of the pitch she threw that day, ran in her mind. The sound of the mitt when the ball hit into. The tingle of her left arm, the excitement and exhilaration of her heart as he caught the pitch.
"Man, I want to join them soon, too!"
"Alright let's head out to the field now! If you want to watch the game, get on the bus!" One of the upperclassman exclaimed.
"YOSH!" They ran towards one of the buses that were waiting and ready to take them to the game.
Sawamura just stood, watching her fellow first years run or walk towards the bus with excitement. Crossing her arms, looking at the bus indiculusly, before looking back to the now empty field.
"Eh, Sa-chan, aren't you coming?" Ogiwara asked, walking behind her, carrying a basket for his fellow managers.
"Neh, As much as I would like to go..." Sawamura looked up to the bright blue sky. Her hands sweaty all of a sudden, as her heart beated faster. "I can't." Turning around to give him a big smile, eyes brighter than ever. "Not it I ever want to be on the same field with them... I need to practice when they aren't..." I can't stay back on the benches and admire them from afar, not when I can work on getting into the field.
Ogiwara smiled at her, knowing exactly the feeling she was feeling. It was the exact same feeling he had; when he practiced alone and the rest of his teammates left to go home once practice was over.
it was the determination to get better.
The passion for the game.
The thrill to go against unknown players.
The promise to play again and again with rivals…
He shook his head, it was better not to get into that, not yet. Not now. "Alright, just don't over do it, I'll videotape the game, so you'll know who you'll go up against either during the summer or the fall." Sawamura beamed at him, in happiness.
"Ne, can you give this to Kuramochi-Ni and Masuko-nii this note so they won't worry." She asked, grabbing his notebook and flipping it into a blank page. Quickly scribbling something down. He laughs, walking away from her and to the buses, where Kuramochi stood looking around.
Watching Ogiwara walk towards Kuramochi, she nods to herself and turns around and jogs towards the field.
XXX
"Oi, where's Sa-chan?" Kanade asked, looking around the bus, seeing that Ogiwara came in without the female.
"She staying behind." Ogiwara replied, slumping into a sit. "She wanted to practice."
"And mess the first game?" Kanade asked, in disbelief. "Doesn't she want to at least know thy enemy?" Ogiwara just holds up the Camera and smirks. "Who says she won't know?"
"You know." Toujou says, speaking up from the right side of the bus. "I've been meaning to ask you, how is it that you know Sawamura-chan?"
"Yeah, is she your girlfriend or something?" Kanade asked, innocently looking at the manager. Was it just Ogiwara or did suddenly everyone's eyes started to bore into the back of his head? Ogiwara shook his head, ignoring the cold air that ran through his back. "No!" He exclaimed. "She's just a childhood friend."
"So she's not taken then?" Kanade asked, trying to make conversation. Only to get smacked in the head by the blond friend of Toujou. "Oi! I was just asking!"
"Well don't ask stupid questions." The blond said. "We came here to devote the next three years to baseball and so has Sawamura."
"Kanemaru is right." Toujou said. "Besides dating a teammate is bad for the teams vibe."
"Not to mention she's the only girl, who is going to be spending even more time with us, than the managers." Kanemaru added, already grimacing at the future harassment to his teammate.
"What do you mean?" Asou asked, looking up from his conversation from Seki who had paused to listen in on the conversation.
"I mean it's obvious isn't it?" Kanemaru asked, crossing his arms. "She's the only girl in a boys baseball team, she's bound to get hounded by the millions of fangirls that we have throughout the school."
"But what about the managers?" Seki pointed out. "Surely, they'd been hounded and would back up Sawamura as well, they are a huge part of the team."
Kanemaru shrugs. "Yeah, but they have each other and know exactly what they're going through and if you haven't noticed Sawamura has interacted with them or anyone other than the pitchers, lately."
"Not to mention, most of them are all upperclassmen and Ogiwara is a guy who already has a fan club." Kanade pointed out, looking at Ogiwara enviously.
There was pause silence as they thought it over. Before they all turned to Ogiwara who was looking down on his notes. "What?" He asked, suddenly aware of the glares pointed at him.
