It was the most unexpected guest. Out of the list of all the people he could think of standing at his door-step that night, this person would definitely be the last.

Yet here he was.

Azuma was standing before him.

His lips were set in a firm line. His intervened fingers twitched in anticipation as he waited for Sawamura to say something.

Sawamura knitted his eyebrows as he couldn't understand why Azuma was visiting him. But nevertheless he didn't want to be any more disrespectful than he has already been that morning. It was not at all the proper behaviour a kouhai should display towards their senpai. He no longer had any reason to hold a grudge as he had already settled the score in the morning by striking him out.

"Senpai, do you want to come inside?" His lips quirked up, forming a tiny smile.

Azuma was startled by his warm smile. He won't believe it if someone told him that this was the brat who had insulted him that morning and further more completely proven his point. But this was the same brat. He expected Sawamura to act in the same arrogant way he had conducted himself before. But he seemed so welcoming and friendly right now.

"Yes."Azuma hesitantly entered the room. Azuma glanced around the room to find Kuramochi passed out on the cold floor. Even though he was a rough senior he couldn't help feeling sorry for the boy. He could tell that the boy must have gone through hellish training even though he had just started school. His very own first day came to the front of his mind as he sympathised with the boy.

"Is he okay?" Azuma pointed his right index finger at the unmoving Kuramochi.

"He is fine. He is just asleep. He couldn't walk to bed after training. I will just put him on bed." Sawamura gazed at Kuramochi feeling unhappy about his sorrowful state. He moved towards him and put his arm behind his shoulder to support him as he carried the weight of him.

"I will help." Azuma said silently as he took Kuramochi's other arm to hold him.

Together they managed to shift Kuramochi from the ice cold floor to a cosy bunk bed.

An awkward silence ensued.

Even though Azuma had initially come to the room to apologise he was not sure how exactly to begin when Sawamura was beaming at him like an angel.

Is this guy bipolar or something?

At the same time Sawamura was trying desperately trying reduce the effects of his behaviour in the morning by acting friendly.

Why is he looking at me like that? I'm just smiling. I'm just trying to be friendly.

Sawamura thought crying on the inside in disappointment.

Azuma sighed.

Deciding enough is enough, he sincerely apologised trying not to sound exasperated. Although it hurt his pride to ask for his kouhai's forgiveness, he had lost the bet and he must abide by the penalty for the loser.

"I am sorry for being rude to you in the morning. I shouldn't have called you a kid and a fly and all those things."

Sawamura's mouth opened a bit in surprise. He didn't expect the senior to apologise this genuinely even though he had lost the bet. In fact he had not expected him to say sorry at all in the first place. He could see that he had judged the senior's character somewhat harshly.

"I'm sorry too senpai. I shouldn't have insulted you like that. I just lost my cool and I immediately regretted saying that."

Sawamura looked serious. His tone was honest. His face was expressionless and his head bent a little, looking down, to show respect.

Azuma blinked rapidly. His eyes narrowed trying to understand Sawamura. But he couldn't. He couldn't comprehend at all why Sawamura's personality is all over the place. He had thought Sawamura was the kind of guy to never apologize nor bend for anyone, feeling proud about himself and his abilities. It was confirmed to be wrong.

But he felt content upon receiving an apology. His guard was slowly slipping away. He felt himself saying boastfully.

"You know that strike-out was because I was underestimating you right? If I was seriously focussed it wouldn't be that easy."

"Of course senpai. I'm perfectly aware. Once we get accustomed with each other it gonna be tough to break senpai. I still have a lot more growing to do."

Azuma was shook. Why had he even thought that this guy was arrogant in the first place? He could clearly now that he is very aware of what he is capable and where he is lacking. His opinion of him was altered.

"Ahem. But still you did well. You struck me out regardless. You are a good pitcher."

Azuma said as he flushed pink a little.

"You too. Senpai, I saw you hitting home-runs like it was nothing. It was sooo cool. Can you teach me how to hit that long?" His eyes gleamed with admiration. Like a cute little puppy looking at its owner.

Sawamura being the blockhead he was has completely forgotten the past events already. He whole-heartedly sounded excited about the possibility of learning to hit from Azuma.

Azuma had given up trying to understand Sawamura. He was like two people in one. Resolute and determined on the one side and dumb and energetic on the other.

