Warning: SPOILER! There're some scenes from the first season of Daiya no Ace anime.
bold and italic words: memories
Italic words: thoughts
Seventh Memory –It Finally Get the Better of Me
Few days after the final, Seidou baseball team finally started the practice again with a new team filled by first and second year members. The first morning when they started as a new team, was so bright with a clear sky. It was just like how their faces that had a clear and firm resolve painted on.
The morning practice started with speech from the coach, Kataoka Tesshin and the new captain, Miyuki Kazuya. Everyone's gaze quickly turned to watch every movement of their new captain who had no choice but to prepare himself for his first speech as a captain.
Feeling all the gazes, Miyuki came out to the front and faced the team with a clear troubled look on his face. He cleared his throat to break the silence before he finally let out a voice. "Well...um...what should I say? Hahaha..." Miyuki scratched his head, feeling unsure and confused.
"Anything, just a few words is fine." Oota immediately said in a quiet voice from behind.
"Hahaha Is he nervous?" The second years laughed as they're amused by seeing Miyuki's troubled and nervous face.
Sawamura smiled before he shouted loudly. "Keep it together, leader-in-training!"
Miyuki clearly heard Sawamura's loud voice and the second years giggling at him. He frowned, feeling a bit irritated. Geez, they don't even hold back at all.
Miyuki sighed heavily. "Well, then, uh...I'm still a little unsure about this, but here goes nothing."
"I can't hear you!" Sawamura loudly retorted, feeling a little too amused by seeing Miyuki's super rare nervous look.
Miyuki glanced at Sawamura and gave him a sharp look before he sighed again. He took a sharp breath before he continued. "Well...um...I want to say that I don't think I'll ever be able to forget the tournament final."
His words immediately silenced everyone. "I learned about my weaknesses, and I learned how strong the opponent was. Most importantly, I discovered how scary baseball is."
Everyone's face became so stiff, feeling that they couldn't help but to agree with Miyuki. Miyuki continued again. "It's unfortunate for the third-years who've retired, but we have another year to set the records straight. That's why...I personally want to see results." The aura around him became so intense like a flame burning fiercely. The only thing that painted on his face was a strong resolve and determination. He said again with a fierce tone. "And I want to be greedy about winning."
The entire team member, especially the second years, looked at him and smiled with a impressed look on their faces. They all felt the same inside.
Sawamura too, looked at Miyuki and felt a strange thrilling sensation inside. To win and go to the Nationals, huh? Sawamura grinned wide. That's right. I've decided to fulfil that promise and be a player that he acknowledges. I've decided to stand by his side as a player.
Sawamura clenched his fist firmly before he clasped his hand. "It was good! You said it without fumbling!" He shouted cheerily.
Miyuki heard that and glanced at Sawamura. He smiled for a second before his face turned dark and his lips curled up, forming a smirk. "To do that, I'm not gonna mince my words, so keep that in mind."
"EEHH?!" Everyone immediately looked at Miyuki in surprise with mouth gasped wide. Miyuki simply smirked wide playfully before the practice started.
With the practice finally started again, Seidou also started to have a few scrimmages with the other teams. The first scrimmage was with Saitama Sakai baseball team.
Furuya was the first pitcher and he performed well in the game. In the eighth inning, Sawamura replaced Furuya as the pitcher. He successfully made the batters out, but all his pitches became uncontrollable and were hard to catch.
Damn! What's going on? Calm down! Sawamura felt anxiety creeping inside. He fully knew that the ball he pitched didn't go to where Miyuki's mitt was. He kept remembering the final game with Inashiro, the moment where he hit the batter on the head.
That image was stuck in his mind. And it's distracting his mind badly. Sawamura then suddenly yelled out loudly, trying to gather his mind back to the game. I won't lose from that! It's just an accident! Just an accident!
The scrimmage continued until ninth inning and ended with Saitama team won the game.
The night after the scrimmage, Sawamura couldn't forget the anxiety that he felt when he pitched at the game. He tried to clear his mind by running on the field, but the images from Inajitsu game kept flashing back.
Damn it! Just forget it already! How long I'll keep remembering that! Sawamura gritted his teeth in frustration. He was so absorbed in his thoughts and didn't hear that a voice was calling him.
