"How about you tell me what happened here, Chris?"

When those words were directed towards him, Chris did not know how to respond. He had no clue what has transpired between Sawamura and Azuma. All he knew was there was some kind of a quarrel between them. But not wanting Sawamura to get on the coach's bad side from the get-go, Chris replied as calmly as he could.

"Coach, some first-years arrived earlier than the assembling time. I'm not sure what exactly happened. But Azuma-senpai was just talking to them when I came to check on the third-years as you requested."

"Some first-years, huh?"

The coach glanced at Sawamura and Miyuki, suspicion evident on his black eyes. He could tell just by the look on Azuma's face that it is not as simple as Chris had portrayed it to be.

"Is that true, Azuma?"

Azuma nodded reluctantly not wanting to face the punishment which he would surely endure with the first-years if he was to say otherwise. Coach hated fights with a passion. But Azuma couldn't get Sawamura's words out of his head.

I bet I can strike you out thrice in a row

A middle aged man rather than a high-schooler

"I just got introduced to these two here. One of them is a pitcher. He really wanted to pitch against me. I was just telling him that first-years cannot practice yet."

"Who is it?"

The coach asked with curiosity as to why Azuma was adding this piece of information when he had just asked if it was true. He began eyeing the two first-years nearby. He could tell immediately who the pitcher was just by the scarlet fire burning in his eyes. It was a weird thing for him to be stared back at with such an intensity that he felt like he was looking at his younger stubborn self.

The desperate look with which Rei-san was looking at him managed to stop the pitcher from doing something stupid like in front of the coach. All the time he spent on the train with Rei-san came to his mind. Three sentences kept ringing on his head.

Coach hates undisciplined people.

Coach hates unpunctual people.

Coach hates fights.

"Good morning sir. I'm Sawamura Eijun. A pitcher from Akagi Middle School."

An exotic mixture of astonishment and wonder materialized on the faces of the seniors when their minds had finally registered that the pitcher whom they had believed to be absolutely insane for picking a fight with Azuma was the very same pitcher who had accomplished something that no other could in the last five years. The coach's eyes sparkled with recognition and intention to decipher the mystery that Sawamura Eijun was.

This is going to be an interesting year

" Bos-"

"Coach, please allow me to pitch against Azuma-senpai. I really admire him. I have always wanted to pitch against him." Sawamura said with a big enthusiastic smile on his face, with his desire to crush Azuma hidden under the surface. He was clearly playing along with Azuma to get the face-off both of them so badly wanted.

Miyuki could barely control her laughter from what Sawamura had just said. But he didn't want to make an idiotic first impression on the coach on their very first meeting. So he promptly added with an earnest expression on his face.

"Good morning coach. I'm Miyuki Kazuya. A catcher from Kenma League. I too respect Azuma-senpai very much. Please allow me to be Sawamura's catcher when he is pitching against Azuma-senpai" Miyuki said seemingly sincere but Rei-san could both Sawamura and Miyuki were anything but sincere.

These idiots. What are they doing on the first day of high-school. If the coach gets angry at them, it is going to be horrible.

Rei-san thought anxiously.

The coach was perplexed. He recognized both of the first-years as the amazing new-finds Rei-san was talking about yesterday. But what he couldn't understand was why the two monster rookies wanted to face off against his fourth batter on the very first day even before they were introduced to the team. Never in his seven years of coaching at Seidou had he encountered such a peculiar situation . Normally he would have dismissed such a request automatically without giving it a second thought. But the ferocity in the eyes of the pitcher looking back at him made him reconsider. Something inside told him to see this through. And Kataoka has always been a man who trusts his hunches.

"Alright. One at-bat. I will act as the umpire."

Everyone was shocked. Especially the third-years knowing that the first-years were not allowed do anything but run to build their bodies and endurance but for the first six months. They have certainly never witnessed anything like this before. This is unprecedented. Even Azuma who hinted the idea in the first place was stunned by the coach giving permission for such a thing.

"Let's start. Someone get these here two gloves, protector and a mask."

The coach said as he started to wear his chest protector and mask. Once they were all set and ready to go, the coach allowed Sawamura and Miyuki to discuss their plans to slay the beast of a batter that they were facing and the pitches they will be using to carry it out. Miyuki feeling that he has suffered enough trying to hold back his excitement, immediately interrogated Sawamura on his pitching arsenal.

"How many pitches do you have?"

"A dozen" Sawamura said with a mischievous smile shining on his face. He wanted to try telling the truth and see if Miyuki will really believe him.

"Are you kidding me right now?" Miyuki asked with his mouth wide open in confusion from what he had just heard. "There is no way", he thought.

