'He's...isolating me from the team? That's...not what I need right now! I need support, reassurance that I'll bounce back from this, otherwise... Otherwise, there's no hope.'

He keeps those thoughts to himself though and sighs, "I understand, coach."

After a day of his new regimen...

'How...is this any different from not having a coach at all? Again!' Gripping his hands into fists and grinding his teeth in frustration, Sawamura makes his decision then and there, grabbing a bat before starting to swing.

Later...

Kuramochi notices Sawamura's strange behavior. His eyes are dull, but a bit lighter than before.

He also notes the increasing amount of baseball books next to Sawamura's manga.

Sighing, he decides to check on the kid, make sure he isn't overworking himself.

When he gets to the field, he doesn't expect this.

One of the managers with the pitching machine...and Sawamura at-bat, trying to hit the balls that come flying his way, adjusting his stance every so often while muttering to himself.

After the manager calls the session to be over, Sawamura helps clean up before bowing and thanking her. Then taking off to cool down.

"What was that about?" He asks the manager.

She answers, "He said that he wanted to learn how to use the pitching machine. Mostly to know how to reload it, and turn it on and off."

"He got you to spot him and adjust the speed then?"

She shakes her head, "No... It seems he doesn't care about the pitching speed. Honestly, I feel like if he did get caught touching a ball, he would use "helping the managers clean up the field" as an excuse since coach just said he's not allowed to touch a ball but nothing about a bat."

"...I see."

Kuramochi walks away, feeling a bit frustrated that his roommate never asked for his help...and that he's smarter than he looks.

Then Miyuki and Kuramochi see Sawamura and Harucchi, Sawamura testing his swing with a wooden bat.

"What's going on?"

"Eijun-kun...he asked me if he could borrow my wooden bat. He said he wanted to feel the difference between a metal bat and a wooden one. See which suits him, I guess?" Harucchi shrugs, "He also said he'd be gentle and try not to break it."

"And he hasn't talked to you about anything else?"

"...not really, no," Harucchi lowers his head.

After getting a feel for a wooden bat, Sawamura gives Harucchi a small smile, returning the bat to him, "Thanks Harucchi. Here's your partner."

"Thanks, Eijun-kun."

Kuramochi and Miyuki look at each other, the same thought in mind, 'We have to talk about this!'

Kuramochi tells Miyuki about Sawamura using the pitching machine, and what the manager told him.

When confronted by the Captain and Vice-Captain, Sawamura narrows his eyes as he swings his bat.

"What is it, Cap? Vice-Cap?"

"Just trying to figure out what's up with you, Sawamoron."

He raises an eyebrow at his senpai, "Oh, really?"

"Yeah! You're acting weird!" Kuramochi yells.

Sawamura sighs, "I've just gone back to my roots, before Seido. Teaching myself baseball. "

"Hah?" They both blink.

"Through trial and error, I taught myself how to bunt," he tells them, lowering his bat, "If I can teach myself how to bunt, I can teach myself how to bat. Especially since no one is looking at me, willing to even try and teach me, saying that it's a lost cause, and everyone's avoiding me like the plague since I got the yips. I have to teach myself since no one else is going to."

He laughs self-deprecating at himself, "I might as well be a ghost on the field."

"Sawamura..."

"Now then, excuse me. I need to run before dinner," Sawamura bows before running off, leaving the other two alone.

Miyuki and Kuramochi facepalm, 'He's teaching himself baseball?! Seriously?!'

Of course, Miyuki gets Chris to help Sawamura anyway.

When Ochiai comes and asks Sawamura to be a sidearm pitcher, he says, "No."

He blinks, not expecting that, "No?"

"No," Sawamura shakes his head, "I've been teaching myself just fine. I don't need you to teach me anything."

"Oh~? Is that so?" He strokes his beard.

'I really don't trust this guy!'

"Yes. Now, please leave me alone," Sawamura silently glares at him.

Ochiai backs off, "OK OK. I know when I'm not wanted."

When in the game against Ichidai Third...

"WHAT are you guys doing?" He asks, startling everyone.

"You're just leaving Furuya to crumble on the mound alone. Why aren't you doing anything? I thought this was a team."

After getting a hit and on-base for what seems like the first time... Sawamura gritting his teeth in anger.

Sawamura shakes his head, laughing at himself again, "I guess you guys still don't trust me, huh? Is that the difference between an ace and a relief? If so, I hate it."

"Sawamura..."

He growls like a lion, "Since when did baseball stop being fun?"

Everyone's silent at that question, not knowing what to say to that.

It's only until later that Sawamura demands, "Miyuki Kazuya, catch for me!"

Of course, since it seems like the normal demanding Sawamura, instead of the passive-aggressive one lately, Miyuki agrees, "Sure."

"I want to experiment with grips," Sawamura smiles, "Please?"

"And why should we do that?" Miyuki asks, raising an eyebrow, a bit teasing.

"BECAUSE! I don't know what I'm capable of and neither does anyone else...so we might as well try everything and see what sticks."

Miyuki stares at him, "Huh...you say some wise things sometimes."

"Only sometimes?! I say wise things all the time, you damn tanuki!"

"Hai Hai. Let's just get started, OK?" Miyuki smirks since it's been a while since he's riled up Sawamura.

"Yeah! Let's try this grip first then!" Sawamura yells happily.

Thus, the numbers were born.