Disclaimer: I don't own Ace of diamond. Some quotes from the original manga/anime are only borrowed. Please give me your opinions. Thank you.
Warning: Read at your own risk. This is not a one-shot. I repeat this is NOT meant to be a one-shot. It's a part of a series. Please read Spring then Summer or just stop at Summer if you want …hmmm. Why this then? Because think about the people you leave when you leave. Now, should I add some more parts or leave it at this? If I do, it would be way off au…and well….oh well I love to mess with Miyuki and Sawamura best *skips away to work on something else* Review please with a big gigantic cherry on top. Thanks.
Fall
Okumura Koushu knows he wanted to be in baseball for a long time. As such, he and his parents weren't really surprised when he spent most of his school days playing baseball much less choose a job later on that get to work with it.
Okumura Koushu, private detective, your go-to-guy for all cases related to baseball.
Meeting Seto Takuma, who later on became a friend, a teammate, and coworker early on in his life further cemented this fact. Seto was there when he first learned that he wanted to be a catcher. Seto was there when he joined Daikyo Senior League in junior high and met his first coach and when, with said team, went on to defeat said coach. Most importantly, Seto was there during the fall tournament when Koushu saw that fateful pitch.
Perhaps this is why It was no surprise then that Seto managed to convince him to help coach the neighborhood's little league despite their busy work schedule.
Okumura gazes towards a field where 2 groups of small children where playing. A little girl with pigtails in her hair stands in front of a brown haired boy on the mound. She holds a metal bat.
"Okay if she can hit this, we should be able to take home the prize!" Seto states beside him. Excitedly, he leans forward, eyes focused on the game.
The pitcher makes his windup. They hold their breath…and the sound of the metal bat hitting the ball reverberated across the field. The girl drops her bat before quickly running across the bases and to home.
They won.
"Congratulations!" Many well wishers tell them. He and Seto find themselves shaking a lot of hands and ruffling several small heads as they get surrounded. Thankfully, It didn't take long for the club room to become empty again except for the two of them. They start to pack up.
"Well, Yui said the guys are meeting after 7 tonight." Seto says as they waved goodbye to the last of the team's well wishers. "It's almost time so I'm heading back to change after this."
Okumura nods before sweeping his gaze around the clubroom to take stock of their equipment. Most of the trash swept away, only a couple more balls and bats adorn the ground.
"The guys miss you by the way." Seto continues, picking up the balls. "It's been a long time since everyone just hang out. In fact, we were planning to have a scrimmage tomorrow too with the old regulars if you're up to it."
Okumura grabs the last bat laying on the ground. Opening a cabinet, he puts it inside before locking it.
"Our job keeps me busy, you know that. Besides, I saw them three months ago when I interviewed some of the coaches for the case." He gets up, heading towards the door. He pauses. "Anyway, we have a new case coming up. I have to look over some stuff before it starts."
Seto stares at him for a few minutes before heading his way.
"Meeting them on the job is not the same. It couldn't hurt to take time for yourself outside our job." He shakes his head. "I'm glad you finally decided to coach with me though, Koushu. He would have wanted you to continue playing but this is a start."
Okumura nods. "I know. I'll think about it."
The walk back to his apartment is peaceful and quiet. Okumura watches as various group of people go about their day with ease before he reaches the door to his apartment.
His place, upon opening, appear well lit surrounded by big windows that are kept open. Various gadgets lie around making it appear not quite crowded but rather well-lived, well-organized. Very homey, his mind supplies. Whilst the different plants situated on various spots make it seem like he is living in a place in the countryside rather than in the city.
It's just the way he likes it.
He makes some tea from the kitchen and sits..and for some time, he busies himself looking at some paperwork in his desk. The temperature of the tea warms him, the silence long before the sound of his phone ringing breaks it.
"Hello? This is Okumura." He answers.
"Hello, this is Hana." The other party introduces, stammering. Female, young - and by the sound of her voice probably just starting in the job or just plain nervous, Okumura deduces.
"My boss made an appointment with you for a phone interview the other day. Is now a good time?" She asks.
Okumura sighs, setting his paperwork aside. He looks at the clock. Six in the afternoon. "That's fine."
"Well then, pardon my intrusion." Hana says. She clears her throat. "I realize that you must be swamp for calls after solving yet another case so we are really thankful for your time."
Okumura shifts in his seat. "I try to make time as much as I can to answer some questions after each case. Anything in particular you want to know?"
"Yes! Yes! Sorry." Hana puts in hurriedly, the sound of papers shuffling prominent in the background. "Can we start by you telling me a little bit about yourself?"
"My name is Okumura Koushu." He answers calmy. "32 years old. I graduated from Tokyo University's Criminal Justice Program at age 26 before I decided to set up my own detective agency." He finishes his tea.
"What made you decide that you wanted to be a detective?" Hana asks, voice curious. "Not that anyone is complaining seeing as your'e one of the best detectives out there. But your'e so young for someone who already solved a lot of cases. Everyone just wants to know why someone so promising in college baseball will chose to go to criminal justice and not go pro."
The afternoon sun peeks in through his window. A row of trophies stand in a ledge, reflecting its shine.
Another interview. Same question.
Okumura gets up from the chair before heading to the kitchen, phone in hand. He prepares another drink.
"Not every good player can go pro, Hana-san." He replies, stirring his drink. He takes a sip. Good enough. "Sometimes it just happens. Besides, aren't I giving back to baseball itself by helping solve cases related to it?"
The sound of a pen writing reaches his ear, follows by more shuffling of papers.
"The Nippon Pro Case is such high profile though." Hana states after a few minutes. "People are still in shock that such a thing can happen in the pro baseball league much less believe it. How did you become involved in it in the first place?"
Okumura feels his grip on his phone tighten. "Game results were being changed, Hana-san. It's possible that one or two games can be hard to predict but if you put that in with the list of players' mysterious injuries and disappearance…" his gaze darkened. "it's pretty hard to ignore."
"Of course," Hana agrees hastily. "I just mean, did the fact that you used to play baseball give you a clue to what was going on?"
There was a sound of motor roaring in the distance followed by some laughter as people pass by his apartment.
He stares at the cup of tea in his hand. Almost done. He takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry. That was harsh of me. But yes, I believe it has. My experience in baseball has helped me become more in tune with suspicious activities related to it. I guess you can say it's my calling."
"Your calling?" Hana asks.
He frowns. "I am looking for someone."
In the corner of his desk, pieces of several newspaper articles flutter in the wind.
Seido looses 10-7. Inashiro takes Koshien.
Accident in the countryside! Baseball fans mourn the death of fellows fans as a train capsizes in Nagano…
Plane Crashes in the Pacific. Yomura Giants in Agony.
Pitcher still missing. No leads yet…
Life, Okumura muses, is like the seasons of baseball. It is ever changing and unexpected. You can experience it, endure it or let it change you.
Okumura looks outside the window.
Yellowing leaves slowly drop down to the ground as if signaling that fall has come.
Sempai, where are you?
END