AUTHOR'S NOTE: Heyya! Thank you so much for the reviews! This chappie alittle longer than usual! Hope you enjoy! Thanks again for supporting this story!

Enjoy!

*** Chapter 4: Opinion ***

Monday comes in a sunny weather, its breeze alittle colder than usual. Megumi and Erika arrive at school early so that Erika can report for her duties as chairman on time. After she met their homeroom teacher, Megumi suggests getting a juice drink from the vending machine before morning assembly starts.

"I want orange juice," Erika grins, pointing at the drink.

Megumi hums while deciding. "I think I'll get grape juice-"

"Ri-chan! Ri-chan! Ri-chan!"

The two girls turn and gawk at the boy running towards them. Erika turns sharply knowing it is none other than Eijun. Her heart clenches, elated to finally see him after the weekend. Erika tries to hold back her tears, just waiting for Eijun to reach her.

Only when his arms spread wide and are about to scoop her off the ground, Megumi smacks his head with her fist.

"Itte! That hurts, Meggy!" Eijun barks angrily at the orangehead.

Megumi winces. "Who're you calling Meggy?! Can you behave yourself?! This is not your home! Don't run and shout like that! You're embarrassing!"

"Ha?!" Eijun bristles. "Don't be full of yourself! I came here for Ri-chan, not you! Now I'm here, shoo! Ri-chan doesn't need ya!"

Erika nervously smiles. "Can you both stop?"

"Why would Eri need a loudmouth like you?!" Megumi yells back.

"Says the loudspeaker with Elmo's hair?!"

"Elmo is red, idiot! Mine is orange!"

"Stop you two!" Erika comes in between them and pushes them away from each other. "Seriously, you two are too much to handle. Why do you both have to fight?"

"Ri-chan! I have great news to tell you!" Eijun cheers, pushing Megumi further away.

"Hey! Don't just ignore me!"

Erika shows an apologetic smile at Megumi before looking at Eijun. "What is it, Ei-chan?"

The boy laughs rubbing the back of his head. "I have good news and bad news though."

"Let's hear the bad news," Megumi sneers before proceeding to buy the drinks.

Eijun suddenly looks upset and Erika hurriedly grabs his attention from Megumi. "Please tell me the good news first."

"Well," Eijun's large grin returns. "There is a game between the first years and the seniors today! It will be my first game to play here!"

"Oh!" Erika is surprised. "It is your first game!"

Megumi giggles softly and passes Erika her orange juice box. "Sounds like a death match to me. Who actually thinks that will be a good idea?"

Eijun snorts. "You think I'll be scared to go against them. You're so wrong, Meggy. I am born ready!"

Erika giggles behind her hand while Megumi gives him a dead eyed look. "But I thought the coach hate your guts."

Her words struck him like lightning and he breaks into a chain of half-hearted laughter. "We kinda talked yesterday and he said he will let me play. And I don't mean to brag but he said I have what it takes to be Ace!"

"Really?" Megumi drawls unconvinced, slurping her grape juice boringly. "You definitely bribed him."

"No I did not! We just have some sort of honest talk at the... at somewhere unexpected."

"Definitely bribe."

"Shut up, Meggy!" Eijun yells at her. "By the way, Ri-chan, will you come and watch it?!"

Erika blinks hard and prims her lips. In her honesty, it will be hard for her to come. After watching the game yesterday, Erika has not yet gotten rid of the memories. The intensity, the pressure and the nerve-wrecking moments are too much to handle. She has to admit that high school baseball are as scary as she expected.

Just imagining Eijun had actually played that game yesterday, Erika could have sworn her heart would die multiple times.

And now he has a match against his seniors, who obviously had more training and experience than Eijun, Erika is afraid she could not be able to watch it until the end. The last thing she wants is to see Eijun break into tears or ending up beating someone again.

"Ri-chan?" Eijun comes closer to her. "You'll come, right?"

Erika looks up at him, understanding his sentiments. What she does not know, is that her brother is not really asking for support. By her coming to watch him, it will remind her to feel the excitement any sports person will feel before the game. She may not remember now but being her twin brother, he was always there before her every tennis match.

Erika has always been nervous but that does not stop her from winning all her matches.

It is after all Eijun's responsibility to make her come back and play again. Megumi slowly understands Eijun's intention and she grins, impressed by his caring gesture. It seems it is not only her that wants to see Erika play again.

"Too bad I can't accompany you because I have practice. But you better go, Eri-chan," Megumi nudges at her. "Your brother will cry if you don't come."