Another blond just stared at his fellow first years, shaking his head at them and proceed to ignore them by putting an earbuds and continue to listen to music. Ogiwara sighed, looking at the blond he was sitting next to in envy for the earbuds.
He wished the bus would start moving, so they could change the topic.
XXX
"Ah! Look out!" A girl shrieked as she let go of a tire that rolled and bounced towards Sawamura who yelped as it send her flying. "I'M SO SORRY! ARE YOU OKAY!?" The girl yelled, running to Sawamura side, kneeling down, with a guilty face. Realizing that she just hit the only female baseball player, that wasn't a manager. I can't believe I did it again... She thought with a groan. Especially when I was trying to help... Sawamura…
Rubbing her head, Sawamura blinked looking at the object that hit her from behind. "There's a tire here?" She muttered, eyeing the tire, twitching to get a rope and tying the tire and tying the rope to her waist and start running. Sawamura twitched, before shaking her head, First things are first Ei-chan! Deal with the clumsy person first!
Looking towards girl, with a slight glare, soften up as she watched the manager stutter to get the right words out. " I... Uhm... I thought..."
She reminds me of Ren, when he was asking me to catch for him... She sweat dropped at the comparison. She also reminds me of Nobu who stuttered a lot when he first ask to become assistant manager. Inwardly sighing, Sawamura decided to give the girl a break. It was obvious that the girl was nervous wreck and unsteady about being manager already. Why make it even harder for her?
"Is there another tire, by any chance?" She asked, Making the girl blink.
"Huh?"
And bingo was its name oh! Giving the girl a big smile. "Sah~ is there another tire somewhere?" Tilting her head, looking at the girl. "Oh wait, Gomen, gomen How rude of me." She rubbed the back of her neck. "I'm Sawamura Eijun and you are?"
"Y-Yoshikawa H-haruno."
"Great! Can I call you Haru-chan?!" Sawamura asked, looking at her hopefully.
Haruno was a bit taken back at the straightforwardness and eagerness of nicknaming her, staring at her hopeful yet slightly lonely look that Sawamura was giving her. She realized that the only other person Sawamura has interacted fully was Ogiwara. Yet, even he's busy with manager stuff and not having enough time to talk to Sawamura. Smiling softly, Huh, Despite Sawamura-san's determination to continue Baseball (even if it left her alienated by many people). Sawamura seems to be timid.. Haruno thought. Being timid really doesn't suit her… I want… I want to…. "Hai! Is it alright if I call you Ei-chan then?" Wait was that too straight forward…?
The relief smile that Sawamura aimed at her made it worth asking and relieved her from her worried. "So is there another tire around here somewhere?'
"Huh?"
"If I ever want to play on the same field with the first string, I need more than just a tiny tire!" Sawamura exclaimed, giving her a wide grin.
"H-hai!" Haruno rushed to get another tire out, before the other manager came to call her. Bringing some rope, she helped Sawamura tie rope on the tires. "Arigato! Haru-chan! We should hang out sometime." Sawamura gave her a peace sign; before running off.
Haruno couldn't help but feel dazed.
"What are you doing over there! Haruno?"
"Let's go to the game!"
Haruno snapped out of her dazed expression, rushing towards her Senpai's "GOMEN!"
XXX
"Here Sawamura gave me this to give to you."
Kuramochi walked into the first string bus, finding a seat in the 6th row, he slumped into the seat and took out a note that the first year manager gave him. Saying that it was from Sawamura.
Kuramochi- nii!
I'll stay behind... Even when everyone is off, I have to work since. I'll most likely never be able to to join you guys! After all... I'm not the only only one who feels the pressure, to make it into first string for summer or fall. Masuko-nii been coming home late to practice at night because of one error. Doesn't help it's his and the third years last year to play.
One day i'm going to take scary face's ace number! Just you wait!
- Sawamura Eijun!
He couldn't help but blink at the note, wondering where Sawamura got that ridiculous notion of her not being able to join them in first string anytime soon. Smirking to himself. That's pretty cruel thing to say about Tanba... But work hard, you're gonna need it if you want to be ace. The note was plucked out of his hands.
"Oi!" He shouted, looking up irritated.
