Like I said back again soon, wrapping the baseball game. And closing out the first stage of this whole story, enjoy.
Chapter 10
After all the students arrived, they were sorted into two teams. Mr. Metz seems to appease Videl's demand to go against Sharpner and Terran. As the teams were divided Gohan found himself with Videl and Erasa. The only other kids he knew in the class were on the opposite team the obvious two being Sharpner, Terran, the last one being the topic of lunch, Angela.
As the two teams were separated, each at their own benches grabbing equipment about to start the game. Since Videl's team was starting on defense they were sorting through gloves, Videl ready to go looking across at the other benches. Getting mentally ready to perform, she was going to be pitching, in a position to go one on one with Sharpner and Terran. Wanting so badly to embarrass the cocky baseball players.
With this going through her mind she turns to her team behind her, everyone looks at her. Videl's face was all serious, determined, causing some kids on her team to shrink, intimidated.
"Everyone, I don't want anyone goofing around today. If you're on the field pay attention, try hard, be a good teammate. Since you're on my team you have to care, if you don't care do us both a favor stay on the bench, pretend to be sick or injured I don't care." Videl yells out to everyone, the reactions vary, Erasa sighs, Gohan raises his eyebrows, the rest of her team silently groans. Wishing to be on the other team all of a sudden, the other team looks on at the commotion. Sharpner and Terran snicker to each other, ready to win the little feud with Videl.
Videl walks to Erasa and Gohan, standing by the end of the bench. Ready to start the game now waiting for the go-ahead from the teacher.
"What an inspiring speech Videl." Erasa comment oozes with sarcasm.
"It doesn't need to be inspiring just needs to keep people serious." Videl starts explaining "If I lose to Terran and Sharpner it will be unbearable, especially Sharpner, he needs an attitude adjustment, more humble, less ego." Erasa after hearing the explanation gives a serious nod and smirk.
"I'm with you there, if we win, I'm gonna rub it in his face so hard. 'Hey Mr. Star pitcher on the baseball team, can't even beat me Erasa who loves shopping and hates baseball. How does it feel to lose to a girl who hates your dumb sport?' His head would explode!" Erasa imagines with a smile, Videl begins to laugh, love seeing Sharpner in Erasa's crosshair.
Gohan who has been silent is lost in his own thoughts, mentally prepping himself. Telling himself to keep cool, keep it normal, not to stand out. Nervous about how it will play out, hearing them talk excitedly, he didn't want to let them down too.
"Hey Gohan, you okay? You look like you're spacing out." Erasa asks noticing how silent he was.
"Huh, oh, yeah, I'm fine I guess. Just hoping I don't screw it up for the team." He awkwardly laughs, deciding to be honest with them.
Unknown to the trio, the teacher walked up to the three and joined the conversation.
"To be fair, kid your team captain's speech probably put unneeded pressure." Mr. Metz poking fun at Videl's competitive nature. Videl sulks, Erasa giggles at Videl's reaction. Videl knew it wasn't the 'nice' thing to say, but Videl wants to win.
"No it isn't that, I'd be less confident on the other team." Gohan answers without hesitation. At least he knows Videl and Erasa don't hate him, unlike others…
"Yeah, see? I know what I'm doing." Videl answers in a full of herself manner, this earning an eye roll from the man.
"Plus, me and Gohan aren't that sporty so we don't need to play the full game, he can just chat and cheer on Videl most of the game!" Erasa exclaims looking at the bright side. At that Gohan eased up, forgetting Erasa mentioned that at lunch.
"Oh, right you did mention that earlier, that's reassuring." He says looking at Erasa happy class will be a breeze.
"Actually…" Metz starts up "Gohan you'll actually be playing all class." He announces, the three students all looked at him, surprised and confused.
"What, why?" All three asked in unison, all three have their reasons. Gohan, wanting to not have to maintain an act. Erasa, not having a chatting buddy all class. Videl, for the teacher doing something unusual. The kids that can't play barely do if they don't want to, the teachers usually understand.
"Ah…Well…Y'know uh," he starts trying to think of a reason, "well for one, It turns out a few kids suddenly don't feel so well." He says looking at Videl. "Pregame nerves I guess…" Videl looks away, trying not to looks guilty. Erasa narrows her eyes at Videl, Gohan drops his head.
"Of course…" Gohan let's out.
"Reason two, you'll be fine. You may not know it never playing, but you can be involved just fine. Just catch the ball if it comes at you, then throw it back to the infield. The two things we practice." Mr. Metz assures Gohan.
"And batting…?" Gohan asks unconfidently
"….." Silence from the teacher.
"….." Silence from the trio.
"…Baseball is a game of phases defense, base running, batting is a small aspect really if you think about it…" Metz tries to downplay how unprepared Gohan actually was. Videl scoffs at the weak claim muttering an 'oh please'.
Gohan running his hand through his hair frustrated, his way out of the situation was gone.
