"Go wait in the B ground for the other first-years."
Coach's words occupied his mind as he stood alone with Miyuki on the dull sober ground awaiting the arrival of the other first-years. Silence was the best way to describe their interaction. It was unnatural for Sawamura to remain quiet for more than a few seconds. Let alone this long.
Miyuki still couldn't get over the last pitch Sawamura had gifted him a while ago. This was the first time he had catched a change-up. None of the pitchers he had partnered with in his senior league threw change-ups. It was a beautiful pitch, indeed. Slow yet sharp enough to be an incredible pitch. It was no weak pitch as change-ups are usually expected to be for young pitchers. Miyuki turned around, looking straight at Sawamura.
"Why did you hide it?"
"Some days my control is horrible. I didn't want to throw it when I absolutely have to crush that guy."
This explanation was not well-received. His eyebrows rose up as he scrutinized Sawamura.
"Then why did you throw it?"
It was Sawamura's turn to be speechless. He really did not know how to explain it. He had just thrown it since his mind yelled at him to do so despite his rational side opposing it. He decided to go with answer that cut the long story short.
"I just wanted to."
"What! You just wanted to?" Miyuki couldn't stop himself from exclaiming at the nonchalant reply he had just been given.
Are you kidding me right now?
"It is difficult to explain. I just felt like it would be the perfect time to throw it. I thought it would be a great surprise to Azuma-san who was definitely underestimating both of us in anger."
"Great surprise it was. For everyone. Especially me. How do you think it feels when your pitcher throws a hidden pitch into your mitt, out of nowhere ?"
Miyuki crossed his arms, looking at Sawamura expectantly for his answer. He concealed his amusement and tried to make himself look irritated even though he was overjoyed at forming a battery with Sawamura. He didn't mind Sawamura not being open about the change-up that much since he was already sure that his pitcher had been hiding something from him.
"I'm sorry. I should have told you about the change-up. You are my catcher after all." Sawamura went on seriously looking apologetic.
"You fell for it? I'm just kidding you know." Miyuki was waving his hand dismissing Sawamura when he heard Sawamura continue his apology, revealing the most crucial bit of information at last.
"I'm sorry I should have been honest about all of my dozen pitches."
"What? What? I… Do you really have a dozen pitches?"
Miyuki had thought Sawamura's secrets had ended with the change-up he hide from him but little did he know that there was a little mountain of secrets that has to be unveiled. And he didn't like that one bit.
"Well around ten in theory I guess. For some, my control is not good enough to throw them at any time. Others are too irregular to even try to control." Sawamura looked hesitantly at Miyuki as he was not really sure how to explain the fact that he can throw breaking balls just by changing his grip on the ball due to the gift of his flexible wrists and the unconventional coaching he had at the beginning of his baseball journey.
"What exactly do yo-"
"SAWAMURA"
Both of their heads turned as the very first-year ran straight towards the south-paw, staring at him. He stopped abruptly right before Sawamura. He glared Sawamura as though the latter had betrayed the former in the worst possible fashion. Even though his eyes showcased his hurt, worry was definitely hiding behind the curtains. The worry that slowly transformed into relief at the sight of Sawamura.
"Bakamura. Why did you leave without me? I thought we were friends here."
Beginning of Flashback
"Agh. Nooo. I lost again." Sawamura said bitterly, throwing the controller away from him.
"I won again." Kuramochi smirked openly.
"No. It is not fair." Sawamura said pouting, turning his face sideways.
Kuramochi could feel his smirk turn into a real smile at the sight. He had been anxious when he left for Seidou, wondering if anyone would want to be friends with someone like him who had come from the countryside. He was definitely not the kind of person to get attached to someone. But he could feel a brotherly bond developing between them.
"It's alright if you are a loser. I will be your friend." Kuramochi instantly wished he had not said that. It sounded so horribly cheesy. His tendency of doing anything to make his friends happy seemed to have not left him.
To his surprise, Sawamura beamed at him with his stupid smile like he had gotten the best present ever. Sawamura did not judge him for saying something uncanny like that on their very first day of knowing each other. Rather he look delighted about the fact.
"We are going to be the best friends ever" Sawamura shouted happily. Happy to make his very first friend in Seidou.
