To Akira, everything still felt surreal. A year of not playing filled his nights with yearning and frustration. He had desperately waited and prayed for it to end but the end was nowhere near at sight.
Now finally it was here.
He could finally play baseball again.
He will never again play a game haphazardly ever. Not even once. He firmed his resolve.
He gazed back at his catcher's face which was concealed by his mask with his eyes peeping through. Chris was an unprecedented phenomenon in Seidou high. He could still recall the day Chris breezed his way into the first string despite being a first year.
Chris knowing Akira was in trance signalled the "get-it-together" sign.
What an impudent kouhai I have.
Akira chuckled as he thought.
Chris's brown eyes browsed through the fielders' positions, finally landing on the batter who was quite literally the core of Inashiro's batting line. The fourth batter. Daisuke Kairi. The batter who's fame rivalled their resident home-run machine Azuma Kiyokuni.
I should deal with this batter carefully. This is the third time around. The last two rounds we managed to strike him out but it probably won't go that way this time.
Chris decided to go with a fastball on the outside corner to test the waters before diving in.
Akira snickered knowing all too well about his kouhai's aggressiveness and out of the ordinary intellect.
The sharp pitching motion propelled the hard ball towards Chris's mitt with a control that would be considered monstrous for a high schooler.
But sadly the batter too was a monster. The bat made a powerful contact sending it towards the fence. Chris heaved a sigh of relief when it went pass the line into the foul territory.
Akira for the first time this game felt an intangible tension. This feeling of being chased on by a ferocious predator. His muscles stiffened in the competitive atmosphere engulfing him invoking his flight or fight response. He knew that he could very well lose.
So he smiled the brightest smile he had smiled that day at the batter. His green-blue eyes winked for the last time that match.
The batter was unflinching with his singular concentration placed on hitting the pitch that could come his way anytime now.
"That was a good ball. You are still a little tense senpai. Relax we already got this on the pocket." Chris threw the ball back to Akira.
Akira nodded agreeing.
Batter's eyes knitted together at Chris's words but he still kept his composure. It was clear why this batter was considered one of the best if not the best batter in the whole of Tokyo right now.
If only Azuma-san had this guy's composure even a little bit.
Chris moved on.
Next a beautiful placed slider on the same outside corner, fooling everyone but the batter who hit another foul.
Chris could tell this was going to be a long haul.
Akira just chuckled one last time before his face became devoid of any emotions. His focussed eyes zoomed on the batter who was posing a challenge to him at the moment.
Daisuke too stared back. Without any malice. Just the pure-hearted competitive spirit of a batter when he faces a worthy pitcher. The clash of prides of a pitcher and batter. The very soul of baseball.
Pitch after pitch, the count increased both ways to end. Chris used various pitching sequences trying to take the batter off guard but to no avail. After some twelve pitches, the full count was reached.
Akira sighed and took a series of deep breaths as he tried to regain his lost energy back.
"Strike him out senpai. He cannot hit off you. Chris-senpai show him what you have got." Sawamura enthusiastically cheered from his newly found seat on the dug-out.
"You can do it Akira-senpai." Miyuki and Kuramochi too joined in, followed by other regular team members.
Despite his ironclad exterior, Kataoka felt a smile creep up on his face at the team spirit Sawamura was evoking during his short time in the dug-out.
So this brat does know how to get the team going huh?
"Huh? Why are you on the dug-out? You are not even on the regular team." Narumiya yelled at Sawamura not being able to control himself.
Kunitomo sent an icy glare his way which immediately shut him up.
"Kantoku.. Haha I" Narumiya nervously tried to justify himself.
"Don't yell towards the opponent's dug-out. It is bad manners." Kunitomo scolded Narumiya as he gazed at Sawamura with an unreadable emotion glimmering in his eyes.
Sawamura simply stared back, transfixed as the same unreadable emotion was displayed in his eyes.
He averted his eyes after a minute or two keeping his eyes on the game.
