AUTHOR'S NOTE: Heyya! Another update!
Thank you so much for the reviews! I hope I can keep everyone entertained. I tried to keep the original plotline but not exactly though. Sorry if you find this story kinda redundant and like expected. This chapter is still interaction between Miyuki and Erika. I don't know if I portray Erika enough haha.
Okay enough of babbling! Have fun reading!
*** Chapter 5: Teammate ***
Erika grips her knees, anticipating the pitch Furuya is about to throw.
It is not only Erika that has her eyes fixated on the pitcher. The seniors are all looking at him with gazes that are meant to threaten. Eijun has not spoken a word, making his silence speak for itself. There is no doubt that Eijun is tensed and agitated but his fear humbles him to remain quiet and watch the show unfold itself.
A smooth blow of whistle escapes from Miyuki as he fixes his catcher's mitt onto his hand. The glasses boy cannot hold himself back from disrupting the thickening air harbouring in the field. Erika captures the intimidating smug on the senior.
As expected, Miyuki is unaffected by Furuya's presence. Erika is getting irritated with his persistent arrogance.
"That kid," Miyuki starts talking. "He got guts to act all cool when his seniors are glaring at him. He must have left his emotions back at Hokkaido."
Erika remembers Furuya's hometown. He is just like the twins, choosing Seido High despite it being far from home.
Eijun remains quiet, his face wrenched in anxiety. Miyuki scoffs. "Unlike someone who has plenty of energy to blabber his thoughts out loud."
"What is your problem?!" Eijun reacts to Miyuki's tease, followed by throwing a ball right into Miyuki's mitt. "I don't blabber!"
Giggling, Miyuki tosses the ball back. "Are you nervous, Sawamura?"
Another twisted pitch into catcher's mitt. "No!"
"Then," Miyuki throws back the ball. "Why can't you keep your eyes off Furuya? You look scared like everyone else."
"Are you kidding me?!" Sawamura throws an inclining pitch. "Everyone is not scared of him! I'm definitely not scared of him! Furuya just has some sort of pimple on his nose or something! Yeah, that's right! Disgusting!"
Miyuki bursts into laughter after catching the ball. "Pimple? Where did that come from?"
Erika too is ticked by Eijun's stupendous lie and she giggles.
All of the sudden, Furuya's pitch guns right at the umpire's helmet and the face guard flies off from his face. Everyone on the field gasps, witnessing one of the fastest fastballs they have ever seen in their high school life. The seniors are anxious, gathering around the coach and asking if he is alright.
While the commotion goes on, Erika stares at Furuya. She finally understands what Eijun means when he says Furuya is his rival. The Hokkaido pitcher can throw with monstrous speed that the first-year catcher cannot even react. The coach could have dodged it if he expected it to be that fast.
"Furuya," the coach recovers and fixes his gaze on the pitcher. "You pass. Join the first string practice starting tomorrow."
The batter flinches and voices his thoughts that he can hit it if Furuya continues to play. The coach is reluctant and he removes Furuya from the mound. His decision is unacceptable to the seniors as they rage among themselves, sending murderous looks at the first year monster pitcher.
"Sawamura, you better apologise," Miyuki holds back a chuckle. "He heard you. Definitely heard you."
Eijun is not falling for his tease. Learning the fact that his claimed rival has already made it to the first string, Eijun has his every nerve cursing himself for not being anywhere close to the field. While Furuya is recognised for his worthy pitches, Eijun is stuck here at the bullpen, not knowing if he ever has the chance to prove himself at all.
Seeing how affected Eijun is, Miyuki sighs and turns to Erika. "Do you think you can catch that, Erika-chan?"
Erika flinches at the question before looking at Eijun. In all honesty, she does not know what to say right now. Furuya secures his position in the regular team with only one fastball pitch. Anyone can tremble witnessing this.
"I guess," Erika grins. "It is not that fast at all."
"Ri-chan," Eijun speaks with fists clenching. "You don't need to lie. It is fast. Faster than I can ever throw."