"Well if you think I'm ready, then I have no problem filling in for the others that don't feel like playing." Gohan being a team player sucks it up, if having to act like a normal human helps out his friends and teacher, he'll do it without complaining.
"Knew I could count on you kid, just wanted to give you the heads up on that before we started. Look at it this way, now you don't owe me for being late last week." He proceeds to punch Gohan in the arm in a playful manner, walking past him and yelling out to everyone else.
"Alright get in positions, we are starting the game. If you're on the bench be prepared to play, stay engaged. Never know when an injury will happen, or me making you help me and Coach Cap call the game." Mr. Metz instructs half the class, the others ready to bat being talked up by Cap as the game is getting underway.
The kids on Videl's team begin running out, others more excited and energized running out. Others trudging out reluctantly, Gohan begins scanning where they are placing themselves.
"Alright he said I'm going to be in right field." Gohan looks out to the big empty space of Grass to the right side of the field.
"Sorry, Gohan." Gohan surprised whips his head to find it was Videl who was apologizing "If I didn't tell the others to not even play if they didn't care you wouldn't be guilted into playing all class." Blowing hair out of her eyes, frustrated like Gohan earlier. She begins putting her baseball cap on, getting the locks of hair out her eyes, tucked in the hat.
"Uh, wha-no-no-no it's no big deal if anything I hope I don't screw up. I know how badly you want to shut those two up. If anything, I should apologize to you in advance." He chuckles, trying to laugh it off and crack a joke.
Videl shakes her head, Gohan was ready for the verbal assaults of, "you better not", or "just don't cost us."
"Don't worry, it's just a game. Try your best that's all I care about, the same for the others. I don't care if you do good or not. This is your first time playing, right? Have fun, it's no good worrying over what ifs." Videl assures Gohan. The little pregame pep talk left Gohan dumbstruck, leaving him looking at Videl with his mouth open, not sure what to say. Videl took the chance to grab another one of the many new hats they set out for the class, handing it to Gohan. It was a green and yellow hat with an orange star, with the school's letters on it, everyone else was wearing the same hat.
"Here, this will keep the sun out of your eyes, I'll do my best pitching, so no one will have to do anything. Now just go stand over there, I'll make it as easy as possible for you, or am I being too egotistical?" she mockingly jokes, referencing Gohan joke at the end of lunch.
Gohan smiles, feeling a lot better about class now. Like she said he doubts he will have too much if anyone is going to look super powered it's probably her.
"No ma'am" he takes his cue and runs out leaving Videl and Erasa at the dugout bench.
"Good luck Gohan" Erasa cheers out at him running off to take the field.
"Aw, that was nice Videl." Erasa comments, Videl rolls her eyes.
"I do the same for you every year when you played, you're lucky we have a laid-back coach this year."
"Yeah, I probably only have to play for a couple of minutes! Too bad for Gohan though wonder why he gets saddled with the not being subbed out like some of you." Erasa question was on Videl's mind as well. The usual suspects for playing all class are typically the athletes since everyone can't play at once, the ones that can and want to most do. "Anyways less time the better for me, I hate wearing the hats, it ruins my hair then I have to redo it. A waste of time." Erasa complains.
"A waste of time is adjusting your hair over and over during PE, just live with it until the class is done." Videl brushes off Erasa's pointless concerns.
"Not worth the argument now, have fun and good luck. I'll be both of your guys' cheering section. Nothing much else to do sitting here, the person who I thought would be sitting with me has to play." Erasa sits back ready to watch, everyone else done warming up. The first batter steps up near the box ready to step in and start.
"Well, you can talk with the other slackers," Videl suggests, Erasa looks at her team and sighs.
"No one here I'd want to talk with, not for an hour that is." Erasa thinks aloud, Videl waves and runs off to the mound to get the game underway.
…
Gohan was standing out in the big open field far away from anyone else, only on that far out with him was a guy way to his right in the center, another guy all the way across the field in left. He was on an island, alone with his thoughts until Videl was ready to start the game.
"I don't know what I was worried for, Videl's right. She's strong so I don't see anyone getting a hit off her, no matter how good they are. And even if they did hit it, to be powerful enough to hit out far where I'm at is unlikely. Statistically for me to have to do anything is extremely minimal and for hitting I just have to stand there. This will be a piece of cake!"
Talked down from the anxiousness of playing, he was no ready to sit back and blend in, letting Videl take the stage. She gets set on the mound, glove in right hand ready to throw with her left. A lanky kid with glasses steps in the batter's box and with that the game was officially underway.
"Huh, guess Videl's left-handed." Gohan thinks out loud. Videl throws a pitch right down the middle for a strike. "Guess I never noticed before," another pitch passes the batter, another strike. "I'm surprised that she gave me a pep talk, I was so ready for her to berate me like usual." Another pitch, this one is a ball. Gohan chuckles to himself "It's only been a week or two but, maybe I've been training with Vegeta too much. All things considered I'm happy Videl and I are beginning to act like friends, just like today's game I worried way too much about that meeting on the roof and in the end-" Gohan's thoughts were interrupted by a clanging sound of metal, and shout of 'heads up' it took him a second to register what was happening until he sees the ball flying his way.
