Disclaimers: Disclaimer: I do not own Big Windup! /Okiku Furikabutte or Diamond no Ace, please the support the authors of both works. Also, due to commitments in my personal life I will try to adhere to a monthly update schedule to avoid becoming burn out with this story. So, with that out of the way, feel free to sit back and enjoy my cross over of Big Windup! and Diamond no Ace.
Hi": Speaking
'Hi': Thinking
"Hi": Yelling
"Hi": Flashback/ Messages
Chapter 1
Spring is without a doubt one of the most visually and symbolically, as well as spiritually, reviving times of the year. It sees a renewal of life along with a return of movement, activity, and energy throughout all of the areas of the world it touches, firmly displacing the discomfort of winter and, in the case of Japan, marking the return of the eye-catching festivals that open its school years. A visual display that caught students, such as the poor Mihashi Ren, slightly off guard at the sight and caused him to curl inwards at the incessant as the various second- and third-year club members went around waving the application forms of their clubs in their respective costumes.
Tactics which only received them mixed success.
"Come on, join Nishiura's famous soccer club" one particularly enigmatic boy with jet black hair loudly declared as Mihashi tried to pass by.
"We've made seven appearances in the All-University Championship and have managed to capture the title twice" the boy added while thrusting an application form, as well as a small info sheet about the nature of the club, into Mihashi's chest, and enthusiastically added.
"I can guarantee we'll have a spot for you!"
"Oh, t-t-thanks" nervously coming from the orange haired boy as he quickly moved past the energetic student, never having dared to look him directly in the eye.
'But I can't tell my left foot from my right', crossing his mind as just as an absolute mammoth of a young man stepped in front of him and, no doubt seeing the application form that Mihashi clutched against his chest, slapped another club information form into Mihashi's partially open left hand.
"Come join the Rugby Club!" following the boy in a booming voice that caused Mihashi to shoot straight up in fear, sending his eyes up the torso of the muscular young man to his well chiseled face furthermore causing him to freeze up so badly that he nearly missed the second half of the boy's pitch.
"You'll toughen up and have lots of fun", in the young man's jovial voice.
"Thanks" meekly coming out, earning him a strong slap on the back from young man that sent the poor stick of an orangette stumbling forwards toward the next, and only realistic, club he'd seen so far, that of the basketball club. While Mihashi hadn't been a member of his high school's basketball club, instead playing with his high school baseball team, he'd still gotten quite a bit of practice in the sport as he'd found himself looped into aiding the school's basketball club when it was down a member in its practices. Something that was easy to do seeing as how he wasn't that inavluable to the team and was therefore seldom at the front of his coach's mind, giving him ample experience in all the skills required to do even moderately well in the sport, even as he failed to play it consistently.
'As long as I focus and learn, I can't be any worse than I was at baseball during high school' crossing his mind as he eagerly stepped forwards and took an information pamphlet from the club's slightly less than enthusiastic pitch. The pamphlet, rather than the person handing it out, boasting of the club's achievements at the national level, having made 10 appearances in the Intercollegiate Championships and two appearances in the national semifinals while still hungering for their first national championship. Under normal circumstances that would most likely have been where Mihashi's inquiries into the possible clubs he could join would have ended, however that was before there was a loud shout of.
"Hey Mihashi!" reached his ears sending the orangette's head over to his left to find himself staring face to face with a familiar, blond-haired boy who was waving at him.
"Hama-chan?" barely squeaking out as the blond boy ran over an threw his arms around Mihashi in a friendly embrace.
"Hey, long time no see" his friend declared, a point which Mihashi answered with a nod.
"Where were you all summer?"
"M-m-my parents and I had to visit and clear things up with my grandparents" Mihashi began as his friend released him from his grasp.
"So, we spent the time with my maternal and paternal grandparents' homes", the answer causing Hamada to place a hand behind his head at the familiar, but ever unfortunate, drama of Mihashi's familial relations.
