I'm going to focus a bit more on Kotaro because he's a major character in this section with Miyuki … let's see what unfolds, shall we?

Chapter 21: Unregistered Love

"Yo, that's total pedophilia right there."

"Facts."

Kotaro rolled his eyes as he wrapped his arms around the shoulders of Saijou Keiji and Maeda Ikuto. "Alright, alright, what are you two talking about again?" he asked his two best friends.

Ikuto, a freshman and pitcher with neck-length navy blue hair, pointed to his phone, grinning. "Rumors say that this legendary baseball player got kicked off his team for having an inappropriate relationship with a teenager. That's stupid as hell."

Keiji, another freshman and batter with scarlet hair and fuchsia bangs which covered one of his eyes, scrolled down on Ikuto's phone, stopping at a dialogue exchange. "It even says here that the teen admitted to having secret affairs with him. That's a total pedophile right there. People are so thirsty these days, it's laughable."

Kotaro nodded absentmindedly as the events with Miyuki last night raced through his mind. "Yeah … that's so retarded," he forced out, despite his thumping heart. "I feel offended as a baseball player! I won't let this get to me!"

The teacher walked in. "Take your seats."

"I vow to kick his ass for disgracing the name of baseball!"

Keiji tugged on Kotaro's sleeve. "Hey," he whispered hurriedly. "Sit down!"

"I won't allow this! I won't stand for this!"

Ikuto tapped his pen on his desk obviously. "Yo, sit down! The teacher's waiting!"

"I —"

"INOHARA KOTARO!"

The first year fell silent as he realized that everyone was staring at him in disbelief, their lips twitching in annoyance. "Y-Yes?"

The teacher frowned, opening his lesson plan. "Class began five minutes ago," he deadpanned.

Kotaro sunk in his seat, embarrassment hanging over his head. "Oh …"

Kotaro sighed as he sat on the roof during lunchtime, opening his bento.

"Who am I kidding? I'm such a hypocrite. That teenage girl had a relationship with a baseball player … that's totally me right there. I'm too afraid … what if someone saw us? I knew that was a bad idea. But … my feelings can't change for Miyuki-senpai …"

Ring! Ring!

The redhead stammered as he answered his phone sheepishly. "Hi, M-Miyuki-senpai."

Miyuki smirked. "Yo, Kotaro. Where are you?"

"At school."

"Where at school?"

"On the roof."

"Doing what?"

Kotaro took a bite of his sausage, "Eating."

"Alright. When do you have baseball practice?"

"In an hour. It's just gonna be me and some of my friends since Coach is absent today."

"I'll watch you play for a while."

"Thanks."

Miyuki laughed. "Why are you acting so shy for? I'm not a monster."

The first year pouted, flipping his chopsticks into the air and catching them. "I rarely get calls like this. Not a big deal."

"I'll see you later then," the former catcher said. "Love ya."

Before the latter could respond, he hung up, leaving him dumbstruck. ' … I'm just imagining things,' he thought. 'Miyuki-senpai would never … ah, whatever.' Standing up, he gobbled down the rest of his bento and raced to the roof door, rushing down the stairs to his calligraphy class.

Unaware of the person watching him from afar.

"Give me a good one, I'm begging you here!" Keiji shouted, getting in his batting position.

Kotaro drew in a deep breath, wound up and pitched, gritting his teeth regretfully. "My bad!"

Keiji watched the ball plop into Hiroto Daisuke's mitt, a third year catcher with wavy brown hair. "Ball four."

The pitcher sighed as Keiji sauntered to first base, a perturbed look in his eyes. "Oi, Kotaro! Relax! We're up by two runs! Plus, this is just practice!"

"Which doesn't change the fact we're still losing."

"I heard that!"

"H-Hey!"

Next up to bat was Ikuto. He yawned as he donned his helmet, pointing his bat at the sky. "I really hate batting, so I'm a make this quick. I'm hitting a home run, no matter what type of ball comes my way."

The redhead scoffed. "Let's see if you can actually pull it off." Lifting his leg into the air, he swung his arm down hard, the ball whooshing forward.

Ikuto immediately stepped forward, a grin stretching across his face as he swung his bat. "Got 'em."

Clang!

Kotaro gasped, staring at the ball soar high into the sky, slowly falling into the hands of a certain someone. "I … I'll get it."

He lowered his head as he approached the gate. "Hi."

Miyuki cackled, fumbling with the baseball in his hands. "Told you I'd come by. Besides, who the hell sent that ball flying?! That almost scared the crap out of me!"

"Ikuto."

"Oh, Maeda-kun? Damn, he's pretty good."

"How long have you been standing here?"

"Since the beginning."

"Stalker."

Miyuki sweat-dropped. "Hey, it's not that way! In any case, just remember to relax your shoulder and keep your eyes on the mitt, not the batter. Take deep breaths and calm yourself down. Take it one by one. Got it?"

Kotaro nodded, his hands trembling. "Y-Yea."

The bespectacled man gave the baseball to the latter through the chain-link fence and winked at him. "Be a beast out there, Ko-ta-ro~"

The first year's face burned bright red as he ran back to the field. 'What on Earth?! Why did he say my name like that for?! My heart's beating out of control!'

Fukuda Izumi, a second year, stood at the batter's box, his violet eyes gleaming with ferocity. "Give me something nice!" he yelled, bending his knees. "Or else I'll break you!"

Kotaro gripped the baseball hard, sucking in a lungful of air. "We'll see about that! Hiyaa!"

"Hiyaa!"

"Hiyaa!"

Daisuke smiled in approval. "Finally … Strike three! Batter out!"

Kotaro gazed at his hand in amazement. 'That's weird,' he thought. 'After seeing Miyuki-senpai, I managed to get a strike out. Maybe … maybe this will work out after all.'

Once again, from afar, a certain someone clucked their tongue, crossing their legs. "Inohara Kotaro and Miyuki Kazuya … well, isn't this interesting …"