Inning 8 - Johnny at Bat
(The Baseball Game - Part 3)


The outlook's not too brilliant, for the Mizaki Nine, that day. The score was 19 to 17, with one more inning left to play. And then, when Akari's Mom, Enju, Nanao, all shutdown from Tech-3, a silence fell upon the patrons, so you see.

Setsuna was at bat, as Akari prepared to pitch the ball. Akari threw the ball to Setsuna, and she hit it foul to left. Akari threw the next pitch, and Setsuna hit it to left. Kikuko grabbed the ball, and threw it to Sena. Kurenai yelled, "YOU'RE OUT!"

The ninjas cheered on, as the game was coming to its climax. They've lost the first of two ringers in their roster.

Setsuna did her best, but died at first.

Tsubame was up next, as she glared, "We cannot afford yet another mishap, like before."

Tsubame hit the ball, but suddenly flew towards Akari's glove. Elly called, "YOU'RE OUT!"

No way… We're down to our last out! And Setsuna & Tsubame failed?!

Iroha was up next, as she prepared her bat. She was nervous, as Akari held up the ball. She glared, and then threw a fastball to Iroha. But Iroha smacked the ball to Futaba, which flew under her legs. Iroha dashed all the way to first, and slid to the base. "SAFE!"

The crowd cheered on, as it was now Ran's turn at bat. She hit a fly ball to right field. Ran ran to first, and Iroha raced off to third. Kirara caught the ball, but stumbled to the grass, and beeped in pain, "Error… Pain…"

Yes! What a comeback! Iroha is rounding to third, and Ran is heading to second. Ran saved this game, by hitting a double to right.

Hijiri was up next, as she bowed, "Hmm… Now, Akari Hanao, let us see how wonderful of a singing voice you are."

Akari beeped, "Try me, Hijiri. Take this." She wind up and threw the ball to Hijiri. It was a lob, and Hijiri smacked it to left field. With that base hit, Iroha scored, and Ran advanced to third. Hijiri remained in first, as she was able to keep Kazuki's team alive.

Cy cried, "WHAT? How?"

Akari remained in place, after she threw the ball. Her left leg was up, and her throwing arm was limp and down. Smoke emitted from her body, and her skin was slightly melting.

"Uh-oh… I was afraid of this." Beretta said, "Akari used too much. She's broken down, like Mari."

Kazuki whimpered, "Akari…"

Akari stopped moving after that. But still, she did let in one run… and Cy ran out of players.

Ikiru smiled, "Well, let's call it. It's a forfeit for the Cy-Nine!"

The Zephyrs cheered, and celebrated, as they won by forfeit, thus saving the Ninja Seeking Club. However…

"HOLD EWWY-DING!" Cy shouted, "We're not done yet! Akawi may be bwoken down, but dere's still one more pwayer left for the Cy-Nine!" She held up her glove and said, "ME!"

CY?! She's pitching?!

The team was shocked, as they were upset. They now have to play the final deciding at-bat against Cy.

Beretta snarled, "Dammit all! Cy's the only one without Tech-3 inside her! And she started this whole mess!"

Ikiru moaned, "Well, it doesn't matter, anyways. We only need one hit to win… or tie, depending how it hits."

Waka nudged on Beretta's sleeve and said, "I quit." She explained, "If I continue playing, I won't have the arm strength left to hold a camera. So, I'm going home."

Beretta and Ikiru were stunned, as Waka walked out of the team, before she could go to bat. She was up next. With Waka gone, it means one thing…

ULP! Waka said she's done, but… that means…

Ikiru sighed, "Looks like I'm up."

Beretta barked, "NO! I'll go at-bat! You go after me. You're the #1 batter in the lineup!"

"OH! Wait… Beretta… Are you sure?"

"There's nothing in the rules that says a manager can play. I mean, it worked for that pumpkin headed kid with bad luck."

Johnny boomed, "WAIT!" He called out, "Let me take a whack at it. We're down by 1, Ran's at third, Hijiri's at first, and all we need is a hit, and the game's tied. If I get hit by a pitch or walked, then Ikiru will finish the job."

Ikiru nodded, "I like the way you think."

Kazuki asked, "Johnny? You're going to bat for Waka? Against Cy?"

