Miyuki Kazuya was getting beaten by his senpai...again.
It was just like any other day...except...
"WOOF!"
"!"
A dog appears. Its fur is dirty and has a curly tail. The dog barks at them, growling to get their attention.
"It's just a stupid dog!"
Then, the dog leaps at them, getting in front of Miyuki before turning around and growling at the older kids.
"Huh?" Miyuki blinks as he doesn't know why this dog's protecting him.
"Tch. Let's go! If this mutt bites us, I don't want to deal with it!"
As the older kids clear out, the dog gives them one last bark before leaving Miyuki alone.
Miyuki looks at the dog, who looks back at him, gold meeting amber.
The dog then went over to him, sniffing him before licking his cheek.
"Ah..." Miyuki smiles, petting the dog on the head, "Good boy."
"Woof!" the dog's tail wags happily.
"Thanks for the help...really. I have to go now. See ya!" Miyuki smiles as he goes home.
As he walks, however, he turns around and sees that dog following right behind him.
Miyuki sweat-drops, "Don't follow me!" as he starts running home, hoping to lose the stray.
When he finally arrives home, he locks the door, then checks the windows. No sign of the dog.
Sighing in relief, Miyuki cleans himself up and starts dinner.
When his dad arrives home, he asks, "Kazuya...why is there a dog in front of our door?"
"Huh?!" Kazuya looks out the door and sees the dog he met today just laying down in front of their door.
He face-palms, sighing, "I've no idea. I think he followed me home."
"Well... A storm's coming tonight, so we might as well take him in."
Opening the door, Toku lets the dog inside.
The dog's tail starts wagging as soon as he saw Kazuya.
Kazuya just sighs.
After a bath, it's revealed that the dog is a black and tan shiba inu pup, and definitely a male.
For some reason or another, Toku decided to keep him, so he can keep Kazuya company at home.
Kazuya names the dog Eijun, who barks in approval.
The vet gives Eijun his shots, and he's such a good boy. Seems he has a clean bill of health and has probably only been on the streets for about a month.
Eijun escorts Kazuya to school and back, waiting for him in front of the gate, and sometimes from the fence that borders the baseball field. He likes watching his boy play baseball, and is actually quiet when he does. He also scares off his senpai enough that they leave him alone now.
Also, he only sleeps in Kazuya's room.
Due to Eijun's high energy, Kazuya has to run with him. It increases his stamina chasing after a dog, so it's not all bad.
Eijun doesn't exactly like Mei though… he growls at Mei and his posse.
"Down boy. Let me handle this," Kazuya commands.
Eijun obeys him, sitting at his master's feet.
"Guard dog?" Mei raises an eyebrow.
"Guard dog," Kazuya smirks.
Then... Kazuya wakes up one day to see that his dog has turned into a human with dog ears and tail. The only reason he recognizes it is Eijun is the collar.
"Eijun?!"
"Kazuya!"
"Wha-?" Kazuya's confused now.
"It's OK! Just calm down!" Eijun takes a deep breath, gesturing for Kazuya to breathe with him.
After a few deep breaths, Kazuya calms down.
Eijun explains that he's an inugami, a dog youkai.
"Well…" Kazuya sighs, "At least I won't have to worry about you staying home alone anymore."
"Master~!" Eijun whines, his ears drooping at Kazuya's teasing.
Of course, Eijun only transforms into a human when he's alone or with Kazuya in private. Never in public unless he can hide his ears and tail.
Then, of course, Seido.
Eijun somehow ends up as their mascot.
He motivates the players to run faster by running with them, is quiet during practice games, and is very loyal and protective of his new pack.
Also, he even barks at trash-talking alumni who have nothing better to do, which the players appreciate.
"I think he's telling us to shut up and watch the game…" one sweat drops.
"I think you're right…" the other sighs.
Plus… Eijun's face is so squish-able!
He's seen biting a tire like a chew toy and dragging it around the field. Eventually, they just get a harness and strap Eijun's tire to it, letting the pup drag it around while running. It's at least a good way to burn off energy.
Miyuki sweat-drops, "He's smarter than he looks… since he figured out how to open doors."
Eijun growls at Azuma, warning him to behave himself. Even barking at him whenever he tries to insult the pitchers.
"Fine! I give!" Azuma yells, sighing dramatically.
Miyuki just smiles, "Good boy," patting his pup's head.
Miyuki gets Nori and Tanba to help train Eijun. Eijun's nice and follows their commands, which helps the pitchers' confidence.
Put natto in front of Eijun, and he'll bark at it like it's his arch-enemy until it's taken away from him. Then, and only then, will he quiet down. "He just reaallly hates natto," is Miyuki's explanation.
Miyuki gives Eijun homemade dog treats if he's a good boy. Eijun especially likes carob, a chocolate substitute. Eijun jumps Miyuki like the excited puppy he is when it involves treats!
"Whatever you do, don't leave Ei alone. He's a puppy with separation anxiety. He doesn't do very well when he's lonely, so don't leave him alone for too long. At the minimum, he can handle a few hours alone, maybe a day."
As for Eijun's secret…well… the team discovers it by accident. Miyuki vouches for his Eijun, and they all agree to keep it a secret from the adults.
