Chapter 3 - When We First Played

I arrived at the baseball field an hour early. I didn't feel like waiting at my house for school to end for Kazuya. I brought my baseball bat along with me. I didn't want to practice pitching and tire myself out before we could even make a battery. I head my way to the home plate with my bat. I was standing on the left side of the box closest to the first base. I reach my bat to see if I could touch the opposite side of the plate to see if I'm standing at the correct position.

I swing my bat a couple of times. I start to look ahead at the mound where a pitcher would be. I began to visualize a runner on first and third base, it's the last inning, and the burden lies on my shoulders. The pitcher winds up, and I track the pitch with my eyes.

In a split-second, my leg perched up like a crane as I let all my weight lean into the ground. I was nearly falling forward, but I had the additional momentum for hitting the ball. I plant my foot down as my hips quickly twitch around and arms whip around, with every intention of putting as much barrel on the ball as possible. The ball starts to curve down once it reaches the plate. I flick both my wrists to change the plane of my swing. At contact, the ball hits right on the sweet spot, sending it over the fence.

"Homerun..." I whispered to myself.

Since I wasn't a power hitter, I mainly focus on contact. I've been told my batting form was lousy, but it's the only form that gave consistent results. The point of my stance was to cover the amount of the plate as much as I could. I perch my leg up not only to give a running start to first base before the ball hits my bat, but I need a heavy shift of weight from my back leg to my front to give me enough power to hit the ball far and long.

I start to visualize again. This time it was one runner on third, with two outs, it's a tie game to the second last inning. I look at the runner, signalling to steal home base with the pitcher having his back on him. The pitcher winds up, the runner starts to take off. The pitcher notices and throws a high fastball. It's going to be on my far right. I swing using the head of my bat for a direct hit. The ball goes down close to the line of first base. A fair ball, the runner managed to score, while the ball was thrown to first base.

Visualizing is one of my favourite practices. It helps me learn if I was the pitcher or the batter in an actual game. It gives me experience even if it's make-believe. I just kept practicing my swings for every type of pitch and placement.

I decided to take a small break since Kazuya should be here anytime soon. I look through my bag for my water bottle. It isn't there. I realize I completely forgot about it on the kitchen table. I scrunch my face since I could feel the back of my mouth drying out.

"Here." I felt a cold object pressed onto my cheek. I jumped from the sudden surprise behind me. It's a water bottle, I turn my head, and it was from Kazuya. "Thanks. How did you know?" I ask him while chugging down the bottle. He shrugs, "I didn't. It's mine. So you owe me, Yanagi." He grinned at me.

I give him back the empty water bottle, "I change my mind." He shakes the empty bottle in front of me, "It's too late for that." I ignore his statement and ask him, "How long have you been here?" "Not long, a couple of minutes before you stopped swinging." I nodded my head at his reply.

A couple of minutes passed, and it was dead silent. I guessed that Kazuya was giving me time to rest before we practiced. I glanced to my side beside me, and Kazuya looked like he wanted to say something. It amused me. His fingers were picking on each other, his mouth had a little pout while his cheeks showed a slight brush. I just kept silent, waiting for him to say something.

"Yanagi." He mumbled. I hummed in response. "Do you think you can teach me how to swing?" His ears reddened, and cheeks painted in light pink. As he turns his head away from me. I took note that he disliked asking for favours.

"Sure, I owe you one anyway." I grinned at him even though he was looking away. I stood up in front of him, giving him a hand. "Now, wanna catch my pitch?" He looked up, gaining back his composure. He grins and takes my hand. We head our way back to the field.

I take a stand on the mound, my glove on my left hand. While I watch Kazuya punch his glove before he crutches down. He places his glove in the middle of the strike zone. I hum at his choice, 'Too easy.' I thought while I winded up. I threw a fastball, noting the release of my grip to reach until it reaches the tips of my fingertips.

Thump!

I think that was the best fastball I've thrown yet. It hit around the 65 km/hr mark and exactly landed where Kazuya placed his glove. I have to imprint that motion permanently in my mind.

I peeked at Kazuya's face, and he looked amused as he threw the ball back to me. "Eh? Is that all you got?" He was trying to taunt me. I threw another fastball to him, "You're the one that wanted to catch my pitch!" I yelled at him while he caught the ball. He smirks at me, "Now that's more like it."