"Sure" His cheeks turned slightly pink as he looked away.
"Yay!!!"
"Be quiet. The senpai are sleeping."
"Okay. Anything for you, friend."
"Okay. Stop it."
End of Flashback
"Baka Sawamura. Why did you leave without me? I thought we were friends here."
"Sorry, Kuramochi. I woke up really early. You were sleeping soundly. I didn't want to wake you up when you were sleeping like that."
"Oh. Is that so? Okay then. I forgive you." Kuramochi scratched his head as he answered.
Sawamura was being a lot more apologetic than he was when he apologized to Miyuki. Miyuki noticed that and coughed purposefully a few times to get the pair's attention. And it was quite successful as green-haired one finally noticed his presence.
"Who is this, glasses?" Kuramochi examined Miyuki just like he had done with Sawamura in the beginning.
"I'm no glasses, green-head." Miyuki retaliated.
"Okay. Stop it guys." Sawamura mediated the situation, not wanting a fight between his two favourite people at the moment. Then proceeded to introduce both of them to the other.
"This is Kuramochi Yoichi. First-year. He is my roommate."
"This is Miyuki Kazuya. Also first-year. He is a catcher."
"Nice to meet you." Both of them said as they nodded at each other.
"What were you doing all this time? Just standing here?" Kuramochi looked around the ground and inspecting it to see if it was interesting enough to just stand on it for half an hour.
"Well…. I was not just standing here, you see. Something happened. I was pitching for most part." Sawamura mumbled. Kuramochi could hardly hear what Sawamura had just said but he understood it.
"What do you mean pitching? Why? Against who?" Kuramochi was whirling on confusion. He couldn't imagine for the life of him the reason someone would pitch on their first day of high-school before even getting introduced to the team.
"What happened was-"
"Gooood Morning Everyone."
Sawamura was interrupted by a loud manly yell. A guy with a gigantic build and closely shaved head shouted enthusiastically. He ran in mach speed like he couldn't wait any longer. Upon reaching the trio, he earnestly introduced himself.
"I'm Maezono Kenta. First-baseman. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Sawamura Eijun. Pitcher. Nice to meet you." Sawamura replied with the same enthusiasm as Maezono. He gave him his classic stupid smile wholeheartedly.
Meanwhile Kuramochi and Miyuki stared at Maezono like the idiot he is for yelling so excitedly for such a thing. Noticing that both of them were just staring intensely at Maezono, examining him, Sawamura elbowed both of them simultaneously. A clear sign to snap out of it. Heeding to Sawamura's encouragement, both of them promptly introduced themselves and nodded at Maezono.
"I'm Kuramochi Yoichi. Shortstop. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Miyuki Kazuya. Catcher. Nice to meet you."
"What are you guys doing here this early? I was sure I was going to be the earliest." Maezono laughed youthfully at the end.
Miyuki and Kuramochi looked at Sawamura, expecting him to answer. Sawamura immediately felt betrayed.
They were just fighting. Now look at them plotting against me together.
"What's wrong, Sawamura? Answer him." Miyuki laughed with the typical lopsided grin on his face.
Yeah. Answer him. Let him know how you got into a fight with a senior on the first day.
Kuramochi couldn't understand the reason behind Miyuki's amused yet wicked laugh. He summarized that it had something to do with what Sawamura was talking about before.
"Hello everyone."
A feeble voice said out of nowhere, making everyone shocked. The source of the timid voice was standing right next to them but they had not noticed him until he spoke. Taking the silence as encouragement, the boy introduced himself. He was definitely having a hard time making eye contact with others.
"I am Kawakami Norifumi. Pitcher. Nice to meet to you." He was definitely shy and looked down to the ground a bit immediately after introduced himself.
"I am Maezono Kenta. Nice to meet you. You are so sneaky. We didn't even notice you." Maezono teased Kawakami not letting go of the opportunity. But he had a friendly smile to indicate that he was just playing around. But Kawakami who was already anxious about meeting new people couldn't see it.
"I am so sorry. I didn't mean to do that." Kawakami's face fell as he apologized.