"Ei-chan," Erika gazes at Eijun's back.
Eijun raises his mitt and recalls Furuya's pitch yesterday. "I know what that first year catcher feels right now. I was as shocked when his ball flew to my mitt yesterday. I don't think anyone can catch his pitches. That is why he is here. He believes Miyuki can catch his pitches."
The glasses senior raises both his brows, actually surprised that Eijun tried to catch that fastball. He already knew about Furuya's reason to come to Seido from last night dinner. The senior pins his hands on his hip, pretty impressed that Furuya keeps his words of not letting anyone hit his pitches. Nonetheless, he is surprised that the ace wannabe next to him is doubting himself.
"If you ask me, his fastball is good. I won't be surprised if the first string members find it tough to hit it," Miyuki acknowledges Furuya's pitching. "But that kind of pitch is not mere talent. He probably threw fastballs everyday to obtain that great measure of both speed and force on the ball."
Miyuki speaks the truth. Erika cannot disagree at all.
"Well, an idiot like you obviously cannot catch that pitch. I don't even know why you tried, Sawamura," Miyuki sneers lowly. "I guess this is where you give up to become ace-"
A slanting fastball shoots from Eijun's arm and Miyuki reacts quick enough to catch it. His sudden throw makes Erika hold her breath. When she is about to scold Eijun for that dangerous play, she is held back as she sees the large smile on his face.
"This is where the fun begins!" Eijun yells behind his white smirk. "The game is not finished yet. I'm not giving up before showing Mr. Shades how awesome I am!"
Miyuki chuckles. "Really? You look like you're about to cry."
"Dust! Dust flying everywhere!" Eijun yells and stomps away, heading towards the dugout.
Erika stands up, thinking she should cheer him up but the confidence radiating from his back tells her that she does not have to. Eijun will be fine.
"Miyuki-senpai," Erika calls him.
The glasses boy smiles at her. "You call, sweetie?"
"There you go again, being mean to him," Erika dismisses his name-calling and talks straight to the point. "You're lucky he didn't try to beat you up."
"Ehh?" Miyuki gapes. "You mean he dares to beat me in front of you?"
"You're really nasty, Miyuki-senpai," Erika grumbles, looking away as the boy laughs until he drops to the ground.
"What if he does?" Miyuki wipes a tear of joy. "Are you going to save me, Erika-chan?"
"You mean I have to trespass baseball premises?" Erika shoots him a comeback. "Why should I break the rules for you when you ask for it yourself, senpai?"
Impressed, Miyuki leans against the fence and hisses playfully. "Spicy."
"Yes!"
A loud yell comes from the first years bench and both Erika and Miyuki turn at that direction. Eijun is finally playing, Erika instantly claps her hands in excitement, shouting a quick yell of his name that only Miyuki can hear. Thinking that Eijun is pitching, Erika is about to take a photo of him. With a quick shout from the coach, Eijun is placed at the outfield. Miyuki snorts knowing well that the coach is continuously being tough on that first year.
At first thought, Miyuki presumes Eijun can be a good fielder since he has been running throughout practice. He easily understands why the coach puts him there. Eijun might actually end up like Jun who was a pitcher before but becomes a strong outfielder. Eijun definitely has the flexibility to run or jump for a long hit.
When a chance is given, as the batter hits at where Eijun stands, the remarkable idiot makes a jump for joy imitation. Miyuki cracks up instantly, hugging his stomach fearing his laughter can break him into two. He even dares asking Erika if she caught that on camera. The brunette responds with a loud grunt.
"Chairman?" Furuya appears in front of the two. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm watching Eijun play," Erika answers nervously. "Please don't mind me."
"Oh, you're both in the same class," Miyuki notes. "Well, monster rookie, are you sure you want to leave now?"
"It's no use staying anyways," Furuya states nonchalantly. "By the way, what kind of relationship you two have? You both look awfully comfortable with one another."
"No, no, no," Erika shakes her hands panickingly. "You're getting the wrong idea!"