"Neh, Kuramochi-nii, Huh?" Miyuki said, teasing. "Didn't know you and Sawamura were that close." Kuramochi twitched, snapping back the note from the smirking bastard. "What a cruel thing to say about Tanba-san, though. You'll need to teach her manners." Miyuki said, grinning wickedly. "Though of course I could always teach her instead."
"Miyuki you bastard, stay away!"
"Ahahaha, I didn't expect you to be the overprotective brotherly type!"
While Miyuki and Kuramochi argued with each other they didn't notice that the note was slipped away. The team members curious as to what it said, couldn't help but smirk at the gutsy first year. To miss our game just to get better? How cruel.
She's got a good head though, she'll make a good ace one day. Has a lot of pride to head straight for the goal, even if it's just her personality.
Seems like Kawakami is going to have a lot of competition this year, once the third years retire, for the ace title.
XXX
Looking up towards the blue sky, watching as the birds flew by the field.
There's a game right now... She clenched her left hand. It's fine staying behind to practice and all... But I can't remember the last time I missed a senpai's game... She sighed, rotating her left shoulder. Might as well practice pitching on my right side; After all, every time I pitch from there it looks like i'm going to throw the ball to the ground. I need to find the right muscle use…
What's sad about it... I've had two years to practice pitching from my right side and it still looks horrible.
In all honestly she would have preferred to go to the game, but knowing herself and her current capabilities. She needed to get better, before taking in the joy and pleasure by watching from the sidelines. Going by that she was happy they all left. It gave her time to practice hip in alignments,(without being stared at). Being female meant she's more prone to getting them misaligned, if she wasn't careful. It also meant she could practice her batting without being made fun off, for the fact she can't hit a single ball…
She really, really did not want to hear anymore girls joke either….
"Let's go find a net and a basket of baseballs." She muttered to herself. Untying the tires from her waist and walked towards the shed. Having more than enough time to put the tires away later.
A couple of minutes later…
Standing on the mound she looked to where she set the net. Practicing her form, not daring to actually pitch just yet. Lifting her left leg up, practicing on how high it should be and where it should go, gripping the ball differently, each time. Her hand would be in her glove, before slowly and sure enough hiding behind her body.
It frustrated her to no end, she had an idea why, but she wasn't liking it one bit.
leg up! Raising her left leg up, she balanced herself on her right leg. Adjusting her form making sure that her hips were in the right position. Looking at the net, she imagined a mitt calling for a fast ball right down the middle. Exhaling, she gripped the ball. Pulling her arm back slowly before swinging her arm over, releasing the ball as she put her left leg down.
Unnatural her mind whispered, adjusting her even more. I guess it can't be helped. She thought staring at the net, letting out a deep breath. When was the last time I practiced alone? She wondered. It feels different now... grabbing a ball from the basket and tossing it up into the air. Maybe I should practice batting,? It doesn't feel the same without pitching to Nobu. Letting the ball drop onto her hand, she walked towards the net. Where she left a bat by its side. "Might as well." She muttered. Tossing the ball into the air. She swung the bat.
and missed.
Her eye twitched as she looked at the ball laying innocently on the ground.
These are times when I wish I wasn't ambidextrous! She thought bitterly, knowing the downsides of being able to pitch at both sides. She tossed another ball and swung the bat again, trying to get a hit this time, only to fail once again. If only I could control the batting on my right. But I'd probably get a foul play with that…
"Hey, is that fun?" She wiped around to look behind her to see a kid leaning on the fence looking at her bored. "If you need someone to practice with, how about me?" He said, crossing his arms. staring at her, with a passive face.
Furuya Satoru She thought, looking at him in the eyes, stunned that he was actually talking to her. He hasn't talked or been willing to make conversation with anyone in the past few weeks. She frowned, not liking the fact a pitcher would be willing to hide in plain sight, instead of trying to get along with there fellow pitchers. I mean I know we're all narcissists, going on about one way or another trampling each other down, just to get a chance to be on the mound, but we're not that scary are we..?
"H-how long have you been there!?" She asked, nervously.Just how much had he seen!? sweat forming, Furuya looked at her with an expressionless face. "I've been here the whole time and I saw all of it."