Don't think about it now. Now is not the time.
Akira was revitalised by the cheers of his dear team. He nodded his head towards Chris, ready for the next sign, only to find him chuckling at Sawamura's encouragement.
That kid can even make this ice block laugh huh?
Chris shook his head getting it back on the game. He flashed the most straightforward sign of the day. A screwball on the inside corner. Akira's speciality. It was a battle of pure ability now.
Akira beamed at Chris at his choice.
Everything was riding in this single pitch.
It was now or never.
He lifted his leg high stomping his feet hard on the ground, propelling his right arm to throw his most accurate pitch of the day.
The batter swung hard, but his timing was messed up as he popped he ball high toward the sky.
The ball returned towards ground on a straight line only to fall into the left fielder's glove.
The cheering squad cheered at the occasion. The drums were back to life. The audience roared in excitement.
"That's crazy."
"Inashiro still has no runs. I cannot believe it."
"Great going Chris."
"Akira-kun I love you."
When Akira came back to the bench, he was ambushed by a very much impressed Sawamura Eijun.
"Akira-senpai that was so cooool. You took out that batter. He looked really strong." His admiring eyes sent a strong message.
Miyuki too nodded at Akira supporting Sawamura's statement with an entertained grin. Kuramochi looked dazzled like a teenager watching a baseball game for the first time.
"Of course it is to be expected. Who do you think I am?" Akira winked childishly.
But Sawamura had already moved on to the next target of his admiration.
Chris entered the dug-out.
Watching a game that gets his heart racing while being forbidden from pitching made Sawamura incredibly unstable at the moment with an insatiable need to pitch.
"CHRIS-SENPAII, You are still awesome as ever. Please catch for me. Please." Sawamura yelled and covered his mouth with his hands anxiously waiting for Chris's answer.
"No. I told you. I only catch for first string pitchers." Chris elaborated.
"Kantoku, Please make me a first string player asap." Sawamura blurted out with a second thought.
Rei-chan face-palmed at what Sawamura had just said to the coach.
This idiot!!!
Akira chuckled somewhat controlling himself in front of the coach as the Ace of the team.
But Miyuki and Kuramochi laughed his asses off. Miyuki was once again astonished by Sawamura's reckless behaviour.
Masuko gasped in shock at what Sawamura-chan had just demanded from the coach.
Tetsu nodded hoping the coach will allow it wanting to face off against Sawamura.
Th team members who remained in the dug-out whose batting turn is not coming any time soon, simply blinked rapidly as they doubted the functioning of their ears.
Kataoka just stared back shocked by the audacity Sawamura possessed.
I praised this brat way too early
Sawamura waited holding his breath with expectations swirling on his earth brown eyes.
"No." Kataoka sharply spoke ruining all of Sawamura's daydreams of Chris catching for him.
Sawamura pouted sadly before yelling energetically.
"Just wait for me Chris-senpai. I will defeat everyone in the senpai game to join you on the first string-"
That was how far he got before Kuramochi placed his hand over Sawamura's mouth putting an end to his rambling.
Rei-chan twisted his ear from behind as she whispered in a ominous tone.
"Sawamura. Why don't we talk outside?"
"Aaah. Nooo."
Rei-chan dragged him away despite his loud protests.
"Kazuya. Youchi. Help me."
Sawamura looked at Miyuki and Kuramochi pleading them to come to his defense.
Miyuki simply smirked back as if saying "you had it coming the second you said that." Knowing Rei-chan all too well.
Kuramochi looked conflicted whether to help him or to bash him for his stupidity.
On the other team's dug-out, things were not going so cheerfully. The whole team was exposed to the menacing glare of their coach who was not at all pleased with how the game is going so far.
Kunitomo's terrifying aura made all of them gulp in anticipation of what was about to strike.
"Are you all trying to make me a laughing stock?" Kunitomo hissed.
No reply came from the players who could do nothing but bend their heads in submission and absolute surrender.
