Chapter 25: A Slight Peace

A few days have passed since my uh… incident. I haven't spoken much to Tsubame, though it isn't from lack of trying. She'll glare at me from across the room but if I say anything she simply ignores me. I'm not an expert on woman; clearly. Yotaka and I are still talking, but it's pretty strained. We have a game tonight and not only is Yogi coming, Tsubaki gets off work early and she's going to come watch the game. I think it's because she really doesn't believe me when I tell her I'm on the baseball team. I also think it's because she's still trying to get past the whole being a part of the student council thing.

At the present moment I'm on the field stretching my legs. The game is in about an hour, so spectators will start pouring in in about half that time. Yotaka's in the dugout grabbing some water before we start our jog. I've been working on squats to not be so sore in the catcher's position but I'm in pain nonetheless. I regret giving up baseball a few years ago. I missed the excitement that came with the game starting. As the catcher, nobody moves unless you dictate it. My pitcher doesn't pitch until I've let him see my sign. The pressure is both frightening and exhilarating.

"Catch."

I look up in time to see the water bottle flying towards me. I effortlessly raise my arm to catch the cold drink.

"Thanks." I offer Yotaka, who in turn grins before setting his own bottle next to the fence.

Mine joins his after I've had a sip. He stretches his legs lightly before he starts his jog around the field. I join him shortly after and we take about three laps as the team starts to show up. The both of us are already covered in a layer of sweat as they hook their bags to the fence. We slow to a walk and catch our breath, Yotaka swinging his arms in a circular motion to loosen his shoulder up.

"Catch for me?" He asks as we make our way to the dugout, grabbing our bottles of water as we pass them.

"I believe that's what I'm on the team for." I say with a slight nod.

Yotaka rolls his eyes but decides not to entertain me with a reply. We both go to our respected bags and grab our gear before meeting back in the infield.

"How're your legs?" Yotaka asks as he tosses the ball towards me.

"Sore," I answer before tossing the ball back. "Your arm?"

Yotaka gives me a slight smirk.

"Top condition. If you don't ask for some forkballs I will be pissed."

I grin back, flipping through our arsenal mentally.

"I'll think about it." I say as Yotaka again rolls his eyes.

"Whatever, we win when you're here anyways."

And I feel my heart swell with something akin to happiness and pride.

0_0_0_0

I spot Yogi from a mile away, an over excited Nai waving and trying to get my attention. I'm not an asshole, I waved back. Even from here I could feel Nai's 1000 watt smile. Tsubame takes a seat next to them, Jiki at her side. Or I presume it's Jiki because Tsubame's practically attached to his arm. Meanwhile Tsubaki comes into the scene with a great big smile on her face like she's trying to fight Nai for the gold. She rarely gets afternoons like this off and she's super excited to come and watch Yotaka and I play. She waves and I wave back while Tsubame turns away from me. I see the way Jiki sighs before Yotaka bumps my shoulder.

"Looks like there's no room for error." He comments as he too, waves at Tsubaki.

You're telling me. The thought remains as I squat down to let Yotaka warm up his pitches. His form starts off tense but relaxes as he gets into his groove. As I caught his next pitch I saw his attention waver and a scowl form on his face. I rose a brow before following his line of sight. There were two boys from the opposing team who were leaning on their dugout's pillar, seemingly sizing Yotaka up with smirks on their faces. Apparently that was flustering him too.

"Yotaka." I called as I stood and chucked the ball back towards him. "Your arm is tensing up again." I muttered before squatting back down before my fingers moved in a sign that was hidden from the opposition by my thigh.

Yotaka's eyes widened before a smirk of his own takes over his features. He rises his arms over his head in his windup before launching the ball towards me. It was slightly slower than his fast ball, something we'd have to work on, but as soon as it entered the space that the plate laid it dropped into my glove. A quick glance to the side showed me that the smirks were gone and with my attention returned to Yotaka, I realized he was extremely pleased. It was a beautiful forkball.

0_0_0_0

My first at bat had been abysmal. I'm a catcher so I should be able to follow this damn kid's pitch. Contrary to my own downfall, my team was lighting up the scoreboard hitting the gaps beautifully. Apparently they didn't get the memo that this pitcher was a tricky one. I admit it, I'm rusty… But it was damn embarrassing to swing full tilt and miss when you had people cheering for you.

"You got this Gareki!" Yotaka clapped my shoulder on his way back to the dugout.

He'd hit a line drive through first and second that had resulted in a beautiful triple. I could only wish to make contact. Maybe the pitcher would walk me. As I step up to the plate my attention turns towards the pitcher, who was apparently sighing in relief at my presence. I could feel my blood boiling as I got into my stance. There were two outs. This pitcher and catcher were banking on the fact that I'd be the third. The notion pissed me off. I squeezed the neck of the bat as I settled into my stance. I wasn't going to be the third out. Screw that.

I was the third out.