"Oh geez, that again?" coming from the blond-haired boy at the misfortune of Mihashi's parents.
"A-a-actually," Mihashi continued, cutting his friend off as politely as he possibly could.
"The reason that they had us over was to show that they were fine with it", this announcement causing a smile to come over Hamada's face.
"That's great," supportively coming from him as he warmly shook Mihashi on the arm before drawing him in close and quietly whispering.
"By the way could you do me a favor and take a flyer and maybe an application form?", the question that confused Mihashi slightly.
"Why?"
"We've been having trouble getting people to stop by", clarifying Hamada's question and earning him a nod from Mihashi.
"Sure," before then taking a flyer and an application form from his friend.
"What club is this anyway?", causing Hamada to dawn a bright and joyful smile before answering.
"The baseball club"
"This school has a baseball club?" Mihashi almost instantly asked, earning him another nod from Hamada.
"It does now, it just started up this year", the words barely having left Hamada's mouth before another young boy ran up to the duo.
"Is this the baseball club?" coming from a short, black haired young boy, the boy's question earning him Hamada's attention.
"Yeah, how'd you hear about us?"
"They mentioned it in the news section of the school's intermural club page" being the boy's almost matter of fact answer which caused a look of genuine surprise to come over Hamada's face.
"Huh, I guess she really managed to pull it off" he muttered, the words barely being audible to Mihashi, before Hamada handed the boy a club application form but forgoing to give the boy the club's information sheet as he clearly knew more than a bit about the club.
"Hey," the boy asked, turning his gaze upon Mihashi.
"You gonna join?"
"I-I was thinking of joining the basketball team" barely escaping Mihashi's lips before the black-haired boy let out a laugh.
"Ah man, that's your funeral, I hope you like chasing balls around all day"
"Why do you say that?" sending Mihashi's gaze to Hamada.
"Because they're really good and really selective, if you don't make the bench by the end of your first year, you're probably never gonna play", sending Mihashi's attention back to the basketball flyer in his hands as the black-haired boy finished.
"Anyway, thanks for the application" and merrily walked off, his words echoing in Mihashi head.
'Maybe, it would be better to choose the safer option'
As much as Mihashi may have been overburdened by his admittingly silent resolutions, that didn't stop him from still finding himself sheepishly walking to the school's main dirt athletic field, rather than its basketball gym, the following Monday. The application for the baseball club clutched tightly in his hands as the strict mantra of.
'I'll check it out and then I'll leave, I'll check it out and then I'll leave, I'll check it out and then I'll leave' played on repeat in his head. His hands clutching even tighter onto the application form as he gradually got a clearer sight of his destination, the surprisingly well-maintained backstop, or what looked like a backstop. His total focus on his destination causing him to be completely unaware of the things, and people, in his surroundings; especially a certain tall, dark-skinned boy who was making his way over to the same field.
"Excuse me, excuse me," failing to register in Mihashi's head until said boy let out an exclamation of.
"Watch out!", which only got Mihashi to snap his head up from his application, catch sight of a tree that was only a few centimeters away from him, and jump backwards right into the boy's chest. The impact immediately halting Mihashi's backward momentum and causing him to stumble forwards a few steps.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry" accompanying his spinning around to face his new acquaintance.
"I didn't see you," being met by a friendly and relaxed smile from the boy as he raised his hands and put them behind the back of his head.
"It's okay" coming from the boy just as Mihashi was able to get a good look at him, taking note of his tall, dark facial features.
"I was actually a little lost, you see, I'm looking for the baseball field" the boy continued, instantly earning him the attention of Mihashi.
"Or at least it's what they call the baseball field", then glancing over to the incredibly simple field that was before them and then glancing elsewhere.
"Do you know where it is?"
"Y-yeah, I do," Mihashi answered, before pointing over to the outline of the backstop he'd been walking towards.
"I was actually heading there too", instantly causing the dark-skinned boy's face to brighten up.