But Azuma liked people who are like that. People who can honestly focus their drive on one thing and only one thing.

"Sure." Azuma turned his head feeling a bit uncomfortable. He couldn't decide what to do. What kind of behaviour should he show towards Sawamura at this point after all that has been said and done.

It was then the door opened.

"Sawamura-Chan"

Masuko shouted lovingly as he ran into the room, followed by Katsuda.

Masuko and Katsuda froze on seeing Azuma and Sawamura together. They were sure that another fight was gonna break. They peeked at each other getting ready to restrain the pair on the count of three. Their plan was sadly trashed.

"Then I will leave Sawamura. See you later." Azuma said normally with no indication of aggression of any form.

"See you later senpai. I will hold you to your promise." Sawamura had a cheerful smile on.

Masuko and Katsuda were still frozen. But their jaws slacked upon hearing the conversation. Their brains short-circuited and they couldn't speak anything for a few minutes.

After which they collectively shouted at Sawamura, "What the hell happened?"

To which Sawamura responded bewildered, "What do you mean senpai?"

The next few days were spent on running and endurance training. Unlike the first day, first-years were prohibited from engaging in batting, fielding or pitching.

Only running was allowed.

Which the first-years performed begrudgingly everyday.

The third day was different. All players regardless of their grade loaded the school buses as the fourth round of the spring tournament was held that day.

Sawamura sat on the back with Miyuki and Kuramochi. Kawakami and Shirasu occupied the remaining seats at the back. With that the bus started for its destination.

"I want to get back to practice already. I miss fielding. I miss batting." A rigid expression adorned his face as he wrinkled his nose in disappointment.

"We all do. It must be a crime for schools to do this. How can these schools torture boys who have passionately left their homes for baseball like this? " Sawamura energetically ranted. His nose flared and his pupils dilated a bit as he got worked up.

"Can't argue with that. Honestly I don't like running everyday too. Playing baseball is so much more fun." Miyuki grinned.

Sawamura and Kuramochi enthusiastically nodded together. It was then Sawamura felt that the time was perfect to question Miyuki on his first day which he seemed to avoid like plague.

"By the way what did you do for your first day? You have been dodging the question since yesterday." Sawamura focused on Miyuki intently waiting for his answer.

"Nothing much." Miyuki mumbled.

"Dude come on. There is no way that it is just nothing" Kuramochi insisted.

"Well, there were only three catchers. Chris-senpai just assessed us on our throwing speed, catching technique and situational game-calling." Miyuki stated plainly.

Kuramochi seems persuaded by Miyuki's explanation. But Sawamura could tell by the naughty glint in his eyes that he was hiding something.

His twisted personality must have done something again

Miyuki had detected the look Sawamura was sending his way without turning his face. It was his turn to ask questions now.

"Isn't there something you have been dodging too? Why don't you tell me about your pitches?"

Sawamura was cornered by a combination of having no escape route available and his catcher's demanding eyes which locked him in his place.

"Well, I didn't have a proper coach since I was in little league. Nobody even taught me how to pitch a fast-ball properly. So-"

"What? Just what?" Kuramochi was absolutely gobsmacked by this piece of information.

How could a pitcher not be taught to how to pitch a fast-ball in the first place?

Miyuki had similar a "are-you-kidding-me-right-now" face but he did not say anything. He waited for Sawamura to continue which he did.

"I have been throwing moving balls as a result of inefficient coaching. My wrists were also more flexible than average. So when I was in middle school I discovered that I can throw different breaking balls just by changing my grip. I call them numbers. Around six of them are good enough to be used in matches. Others are too inconsistent to be employed in a real game for now."

Both of them were silent, intaking what they had just heard.

Kuramochi was puzzled by Sawamura's ability to throw different breaking balls by changing his grip. He had never heard of such a thing. He was not sure what to say, not really having any knowledge about the subtleties of pitching, when the silence was broken from laughter which was full of mirth.

Miyuki laughed like there was no tomorrow. He couldn't stop him even if he tried.

"You. You are so extreme. You didn't know how to throw fast-balls properly so you learnt a customized way for you to throw a bunch of breaking balls. Unbelievable."

Miyuki managed to spit out as he continued laughing.