"Oi! Sawamura!" Miyuki called him as he spotted Sawamura running on the field. He was about to go back to the dorm after practicing his batting. But seeing Sawamura still ran alone on the field, he felt that he had to stop it or Sawamura would just keep running until midnight. "Sawamura! Stop running! It's almost ten!"
Miyuki clicked his tongue, realizing that Sawamura didn't hear him at all. "Tsk, that idiot." Then he went to the field and approached Sawamura.
Sawamura who still absorbed in his own thoughts, wasn't aware of Miyuki's presence until Miyuki stood on his way. "Miyuki-senpai?" Sawamura then stopped running and evened his breath. "What are you doing here? Do you want to run too?"
"No, I just want to stop an idiot who keep running until he can't hear anything at all."
"Wha-?! Who you called idiot?!" Sawamura retorted loudly, irritated by Miyuki's comment.
"Hahahaha we don't have to say the name right?" Miyuki smirked wide. "Besides, why are you so deep in thoughts when you have limited brain cells?"
"Ggrrh why you!" Sawamura glared, feeling more irritated. "Can't you say something nicer for once in a while?!"
Miyuki laughed openly. "Relax, Sawamura. It's true, isn't it?"
Feeling enough by Miyuki's relentless teasing remarks, Sawamura walked past Miyuki with annoyed face clearly seen on his face. "Sorry but I still want to run, so if you don't have anything to say—"
"Wait, you still want to run? We have scrimmage tomorrow."
Sawamura turned back. "I know, but if I don't run...I'll just keep remembering that...so..." He mumbled softly and averted his gaze.
"Huh? What did you say?" Miyuki approached Sawamura, trying to catch the words. But Sawamura stepped back instead, distancing himself from Miyuki.
Miyuki sighed, seeing Sawamura strangely less energetic than before. "Just take a rest, Sawamura. You'll have to pitch at tomorrow's game too and I don't want you push yourself too hard."
Sawamura looked at Miyuki and gasped, feeling a bit stunned. Miyuki then smirked as he saw that. "Rest well so that you can control your pitches better. You kept throwing wild balls today. And it reeaally sucks."
Sawamura flinched at the last sentence. "I know that without you telling me!" Sawamura gritted his teeth and then stomped his way out of the field angrily. Grrr! That bastard Miyuki! Always have to say irritating things!
Miyuki simply giggled and followed him behind. "Don't forget to clean yourself and warm up your body!" Miyuki shouted.
"I know that! What a fussy captain!" Sawamura fastened his pace while yelled out angrily. Miyuki only smirked and walked behind Sawamura relaxingly.
The next scrimmage, Seidou got to play with Kaiyo baseball team. And like at the scrimmage before, Sawamura's pitches were all hit and his control was as terrible as just like before he trained his form.
The anxiety that Sawamura felt before, was slowly eating his mind with every time he pitched at the scrimmages. His heart was beating so fast and it made him restless. An unknown fear was creeping out and slowly throwing off his concentration.
It keeps getting hit! Why is that it didn't go to where Miyuki-senpai's mitt was?! Sawamura feeling panicked inside. But he tried to keep strong and focus himself on the game.
The scrimmage with Chiba Shodai baseball team fortunately ended with Seidou won the game. But the game made Sawamura clearly realized his problem, that was throwing an outside pitch, even though Miyuki was signalling him to throw an inside pitch.
"Sawamura, what you pitched today at the last inning was an outside pitch. Do you know that?" Miyuki inquired Sawamura after the usual players meeting was over.
Sawamura was about to leave the cafeteria, but then turned his body to face Miyuki as he was called. He just stared at Miyuki and didn't say anything before he averted his eyes from Miyuki's curious gaze.
"Luckily, they jammed a pitch later and we got away. But against Yakushi in the scrimmage, it won't be that easy." Miyuki continued.
Sawamura flinched. He kept averting his eyes from Miyuki. "I know that... It's just that...I..." Sawamura said in a small voice.
Miyuki sighed. "I already know that you've never been good in control, so I won't ask for too much. But you've had way too many wide pitches lately. You have unique form, so it was good in practice game, but it's not going to work against stronger batter."
Sawamura instantly recalled one batter that had hit his pitch perfectly and made it a home run in the game against Yakushi before. He knew that Todoroki was a strong batter who had already knew his form and his pitch.
