Happy Holidays! I aced all my finals and ready to ace this story! uwu Thanks so much for your comments and favorites! It means a lot to me and is a great gift! I hope you enjoy the holidays and the last few days of 2015! See you next time! Bye-Bye!
First Stepping Stone
The next day, when Alex entered her classroom, everyone stared at her with mixed emotions of curiosity and fear. Alex knew rumors spread fast around this school and they must have heard about yesterday's practice game. With her surprise, Alex did feel like a new person. However, it had come to no avail. She didn't make it.
Last night, after the game, Alex could still feel her adrenaline pumping inside her veins, along with her heart pounding against her chest. Like a lone wolf among a pack of wolves, she could feel the tension from her teammates when she noticed how everyone seemed to stare at her with intimidating eyes. With her head held high, she entered the inner practice ground and lined up. The coach walked in and stood tall in front of the team, looking at each of his players. The silence in the air was thickening along with the building tension within the atmosphere to the point it can be cut with a knife.
The first-string stood in front of the large crowd, waiting impatiently for the coach to announce the two lucky players.
The coach finally spoke, "I will now announce the players moving up to the first-string,"
Alex felt her body freeze when she heard these words. She glanced around the room and noticed how her teammates seem to glance around with the similar thoughts about who made the promotion. Feeling her hands tremble, Alex clenched them. Just like the rest of her team, Alex practiced every day and night to reach for this type of promotion. However, a twang of doubt filled her mind. She's a girl. Alex quickly shook her head from the thought.
"No, be confident," Alex thought, "You had worked hard for this,"
Alex could see it just beyond the wall and just beyond the sign that read "Learn today. Devote every moment." Alex could see her dream so close that she could touch it. Alex closed her eyes and saw herself on the large field, where the stands were crowded with people all over the nation, Alex could feel the wind graze her skin, smell the fresh dirt, and hear the cheers of the people on that field where national stands. Slowly opening her eyes, she was back inside the inner practice ground among her teammates. Straightening her posture, crossing her fingers, Alex was desperate to reach the sight of her dream.
"Based on the past scrimmages, I have chosen these people personally," the coach boomed, "The two people I call will need to carry the weight of our school name!"
"Shit," Alex thought, biting her lip, "Get on with it,"
"The new first-string players are," the coach started, "tenth grader, Kominato Haruichi,"
Alex gleamed and quickly looked over at Haruichi. Alex couldn't help but feel proud for the amazing player. Alex knew he had earned it.
"And another tenth grader," the coach started again.
Alex tensed when he paused, thinking, "One more person,"
"Sawamura Eijun!"
Alex's heart stopped. She quickly looked over at the tense pitcher, feeling a bit morbid. She was happy for him because she knew he wanted to become the ace of this team. However, Alex could feel herself slowly fall apart. After this, Alex's sight of nationals slowly faded away. She wouldn't be a part of that field anymore.
The coach dismissed the team, letting the seniors stay. Alex quickly left the building and found herself in an alley leaning against a vending machine. Without realization, Alex felt warm streaks cascade upon her cheeks. Biting her lip, she felt her frustration and anger seethe within her making her hit the machine.
"Damn it!" she cried, banging her head against it, "I was so close,"
Hearing footsteps, Alex froze and quickly hid behind the building. Letting her back rest against the cold wall, Alex was trying to breathe evenly. She quickly wiped her strayed tears and leaned a bit to the side to peek. Underneath the moonlit sky, Alex noticed Sawamura and the upperclassmen. Alex began to wonder what was going on, so she began to eavesdrop.
The captain spoke up, "No matter what anyone says, you were acknowledged by our head coach that you have what it takes. You were chosen,"
Sawamura pressed his forehead against the metal door in silence, clenching his fists. Alex could feel the heavy words from the captain onto her shoulders. Alex knew he was right. The coach chose him and Haruichi because they do have what it takes. He saw something in them that Alex did too see. They were able to help the team grow and become stronger. They had the distinctive qualities the coach was looking for.
"What are you gonna tell those who weren't?" the captain asked, crossing his arms.
"…"
"There's only one thing we can do," the captain spoke up, "We have to get stronger, so we can fight for those who can't"
Alex's felt her heart drop when she heard the captain finish. The instant image of Chris appeared in her mind, making Alex realize everything. Sawamura looked up to Chris; that is what Sawamura told Alex every day. And, deep down, Alex knew that Chris deserved that position more than anyone here. She wasn't here to see Chris during his prime, but the stories that she heard said that he was the greatest. And knowing that Sawamura wanted to go back in and tell the Coach, that he didn't deserve the promotion, pulled onto Alex's heartstrings.
"Sawamura…" she whispered, feeling her heart tighten.
Hearing footsteps, Alex quickly left. Miyuki, looking around, believed he had heard something. Noticing a dark figure quickly fade behind the other side of the building, he had thought his eyes were playing tricks. He shrugged it off and walked in the different direction. However, Alex stood up against the wall holding her breath. She slowly peeked around the corner and noticed nobody had followed her. She quickly exhaled and held her chest.
"That was close," Alex stated, catching her breath.
Beginning to walk to her dorm, Alex replayed the scene in her head. Alex stopped and felt something click inside her head.
"Getting stronger…." Alex mumbled, smiling.
