Inning 5 - Boulevardier of the Ninja World


Yozuki, Iori, & I arrived at Akari's house, just to see Akari's Mom. Only…

"She's a robot, too?" He cried.

Iori said, "Tech-3. It got her, too. Did Zina share some with Mrs. Hanao?"

Beretta growled, "If that's the case, we're screwed."

"Not necessarily true." Zina appeared, as she was holding up the bottle. "Inconclusive data… which shows no flaws or tainted ingredients. However…" She murmured, "Cy…"

"Zina… Stay back! We'll dismantle you, once you are deactivated, so we can expel the Tech-3."

"WHAT?" Zina gasped, "WAIT! I'm not an android! I never was!"

Huh? She's not?

Beretta asked, "Then why? Did you drink the sports drink, laced with Tech-3?"

Zina said, "Ohhhh… I think you misheard me. Mari drank it, and the side effects kicked in. That is when I realized… Cy altered their DNA. I'm trying to see what went wrong, turning these girls into robots, but this is hard to decipher."

"So… You didn't drink it?" Iori asked, "And you have no clue on what it is?"

Zina replied, "I called you, but Mari was simply stopping me. So, she's deactivated, until I get the antidote… Luckily, this drink will be the right source. The problem is… Tech-3 may not be the source."

"What is this Tech-3?" Kazuki asked.

"Under-the-counter oil supplement. I give it to Cy, during repairs. It usually oils up and enhances her speed and strength, for cleaner results. And… it's non-toxic. Cy always gets this strength from Tech-3, as she moves very easily and cheerfully. That's why she sometimes has morning exercises in the park."

That would explain the time Cy made me do 50 stretches, at once.

"Now, there is our answer." Beretta nodded, "Cy not only turned the Ninja Seeking Club into robots, but she uses Robo-Steroids!"

"Steroids?" Iori asked.

"I knew it! I've heard of bicep enhancement, but never robotization from steroids." Yozuki glared.

"Huh? You mean, you find it dirty?" Kazuki asked.

Yozuki added, "Yeah! In baseball, using steroids is illegal. Barry Bonds holds the record for the most home runs in a single season, but it still belongs to Roger Maris at 61. All those records by Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, and Barry Bonds… asterisks."

Beretta said, "Uh, AK, I don't think it was proven."

Yozuki barked, "Well, I don't do drugs, that's for sure! Right, Darling?" She winked at Kazuki.

Why am I getting erotic vibes from "Junior"? Wait, who's Junior?

Iori said, "I don't follow sports."

Yozuki winked, "You will, once we throttle the Ninja Seeking Club, for Darling's life. His very manhood is at stake!"

She's right. But still… Cy doped the girls, turning them into android baseball players?

Beretta concluded, "I will report this to Derringer, back in HQ. But until then, we have a baseball game to win on Sunday. Cy wins, Kazuki becomes her boyfriend forever, and on the Cy-Nine."

Zina nodded, "That, I do not mind. But if Cy loses, I will punish her for converting the girls into androids, like her."

Beretta glared, "Actually, if Cy loses, not only you will cure the girls of Tech-3, but the BOTH of you will answer to MEA about this illegal Tech-3."

Zina bowed her head and said, "I understand. It's my fault I had the Tech-3. But I don't get it. Tech-3 is never used for consumption."

Kazuki said, "Will you still help us, even if you are going to be disgraced for enhancing Cy with your oils and fluids?"

Zina said, "I will accept the terms, but…" she shouted, "I support Cy's decision!"

They all gasped, as she continued, "As much as I find it despicable for my Cy to convert the girls, she's still my creation! Therefore, I will never kowtow to MEA! EVER!"

Beretta snarled, as Kazuki whispered, "Why? You're with Cy?"

Yozuki yelled, "TRAITOR!"

Zina smirked, "Well, we'll just see then, won't we? As much as I disapprove of Cy's actions, she's still my android."

Zina… She knows what Cy's done. And yet, she still won't help us!

Iori asked, "You said it was inconclusive data, on purpose, did you? You lied to us!"

Zina said, "I didn't say I lied. Until I find out the source of the problem, no one will be cured. Even Mari. Therefore, Sunday will decide everything. Don't worry. I support Cy's game, but I am neutral. Whoever you have in your team, you will try. Cy is, or was, an anti-ninja android from Obnubi, before I rebuilt her to be a normal girl, and helpful ally. I won't let you defeat her, but a side of me says I want to save the others."