"Ahh crap!" he got a super late start running to it as it slices to his left away from him. He is running as fast he could with the gravity weights, he closes the distance quickly, but he could see it was going to be out of reach as he gets in front of the ball's trajectory, the ball not making quite far enough to him, unless he dove for it "No way, not with all this weight on.". It drops right in front of him, he panics and hurriedly picks it up, bobbling it a bit.
"Alright like I read, throw it to first and do it as lightly as possible!" Gohan flung his arm back tossing the ball back toward the infield.
The first basemen has to take a couple steps back as the ball was about to go past him to catch it. Catching it, he looks stunned how far he threw it. Meanwhile, the guy who hit the ball was still at the plate. Gohan noticed everyone looking at him surprised, everyone but Mr. Metz next to first as the first base umpire.
Gohan begins to panic yet again "Ahh I wasn't I paying attention, first guy up and I let a hit happen because I was spacing out. I got too comfortable!"
"Foul ball!" Mr. Metz calls out, turns out the outfield "Gohan pay attention out there, you almost made it there in time.!" Mr. Metz yells out to right, instructing Gohan.
Gohan begins blinking, "Wait, a foul ball?" Gohan looks at where he was now way cross the white line signaling out of bound. Meaning it wasn't a hit, meaning Gohan panicked for nothing.
He was so far from his original position, the fact that it took him so little time to sprint all the way to his left, had everyone impressed by his speed. The chattering of disbelief, that he can move that fast, exciting talks of he almost caught the ball.
A kid on Gohan's team, seated on the bench with a cast on his arm stands off the bench and hollers at Gohan.
"Come on new kid you could of dove for that. Don't be afraid to get dirty." The rest of his team joins in playfully ribbing him. Knowing full well that ball was near impossible to catch, but somehow, he almost did it.
Gohan embarrassed, rubs the back of his neck then gives Mr. Metz the thumbs up signaling he understands. Gohan begins jogging all the way back to his position, "Geez I really didn't notice how far I moved, I need to pay attention I almost blew it by panicking!"
Mr. Metz just smiles as he jogs back, he turns to the man he was trying to convince 'this kid could play' look to him, feeling vindicated he gives a wink and shoulder shrug to Cap behind the plate.
As everyone settles down Videl takes the ball, looks back to Gohan before shaking her head and focusing back on the game. She delivers a pitch, striking the first kid out. Then the second batter ended up like the first, striking out as well.
Good job Videl! Prove you're right about your ego!" Erasa cheers.
Now nobody is surprised with how good Videl is if it wasn't for her job of protecting the city she would be chased down and asked to join any sports club out there. She was hands down the best fighter and best athlete at the school. Next up the third batter was one she wanted to strike out with every fiber of her being, Sharpner…"
"Don't be mad at me Videl when I bruise that ego like I'll bruise this ball!" Sharpner shouts in a cocky manner, trying to rile her up. Only it ended up riling Erasa more than her.
"Videl strike out that dumbass!"
"Hey now! Language, this is school. And no name calling of any kind!" Mr. Metz chastises Erasa.
"Sorry.." Erasa apologizing, sheepishly ducks her head down.
The batter and the pitcher were more focused on each other though as Sharpner steps in the box in the left box. Batting right, opposite of Videl, so he has the advantage. Sharpner had a lot of pride on the line himself, one of the best hitters on Orange Star High Schools baseball team, their best pitcher. In front of his coaches, some teammates, he wanted to beat Videl.
Videl delivers pitch one barely speeding it past him for a strike. He focuses up, ready to react quickly at her fast power pitches. The next pitch comes in, he swings, way early. Completely missing making no contact. As Videl knew he'd be expecting Fastball, she slowed it down and fooled him. Sharpner growls, not wanting Videl to strike him out above anything else. Videl stays looking, still and unmoving for a while, intensely focused and determined. She winds up, and as hard as she could throw it. Sharpner barely reacting swings out of instincts. The ball thrown was too fast how however to see that it wasn't even close to hittable, as it was above his chest. He swung at a ball and Videl won the battle, walking off the field as the teams change sides. Sharpner growls, and whips his bat away, upset by the outcome.
Gohan was one of the last few returning, coming off the field, as he reached the bench where Videl and Erasa stood as he went up and to applaud Videl's play.
"Wow great job at there, I may have been wrong about your bravado, sorry for spacing out." Gohan compliments, Erasa speaks first to respond to him.
"Are you kidding me Gohan! Who knew you were that fast, I can't believe you can move like that." Erasa gushes, making Gohan shift from the praise.
"Yeah no kidding, here I thought you'd be slow, unable to throw, and the first thing you do is run and throw as your life depended on it," Videl admits, admiring the show of skill.
