It's finally the new year! (almost...) Well, from now on, I am totally throwing in chapter titles. It's hard to think of great chapter titles, so don't be too harsh on me! xD Well, I will see you guys in the new year! I know you guys will LOVE the next chapter. Haha
Happy New Year! Bye-Bye! uwu
Let's Do This!
When Alex woke up the next morning, she had a grin on her face and a skip in her step. She could feel herself bubbling with excitement and anticipation. Believing and knowing, Alex was on a good start to become stronger. In order for herself to grow, she needs to become confident. And having teammates willing to help her will have her become a stronger baseball player. Still, Alex couldn't believe this to be true. She had to settle down, first.
Haruka was walking towards the school when she noticed Alex walking alongside a boy and both seemed to be chatting happily. Noticing Alex grin from ear to ear, Haruka couldn't help but grin too. Her appearance may not look it – with the dark circles and exhaustion written on her face – but her grin seemed to say otherwise that she is ecstatic.
"Alex!" Haruka called, smiling.
Alex turned her attention to the voice, grinning wider. She waved her arm and called out for Haruka's name. The boy next to her looked over and noticed the girl. Haruka instantly felt her stomach tighten and her heart flutter. Alex, with the boy following, approached Haruka and gave her a tight hug.
"Haruka, good morning!" Alex stated, happily, "Oh, Haruka. This is my teammate, Sawamura Eijun,"
"U-um," Haruka stammered, blushing, "N-nice to m-meet you. I'm Nishioka Haruka,"
"I'm Sawamura Eijun," Sawamura stated, bowing. Oblivious to Haruka's nervous nature, Sawamura gave her a large grin.
The trio walked to their classes, talking about their upcoming tests and lessons. Sawamura was complaining how he needed to work on the English assignment that was due today, but had forgotten. He seemed to not like English and found it to be very complicated and confusing.
Alex laughed, patting his back and saying, "If you need a tutor, I would be happy to help out,"
Sawamura beamed, instantly becoming ecstatic, answering, "You would? Thank you, Alexandra!"
"Yeah, yeah. Just what needs to be covered?" Alex asked him.
Sawamura was silent when she stared at Alex with a blank expression. Alex rolled her eyes and sighed, "Well, looks like we are going to have to work a lot then,"
Alex made fun of Sawamura, making Sawamura irritated. Nevertheless, Alex apologized about her rudeness.
"English is hard," Alex stated, sighing. Beginning to reminisce the group studies she had back at home.
She continued, chuckling, "But, not as hard as Japanese. So, when break comes, how about you come to our class so we can have a group study session?"
"That's a great idea!" Sawamura beamed, agreeing.
"Great!" Alex stated, smiling, "We'll see you then,"
Sawamura and the girls had went their separate ways and began walking to their class. The girls walked in silence, letting the great morning sink in. Alex, about to say something, glanced down at Haruka who had flushed cheeks. She was a few steps behind Alex and was lost in her thoughts.
Alex didn't want to ask what's wrong; she had an idea what it could be. She chuckled and continued down the hallway.
"U-um, A-Alex," Haruka spoke, staring at her feet.
"Hmm," Alex hummed, smiling.
"I-Is Sawamura a nice guy?" Haruka asked, biting her lip.
Alex laughed, replying, "Define nice,"
"Huh? Is he not?" Haruka questioned, concerned.
Alex turned around, stopping in front of the small girl, letting Haruka bump into her and having her look up at the American girl. Alex gave her a charismatic grin, whispering, "He's the nicest guys that I know, Haruka. Why are you interested in the fine, charismatic pitcher?"
Seeing Alex wink at her, Haruka flushed. "No, no! I was just curious, that's all!"