"I have a chance to redeem myself. All my training paid off, especially from the ninja training I have done. But those days are over, and I'm going to win back your friends. Besides, who here's the coolest grandson of MEA?"

They were puzzled, as Iroha said, "Looks like we have no choice."

Tsubame nodded, "Hm. I approve."

Yozuki sobbed, "Johnny, no…"

Johnny said, "I'm sorry, guys. But this is something I can do, for myself. Wish me a leg."

Kazuki asked, "Eh… don't you mean… uh… Never mind." He gave him the bat and said, "If we win, you treat me to whatever you like."

Johnny nodded, "Yeah. You can call me Johnny Pinch Hitter!"

Iori asked, "I thought you're called just Johnny…"

Beretta discussed with Johnny, "Spicer, it's up to you, I'm afraid. Because we're down by a run, you cannot whiff up a performance. This is Cy, you know? She's an android!"

"So are my friends. But I'm not complaining."

"But the Tech-3!"

"Beretta, this is a make-or-break moment… I'll be the pride of them all!"

He walked off, bat in hand, as Cy glared down.

Tens of thousands of eyes were on him, as Cy's eyes showed red from her purple lenses. One eye was watching Johnny, and the other to Ran and Hijiri. While the petite android ground the ball into her hip, defiance gleamed in Johnny's eyes, as he bit his lip.

"Ow!"

And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air, and Johnny stood a-watching, in haughty grandeur there.

"That ain't my style!" Johnny cried. Sebasu called, "Ball one!"

Cy said, as she was upset, "I wuz hoppin' yew wud chase it, Zonny."

Johnny smirked, "You're good, for a robot."

"Dank yew. But I wun't go easy!"

Cy prepared another ball, and once more, the baseball flew. But Johnny still ignored it, and the umpire said… Quote.

"Ball Two!" Sebasu called out.

Unquote.

Beretta yelled, "JOHNNY, YOU IDIOT! Hit the damn ball!" as the crowd was infuriated.

Kazuki said, "No, wait. Johnny, I think he is recreating Casey at the Bat!"

Ikiru gasped, "WHAT? WHY would he recreate that scene?"

Yozuki stated, "Yes, but… Those were strikes in that poem. Johnny let in two balls."

PFFT! Good one, Yozuki. TWO balls!

Oka called, "Johnny-dono, don't let Cy-dono intimidate you!"

Johnny said, "I won't. Because I'm not holding back, this time!"

The audience went into silence, as Johnny's muscles strain. And he knew that, in a flash moment, he wouldn't let the ball pass him again!

Cy called out, "Okey, Zonny, twy and beat THIS!"

Sneer has gone from Johnny's lip; his teeth are clenched with hate. He pounds with sheer violence his bat upon the plate!
And now, Cy preps her pitch, and NOW she lets it go!

She heaved the ball to Johnny.

And the air shattered, by the force of Johnny's blow!
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!


Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;
the band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,
and somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout…
But there was no joy in Mizaki City… Mighty Johnny…

"STRIKE ONE!" Sebasu called.

missed.

Johnny sobbed, "Noooooooooooooo!"

Kazuki asked, "Well, it's luck that he didn't let in two strikes… otherwise, we'd lose."

Beretta sighed, "Well, that's true. But now, Johnny's down to 2 and 1."

Ikiru said, "I bet he's only doing this for Derringer."

Cy smiled, "GOTCHA!" She caught the ball, as she prepared for the next pitch.

Ran called out, "DO YOUR BEST, JOHNNY!"

Hijiri cheered, "It'll all be over but the singing and the shouting!"

The runners were at the corners, as Johnny was up, 2 balls and 1 strike. Johnny would know that he would not let that ball go by, again. Cy and Johnny stared down, as the tension was high.

"Three pitches passed me… but a 4th one will not breeze through John Spicer!" He thought, "NO! This is for everyone that was sickened with the Tech-9 virus!"

Cy called, "Uh… it's Tech-3."

A hush in the crowd, as Johnny prepared to aim. Cy then prepared her most lethal pitch. She threw the ball, and Johnny kept an eye on it. He swung… and then…

CRACK!
He hit it! And at the wrong timing… It bounced towards Ricka, who threw it to first. And then… It happened!