Kazuki nodded, "I see. Whatever you decide, I hope it saves or kills the Ninja Seeking Club."

I walked off, as I was dejected. Zina won't help, but she's still getting to the bottom of this. Poor Akari, her mom, the others…

"Darling…" Yozuki whispered.

XXXXX

Meanwhile, in the baseball stadium, Ikiru and the others were practicing baseball. However, things went shoddy and abysmal.

By the time we returned, practice had started… and…

BOUNCE!
"KYAAAAAA!" Shiratsuru missed catching a ground ball.
SWING!
"EEK!" Iroha swung her bat, but it flew out of her hands
GNASH!
Mashiro caught a line drive, but was gnawing on the baseball.

We're worse for wear. The Ninja Seeking Club, in normal abilities, plays better than these weak nobodies.

SMACK!
"HIYAH!" Setsuna hit a huge fly ball to left field, only for Oka to catch it. Oka called, "You're out, Setsuna-dono!"

Setsuna bowed, "Fair enough."

Tsubame hit the ball to third base, and then ran for first. Hayuki threw the ball to Carbine, who gasped, barely catching the ball. Tsubame reached first, as Carbine caught the ball, but barely.

"SAFE!" Ikiru called. Carbine cried, "WAIT! She's out!"

Ikiru said, "She reached the base, first."

Tsubame added, "Besides, this is just practice. Too easy, if you ask me."

Carbine huffed, as she hit Tsubame with the glove, "NOW, you're out!" she jeered.

"What was that?" Tsubame glared evilly. Carbine shivered, "Y-Y-Y-You were off first base…"

Tsubame looked down and sighed, "Oops."

We may not win this game, but I forget. We have excellent players. Setsuna can hit the ball hard, Tsubame can run fast, likewise Mashiro, and Oka has good field awareness. I have a feeling that this team is growing faster than I expected.

"Sten, you got a sec? AK, Borchardt, and I have returned…"

"Sure. Be right back, girls."

As Beretta and Ikiru talked privately, Kazuki noticed a girl in the stands, in a blue and white striped shirt and black hair done in a bob. She was holding a camera and smiled, "Nee-hee-hee, perfect practice! This should get me views for ViewTube, as a Baseball Fail Video. I don't follow sports, but it's perfect."

Who's that? And how did she get into-? Wait… Do I know her?

He remembered the girl. "Of course… It was when Futaba and I ran off from fangirls who think she is one of YTG8. Her name was… was… What was it?"

He asked her, "Excuse me! Uh… what are you doing here in MEA Property?" the girl gasped, "OH!"

Ran asked, "Why does she have a camera?"

Oka gasped, "OH! What are you doing? This is illegal, you know!"

Setsuna whispered, "Kazuki-dono, this is bad. Should I execute her?"

"No, I got this! This is the girl I met, a while back, from a cruise."

"FOO! A cruise? Ohhh…" Yozuki gasped, "I remember. That's where we first met."

Kazuki said, "Yeah. Take five. I'll talk to-."

Iroha gasped, "Hold on! She's the girl I healed, a while back."

I suddenly remembered her name.

"Wait… You're… You're Waka! Right?"

Waka gasped, "Ehhhhhh? How did you-? OH! You're the guy that gave me the chocolate bar, a while back. EEK! Wait, I didn't know this was restricted territory."

Technically, it was Futaba's candy bar.

"How did you get here?" He asked her.

"I don't know…" Waka said, confused.

Yozuki glared, "You're on private property. And that camera needs to be confiscated."

Setsuna nodded, "I agree. No one can film us, while we practice."

Hayuki added, "Yeah. She has no idea who we are."

Waka cried, "It's not that. I wanted to film you guys, because you play solid baseball! Not to mention the fails and flubs that you girls made. HAW!"

The girls glared at Waka, until Iroha stepped in. She called, "Now wait! She has no idea. She's in the MEA Stadium, so we should let her join us."

Waka smiled, "Really? I cannot wait. Imagine showing off to my cha-."

Kazuki said, "NO! The camera stays off."

Johnny whispered, "Uh… What are you saying?"

I whispered to Johnny's ear, stating that Waka's filming may jeopardize everything, including our identities as ninjas. (and a samurai and wolf girl… and secret agents).

Waka sobbed, "Can't you let me stay? I won't film, but… Let me stay and watch you guys practice and mess up."