Sawamura turned his back to Miyuki. "I'll try my best, Miyuki-senpai." With his face completely covered by his bangs, Sawamura walked to the door. "I'm going to run, so I'll take my leave now."
Sawamura went out and then later followed by the others too, who were going to practice by themselves. Miyuki and Kawakami were the last that went out from the cafeteria. As Miyuki making his way out, he couldn't help but to feel a lingering curiosity inside.
His mind was kept getting back to Sawamura and he kept recalling when Sawamura pitched in the game. Miyuki thought inwardly. Sawamura was throwing balls like as usual. He pitched with confidence and though way too wide, his balls didn't seem too bad. But why is that I felt like it's different than before...?
The practice game with Yakushi finally started. This game was their last before they had to play the official game for the fall tournament. The game started with Furuya as the first pitcher. But before the game, Furuya was confidently saying that he wanted to pitch all nine innings by himself, though it was rejected by the coach.
This made Sawamura and Kawakami realized just how far Furuya had grown mentally as a pitcher. In the game, Furuya also proved himself better and successfully showed his reliable side as a pitcher. He went strong against Yakushi's batters and completely defended the game.
Seeing Furuya did so much better as pitcher in scrimmage with Yakushi made Sawamura felt a tremendous anxiety swelling inside. Unconsciously, fear slowly mingled inside him. He became strangely restless and too much fired up. He kept throwing balls with all of his force in the bullpen. I won't lose to you, Furuya! I won't!
The game went smooth when Furuya successfully hit a ball and it gave score for Seidou. Seeing that made Sawamura got more impatient and kept asking for his turn to pitch in the game for the sixth inning.
The coach completely rejected his request, saying indirectly that Sawamura was appointed as a reliever for the game. Hearing that, Sawamura was left speechless. He was totally taken aback.
A job as a relief pitcher? Give me a break! Sawamura gritted his teeth, suppressing the vexation that flared up inside. He glanced to Furuya who was on the field. Stop thinking you're better! I'm going to be the ace!
Sawamura lost his composure completely. His desire to become the ace was fuelled up and became too much apparent. His head was filled with the thoughts of proving himself on the field as a pitcher. And it completely clouded his mind.
On the next offensive turn for Seidou in the sixth inning, the coach finally called Sawamura out, replacing Furuya who looked like slightly exhausted. Miyuki then approached Sawamura as he got the player's switching order from the coach.
"Sawamura, let's go. You're the next pitcher right?" Miyuki tapped Sawamura's left shoulder with his mitt.
Sawamura kept his head down and didn't say anything. Miyuki watched him for a while before he walked first to the field.
I'll make him acknowledge me! Sawamura then walked with eyes full of determination. He walked past Miyuki and went to the field.
Miyuki watched him from behind silently, feeling that Sawamura looked strange than his usual self. Sawamura...?
The sixth inning then started with Sawamura as the pitcher. He was calm and didn't shout out like his usual self. It somehow caught the other's attention and brought unusual worries for his teammates.
The first batter was Todoroki and Miyuki wanted Sawamura to throw an inside pitch. He positioned his mitt right next to Todoroki's chest.
Sawamura suddenly could hear his heart beating so loud. The anxiety that he felt before, came again and it shut his mind completely from his surroundings. Unknowing to himself, Sawamura was sweating like bullets.
Damn! Stop beating so loud!
Sawamura then threw the ball but it went to the middle, and Todoroki perfectly hit a homerun.
Wha—?! Miyuki widened his eyes in shock.
The moment when the ball went to the middle of strike zone instead of where Miyuki's mitt was, made Miyuki couldn't help but to feel extremely surprised.
He didn't understand why Sawamura threw the ball to the middle and felt surge uneasiness inside. He called for a time out and went to Sawamura at the mound.
The fielders went to the mound too as they all felt worried about Sawamura. Miyuki stared at Sawamura keenly. He's too tense. It won't be good if he keeps losing focus. I better say something...
He sighed softly before he shouted out. "Wow! What a hit!" Miyuki grinned widely. "Gotta say that home run felt good, even though it was theirs. It feels good to have the bases open too."
Sawamura widened his eyes and looked at Miyuki in bewilderment. Miyuki put an innocence face and smirked. "Hm? Is that just me?"
"Yes, it's just you!" Sawamura flinched as he went retorted back loudly.
