AN:
Set immediately after Act II Chapter 203 in the manga.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EIJUN!
"Catching Feelings"
It is after they watched the games of Ichidaisan and Inashiro, both teams winning each of their games, that Okumura found himself alone with Sawamura in front of the dorms. They had just come from Coach Kataoka's office, reporting the events in the game and leaving Watanabe as Okumura still needed to proceed with the batting exercises he promised in exchange for the day out. Sawamura had put it upon himself to wait for him in one of the benches, and Okumura really wouldn't mind, if he wasn't incessantly texting on his phone. He figures he was still talking to that sempai he mentioned before.
"When you said that person saved your life, what did you mean?" Okumura couldn't help asking, couldn't help being curious. "Did he save you from drowning in a river or something?"
"What do you take me for, an abandoned kitten?!" Sawamura starts with an outburst. "He's my sempai, two years my senior! And a mentor basically! He's my master who taught me all about baseball, including how harsh and deep it could be!"
"Your master?" Okumura thinks of the peculiar things the other likes to call people.
"He's a catcher just like you! I'll introduce you if I get the chance, so there!" Sawamura continued as if he wasn't interrupted.
"Are you sure he's a real person, and not imaginary?" Okumura doesn't really think that, but he wants to prolong the conversation.
"Of course, he's real! Geez!" Sawamura huffs with finality, and unfortunately, the exchange dies down from there.
The next day, Sawamura asks him to catch for him, even though that was already their arrangement seeing as Miyuki is busy preparing for their upcoming game over the weekend with Furuya.
"Actually, can we practice in the indoor training area instead?" Sawamura asks as they make their way pass the first field. "I'm pretty sure no one's using it right now."
"That's fine," Okumura answers looking over the field towards Seto, Asada, and Kuki, who were standing by the corner of the field. Aside from Yuuki and Yui, the rest of the first years are merely assisting in the training of the First String.
"Do you think we can borrow your friends if they aren't too busy?" Sawamura asks and he turns to see the older was following his line of sight.
"I think so, but why?" Okumura stares.
"I want to try pitching to the bat, instead of the mitt." Sawamura starts to explain, looking back at him. "Like, to connect, you know? Remember what I said yesterday? I want to force the batters to hit my pitches, I also want to be able to control where the ball goes after they hit it."
"Wouldn't Yuuki or Yui be preferable then?" Okumura suggests, already thinking about how they would go about baiting Ichidaisan's relentless batters. They would need an effective pitch sequence so batters wouldn't be able to target a certain pitch.
"Yeah, but I don't want to take them away from practice, since we're the only ones the Coach entrusted with preparing for the next game." Sawamura resumes walking and Okumura follows silently.
When they arrived at the corner of the field, closer to the trio, Sawamura calls out to them. "Oi! Asada! Are you guys up for some batting drills? I'm pitching!"
"Eh?! Really? You're asking us?" Asada runs up to him, Kuki and Seto follow after.
"Well, if you guys are free?" Sawamura shrugs good-naturedly.
"We'd love to, sempai!" Asada answers pleased, Kuki and Seto nod behind him.
"Hmmm, two pitchers, one second baseman." Sawamura looks between Asada and Kuki. "I guess you guys can learn something, it's about time." He nods to himself and looks over Seto. "I hope you don't mind tagging along?"
"I'll just watch for flying balls, sempai!" Seto assured.
"Great! Then, let's go!" Sawamura grins and leads them to the indoor training area.
Okumura follows closely behind them, he didn't think Sawamura would know Seto's position. He also wonders what he meant when he said, 'it's about time'.
They arrive at the indoor training area and Okumura immediately goes to wear his protective gear. Sawamura takes a big basket of balls and drags it towards the center of the grounds, while Asada, Kuki and Seto remain near the entrance.
"Seto, can you bat first?" Sawamura looks towards the black-haired first-year. "I want the pitchers to watch before they get their turn."
"Of course, no problem!" Seto grabs a metal bat from the nearby supply.
"Great! I'm gonna show you guys my grip, and tell you where the ball will go and when it will break and how." Sawamura then grabs a ball from the basket.