"Well with you on my team, if I screw up my life might depend on it…" Gohan gives an offhand remark.
"Oh haha, here I am praising you and you take a shot at me. If that's the case pay attention out there and you would have caught it. How about helping me out, by getting an out." Videl retorts as she finds herself on the end of another joke by Gohan, she was finding herself caught off guard every time.
"You're right, sorry!" Gohan instantly responds, Erasa just laughs at the two's antics decides to join in.
"What was that Videl? I thought you didn't need any help out there." Erasa catches Videl contradicting herself. Videl grabs a bat and walks away.
"You two are lucky I bat to start, you better hope I don't get an out or it's both of your faults for taking shots at me."
It was the meeting of Sharpner and Videl again, this time with reversed roles. Videl entered the right box and took her stance, batting left-handed, they played the same match again. Batter's advantage, Videl makes a small retort at Sharpner.
"You're right Sharpner, that ball is as bruised as my ego, pristine."
And the same result happens again, the batter strikes out.
The game moves along in a similar fashion, Sharpner and Videl dominate the other team. Barley any balls in play too, just a showdown between two people who don't want to lose.
Eventually, it gets to a point where it's almost Gohan's time to bat, getting off he grabs a bat and is stopped by Videl.
"Gohan wait! Here are some quick pointers. To start I'm guessing you're left-handed since you throw that way."
"Uh, either way, it's fine, whatever is better to bat like, I can do." Gohan corrects, grabbing a helmet and swapping the hat.
"Well you've never batted before, so it doesn't matter, your most dominant hand is best, luckily he's right-handed so left is best. Show me how you look in a batting stance." Videl request.
"What?" Gohan questions confused.
"Just do it." She commands forcefully. Gohan gets in his stance hunching slightly, putting his left hand lower than his right around the bat's grip.
"No that's backward Gohan, put the dominant hand on top." She grabs his hand and he flinched from the surprise touch of her grabbing his. She grabs his left-hand moves it up the bat and has him stand like that. She stands in front of him inspecting him, as he was still reeling from the contact, sweating more from it than anything he's done in the game.
She begins giving him tips on how to bat, Gohan though was not able to pay attention noticing how close she was. He just sees her talking, not registering her words he lets out 'okay' 'got it' 'alright' acting like he's paying attention.
"And try dropping your right shoulder more, it might make your swing more fluid."
"Got it," Gohan responded in his stance, unaware of what she requested he stays in the same stance.
"Gohan dip your shoulder down."
"Alright" Again he doesn't change, annoyed Videl decides to forcefully change the stance, she reaches in and grabs his right shoulder. She grabs his shoulder and is surprised by what she feels, not at all what she was expecting. All of sudden Gohan jerks back, face red and she jerks her hand back to her chest. Both shocked and awkward at the moment.
"Gohan! You're up!" The coaches signal.
Gohan hurriedly races to the batter's box, he eagerly escapes going up against Sharpner. He calms himself before getting in, stepping in he gets in the stance Videl showed him.
"Hold!" Coach Cap from behind Gohan calls, Coach Cap jogs off to the mound to speak with Sharpner, then Mr. Metz and Terran jog to the mound as well. Having a meeting, confusing Gohan slightly.
"Quick word Sharpner." Coach Cap says quietly.
"What's up, Coach?" Sharpner asks hoping he wasn't going to ask what he thinks he was going to ask. By this time Terran and Mr. Metz join the meeting.
"Since this is a PE game and not a real game you've been holding back while pitching, except when Videl Satan has been up to bat." Coach Cap comments.
"Yeah, obviously she's the only one who can hit me on that team," Sharpner responds stating the obvious reason. Mr. Metz spoke up next, what he said caught both Terran and Sharpner for a complete surprise.
"Don't treat Gohan like the others, go all out." Both the player's eyes bulge at that.
"Both of you said no way he can play," Metz started explaining "All of us saw what I say last week, he can run, he can throw, if you think he's as bad as you say, show it." Metz finishes, challenging Sharpner.
"Exactly," Cap follows up "We have a spot open on the team, and that one play showed me what Metz here saw. Now help me see what he can do against real baseball talent." Coach Cap ran out the meeting back to his position behind home plate. Metz ran back toward first, leaving both the baseball team players alone.
"Wow, they just really gave you the full okay to embarrass the newbie." Terran comments dumbstruck.
"Oh, I'm going to enjoy this," Sharpner grins sadistically.
"Well, what coaches want we do, have fun, and make it quick and merciful." Terran runs back to his position of first base, giving Mr. Metz the 'I can't believe you okayed that' look with a turn to Gohan and a sympathetic smile.
Gohan is glad the meeting happened, giving him a chance to refocus and clears his mind. Got ready As Coach Cap gives the call to resume.
In his stance, Gohan awaits the pitch, Sharpner decides to start it off with throwing it as hard as possible to show Gohan how quick it is in the batter's box.