So basically he saw me talk to myself like maniac and being stupid with the damn bat... She thought, dying inside. WAIT DID HE SAY THE WHOLE TIME!? WHY DIDN'T HE SAY SOMETHING!? She was going to give him a peace of her mind, looking at him with tingles of red on her cheeks, eyeing him from top to bottom. "Why'd you stay behind."
"The bus left, while I was in the bathroom." He said, looking all too comfortable in his position. "It would have been a pain to go after it." Walking towards her. "Well honestly, i'm not interested in games, i'm not playing in."
"I see." She said, eyebrow twitching, both intrigued and irritated with the pitcher. Had he been Ren or Shu-chan; she would have smacked him upside the head for being a cocky little shit. "A bit over confident aren't you?"
"Same could be said about you." He retorted, looking at her with superiority.
She twitched "Wanna play catch?" She asked, hopeful to get away from the conversation.A slight pang in her heart as Furuya nods, making her wonder how long has it been since she played catch. Miss you Hiro. She thought, missing her dog.
"TOKYO SPRING TOURNAMENT QUARTERFINALS!"
Just what I ordered. The catcher smirked A fast inside slider. Glancing towards the batter, looking a bit confused when the batter didn't look remotely concerned and swung just as the ball came close.
SMACK!
"WHOA! IT WENT OUT!" Someone in the cheering crowd yelled out.
"THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN A HOME RUN OUT OF THE BLUE WITH THE BASES LOADED."
The batter smirked as he ran with ease, ha, I still got it... He thought, listening to the crowds roar into approval.
"Gotten a bit full of yourself, hitting it all of a sudden like that." Kuramochi comments, grinning at him. Miyuki, only looks back to the pitcher on the mound noting that the pitcher has gone white as a sheet. "It was just a lucky shot." Miyuki say's, waving it off. "I won't do as well next time."
Soon the game declines slowly in favor of Seidou, with the pitcher giving up eight runs.
SEIDOU!
SEIDOU!
SEIDOU!
"He's running for it!" The pitcher has no time to freeze and throws it in the other direction, without it being a ball. Throwing the ball towards the catcher, he redirects the ball towards second, who catches it before the runner can slide towards the plate.
The shortstop who catched the ball grins as he taps the runner on the chest saying. "Out! Nice run."
Further back into the dugouts of Seidou opposing team. The coach looks at catcher, before looking back towards his own catcher, who blankly looks up at him, looking away from his player.
Miyuki Kazuya, the genius.
He's blocking the path…
In high school baseball, there's only one person, who's been brought up as a catcher, that has a natural feel for baseball
"Why didn't you come to us! Miyuki!" The coach at this point, wanting to pull out his hair in frustration of the lack of good catchers on his team or as good as Miyuki Kazuya. Instead he opts to sulk in the corner of the dugout, drawing circles.
"C-coach!" His players look at their coach in worry of his sudden depressed mood.
.
"Tch, they're not all that great." The catcher mutters, glaring holes at Seidou dugout, where the opposing team stood. "What do you mean?" a benchwarmers asked. Glancing at the bench wonder, the catcher starts to gear up. "It's true there amazing." He says grudgingly. "Much like last year's team, which was formed around the monster, known as Azuma Kiyokuni..."
"Seidou lineup, this year. Also has an explosive power, that's at national level." The coach pipes up, the bench warmer looks taken back at the sudden change of mood in his coach. "But it seems like they have the same problem this year as well." The coach said with a sigh. Gaining the players interest to listen in.
The team goes out to start in their positions. Kataoka crossing his arms glarest. It probably bothers Katako-san quite a bit... since he used to be a pitcher after all!
But... I guess you can count us lucky... If they had a pitcher that could make use of Miyuki leading... Then dominating the country wouldn't be a dream.
But even so... They lack an actual Ace.
Smiling Sawamura throws the ball back towards Furuya. "Seems like your having fun." He commented catching the ball with ease.
"Hehe, it's been a while, since i've played catch with someone." she answers, throwing the ball once again. "Seems like fun for you, but it's kind of Nasty." Said, Furuya.
"Eh?"