Taking a step back, Haruka sighed, saying, "You must be lucky to be on a team full of boys,"
Alex chuckled, shaking her head, "I wouldn't say that I am 'lucky'. Maybe more of how – I don't know – sweaty, loud, or smelly it can be on a team full of boys,"
"Well, what I mean is, Alex, that you're so pretty. You have an infectious laugh, your eyes glimmer when you're happy, and you are tall. And don't forget how easy it can be for you to talk to people. With those type of characteristics, it would be hard to believe that not one of them will fall for you,"
Haruka glanced up at Alex. Haruka froze as she saw Alex glower by the bright, shining windows. Her face was dark, her eyes were still, and her muscles tensed. Haruka noticed that she looked infuriated.
"Haruka,"
Haruka felt chills run through her body when she heard Alex say her name. It was so cold; had no warmth or brightness to it. Haruka was scared to see Alex in this sort of way. Where was her always-grinning-face or the way her eyes brightened when she made eye-contact in a room? This wasn't Alex…
"Listen to me," Alex stated, walking closer to Haruka, "I didn't participate in baseball just for the attention of the boys or to be in some sort of romance. Also, you shouldn't feel the need to compare yourself to others. You are just as beautiful as everyone in this school or even outside this school. Maybe even more! You're someone who can always listen to people's problems, you give great advice, you have the perfect hair, and you're the most beautiful person I've ever met. I don't want you to think that my physical appearance will have you be insecure with yourself, Haruka. You must realize that you are far more than that – than what you think you are. Have confidence in yourself,"
Haruka was frozen stiff when Alex had approached her. Staring into her deep, brown orbs, Haruka couldn't look away. However, they seemed to become warmer and the coldness was disappearing. Haruka was able to read through them and see herself reflected into them. This was the Alex that she knew: warm and bright. Alex couldn't stay mad for long because she knew that Haruka didn't mean to say what she had said; however, it still irritated her. She knew that Haruka is a better person than she labels herself to be, and she wanted her to know that. When Haruka heard those words, she felt herself become weak. She never heard someone say that to her.
Alex sighed, then chuckled. Rubbing the back of her neck, Alex gave Haruka a shining grin.
She spoke, "Sorry, but it angers me when people have a misunderstanding about my motives for being on a baseball team. But, I mean what I mean, Haru. I don't want you to think that you are inferior in any form."
A large grin crept along Haruka's face, tears forming in her eyes, saying, "T-thank you, Alex,"
Alex grinned, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, replying, "Anytime, partner,"
In the third floor, located where the third-year classes are set, the captain and the former catcher were chatting and conversing matters over practice for the following evening.
"Thank you, Chris, for doing this huge favor for me," the captain stated, bowing, "I owe you,"
"No need, Tetsu," Chris stated, smiling, "This is the only thing that I can do to help,"
The captain froze and stared at the catcher, speechless. But, the captain shook his head. "That's not true. You play a major role for us, Chris. Without you, I don't think we will be able to get this far,"
Chris smirked, chuckling. "You have always chose your words perfectly, Tetsu,"
Once the bell had rung, the break begun. Sawamura sprinted out of his classroom, taking his belongings with him, and tried to find Alex's room. Noticing the sign above the doorway, he slid the door open and scanned around the room with books and papers pressed against his chest. In the back of the room, seeing two girls sitting at a desk chatting happily, Sawamura shuffled towards them.
"Alex!" Sawamura called, oblivious to the stares from Alex's classmates.
Alex leaned to the side and noticed Sawamura with ton of books and papers in his arms. Alex snorted and saw Sawamura drop the books onto Alex's desk.
"Hey, Sawamura," Alex stated, gawking at the stack of books.
"Hey! So, I brought the stuff," Sawamura stated, taking a chair and sitting by Alex.
Haruka shuffled in her seat when she noticed Sawamura sitting close to her.
Sawamura looked over and gave her a grin, greeting her, "Hey, Nishioka!"
"U-uh, h-hey," Haruka greeted, blushing.
Alex was complaining how much the work load that Sawamura needed to get done. Scanning through the stacks of books, Alex noted that one was for vocabulary, English Literature, and English grammar. Giving Sawamura a fierce look, Alex ridiculed him for slacking in his studying. Sawamura pouted and stated that he didn't have time doing them.
"Well, if you're on the first-string, then the Coach is going to get onto you about it," Alex stated, gathering the papers.
