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 2
A few hours after Momoe finished making her pitch with Kitamura Aoba, a young man was in the midst of a similar, albeit more laid back, conversation. Accompanied by four other dark-skinned individuals who sat around, what was by Japanese standards, a large dining table with two large pots, one of beans and broccoli while the other held a mixture of rice and sausage, and all five of their plates filled.
"So, you joined the baseball club?" the man at the top of the right side of the table asked, turning has gaze over towards the tallest, and only male, of his three grandchildren.
"I didn't think you had any interest in baseball, Patrick"
"Well...I didn't," Patrick began, the honest of his answer only seeming earn him even more of his grandfather's attention by inadvertently proving his point.
"At least, not initially"
"So, what got you interest" the man asked, casing Patrick to pause slightly and think back to what had happened only a few days ago.
"Come on, please" one of the boys who had corned him asked, his request instinctively causing Patrick to place his hands behind his head and silently wished that he'd asked one of the school administrative staff the way to the displays for the university's academic and literary clubs. As it might have stopped him from getting into, or at least minimized his chances of getting into, the mess he'd found himself in.
"I don't know," he began, trying to bring a small amount of firmness into his otherwise diplomatic tone.
"Basketball has never really been my thing", his answer making the two shorter, lighter skinned boys, exchange glances in disbelief before the shorter of the two turned and asked.
"Really Spence?", while sporting a decidedly unconvinced look and raising an eyebrow, making Spencer slightly regret having introduced himself to them before asking his question.
"You honestly think we're going to believe you've never at least tried basketball" sending Spencer'shands out in front of him in self-defense.
"I'm sorry, but it's true, I've never had good hand-eye coordination" he answered, only to find that his defense was less than affective, as it only earned him a counter of.
"Well, now's the perfect time to learn" from taller of the two boys just as the shorter of the boys threw his hands out and declared.
"Yeah, playing games, getting girls, what else is college for?", causing Spencer to sweat drop slightly as.
'Well, I can think of a few things' crossed his mind, while the taller of the two boys added.
"Besides, what club were you even going to join?" leaning forwards as a cheeky smile came across his face.
"Or are you some sort of loner or maybe a per-"
"Well, I wasn't planning on joining a sports club", Spencer answered, electing to mentally add.
'At first' so that the boys didn't know that there was still some hope he might change his mind.
"What?!" erupting from the two boys, their cries of surprise echoing down the hallway of the main education building as Spencer scrambled to add some qualifier.
"But if I did, I'd probably want to choose a sports club with a more lenient practice times since it's not likely for any of us to actually go pro," he continued, struggling to get his qualifiers out of the way.
"Maybe somewhere like the tennis or bowling club, I also heard that the school has a co-ed softball club and got a new baseball-", the last word being cut off by a hearty round of laughter from both boys. Tears filling the eyes of the taller boy as he doubled over and clutched his stomach, completely unaware of the confused look that came over young Spencer's face or the dark-haired figure that was walking towards them.
"What so funny?" coming from behind the boys and sending the shorter boy's attention over to the newcomer while the taller stood up and focused on the young bi-racial man.
"What's funny is that this school doesn't have a baseball program," the taller boy, who was looking at Spencer, answered.
"Hasn't ever had one, and I don't think it ever will"
'That's not what the school website said' Spencer had thought.
'Must have been some intermural thing then'
"And even if we did," the shorter boy added, his words going to Spencer while his gaze was on the newcomer.
"With how tough our federation is, you'd never win a game, it would be an absolute waste of your time,", causing a smile to come across the intruder's face as the shorter boy finished.
"There's a reason the winner of the West Kanto University Baseball Federation tournament is called the 7th strongest team in Japan"
"Well then you're wrong on two points" boldly coming from the intruder on their conversation, earning him the attention of all three boys and a question of.
"They are?" from Spencer and.
"We are?" from the two boys, as their new acquaintance's smile grew.