That was true it felt was much faster this time while still landing at the same spot. I felt like I was in my best form today. I threw a couple more to warm up my shoulder.

"Runner on first base and third. No out with 2 strikes on the batter and 2 balls. The batter bats left." I yelled at him. He was taken back a bit at first, then started playing along with me. Kazuya places his glove for an inside high pitch. I chuckle then showed him my grip for a fastball. I wind up focusing on the imaginary batter as the first base runner plans to steal. Thump! A strike. Kazuya caught it and threw the ball to 2nd base. I managed to dodge the ball. We both yelled, "Double play!" I started to burst out laughing. He was totally into it, and not only that, but we both imagined the runner stealing. He grinned with a faint blush on his cheeks like he did not expect himself to react that way.

"Miyuki, with that shoulder, I think you should be the pitcher," I shouted as I went to pick up the ball. I wasn't lying. That was a good throw from him. "I wanna be a catcher." He was adamant about that one. I was a little envious of his confidence. "And I wanna be a pitcher..." I told myself. "I didn't catch that, Yanagi." I threw a look at him, he couldn't have possibly heard me, but I just know he knew what I said. "I wanna be a pitcher," I told him a little louder than before. "I can't hear you from here." I knew he was trying to provoke me now.

"I wanna be a pitcher!" I yelled at the sky with both my hands gripped into fists. 'Haaa... He's going to be a good catcher.' Kazuya knew how to make a pitcher shine, even though it pisses me off. "Well, then prove it." He places the glove for an inside low pitch. I showed him a two-seam grip. I wind-up and threw, remembering my wrists to slightly turn outward coming to the release point.

The ball began on the outer half of the plate and ended inside, where Miyuki placed his glove. He smirked, "Nice ball!" As he throws the ball back to me. Even I had to admit it, maybe it's because I paid attention to my wrist for that downward movement.

"Strike one, with 2 outs and a runner on third. The batter bats right this time!" He shouted at me. I smiled and nodded as I showed him a fastball. He grinned and placed it for an outside high ball. I threw a fastball, but I wanted the batter to swing. It was still a ball, but I aimed for the border of the strike zone.

Thump! It was music to my ears. I smiled, shouting at him, "Strike two!" "No way, that was a ball." I threw him a face, "The batter swung!" "No, he didn't!" He argued back with a coy smile. But this time, he jogged towards the mound.

"Two types of pitches, huh? Aren't you a little scary?" He said, shaking his head at me. "Both of them have good control. Your fastball is nasty, but your two-seam is too slow to be a fastball." I hummed and nodded at him. He was starting to be pretty amazing for a catcher, and I couldn't help but be a little amazed. Kazuya instantly knew where my weakness and strength lies, "...other than that, that's all I can say about your pitching..." I tuned back in, I didn't listen to his advice at all.

"Well, I can throw three types." He raised a brow, "But I can't seem to get my change-up grip to be comfortable for me." I continued, being a little embarrassed. "Well, I don't think you should focus on a different pitch right now." He said while scratching his cheek, "I guess we could start playing catch. You could play around with the grip until it fits right." He continued, "But while your fastball is good, you could use some work for throwing hard, and you're not even close to mastering your two-seamer."

I pouted in defeat since he was right. He could easily recognize my weakness as a pitcher, though he could be blunt about it. "Fine, I'll master both my pitches, then I'm taking up your offer on playing catch." He grinned at me, being content with my decision. "Not only that, you need to work on your confidence to be a pitcher." Kazuya was now going on and on with his assessment. Every statement pierced you like an arrow. I stared dejected down at the mound, listening to him this time. 'I didn't know I lacked that much.'

"But right now, with the ball control and speed your pitches have, you'd be scary to go against." Kazuya finally complimented me, and he probably started to notice my mood. I finally met his eyes, it was gleaming with joy. 'Is he having that much fun criticizing me?' "Thanks?" I said unsurely.

"You know, a battery has to happen at an actual game, or at least with a real batter." He said with a smirk. I was slightly taken back, a little embarrassed at my mistake. 'Oh...' I gave him a big grin, "Of course, I did. I wanted to know if you're good enough." Kazuya laughed at me, he knew I was lying.

"Whatever! Just go back at the plate." I fumed at him, pointing to his spot. "Yes, Yes." He replied, walking away, "Now he decides to be a pitcher, so indecisive." Kazuya mutters loud enough for me to hear. "I heard that!"