Miyuki smirks. "Don't be shy, Erika-chan."
"What's that supposed to mean?" the brunette hushes him.
Miyuki ignores Erika for a moment as he glances at Furuya taking his spot where he leans against the fence on the other side of Erika. The senior furrows his brows, both appalled and annoyed with the carefree look on his junior.
"I thought you said you're going to have training on your own, monster rookie. Why are you still here?"
Furuya huffs. "It will be boring to practice alone after all. Why not we play catch now? You promised to catch my pitches. I made it to the first string, Did you hear just now?"
Miyuki grits his teeth, not that he is ticked off by Furuya's obsession of him as a catcher but this is supposed to be his chance of being alone with Erika.
"That can wait. Besides it is rest day today," Miyuki points out. "Meet me later. Don't stay."
"Why not?" Furuya asks.
"Her twin brother said not to let anyone stand close to her, obviously."
"That includes you, senpai," Erika grumbles, facepalmed.
"I am her classmate. I don't need to give a reason because we are always together in school," Furuya explains bluntly, having no idea that his choice of words can be misleading.
Very misleading that Miyuki is hammering him violently in his mind.
"Oh," Erika gasps, learned that the first years finally had their third out. "They are changing gears."
"We get to see your brother playing offense, right?" Miyuki adds. "I hope he is good at batting."
"He's not that terrible," Erika replies, fiddling her fingers.
After two outs, it is Eijun's turn to bat. Erika prims her lips nervously. Her oblivious brother marches to the plate, greeting the catcher and coach loudly that Erika can hear him. She clings on the hope that his confidence is enough to make him hit any pitch. This can be his chance to prove himself.
Erika prays hard that Eijun does not mess up.
Miyuki chuckles. "Nori's pitching. How nostalgic. Erika-chan, that is the pitcher your brother defended when he came here. I wonder if Nori is going to go easy on him."
"There should not be any personal baggage in a game," Furuya states suddenly. "It disrupts the momentum."
"Ignore him, Erika-chan," Miyuki sneers.
Mentally those two are cursing each other.
"Strike!"
"Don't mind!" Eijun shouts to himself, nearly losing his cool to have missed the first pitch.
Laughter simmers from the first years as Erika looks at them with hurt. It seems there is no support from his team. This scene is awkward to watch because Erika has always ben watching Akagi team members shouting and cheering for Eijun. Erika is always amazed by their teamwork no matter how difficult the situation is. Even if Akagi is in the same pinch as the first years are right now, they will definitely cheer for Eijun.
Guess Seido is entirely different from Akagi.
No one would say they are friends with Eijun.
As someone who is separated from practice and is punished to only run around the fence, he is easily an outcast. No bond of any sort will support him now. This game is him playing all by himself.
That thought makes Erika's eyes churn as she stares at Eijun holding his bat with all his heart.
"Ei-chan," Erika mutters his name softly.
Miyuki looks at her from the corner of his eyes. He understands what she is feeling right now. Watching her brother struggle on his own, it must be tough to hold her gaze.
"Useless," Furuya blurts.
Miyuki smirks at his honesty. "Yeah, pretty disappointing."
"Please keep your comments to yourself," scorns Erika weakly.
Miyuki and Furuya replies her with silence as Kawakami winds up for another pitch.
"Strike!"
Eijun stiffens. "Damn! Missed by a hairline!"
"Not even close."
"Can't agree more."
"Shut up you two!" Erika shakes the fence to materialise her anger.
What she does not know is the two boys are smirking, thinking alike.
Kawakami pulls his arm back and with a smooth swing, he throws a low pitch. Miyuki senses the slight dip of the ball path and he instinctively leans forward as though he is the one who is going to catch a possible runaway ball. Just as he predicted, the ball deviates from the catcher's mitt but Eijun has swung his bat.
"Run, Ei-chan!" Erika shouts her lungs out.
Miyuki stares up at her, astonished at her reaction. The ball is only seconds from the mitt and she notices as quick as Miyuki. Not only that, she is smart enough to give Eijun the right move at this kind of situation.
