SHINOOKA
Me? I love baseball. Loved it since I was a little girl. I used to play softball but when I came over to Nishiura that changed. There wasn't a softball team and all I can do is hope to be a manager so that I could stay connected to the sport that I adored so much. I thought that it would be nice to be around the field, watching the familiar action happen while helping out as much as I can. I knew that I had little chance of being manager being a first year but I thought could offer to help until I get used to the ropes, so to speak.
I have never been so glad to be wrong. Being in Nishiura was like an answer to my prayers. Because the team just started and all the members are being recruited from the first years—even managers. So I gathered my courage and decided to see if there was an opening. Though I must confess, my first look at Coach Momoe was hardly reassuring. I have never seen a scarier sight than that of the supposed-coach crushing in her bare fist two plump oranges. It was a testament to Captain Hanai's character that he managed to graciously accept the glass without fainting. I was ready to run from such violent display—but I soon realized that she wasn't violent or temperamental—she was impassioned. She was very passionate about the game and you couldn't help but be drawn to her and her ground-breaking ways to teach the game.
My job is challenging and very much fulfilling. I don't mind the long hours and everything—even the constant, grinding practice hours because there's always plenty to do. Hmm? Yes, I also handle Ai-chan but that's not a problem because I like pets. Shiga-sensei is also one of the nicest people you could find in school. Personally I also don't understand what he says but meditating seems to help everyone relax. Except for that one time when Shiga-sensei said there was a snake on my foot. I had never been more scared in all my life! I really thought I was going to get bitten and then when they said it was a joke—oh goodness I nearly fainted!
The team members? Oh they're the greatest bunch of guys! They work hard and they're willing to train and practice as much as Coach says and they try their best all the time. I mean with them being all First years and all, we all get along pretty well. In some ways, its like one big family and I just got myself a lot of brothers.
My thoughts on them?
Oh who I like in the team? Well, that's easy. I like everyone! I mean all the guys are nice and very friendly. Nishihiro-kun helps a great deal during games cheering the guys on and minding the equipment. It can be a handful once there is much excitement on the field. He also helps tutor some of the other boys and of course explain to Tajima and Mihashi what Shiga-sensei says during their meditations in the morning. Some of them have started calling him "Nishihiro-sensei". Oki-kun and Suyama-kun are quiet and gladly assists when I need help setting up screens and picking up balls after the pitching machine uses all of them up. Mizutani-kun is a bit playful but he means well even if he can be a bit forgetful and Izumi-kun was a bit intimidating at first but it gets better once you get to know him. He's a really cool guy. He listens to music a lot and he is also a friend and a kouhai of our Ouendan leader Hamada-kun, though you'll never guess just by looking at them. Come to think of it, I think I heard Hamada-kun complaining about that.
Captain Hanai is very responsible and he does have what it takes to see that the rest of the team gets what it needs. They were right when they elected him as captain because he takes his responsibilities seriously. He even helped tutor the rest of the guys. He is also very good at hitting and pitching I think. The only time I see him flustered is whenever Mihashi-kun or Tajima-kun gets into some scrape or another. Mostly I think the Captain worries about Tajima-kun because I've seen him look at Tajima a lot. He's the one that Captain always seem to be keeping his eyes on.
Tajima-kun? Well, he's simply amazing isn't he? He is so talented and even Coach Momoe thinks that way. I mean he could do all those cool things on the field. And he is very cheerful and energetic and well, yes, he does eat quite a lot after our practice but that's okay, he is very nice to Mihashi-kun and he doesn't seem to mind anything the Coach asks him to do. I'm just wondering why the rest of the guys are always covering his mouth at times. But perhaps it's one of those things that boys do?
Abe-kun is a bit scary at first, but he is very good at baseball—almost like the Coach sometimes because he can think of all those things when it comes to thinking of tactics against our opponents. Yes his voice can be booming and okay—it is a bit loud but maybe its because he's usually shouting instructions on the field. Hmmm? Abe-kun's main concern? You mean other than reaching Koushien? I suppose his main concern is Mihahi-kun. He's like Capatain Hanai on Tajima. He keeps an eye on Mihashi-kun a lot.
Mihashi-kun is a really sweet kid and although he does stutter occasionally it's not that bad. He is just nervous and a bit shy I guess. I'm happy if I could just help ease his worries a bit. Abe-kun helps a lot in that case, you know. I mean perhaps it's the team that sees the truth of his actions but even when he growls a lot, he is always minding Mihashi-kun. He constantly checks with me to make sure that Mihashi-kun remembers to bring extra shirts; his homework, his dietary menu and all other things that Abe-kun thinks might help him. I think that's part of the reason their battery is so strong. I've seen Abe-kun go to the extent of forcing Mihashi-kun to eat simply because he keeps forgetting to. I think Mihashi-kun adores Abe-kun.
I am hoping that someday we can reach Koushien but for now we are taking things one game at a time. One win at a time—and who knows...we have three years. Oh I have to go…there's still the onigiri to prepare. Ja!