"I was not trying to learn a bunch. I just wanted to learn one. It turned out this way." Sawamura pursued his lips displeased. He had expected something like "You are so awesome". Definitely not "You are so extreme"

Damn this Miyuki for always catching him off guard

"Sure. Whatever you say Mr.I-can-throw-breaking-balls-with-the-same-arm-throw."

Miyuki found the whole thing as funny as he found it intriguing. Sawamura was certainly a phenomenon for being to do such a thing. His ability to throw breaking balls this way also gives the him the advantage of making the batter wait till the ball breaks to react to it, given that the arm throw is exactly the same everytime.

"Why don't you tell me what you can throw? What are these numbers?"

Miyuki inquired, expecting all the details of Sawamura's pitches.

Sawamura obliged.

The trio conversed for the better part of an hour before reaching the stadium. Once the buses stopped, the students poured into an already pre-existing ocean of students. It was rather effortless to lose oneself in such a crowd. The trio held whatever they could hold of the other two to not to get separated from the sudden influx of students from the next bus.

After making it to the hallway, it was easier to walk. There were mainly four school uniforms that could be spotted.

Sawamura peered at the students from other school, feeling excited to be a part of such a big team like Seidou for the first time in his life. To walk with them. To play with them. To be a part of a brotherhood that connected all of them together. His team back in middle school only comprised of fifteen players at most so he really cherished his new team.

Kuramochi seemed to have somewhat of a similar reaction with his eyes browsing the gathering. He has never seen or played at such a huge stadium. He was completely overwhelmed by the experience but didn't want to show it when Miyuki is staring at him to gauge his reaction.

I have to be careful, not to give anything for him to play with.

Miyuki being the Tokyo elite he is, was completely neutral.

Soon all the non-playing members of the team were seated in the stands. Soon the commentator announced the start of the match between Seidou and Seikou.

Sawamura couldn't really identify any of his seniors except for Tanaka, Chris, Masuko, a senior who was on the lunch table but whose name he did not remember well and the demon Kuramochi had described to him before.

The match began with Seidou's offense on the top of the inning.

For the first three innings the game was in a standstill. Tanaka although facing some difficulty controlling his fastball, managed to jam most batters with his curveball as the batters couldn't get the timing right for their lives.

The opponent pitcher was pretty decent at first. Gave up a few walks but regardless held Seidou scoreless for the first three innings.

On the top of the fourth inning, it was Tetsu's turn to bat. It was two outs and a runner at first.

"This is not going to end well for Seikou. It seems like they are raising the count in their favour by fastballs. Just because it worked in the first cycle, it doesn't mean that it will work in the second cycle. Especially with that batter."

Miyuki enlightened the two idiots whose mouths formed a "ohhhhh" together as they nodded.

"Do you know who that batter is?" Sawamura asked.

"Are you serious right now? How could you not know? He is Yukii Tetsu. The next best batter in our team after Azuma-senpai. People say that he is going to go pro too." Miyuki responded.

Oh.

Sawamura ogled at Tetsu. He wondered what it would be like to face him as he usually does when he encounters great batters.

Just like Miyuki had predicted, the battery let their guard down and pitched a fastball when the count was 2-2.

The ball was slammed across the fence with a sharp ringing metallic sound.

Everyone gazed at the ball as it seemed to travel in slow motion in a clean parabolic arc over the fence.

The cheers exploded. The drums reignited. Flabbergasted first-years finally started to cheer recovering from experiencing their first high-school homerun.

Sawamura's admiring expression deepened and he desperately wished to bat against Tetsu.

It was homerun that had crushed Seikou's soul completely beyond any hope of repair.

The shattered battery had face the clean-up batter right after. Which ended in another homerun in Seidou's favour.

Others soon followed suit and the game ended with 8-2 for Seidou.

It was rather a memorable game for the first years as they watched their seniors play with enjoyment. It also evoked a determination in the first-years to stand on this exact same stadium not as an onlooker but a player standing on the field. Running bases. Hitting home-runs. And having the pitcher's back by fielding.

The trio was geared up to raise the ranks. Their desire to make it to the first-string was impenetrable.

It was as the trio were leaving the stands Sawamura curiously asked the other two.

"Do you know who we are playing next?"

"Inashiro." Kuramochi nonchalantly answered.

Sawamura froze.

It was already here.