"Haha. Just a little" Sawamura answered jokingly. He didn't want to reveal all his pitches just yet. As he had no idea as to how his control would be today, he certainly did not wish to make a fool of himself in front of the devilish coach, the conceited senior and of course the genius catcher. He didn't want to bring into play the numbers he couldn't fully control just yet.

"But seriously how many pitches do you have ?" Miyuki questioned with his eyes making it clear that he was being serious this time.

"Let's just say two for now. I have a moving ball and a four-seam." Sawamura decided to reveal only the two pitches over which he had absolute control over. He was completely self-assured on his ability to control these two pitches. Those were after all the two pitches he threw like hell everyday. Even though his control over two-seam and change-up was equally on par, they were not always as sharp as the other two. Making them more likely to have some bad control days.

It should be enough for arrogant dumbass batter like him

"Alright. I will try to bring out the best in you. Just trust my mitt and pitch on to it, partner", Miyuki said with an lopsided grin decorating his face, even though his instincts told him that Sawamura was definitely hiding something from him.

"Partner? Isn't it too early to say something like that? We just met today." Sawamura said hiding a smile that was trying to creep up on his face. He tried to not to show how much he was looking forward to forming battery with Miyuki himself. He did not want to fan the already gigantic ego Miyuki seemed to possess.

"Not at all. I will be your catcher for the next three years." Miyuki said with his amused grin widening as he returned towards the batter-box.

"No way. I want Chris-senpai to catch for me." Sawamura shouted with an offended expression on his face. But honestly he didn't really mind the troublesome genius in front of him. Not that he would ever admit it.

Miyuki frowned a bit at that part. But he did not say anything back to Sawamura since he was already right in front of the coach. He sat down in the catching position with his feet shoulder-width apart and put on his mask.

Chris-senpai huh? We will see about that, shall we?

When Miyuki gazed back at Sawamura, he saw an whole new person. This was no longer than carefree idiot who smiles stupidly all the time. He looked more like a tiger ready to hunt down his prey. It was unreal. This was what Miyuki had seen a glimpse of in his hazel eyes back then.

There was another person who noticed the very same thing. Kataoka has seen lots of players in his long years of coaching. But he had never seen a first-year having such eyes. Eyes that exhibit complete confidence. Eyes that exude sheer authority. Those were not the eyes of a mere first-year. Those eyes certainly belonged to someone who has passed enough hurdles to have no doubt in one's ability. It was like someone had turned on a switch on him. The atmosphere around him was like a thunderstorm ready to start at any instant.

Miyuki could feel himself getting goosebumps from excitement and anxiety of catching for what was definitely a monster. His heartbeat skyrocketed upon witnessing something that was very alien to him. Amidst a feeling of euphoria, he recollected himself enough to flash the first sign, calling for a fast-ball (4-seam) on the inside high corner.

Sawamura couldn't hear sharp inhales of the seniors in anticipation of what was to come nor could he see the amazed expressions on their faces when he lifted his leg as high as he could. All he could see was the sign that said inside high. All he could see was Miyuki's mitt. Only his mitt. With his complete concentration he threw the ball with all this spirit.

The ball went straight towards Azuma's head, straying away from its intended location. Azuma barely managed to save his head by ducking on time.

The coach's eyebrows raised a bit as he declared, "Ball"

" Are you trying to kill me right now? Or you just suck at controlling your pitches?" Azuma yelled, briefly forgetting that the coach was the umpire.

For the sake of being polite in front of the coach, the south-paw apologized with a little bow. He was tense and not completely warmed-up. He realised it himself instantly.

That was way too high and way too tense

But he was not the only one who recognized that. The catcher threw the ball back to him, yelling "It was a good ball. You are too stiff. Relax your shoulders. We can do this."

The south-paw answered with a nod, followed by a single deep breath.

The catcher called for a moving ball this time. On the outside corner. Out-low.

Sawamura nodded again. He tried to relax as much as he could and pitched the ball. He feel that it was a good pitch this time.

The pitch was borderline. Barely missing the strike-zone. It could have been called either way. But the umpire decided to be a bit more strict on the battery.

"Ball"

The count was 2-0.

Azuma released the breath he had no idea he was holding. But that still didn't stop him from shouting out loud " Can you even throw strikes? Jesus, how did you even get scouted?" Azuma was still underestimating the south-paw immensely. Even though he felt unease, he couldn't imagine himself being struck out a newbie fresh out of middle school, no matter how great the pitcher is. Or so he told himself. His anger above all clouded his mind.

Sawamura was so annoyed that he felt like his body was going to burst from all the tension. But he knew his annoyance will not help him but rather hinder him. He took a series of deep rhythmic breaths in hopes of calming himself down. When he finally felt the tension fade away and his shoulders relax, he nodded at his catcher implying he was ready to go again.