"Ehh?" Erika's breath hitches.

"I will not!" Eijun argues back.

Erika clasps her hands tightly. "I'll come, Ei-chan. After my chairman duties, I'll come."

"Great!" Eijun hugs her tightly, swaying her with joy. "You will be amazed! Make sure you shout for me, Ri-chan!"

Erika's face reddens like a bulb of a thermometer. Megumi tears them apart and huffs. "Hey! Quit it! You haven't told us the bad news yet!"

Eijun laughs. "Can we forget that?"

"Not a chance!" Megumi barks back.

"What's the matter? Is there something wrong about the game, Ei-chan?" Erika sounds worried.

Footsteps are suddenly heard behind the girls but what surprises them is Eijun getting tight-lipped and his shoulders stiffened. Megumi is the first one to look behind and found one of their classmates walking towards Erika. Whenever it is a boy, Megumi gets all geared up.

"Chairman, you're here."

Erika turns around and gasps. "Furuya-kun?"

The tall boy with droopy eyes hands her a paper. "Here's my form that I forget to hand in last week. Can you help me pass it to our teacher?"

"Okay sure," Erika nods and is about to take the paper when Eijun pulls her hand away and stands in front of her. "Ei-chan, what are you doing?"

"This guy is the bad news, Ri-chan!" Eijun points his finger at him.

Erika blinks hard while Megumi tries to hold back her laughter.

Furuya does not seem to understand anything. "You. What are you doing with our chairman?"

"You stay far away from her," Eijun warns before Megumi knocks his head. "Ouch!"

"Chairman," Furuya insists to come close only to be pushed back by Eijun. "What's the big idea?"

"Furuya-kun," Megumi whispers to him. "Can't you tell they are twins?"

"Twins?" Furuya widens his eyes lively. "Ah, now you mention it, they look similar."

"Yes that's right! She's my precious sister and no way in hell I let you come near-"

"Ei-chan," Erika pinches his ear and warns him to stop it. "He's my classmate. He needs to hand in his form."

"But Ri-chan!" Eijun looks down at her and cups a hand near her. "He's gonna be my rival!"

Megumi lets out a loud laugh. "That's good news!"

"Shut up, Elmo hair!"

"You shut it, baka Eijun!" Megumi shouts back at him and turns to Furuya. "I never thought you'd be in baseball. You're gloomy and quiet. Are you sure you're in the right team?"

"Megumi-chan.." Erika looks at her, afraid that she might offend Furuya.

"Can I please give you my form and leave?" Furuya asks with a small hint of irritation, not to mention him ignoring Megumi entirely.

Erika snatches the form and bows at him. "Sorry for the trouble. Thank you Furuya-kun."

Without a word, the tall boy walks past them and disappears down the corridor. Megumi tosses her empty box into the bin while Erika and Eijun argue about being rude and the rival thing. Something tells her that maybe having a rival will boost confidence in Eijun. Unfortunately, Erika does not feel the same way.

If anything, by any chance Erika joins Seido Tennis Girls' team, there are many members who will take her as a rival.

Erika knows she is late for Eijun's game. She checks her wristwatch as she briskly walks towards the field in her school uniform and bag hooked on one arm. Apparently the second week of school cannot stop occupying her with menial tasks. She hopes the faster she finishes, she can come for the game just in time to watch Eijun play.

Reaching the training grounds, Erika breaks into a halt. She notices strangers, rather adults from the public are gathering outside the diamond field. It surprises her, not expecting a crowd to come for a scrimmage amongst the Seido members. Perhaps they are the alumni of the team, rooting for their successors to go for nationals. She creases her brows however, wondering if watching with them will be a good idea.

She is wearing school uniform. It will too weird to blend in.

"Are you lost?"

A voice reverberates behind her and she jumps startled. When she looks behind, she sees the slanted cap and dark grey glasses on him.

"Miyuki-senpai," Erika gasps and hesitantly bows. "Good afternoon."

Miyuki cannot stop himself from smirking like a Cheshire cat. How nice it is to be respected like this.

"Good afternoon. You must be here for the game between the freshmen and the seniors," Miyuki states confidently. "But you won't see anything if you continue standing here."

"I was not planning to stand here," Erika rebuts, looking down as she suddenly remembers the incident where he tried to corner her and also his smirk from yesterday game.

Noticing her efforts to avoid looking at him, Miyuki lets out a short chuckle and walks ahead. "I know a place where you can stand and get a good view. It is less crowded than over there."