"The one's your throwing properly." Catching the ball with ease, Sawamura pauses looking at the ball in her mitt. Am I holding back? Wondering if the ones she threw properly with her right hand had been the one's she hadn't thought at all about. Maybe it's because i'm at ease and the ones I do think about…? Observing Furuya and his posture, she nods to herself. I guess it can't be helped. I've been unconsciously holding back, since he's been holding back as well. "Sorry, if this puts a damper on your fun, but fix your throw. It's disgusting."
Chuckling her fist clenched as she caught his newest throw. "Hang on, let me change my aim. Sometimes that helps." Said Sawamura smiling changing the grip of the ball , relaxing her stance as she threw the ball as hard as could, making the ball bounce up and hit the boy right in the stomach. I don't like it when people hold back.
He glared, making her glare back. amberish eyes challenging him to do something about her last throw. "Is that an invitation for me to throw harder too?" He asked, not bothering to wait for her reply.
He wound up and Sawamura watching closely to his stance, waited as the ball came at her at the speed of at least 125km/h. Before sidestepping, changing her grip on the ground and catching it with ease, she winced a bit as the ball slid into the palm of her right hand. Taking off her glove to find that her left wrist really wasn't liking the extra attention she had just gave it. Looking back at the pitcher, gently and slowly moving her wrist around to get rid of any pain, she mutters. "You don't really play around now do you?"
The boy started to shake with wide eyes, a hint of interest behind them now. "What's your name?"
Her left arm tingle with excitement, which faded just as quickly as it came. Huffing, she crossed her arms. "Seriously you asked now?" She asked, amused. " Sawamura Eijun, Seidou future ace."
Review!
Thank you for reading!
A/N: Okay, longest chapter even if by a bit; sorry I haven't updated like I usually would. Had technology difficulties. I think I either made Sawamura a bit too cannon or too occ I can't decide which hopefully I made it a little bit of both. Anway almost to chapter 7!
Diclaimer : I own nothing but my Oc's!
OMEKE!
Stupid! Stupid Stupid! She thought to herself repeating it like a mantra. How could you be so stupid and declare something like that! On the first day too! They had no idea you were the girl that entered to play baseball and they thought it was just a rumor too!
She wanted to scream to curl up into herself, already seeing the glares directed towards her by the female population. Her life was going to be hell on earth here,wasn't it? Letting out a sigh, grabbing her stuff she left the classroom deciding it would be safer for her to eat away from the eyes of her classmates.
They had no idea it was me, anyways! Walking up the stairs, trying to figure out a way onto the rooftop of the school, not daring to go into the cafeteria until she had someone to sit with. It's going to be a long and lonely year isn't? She thought moping over the fact she wouldn't have any female friends for awhile, not unless she wanted to accidentally befriend a female who was only out to get her or get close to one of her teammates.
It wasn't like she couldn't just drag herself and be only associated with the guys of her team unless she wanted to be in ire of someone. Finding the rooftop, shoulders slumping as she opened it.
"Sup."
She stood frozen staring at the scene of a young man already sitting on the rooftop, eating. "Fuku!" She shrieked, pointing a finger at him. "What are you doing up here?" She demanded, looking at her arch ex-rival suspiciously. "No wait! Don't answer that What are you doing here, in general?"
"I thought it was obvious." He said, looking at her blankly. "To play baseball." sniffing, he went back to his lunch. "And getting away from noisy people down stairs."
Sawamura just looked at him with a slight twitch. "You know what I mean." She says gritting her teeth. "Why didn't you go to Hakone academy?"
Fuku in a brief moment pauses to look at his ex-rival. "Because Seidou seems more interesting than going to a school that expects me to follow my family's footsteps." said Fuku. "What about you? Why come here instead of Rakuzen?"
She stayed silent, looking anywhere but him before sighing, realizing her own error. "Sorry." looking down at the ground. "You know why." Turning to look at him with determined eyes. "To play baseball."
Humming, Fuku moves and makes a gesture for her to sit. Something which she gladly takes. They eating in silence, not daring to look at each other as they eat. Fuku finishing his meal asks.
"How's the arm?"
"Great." Sawamura replies with a chipped tone. "Mentally..?" She trailed off, from the corner of her eyes she could see Fuku slump down.
"Sorry." Fuku says.
"Not your fault." She replies, leaning into his shoulder and looks up at the sky. "Wasn't your team anyways."