"What was that batting? Your teamwork is non-existent. No matter how good the opponent pitcher is, the line-up that I built with my hands would never fail to score atleast a run from him. Are you all still in your high horses just because we qual for the fall Invitational? Or you are slacking because it is the spring tournament? Pathetic. I don't care anymore. The players I trained were not like this. If you don't score a single run from that pitcher then I might have to question whether I should be your coach any longer." Kunitomo stated with disappointed eyes which flames the fire of frustration the players were bearing inside them.
"Kantoku. We will definitely win this game. We won't disappoint you."
"Kantoku. We get it done. Believe in us."
"We won't let you down."
That should set them straight for now Kunitomo thought as the players one by one declared their resolve to win.
Kunitomo looked back at Seidou's dug-out to find Sawamura being dragged outside by the ear by their chief scout.
That brat. He must have caused some trouble again.
Kunitomo's speech worked wonders for Inashiro as the team morale skyrocketed. On the eighth inning, they exploded with two runs in a row but sadly their streak ended with just that. Seidou's defense on the ninth was impeccable.
The match ended 4-2 with Seidou qualifying for the Kanto tournament.
Inashiro's ace Shindou Hikaru bowed his head down in shame. He vowed to himself that he would never forget this day for the years to come.
I will get you back for this Seidou.
Sawamura as usual followed Chris-senpai right after the match. Miyuki and Kuramochi wordlessly followed.
It was already late. Most of the team members had returned to their buses. The only ones who stayed behind were Chris and the trio as Chris faced some difficulty packing his mask and gear.
"Chris-senpai can we sit with me while going back?" Sawamura beamed at him.
"Sure thing." Chris smiled back.
"Yay!! Let's go. I have so much to tell you." Sawamura started for the bus.
He stopped after a few seconds noticing Chris was not with him any longer. The pair following him stopped without missing a beat.
He turned to find Chris kneeling down holding his shoulder with his left hand.
"Chris-senpaii" The trio rushed towards him. Sawamura was the one to reach him first.
"Are you hurt Chris-senpai? Is it your shoulder?" Sawamura panicked, scanning their surroundings to find any adult who could help them.
"Did you by chance get injured Chris-senpai?" Miyuki questioned trying to understand what caused this. Worry was etched on his face as clear as day.
Kuramochi appeared to be worried but regardless waited for Chris's answer.
"It's nothing. I hit my shoulder against the door last night so it hurts a little. My legs are sort of dead from being on the sitting position for two days in row" Chris give a tired smile trying to assure them that he was fine.
He even went on to rotate his shoulder 360 and stood straight back up to demonstrate that he was perfectly fine so to ensure that these worrywarts won't misunderstand.
Miyuki didn't look persuaded as his eyebrows knitted in concern. Chris's smile looked a bit strained to him.
Sawamura sighed at Chris's words. He felt temporary relief. But the unease in his heart did not disappear. He could tell that Chris was telling the truth but then what was this horrible foreboding he felt on his gut?
I feel like something bad is going to happen.
"I will carry your bag. It looks heavy." Kuramochi volunteered scratching his head wondering if Chris will accept his offer.
"Thanks Kuramochi." Chris have him a polite smile as he transferred his bag to him.
Shaking his head clearing his thoughts, for now, Sawamura decided to help Chris up and almost carried him to the bus.
"Eijun, I said I'm fine." Chris chanted one more time.
"Let me atleast do this senpai." Sawamura bargained as he supported Chris by wrapping his arm across his shoulder. It was the only way to calm his troubling mind.
"Yeah. Chris-senpai you don't seem to be in a good state. You have to be in peak condition when I come after you. Otherwise I might win too easily." Miyuki enclosed that he was worried about Chris in his own language as he took Chris's other arm and wrapping it around his shoulder taking Chris off guard.
"Not that easy Miyuki." Chris grinned showcasing that he was not feeling even the least bit threatened.