Kuramochi and the other fielders then followed what Miyuki's doing and kept making a sarcastic comment about that hit before. Those remarks successfully made Sawamura less tensed than before. Miyuki smiled in relief silently.
"The next one is a righty, Sawamura. Let's be aggressive." He patted Sawamura's shoulder with his mitt and went back to the catcher's position.
"Of course I will!" Sawamura shouted angrily. "That's all I can do anyway!"
"Hahahaha that's true." Miyuki replied while walking back to his position.
"Don't agree with me!" Sawamura retorted fast. He watched Miyuki back and unconsciously smiled. Jeez, I can never understand what he's thinking after all.
"No outs! Still no outs, everyone!" Sawamura shouted to the fielders like what he always did before he pitched. He exhaled loudly, trying to compose himself. Right, I'll just have to do my best here. I can't be weak now! And I still have lots of things to do!
Miyuki watched Sawamura from his position. Miyuki tried to clear the uneasiness that he had felt before, but it couldn't disappear at all. It's fine, Sawamura is still fine. He still pitches with confidence. It'll be fine...
Then, time out was over and Sawamura pitched again against the next batter. But all his balls were successfully hit by the other batters. Sawamura stayed strong and believing in Miyuki's mitt.
But the reality said different things. The more Sawamura got aware of Miyuki's mitt, the more the ball got wide and wild. Sawamura tried over and over to throw an inside pitch but his ball was once again hit by the batter.
When Sanada successfully hit Sawamura's ball, the uneasiness that Miyuki felt became a huge realization for him.
It wasn't only the lefties. Sawamura hadn't thrown a single pitch inside for righties too. He suddenly recalled the final game with Inajitsu when Sawamura hit the batter. The shocked face of Sawamura at that time couldn't leave from his mind.
Miyuki looked at Sawamura with wide eyes in disbelief. Sawamura...don't tell me you...
With the practices and scrimmages ended, the summer break was also over. The second tri-semester then started. The group selection for fall tournament also closed in, but Sawamura was still on a separate regimen. Each day, Sawamura was just running. Not even once Sawamura touched the ball and practiced his pitching.
Looking so gloomy and depressed, Sawamura only made the other members felt worried about him. His usual loud and energetic voice, his bright spirit, and his cheeky remarks weren't there anymore. Sawamura just kept cursing himself inwardly.
He still remembered clearly the time when he was called by the coach after the scrimmage with Yakushi.
"What do you think about your pitching today, Sawamura?" Kataoka asked bluntly.
Sawamura looked down dispiritedly. "Sir, I...couldn't pitch to where Miyuki-senpai requested."
"Are you aware?" Kataoka asked again. Sawamura looked up as got a bit surprised. It felt like he was seen through. Kataoka continued. "You're unable to pitch to the inside."
Sawamura clenched his fists hard as he replied with a strained voice. "I am."
Miyuki suddenly patted Sawamura's back gently. He tried to make Sawamura relax and so that he could understand the reason why he couldn't pitch to the inside.
He tried to say it in a gentle and calming tone. "Sawamura, In the final, you walked off after throwing a hit-by-pitch. Your body might be unconsciously avoiding the inside pitch."
Miyuki's words made the rest inside the room looked at Sawamura worriedly. They realized that Sawamura clearly had yips. Sawamura could only look down again.
Then Kataoka suddenly said. "Sawamura, practice on your own starting tomorrow. Avoid any contact with a ball. Your practice will mainly consist of running to strengthen your lower body."
Sawamura gritted his teeth, feeling extremely frustrated by himself. The season is closing in, yet what am I doing? How can I start, much less be the ace...if I can't get any outs? Damn it! I'm so weak!
Far at the bullpen, Miyuki took a glance at Sawamura who was still running around the field. He couldn't help but to feel worry too. Even though he didn't show it, Miyuki felt irritation growing inside.
He knew perfectly that he couldn't do or say anything to Sawamura that could make him back to his usual self again. First of all, it wasn't in his character.
And more than anything, he didn't want to say anything that irresponsible and made Sawamura more disheartened. He clicked his tongue as he remembered how fool he was when he should've known that Sawamura had clearly became weird at the game with Yakushi before.
"Sawamura, don't worry about control. Your pitch still has power." Miyuki said in gentle voice, trying to make Sawamura relax even for a bit.