SPROING!
Ricka's arm sprang out, and the ball flew to right field. Sena gasped, "GRACIOUS!"

Johnny gasped in shock, as Beretta hollered, "RUN!"

Kazuki called out, "RUN, YOU FOOL!"

Johnny ran to first, as Ran and Hijiri raced off. It technically counted as a base hit, as Ricka threw the ball right field. Tengge grabbed the ball, and then threw it to second base. But she threw it all the way home, as Ran was racing for home. Ran slid, as Myu caught the ball, but she froze in place, dropping the ball. Ran slid, as Sebasu cried, "Safe!"

WE TIED THE GAME! Wait… Why's Hijiri walking to third?

Cy roared, "GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH! NOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

She picked up the ball, and then threw it to Kikuko, but the ball struck her head. Hijiri dashed past her, and Johnny raced to second. The Cy-Nine's players started to break apart, after the huge error by Ricka. Futaba rushed in, as Cy raced for home, hoping to beat Hijiri.

"HUWWY! THWOW THE BALL, FUDABA!" Cy screamed.

The Zephyrs yelled, "HIJIRI! SLIDE! SLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIDE!"

Hijiri roared, "YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"

She slid to home plate, and Futaba threw the ball to home. A huge cloud of sand exploded, as the catch and slide made impact.
POOF!

Sebasu studied the play, as Hijiri touched home plate, and Cy's hand on Hijiri's head. They were both knocked out. The crowd was shocked, and paused in silence, as Sebasu understood the situation.

"Well, I cannot tell what the play was… but…" He raised his right arm and cried, "BATTER OUT!"

"WHAT?" Kazuki screamed.

Beretta & Ikiru yelled, "WHAT?"

Zina cried, "WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?"

Kazuki's teammates screamed in unison, "WHAAAAAAAAAT? HIJIRI BLEW IT?!"

(Fuu): SHOCK AND AWE! Hijiri is out! That means…

(Koropokkur): The final score… The Cy-Nine - 19, the Mizaki Zephyrs - 19!

A TIE? THE GAME ENDED IN A TIE?! We… We were so close! SO CLOSE!

Beretta was furious, as she kicked the ground, shouting in incoherent words. Ikiru huffed, "Apparently, we never agreed to extra innings."

Kazuki moaned, "So… that's it? It's over?"

Yozuki cried, "A TIE GAME?!"

Oka sobbed, "Nooooooo!"

Iroha yelled, "AFTER ALL THAT?"

Hayuki yelled, "RIP-OFF!"

Waka shrieked, "We played for BLOOOOOOOOOOD!"

Ran said, "Uh, no, we didn't. We're happy that we didn't lose."

The others yelled, "HOW IS THAT HAPPY? IT'S A TIE!"

I guess we were all unhappy by this final outcome. But still, the girls went worse off after that fiasco. Amidst the chaos, Cy's team blew off a save, only to end in a tie. But now what? My friends are broken down, and they are damaged.

Beretta said, "Well, for what it's worth… We can agree to a tie."

The umpires went into a conference, as they discussed the ending to the game. Elly said, "So, now what?"

Kurenai huffed, "It's ridiculous to continue the game, if most of the Cy-Nine is disabled and broken, and most of the Zephyrs have walked out."

Kotaro said, "What do you propose? We wanted to continue the game, but both teams are a player short."

Elly barked, "Then fix it, old man!"

Kotaro gasped, as Zina approached the group, "I propose that we resume the game, under sudden death rules… However, only Kazuki and Cy will play, while WE, the adults, play defense."

Meido asked, "Sudden Death?"

Yurisuke asked, "What do you suggest?"

Zina said, "I looked up special events in Baseball, and learned of a popular event during the summer - A Home Run Derby. Cy & Kazuki will take turns, trying to hit the ball out of the park, one at a time. And then, whoever gets the most home runs, wins."

Elly asked, "And if it ends in a tie?"

Zina said, "We continue, until someone breaks the tie. Cy will deactivate her team, all of them, and Kazuki's team will step aside."

Tayu agreed, "So, put simply, there must be a winner… And since most of our girls are broken, we'll have MEA take them away."

Beretta approached them and asked, "What's this about?"