Sawamura froze, replying, "I have time,"
"That's what I thought," Alex stated, smirking.
Alex grabbed the first book, which was English grammar, and started to show Sawamura the basics. Sawamura tried to listen intently, but he was beginning to nod off. Alex slapped him on the back of the head, grabbing his attention.
"Now, there's a saying we have back home, involving this rule," Alex stated, writing on Sawamura's notebook, "I before E, except after C,"
"Huh?" Sawamura asked, not getting Alex's dialect.
"It means that when spelling certain English words, the letter I has to be before E. That is not including those after C. For example, the word believe. The letter I is before the letter E," Alex stated, pointing with her pencil.
Sawamura nodded his head, trying to understand it. Alex moved on, "Now, an example of the English word that involves the letter C before the letter I and E is – like it says here – ceiling. The positioning of the letters are different, right?"
Sawamura's eyes popped open, realizing what she was meaning. He nodded his head and grinned. Alex looked at Sawamura's writing assignment and noticed the errors that he wrote. Alex began to let Sawamura rewrite his essay with Alex's help.
During the whole break, Alex was continuing to help the young pitcher. When the bell had rung, Sawamura thanked Alex for her help.
"Don't forget to help me with my Japanese, Sawamura," Alex stated, "You do owe me,"
"Oh, I know. Thanks again, Alex!" the boy ran off with the books in his arms.
Haruka smiled and gave Alex a pleasant look. Alex rose her eyebrows in questioning, "What is it?"
"You're very patient," she stated, smiling, "You should be a teacher,"
"Oh, I'm not patient. I don't know if you can notice, but my veins are popping out my head," Alex stated, laughing.
"Well, I think it was generous of you to help him,"
"He is a friend," Alex stated, shrugging, "Can't let him hanging,"
Haruka smiled warmly, not saying anything. The teacher entered the classroom and started to begin instruction. Haruka took her seat at the other side of the classroom, taking out her textbook. Glancing to the back of the class, she noticed Alex have a small smile along her face.
"No longer a teammate, right, Alex?" Haruka thought, chuckling.
At the end of class, Alex hurried her way to the dorms. She wished Haruka good-bye before she left, giving her a tight hug. She ran passed Sawamura's classroom, quickly looking inside to find the familiar faces.
"Alex, wait up!" Sawamura yelled, running after Alex.
Alex quickly stopped and turned around, noticing Sawamura and Haruichi following after. "Hurry up! We're going to be late!"
"Yeah, yeah! Don't rush me!" Sawamura yelled, running passed Alex.
"Hey, now don't leave me behind," Alex yelled after the boys.
Finally making their way to the baseball fields, the trio split directions to their dorm rooms. In her room, getting into her practice uniform, Alex tried to hurry by multitasking by putting on her pants and taking her school uniform off. With a tongue sticking out, Alex hopped on one foot and both hands on the waistband of her pants.
Feeling herself hit her heel against the leg of her chair, she felt herself tipping backwards. Gulping, Alex slowly began to feel herself tip back. Trying to catch herself by holding herself with the edge of her desk, Alex knew it was too late.
CRASH!
All the belongings that she held onto on her desk was now on the floor. Lying on the ground, Alex groaned and felt her body tremble with pain. Her satchel was lying on her gut and the belongings inside sprawled all over the floor. She pushed the items away and slowly began to get up. A hand holding her head together, Alex slowly shuffled to grab her shirt.
Looking at the ground covered in her belongings, Alex rolled her eyes and sighed. "I'll deal with that later,"
Unlocking her door, tucking in her shirt, and leaving her room behind, Alex cursed herself for being reckless.
Just making it over the large hill, Alex took in a deep breath. Scanning over the land, feeling the warmth from the high risen sun in the sky, Alex could feel the breeze pick up. Seeing her teammates walk into the baseball field, Alex could hear her heart pound with excitement. With a large grin on her face, Alex puffed out her chest.
"Right! Let's do this!" Alex exclaimed, running down the hill.