Words written in italics are thoughts.
Words written in "italics and quotations" are memories taken directly from the anime/manga.
"Are you saying you want to quit? I mean, you have those study guides. If you truly don't want to be on the team, and you want to focus on studying, I won't stop you. I have no right to stop someone who genuinely wants to quit. We're not playing baseball for someone else. We chose it ourselves. At least that's why I play baseball." Miyuki Kazuya, to Nabe, Season two.
Apercu
Kuramochi was concerned.
He knew that Miyuki and Kawakami had a meeting with the coaches regarding the pitcher's condition.
By all accounts, Nori had afterwards stormed out and locked himself in his room.
It didn't take a genius to guess what had happened.
Yoichi wanted to check on him, but thought it would be better to touch base with Miyuki first, so that he'd have a better idea of what to say to help Nori feel better.
Only their Captain was nowhere to be found. He'd disappeared after the meeting.
That guy, I'm co-captain, he should have kept me in the loop. I shouldn't have to go looking for him everywhere.
He'd already searched for him in the common room and indoor training area.
Then he considered the possibility that Miyuki had simply gone back to the dorms.
Well, I'm going to Nori's room anyway, might as well pass by Miyuki's first.
He found the room empty, save for the first year catcher, Okumura Koshu.
"Where's Miyuki?"
"He said he wanted to practice batting."
The co-captain sighed in relief.
If he told his roommate where he was, maybe things weren't so bad. he thought, turning to leave.
"Kuramochi-senpai," the blonde called him back.
Maybe not, the shortstop recanted privately. The moody catcher who usually treated Miyuki like a thorn in his side actually looked worried...
"Hm?"
"Did something happen?"
"Why do you ask?"
"He seemed different today."
That was an understatement. Okumura thought.
The annoying, grinning catcher Koshu knew and loved to hate had disappeared. In his place was a black-faced Captain who had grabbed his bat and tersely said that he wanted to practice alone.
"If any of the pitchers show up, they're all yours and Yui's. Or you can tell them to get lost, if you don't feel like catching for them."
The stunned first year didn't even have time to reply before Miyuki stormed out.
"What in the world happened?"
Kuramochi sighed once more, tiredly, this time.
"You'll find out at the meeting. Look, do me a favor, if he isn't back by midnight can you send me a message?"
Okumura's eyes widened.
"I will."
"Here's my e-mail," Yoichi said, helping himself to a pen and paper from Miyuki's desk, and jotting down his contact.
"I'll be counting on you."
Miyuki is probably in his secret training spot. Yoichi mused. For now, I'll see Nori.
On his way to his injured classmate's room, Kuramochi happened to run into Shirasu who, also concerned, had been on his way there as well.
It was a relief. Shirasu was clear-headed and could always be counted on for moral support. He and Kawakami were good friends, too.
Neither were surprised when Ono opened the door to Nori's room. They knew the catcher and pitcher were close. His calming presence was also welcome.
But at the moment, the worried trio were quietly witnessing a rare sight.
A seething Nori was furiously pacing in his room, muttering insults and frustrations, not seeming to care that they could hear everything.
"This is the worst. It's favoritism. Pure and simple," Kawakami complained.
"What's he going on about?" Kuramochi asked.
"Well, he was told he can't play. Miyuki was there, and apparently said something that hit a nerve," Ono explained.
"Telling me I have a future, who is he kidding?! Why not just out and tell me that I'm a burden he doesn't want to risk using!"
"Nori-" Ono attempted to calm him down, but was interrupted.
"Miyuki was allowed to play even with an injury! It's not fair!"
"Nori, that's not-" Kuramochi started,
"Don't you defend him, Kuramochi, when you know it's true!"
At his vehemence, Yoichi bit back whatever he wanted to say.
"We were all there, Nori, remember," Shirasu interjected quietly, "It was mid game and the doctor hadn't been able to conclude that Miyuki shouldn't play. He was only diagnosed after the game."
Kawakami was too furious to give an answer.
"The fact that he was able to hide it also meant it was probably not serious," Ono added, "at the time anyway. It probably got worse the more he played, though."
That's not exactly true, Kuramochi thought, but not wanting to risk riling up the pitcher more, kept his thoughts to himself.
"No, that's wrong," Shirasu spoke up, giving voice to Yoichi's thoughts. "I'm sure Miyuki was suffering from the night before. After all, you knew, didn't you Kuramochi?"
Dammit, Shirasu , you should have just let it go.
But the vice-captain couldn't lie. Looking away, he nodded his head reluctantly.
"But it wasn't due to selfishness, despite what you all may think. I think he never let on because he was worried about the team,"
"You would think that," Kawakami muttered bitterly, "always the faithful co-captain."
Kuramochi was annoyed, but undeterred.
"Miyuki saw first-hand how Chris's injury almost ended his career. You think he would intentionally put himself in harm's way just to have fun? Or would risk making mistakes that would throw off the team?"
"I agree," Ono affirmed, "Furuya was already injured. Miyuki just wanted what was best for everyone. This is why he had me practice with the pitchers the night before, though he was quite sneaky about it."
"Now that sounds like him," Nori said, acerbically.
"He was paving the way for us to be able to continue even without him," Ono continued, frowning at Nori's attitude.
"Koshien was on the line. The coach's position was on the line," the short-stop added.
Kawakami stared angrily at the ground, not wanting to listen to reason.
"Look, this has nothing to do with the current situation, but…" the fielder started.
"What is it, Shirasu?" Kuramochi encouraged.