Kazuki barked, "We're doing the best we can!" he sighed, "And besides, this is serious. We are playing to save our friends. If we lose, I'm stuck being a girlfriend to-. Well, let's just say…"

Ran called, "What he is trying to say is… if we lose, the Ninja Seeking Club will disband, and they will become the brand new Baseball Club."

They all agreed, as the ninjas in the team were hiding their identities. Waka was not impressed, but she said, "If that's the case…" She cheered, "I WANNA PLAY, TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

NANI?!

Iori gasped, "YOU?"

Oka whispered, "This is sudden."

Setsuna asked, "Can you play baseball?"

Waka said, "Well, yes… and no… But I did record the game with the Baseball Club and the Ninja Seeking Club, yesterday."

"YOU DID?!" Kazuki & Johnny gasped in shock.

Waka said, "Yeah. I heard about a beating going on, out in the baseball diamond, and it was girls blowing out the Baseball Club. After the game ended in a forfeit, in just one inning, I returned to my room and saved the data in my camera. I figured that this kind of baseball performance could give me a whole mess of views, by thousands. I still have the footage."

Hayuki said, "I was there when it happened." Iroha added, "Ditto."

Ran said, "Lemme see that." She viewed the footage and said, "Thank you. Delete that, right now. It's, uh… complicated to explain."

Waka stated, "I was gonna. The Baseball Club folded, afterwards."

Kazuki said, "I heard."

Ran smiled, "No matter, we shall do what we can to correct this misjustice, if you play for us against the Ninja Seeking Club's Baseball Team."

Waka bowed, "Sure… But after that, no more sports. I'd rather be in my room, watching baseball."

Kazuki approached Ran, "Hey, thanks a bunch for backing me up."

Ran whispered, "Someone had to do it. Besides, my grandfather is the principal. And your head of the student council is on Cy's team. Don't worry. Waka doesn't know."

Oka nodded, "Waka-dono, welcome to our team."

Just like that, we added a new player to the team - Waka Kyogoku.

During practice, Waka threw a pitch to Hijiri, but… it lobbed to the ground at about one foot.

Try our designated hitter. Waka's not athletic, but she'll make it up with her hitting stance.

Waka swung the bat, and missed every pitch.

Uhhhhh… I lied. She's terrible.

Most of the girls were slouching in despair, "We're screwed."

Despite Kazuki's Team having more athletic progress than before, they still have some bad eggs in the team. And Waka Kyogoku is the WORST of the bunch.

"Wow… She's as bad as me." Johnny huffed, "And I suck at baseball."

Waka glared, "What did you say about me?"

Johnny asked, "Should we practice baserunning now?"

XXXXX

The next day, practice resumed, as the game day approached. We already set up the roster for starters, while Beretta and Ikiru were determining who will play.

Beretta called, "I will call out the players who will be our nine. Ikiru and myself included."

Ikiru grinned, "I happen to heave a mean liner to home plate."

Beretta called out, "The names are as followed, for the starters, based on performance:
Kazuki Araya…
Setsuna Tojo…
Tsubame Shiranui…
Hayuki Miza…
Mashiro…
John Spicer."

"EHHHH?" They all gasped, as Johnny smirked, "I made the team."

Beretta said, "Well, his speed from running makes him a proper runner." She called, "AHEM! Continuing…
AK…
Oka Kazamatsuri…
And Ran Kuzuryu."

Iroha sobbed, "Cut from the team?!"

Hijiri sobbed, "Awww…"

Waka moaned, "Eh, whatever."

Beretta said, "Not so fast! We're not done. We have the reserved team for substitutions. Remember, if you leave the team, during the game, you never come back. Rules say that you do not return to the baseball game, after a substitution."

Ikiru called, "The following are on the reserved team:
Borchardt…
Hijiri Utagawa…
Shiratsuru Kuki…
Iroha Yabu…
And Waka Kyogoku.
Also, Beretta and I will act as subs, as well."

She concluded, "Carbine, you're off the team." Carbine said, "That's okay. I'm not much of an athlete. But I can still play as a coach."

Beretta said, "No, I'll be manager and player. You will study the opposing team, if anything about the Tech-3."

Carbine nodded, "I will. I, Kiki Osakabe, will not let MEA down."

Yozuki & Iori shouted, "CARBINE!"

Carbine gasped, "WHOOPS! Sorry, forgive the name Kiki Osakabe! It's not my name!"

"Is she always like that?" Kazuki asked Beretta.

Beretta remarked, "Eh, mistakes happen."

He asked, "By the way, what are you planning?"

