The door in front of him is closed. The room pitch dark; judging from the window flanking the right side of the door.

He hesitates. Didn't they say the team has no training or meeting today? Who can tell him why the room seem empty? Don't tell him…

Did he miss a notice for a last minute practice? He looks at his phone. No, he shouldn't have.

Did he get the dates and time wrong? He looks at his watch. It's good.

Then…

is he lost?

Again?

He looks towards the paper in his hands and the number at the door for the 10th time.

Room 5.

It matches.

He takes a deep breath. Well, might as well go in.

He clutches his bag and knocks.

The door opens.

There was a flash of white and then…a head dripping with something red stares at him as multiple bodies lie still on the floor.

"Help me…" the head whispers.

…

…

…

He screams.

Chapter Two Can I get to know you?

The stares as well as the snickers, Sawamura decides, are not very nice. Not very welcoming and friendly either for such a highly recognized baseball team known for its teamwork, he adds, as the appearance of who shall not be named entering the dining hall sent almost everybody into another round of hysterics.

He pouts. Not his fault that he is so awesome and friendly that his mind automatically makes up nicknames for people he likes. In fact, he is proud to say that after much practice he has much more control over this habit now. Just the same, shouldn't they be pleased that he likes them enough to be friends with them and give them lovely nicknames?

"Good Morning, Ei-chan." Miu-miu…No! - he doesn't deserve this name! He is not nice and cute at all! - Mr. Happy smirks at him. "How are you settling in in Seido?"

Sawamura glares. "I'm doing just fine, Miyuki Kazuya! No thanks to you and Mochi-sempai's stunt yesterday!"

Miyuki laughs and Kuramochi, his green haired traitor of a roommate standing beside him, laughs with him. Haruichi and the others look at them amused.

"Well! We couldn't just let our new kohai transfer to the dorms without a proper welcome!" Miyuki says, dumping his tray beside him. "Besides it's your room's tradition, just ask Youchi!"

Kuramochi nods, sitting across him. "That's right. Had it done to me last year." He nudges him with a fork. "Well, wamura! How did you like it? It's awesome right? Looks so real if I do say so myself."

"It doesn't look real at all, Mochi-sempai." Sawamura sulks. He was just surprised. Who does that anyway? Besides, he didn't come here just to do a test of courage. He glanced to his right.

Miyuki sits lazily eating his food. His brown hair hang slightly disheveled although not unkept but as if he just ran his fingers through it. Furuya is sitting across him; says he wants him to catch for him. Miyuki answers something back about being popular with the first years and it makes cheetah-sempai roll his eyes.

"Satoru, I can catch for you!" Sawamura offers out of instinct.

Miyuki turns to look back at him. "Oh?" He questions, eyebrows raised. "Think you can do a better job catching than me?"

Sawamura shakes his head. "Of course not." He replies. He's not really a catcher.

"But? Don't think I can handle teeny first years?" Miyuki teases.

"I want to be with you." Sawamura confesses. He wants to partner with Miyuki instead. He heard great things about his baseball prowess as a catcher from the magazines he had managed to get. And okay! That sound's good. Grandfather always say he needs to be upfront on telling everyone what he wants… He stands up and slams his hand down the table. "BE MINE MIZUKI KAZUYA!"

It'll take a while for them to become totally in sync, of course, but if they start now, they'll be able to play many games. Just the thought of it makes Sawamura's body shiver in excitement. He looks up eagerly to wait for Miyuki's reply.

The resulting silence is unexpected. He's also a little bit confused by the widened eyes and open mouths everyone else seem to support. Miyuki, himself, is staring at him, eyebrow raised seemingly even higher. That is, before he gets it. What is he doing screaming in the middle of everyone eating?!

Sawamura coughs. "Uh… want to get to know each other better later?" He asks embarrassed before he sits back down. Such work of art would require them getting to know each other well, after all. Not just through what were written in magazine articles and what nots.

Miyuki laughs at him.