"Miyuki…am I the only one who has noticed that, well, the only person he calls casually by his first name here, is Nori?"
The pitcher looked up from where he was glaring at the floor in surprise.
Norifumi was actually Kawakami's full first name.
Yoichi had noticed Miyuki's intimate use of the Nori's nickname since way back. The shortstop had an inkling it was the catcher's clandestine way of trying to put the nervous pitcher at ease. But he never mentioned it. Miyuki would deny the intention and embarrass Yoichi for suggesting it, and Kawakami probably wouldn't believe it anyway.
"That's true. I can't remember when he started." Ono mused.
"Since we were first years," Shirasu answered.
"But why just Nori? He doesn't call anyone else by their first names?"
"It's just what everyone calls me," a red faced Kawakami snapped after recovering from his initial shock.
"Also, remember back when Sawamara visited the school with Takashima-san? When he challenged Azuma-senpai to a duel? Miyuki had been the one to volunteer catching for him." Shirasu added.
"Right," Ono added, "he basically told Azuma he was becoming too full of himself."
"Wasn't Azuma bullying you at the time?" Shirasu tentatively asked.
"So, what are you all saying? That Miyuki is a good person so I shouldn't get angry the coach treats him better than the rest of us?" Kawakami stated, stubbornly.
Ugh, this is getting out of hand. Kuramochi thought, happy there was no one else in the room.
Kawakami was usually a very kind, reasonable person.
Being told he can't play must have hit him hard.
Even so, Kuramochi suspected the pitcher knew, somewhere in the back of his mind, that he wasn't being fair. Yoichi just had to help him realize it.
"Look, Nori, we all know Miyuki isn't the easiest person to understand," he started.
As Kuramochi went on, Norifumi remembered things Miyuki had said and done in the past.
"Sawamura's optimism is something you should learn, Nori."
"He's isn't the most patient person."
"You should have more confidence, Nori."
"Or even the best Captain," Kuramochi continued.
"Can I trust you to do this? The first years don't have the control."
"He doesn't know how to encourage or take care of people very well."
"Don't feel down, Nori. Let's turn this frustration into power."
"But he does what he can."
"We're definitely going to need you."
"I won't pretend I know the jerk that well. He holds his cards close. But he tries. I know him enough to know that much, at least. So, don't you think maybe you misunderstood him? It isn't that he doesn't need you for the team, but he fears for your future as a player. He wouldn't even think that way if he didn't think highly of your ability."
Nori felt his entire being freeze.
"You have your future to think about, after all."
Miyuki did say that.
"I think he was just genuinely trying to look out for you. Believe me, as the main catcher, as the Captain, there's no way he's taking this easy. But even so, rather, despite that being the case, he's probably madly coming up with new variations to try to cover the loss of your pitches…even though, as a friend…"
A friend? Was he?
"…he's probably taking this just as hard as any of us."
"All I want is to focus on is playing with you guys. I'll decide about the future later."
"It might be tough to tell, but I think he actually worries a lot about you guys."
"Where you able to sleep last night, Nori?"
No. If Kawakami was totally honest with himself, it wasn't hard to tell at all.
Miyuki had practiced with him many times, ever since he was a first year. Like Shirasu suggested, maybe he'd even helped Sawamura win the duel against Azuma to get back at him for bullying Nori. After he and Sawamura had successfully taken out the arrogant batter, Miyuki had smirked at Kawakami and said "That felt good."
The captain wasn't even as cagy as they all made him out to be.
"We all know it, you know. You're always doing your best to do your job."
Kuramochi had even ranted at him for it, once.
"How can you say something so cheesy with such a straight face?!"
Was he so dense that he never realized all the catcher had done for him?
Come to think of it, even Azuma was looking out for him in his own way.
"I only pick on pitchers I like. He's a much better pitcher than he thinks. Tell him that."
Azuma had said that, about Nori.
But he was always so busy feeling sorry for himself to ever notice.
Hot tears pushed their way out of Nori's eyes.
"Oi, Kuramochi, that's enough," Shirasu warned, seeing the pitcher in distress.
"Sorry, I said too much," Yoichi apologized, putting a hand on his shoulder.
Kawakami shook his head as he angrily wiped away his tears.
He felt ashamed.
He had been so disappointed that he couldn't play, that he became bitter and felt jealous of Miyuki. Even though the man had been nothing but supportive of him.
Had been for a long time now.
He now knew Miyuki hadn't been lying when he talked about his expectations of Nori's future. But it was just very hard to believe. Their captain, catcher, and fourth batter is so larger than life it seemed impossible that a player like that actually thought a nobody like Nori was any good.
Ono felt he understood how Kawakami felt. He'd felt bitter over his own weakness and jealous of Miyuki's talent plenty of times before. Not to mention, he was also currently injured, and only managed to make it to the roster as a base coach.
"It's okay, Kawakami," he said, patting him on the back, knowingly.
"I think that's enough for now, guys. Nori needs to rest," Shirasu added, helpfully.
"Yeah, we'll leave now. Take it easy, okay?" Kuramochi advised.
Kawakami nodded.
He felt guilty.
He knew his words had hurt Miyuki.
If he were a bigger man, he'd apologize.
But he couldn't help it. He was in too much pain to take anything back now, or even to try to make it better.
He didn't even know how.
All he could do was hope, for the team's sake, that Miyuki was less affected by all this than Kuromochi had suggested.
Author's Note: I really like Kawakami. He's such a relatable character and he tends to bring out the softness of Miyuki's personality. I'm sorry I made him a bit petty here but hopefully it was done in a realistic way without detracting from his likeability.