"Is that all right, sempai?" Seto asks while positioning himself a little to the side of Okumura.
"Totally! I want you guys to hit my pitches!" Sawamura points the ball to him with a big grin.
"Are you serious?" Seto mutters to himself and glances at Okumura, but the catcher doesn't say anything. Normally, pitchers don't want their pitches hit.
"All right! Asada, Kuki! I want you two to watch carefully and see if you can pick something up. If there's a pitch you want to learn, just tell me and I'll do my best to help. Okay?" Sawamura sends them a grin.
"Yes! Thank you, sempai!" The two chorused.
Sawamura and Okumura then start with the warm-up, slowly easing into a tempo. After about ten pitches, Okumura crouches down in catching position and Seto moves to the batter's box.
"We'll start with basic fastballs to the center. I want you to hit it as hard as you can, Seto." Sawamura proceeds to the wind-up after seeing the batter nod. He throws the first pitch and it hits the bat, the ball bouncing to the far end of the grounds. He takes another ball and throws it the same way.
It was in Sawamura's fifth pitch that Seto starts realizing the pitcher isn't throwing to the catcher at all, but to him and the bat he holds. Okumura isn't even making signals. He decides not to say anything and continues swinging at all the balls thrown, until Sawamura changes his pitch.
"Okay, I'll be throwing two-seamers now, Seto! They'll break near the plate and away from you, so be careful."
"Wait!" Seto waves around. "Sempai, are you pitching to me?"
"Yeah, I said we're doing batting drills, right?" Sawamura answers good-naturedly as if it there wasn't anything weird about it.
"Sempai, you haven't exactly explained why we're doing this," Okumura finally says something.
"Oh? Well, we're preparing for the next match against Ichidaisan. They have sluggers who will do anything to hit the ball, Okumura and I thought we'd try to learn how to control where the ball goes after it hits the bat."
"Ehhh, for real?" Seto sweats, thinking about how that will go. The plan sounds outrageous to him. "But doesn't that mean you don't actually need a catcher for this?"
"I'm gauging the difference for when I normally pitch to my catcher of course, we'll need to make it work for other pitches as well. Okumura's calculating where the ball would go also."
"That sounds complicated," Asada comments quietly and Kuki nods in agreement.
They proceed with the rest of the pitches and until Asada and Kuki get their turns. Okumura bats last with Seto acting as the catcher.
They all ended up heading for lunch at the same time since they were practicing together the whole morning. Sawamura sat with them seeing as most of the first string members were already done eating.
Seeing their sempai eat as fast as he could, Seto felt he should chat him up to slow him down. "Can I ask you a few questions, sempai?"
Sawamura placed down his first bowl, grinning. "Sure, ask away!"
"What was it like last year when you started here?" Seto jumps on the most basic of questions.
"Ah, last year was tough. I vomited a lot! Wahahaha!" Sawamura answered pertaining to the mandatory three bowls of rice.
"Seriously?" Seto sweat drops.
"I guess everyone has to go through this, huh?" Asada comments from in front of Seto.
"But what about training? How did you do the first time, sempai?" Kuki asks this time, from Seto's other side.
"I wasn't allowed to join training, so I was just running laps with tires for about a month." Sawamura thinks back while chewing.
"A month?" Asada asks echoes in disbelief.
"You weren't allowed to join training?" Kuki raises an eyebrow.
"Wahahaha! It was my punishment for being late on the first day and mouthing off at the Coach! Wahaha!" Sawamura laughs boisterously as if that was the funniest thing in the world.
"You mouthed off at the Coach on the first day?" Seto glances at Okumura who appears focused on his meal.
"It was all Miyuki-sempai's fault!" Sawamura suddenly gritted his teeth, remembering the events. "Anyway! I got into the second string immediately after the scrimmage and got into the first string before the summer tournament so it all worked out!"
"Did you have some tips for us pitchers, sempai?" Kuki follows with another question.
"Tips?" Sawamura looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well, the coach isn't really looking for miraculous plays, you know? It's more like, the question of whether you can throw that one pitch."
"One pitch?" Asada repeats in question.