Sawamura feels his face heat up. Thankfully, Kuramochi slaps Miyuki in the back of his head to make him stop. He's also grateful that the rest of the team seem to find this chance to go back to whatever they are doing. He doesn't really know some of them that much yet. He reaches for his tea.

"Anyway, coach wants to see you at the bullpen later." Miyuki says chuckling.

Sawamura takes a big gulp of his tea.

"It'll be fun to see who gets to catch the most pitches, my little rival!" Miyuki finishes.

"What?!" Sawamura splutters, hacking. Vaguely, he feels Haruichi pat him in the back for help. Furuya hands him a napkin to wipe his mouth. He takes a deep breath. "What do you mean catching?!"

Miyuki smirks. "Well, Ei-chan, seems you impressed some of the coaches in your little game the other day." He snakes his hand around his shoulders. "Rei wants to try to see you work with some of our pitchers. She wants you to meet the big coach later, coach Kataoka. Coach Kataoka will then probably start you with Kawakami, one of our main pitchers to test the waters then work your way around the rest of the team."

Sawamura stares at him in confusion. "But I'm not-" he tries to protest, only for it to fall on deaf ears. The bell rings signaling morning practice. Everyone got busy trying to finish their food quickly and pack up so as not to be late.

"-a catcher." He finishes lamely, watching Miyuki and the rest rush past.

"Did you say something, Eijun?" Haruichi asks by the sides where he and Furuya stand waiting for him.

Sawamura shakes his head. "Ah-nothing!" He replies before walking with them. He just joined the team; the day just starting. There's plenty of time to talk to the coaches later.

They separate when they got to field A. Furuya goes to the bullpen and Haruichi joins the second strings in the other field. Sawamura stands awkwardly in place before Miyuki sees him and drags him to where their captain, Tetsuya and a tall middle age man with glasses stood.

Sawamura gulps. Posture straight, hands cross and expression serious, the man look just like what one of those commanders his favorite book was describing. A true leader that faced countless adversities! The chief of all chiefs! He looks like someone who is used to direct a lot of orders and have them obeyed. His aura alone is making it hard for him to say anything at all.

"Coach Kataoka I brought Sawamura!" Miyuki calls out as they neared.

Sawamura resists the urge to kowtow. Deeply. He doesn't think he can stand right now if he does. He settles in bowing low.

"Nice to meet you, Coach!" he salutes.

Kataoka nods back at him. He asks Miyuki to accompany him to the bullpen. There, Miyuki explains some things about the baseball team before he hands him some helmet and some pads, Catcher's gear - his mind supplies. Done, he introduces Kawakami standing timidly at the sides.

Kawakami greets him politely and he couldn't help easing up. Kawakimi is nice, nicer than Mr. happy who always like to laugh at him for god knows why. They talk as he pitches making him feel more comfortable. However, what he likes the most are the pitches itself. His pitches have good control and some variety. They have fun practicing different combos and signs for some time before he realizes during break that he hasn't had the chance to ask the coach about Mr. Happy.

That can't do!, Sawamura thinks. Being a catcher is fun but he didn't come here just to be one. He needs to let them know his will! He needs to show them his determination! He heads towards the field where the rest of the team are, doing fielding practice. With a quick sweep around, he was able to find coach Kataoka near managers. He heads there and stop in front of him, eyes determined.

"Excuse me, coach! Please let this lowly soldier say something of utmost importance!" Sawamura shouts, voice echoing across the field. He bows low. "Please let me be with Miyuki-sempai, shogun! He's the reason I came to Seido! I want to be with him!"

Coach Kataoka didn't answer. In fact, all sounds seem to have stop.

Puzzled, Sawamura looks up.

Coach Kataoka and the whole team have stopped their practice. They are staring at him.

The clock ticks.

Sawamura stares back. What's happening? Why are they staring at him again? Did he do something wrong? Most importantly, why does most of them look a little pink in the cheeks all of a sudden… Is the sun too strong? He shifts restlessly in his place. Oh no! They can't have heat stroke before they even play a game with him! It's not even summer anymore!

