Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction, the characters go with their respective creators of diamond no ace and I do not claim ownership of the characters or the world.
A/N: Hello everyone! I am back... but not officially yet since my laptop is still getting fixed. However I was seriously getting bored, and I miss Every one... so I just decided to do this manually. I hope everyone had a wonderful New Year celebration. Anyways... We are back people... together with our favorite pitcher! Happy New Year!
Chapter 24
"What were you thinking hitting that kind of pitch?" Takashima Rei was in the room behind the dugout since a doctor was called in to check on Sawamura's swelling hands. "Do you want to be like Miyuki? Why are you boys all like that?" she reprimanded obviously mad and worried at the same time.
A few of the players were also in the room including Okumura, Yui and coach Ochiai making Eijun smile on the thought he was suddenly being surrounded by his teammates, though he is not sure if they are really concerned or just pretending to be one. "I am fine Miss Takashima… it is not like this is the first time I have experienced this kind of sharp pain, it is pretty much normal for batters from what I know" he calmly answered, then flinched the moment he noticed what he just said, at the same time the confused reaction of the people within the room.
"Huh?" Okumura was confused, and looked at Yui who also looked baffled and shook his head as if saying he has no idea what there senior is saying.
"Not the first time?" Coach Ochiai asked curiously.
"What do you mean Sawamura? When did you experience this kind of swelling hands injury?" Rei was now extremely worried.
"Huh… ahm… ehhh…" as Eijun tries to look in a different direction, he could feel the observing gaze from the people within the room. "I mean… when I was in junior high… yes that is it… when I was in junior high, I already experienced this kind of sharp pain before from batting" Eijun tries to explain. Though based from the expression of the people in the room they were not convinced at all.
"Did you ever hit a homerun in your junior high days?" Okumura asked curiously, making the room go into a tense and awkward silence at the same time making Eijun stiff as a board on Okumura's question.
The doctor who was present in the room coughed for a bit to ease the tension, making the attention of the people in the room gravitates towards him. "Ahm… there seem to be no problem with his wrist, muscles or bones. Though there is a slight swelling due to the vibration of the bat but it is nothing major. He just need to ice it up, then the swelling should go down, but aside from that he is good to go. Like he said this is quite common for strong hitters, and the post impact vabriation for steel bats are more intense compared to wooden bats. I also highly recommend that you change to a wooden bat if that is your style of batting Sawamura" the doctor advised and stood up looking at Sawamura intently. "However if you feel any pain or anything off, you need to have it checked immediately do you understand" he added.
Eijun nodded at the same time giving a salute to the doctor "Sir yes sir… this Sawamura would be following what you say!" at the same time he grin widely as he stood up and walk back towards the dugout entrance. He cannot really say that he had been using a wooden bat since that is the standard bat for NPB after all.
"Where do you think your going!" Rei shouted as if the checkup was not yet done at all.
"Ehhhh… back to the dugout? We are done here right?" Eijun asked unsure as he noticed the tense expression of Takashima.
"It is fine… right now we need Sawamura on the field…" Coach Ochiai intervene as he look at Sawamura then turn towards Miss Takashima Rei. "If we intend to beat Inashiro and go to Koshien, we need Sawamura on the field as he is holding the ace number" he added making Takashima expression morphe into frustration.
"Hehehehe… it will be alright Miss Takashima… I am actually fine, just a bit numb but totally fine" as he also put up both his hands that were still a bit red.
"Fine…" Takashima conceided however he looked at Eijun thoughtfully, "if anything is amiss, stop ok… then inform us right away do you understand? I will not tolerate a scene like that of Miyuki ever again" she ordered making Eijun grin wider.
"Yes mam… Let us go young Okumura… I need to get the sensation back on my fingertips before the inning ends!" Eijun called out as he move back towards Seido's dugout.
Okumura and Yui both nodded as they followed there senior. Okumura did notice that Sawamura did not even bother answering his question before and acted that he never heard it thus making him confused and curios at the same time. Yui on another hand did notice Coach Ochiai stayed behind as if talking to Miss Takashima, and at the same time the fact that Sawamura did not answer Okumura's question in regards to his junior high incident seem to pique his interest.
