Chapter 24 – Idate's Chapter

It was the championship baseball game. If we won this, our school would once again be the undefeated champions and get the big trophy and everything. But it was the bottom of the ninth and we were behind by two runs. Iyashi was on second and Hayase was on first. I was to bat. I couldn't get out or the game was over since we had two outs. There was so much pressure on me.

"Idate, get up there," Coach yelled at me. I went to the plate with bat in my hands. That stupid ginger from Suna was pitching. I hated Gaara. His pitches were the trickiest and his brother Kankuro who was catching was always muttering something to the players when we were to hit.

"Up to the plate is Idate Morino," I heard the announcer say. I readied myself for Gaara's pitch.

"Whoa!" I barely blinked and the ball had already passed me.

"What a fast ball!" The announcer was amazed like myself. I had to be ready. I couldn't fail us.

"Here comes the second pitch."

I swung and missed.

"Strike two!" I heard the umpire. I was sweating bullets. I couldn't lose this game. I couldn't. I stepped back from the plate for a moment to clear my head and practice my swing. I stepped back up. I swung at whatever he threw.

"Look at it go!" I heard the announcer and I darted for first place.

"A double! Look at Iyashi coming to home. And he is…safe! Now Konoha is down by one run," The announcer went on. I sighed in relief. I had not failed. The pressure of winning the game was on someone else. Who was next to bat?

"Now coming to the plate is Sasuke Uchiha!" I heard all the girls in the stands screaming. Our star player was up. He had better bring out that star quality everyone thinks he has. I watched him closely.

I didn't like Sasuke Uchiha. I never really did. He was always so smug and arrogant. Everybody thought he was hot stuff just because he was good looking and played baseball well. I tried to like him but all hopes of us getting along failed in middle school when he broke my nose. I was being a bit of an asshole but I was joking. I wasn't going to show anyone the picture.

"Strike one!" I heard the ump scream.

I was just thought it was funny especially since he was the loner who hated all girls.

"Strike two!"

Yet he had that picture. I wasn't really going to show anyone then he punched me and broke my nose. It was totally uncalled for.

"Foul!"

I really did not like Sasuke Uchiha.

"It's a hit!" Damn, Sasuke hit it high and hard. We had to run.

"And it's-it's out of here!" Sasuke had hit a home run. Alright!

We all ran home but we all gathered around Sasuke and lifted him up. We had won the championship! I may not have liked Sasuke but I knew he was a good baseball player.

Once we came down from the high and finished with the pictures and such, we all went to shower so we could go off and celebrate at the restaurant our coach promised to take us to. I got in the shower next to Sasuke's.

"Great hit, Sasuke," I smiled at him. He was surprisingly grim.

"Thanks," His voice was flat and the opposite of what a champion should sound like.

"What's wrong, man?" I asked him.

"Nothing," He got out of the shower and got dressed. I followed soon after. I did not understand why he was so down when he should be high. He was met by his parents and brother and we all went to the restaurant. I sat a table different than Sasuke but I had a clear view of him. All through dinner I saw his expression go between grim, angry and neutral. It was weird. Even when our Coach started his speech on how great Sasuke was and had Sasuke come to the front, Sasuke did not smile. I followed Sasuke and his family. I eavesdropped on them.

"It's too bad Sakura couldn't come see you play. You did so well," His mom sighed. I can't believe I didn't notice she wasn't present at the game. She was always at the games.

"Where was she?" Sasuke asked as if he didn't really care.

"We had to take her to the hospital before the game," His brother said.

"Hospital?" Sasuke seemed surprised.

"She was having stomach pains and I diagnosed that she might have appendicitis. We took her to the hospital and she did. She begged us to go to the game and was very upset that she couldn't come. She'll be happy to know you won," His mom said.

"Hn."

"I'm going back to see her tonight to make sure she is okay. You can come too if you want," His brother informed Sasuke. Sasuke nodded and I saw them leave. I smirked to myself. No matter how cool, elusive, and girl hating Sasuke seemed he had a weak spot and I knew what it was. It hadn't changed even since middle school. I wonder what would have happened if I had shown everyone that picture Sasuke had…