Erika cannot form a reply at all as her feet involuntarily move, following him. Miyuki holds his white grin, impressed at himself for making her listen without him forcing her. It looks like she is trained to listen and obey anyone who is somewhat higher than her.

"You should teach Sawamura some manners, ya know," Miyuki teases. "You're pretty good at it."

"Please just bring me there," Erika ignores his comment.

Miyuki raises his brows. "You seem to trust me too. Did something happen?"

"Nothing."

"If there is anything you should work on, it's definitely your communication skills."

"I speak common Japanese. Thank you."

"Ouch, the sarcasm tastes spicy," Miyuki laughs at his own joke.

Erika twitches an eye. "Please hurry. I might be late for the game."

"Well you are late, Erika-chan."

"Please don't call me-"

"The game starts ten minutes ago."

"Eh?" Erika gasps. "Then why are you out here?"

"To fetch you, what do I look like I'm doing?"

"Miyuki-senpai!"

The boy in glasses stops and turns. Whenever she calls him by the name, it just excites him.

"I'm in the first string," Miyuki explains. "We're having an off day today. We had a game yesterday, remember?"

Erika nods in understanding when she realises she just admits she knew about yesterday game.

Miyuki chuckles. "I honestly never thought you would come to watch me."

"No, no, no!" Erika stiffens. "It was a coincidence! I never planned to come. I didn't even know there was a game."

"Eh," Miyuki leans against the fence. "Someone brought you there, is that it? Is it your boyfriend?"

The brunette blooms with clenched fists. "No, I came with my best friend! Can you please stop teasing me?! Just how did you even know I was there?"

Miyuki deliberately lets a whole minute passed them for he cannot resist watching the rosy cheeks flaring red. If they are not outside, he would have locked themselves in and only God can save her.

Erika is getting impatient dealing with the senior. When she decides to leave him, he makes his statement.

"The foul ball flew at your direction," Miyuki confesses. "And you're wearing a nice pink dress. Who can miss a cute girl like you?"

Erika swears her heart jumps out of her chest. Instead of staying, she fastens her pace and walks ahead of Miyuki. The glasses boy is torn between calling her back and laughing to his heart's content.

"Four-eyed meanie," Erika grumbles to herself.

"I heard that," Miyuki scowls for a moment, popping his head by her right ear that she leaps away and holds her ear as though it has been stained.

"Don't do that!" Erika warns him. "I think you helped me enough. I'll go on my own."

"Are you sure about that? You're in the baseball premises. You might get punished trespassing here if you get caught. Just stick to me," Miyuki grins.

"What?" Erika gasps, and looks around to find themselves at a place where there is no field in sight. "Where are we?"

"At the back of the boys dormitory," Miyuki giggles. "The field is where I picked you up."

"You just dragged me far from the field!"

"Bingo!"

"I can't believe this," Erika huffs angrily, regretting to believe him.

She is about to walk away when Miyuki stops her. "Don't be mad, Erika-chan."

"Get away from me!" Erika raises her voice. "The game may not be important to you but it is to me! So just leave me alone!"

"Okay, okay," Miyuki surrenders with hands high. "I'll bring you there."

"No thanks."

Erika starts walking again. Miyuki sighs and follows her instead. It is wrong of him to agitate her but he just likes to spend some time with her alone, although it is pretty much meaningless. Her brother obviously comes first and she cannot be fooling around with him.

"You can let me be. Isn't it your off day? Get some rest or something," Erika says, still bothered of Miyuki following her.

He smiles when she still carries respect to him despite being angry. "I was just wondering what do you think about our baseball team yesterday."

Erika furrows her brows. "My opinion does not matter."

"It sure does," Miyuki responds her quickly. "As a fellow sportsperson, you should have noted something about our game. Come on now. Tell me."

"If I tell you, will you leave me alone?"

"Yeah."

Erika slows down her pace and naturally walks beside Miyuki's right side. "I think your team is strong enough to go for nationals."

"Really? Honestly?" Miyuki searches for her eyes under her fringe.

"Yes," Erika nods before pointing a finger at him. "If you stop being a meanie."

Miyuki blinks his eyes open. "Eh?"

"There is no doubt the team's offense appears invincible and fearless. They can definitely score runs for the team but the team's defense has rooms for improvements, especially the battery when carrying out plays."

"So how am I being the meanie?" Miyuki smiles, despite him feeling alittle annoyed. "The pitcher and I are connected. I caught all his pitches and stopped some steals."

"All you caught was his weak pitches," Erika corrects him. "I stayed to watch two innings and I didn't get to see him throw one good pitch before he got switched out."