Sawamura just kept his head down with his face hidden by the hat he wore. Miyuki couldn't see Sawamura's expression but he knew perfectly that Sawamura was getting stressed out. He could see Sawamura's body trembling.
"Don't worry, Sawamura. We're here." Miyuki tapped Sawamura's chest with his mitt. He smirked confidently, trying his best to keep Sawamura composed.
Sawamura flinched as he heard that but he still kept his head down. Miyuki felt a prick pain inside. It was hurting him as he kept his eyes on Sawamura's trembling body. But then, the time out was over and he had to go back to his position.
The game continued again but Sawamura threw the ball too much wide and it hit the wall up behind the catcher and the referee. Miyuki quickly ran to catch the ball so that he could throw it back to Sawamura to cover the field. But Sawamura was too shock beyond words.
Miyuki looked at Sawamura with astounded look on his face before he was called by the coach. He couldn't help but to tell the coach about Sawamura's pitches and it made the coach switched Sawamura with Furuya.
Sawamura walked off the mound with his face hidden by his hat. Tears were slowly flowing down his cheeks. Without sound, Sawamura was shedding tears as he walked to the mound.
Miyuki gritted his teeth, feeling so vexed. He couldn't forget the look on Sawamura on that day. The trembling body and the tears that kept flowing down on that day were haunting his mind.
Why couldn't I realize it sooner?! Miyuki narrowed his eyes, feeling a prickling pain inside again.
"Miyuki-senpai?"
Hearing a voice calling him, Miyuki turned his gaze back to the pitcher across him. "Sorry, Furuya."
"You look distracted, Miyuki-senpai." Furuya looked outside the bullpen and immediately saw Sawamura on the field. "...About Sawamura, he'll be fine...I think."
"Eh?" Miyuki reflexively blurted it out.
"Don't you think so too, Miyuki-senpai?" Furuya glanced back to Miyuki. His face looked emotionless as usual but his tone felt like he didn't say that without any bases. Furuya had already acknowledged Sawamura as a player and a rival. That's why he felt didn't have to worry about Sawamura and just did his best for now.
Miyuki looked at Furuya with wide eyes. Then he chuckled loudly. "I never thought you'll care about Sawamura. What a lovely friendship~ right, Furuya?"
"I didn't say that." Furuya frowned a bit. "By the way, senpai, I still want to keep pitching. Is that okay?" His voice sounded firm and forceful.
Miyuki could only sigh before his lips curled up into his usual smirk. "Alright, alright, don't be so impatient or you'll just waste your energy. Don't forget about pacing yourself."
Furuya simply nodded before he started to pitch the balls again. Miyuki kept his smirk while he thought inwardly. Believe in him huh?
Miyuki then recalled the time when Kuramochi countered him this morning.
"Hey, Captain. What are we gonna do?" Kuramochi asked bluntly.
Miyuki paused for a while before he replied. "About what?"
"Sawamura! It's about Sawamura! What else?!" Kuramochi said loudly. He sighed before he continued. "He fell apart in Yakushi game, but he's an important southpaw on our team. Don't we need him in order to win through the fall?"
Miyuki fell in silence before he replied in flat tone. "Hmm...so you're worried sick about him."
"No, I'm not!" Kuramochi denied strongly. "I just don't want him being all gloomy in my room!"
With unreadable eyes, Miyuki simply stated the words coldly. "We have other priorities right now, like improving our weak batting line-up."
"Well, yeah, but...he brings life to the team, you know. And...are you not worried about him?" Kuramochi looked at Miyuki with doubtful eyes.
Miyuki averted his eyes before he replied. "With the tournament coming up, we need to prioritize the team over individuals. The coach said he'll use players who are doing well, didn't he?"
"I know that!" Kuramochi slammed Miyuki's desk angrily. "But! As his upperclassman, we can't just leave him alone!"
Miyuki fell in silence again. He showed an unreadable cold look and didn't meet his eyes with Kuramochi's ones even once. After a while, Miyuki suddenly opened his mouth. "In Yakushi game, it's partly my fault that Sawamura fell apart. Over the summer break, I'm always nagging him about his control."
"...Miyuki...you..." Kuramochi lost his words. He didn't think that Miyuki would be blaming himself over Sawamura's yips.
Miyuki continued. "Against Yakushi, I'm sure he went in with a big objective, especially since his rival performed so well before his eyes. But...he'd already lost mentally even before he walked on the mound."