The moment Sawamura step in the Seido's dugout, he noticed Itsuki was on second base, most likely getting another long hit from Furuya at the same time Inashiro's clean up Yamaoka Riku was on the batters box. I knew Ituski can pretty much hit Furuya's pitches, but I just wish that cap would find a way to avoid putting him in base. He is not the same catcher as he used to be for crying out loud. How hard to they want me to handle this game… Eijun grumbled as he looks out towards Miyuki sempai who was obviously focusing towards Furuya. The first pitch was his well famed fastball, where Yamaoka did swing however miss due to the speed of the ball. Eijun could clearly hear the call of the umpire strike making him sigh in relief, though the next pitch was a slider which was called a ball. How long do they need to keep increasing his pitch count… though as Sawamura look intently at there captain he could notice his full concentration and at the same time Yamaoka's pressure on the batters box. Well I do hope Furuya is doing fine with that kind of pressure, though captain Daiki and Hero sempai's batter pressure is way to scary compared to Inashiro's clean up, and as if on cue Furuya's fastball missed the plate thus Inashiro's 4th batter was given a walk under the count of 3 balls 2 strike outs, making Eijun sigh deeper, as if already expecting that scenario.
"Sawamura? How is your hands?" Mr Kazuyoshi asked as he noticed Sawamura walking in and looking out the field seriously.
Eijun turn slightly to the president and smiled brightly, "Huh… owh… it is fine" at the same time Eijun raising both his hands, that were still swollen and a bit red obviously from the ice pack.
"Do you think you can pitch for the next inning?" Coach Kataoka asked seriously as he looked at Eijun.
Eijun turn to look at his coach, "Yes boss… I can…" he answered confidently. "Hehehehe… I was actually planning to go to the bullpen now…" he added at the same time Okumura and Yui walked in the dugout. "Let us go Okumura… I need to get the sensation back in my hands…" he called out at the same time handed the ice packs to Yui, as he step out of the dugout and went towards the bullpen section. He failed to miss the worried glances of his teammates including there coach who was looking at his back intently.
Okumura on another hand seems more confused with his seniors behavior, as he turn towards there head coach, he could see coach Kataoka nodding once as if silently agreeing to Sawamura's answer. "I understand sempai…" Okumura answered briefly as he followed Sawamura out of the dugout and towards the bullpen. However the moment they arrive in the bullpen, Okumura noticed that Sawamura was not focus at him at all but was looking intently out towards the field, watching the game.
Eijun was worried in regards to Furuya's condition, however as he was observing closely, he suddenly could feel a different kind of sensation making him unsure. He watched as Furuya turn towards his direction, raising his mitt as if asking if he was ok, making him grin and nod. He also notice captain Miyuki glancing towards his direction looking at him seriously like he was about to be reprimanded which gave him chills all of a sudden. Though at the moment the 5th batter was stepping in the batter box and it was none other than Narumiya, he could clearly see that Furuya expression morphed into seriousness. What is this kind of feeling… what is going on… he thought silently not noticing Okumura's observing gaze. He watched as Furuya threw the first pitch, where Narumiya was unable to touch the pitch due to the speed. Eijun watched closely towards Furuya, who was obviously now dominating the mound, making him remember the time they were in the Fall Koushien Tournament. His back… he is finally back… he thought happily and then he noticed Itsuki who was on third base putting his hand on his lips then back on his nose then back to his lips making him stiff. Ehhhh… what kind of expression was I making to make him worried… Eijun thought gravely as he crouched down trying not to laugh. The sign that Itsuki just made was a sign that the both of them made up when either one would be to tense to play and to inform them to breath.
"Sawamura sempai! Are you ok?" Okumura run towards his senior the moment he notice his stiff expression watching Furuya sempai on the mound. And the moment he notice Sawamura crouching down, he got nervous and worried at the same time making him run towards his senior in full speed.
Eijun could hear the worried voice from Okumura, though he did not bother to stood up right away. He was doing his breathing exercise, at the same time grinning widely. That guy is way to amazing… he got worried about me… considering we are on different teams… I don't want to loose to him… not yet… he thought seriously. As he look back up towards the field, and casually put his mitted hand on his lips and back to his nose, obviously noticing Itsuki's relieve expression. He also notice and heard the loud cheers of the people within the stadium as Narumiya Mei was strike out with full brute force. He then immediately stood up and turn towards Okumura grinning from ear to ear. "He sure is awesome isn't he, the whole stadium is cheering for him. No wonder the cap said what he did… except in the National stage he was more crazier. Let us go back to the dug out Okumura… we don't need to worry about anything anymore, since he is officially back… then I guess we can just relax now"
"Huh… but sempai you just crouched dow…." But before Okumura could finish what he was saying, Sawamura already turned his back towards him and move back to the dug out. "Ehhhh… wait sempai!" he called out as he followed Sawamura.