0_0_0_0

"Congrats on your win Yotaka!" Tsubame exclaimed.

The only reason she wasn't in her cheerleader's uniform was that apparently the cheer squad didn't cheer for exhibition games. I stood off to the side with Nai bouncing around me going on about something along the lines of how cool the catcher's equipment looked. Yogi was speaking with Tsubaki rather enthusiastically which I suppose I should be happy about. It would shatter me if the two of them didn't get along.

"Tsubaki." I called, earning a smile that for sure beat Nai and snatched that gold. "I need to talk to you.. uh.. alone tonight… please?" My conviction died as the sentence came.

Tsubaki cocked her head at me while Yogi smiled and slipped his fingers into mine. Her eyes fell to our hands and her smile grew if at all possible.

"Sure. Do you want to go out for dinner or something?" She offered to which I silently panicked.

Yogi squeezed my hand and I felt my panic receding before I spoke.

"Maybe just a walk?" I asked with a slight smile.

Tsubaki seemed lost but nodded anyways.

"Ok! It's a date." She said with a wink while Yogi chuckled.

"Would you mind if I stole him for dinner tonight?" The student council asked, his gaze not on Tsubaki, but on me.

My blush was definitely a sight to behold.

"Well, not to be out done, would it be alright if I borrowed Tsubame for a dinner date?" Jiki spoke up, earning a gasp from his girlfriend.

A smile split across her face before she latched onto his arm. Tsubaki giggled at the scene before she waved us away.

"Oh, Garki. Not too late ok? I have an early shift tomorrow." She said before waving.

Yogi tugs me away as I resist the urge to tell Tsubaki to take the day off tomorrow. I can feel my nerves waning and Yogi trying to calm me by rubbing the back of my hand with his thumb. My panic isn't quenched, but his presence helps a little.

We're walking down the streets when I realize I'm still in my baseball uniform. Which stinks. Bad. The realization strikes me hard and I almost pull away from Yogi. This grabs his attention and he turns a curious gaze towards me.

"Everything ok?" He asks.

"I… My uniform…" I mumbled before looking away out of embarrassment. "It smells…"

Yogi starts laughing and my embarrassment gets worse. He grabs my face and presses his lips to mine in a quick peck before offering another grin.

"You really think that I'm worried about that?" He asks.

I think my face is on fire.

"I just want to take you out to a relaxing dinner. I'm so proud of you for taking that step to talk to Tsubaki on your own Gareki." He says as his hand falls away from my cheek.

I fight the urge to remind him the Tsubame has basically threatened the confession out of me.

"I will be around if you need to talk to me. You still have the number for Erica's place right?"

"Ya…" I murmur with a small smile taking over my features.

"Good. You better call me. I don't care what time of night it is. You hear me?" Yogi said as he continued to pull me down the street.

I followed diligently, my smile growing. What had I done to deserve this guy? I gripped Yogi's fingers tighter, almost like I was afraid he'd disappear in a cloud of smoke and whatever higher being that existed over us would just laugh.

"I will… Promise." I agreed.

0_0_0_0

I'm pretty sure I'm about to pass out. Or puke. Possibly both. Meiga's shit box is in the driveway and I feel myself wanting to simply flee the scene. Opening the door doesn't help. Tsubaki's curled up on the couch, Meiga's arm wrapped around her shoulders. My nausea is back with a vengeance. Tsubaki looks away from the screen before pushing herself up.

"Welcome home. How was dinner?" She asked as she stood.

"It was nice." I answered, my stomach raging a war within itself.

I was about to tear Tsubaki's world apart. Meiga was a steaming pile of shit, but Tsubaki loved him. But… Did I really want her marrying a scumbag like him? What if they had children in the future and they were put through the same shit as what I was dealing with? My reverie gave me renewed vigor.

"Ready to head out for that walk?" I asked as I set my bag down in the doorway, pocketing my wallet and phone.

There was no way I would give Meiga the satisfaction of going through either. As if sensing I was loathing him from a few feet away, Meiga's gaze snaps towards me.

"A walk this late?" He questioned, a fake sweetness to his voice that kept Tsubaki clueless, though not for long, I reminded myself.

"Yea, Gareki says he's got something he wants to talk to me about." Tsubaki said as she grabbed a light coat.

"And you have to leave the house for that? We were in the middle of a movie Tsubaki." He says, turning a glare towards me as she turns her back to him.

"We'll finish it when I get back, Meiga." Tsubaki says with a smile in her voice.

Somehow I sincerely doubt that. My fingers clench within the pockets of my baseball pants and I feel the crescent moons that I'm sinking into my palms. Tsubaki finishes putting her shoes on before grabbing the handle and pulling it open. We let ourselves out and Tsubaki shoves her hands into her jacket, knocking shoulders with me in a friendly way.

"I'm so excited. You've never asked to talk like this." She exclaims with a smile.

The urge to puke is back again.