"I-if you know that much, then why?" Kuramochi asked in bewilderment.
Miyuki turned his head sideway. "Because we need him. My expectations for him are high, and we need him to get better." Miyuki looked up as he clenched his fist hard. "We can't afford to lose him to some dumb yips."
Kuramochi blinked in surprise before he grinned, feeling funny at Miyuki's words. "You said two completely different things. What's that?"
Miyuki flashed a knowing smile. "I know."
That's right...I'd said it, hadn't i? I've decided to trust in him and wait. Miyuki thought inwardly. I can't give my attention to Sawamura alone, now that the tournament had closing on. I have to prioritize the team as a captain. But...for me...
Miyuki glanced at Sawamura secretly. You'll have to come back for sure, Sawamura.
The day for the group selection match was getting near. Seidou baseball team kept training and improved their fielding for the official game that had waiting for them.
Sawamura who was still training by himself, finally instructed to join others on fielding practice. But although he finally could touch the ball again, he was appointed to play as an outfielder.
It vexed him so much, but Sawamura knew that he couldn't do anything at the moment. He gradually realized how terrible his skills were. He couldn't pitch well, or even play as an outfielder. But he had no choice but to try and make himself better even just a bit.
He still did the running alone since it was the only training that he could do. Even when his mind was jumbled up with the pressure from the people around him and fact that the fall tournament closed in, Sawamura could only strengthen his mind and though it's hard, he had to accept his condition right now.
As he running alone while drowning in his thoughts in the middle on light rain, Furuya suddenly outran him from behind. Surprised by Furuya running in front of him, Sawamura immediately quickened his pace. He started to loudly shout at Furuya too.
Those loud shouts made the rest of the team, especially Miyuki, Kuramochi, and Maezono, watched them. Miyuki couldn't help but to feel relief inside. He's back huh?
"Looks like Sawamura isn't as gloomy as I thought." Kuramochi suddenly spoke.
Miyuki smiled as he kept his gaze on Sawamura. He probably doesn't want to show Furuya his weak side. But...he really is troublesome, isn't he? Miyuki sighed softly behind his smile. He knew that Sawamura wasn't a weak-willed person.
"Miyuki, did they finish warming up?" Kataoka suddenly approached him from behind.
Miyuki turned back and replied. "I think it's about time they finish."
Kataoka then walked past Miyuki and at the same time, the pitchers had finished their running. Kataoka approached them. "Looks like you guys are all warmed up."
Sawamura realized Kataoka's presence and replied. "Y-yes, sir."
Kataoka nodded. "Sawamura, go in the bullpen today."
Sawamura widened his eyes in shock. He was so surprised but in the same time, feeling relief and happy that he got to pitch again. He immediately followed Kataoka to the bullpen. Then he caught Miyuki was following the coach too. Miyuki realized Sawamura's gaze and he gave Sawamura a smile.
Sawamura looked at Miyuki bewilderedly. But then he realized that Miyuki would be the one that catching his pitch. He suddenly felt happy and almost grinned widely, but he immediately averted his eyes. He knew it was too soon for him to feel so cheery since he still didn't if he already overcame his weakness or not.
In the bullpen, Sawamura did the pitching as he was before. From the side of the bullpen, his pitching was recorded as the coach ordered. He was pitching just fine, but when suddenly Kataoka went in and stood as a batter, his pitch went wild. All the balls he pitched went into different places and had no control.
Then after a few pitches, Kataoka stopped him and told Sawamura to watch the video and took a good look at his pitching form. Sawamura could only nod without a sound.
The night came and Sawamura, accompanied by some first and second years, watched the video together. Sawamura keenly watched the video, but his form in the video didn't show much different from when there's a batter and not.
Miyuki felt confused as he watched the video. The difference didn't so obvious and it's hard to say if it's true or not. He glanced at Sawamura. With this subtlety, I can't say much to him.
Miyuki watched Sawamura who was deep in thoughts. He felt himself useless as catcher that he couldn't find ways to make Sawamura overcame the yips. The feeling of helplessness and guilty slowly eating him inside. I pushed him too much after all...
"Sawamura." Miyuki suddenly called. Sawamura only glanced sideway to Miyuki that sit beside him. Miyuki continued. "You should stop thinking so much."