"Yeah, 'cause there is a baseball team at our school, starting this year" he began, raising his head to reveal a pair of bold, reddish-gold eyes that held an intensity that only grew hotter as he continued.
"And I guarantee you that before I graduate, we'll make at least one appearance at Meiji Jingu Stadium", sending a fiery aura over him before he boldly proclaimed.
"Just You Watch!", his declaration instantly followed by a brief silence before the shorter of the two boys gave a dismissive wave of his hand.
"Yeah, yeah, sure you will", and the taller added.
"Don't be delusional; either Inashiro I&T and Seidou University are in the Federation finals every year, sometimes both at the same times, and the only teams that ever challenge them are Teitou, Tosei, or ARC"
"And they seldom ever win" the shorter added, both boys hammering home the virtual duopoly held by the two aforementioned schools, not that it seemed to phase their new acquaintance.
"Well then, the least I can do is make every league game I'm in entertaining,", then confidently added.
"So, which way to the baseball club's stand? I'm kind lost", sucking the previously undaunted aura he had out of the room.
"It's down that way and to the left, should be the first stall you see" the taller boy answered, his instructions met by a friendly nod before the new boy proudly marched off and left an impressed Spencer in his wake.
"Hey, wait for me!" coming from Spencer before his jogged off to catch up to the boy.
"I found someone who really sold me on the idea" Spencer answered, trying to sum up his newfound interest in the game, earning him a supportive nod from his grandfather as his grandmother added.
"Well, I think it's a good idea,", cutting into the conversation.
"It'll get him some friends and, who know, he may be good at it"
"Yeah,", Spencer's eldest sister added.
"Brother never hangs out, all he ever does is study in his room"
"I do not" Spencer cut in, only causing his sister to smile at his reaction to her poking and prodding.
"Yes, you do!"
"No, I don't, I hung out with Sena all the time during junior and senior high" he countered, causing his youngest sister to pipe up.
"I don't think helping Sena run errands for his bullies counts as hanging out", which Spencer met with a sweat drop.
"It doesn't matter what that meant in the past," his grandmother cut in, earning her their attention.
"All that matters is that he has fun and stays out of trouble"
"And it doesn't affect his grades" his grandfather added, pointing toward Spencer as he did so. Back in America, or even amongst a few daring Japanese teens, such an ultimatum might have solicited a sigh. But all it earned from Spencer was a simple nod of his head, after all it had been an ultimatum that he'd been acquainted with since he'd first started going to school.
'It's also why mom and dad moved to this county' he thought, taking a spoonful of his dinner.
'Well, that and work'
"Don't worry, it won't, Nishiura is one of the public lions," he answered, making a point of reference to the Universities selling point of being an academically elite, and financially affordable, alternative to the National Seven Universities.
"Remember?" his comment causing his youngest sister to look between him, his eldest sister, and both their grandparents before asking.
"Does that mean that Patrick is a lion?" only for the elder of the two girls to look Spencer up several times and state.
"I don't see it", causing their grandparents to begin chuckling while a light shade of pink came over Patrick's face.
However, if Momoe, Spencer, or Mihashi believed that harnessing the energy that undoubtably lay within each of the baseball club's new members was going to be easy, it would only take them a few days to be proven wrong. A reality that Momoe could particularly attest to as she stood in the dugout of Nishiura University's multi-purpose dirt field, only a quarter of an hour into the first practice of the second week of school. Her eyes constantly moving between he field where her 13 new charges were in the midst of doing their stretches and the small blue notebook where the information, she'd gotten from them was stored.
'Well, the good news is that we have a mostly complete team in terms of experience' she began, glancing over her notes as she did so. The thought of not having to introduce any of the players to a new position causing an indescribable lightness to fill her chest.
'So that's one less thing to worry about'
"But it's only one thing" she verbally added before looking at her players again, noting the wide array of colored shirts on them, the only similarity between the lot of them being the white pants they wore. Before casting a sideways glance over towards the unruly mess of strong smelling, shiny, and moderately well-maintained equipment that she'd managed to have delivered to the school over the previous weekend. None of which looked to be as brand new as they actually were, given the fact that she'd bought them from the least expensive part of the baseball equipment store's website catalogue.