Alex knew, at that point, she hasn't lost just yet.
In the classroom, Alex sat in silence as she stared outside the window. Thinking about yesterday, Alex realized that she still had a lot to learn and had a lot of space to grow. Hearing what the captain had said sparked something inside Alex, making her heart beat with excitement. With one lost, Alex knew she had a win. She will grow to become stronger to be part of the first-string. This is only the first stepping stone.
"Why couldn't they have you on the first-string?" Haruka asked, furious, "No offense, Alex, but your coach must be blind! Did he not see how you caught that ball yesterday! You played marvelously!"
"Haruka," Alex replied, chuckling, "there's no need to worry. I possibly wasn't good enough,"
"Good enough! You looked great yesterday! Everyone here is talking about it!" Haruka stated, throwing her hands in the air.
"I still have lots of things to learn," Alex stated, rubbing her neck, "I mean – honestly – I'm a bit of an amateur. There are a lot of things here that I'm still learning. I have lots of things to improve. I guess that is what I learned from this lost,"
Gazing out the window, Alex was going back to last night during the captain's speech. "The coach chose them personally," Alex thought.
Haruka was surprised by Alex's words, making her speechless. Alex smiled, speaking, "Finding out that I need the confidence of a player in order to grow stronger, I think I will be able to achieve anything. I promised them that I will take them to nationals, but if I don't have the confidence in doing that then it is inaccessible. I can't have that type of weight on me, Haruka,"
Haruka giggled, giving Alex a charismatic grin, saying, "I think you are already growing stronger, Alex,"
"Huh?"
"Knowing what you need to improve from a lost is a great improvement. Meaning, Alex, you are becoming a stronger player! You will be in the first-string sooner than you think,"
Alex laughed, replying, "I don't think it'll be that easy, but thank you,"
"Well, have some confidence in yourself,"
Alex froze, looking at Haruka. Haruka finished, patting Alex's forearm, "I know you can do it,"
Alex smiled, nudging Haruka playfully, saying, "You're right. Thanks,"
"What are friends for?" Haruka replied, grinning.
The first stepping stone. Alex was becoming nervous as she approached the inner practice ground. Breathing in and out, Alex tried to calm herself. Clenching her fists, rubbing her thumb across her knuckles, Alex could feel her hands begin to feel clammy. After making a list of things to work on, Alex knew that in order to grow she needs to work more on her batting skills. Haruichi gave her some advice of the positioning and posture to bat, but Alex seemed to need more work. However, Alex needed something more. There was a hole. And in order to fill this hole, Alex finally got down to a conclusion - she knew what needed to be done.
Walking into the inner practice ground, she noticed the upperclassmen of the first-string lifting weights and practicing their swings. Alex shuffled inside, hands behind her back and a ball stuck in her throat, she tried to find the boy she was looking for. The boys noticed the shy, anxious girl shuffle inside the building, stopping their lifting and swinging.
"Um, I'm here to talk to Tetsuya Yuki," Alex stated, smiling, "if you don't mind me,"
The captain stopped swinging his bat and looked over at the entrance, noticing Alex looking around the room. Taking off his helmet and holding onto his bat, he called the girl's attention. Alex looked over and saw the captain in the back of the building with a bat and helmet in his hands.
Approaching her, the captain gave a warm smile, "Yes? What is it, Portugal?"
"Sorry for interrupting your practice, but, um, well," Alex tried to start, feeling her face flush, "Um, I was wanting to talk to you about – more like ask you – if you can assist me,"
The captain replied, "What is it that you need me to assist you with, Portugal?"
"To – to become stronger," Alex stated, "I have a lot of things to improve and – seeing how amazing you bat – I thought you could help me with my batting. And, um, other skills,"
The captain, along with the team behind him, were baffled by Alex's request. To them, this was completely new. Nevertheless, Tetsu seemed proud to know that Alex is ready to grow as a player. Tetsu saw that Alex was willing to keep her promise, seeing something about Alex that made him understand.
"I will be able to help," Tetsu stated, nodding, "After evening practice, I will help you with batting and other exercises,"
Alex beamed, bowing, she said, "Thank you, I will not disappoint!"
Excited and thrilled, the young fielder couldn't believe that the captain was willing to help. In her mind, Alex made multiple scenarios about the captain saying no and the whole first-string laughing at her. So, she was also relieved to know that he said it was okay. The captain told Alex that practice will start tomorrow and Alex was more than ready. Leaving the inner practice ground, Alex walked with a skip in her step. Closing her eyes, the vision of the field was beginning to shine in Alex's mind.
However, the upperclassmen questioned Tetsu's plan. Tetsu place his helmet on and tightened his gloves, giving his team a smile.
"It wouldn't make any sense. Coach already filled two positions in for the first-string,"
"I believe she is capable," Tetsu stated, clenching onto the grip of the baseball bat with both of his hands, "At yesterday's practice game, her fielding was something I never saw. However, it appears that she is willing to become stronger so she can fight alongside us. I can't help to acknowledge that sort of dedication,"
His team seemed to agree, after realizing what he meant. Still, it couldn't have been possible for her to be part of the first-string. But, the boys seemed to all have sensed something coming because the air was tense. However, the tension seemed to thrill them. They couldn't wait to see what's next.