Sawamura smirks. "Bottom of the ninth inning, scores tied, two outs, bases loaded. The count is three balls, two strikes. Can you pitch it? That one win-or-lose, all-or-nothing pitch. If you can, then that's all you really need as a pitcher."
"That's no good, I definitely can't," Asada laments.
"I think I'd pee my pants, but I would still try." Kuki tries to imagine it.
"Wahahaha! I know, right! A pitcher's worst nightmare!" Sawamura laughs before showing a toothy grin. "But I pitched it."
"I don't remember any of your games going like that, sempai." Okumura finally joins the conversation.
"You sound like you've watched all my games! Wahaha!" Sawamura leans back on his chair. "It happened in middle school actually, that's how I got scouted into Seido."
"Eh? You were actually scouted?" Seto questions in disbelief.
"This is the first I'm hearing this," Asada comments.
"Yeah! Anyway, I lost that game. And it cost us the rest of the tournament." Sawamura grimaces at the memory.
"Was that the worst game you've ever played?" Kuki couldn't help asking.
"Nah, my worst game was against Teito, first round of the Fall Tournament last year." Sawamura looks down on his food.
"Eh? But we watched that game and you did fine?" Seto asked glancing at Okumura. "Seido even won."
"That's because you can only see the results, you don't know what was happening on the inside." Sawamura picked on his food. "I got the yips after losing the finals against Inashiro in the West Tokyo Tournament. I couldn't pitch to the inside, I was practically disabled."
"Yips?" Asada asks, looking at Kuki.
"It's when you suddenly lose the motor skills you usually have," Kuki explains his basic knowledge of it. "I've heard a few international players retire prematurely because of it, but I've never actually known anyone who had it, or recovered from it."
"Yeah, it was horrible! I was so miserable, I didn't know why I was put on the mound, or why I had a number, or why I hadn't been kicked out of the team yet." Sawamura swallows a lump down his throat. "I'm really grateful the coach didn't give up on me."
"Sempai, I don't mean to flatter you, but that game was actually one of the reasons we chose to come to Seido." Okumura states in a serious tone.
Seto gives him a knowing smirk. 'Koushuu, you didn't mention the fact it was on a whim and based on who won. So you really do mean to flatter him, don't you?'
"Really? Well, that's good then!" Sawamura visibly cheers up and shifts his attention to the two first-year pitchers. "Anyway, you guys just need to show the coach you got spunk! Pitchers need to be brave so don't be afraid of home runs or dead balls, they're all going to happen at some point."
"I'll try to be brave, but I don't think I can stop being scared," Asada mutters to himself.
"You just need to be absolutely crushed, the sooner it happens the faster you'll get over it." Sawamura starts eating fast again. "Or just get used to the pressure. One time the coach stood on the batter's box for me, thinking I would be scared to hit him. Wahahaha! So of course, I had to pitch inside!"
"Eh? You weren't scared to hit him?" Kuki couldn't believe it.
"No way! He said he wouldn't mind anyway! Wahahaha!" Sawamura laughs without a care.
"Sawamura-sempai," Asada sweat drops.
"How about for players in a different position, sempai? Do you have other tips?" Seto asks again.
"Hmmm... well, you just really need more chances to show off. But when there's a tournament everyone's focused on assisting the first string so there's not much of it." Sawamura nibbles on his chopsticks. "Seto, your position is second base, right? But is it okay for you to play shortstop?"
Okumura glances at Seto, but the brunet answers in stride. "As long as I'm playing center field, I don't really mind, sempai!"
"You know we have a traditional infield duo, right?" Sawamura picks at the rice in his bowl. "Before Haruichi got the position, it was actually his brother that held it. Kuramochi-sempai was in between them, but now Kuramochi-sempai is retiring by the end of summer so you just might get more chances to show off." Sawamura points his chopsticks at him with a grin. "The coach only puts players in positions he expects them to do well anyway, but he's not totally heartless. If you want to play second baseman he will let you, I just don't know how often Haruichi will be subbed out." He finishes with a shrug.
"If the coach thinks I will be useful as a shortstop then I will do my best." Seto assures them.