"Really? That's great! For a moment I was worried that there wouldn't be enough people for a team with the fact the club was so new" eagerly coming from the boy and making Mihashi wish he'd been a little bit more specific about only wanting to go there. A realization that Mihashi accompanied by turning his attention down to the ground so that the taller boy wouldn't pry into the unmentioned detail, just as the other boy added.
"I guess I'll be in your hands until we get there"
"Y-yeah" Mihashi answered, turning in the general direction of the field and making a point of gesturing.
"Follow me" before setting off, his new acquaintance following closely behind him with an easy, almost calm, silence falling over the two boys as Mhiashi focused on getting them to their destination and the other boy, whose name Mihashi still hadn't asked, was taken in by the nature of the area behind the school. Making it easy for Mihashi to repeatedly glance over his left shoulder to look at the boy, without being caught.
'He's so tall, I bet he'll be in centerfield if he's fast' initially running through his mind.
'Or maybe first base, he wouldn't have to move much if he was there and his arms look to be more than long enough to make the play, but what about-'
"Woah, watch it!" and a firm tug on the back of his collar interrupting his thoughts and stopping him from taking the few steps that would have sent him directly into the backstop.
"I don't think you'd want to run into a backstop, they're generally less forgiving them human bodies", accompanying a friendly smile from the boy behind him as Mihashi frantically began to look around.
"Thanks..."
"Spencer Patrick" the tall boy, Spencer, answered, the order in which pronounced his name grabbing Mihashi's attention.
"But some people in middle school called me Patrick, because it was easier than Spencer, I don't mind either way"
'I guess that makes sense' being the only sensible thing that went through Mihashi's mind on the topic, as many biracial students or children of immigrants usually ended up going by their first name, or by a nickname, out of habit. That was until he felt someone firmly grip onto his shoulder and spun him around with such force that it short circuited the timid orangette's brain and sent a visible look of concern over Spencer's face as the two looked at the person who'd grabbed Mihashi.
"Hey", a rather pleasant, tall, brown haired, and well-endowed woman asked, as an earnest smile came over her face.
"Are you two here about the baseball club?"
"Uh, yes" Spencer answered in an unsure tome, causing the woman's face to transform from pleasant to more than a bit cheeky.
"So, if you could show-" barely escaping his lips before she firmly gripped his right shoulder, spun around, and began dragging the two boys off towards the baseball field. Her distinctly amused walking, that was more in line with skipping, causing both boys arms to thrash around violently as the three of them went and the woman proudly proclaimed.
"I've got two more" preceding them as they were dragged through the dugout and onto the large, spacious, bland looking, dirt field where 9 other players had gathered. The most remarkable thing of their arrival being the small, improvised pitcher's mound that stood in the center of the mock diamond and the way that Mihashi noticed Spencer's eyes light-up as though he'd seen someone familiar as the woman spun around to face them.
"Say, what positions did you guys play?"
"O-oh, I was mostly an outfielder" Mihashi meekly answered, while Spencer, having snapped back to reality, gave a slightly unsure laugh.
"I, uh, I haven't actually played organized baseball before", both answers being eagerly recorded in the woman's small, teal, notebook as she nodded along with a look in her eye that made it clear that she was already thinking of ways she could use Spencer on the team. Her concentration on her notes only being broken by someone asking.
"Are these the last ones" that sent her attention, and Miashi's, over to where two boys were standing. The taller of the of the two had a pair of golden eyes and a head of spiky black hair while the other, shorter and slenderer boy had a head of pink hair and an aura of insecurity around him that made Mihashi feel slightly better about his own.
"Yep, at least if all the people who Hamada said stopped by the stand have showed up", barely making it from the woman before the smile returned to Spencer's face and he loudly proclaimed.
"Sawamura, is that you?" before sprinting over towards him, forcing the woman to let him go, before he raced over to the taller, golden eyed boy. The sight causing the woman's already broad smile to somehow widen even more to the point of a Cheshire cat.