"You are too cocky. That's never gonna happen. Shishou will not lose to anyone." Sawamura shouted coming to Chris's rescue once again.
"Shihsou? You never know I could be the one catching for you these coming years Eijun? You should be respectful towards me." Miyuki grinningly recommended to Sawamura.
Before Sawamura could retaliate in kind, Chris intervened looking stunned.
"You still remember calling me Shihsou back then?" Chris seemed to be taken back with it. A teeny tiny smile made its way through at the thought of Sawamura still remembering what happened ages ago.
"How can I forgot Shishou? You thought me everything I know about pitching." Sawamura grinned with a radiance that could light the darkest of tunnels.
"Sawamura" Chris breathed softly with affection.
"What's with this Shishou thing?" Miyuki cross-questioned.
"You see Shishou means master. I'm calling Chris-senpai my master." Sawamura enthusiastically explained it to Miyuki.
Miyuki stared at him with a look that screamed "are you fucking with me right now?"
"I'm not talking about that idiot. Why are you calling Chris-senpai Shishou?"
"Because he is my Shishou." Sawamura cried.
Miyuki was getting more and more agitated by the moment.
Is he really that dense or is he evading my question?
When he examined Sawamura once more he confirmed that Sawamura really was that dense.
Chris chuckled seeing that the conversation was not going anywhere anytime soon.
While during the whole time Kuramochi was once again left speechless. His intuition told him it was going to happen quite often. He was always the one being left out.
He sighed.
Sawamura turned back at that sound, stopping his quarrel with Miyuki at once and worriedly checked.
"Are you okay Yoichi?"
"I'm okay now." His eye twinkled like little stars as they smiled.
The next day the match between Seidou and Ichidai Sankou commenced. Both teams conserved their energy as their entry into the Kanto Tournament was already guaranteed at this point.
Seidou managed to win 3-2.
When the team bow came, Sawamura was once again met with this so-called Amahisa Kousei about whom he had learnt a few things from Miyuki. He stood with Ryousuke on one side of him and Azuma on the other. Of course Ryousuke would occasionally sent his signature angelic smile his way which Sawamura understood very well from the tales he had heard of him from Kuramochi.
How did It come to this? He wondered as he cursed Miyuki and Kuramochi for abandoning him.
He stared at Miyuki who stood next to Chris. Miyuki cheekily grinned at him when he noticed his stare annoying Sawamura even more.
Damn you Miyuki. I'm so jealous. I wanted to stand next to Chris-senpai.
Sawamura had found that Amahisa had been watching him from time to time during the game. So when they stood face-to-face he waved his hand in a sort of greeting.
Amahisa blinked once.
Twice.
Thrice.
Before regaining his composure and waving his hand fiercely like a kid would to his parents before entering the school for the first time.
Ryousuke ofcourse observed this interaction and sent one more angelic smile along his way.
When will it end?Sawamura cried on the inside feeling scared.
When everything was said and done, Sawamura walked back with only to be stopped by Amahisa.
"Sawamura, I didn't get your LINE Id. Can I have it now?" He sort of sounded like a mixture of a dream-eyed fan and a reserved acquaintance who was too shy.
Regardless Sawamura replied grinning, "Sure. This is my number."
"I will text you soon." Amahisa eagerly informed him.
"I will text you back." Sawamura was nodding when he was pulled by the back of shirt and dragged on by Kuramochi. Miyuki's weird laughter echoed on his ears as he came to the realisation.
"Ahhh. Let me go. You monster Kuramochi." He yelped.
What's with everyone grabbing me?
"Just come with us silently baka."
"I will see in summer tournament." Amahisa shouted from a distance.
Sawamura huffed at Kuramochi's words before proceeding to wave back to Amahisa giving him a silent goodbye which was reciprocated in kind.
He sighed feeling Kuramochi tight grip on his shirt.
Living in Seidou is going to be tough but it is interesting.