Gohan watches him pull back and release the pitch, to Gohan he sees the pitch like it's moving in slow motion. He sees it will come right down the middle and decides to let it pass, plan to take the strikeout and move on.
The ball passes and the sound it makes when it reaches the catcher's glove is an explosive pop. All the students watching comment on it how the ball is 'unseeable' and noticing he was treating Gohan like Videl and not going easy on him.
"Man I might feel bad for the new kid here."
"I know, right?"
"Whelp this is an out."
Gohan just stays in his stance as Sharpner goes through his routine before the next one.
"Man, no wonder Yamcha played baseball for money. The ball is so easy to see, and with our power, we can hit it farther than anyone out there. It's moments like these I realize how different I am."
Strike two passes Gohan by in the same fashion as he waits, board, just waiting to be out and get ready for defense.
"What's wrong nerd-boy? Try swinging the bat once, here next pitch will be like last two, down the middle."
Gohan lets out a sigh "Well there goes doing nothing, I guess I can just miss it on purpose." Gohan reasons, not thrilled he needs to put on a performance.
To everyone else, Gohan's bored unenthused face looks of one of irritation.
Erasa growls angrily at Sharpner's need to put Gohan down. She was not alone as Videl knew full well Sharpner was going to pull his alpha crap on Gohan, she hoped the batting tips could help, but he can't even see enough to swing. Who was she kidding though, she hasn't even gotten a hit off Sharpner today.
The third pitch came, and this time Gohan decided to swing at the right time to miss on purpose. When the ball was way in front of Gohan he went to swing to be early. What he didn't take into account was how much the weight would slow him down, so instead of missing way ahead it actually timed enough hit off the bat into play.
He pulled it down right field, right towards first base. Sharpner's eyes were as wide as saucers, he couldn't believe he could touch his pitch let alone put one in play.
As quick as it jumped off the bat hitting the ground and skipping towards right field line almost as fast as it was thrown. Terran dive to his left and snags the ball in his glove quickly running over to first tagging Gohan out.
Everyone was frozen and silent, even Terran who moved to make the play found himself confused what happened.
"Out!" Mr. Metz gives the signal with a smile, vindication, 100% Vindication.
Gohan calmly walks back to his bench, not expecting that's how he'd get out but it worked just as well.
Everyone goes to the bench to change sides when Gohan gets back he is greeted with an ecstatic Erasa.
"Oh my god, Gohan that was awesome. Did you see Sharpner's dumb face after that, oh I'm so glad you showed him you're not his punching bag!" Erasa fist pumps, Gohan takes a step back, cocks his head.
"What got into you Erasa, it wasn't even a hit. I got out if you saw, also I just realized I should run the next time I hit, I couldn't even remember that."
All the teammates running on the field to play defense pass Gohan, giving him praise, admiration. One runs past patting Gohan's helmet, Gohan getting shy from the attention.
"Good job Gohan!" Across the field Erasa at the other bench waves at Gohan when he turned at the person yelling his name.
"See, your 'friend' agrees." Erasa ribs, Gohan shakes his head.
"Good job Gohan," Videl says quickly passing Gohan going to the mound, not even looking at him.
Erasa starts to coo "Well, Well, Well, this is interesting." Erasa observes Gohan gives her another, cocked head confused puppy look.
"What is..?" he unconfidently asks, concerned by her tone.
"Oh, nothing at all, I'll talk with Videl later. No need to worry, go play hurry." Erasa ushers Gohan, he quickly grabs his equipment and runs out, leaving Erasa to mull over what she's seen.
The game is nearing the end as the class is coming to a close, coming up for Videl pitching she has Sharpner then Terran back to back one last time.
Her and Sharpner are going back and forth, Videl having two strikes on him can't finish him off. He fouls pitch after pitch after pitch off. Until eventually Videl is throwing her tenth pitch to Sharpner this at bat.
Videl, frustrated, throws a sloppy pitch and Sharpner makes her pay. He hits it dead on and it flies up the middle with no one to stop it. Rolling to the center fielder, Sharpner takes first with the biggest grin on his face, feeling like he beat Videl.
Videl feels it too, she begins growling to herself, making a fist so hard her knuckles are white.
"What's wrong Videl?" Sharpner asks in mock concern at first base.
"Boy if you want her to kill you do it away from me…" Mr. Metz whispers to Sharpner at first unamused by the war brewing all month.
Gohan lets out an 'ah man' feeling sympathetic towards Videl. He knew how big of a blow that was, wishing he could have prevented that somehow.
"Why'd it have to be him too…" Gohan wonders.
Terran steps in the batter's box ready to build off Sharpner's work.
Videl's mood seemingly affecting her performance as now, she can't throw a strike after three pitches to Terran. With one more ball he walks, Videl not wanting to walk Terran and admit defeat again, she decides to throw it down the middle. They just need one more out then they can bat before class is up.