The words caught Sawamura's attention and he turned his face to Miyuki. Miyuki then smirked. "It's not like you had good control anyway, and you're stupid too."
Sawamura immediately got surprised and at the same time, annoyed by Miyuki's remark. He gave Miyuki a glare.
Miyuki simply put an innocent act. "Why do you look so surprised, Sawamura? Isn't that the truth?"
Sawamura clenched his teeth, feeling more irritated. "Well, sorry that I'm stupid!" Sawamura then stood up and went out.
Miyuki's words made him irritated though he knew that it was the truth. Miyuki, you bastard! How dare he say whatever he wants! Doesn't he realize he's the captain?!
"I'm so irritated, damn it!" Sawamura then ran to the indoor training hall to pitch some balls.
Miyuki who was still inside the cafeteria after he made Sawamura mad, sighed heavily. It seems that I really can't do anything to make him feeling better. Maybe...if it's Chris-senpai... Miyuki then stood up and went out.
He immediately went to Chris's room. Fortunately, Chris was there and he was the one that opened the door. "Miyuki? What's wrong?"
"Um...it's about Sawamura..." Miyuki said in a hesitant tone. He didn't know if it's good to ask the third year or not. But he felt that Chris could give a better advice than him.
Chris pulled up his lips into a knowing smile. "I never think you'll ask for my help, Miyuki."
"Well...um...yeah haha." Miyuki let out a dried up laugh. I don't even understand myself.
He continued. "I don't know what I can say to him. And he never fully listens to what I said...so I just thought that maybe if it's Chris-senpai then..."
Chris chuckled softly. "You're being good as a captain, Miyuki. I also think that I better give him my last advice." Then he went out from the room. "I'll go to Sawamura."
"He's still training in the hall, Chris-senpai."
Chris nodded before he left and went to Sawamura.
Pulling up his lips, Miyuki simply watched Chris's back and felt vexed inside. It's so irritated me that I can't help him like Chris-senpai did. You really are so troublesome, Sawamura!
After a few days, the group stages selection games for the fall tournament finally started. The spectators started to come one by one and watched the members that still practiced before the game.
It was even more packed around the bullpen, where the pitchers warmed up for the game. The noise around was bad enough, but it's louder inside the bullpen because of a certain someone.
"That's the one!" Sawamura shouted loudly after he pitched the ball. "Wasn't that good? Ah! Another one! Before I forget the feeling!"
"You're so damn loud, Sawamura." Miyuki uttered bluntly as Sawamura got louder each time he pitched in the bullpen. "No matter how loud you are, you're not pitching! Furuya's going first!"
"Ugghhh! I know that! Even so! If I'm not starting, is that mean I can't pitch in the bullpen?! I've got tons of work to do over here!" Sawamura retorted back strongly.
"I don't care! Don't do it before the game!" Miyuki also came out strongly. Damn, he knows what to do now but he's still stupid as before.
He sighed heavily as he kept his eyes on Sawamura. But he secretly smiled. Oh, well. I don't exactly hate the noise he brings. It's been so long since the last I saw he's so damn loud like that.
He recalled the time when he finally got to see Sawamura's face brightened more than before.
"Stop hesitating, you idiot!" Kanemaru suddenly burst out in irritation. "Didn't you call me because you don't care about hitting me?! This isn't even good dodging practice! Throw like you're trying to hit me!"
Sawamura pulled up his lips, forming a smile. "Thanks, Kanemaru. But I don't plan on hitting you." He grinned widely. "It's because I'm practicing the outside pitch."
Kanemaru blinked in surprise as he saw the wide grin on Sawamura's face. But he immediately prepared himself for the next pitch.
That smile on Sawamura's face was clearly seen by the onlookers outside the training hall. One of them couldn't help but to smile as he saw that.
"I'm sorry I had to ask you to help, Chris-senpai." Miyuki said as he watched Sawamura outside the training hall.
Chris chuckled softly. "It's fine. I wanted to tell him myself too. I hope this helps him get over the fear."
Miyuki glanced at Chris, feeling defeated inside. He hated to admit it, but he knew fully that Chris's advice was more effective. But he felt relief that Sawamura had become himself again. "Now, it's all up to him."
"You've changed, Miyuki." Chris suddenly said.
"Eh? I've changed?" Miyuki furrowed his brows, feeling confused.