'Well, it was the best I could do with my paycheck', crossing her mind as she looked back to the field. Know that, unfortunately, the both the boys informal practice attire and untested equipment would have to do until she managed to get more funds to provide the team with a uniform and field maintenance budget. Of course, even then she'd have to be mindful to balance the costs of maintaining the current equipment and field while obtaining whatever she could throughout the rest of the year. As since the university had already declared its planned budget expenditures for that year to the prefectural Ministry of Education, they would be unable to supply Momoe any help when it came to budgetary problems.
'Which is why I wanted Aoba to lobby for us over the summer break' she though, pausing only to make a note as she continued watching the team's stretches. Of course, she knew that wouldn't have been possible, heck it was still difficult for Aoba to convince the university president that the club would be around long enough for the university to justify not modifying the current practice field to be a year-round soccer and rugby turf field. But, Momoe could still dream, at least until a cry of.
"Coach!" pulled her undivided attention to the field where the group of players stood, having now finished their stretches, waiting for her next instruction.
"Run some laps!" and a wave of her hand sending the boys off to jog the perimeter of the shared practice field. The sight of both Sawamura and Tajima leading the group, with Tajima charging ahead while Sawamura repeatedly turned around to shout words of encouragement to those behind him, mentally confirming for Momoe what she already knew.
'Those two will be the epicenter for all the waves of energy, positive or negative, that envelope this team', her thoughts being proven by the sight of the rest of the boys closing the gap in between themselves and their two leaders. Much to Sawamura's joy, as the black-haired boy let out a hearty laugh, before he turned and sped up to be even with his slightly shorter friend as the two of them boldly led the pack of thirteen boys, the sight of Sawamura being neck and neck with him causing Tajima to try and speed up. Which Sawamura reciprocated, by also speeding up.
'Well, that's assuming they don't tire each other out', being added as the small group completed their first lap and went to run a second one, the developing distance between them sending Momoe's eyes to her notebook and then to the dugout in the knowledge of the question she would have to ask when they got back.
'Now's as good a time as any'
"Okay," she began a few minutes later, as the boys lay recovering from their five warm up laps.
"How many of you have used wood bats before?"
Deep down she knew that it would be extremely unlikely for most, let alone all, of the thirteen boys to raise their hand given the fact that one of them had never played the sport before and that despite the fact wood bats had been mandated by the All-Japan University Baseball Federation for nearly seven decades the Japan High School Baseball Federation still allowed the use of metal bats. However, that reality didn't stop her heart from taking a slight dip in its optimism when she only saw two of the boys, Haruichi and Tajima, raise their hands.
"And how many have used one in a game?" causing Tajima to lower his hand, leaving Haruichi with his hand in the air. The pinkette's realization of his solitary nature, and the looks of interest that it earned him from his teammates, causing his face to quickly match the color of his hair.
'It's going to be the first thing we'll have to deal with,' crossing Momoe's mind as she nodded, allowing the pinkette to lower his hand and end his embarrassment.
'At least I won't have to worry about them getting experience with fielding balls hit by wood bats since every single coach worth their salt does some fungo practice', of course, as any coach knew, fielding practice and in game fielding could easily turn into two extremely different things.
"Alright them, that will be the first thing I want you all to buy, two bat each, on for school and one for practicing at home in your spare time", breaking the silence of the group and earning herself a nod from each of the players.
"Try to go in groups if you can so that you can get to know each other and get additional batting tips", her words causing the pupils of Sawamura and Tajima to brighten; their slightly more energetic response being matched by an equally unenthusiastic look in the pupils of Abe.
'Looks like someone doesn't work well with others'
"Now, I want each of you to grab your mitts and pair up for throwing warms ups, after that we'll move onto to fielding practice, then batting practice, before ending with situations for the last hour of practice"
"Yes, Coach!" greeting her instructions before each of the boys ran into the dugout, grabbed their gear and a ball, then began to pair up.