"Come on Terran bring me home, she's weak, I smell blood in the water!" Sharpner laughs enjoying every second of Videl's struggles. Mr. Metz puts his head down shaking it, not wanting a part of his death wish.
The next pitch Videl delivers comes down the middle, Terran swings and perfectly connects. Blasting the ball off the bat, creating a loud explosion of metal clanging. The ball rockets to right field. Terran drops the bat and puts a fist in the air signaling home run. Sharpner turns around watching it fly high in the raising his hands, laughing. Videl instantly knew when the ball left her hand it was gone and spiked her glove, furious at herself.
Gohan watches the ball fly out to him, instincts kick in he ran forward towards it only to realizes it was going to fly far past him, he immediately turns around and full sprints looking back over his shoulder at it coming closer. He looks back and sees an eight-foot wall he's about to run into, quickly and effortlessly he jumped towards the wall, floating to the top of the wall, quickly but gently. Trying to make it as fast as possible to look humanly possible, he reaches over the top of the wall, perched on top, in the same moment saw the ball and placed his glove over the wall reaching out and caught it pulling it back into play. Once he had it, he floated back down fast to look natural. Once he was on the ground, he raised his glove signaling he caught the ball.
The reaction's priceless Terran stopped running just before he reaches second base, frozen at what he saw. Mr. Metz had his fist covering his mouth. Videl jaw hanging, Sharpner was rounding third still thinking Terran hit a home run, gloating all the way home.
"Terran! Yeah, we did it!"
Gohan jogging back toward infield shows Mr. Metz the ball.
"That's an, out right?"
"….Oh, that's an out all right, change sides!" He calls aftershock passes full smiling and laughter.
Everyone else shared the reaction now, cheering, some jumping once Gohan saw Sharpner's face. Pure white, blank, jaw dropped. Gohan ran back to his bench like it was nothing and was ready to bat.
Once Gohan makes it to the bench Erasa and everyone else mobs him going nuts, cheering him on.
"You're a natural Gohan!"
"How was that possible?"
"He's got some skills!"
Not even Erasa and Videl could get in a word with him, Videl though just stares at him in the mob being championed, shocked by how talented he really was.
Gohan couldn't get a word in, drowning in the praise. The team swarming him, only for the coach to call his name, it was his turn to bat. At the realization of Gohan vs Sharpner again, after the crazy play, both teams cheered and exploded with anticipation.
As everyone looked on and cheered at this very climatic moment, each side cheering their guy on. After the effort put in by the Videl and Sharpner, and Gohan pulling that crazy play out, each side had investment from everyone.
Gohan steps in the box feeling like he's in a blur after seeing all the faces in his face for something he considers nothing spectacular. He keeps his calm demeanor, and seeing Gohan so nonchalant, send Sharpner over the top, standing on the mound, he begins seething.
"How is he this good!? He's a loser, a nerd who only studies, living up in the mountains, how can he be this naturally skilled? And he acts like it's nothing!"
He starts and throws a pitch, again Gohan doesn't swing, it ends up a strike.
"He gets Erasa's and Videl's attention. Goes full psycho and gets a pass! Not just a pass, Videl is even ditching class with him and Erasa! Erasa has been pulling him around all week and he freaks on her, but I'm the asshole?"
Another pitch same result.
"He's not even swinging on me? Am I not good enough?"
Sharpner grips the ball tighter.
"Go Gohan, you got this!" Angela cheers from the side, catching Sharpner's attention.
"Even Angela is into him!? Good god, hey dumbass you're on my team, how about cheering me on."
Come on Gohan, Show him you're better!" Erasa cheers, at this Sharpner snaps.
"Better?Better?Better!?... Yeah, I'll show you, high and tight big shot, think fast."
Sharpner grips the ball as tight as possible and throws as hard as he can at Gohan's head, going for the knockout hit. Gohan see's the ball coming towards him, calmly he steps back and avoids the ball and looks at Sharpner.
In the blink of an eye, the game goes from fun and exciting to tense and scary. As the crowd processes what happens and gives a sigh of relief. Erasa covers her mouth, in a gasp seeing Gohan pull away just in time. Videl at a completely different reaction as she stormed away from the bench to the field.
"What the hells your problem, are you trying to send someone to the hospital?" Coach Cap quickly gets in between Videl and Sharpner ready to hold her back, trying to ease her.
Mr. Metz walks up to Sharpner, "She asks a good question what the hell was that?"
"It slipped," Sharpner told Metz there showing no remorse.
"It slipped?" Videl screeched in disbelief "Bullshit!" she exclaims, Coach Cap and Terran now, get ahead of her again keeping her from charging Sharpner.
"I'm pulling you." Mr. Metz coldly tells Sharpner "You're done, today hit the showers."
Sharpner battles back.
"Because one ball slipped, I get tossed."
"You're done, go."
"No."
"Sharpner!"