Miyuki huffs. "Isn't that the pitcher's problem? No offence but he's not trying hard enough. The coach trusts him because he has good breaking balls and speed. It is just that he easily succumbs to pressure and lose his focus. That is actually disappointing coming from a third year who spent two years here."

"That's why you're a meanie," Erika stops her walk and looks at him directly. "You knew he was struggling yet you called for breaking balls often. You knew he would not be able to throw a perfect breaking ball. You're draining his confidence."

"Woah, hold it," Miyuki intends to explain but Erika will not let him.

"You only called for a fastball because you could stop a steal, right?"

Miyuki has his eyes widened. She could pick up this much. She was studying him after all.

Erika looks away. "If the battery is disconnected, the team cannot play at their best. To think that it is just a pitcher's problem, it is just crazy. Baseball, Miyuki-senpai, is a team sport. You cannot let anyone play on their own."

"You don't know what you're talking about. We're supporting each other," Miyuki is firm with his stand.

"Then why didn't you call a time-out when he was losing it?"

Her question sends him a step back, like a slap of realisation hits him. He resents her accusation not being a team player but when she mentioned of the time out, he realised he could have done it at least once with Tanba but he unfortunately did not.

Would there be any change even if he did? Would a time-out actually bring his confidence back?

Usually, he only calls for a time out if the coach gives the signal. He won't call it on his own.

Erika realises she might have said too much that caused to silence him. Hurriedly she bows in front of him.

"Apologies, Miyuki-senpai," Erika sounds nervous. "I have gone overboard with my words. Please excuse me now."

Without waiting for a response, Erika makes a run. She is not planning to turn back at all. She is firstly embarrassed to call him a meanie for more than once and she is not forgetting they were alone for too long. People might see them.

Before new rumours are made, Erika has to leave him. She needs to be careful with her surroundings.

"Ri-chan!"

Erika stops her sprint and turns to Eijun behind the fence at somewhere that looks like a bullpen for warming up.

"You really come to watch me!" Eijun laughs. "I was waiting for you, you know."

Erika smiles and comes closer to the fence. "Of course I come. Sorry for being late."

"It's okay," Eijun swats away the apology. "The important thing is that you come. Ri-chan, are you nervous?"

"Well," Erika bats her eyes, surprised that he asks her that question when his eyebrows are shaking. "Never! I know you will do amazing, Ei-chan!"

"I know right!" Eijun throws his head back and laughs. "What is there to be nervous about anyway?!"

"That's the spirit, Ei-chan!" Erika cheers for him.

"Do you think you can come inside, Ri-chan?" Eijun wonders. "It's been a long time since we play catch."

Erika hesitates. "But I can't go in there."

"But I can."

The twins turn heads at the glasses senior who appears next to Erika.

Eijun jumps to the fence, literally climbing up. "Teme! What the hell are you doing out there?! Aren't you supposed to be with those guys?!"

Miyuki sighs. "The first string's off day today. Rest day after game yesterday, right, Erika-chan?"

The brunette starts a crab walk five steps away from him while Eijun bristles. "Don't you dare get near her! Get your ass inside and warm up with me!"

"Ah?! Is that how you ask a favour from your senior?" Miyuki threatens with a mortified face. "What makes you think you get to play today?"

"The coach tells me he will let me play today!" Eijun growls with his teeth showing. "Knowing Mr. Shades, he probably makes me play last inning."

Miyuki lets out a laugh. "That is if you guys can make at least five innings without embarrassing yourselves."

Eijun looks at the scoreboard and so did Erika. It is only the first inning and there are seven runs for the seniors and zero runs for the first years. The twins exchange looks and gulp at the same time. No player will like to see a huge difference on the first inning of the game. It easily brings down the morale of the ones on the losing end.

The seniors are taking this game too seriously. They are not giving up a single mistake or any opening for the first year to catch up. It is as though the tyrants are bullying the dwarfs to shame. Erika does not expect deep animosity between the two opponents. They are all still under the same badge of Seido but the seniors are behaving they are against their eternal nemesis.

"Strikeout!"

The umpire shouts, followed by a loud yell from the pitcher. Erika recognises the pitcher. He is the same pitcher that played yesterday game with Miyuki.

"Tanba-san is doing well, isn't he?" Miyuki shivers in fits of laughter. "He looks like a total different guy."

"But why is he playing? Isn't he in the first string?" Erika whispers but Miyuki heard her.

"Guess the coach told him to cool off in the second string," Miyuki grins, folding his arms. "Looks like the coach's idea works on him."