If there was one thing that any person who ever watched a baseball game would agree on, it's how seemingly easy the game is. After all, all the players do is hit a ball, run in circles around a diamond, and then throw a ball to a teammate from an ever-changing distance in order to get the opposing batter out when they put the ball in play. There's no clock, little violence, and seemingly even the fattest and least athletic of people can play it if they're placed in the right position. However, as Spencer was starting to learn the hard way, this theoretically simple game could be a real pain in the neck when it came to trying to get good at it. Even with something as simple as throwing.
"Alright, that's it, that's it" coming from Spencer's right as he saw Sakaeguchi raising his hand slightly before turning and tossing the ball. The impact of the ball hitting Spencer's mitt, sending a shot through his arm, only being countered by his stepping forwards to deliver his own throw. A throw that saw the ball sail slightly off target and force Sakaeguchi to move to his right a few steps before he was able to make the catch, as Spencer thought.
'What's he doing right that I'm missing?' as he caught Sakaeguchi's throw with his own mitt. Trying to replicate the delivery of his teammate only for the throw to once again go wider than was intended by the brown skinned boy, something which he met by staring at Sakaeguchi even more intently as the orange haired boy threw the ball back to him. The sight of Spencer's expression causing Sakaeguchi to look to his left, then his right, and then behind him in an attempt to find out just what was causing Spencer to look at him so funny.
'Oh crap, how am I going to explain this', before Spencer went to deliver his throw, only to be cut off.
"Wait a second" and get Spencer to stop his throw mid-motion before he felt someone place a firm, yet gently, grip on his left arm. Sending his attention to his right to see the smiling face of Coach Momoe standing a few steps away from him; catching Spencer off guard slightly and stated.
"Yes, coach", as he stood straight up like a soldier who'd offended a drill sergeant.
"Well, first of all, you should try to avoid doing that again,", Momoe began, pointing to arm as she did so.
"You always want to finish your throw, stopping halfway is a sure-fire way to get an injury,", an instruction Spencer met with a nod as she grabbed his arm and eased it back to his midsection, while pointing at his legs.
"Now, make sure to take a step forward with your right leg when you throw, your lower body should move before your upper body" then stepped back.
"Now, show me your throw again", an instruction that Spencer met with a nod, before looking towards Sakaeguchi, stepping, and delivering a throw that way. The ball only going slightly to Sakaeguchi's right, making it so that the orangette only had to move over slightly to get the ball as Spencer glanced over to Momoe, who put a hand under her chin expectantly.
"Are you sure this is your first year playing baseball?", catching Spencer off guard.
"Yes, I've never played it before", getting a small nod for his trouble as she examined him up and down again before signaling to Sakaeguchi to send the ball their way. An order the orangette quickly obliged with Spencer catching the ball before Momoe stepped forward.
"There's only one mistake in your deliver," grabbing his upper bicep.
"Your arms are out of sync with your lower body, but that because of your height,", raising his arm slightly as she did so.
"Who are you basing your throws off of?"
"Just other teammate Coach", the answer being met with a knowing nod from Momoe as though it confirmed what she'd assumed.
"That works in some things, but you're the tallest on the team so they're movements won't exactly fit your body, try to widen your stance to compensate your height", a suggestion which Spencer met with a nod before he turned to Sakaeguchi and delivered a throw, following her instruction as close as he could. His throw sending the ball on a far better looking, and more even arc, that forced his partner to only have to move his hands rather than take any steps, to the encouragement of.
"That's a start," from Momoe.
"But remember, it's only a start, you'll need to keep working at it if you want to make progress", Spencer giving a nod.
"Yes, coach", then caught a throw from Sakaeguchi, returning the ball to his partner as he noticed that Momoe hadn't left yet.
"By the way, have you ever thought of being a catcher?" catching Spencer completely off guard and causing him to launch his next throw to Sakaeguchi slightly off target to the orangette's left. Forcing the poor boy to leap a good distance to prevent it from hitting Abe, who was standing right next to him as Spencer looked at Momoe in confusion.