Beretta said, "Well, Carbine is the only scientific mind that can watch without playing. Iori Natsume's been studying the game of baseball and has improved her skills. So, that's why I chose Borchardt over Carbine. However… we cannot be so sure. Zina will be watching, and she will support both sides. She agreed to assist the matter. But the important thing is… we have to win!"

She's right. We must win. After that, my friends are saved… and Cy & Zina will answer for the Tech-3 in their systems.


Then came the day - Sunday. The game between the Cy-Nine and our team…

The team led by Kazuki were in white uniforms with gold trim, and the letters "MC" written on it. All that's left is their team name.

"Uh… we haven't gotten a name for our team." Kazuki said.

Beretta said, "Gee, we forgot about that. We practiced so hard that we never got to a name."

Kazuki said, "Something cooler than robots and ninjas. We need a label that shows our team spirit."

Johnny called, "How about the Giants? It's a popular team name."

Ikiru said, "It's been done. I was thinking we'd call ourselves the Tigers. Or the Foxes, like the Nine-Tailed Fox."

Setsuna said, "No… We can be called the Blades. Like samurai blades."

Ran called, "Well, not Giants. Let's be an originally unique name. We'll be the Porpoises!"

Shiratsuru cheered, "Second the team name!"

Mashiro roared, "NO! That sucked."

Shiratsuru and Ran gasped, "It sucks?"

Iori added, "Plus, there's a team in football called the Dolphins."

Yozuki asked, "How about the Redskins? The DC Team dropped theirs, and I hear that Cleveland is dropping their Indian name, too. Let's be Indians!"

They glared at her, as Kazuki huffed, "Do you want to get this fanfiction banned for racism?"

Yozuki sobbed, "Oops… Never mind. I'm drawing a blank."

Miz-K NOTE: This fanfic was made during the Cleveland Indians' final season as the Indians. The name was dropped for a new name in 2022.

Oka asked, "But I thought we're called the Ninjas."

Waka asked, "Ninjas?! No… That's a bad name for a team. Why not something cute?"

Shiratsuru said, "Well, how about a cool name that rocks the Ninja World?"

"ROCK THE NINJA WORLD?!" Hijiri boasted, "How about the SPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARK? YEAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Beretta yelled, "ENOUGH!" She said, "We're calling ourselves… The Mizaki Zephyrs."

"The Zephyrs?"

"Yeah. Like the Hoboken Zephyrs. We're going to win, when we do our best, against the Cy-Nine."

"Understood. Everyone?"

Everyone agreed to the name, as we prepared for baseball. Suddenly, a flash of light appeared, as Cy was across the left field dugout. We're in the right field dugout.

"ONII-CHAAAAAAAAAN!" Cy waved, "Weady to pway?"

He called, "Ready as ever, Cy!"

Cy and her team appeared, as his jaw dropped, "Wha-? WHOA!"

Tight-fitting… skin-tight… no way!

SPLOOSH!
Blood came out of his nose, as the others were annoyed. Ikiru sighed, "He never changes…"

Oka asked, "Aruji-dono? Is he alright?"

Cy cackled, "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I know Onii-Chan's weakness. We are gonna win! Onii-chan is my boyfriend! YAY!"

She sang out, "Stwike up the band!
Oh, the ninja wife, the school wife, has always been my wife.
Maybe dey dink I dun't wuv it.
I'm a batting machine
Cwean, wean, and mean.
Just a Boulevardier of the Ninja World.

No one hitter can beat Enju's Spitters
And I never thought nothin' of it
Akawi's a no wun mama
And Tengge's a bat bomma
A Boulevardier of the Ninja World.

Fweh-fweh-fwah~! I'm a debonair Casey at Bat
Fweh-fweh-fwah~! I'm small fer my size, an das dat.

Ew'wy anxious pwayer is happy ta meet me
Whenever we go slummin'
But with my design and upda-ties
I'm still one of the ladies
Just a Boulevardier of the Ninja World.
That's me!"

Many girls cheered and clapped on, as many of them were from the ninja world.

"I didn't know Cy could sing well." Tayu said.

Beretta huffed, "We're in trouble…"

Zina nodded, "Well, ladies, shall we begin?"

Elly Fuma said, "We'll handle the action from afar. YOU, you bum! Get over here!"

Elly's uncle, Kotaro Fuma, approached Elly, "Make sure that no cheating is involved."

"Understood. Don't worry. You girls play your heart out."

Elly snatches Kurenai's liquor, "AND NO BOOZE!"