"Good for you then!" Sawamura grins and sends him a thumbs up. Then he leans back on his chair and sighs heavily. "But man, you just reminded me the third years are graduating soon. I hope we can properly send them away this time, at Koshien."
"What's it like playing at Koshien, sempai?" Kuki couldn't help asking.
"It was nerve-wrecking, I messed up a lot." Sawamura finishes his third bowl. "I hope we do better this year."
"But first, we have to win the West Tokyo Tournament." Okumura comments.
"Yeah! Let's practice that breaking ball you wanted me to throw later!" Sawamura stands to return the tray and dishes.
"Please go ahead, sempai. We will still take a while," Okumura urges, going back to eating his second bowl.
"No, it's fine! I'll wait for you here!" Sawamura insists, sitting back down on his chair.
"Please don't." Okumura glares and growls.
"I'm waiting for you even if you get mad! Wahahaha!" Sawamura laughs boisterously, turning to the other three on the table. "So, how are you guys dealing with the training so far?"
"Well, it's hard but I guess everyone has to go through it." Kuki shrugs, being the one who answers.
"Just do your best and work hard. If you hear anybody saying bad things, just show them what you've got." Sawamura rests his chin on his palm, staring off into the distance. "Seido is a competitive school with about a hundred members. It's unfortunate, but this is 'that' kind of place. So if some people have something bad to say about you, just shut them up." He grins with conviction.
"Have you experienced something like that, sempai?" Seto dares to ask.
"Well," Sawamura pouts, but still answers. "One time, there was someone who said I didn't deserve my number."
The four first-years shared similar variations of a frown. They all know how hard their sempai works.
"The worst part was, I agreed with them." Sawamura remembers with a sigh. "That time I had the yips and people expected me to be removed from the first string." He suddenly grins. "But it's okay now because I'm the ace and they can't question me anymore!"
"Even so, that must've been tough back then, when you were a first year." Asada reasons.
"Well, it's not like I don't understand. There are members here who spent three years without making the first string. And it's not like they're not working hard, some are just better." Sawamura rubs the back of his head. "A lot of people didn't like me either because they think I'm stupid. But I'm not stupid, you know! I learned how to throw the changeup overnight!" He huffs.
"I wouldn't have expected that," Okumura comments in mild surprise. "But it's good you know people think you're stupid because you're loud."
"Oh, shut it!" Sawamura dismisses him with scowl. "Anyway there were also those people who preferred some players over others. Even me."
"Even you?" Okumura clarifies, not discouraged by the earlier rebuttal.
"You know, I had a sempai before who taught me about baseball and how to properly pitch. That was Chris-sempai, the one I mentioned earlier. Do you know how I thanked him for taking care of me?" Sawamura looks at all of them each. "By taking his slot on the first string." He then rests his face sideways on the able, squeezing his cheeks into a pout. "The whole time he spent teaching me, he spent it not training for himself. And I don't think I'll ever forgive myself for that, I still haven't repaid him enough either."
"But you're the ace now, I think he knows at least the time he spent on you was not wasted." Okumura justifies.
Sawamura grins sadly, "yeah, but still I wasn't able to take him to the Nationals." Then he suddenly stands up, bracing both hands on the table. "That's why we need to make it to Nationals this summer! And at fall too! We'll make it so Seido becomes a regular at Nationals! And then we'll win too!"
The four first-years shared wide eyes at that.
"That's right, our aim from the start has always been to become stronger and win." Sawamura reaffirms to himself with a nod.
"That sounds amazing, sempai. Please do that," Okumura cheers mockingly with a black face.
"Of course, you guys will help us win too!" Sawamura grins too wide. "And the third years are graduating so we'll be on our own come fall. Which reminds me," he suddenly jolts and prepares to make a run for it. "Finish your food and I'll be right back." He says before dashing out of the cafeteria.
The four first-years just stare at him.
Sawamura comes back with two dirty scrolls. He puts them down in the middle of the table. "Not sure if you guys know this, but I had a different training menu from Furuya when we first started. This was my base," he unravels the first scroll and then the second. "It was designed for me by Chris-sempai to avoid injuries. It also specializes on shoulders and mobility. Everyone's always throwing a ball at some point so this can't be bad. You guys can follow this as an extra routine."