"Hey! You came" coming from Sawamura when Spencer reached him, which Spencer met with a bashful smile.
"Well, you were so passionate about it, I thought that it had to be at least something to give a try", an answer that Sawamura met with a firm slap on the back and a loud laugh.
"Trust me you won't regret it, especially with me at first base"
"A-and me on the mound" the pinkette added, though not with any level of certainty, earning him Spencer's attention.
"Oh, this is Kominato Haruichi," Sawamura began, only to be cut off by the pinkette adding.
"But because of my brother my friends just called me Haruichi", the comment causing everyone, including Mihashi, to raise an eyebrow in slight surprise.
"Actually," earning Mihashi the attention of all three boys.
"I was just here to check things out, I wasn't planning to join just yet", sending a look of slight disappointment on Sawamura and Haruichi's face; or at least Mihashi thought that Haruichi was disappointed, it was hard to tell with how the way that the boy's pink hair covered his face, and a look of surprise from Coach Momoe.
"Are you sure?", a question which Mihashi met with an emphatic nod of the head.
"Y-yeah, it's why I haven't turned in the form yet, I just wanted to be sure of a few things before I made my decision of whether to join the baseball or basketball club", in turn causing Sawamura, Haruichi, Spencer, and Momoe to all exchange glances that immediately concerned the orangette.
'What did I do wrong now?'
"Uh, Mihashi, you do know what day it its right?" Spencer asked, a question that got him a nod from the orangette.
"Yeah, it's Monday"
"And you do know what day the basketball club wanted you to turn your form in right?" Spencer asked, the boy's familiarity with the basketball club's requirements slightly peaking Mihashi's interest. After all, during the entirety of their, albeit brief, conversation, the boy had only shown any interest in the baseball club.
'I wonder why he'd know anything about the basketball club'
"Yeah, they want it by..." Mihashi began whilst withdrawing a copy of the basketball club's advertising handout and looking down, immediately falling silent as he read the words.
Dear First-Year Students,
All applications for the Nishiura University Basketball Club will be due by Friday at 5pm during the first week of school, the club will not be accepting applications after this date.
Thank you for your compliance
The orangette making a point of rapidly rereading the last part of the first line three times. His mouth opening wider, and the slight gasping noise he was making growing louder, with each reading until he began to sway due to the lack of air that was entering his lungs.
'Oh no... I screwed up', he mentally cried, not seeming to notice the sympathetic looks he got from Sawamura, Haruichi, Spencer, and Momoe.
"That's why I assumed you'd joined the club," Momoe clarified as Spencer quickly approached the orangette, just managing to grab him before he tumbled towards the ground.
"I couldn't really think of any other reason you'd be here with that application form, since we've had to wait for more players to show up since we weren't able to get an official club box set up with the university before the start of the semester", her reassuring explanation coming just as Spencer managed to steady Mihashi, the concerned Spencer making the additional point of.
"I, uh, I think he's broken", right before Mihashi raised his right hand to show that he was, in fact, still conscious.
"I...I...I guess I'll be joining then" barely creeping out from his before his right arm when limp and he briefly fainted, officially bringing Nishiura's baseball team to 11 players.
It was in this way that the new Nishiura University baseball club managed to gain its 12th and 13th members, the importance of which was immediately proven a few hours later.
"Huh, so you managed to pull it off after all," calmly coming from a slender, black haired young woman as she lazily leaned back in her chair, her eyes running over the piece of paper a second and a third time. While her relaxed pose greatly exaggerating the difference in height between the two women as she was, in reality, only a few centimeters shorter than Momoe when the two of them stood back-to-back.
"I didn't know we had that many students here who'd want to help start a baseball club" being added as Momoe leaned towards her.
"Well, I did," eagerly coming from Momoe, causing the woman to place the club application form on the office desk before her.
"And it only took one day at that!" then causing the woman to raise an eyebrow in interest.