Eijun glares and growls, "I may trust you, but don't push it. I only have one Master, and that's Kazuya. Not you. Understand?"
They all nod as Kazuya's just proud of his pup.
Then Eijun notices Chris's injury, and according to his "animal instincts", sits on him until he promises to go see a doctor.
Miyuki sees Eijun sitting on Chris-senpai and sighs.
"Uh… A little help here? I can't move," Chris pleads.
"Well, Eijun will sit on you if he thinks you're sick or injured. It's his way of making sure you don't overwork yourself."
"Speaking from experience?"
"Yeah," Miyuki nods, "It looks like you're not sick, Chris-senpai… so, are you injured?"
"...well, my shoulder has been a bit tight lately, but it's probably nothing."
His brow twitches, "Eijun, I'll make sure Chris-senpai goes to the doctor for a check-up, just to be safe. Now, can you please get off of him?"
Eijun just gives him a look before huffing and getting off Chris.
Miyuki pats him on the head, "Good boy."
Miyuki does as he said since he knows Eijun will know if he lied. They won't smell like the doctor's or vet's if they did.
After the check-up, Chris-senpai is on a strict no catching or overworking himself policy for about a month to heal his torn muscles. He does pat Eijun's head though, "Good boy."
Eijun's tail wags happily and proudly.
Eijun usually wakes his master up in the morning. Usually, around 6 AM.
He opens the door to room 203 with his paws before entering, the door quietly closing behind him.
When Miyuki feels his sheets being pulled out and suddenly cold, he curls in on himself, groaning, "Eijun…"
"Woof!"
"It's…" he looks at the clock on his phone, "6 in the morning~. Let me sleep~!" Miyuki whines into his pillow.
Eijun just starts barking louder.
"I'm up. I'm up!" Miyuki gets up, getting his glasses, and Eijun immediately quiets down.
"Happy now?" Miyuki gives his seemingly innocent pup a look.
Eijun just gives a small, approving bark in response.
Eventually, waking up around 6 AM becomes a habit for Miyuki. So much so that he's never late to practice ever again, much to Kuramochi's teasing pleasure.
Usually, when invading Miyuki's room…
Eijun's head is in Miyuki's lap as he's reading his scorebooks, Miyuki absentmindedly petting him, his pup content with napping there.
By the time the usual suspects show up, it becomes chaotic.
Tetsu tries to get Eijun to play shogi with him like usual but to no avail, and when someone goes on a drink run, Eijun usually goes with him.
Apparently, Eijun knows how to operate a vending machine, usually by using his nose to push the correct buttons.
Haruichi holds the drinks in his arms as Eijun opens the door for him.
"Eijun knows how to open doors? And use the vending machine?" he asks.
Kuramochi answers, "Kyaha! The first time Eijun did that, everyone praised him for being so smart…for a dog."
Haruichi pats Eijun's head, "Thank you."
Eijun gives a small bark before going back to his master's, Miyuki's side.
When Furuya gets left behind, Eijun comes up to him.
"You get left behind too?" Furuya asks the dog, who barks in response.
Eijun gets Furuya to play fetch with him. By staring intensely at the baseball before Furuya throws it, "Fetch!"
Running after it, Eijun brings it back to Furuya before barking, tail wagging excitedly.
With pink cheeks, Furuya plays fetch with Eijun until everyone else gets back.
When they get back, Miyuki asks about Furuya. She shakes her head and smiles, "No… Eijun got him to play with him."
Miyuki smiles and reminds himself to give Ejiun his favorite treat later.
During a game, usually, Eijun gets a bottle of water from the cooler in his mouth, holding it gently, before giving it to a player who needs it. He does this repeatedly.
"Thanks," all the players praise him for being a good and smart boy, his tail wagging happily.
This time is different.
Eijun paws Miyuki's leg, getting his attention.
"What is it?"
Eijun whines, his ears back. Miyuki turns his attention to what Eijun's looking at.
"Oh…" Miyuki's eyes widen as he takes in the state of the opposing pitcher. Patting Eijun's head, "Don't worry," before promptly warning Tanba.
"You noticed that?"
"Nope! Eijun did. He just alerted me," Miyuki smiles sheepishly.
Tanba pats Eijun's head, "Good boy."
When Miyuki gets injured…
Miyuki sighs as he has Eijun sitting in his lap.
"Let me guess…you won't move until I agree to see a doctor?"
"Woof!" Eijun barks in confirmation.
"OK OK. I'll go see a doctor, pup. I promise," he pets Eijun's head.
Satisfied with that, Eijun moves off of his master.
When meeting the new first years…
They had heard about this infamous pup, but meeting him in person was something else.
Especially Okumura, who has to deal with the pup most of the time since he is Miyuki's dog. The wake-up calls at 6 in the morning especially.
He sees the pup quietly encouraging them, especially Asada, waiting for them to finish their food, and offering comfort before leaving to patrol the grounds.
"He's a good pup, isn't he?" Taku comments.
Everyone else agrees.
Okumura sighs, "I guess…"
After everything in their final year, once Miyuki's settled down, he takes Eijun with him.