"…You want me to let you be with Miyuki?" Kataoka asks finally after several minutes has gone by.

Sawamura relaxes. Wow! His determination has reached him. Grandfather was right! Best be direct and upfront in everything you do to get the message across.

"Yes, shogun!" He replies, nodding his head enthusiastically. "I want to be partners with Miyuki! My heart is set aflame on the thoughts of joining him for practice!"

Kataoka just stares at him again, eyes unreadable. "Kid, you have the guts to interrupt practice with this. Go run for the rest of the morning!" He shouts. "As for after, you will join the rest of second strings later to cool your…flame."

Distantly, Sawamura hears Miyuki laugh.

"Oh man! You're a hoot, Sawamura!" Miyuki bursts out, holding his stomach.

?

# #

The second string practices were not less daunting. His introduction to them was a little rocky at first considering the recent game he had with them but he enjoys getting to know them still especially the upperclassmen. Although some of them do look very fierce, Sawamura finds that they are very helpful when he needs to ask about things he wants to know. Everyone else seem to ran away from him when he tries. Mr. ALWAYS Happy just laughs at him every time he gets near.

"What do you think of Miyuki?" He asks Tanba when they got paired. "Does he have someone he likes to be with all the time?"

Tanba blushes. "I don't think…" he stammers at him.

"What do you think's the best way to get Miyuki to the dugout later?" He asks Watanabe. "I bet he'll faint when I show him what I got."

Watanabe blushes before stammering. "I don't want to know…but…just be honest, Eijun."

"Do you think coach Kataoka will finally let me be with Miyuki if I pass second string?" He asks Ono.

Ono similarly blushes before stammering an encouraging reply.

They were a little bit shy and weird sometimes sure but who was him to judge. He also has little quirks, people have told him. What's more important is that the second strings themselves are not less eager in improving themselves in terms of baseball - something he likes! He finds them practicing hours after dinner was done. Sometimes they even invite him to join them whenever Mr. Happy gets particularly annoying.

It helps that there are familiar faces in the crowd making him feel more at ease. Haruichi, nice person that he is, joins him more often than not with Wataru during practice - and even in and after class.

Furuya, although in first string, of course follows and is just as friendly. He has fun catching for him during break times when they are bored. Furuya's pitches remain so fast! No wonder, he gets partnered a lot with Miyuki and Miyauchi, another first string catcher. He wishes he can do the same!

Lately, there's just something really bothering him, though. There's this person he doesn't know yet that comes for a brief moment during practice. Most often than not, he talks with the coaches for some time before leaving just as hastily.

He is very tall and with his thick eyebrows, brown hair combed back and frown marring his face, he looks very somber. Unapproachable. Lonely. He never joins their practices making Sawamura think he isn't part of the baseball team. But then why come? Also, why does this person seem very respected among the team if how they address him and the nods of acknowledgement go by?

Sawamura makes up his mind. He wants to get to know him.

"Mi-yu-kki." he calls out slowly during break. Haruichi and the others who heard him look at him warily which he totally thinks is unfair. He's a good boy, you know? He hasn't done anything to be wary about…I mean not anything that he knows of…

Miyuki leers. "What is it, Ei-chan?" He asks before leaning forward, hands on his chest. "And I'm hurt. Am I not Miyu-Miyu, anymore?"

"You don't deserve that name, Four-eyes!" Sawamura glowers before he remembers his self-appointed mission. He coughs. He can be nice even to people who shall not be named."This Sawamura Eijun would like to ask you a serious question!"

Miyuki laughs. "Ok. Ok. Go ahead. You know you can always just ask about myself to my face." He replies. "No need to bother others."

"Who wants to ask about you?!"

Kuramochi puts his head in a headlock. "Oh please, Bakamura." He butts in, messing up his hair. "You've been going around asking about Miyuki everywhere. It'll be a wonder if the whole school doesn't know by now."