"The coach demoted him?" Eijun clarifies with his senior.

Miyuki notices Erika listening too. "That's what happened to whoever plays badly in the game. When you are given the chance to represent the school, you have to do your best and put up your best game. When you are chosen, you cannot accept the role lightly and just celebrate. You have to take it diligently because in anytime, the coach can replace you whenever it seems fit."

"Jeez, Mr. Shades sure knows how to deal his business," Eijun grinds his teeth. "Are you sure we have a human as our coach? I swear he is a splitting image of a devil!"

"Ei-chan, don't say that! He can hear you," Erika hushes her brother.

"But Ri-chan," Eijun turns towards the pitcher on the mound. "To be dragged out of the first string gotta hurt."

Erika looks down, understanding what Eijun means.

"Serves him right," Miyuki drawls intentionally. "If Tanba-san was this fired up for the game yesterday, we wouldn't have any problem. Just because the first year threatens his place now, he is finally serious to prove himself."

Erika scrunches her face in disagreement. When she heard the third strikeout, she sees the seniors welcoming Tanba back with open arms and he is smiling. He is carrying a confident aura around him.

"Every pitcher has his pride. Whoever tries to harm it, they will protect themselves when they want to," Miyuki adds, grabbing Erika's attention. "As a catcher, I have to respect that. Whatever pitches they feel like throwing, I have to catch them no matter what. And don't ya know? Breaking balls are their pride too."

The glasses boy pulls back from the fence and walks behind Erika. "Tanba-san is the only pitcher I know who rejected most of my calls, by the way. That fastball you mentioned is actually a ball out of strike zone."

Erika turns sharply at Miyuki, with shock in her eyes. Miyuki laughs at her reaction. He surely make her take back her words about him not being a team player. He is actually doing his best to support the pitcher even though he is not always listened to. If pride is what stands between them, Erika cannot see a solution to resolve it. She would just play along like Miyuki did if she was in his shoes.

Guilt weighs in her for she has called him being mean when the truth is he is not.

"Oi, where're you going?" Eijun manages to call Miyuki before he gets further away.

Miyuki yells back. "I'm getting in. Give you a hand in warming up. It's the catcher's job after all."

Erika winces, feeling as though Miyuki continues piling guilt on her heart.

Eijun snorts, "Really? I thought you wanna join their side. I can play against you and crush you!"

"You're two hundred million years too early to play against me, brat!"

As soon as Miyuki disappears, Eijun approaches Erika. "Hey, is that idiot been disturbing you? Tell me the truth, Ri-chan."

"Eh? No, no, no. He's only helping me get here for a good view, really!" Erika panicks, shaking her hands.

"Just say he does and I will break his glasses! Hell, he thinks I didn't see him giving you looks like some pervert old man outside a convenience store!" Eijun fumes, tossing the ball hard into his own glove.

Erika shakes her head profusely. "Stop accusing him anymore! He is not really that bad a person!"

"I can't trust that guy. No way," Eijun spits at the side, anger marred on his face.

Out of the blue, Miyuki reappears with a chair and places near Erika. "Here, for you."

"For me?" Erika asks again.

"Yeah," Miyuki nods. "Knowing the coach, it will be likely an hour before your brother is able to play. So you can have this seat."

"Hey! Don't make me sound useless, teme!" Eijun shouts at Miyuki.

Erika quietly complies and takes the seat. "Thank you, Miyuki-senpai."

Once again, Miyuki has his heart fluttered by her innocence. "My pleasure, my dear princess. A kiss will be nice."

"Ahhhhh!" Eijun flies onto the fence, in spur of anger as if he is about to throw himself onto the senior. "Oi, you idiot! You purposely said that in front of me! Get in here! I let you kiss my bloody extreme fastball, stupid Miyuki!"

A blast of laughter escapes the senior as he makes his way in. Erika has long bowing her head down in embarrassment. Her life is surrounded with many to tease her. She is about to die right there.

"Pitcher change! Furuya Satoru! Get on the mound!"

Erika looks up and sees a familiar face on the field. "Furuya-kun."

"It's him," Eijun pays attention on the lad who idly walks onto the mound.

Erika watches Eijun's hand clutch the baseball tightly. He definitely remembers capturing Furuya's fastball yesterday and just remembering it makes his hand shiver.

Furuya is Ei-chan first rival. Erika says in her heart. Can Ei-chan go through this?

Thank you for reading!

What do you think of Miyuki's teasing on Erika? Is it too much haha?

Next chappie will be the game! I'm excited! See ya next chappie!