Eijun could hear Furuya's loud pitches, as the latter did another strike out to Inashiro's 6th batter. I wonder if I could still be able to pitch now… but I had always wanted to go head to head with you now that you are officially back. As he wave his hand obviously cheering and welcoming the team who was returning from the field. "Nice brute forcing there man…" he commented making Furuya nod towards him. "That is one hell of pitching, you should have been doing that on the get go you know… hahahaha!" he added all loud making the players turn towards him. As he was about to add more remarks, he noticed Miyuki serious expression as the latter was moving towards his direction.
The moment Miyuki noticed Sawamura step out of the dugout and move towards the bullpen, he felt relieved seeing there loud ace back. Even though he was concentrating on the game, he could clearly notice that Sawamura did not pitch to Okumura at all for warm up, and at the same time he noticed he also crouched down which was weird. The moment Sawamura stood up, he had this serious look which has surprised him, he had never saw that kind of serious look before on there loud ace. He clearly knew that Sawamura did not even pitch or even tried to warm up in the bullpen, but instead after standing up, move back towards back the bullpen instead. Thus the moment the inning has ended, he immediately move towards Sawamura who was all loud and cheerful as if nothing was wrong. "Raise your pitching hand!" Miyuki Kazuya ordered the moment he stood up infront of Sawamura all serious.
"Huh… ehhhh… what do you mean cap?" Eijun was confused, with the captain's order. The other players including coach Kataoka look at them seriously.
"Just raise your hand now!" Miyuki ordered again still serious.
"I don't know what is going on cap…" though Eijun was unsure he did put up his pitching hand, and noticed as Miyuki put his hand directly towards his hand making it look like that there hands are palm to palm, that was when Eijun realized that there cap was checking on his hand condition. "Ehhhh… cap I am feeling fine now though…" as he could clearly notice Miyuki was observing him closely.
"Are you sure… why are your hands still cold… how about the sensation on your finger tips, your wrist have you had it check thoroughly?" Miyuki asked seriously.
"Ehhhhh… yeah… I guess… I was holding an ice pack a minute ago that is why it is cold, cap your are creeping me out…" as Eijun pulled his hand away, he could still clearly see the seriousness in his captain's gaze which was making him feel more awkward. Honestly speaking he does not like being observed closely by there captain, considering he is well aware that Miyuki Kazuya have good observation skills. He is amazed he was still not found out with his extra practices too.
"Are you sure you are fine Sawamura?" Coach Kataoka asked intently, making the other players turn towards there coach direction.
"Ahm… yes… my fingertips are a bit numb due to the ice pack, once I warm them up I will be good… I swear!" he answered cheerfully avoiding Miyuki's observing gaze. "Plus… with Furuya's performance… we are sure to win this game!" he added.
"As long as you are ready to go anytime… Now we are back on offense… do not let Inashiro breath!" coach Kataoka ordered, making Eijun sigh in relief that the focus was no longer towards him.
As Itsuki was putting on his catching gear, he could clearly notice Narumiya's eagerness to go back to the mound and at the same time he was glad that Eijun did not suffer any serious injury at all.
"By the way Itsuki… what were you doing a while back in third base?" Narumiya asked casually the moment Itsuki step out of the dugout.
"Huh… what do you mean Mei san?" Itsuki asked confused.
"The moment you put your hand on your mouth and your nose… is that some sort of sign I am not aware of?" Narumiya asked making the other players turn towards that direction.
"Ehhh… ahhhh… a while back, my nose was a bit itchy… sorry about that…" Itsuki lied at the same time turned to look towards Seido dug out. In the game, he noticed the moment Eijun step out of the dugout and move towards the bullpen, he had this sort of expression, which instinctively made him give a sign to breath. It was a sign that the both of them made up to inform one another to take a breather if one is to tense or unsure. Honestly, he was not sure what got into him the moment he made the sign, however when he saw Eijun with a very serious, unsure expression, he instinctively made the sign unconsciously. The weird part is that Eijun answered back, if someone was actually on the field and observing the both of them, it could be clearly seen as a sign that made him sigh deeper. I need to be careful… I never thought this would be harder than I though… he thought gravely as he jog towards the catcher position in the field. Both him and Eijun have not been a battery partner for that long, yet for some some kind of reason he was aware when ever his partner was tense, making him sigh deeper.