"Mr. Metz!" Gohan called out everyone on the field turns to him at home, seemingly forgetting he was there. "Let him pitch, I'm fine. Like he said it slipped." He then looks at Sharpener with a look Sharpner's never seen from Gohan before. Cold, competitive and challenging, almost like he was daring Sharpner to pitch to him again.
With that, they all stood there, against his better judgment he decides to trust Gohan.
"Fine, you're in. Warning, anything close to a sketchy pitch you're done, with further punishment." Mr. Metz draws the line and gets back to his post.
"Videl back to your bench," Metz orders her back to resume the game. Videl is hesitant, looking back and forth from Sharpner to Gohan. Before sending a warning glare at Sharpner and trudging back to her spot.
Everyone quietly gets back into position, the fun, exciting vibe and atmosphere gone.
"I was going to strike out, but if you pull dangerous stunts like that over a game…If I learned anything from Vegeta, it's 'hit em where it hurts' their pride." Gohan decides.
The build-up to the next pitch feels like forever for the those watching, Gohan standing there locked in on Sharpner. The pitcher going through his routine then gets set, ready to strikeout Gohan having to settle for beating him after losing his composure. Once Sharpner clears his mind he winds up and throws the pitch.
Gohan waits, with his reaction time he sees the pitch coming close enough to hit. He goes to swing as lightly as he could possibly do. When he proceeds to make contact the ball it shoots like a laser to the deepest part of the field, center field. The ball flies high in the air, causing Sharpner to whip his head over his shoulder following the ball flying away. The center fielder looks and begins to turn around and runs to get the ball.
The crowd watching erupts and yells, Gohan snaps to and begins sprinting to first. Mr. Metz immediately signals and yells for him to keep running pass first, as Gohan rounds first he sees the ball smack off center field wall. The ball hits the wall so hard the sound can be heard by everyone, it bounces back towards the center fielder ricocheting back to him.
Gohan running, looking at the play unfolding, not paying attention Gohan rounding around first slips. His foot slides on the dirt taking his leg out from underneath him, as he's airborne Gohan panics about to hit the ground.
"Crap!" He exclaims in his head, knowing full well he couldn't land with all that weight. He adjusts in the air and gently floats to the floor fast like when he made the catch. Landing down to his knee he quickly scrambles back to his feet heading to second as the ball was picked up and thrown in from the outfielder.
Gohan stands safely at second base, puts his hands on his knees bending over, sweat dripping from his brow, quickly lets out a sigh of relief avoiding a fall that would be noticeable jarring.
Getting brought back by the other team's players by him astonished he launch the ball that far.
"Damn, dude you almost just hit a home run off Sharpner…" the kid looks at him wide-eyed, mouth open.
"Lucky hit, I guess." Gohan plays down the hit, the boy hears his response and gives a half chuckle of disbelief. Gohan looks at Sharpner, and the look was worth the show of skill. Shoulders dropped, head down, cursing himself out.
"Aw sweet justice." Gohan drinks in the disappointment, "That should teach him a lesson."
As the crowd calms down, they noticed who was next up in the batting order, Videl. Causing more chatter and excitement throughout the crowd. It ended up being an exciting run of batter, Videl being the best player batting first, they ended up placing Gohan last figuring he was the worst. Only to end up being the only one with a hit off Sharpner today in class.
Sharpner breaks out beating himself up for a bad pitch, he glances up to Homeplate at the smirking Videl Satan. Sharpner starts to grit his teeth, trying to refocus to get out of the situation he is in.
"Injury Time out!" Mr. Metz yells out, he jogs over to Gohan, causing Gohan to give a confused look.
"Injured? It was a small slip, I'm fine, no big deal." Gohan explains to the man as he reaches Gohan. The man comes in with a hushed tone, explaining his plan to Gohan.
"I figured, just wanted a chance to secretly talk with ya, a chance to talk strategy."
"Strategy? Don't I just stand here or run if there is a hit?" Gohan asks in a matter of fact manner.
"Yeah true, but there is one more option. Steal third-base, clearly, you're as fast as anyone I want to see you test it one more time. So when Sharpner winds up for a pitch, take off right when he's about to let go. Can you do that?" Mr. Metz explains to Gohan.
"That's it? I don't see why not, you're the expert." Gohan agrees, earning a pat on the shoulder as the man goes running back. The pitcher and batter are beyond impatient ready to go at each other.
Gohan stands at second watching the whole routine behind Sharpner, as he winds up Sharpner looks at Gohan, then back to Videl.
Meanwhile, Mr. Metz is berating himself for not explain to Gohan he's allowed to be off the base to get a head start. Too late to stop the play as Sharpner delivers a pitch to Videl, the pitch comes in and Videl takes a swing missing completely. Unaware to just about everyone Gohan was slowing down stopping at third. Everyone just gawking at Gohan, not even processing how he got there so fast. The catcher didn't even react in a fast-enough time to try to throw him out.
Gohan unaware how fast he was going gives an unimpressed thumbs up at the coach across the field from where he currently stood.