"You look gentler." Chris said bluntly. "You were so cheeky and you looked rather distant to people around you. But it seems that you've become more open up. Is it because Sawamura?"
Miyuki widened his eyes. "H-huh? What are you saying, Chris-senpai? I don't feel that I've changed at all. And Sawamura definitely doesn't have any connection with anything." Miyuki curled up his lips awkwardly. He suddenly felt nervous.
Chris simply smiled. "Well, if it's that what you feel. But whatever it is, it's better if it's true. You're the captain, so the others might need mental support from you." Then Chris walked off, leaving Miyuki dumbfounded.
Miyuki could feel his face heated as he remembered what Chris said about him. He shook his head to clear his mind.
There's nothing wrong with me. I'm just worried about Sawamura, that's why I'm asking Chris-senpai for help. And what I felt for Sawamura was affection for an underclassman. Yeah, it's just like that!
"Miyuki-senpai?" Furuya's voice immediately brought Miyuki from his thoughts.
"My bad, let's continue." Miyuki immediately positioned himself to catch Furuya's pitch. He still hadn't made Furuya warmed up enough for the game.
Then after a few pitches, Miyuki called it end. Before he walked out from the bullpen, he glanced at Sawamura who was still practicing his pitch. "Sawamura, you better wrap it now."
Sawamura narrowed his eyes, feeling a bit irritated. "I still have to practice, Miyuki-senpai."
"I know. You can pitch at the bullpen outside." Then Miyuki went outside to the field.
Sawamura hesitated, but then he followed Miyuki outside. Before Miyuki walked to the dugout, Sawamura ran and stopped Miyuki, positioning himself in front of Miyuki.
"Woah! What's wrong, Sawamura?"
"Thank you so much, Miyuki-senpai!" Sawamura bent his head a little as he said that.
Miyuki looked at Sawamura bewilderedly as he became speechless, seeing Sawamura bowed his head down to him. "Sawamura...are you sick?"
"Why do you always have to say such things? You really are the worst! Here I'm showing my gratitude to you, but you just have to say that!" Sawamura gritted his teeth, irritated by Miyuki's response.
"Hahaha sorry, Sawamura." Miyuki then smirked playfully. "It's just so not like you. I almost thought the snow will fall today." Miyuki snickered, feeling amused.
"Grrgghh! I shouldn't have said that to you! It became so wasted." Sawamura turned his head sideway and became sulky.
Miyuki sighed softly before he suddenly tugged down Sawamura's hat. "You're welcome, Sawamura."
Sawamura's face immediately turned into red. Sawamura quickly bent his head down as he could feel his own face getting hotter.
Miyuki stared at Sawamura curiously. "But, Sawamura...what are you thanking me for?"
Still bending his head down, Sawamura mumbled in reply. "Chris-senpai told me that you're asking him to help me... That's why...I'm..."
Sawamura's voice slowly became so small. He felt so embarrassed. But he had to thank Miyuki since Chris also had firmly said that it was also because of Miyuki that he decided to give advice to him.
"A-anyways, I've said my gratitude!" Sawamura looked up to Miyuki, and unconsciously showing Miyuki his red blushing face.
Miyuki gasped with wide eyes, but before he could say anything, Sawamura had run to the bullpen beside the field.
Miyuki who was left dumbfounded, slowly realized what had happened. His face instantly turned beet red. And his heart suddenly beat so fast.
Miyuki quickly covered his face with his mitt, feeling strangely embarrassed. What's with that face?! it's too cute, damn it!
Miyuki looked at Sawamura as he tried to compose himself. He remembered what Chris-senpai said about him before. I hate to admit it, but it looks like senpai was right.
Miyuki sighed heavily and face palmed with his shoulders drooping low. Damn, how dare you make me like this, Sawamura! That stupid, idiot Sawamura!
Miyuki felt so shaken up and irritated at the same time. He still couldn't believe it, but the desire that sparked inside him was clearly different from what he felt before. He had no choice but to accept that he really had changed, for good...
AN: I'm sorry that I didn't update for a long time. Works got me better and I have no time to write.
But now that I've got more time, I hope I can update twice a month!
This chapter is a prelude of the next incoming chapters, so I hope I conveyed the feeling right.
Please read and give your comment :)
I'll accept whatever it is!
See you at the next chapter!