"Right~" coming from her, the choice of words, and its implication, catching Momoe's attention.
"Kitamura don't you believe me?" coming from Momoe as she placed a hand on her chest in a mock display of taking offense. Knowing that it wouldn't do anything to silence her friend's suspicions, but not expecting her friendly to double down by squinting and then adding.
"I just wanted to make sure I didn't get wrapped up in a blackmail scheme if I sponsored you" in an accusatory tone that caused Momoe to face fault.
'Way to show some faith in me' running through her mind as she was tried to recompose herself. Of course, if Momoe was entirely honest with herself, she shouldn't have been overly surprised at her friend's accusation; after all, it had been this honesty and frankness that had served as the reason the two of them had made such good roommates during their university years. Kitamura had kept Momoe's feet on the ground and Momoe had been able to prevent her roommate from burning out by introducing her to a balanced schedule and periods of relaxation, allowing each of them to further the other's studies.
It was also the reason that Momoe had elected to take several coaching courses and work part time as an assistant coach for several independent baseball teams before she'd started her endeavor of creating a baseball club at their old university. Making it so that she had a healthy amount of experience and background knowledge to go along with her overwhelming amount of enthusiasm for the advancement of the sport she loved.
"Well, it didn't happen" Momoe frankly countered, a point which Kitamura answered with a simple shrug.
"Well, I'll file it away and you get the rest of the paperwork done"
"So, we'll be official?" seeing a stary expression return to Momoe's eyes.
"Yep, the baseball team will move from the university's intermural club page to its official university club page well before the end of the semester" Kitamura clarified, before mentally adding.
'Though to be safe, I'll shoot to have it done before the end of next week', knowing that Momoe's pestering of her to do something would grow more frequent, and more frantic, the longer that it stayed on the intermural club page.
"I bet that's something Kou would like; it means he'll get to watch more games" Momoe suggested, earning her a dismissive wave of Kitamura's hand.
"Don't start with him" getting her a hearty laugh from Momoe.
"What's wrong Aoba? I thought that you like baseball"
"I do," Kitamura continued, ignoring the fact her friend had elected to use her first name, a privilege that she still only let two people outside of her blood family indulge in.
"And so, does Kou, when he's playing" she added, glancing out the window of her tiny office as she did so.
"Otherwise, he can barely stand to watch it, it's why he never watched any film when he was in high school" the reference her boyfriend turned husband's habits fully pointing Momoe's thoughts back to one of the first conversations the two women had, had when Momoe's project to create the baseball club had began.
"Well, there's still the offer I gave him if the club got off the ground", a point Aoba met with a sigh.
"I know it's unpaid, and that's the last thing you need right now, but if he's only interested when he's involved that could be a way for him to get back into the sport"
"I know," Aoba replied, pausing briefly to let out another sigh.
"And I'll ask" right before she looked up.
"Speaking of which, how're you going to pau for any of the baseball gear? Your position won't paid until the university can guarantee that the team will be long term and that'll be at least a year" causing Momoe to let out a laugh before putting a hand behind her head. A move that she almost instantly regretted as she knew it would do nothing to increase her friend's confidence in her plan.
"Well~, I saved enough from my time in the BCL to buy a few things and I got a few part-time jobs to cover the other costs and pay for personal things" her answer, causing Kitamura to almost instantly face palm in exasperation.
"Never were one to plan things long term were you" she muttered, sending Momoe scrambling for additional words.
"B-B-But don't worry, I'm also looking for a more stable job just in case the university doesn't make the job full time", that caused her to get a reassuring nod from Kitamura.
"Just take care of yourself Maria and plan ahead a bit, okay" Kitamura clarified, a look of tenderness coming over her face as she did so.
"If there's one thing, I learned by playing in college, it's that baseball can't last forever"
"Don't worry, Aoba" Momoe replied, privately relieved that no one was around to hear the extremely informal way that they were speaking to each other.
"I'm not as one track as I used to be"