Like Miyuki, Furuya is shocked to hear Erika. But because of the far distance from the field, her shout is meaningless.
Furuya sighs. "He can't hear you, chairman."
"You can make it! Run to the first base!"
A voice from the dugout follows up and the batter heard him clearly. Without hesitation, Eijun dashes towards the first base. As soon as he touches the plate, the ball reaches the mitt of the first baseman.
"Safe!"
"Yosh!" Eijun cheers with arms held high.
The first years soar in happiness that they finally have someone on first base. The seniors however drop their jaws in shock. The pitcher smirks as though he is not surprised by Eijun's success to get on base.
While Furuya slowly registers what happened, Miyuki lets out a relieved sigh. "Though it is a dropped ball on the third strike. That idiot sure knows how to do things out of the ordinary."
"Ei-chan!" Erika grips the fence happily. "You can do it!"
"Finally you stand up and cheer for your brother," Miyuki looks at her. "Weren't you doubting him just now?"
"Not at all," Erika wipes a tear that escapes from her worries. "I know he can't hear me when he has that helmet on but I cannot hold back from shouting. I must have sound rude."
"Not at all, Erika-chan. This is a sports game. Any spectator can shout whatever they want. Unlike this boy who cannot be bothered to even clap for his fellow mate," Miyuki stabs a glare at Furuya who naturally ignores him back.
"But who was that?" Furuya wonders, as he has been in the dugout a moment ago and he does not recall anyone who would help Sawamura.
"Member change! I like to play as pinch hitter, please, coach!"
A boy with pink hair appears with a wooden bat and helmet, announcing his intention in front of everyone. Furuya looks at him as though he has never seen him before. Miyuki smirks knowing another interesting first year has shown up.
Erika suddenly cooes. "Is it him? Who is that, Furuya-kun?"
"Don't bother asking him," Miyiki snorts.
When the coach accepts the new member change, the pink haired batter stands at the plate and signs towards Eijun. The brat blows the plan up by admitting he has no idea what the batter is saying.
"I'll get you back to home base!"
Miyuki chuckles. "Is he for real? Interesting!"
"He's using a wooden bat," Furuya points out, alittle surprised.
"He's supporting Ei-chan," Erika giggles. "He's cute too!"
Miyuki and Furuya turn their heads at Erika sharply that their necks crack. The two lads exchange looks and turn their heads to the field.
"He's too small to use a wooden bat," Furuya states sounding irritated. "He's going to embarrass himself."
Miyuki snorts. "He can't hit with that kind of hairdo either. Is he another clown in your batch, rookie?"
Erika blows a hot breath. "Why are you both so mean to Ei-chan's teammate?!"
Kawakami is not wavered by the pink haired batter. He prepares himself, raising his leg and pulling back his arm. One quick throw of an out-low ball, the batter moves away from the plate and hits the pitch like a pro. The seniors cannot afford to think how the batter knows where the ball will go because their eyes tail behind the flying white sphere towards the left field.
Eijun has already started running, hitting second base. Finally grasping reality, the seniors fasten their pace and passes the ball back home. Eijun is going off third base, not looking at his front as he runs. The first years are never loud as before, cheering their hearts out for him to make it.
The ball flies a few seconds behind Eijun.
Ball meets catcher's mitt and Eijun slides to home base.
"Safe!"
The field quakes by the sheer loudness of the cheer from the first years dugout. Erika is already clapping and jumping in excitement while Miyuki and Furuya gape at the outcome. The pink batter stands at the first base, looking as shocked and happy as his fellow mates.
"Yosh yosh yosh!" Eijun soars with his first years who automatically pat his back for their first score.
Amidst his cheering and talking with his mates, he does not forget to look at his sister.
Erika is giving him the largest grin ever. She is incredibly proud of her brother.
Noticing two lads around her, Eijun winces and marches at them. "Teme! What are you two doing here?! Disturbing Ri-chan?!"
"Don't get cocky, brat," Miyuki scoffs and stands up. "Just because you scored one run, it doesn't make you ace."