They discussed a "Sudden Death Home Run Derby" with Cy & Kazuki as the only players. Beretta is ordered to not only step aside, but to bring the injured Tech-3 influenced players to custody, for treatment, after their performance.

Beretta said, "I have no problem with it. But the winning stipulations stand. However, a new rule: If Kazuki wins, Cy must be put on trial by MEA, for the Tech-3. Including you, Zina! But… if Cy wins, then she gets one date with Kazuki. That's it."

Zina said, "Deal. I hope that you will get treatment for them, once they are finished."

Beretta said, "I will. I promise that nothing bad will happen." She called out, "Sten, AK, Borchardt, Carbine… escort the following players out of the field: Nanao Kashima, Enju Saion-Ji, Ricka Machiyuki, Akari Hanao, Myu Momochi, and Mari Hanao. The rest are okay."

The MEA Agents grabbed the broken robots away, as Cy cried, "Fweh?! HEY, WUT ARE YEW DOIN'?"

MEA is taking most of the girls away! Why is she doing this?

Elly called, "Kazuki, Cy, to the mound!"

Elly Fuma calls us to the pitcher's mound. What could she want? We approached the mound, as Elly prepared the final rules.

Elly said to them, "Since the game ended in a tie, we are going to decide a true winner. However, since most of your players are tired out, we propose Sudden Death. In this one, you two will hit the most home runs, after nine attempts. This is basically a shootout. Each of you will bat for nine times, alternately. Your turn ends if you get a home run, a base hit, or a strikeout. If a foul ball, you get a do-over. And whoever gets the most home runs, at the end of the shootout, wins. Now… Cy will go first, since she bats first."

Cy nodded, "Wight. Den so be it."

Kazuki said, "I have no problems with the game going into Sudden Death. But who's going to play defense?"

Yurisuke bowed, "The Ninja Village's heads will handle the defense. Elly, Kurenai, Kotaro, and I will be in the outfield, while Otomegawa's servants will be in the infield. Master Kazuki, I will observe from the outfield, to make sure that there will be fair play."

Kazuki smiled, "Thanks, Yurisuke."

Looks like we're going into the final battle. Cy and I have one final game, before we decide a winner. It all comes down to this.

Johnny was still in second base, as he asked, "Uhhh… What happened now?"

Kazuki called, "The game's over. We're going into Sudden Death!" He said, "Hey, thanks for saving my butt, back there. It wasn't how we planned, but we still have a chance."

Johnny smiled, "Yeah. I can't believe I let you guys down."

Kazuki said, "No, we ended in a tie, so they decided to make it a Sudden Death Shootout. Leave this to me, okay?"

Johnny shook his hand and grinned, "You bet. Here's to ending this baseball nightmare, once and for all."

Let's hope so. After this, I worry about Cy's Tech-3. What will it mean for the others that were broken down? Lily, Tengge, Yamabuki, the Hag, YTG8, and Hotaru are doing alright. Akari, Enju, Ricka, Myu, & Nanao overheated and suffered wear-and-tear.

In the end, we decided on a shootout… as Cy & I prepared for one final showdown. Win, and we're saved. Lose, and I'm her boyfriend, forever.

This hurts me, but I will not give up. I'll do this for Akari, for Enju, and for everybody. This is it.


Next Chapter Preview

(View of Mizaki School, at night)

(Yamabuki): Well, whaddya know? The game's over.

(Tengge): Not quite. Despite Akari and the others overheating, we're still alive.

(Yamabuki): Of course… but now, Kazuki and Cy-Cy are in a sudden death home run derby, which will change er'rything. Now, we're gonna see what happens, when ya try ta use Tech-3 into our systems.

(Tengge): I feel bad for Mari and Akari… and Enju, Myu, Ricka, and Nanao.

(Yamabuki): Well, let's make this short and sweet. Kazuki and Cy-Cy battle fer everything on the line. Who will hit the most home runs, at the end of nine turns?

(Tengge): Next time, Chapter 9 - "Batter vs. Pitching Machine". Or… The battle between Legendary Ninja and Android.

(Yamabuki): It comes down to the wire. Will Cy-Cy finally get her Sweet Ending, or will Kazuki save the Ninja Seeking Club? Find out next time, in the next chapter.

(Tengge): *winks* See you then!