Sign clearly indicated a moving ball on the outside corner, the exact same spot his pitch had deviated away from before. It was on the strike-zone.

This time Azuma felt an pressure he couldn't ignore even if he had wanted to. Something inside tells him he will lose if he doesn't hit. That he will lose if he hits too. The ball went to the desired spot perfectly and Azuma smacked right down on the ball.

The ball hit the fence but it was right past the foul-line.

"Foul"

The battery members exchanged a knowing grin before the battery had decided the next pitch.

The catcher's eyes seemed to ask, "You can do it, can't you?".

A nod from the south-paw. He felt himself smiling from the clever call his catcher had made as he raised his leg high.

He is sure interesting and gutsy to come up with these kind of calls

The ball looked to be moving towards the same location.

Azuma hit it at once feeling that the battery was taking him lightly.

Once again the ball breezed past the foul-line into the foul territory.

"Foul"

Azuma clicked his tongue in irritation. But little did he know that the pitch was clearly a ball. He had hit it thinking it was the same course and not waiting enough to observe that it was a ball. The location was definitely outside the strike-zone.

The pitcher and the catcher met each other's eyes with a wicked glint as they had managed to fool Azuma. The catcher had completely read Azuma's personality and turned the tides over to their side.

The count was 2-2.

For the last pitch, Miyuki called for an inside high four-seam again. He believed the quality of the pitch should be enough to strike out Azuma when he was looking this annoyed and definitely out of his mind. Even if it was not enough, it was going to be a foul at the very least.

But Sawamura had some plans on his own. After being impressed by Miyuki's game-calling, he too wanted to impress him. Make him so shocked that his mouth is wide open. His intuition told him to throw a change-up right on to Miyuki's mitt.

So he did.

He changed his grip on the ball. He raised his leg higher than he does usually as though he wanted to indicate what was going to come next. He pitched the ball with all his strength making sure his throw is accurate. He released all his anger, frustration and vexation he has been containing towards Azuma into that one powerful off-speed pitch.

Azuma had expected an inside fastball. Naively thinking that he had been proven right, he yelled "It is over, brat" and he swung his bat, expecting to slam the ball across the fence but completely missing it as his timing was way off. Only as his balance collapsed and he struggled to stand did he understand that he had missed the ball.

Miyuki had not expected what was unfolding right in front of him. He was frozen in shock and couldn't move. Not that he needed to when the ball reached the exact location where his mitt was like a perfectly shot bullet to the bullseye. All he had to do was clutch the ball when it came in contact with his glove which he managed to accomplish subconsciously due to years of playing baseball.

The coach's eyes widened. He said in a shaky voice.

"Strike. Batter out."

The left-handed pitcher fist-pumped upon his victory and shouted. He was quite satisfied with himself upon gazing at the sight in front of him. The blank face Azuma had as he steadied his shaking legs. The surprised face of the coach as he recollected himself. The stunned expression of his catcher as he shut his mouth slowly as he came in touch with reality again.

No one said a thing.

Tetsu revealed his deadly aura as he debated whether or not to ask for permission form the coach to bat against Sawamura.

Ryosuke had an amused smile in his face seeing something as unexpected and splendid as Azuma being defeated after a long period of time.

Jun scowled, disappointed that Azuma-senpai couldn't show the first-year his place and was determined to do it himself.

Masuko felt proud that his roommate Sawamura-chan was so cool and made a mental-note to ask Sawamura-chan to help him with batting practice later.

Tanba had an amazed look on his face, openly admiring the pitcher but also felt a sense of anxiety. He was confused about what to feel.

Last but not the least, Chris was the epitome of shock. He could see how much Sawamura has grown since their first meeting. He barely recognised his pitching anymore. He eagerly waited for the day he would catch for him.

Amidst the astounded silence of the seniors and the coach, one of the third-years came forward. He was tall. Probably the tallest person on the ground. His green eyes looked at Sawamura with a mischievous look on his face. He winked at him before turning to the coach. He politely requested.

"Can I go and rest now, coach? My shoulder is hurting."

"Alright. Make sure to ice your shoulder and rest. Your shoulder just got healed. Don't forget that, Akira. Train lightly for the rest of the day." The coach said recovering from what he had just observed. But the concern in his eyes was clear.

"Of course coach." Akira said with a playful smile. He slowly left the ground as he looked at the battery with interest gleaming in his eyes.

Sawamura was baffled by the conversation. From what he had seen, the coach is very strict. For a senior to talk to the coach so freely without any reservation, the senior must be the coach's favourite.

But the real question is who is he?