"Are you sure we can have this, sempai?" Asada asks, opening up one of the scrolls.
"Yep! I've memorized them already anyway, and you guys are just starting with your bases so this will be of some use to you." Sawamura grins reassuringly.
"Thanks, sempai!" Kuki and Asada chorused, both taking look at one of the scrolls.
"This looks helpful," Seto comments as Okumura silently reads on the other.
After lunch, Seto, Kuki and Asada proceeded with the scrolls' training menu, while Okumura caught for Sawamura, trying some more breaking balls. They spent the whole day training together, so Sawamura took the liberty of joining the first years in the bath as well. Okumura felt more conscious than usual, spending the whole day together was enough he reasons to himself, but also admits he doesn't hate the presence of their sempai anyway.
"The sempais were pestering Captain again today about going pro, huh?" Seto mentions as he enters the tub. "I don't understand why he doesn't just say a team he likes and be over with it."
"Maybe he hasn't made a decision yet," Asada comments as he joins the brunet in the tub.
"He doesn't have to be decided, he just has to say a team he prefers," Seto shrugs.
"Anyway, it's true the team needs to focus on trying to make it to Nationals first," Kuki also enters the tub.
"What do you think, sempai?" Asada asks as Sawamura makes his way to join them, Okumura following after him.
"Well, no matter which team he chooses is his choice so it's not like anyone has a say in the matter," Sawamura leans on the wall.
"Yeah, everyone's just probably curious." Seto reasons.
"But really, the idea of going pro sounds amazing," Kuki comments from beside Seto.
"Do you want to go pro too, sempai?" Asada suddenly asks. "If it's you, I'm sure you'll make it."
"Hmmm... no, I'll go to college," Sawamura answers looking at the ceiling.
"College first, and then pro?" Seto presses.
"No, actually I," Sawamura suddenly grins sheepishly, scratching his cheek. "I want to become a coach."
"Ehhh?" Asada gawks.
"I didn't think you were that type, but it's impressive nonetheless!" Kuki comments good-naturedly.
"Yeah! And then I'm gonna wear sunglasses and act all stingy!" Sawamura acts like he's wearing sunglasses and then he crosses his arms, puffing his chest.
Seto, Asada, and Kuki laugh at that, certainly knowing who he was trying to imitate.
"Don't do that, sempai!" Asada covers his face, trying not to laugh.
"I can't take you seriously like this," Okumura mutters loud enough for everyone to hear.
Seto glances at Okumura's direction before asking casually, "but really, sempai. Is there any reason?"
Sawamura sighs and lets his head go limp on the wall. "When I was in middle school, we didn't have a coach, just a PE teacher. Because of that you can say we weren't trained properly, and because my pitches naturally break, nobody could catch them. That's why when I first came here, I only know how to throw straight."
Okumura frowns at that.
"I initially refused to accept Seido's offer, but my friends encouraged me to go. The last thing my previous catcher told me as I was leaving was that, he always felt he held me back. That's why I wanted to become the ace in the first place, I wanted to represent them." Sawamura continues with a sad smile. "And then I want to be a coach, and go back to that school and teach the team I abandoned to come here." [1]
"I think you'll be a great coach, sempai!" Asada was moved near to tears.
"Yeah! I'm sure sempai can do it!" Seto also cheers.
"If you can become the ace here, there's no way you can't be a coach." Kuki assures.
"Thanks, you guys! I'll do my best!" Sawamura grins.
Okumura was the only one who didn't say anything, no matter how many times Seto gave him the look. He was too preoccupied repeating the words in his mind, and unfortunately, comparing them to his experience with his middle school coach.
After winning the game against Sousei, the team had a briefing for the next game against Ichidaisan. Watanabe just finished discussing the opposing team's pitching tactics and possible batting line-up, when Coach Kataoka took over.
"Sawamura will be the starting pitcher for this one," Coach Kataoka glances at him as he announces that. "Furuya and Kawakami, be prepared to enter any time."
"Yes sir!" Furuya and Kawakami adheres at the same time.