Kurenai moaned, "What do you want from me, eh? Sober in a game?"

"Think of Ricka and Lily. If we let Cy win… Lily will be lonely forever."

"And Myu…" Tayu added, "Don't forget that."

The adults were upset, as if Kazuki would lose, their dreams of wedding plans for the girls would be shattered completely… to an android.

The PA announced, in Carbine's voice, "The game begins! Here to perform the coin toss, Momochi Village leader, Tayu Momochi."

Tayu called, "Captains, approach the plate."

Kazuki and Cy approach the home plate, as Elly went through the rules, "Araya, android… We play a full nine innings. No mercy rule, and NO cheating. More importantly, NO ninjutsu is allowed. If bystanders saw us play, we'd be exposed. But don't worry. The Fuma, Tokakushi, Daikoku, Saika, Kuki, Momochi, and Negoro Clans will all supervise this game, on behalf of MEA. You're free to use ninjutsu for fielding, but no use of bombs, kunai, or shuriken. Now remember: Ninjutsu means cheating!"

Cy nodded, "Wight. No cheating. My team wun't need ninja tools."

Kazuki said, "No need. We'll play our hearts out."

Elly said, "Well said. Cy, Kazuki…" She held up a coin and said, "Call it in the air. Whoever wins the coin toss, they will bat first."

Kazuki called, "Heads!"
Cy yelled, "Tails!"

The coin flew up, and then landed. It landed on Tails. Elly called, "Cy's team bat first."

They departed, as Venus, a girl in long blonde hair, called, "I, Venus Otomegawa, will throw out the first pitch."

She approached the pitcher's mound, as Mashiro was catching for the Zepyhrs. Venus smiled, "Hi, Mashiro. Make sure to catch this ball."

A frilly maid brushed up the dirt from her skirt, as the butler in red gave her the baseball. He said to her, "Your baseball, Lady Venus."

"Thank you, Sebastian."

She threw the pitch to Mashiro. It was a cleancut perfect fastball. Mashiro was stunned, "What the-?"

The Zephyrs gasped, "WHAT THE WHA?"

Venus laughed, "OH, HO HO HO HO!" She smiled, "Anything for a little camera time."

Beretta blushed, "Did you see that?" Kazuki was amazed, "Venus is amazing! No wonder she's leader of the Ochatomizu Student Council!"

Beretta called out, "HOLD EVERYTHING!" She said to Venus, "Reconsider? Join our team? You have a steady arm!"

Venus said, "Thank you. But I prefer NOT to play on the field. I get dirty, now and then."

Beretta roared, "SCREW THAT! You threw a mean fastball! HOW DID YOU DO THAT?"

Venus said, "I'll never tell. Besides, you're talking to the great Venus Otomegawa."

Beretta said, "Never mind that. YOU'RE IN!" She gave her a hat and cried, "Welcome to the team!"

Venus gasped, "Eh?" as Beretta called, "Sorry, Johnny. You're benched."

Johnny was crying, "NANI?!"

OUCH! Johnny got benched, after Venus's impressive pitch. After that, the game was finally on.

"PLAY BALL!" Elly shouted, as the game finally began.


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(Background of Mizaki School, at night, is shown)

(Nanao): And so, we end the first half of our baseball fic. This is Nanao Kashima.

(Hotaru): And, like, I'm Hotaru Kokonohi, reports.
But OMG, Lady Venus is amazing. Not to mention she replaced Johnny, like that.

(Nanao): Yes, well, knowing the players Kazuki has, we haven't got a chance… either way.

(Hotaru): Oh, like, don't be upset. We're totally gonna mop the floor with that pervert. Did you not see his reaction to our skimpy uniforms?!

(Nanao): Y-yeah… *moans* He's sick. But we cannot lose to him. I may be an android now, but I won't lose to a perverted pig!

(Hotaru): Yeah, and here's hoping we learn more about this grody Tech-3. I totally want my life back.

(Nanao): Anyways, next chapter, we'll give you the starting lineups for your game. Who will win - Kazuki or Cy? Will Kazuki save us? Or will Cy doom the Ninja Seeking Club, as robotic baseball sadists?

(Hotaru): You said that, like it's, like, a bad thing.
Anyways, stay tuned for the baseball game of the century, in the exciting second half of Moé Ninja Baseball!

(Nanao): Next time, The Cy-Nine vs. The Zephyrs.
WIN ONE FOR THE KIPPER!

(Hotaru): Huh?

(Nanao): Never mind… See you then.