"It is completely fine. He is just kidding. I am Sawamura Eijun by the way." Sawamura's smile seemed to quiet the anxious and depressing thoughts that were spiraling out of control in Kawakami's head. Kawakami felt warm. Corners of his mouth unconsciously quirked up to form a shy smile slowly.
Shortly Miyuki and Kuramochi also introduced themselves.
After that a guy with calm and collection expression on his face entered. He walked normally. He was not excited enough to walk fast nor was he uneasy enough to walk slowly. He seemed to debate whether he should introduce himself or not for a moment as the others' eyes were focused on latest first-year who had entered the ground.
"Shirasu Kenjiro. Pleased to meet your acquaintance."
Another round of introductions ensued till finally students seemed to overflow into the ground that no one could keep track of the other. After a good five minutes of everyone standing in two parallel lines, the coach entered with all the seniors following.
"Good morning everyone. I'm your head coach, Kataoka Tesshin. This is Takashima Rei. Introduce yourselves."
And just like passionate voices resounded one after the other.
"Kijima Rei from Akagane Senior League. I would like to be the second baseman. I admire Kominato-senpai." Kijima's eyes didn't waver as he introduced himself.
"Asou Takeru from Mizukawa Middle School. I would like to be the left fielder and make the craziest save the team. I want kill the runners ar home." Asou smiled confidently being the best player in his school by a large margin.
"Ono Hiroshi from Akado Middle School. I want to be the catcher. I want to make pitchers relaxed and make them perform their best." Ono tried to keep his breathing steady as he spoke. He was really nervous about being at his new school.
"Kawakami Norifumi from Fukuoka Senior League. I want to be a pitcher who is useful to the team. Akira-senpai is my inspiration." Kawakami admitted shyly, looking for Akira who was nowhere to be found.
"Shirasu Kenjiro from Yamamura Senior League. I would like to be the right fielder." Shirasu had a completely collected expression on his face as he talked about himself. No smiles. No shaking. No shivers.
"Kawashima Kengo from Kita Middle School. I want to be a pitcher. I am aiming for the Ace spot." Kawashima was being ambitious since it was a fresh start for him.
"Maezono Kenta from Hiroshi Middle School. My preferred position is first baseman. I want to help the team with my long hits." Maezono declared proudly with confidence and determination.
"Yamaguchi Ken from Fumizuki Senior League. My preferred position is first baseman too. I won't lose to anyone else." Yamaguchi stared back at Maezono, who was standing next to him. His competitive spirit on.
"Nakata Ataru. I want to be the shortstop. I'm confident in my defensive abilities." Nakata deadpanned.
"Higasa Shouji. I would like to be the third baseman." Higasa made his signature "shuu" sounds as he finished.
"Seki Naomichi. I would like to be the left fielder. Please treat me well." Seki laughed nervously, appearing to be assertive.
"Kuramochi Yoichi from Kaisei Middle School. I will be the shortstop of this team. I have trust in my legs when it comes to base-running. Pleased to meet you." Kuramochi proclaimed. He was sure of himself being told how good he is since childhood. His convinced expression did not go unnoticed by a certain pink-haired senior who smiled, looking forward to the fun times ahead.
"Miyuki Kazuya from Kenma Senior League. I'm a catcher. I aim to be on the first string as soon as possible." His gaze was directed to towards Chris, the very reason he had decided to come to Seidou. The challenge he would face with being on the same team as Chris. He was counting the days until he could take on Chris since their practice match in his first-year.
"Sawamura Eijun from Akagi Middle School. I'm a pitcher. I'm here to become the Ace of Seidou. I'm confident that I want it more than anyone here." Sawamura's eyes were no longer smiling. His eyes blazed with absolute belief. His lips molded into a determined expression.
The first-years immediately looked at the trio who were confident enough to claim their positions rather than requesting it. Their eyes displayed a blend of wonder and awe when they recognised the name of Akagi Middle School and subsequently the Ace pitcher of the said newly emerging powerhouse.
The coach's eyebrows rose up at how ruthlessly ambitious the trio was being but he didn't say anything as the introductions continued. He wondered who long their confidence would last now that they were here.
It is not as easy as you think, brats. You better be prepared to face hell if you want to reach the first string.