But the lack of response from Sawamura made the coach look at him again.
"Boss!" Sawamura calls out as he stands. "Please allow Okumura to catch for me at the match!" He shouts and bows low.
Everyone was stunned silent.
"We have been preparing together since the Norikane match! I feel like we'll do well together!" Sawamura pushes on.
Coach Kataoka just stares hard at him, everyone else too. Okumura felt the scene is happening from a great distance, like he isn't physically there. It was too unbelievable and unreal. He didn't understand why his sempai would make such a request either.
"Three innings," Coach Kataoka shows him three fingers. "After that, I'll switch both of you out as I see fit." With that the head coach turns to leave, followed by Coach Ochiai, Takashima-sensei, and club president Oota.
"Thank you so much, Boss! We won't fail you!" Sawamura bows again, and only lifts his head after the door was closed.
Before anyone can react, Okumura was on his feet stomping towards Sawamura. "I did not ask for this, sempai!"
"Yeah, what's the meaning of this, Sawamura? You could've given me the heads up," Miyuki questions him as well before their ace could even give an answer. "Just because you have a new catcher now, you've decided to throw me away? I'm hurt."
"Don't get so mad! I just want to give Okumura more experience." Sawamura answers without a sweat, eyes focused on Miyuki. "In fact, I plan to ask coach to let him catch some innings at Koshien too."
"Experience?" Miyuki repeats. "Well, I'm not against it, but did you really have to ask for it during semifinals?"
"I want to prepare Okumura for fall," Sawamura starts, standing his ground. "Since you'll be retiring after the Nationals. And isn't that the reason you asked me and Furuya to match up with the first-years in the first place?"
Miyuki frowns, but doesn't deny anything, allowing Sawamura to continue.
"I want to prepare the new team as soon as possible. I don't want a team hastily put together at the last minute, because making it to the Nationals means we have less time." Sawamura crosses his arms. "And obviously, we plan to make it to the Invitationals as well."
"What're you saying? You're talking like..." Miyuki trails off, thinking of the implications.
"You still don't understand, Miyuki-sempai?" Sawamura grins. "I'm going to be the next captain. Okumura isn't the only one itching to kick you out of your spot." [2]
Miyuki's eyes widened at the proclamation. And Okumura couldn't believe what he was hearing, no one can. Various reactions started going around the other members.
"Ehhh?"
"For real?!"
"Are you serious?!"
"Yes! In fact, I'm going to ask for a scrimmage after the West Tokyo finals!" Sawamura huffs. "Also! I already have a line-up!"
"What? That's crazy!"
"You're out of your mind, Sawamura!"
"You can't be ace and captain at the same time, that's too greedy!"
"I was ace and captain in middle school so I'm used to it!" Sawamura bristles and suddenly fishes out his phone. "Anyway, Kanemaru! You're gonna be our new lead-off man!"
Kanemaru was so surprised and distracted and flattered he ended up hollering. "Yeaaah!"
"Yuuki, you're batting second!" Sawamura continues. "Haruichi is batting third!" He looks at the smaller first-year pitcher. "Yui, you're batting fourth and clean-up!"
Yui almost stumbled out of his seat in surprise and honor, "yes, sir!"
"Furuya is batting fifth!" Sawamura went on. "Okumura is batting sixth! Seto is seventh and our new shortstop!"
"What? But I'm not even in the first string!" Seto yells from a distance.
Sawamura ignores him. "Toujou is eight! Takatsu is ninth and our new first baseman!"
"Woooh!"
"Yeah!"
Everyone couldn't help cheering and getting excited on the new line-up.
"And we'll just fill in the rest of the positions as usual." Sawamura then looks at his good friend and rival. "Furuya! You're pitching first!"
"Eh? Really? You're letting me pitch first?" Furuya is obviously surprised at the ace's willingness, everyone else as well.
"We don't know when you'll screw up so somebody has to clean-up after you." Sawamura waves him off.
"I'm not going to mess up," Furuya suddenly emits his aura.
"Yeah, yeah, you better not." Sawamura looks away from him and at the two first-year pitchers in the far back of the room. "Asada and Kuki! I'll give you both one inning each so be prepared!"