Videl shakes her head breaking herself out of starring at Gohan in disbelief. "No way…" She trails off lost in thought "He has to be the fastest kid at school. How the hell can he do that?"
Sharpner now was seething on the mound. "How!? I even checked and saw him at second, he wasn't even leading off. How the hell did he get to third so easily, not even the pros are that fast!"
Confused and anger, Sharpner grips the ball as tight as possible. He was about to blow a gasket, getting shown up by the new kid. Getting hit off, stolen on, he was giving up the lead now that Videl is batting.
His thoughts went back to Gohan and his amazing defensive plays, costing Terran a home run and them the lead. "The nerd is single-handedly beating us!"
Lost in thoughts in autopilot, about to deliver Videl the next pitch. With no focus he throws an easy pitch right down the middle, Videl smacks the ball sending it flying.
"Shit!" Sharpner yells out right when she hit it. She and Sharpner watch the ball fly high and deep. Gohan stood too at third about to head on home, Videl yells toward Gohan.
"Stay there Gohan, wait!" Videl instructed, confused he listens. Looking back to the ball he sees the ball heading to the right fielder standing underneath it, ready to catch it. The ball lands in the player's glove signaling Videl was out.
"Now Gohan run home!" Videl desperately yells, waving her toward her frantically Gohan confused why since she didn't get a hit stays turning his head. "Move your ass!"
He flinches from her rough commend, he decides to listen and sprints home touching the plate as the ball was thrown back into the infield.
"Safe! One to nothing, one out!" Coach Cap calls out.
"Guess I scored…" Gohan mumbles "I don't get this sport."
Videl greets Gohan near Homeplate as he walks back to his bench.
"Hell yeah Gohan! Nice running, thanks to you we're winning." Gohan keeps walking back with Videl to their cheering bench.
"If you say so, I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing." He chuckles, Videl smiles.
"Just think what you could do if you knew." She thinks aloud "Good job Gohan" she raises her hand going for a high five, Gohan lifts his hand meeting hers, smiling, glad they made a good team today. They get back to the team as the game carries on, Erasa jumps all around Gohan squealing.
"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god! This is amazing, Gohan you lair, you said you didn't play sports!" Erasa gushes.
"I don't," he replies.
"Uh-huh sure, you know, we will figure out whatever else you can do. Definitely not your average bookworm!" Erasa exclaims.
"She may be right Gohan." Videl agrees with Erasa.
Before they knew it, the game came to an end quickly after the score. Giving team Videl the win and gloating rights over her classmates.
"Yes yes yes! We did it!" Videl out as the bell rings, hugging on to Erasa. Videl's pride unharmed for one more day. The three celebrate the most enthused compared to the rest of the team.
"This is something I wasn't expecting to say today but couldn't have done it without you Gohan. Thanks." Videl bashfully thanks Gohan.
"No worries, glad I could help. I ended up enjoying it more than I thought." Gohan explains
"Weeell are you going to tell us where you learned to play like that? Clearly, there is more to than meets the eye." Erasa questions Gohan playfully tapping her foot. Videl silently agrees and faces Gohan with Erasa.
"Well…" Gohan trails looking away trying to come up with an explanation.
"Gohan, Me and Coach Cap want to talk with ya." Mr. Metz calls out. Gohan gives an apologetic look to the girls, silently cheering in his mind before jogging to the coaches.
Sharpner, being guided away by the shoulder with Terran looks back at Gohan heading to the coaches, bawling his fist, violently shrugging his friend's hands off him, letting out an enraged "Dammit!"
Hopefully, the baseball game wasn't too boring, I wanted to play around with it a bit. I appreciate how much the show does as well, wanted to do the same. I like to think of this as an end to an arch, Gohan has made a couple of friends meet some new people, with different opinions of him. Plan forward story-wise will be to begin to push the Videl/Gohan aspect. And no more baseball that thread was to just push an aspect to why Sharpner can't stand him, among others that are still here. As always let me know what you think, thank you to the new followers and favs, seeing the notifications after being away so long with other responsibilities. Got me to lock myself in for this one, hope it was worth it.
I like to see this as the end of an arc, the new kid making friends angle. Clearly, Gohan now has found a circle with Erasa and Videl.
Now it's on to the next, oh whatever could come next.
Thank you for reading, following/favoriting, reviewing, glad I'm able to make something in the world that people enjoy and like keeping up with.
Special thanks to the reviewers it means a lot to see how others see the story, positive or negative. To those commenting consistently thank you, it's nice to see I'm keeping you interested.
To Snorby, glad I made a story worth binging. I've done it so many times with great writers and stories, so to be able to make something someone finds worthy enough to binge is awesome thank you!
Feel free to comment, share ideas, anything you like it keeps us all engaged and makes the story better. I may be dropping a one-off story to with this pair, I have a leftover idea that won't work in this story, follow me since this is my only story I should have a completed story dropping for the holidays. If you love Videl/Gohan and gaming this should be up your alley.