"Being a what?"
If someone would have told Mihashi at the end of his last year of high school that he would be actively participating in his first collegiate baseball practice, as opposed to running laps and picking up balls, before the first week of school was up, he probably wouldn't have believed them. After all, it was more or less an open secret that Japanese collegiate coaches, like their high school counterparts, routinely made a point of clinging to the seniority of their players, rather than in game experience, when it came to their practice duties. There was also the fact that he hadn't even been that food during his high school days, he'd only ever made his team's starting lineup outside of intersquad practice games on one occasion, and that had been when the player before him had been hospitalized with a bad case of the flu. Garnering Mihashi a permanent spot as a member of the second-string roster.
Yet here he was, on the baseball field, at second base, during a meaningful part of an active practice, watching a fellow infielder, shortstop Sawamura, range over to his right and field a ball before making a dynamite of a throw to Izumi at first base.
'It really feels better than high school' running through Mihashi's mind as a smile slowly came across his face, a smile that widened slightly by the sound of laughter that came from Sawaura.
"Ha! That's too easy for this Sawamura!", and then a few supportive cheers from the rest of the team as Sawamura took another ground ball from Momoe. The decision to force each position player field two balls before moving to the next one, and the supportive cheers from the rest of the team, being one of the careful instructions they'd gotten from their coach before the beginning of the fielding practice. The sight of Momoe turning his way instinctively causing Mihashi to squad down in his stance, lowering his center of gravity, and lean forwards so as to make the play as his coach shouted.
"Second!" then hit a ball towards the middle. The sight of the ball sending Mihashi rapidly that way, his speed, while slightly slower than that of Sawamura and Sakaeguchi, still allowing him to easily reach out and grab the ball before turning and stopping. His momentum sending him a few centimeters more the right as he stepped and threw the ball over towards Izumi at first; his throw coming up just a little short and forcing the first baseman to have to scoop the ball out of the first.
"Nice do it again", proceeding Momoe hitting the ball again, this time to his left. Which Mihashi met with the response of sprinting over, fielding the ball with his mitt, bringing it up to his chest, then calmly threw it at Izumi, the throw this time being a bit more on target. Letting him feel more content with his fielding as Momoe hit two choppers to Izumi to test his fielding ability at first base: the sight of the active situation causing a feeling of lightness to build up in Mihashi's chest.
"It's actually kind of fun cause we're all doing something", barely coming out in a whisper before Momoe turned her attention back to Sakaeguchi at third base.
"Alright, we're doing rapid fire throws to home, look alive!" then smacked a ball to Sakaeguchi, who barely was able to run forwards and field the ball before Momoe hit the ball to Sawamura. The closeness of both hits making Mihashi more than ready when Momoe send a ball, a ground ball with a high bounce to be more specific his way; the sight of the line drive causing him to run forwards and catch the ball before gunning it to Spencer at home plate. The rare display of the boy's arm strength allowing the dark-skinned catcher more than enough time to field the ball before taking the throw from Izumi and then the throw from Nishihiro in left field, Tajima in center field, and Oki in right.
'Poor guy' running through Mihahsi's mind as the infield and outfield began to cycle through the throws again. A particularly off-target throw from Oki forcing Mihashi to take a few steps towards the outfield or what he though was the outfield, it was so hard to tell when there wasn't any grass, before he put a little extra power into his throw home. The throw sending Spencer sliding to his right as it hit the dirt before he used the momentum to spin around whilst falling into the first to compensate for his left handedness and attempt to tag the phantom runner coming from third; leaving the ball coated in a thin layer of dust as he got a cut off throw from Izumi.
The synchronized nature of the team's movements and targeting of their throws, as well as the slight leaps of excitement that Mihashi felt in his heart every time he saw them causing the second baseman to think one thing as he hyperventilated.
'Yeah, this could really be the start of something'