Sawamura blushes. "I was just curious okay!" Besides, he wants to know more about him so they can become great partners - is what he wants to say but can't. Not until he has proven himself to coach Kataoka and the rest of the team. Kataoka hasn't passed him from second string training yet! He still needs to prove himself! It didn't mean he can't be ready when the time comes though. He clears his throat.

"Anyway, can you tell me about the green haired sempai that always comes in second string but never join practice? I'm very curious about him since everyone seems to know him and I haven't rea…" he continues, trailing off.

Sawamura's eyes widen.

For the first time since they met, Miyuki not to mention the others are looking at him seriously.

Miyuki frowns. "You want to know about Chris-sempai?"

# #

Takagawa Chris Yuu, it turns out, IS a member of Seido baseball team. From what Sawamura can pierce together from the mumbled replies of Miyuki and the rest of the baseball team, he was even a part of the first string before something happened and he got demoted. When he tries to ask more about it though, Miyuki and the others clam up fast. No one seems to want to talk about it!

Sawamura knows privacy is really important. Even he has times that he doesn't want other people to know what he is thinking. BUT baseball is much more important in his opinion. Which is why he found himself wearing a coat, sunglasses and a hat one afternoon with three of his bestest friends wandering the dorms.

He turns to his right, then to his left before sneaking towards a closed dorm room, all the while signaling his friends to follow. Haruichi, Furuya and Kanemaru walk behind him sedately.

"Is this really, necessary, Eijun?" Haruichi asks bemusedly. "We can just ask the others if anyone have seen Chris-sempai. There's no reason for us to try to be so…sneaky…" He looks at the others for help.

Furuya shrugs. "He says he'll catch for me if I do this with him. I don't really care what we're doing."

Sawamura sighs. "It's for moral support, guys. Moral EMOTIONAL support." He explains for the nth time. "I want to talk to Chris-sempai and well I really don't know the guy. A shy guy like me can't just walk to him immediately! Besides, it'll be fun. We just need to see if he is on his room or not so we can plan what to do next." Or maybe they'll find him somewhere else entirely secret, he thinks, thinking of possibilities.

"Or you can just ask me to check inside, you know." Kanemaru puts in. He rolls his eyes. "This is also my dorm room, Sawamoron."

Sawamura pouts, turning towards them. "Your'e so mean, Shinji—-," he says before pausing.

Takigawa Chris Yuu is standing behind them.

"WE CHALLENGE YOU TO A BASEBALL DUELl! CHRIS-SEMPAI!" He shrieks.

…

…

…

Seido, Sawamura thinks, is really awesome. They have many baseball players that stand out in their own right. There's their captain Tetsuya and vice captain Ishashiki who are known for their powerful batting abilities. There's also super fast Kuramochi who you can count on for defense and Kominato, Haruichi's brother (even though he thinks he really wasn't because of his scary smile), who was able to field a lot of balls coming towards second base. And of course, there's his three bestest friends who despite their relatively new acquaintance, stand by him.

Most importantly, all these people agreed to help him in a baseball duel with Takigawa Chris. In no time, they were even able to gather more people for a quick match. The managers, after hearing what they planned, also made some snacks for them!

Sawamura grins positioning his mitt. Low inside. Tanba starts his windup before the ball went directly to his mitt.

Strike! Watanabe calls. Team catcher Eijun ties the game!

As he thought, Sawamura muses, playing baseball in Seido is so much fun! He looks up. Miyuki, holding the bat, grins back at him. Near them, the other players laugh excitedly before gathering near the managers' table.

Well, Sawamura admits, even Miyuki can be awesome. Even if he chose to be on the other team. He wouldn't have come here and wanted to be partners with him if he's not. And well… he did help even if it is their day off.

From across him, Miyuki smiles at him before randomly grabbing a rice ball from the snacks table and passing it to him. Natto rice ball, the label reads.

Sawamura's eyes water. "Your'e a terrible human being google-sempai!" He cries out.

Standing near them, Takigawa's mouth twitched.