"I know! You don't have tell me that!" Eijun barks at his senior before jabbing a finger at Furuya. "And what the hell are you still here?!"
"I'm going off anyways," Furuya pulls away from the fence.
"Ei-chan!" Erika grabs Eijun's attention. "Nice slide! Congratulations for your first run, Ei-chan!"
"Ri-chan, thank you!" Eijun comes closely to her. "I want a hug!"
"Oi, you're still in the game," Miyuki pushes Eijun away from Erika.
Eijun eyes a dead glare at Miyuki for stopping him. "Lay your hands off me!"
"Guys, don't fight, please," Erika persuades them as the two stare hard on each other.
"Sawamura-kun."
Eijun turns behind and meets the pink haired player. "You! I thought you're at the first base!"
The pink haired lad smiles nervously. "We had a third out, unfortunately. Too bad we can't get another score. I just want to say nice run, Sawamura-kun."
Eijun laughs. "Thank you, pal! You really helped me."
"That's what teammates are for," the pink haired boy grins.
"Ano," Erika moves herself so she can be seen between Miyuki and Eijun. "Thank you for your support! Can I know what's your name?"
The pink batter blushes suddenly, seeing a girl amidst them. Her sudden interest however gives the other three wild ideas of this situation. For a shy girl like Erika to talk to a boy she does not know, this scene cannot be ignored.
"Yeah," Miyuki folds his arms, forcing out a painful grin. "It's rude not to introduce yourself in the presence of your senior here."
"You could have at least make a steal to home base," Eijun growls lowly.
Furuya sighs. "You could have hit a homerun if you used a metal bat."
Dark clouds hover the three boys, frightening the pink haired boy.
"Sorry," the pink haired lad bows. "I'm Kominato Haruiichi. Nice to meet you!"
"Nice to meet you, Kominato-kun!" Erika replies excitedly. "I'm Sawamura Erika."
"Sawamura?" Haruiichi repeats and looks at Eijun. "Are you two twins?"
"Damn right! So stay away all of you! Must I say this all the time?!" Eijun explodes, pushing the other two away from the fence.
"Interesting," Haruiichi giggles. "This is the first time I meet a pair of twins."
"Sawamura! Kominato!"
A first year runs to them. "The coach is giving us another inning to play if we want to."
"Let's play!" Eijun answers without hesitation. "Come on, Kominato! We're getting more scores now!"
Haruiichi nods and follows behind Eijun as they run towards the coach. Hearing the fact that Eijun is going to pitch, Erika claps, brimming in joy alone. Miyuki and Furuya has been glaring at the pink haired batter for too long.
After one inning, Erika decides to leave.
"So soon?" Miyuki asks her. "His team has not scored another run."
"I'm not that dumb to think they can actually catch up," Erika smiles. "But seeing how Ei-chan is playing, he will be fine even if I'm not here. And it's getting late. I have to go."
"I'll go too," Furuya also makes a move only when Miyuki grabs his collar from behind.
"What did you say? Thought we're playing catch," Miyuki grumbles, knowing Furuya is going to accompany Erika.
Furuya turns to his senior. "Very well then. Let's start."
"You're troublesome," Miyuki sighs.
"I'll take my leave now. Please give my regards to Ei-chan and Kominato-kun," Erika bows and says her farewell.
"Wait," Miyuki stops her from turning away.
Erika looks at him, sensing whether he is trying to tease her again.
"Do you have tennis practice tomorrow?" Miyuki grins. "I can come and watch, right?"
The brunette stares at him for a moment and bows again. She does not say another word, leaving Miyuki clueless. Furuya sighs and looks at Miyuki.
"I didn't take you as a tennis fan," Furuya says directly.
"Tennis and baseball are like brothers, rookie."
"Never heard of that."
Well yeah.. Not much progress in this chappie, but we have Haruichi and Furuya. I love them too! Hope you enjoy the humour here. I wrote this with a big smile lol haha! See ya next chappie!