"Ehhh?" Asada holds his cheeks in shock.
"Thank you!" Kuki agrees immediately.
"I have to say, I was disappointed no first-year pitcher made it to the first string for summer so you two better start learning! If the sempais score over you two, I'll make you run with truck tires!" Sawamura threatens viciously. "Also, from now on you two are rivals!"
"Ehhh? No way," Asada and Kuki look helplessly at each other.
"Next year, Furuya, Toujou, Kaneda and I are graduating. What's going to be left to Seido then, huh? Think about that!" Sawamura looks back on his phone. "Anyway, Toujou will follow the first-years and then Kaneda will close. We're sending the third years away properly this time, by kicking their butts!"
The first-years and the second-years cheered. Most of the third years just remained silent, but they were happy for their underclassman of course.
"You're not pitching?" Miyuki suddenly asks, finally opening his mouth.
"Ahh, well, it would be too embarrassing for the sempais if they can't score even a single run, right? I'm not that cruel," Sawamura waves him off condescendingly.
"This jerk,"
"He's getting carried away by himself, it's annoying." Kuramochi comments loudly.
"Also, I'm pitching the first game at Koshien so I'll be resting then," Sawamura continues, still looking at his phone.
"What's this? You sure look like you've got everything figured out," Miyuki teases.
"Well, I've been thinking about it since meeting up with Chris-sempai earlier!" Sawamura smiles like nothing could go wrong. "I want to win the Nationals too!"
It was the third time Sawamura surprised Miyuki today, and honestly, he's really happy about it. "Just don't get over-confident."
"It'll be fine, nobody goes to Koshien to lose. I'm sure everyone will do their best!" Sawamura raises a fist and looks around him. "Right?!"
"Yeah!" Everyone cheered in unison.
"Great!" Sawamura turns to the door and walks to leave. "I'll just go to the Coaches' office now to ask about the scrimmage. With all this excitement, I can't wait anymore! Wahahaha!"
As soon as Sawamura exits the room and closes the door, everyone turns to the current Captain.
"Well, I guess that's that." Miyuki stands up from his seat. "If anyone has any problem with Sawamura becoming the next captain, speak up now."
Everyone looks at one another but no one said anything. Since Sawamura became the ace everyone acknowledged and respected him. No one hates him and all he's done is show them his hard work.
"I'm not against it, but is it really okay? Won't he be putting too much responsibility on himself?" Kuramochi was the one who asks.
"I think he'll be fine, so long as everyone has his back," Miyuki looks around the room, reminding everyone of Sawamura's catchphrase. "Besides, he'll have vice-captains as well. But I don't think this is official yet, it feels more like he just wants it."
"I think Eijun will be a good captain." Furuya suddenly speaks. "The coach asked me before what kind of person I thought the best pitcher in Japan was like, and all I could think about was Eijun. I'm not like him and I'm not going to stop trying to get that number back, but I'm really happy to be on the same team as him."
"Me too." Haruichi agrees and follows up. "Eijun-kun is always positive and cheerful. He's also very hardworking and earnest. It's fun to play baseball with him."
"Well, he's stupid and loud, but if he can become the ace I guess there's nothing he can't do." Kanemaru picks up the commentary, and they went on like that. Everyone sharing their opinion of Sawamura and mostly agreeing. It's not like anyone else wanted to become the next captain anyway.
On the day of the scrimmage, Sawamura shows up wearing a pair of sunglasses.
AN: Sorry if it's abrupt! This was rushed! I wanted to get it out for Eijun's birthday. xD Anyway, this was very self-indulgent and I only really wanted to make Sawamura look good. I have a praise kink for Sawamura, you see. I'll write a proper OkuSawa next time, I just wanted more of them because there's so few.
Fic Facts:
1.) In this story, Sawamura's middle school was not demolished. I know, I didn't forget. Don't at me. I just wanted to give him a dramatic reason to want to go back there, because in canon we obviously don't know yet what his plans for the future are.
2.) I don't like it when people say Sawamura can't become ace and captain at the same time. I admit, it is unusual. But come on, he was ace and captain from the start.
— Lynx
20200515
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