Hey guys. So I'm back with this new and improved chapter two with it being more detailed than the previous one. I hope this is easier to imagine and more understandable. Tell me btw if you want a character profile for Rina so I can decide whether to make one or not. Well then, I hope you enjoy this chapter and please tell me your thoughts about it.

Contest

It was evening already and the players were eating dinner at the canteen. It was quite the noisy environment as the boys had a topic of discussion. Surprisingly though it was not about baseball. The talk of the night was none other than the unfamiliar brunette that was with the team's assistant director this afternoon.

"Hyahaa! Miyuki did you see the girl Rei-chan was with earlier? She was quite the cutie. I wonder what her relationship with Rei-chan is." The shortstop babbled showing his great interest in the girl.

"Yeah, she's probably a new manager or something." Miyuki replied in an uninterested tone.

"That girl…" Sawamura pausing before he continued his words "Said my pitching was awesome!" The boy had a smug look in his face only to be jeered by his senpais with Chris backing them up.

"She didn't say your pitching was 'awesome'. She only said it was 'interesting' Sawamura." Chris retorted to Sawamura's earlier statement.

"Chris-senpai!"

"Huh!? Oi, Sawamura. When did that happen? Huh!" Kuramochi asked in an intimidating tone. To think than an outsider and a girl at that took interest in his idiotic kouhai.

"It was this afternoon in the bullpen. Actually, she even challenged Sawamura." Chris replied to Kuramochi as he continued with his meal quietly.

"Hm… She sounds like a really interesting girl." Ryousuke commented while a smirk had made its way on his face as if he was planning something. He then continued "So, did she say anything about herself?"

"The only thing she said was she was Takashima-sensei's niece. Before we could ask her anything else, she was taken away by her aunt to greet the coach."

The team had a uniform reaction of surprise in their faces. They didn't actually expect the girl to be Rei-chan's niece. But now that they think about it, those who had a clear look on the girl's face saw the resemblance she had with the assistant director.

"Haha! She's Rei-chan's niece. No wonder she'd take interest in Sawamura's pitching." Miyuki sniggered at the revelation.

Some of the boys started getting eager and the chattering increased. They started imagining the possibilities and meaning of the girl's visit to Seido. Although soon enough, all the noise dissolved as the girl in question was now in the premises. Heads turned their way to look at her as the silence went on.

"It looks like I won't have to call their attention. Go ahead Rina." Rei patted her niece on the shoulder giving her the go signal to speak.

"Uhm, good evening everyone… I hope I'm not intruding in on your meal but I'm here to introduce myself. I'm Takashima Rina, Takashima Rei's niece. I came back from America and starting today, I'll be staying here in the dorms until the rest of my stay in Seido. Also, starting tomorrow is my official duties as a manager of the team. So from now on, I hope we can get along." Rina said as she bowed her head afterwards.

The boys who were currently eating (and chatting) put down their chopsticks and stood up. They all greeted her welcome and then went back to continue eating. Rina on the other hand, looked back towards her Rei and gave her a smile.

"Rina-chan! Wanna eat with us? Here, have a seat." The green-haired shortstop offered the spot next to him, signaling the start his subtle moves on the girl.

Rina gave Rei one last good look. "Well then, it's time I take my leave. Remember the things we told you Rina, alright?"

"Roger!" She saluted to Rei as the older woman turned her back and walked away. When Rei was beyond the doors Rina turned back to Kuramochi and replied "Thank you but I already finished eating earlier. Though, I'll take up on the offer of sitting with you guys." Rina motioned towards the table where Kuramochi, Miyuki and a few others were sitting.

"So Rina-chan, we heard you challenged Sawamura earlier? You're one amusing girl." The older Kominato pointed out with his signature smile on his face.

"Ah! I completely forgot about that. Hey Sawamura-kun, once your finish eating let's continue where we left of earlier in the afternoon. Let's meet up thirty minutes after to give you some time to digest your food."

After a few moments of thinking Sawamura came to a conclusion on his answer to Rina's challenge. "You're on! Miyuki-senpai catch for me." Sawamura demanded.

"This sounds fun so I'm in." Miyuki had a smug grin on his face showing how he loved developments like this.

_._._._._

The boys then finished their meals quickly, setting aside all the small talk for later. Thirty minutes had now passed and most of the regulars were out on the field. They were watching on the side to witness the showdown between Sawamura and Rina.

"I want to pitch as well." Furuya swung his arms in circular motion.

"Furuya-kun." Haruichi tried to stop him.

While Sawamura and Miyuki were warming up, Rina was fixing the protective gear she had put on for precautions. Once finished, she stood inside the batter's box and explained a few conditions she had:

"One, because I'm a girl you have to grip the ball lightly."

"Two, three strikes and I'm out."

"Three, if I ever get a hit off you Sawamura-kun I get to catch your pitches for one time. If I can't get a hit, I'll do anything you say."

The third condition surprised almost everyone present at the moment. Does she play baseball, or perhaps softball they all wondered. Why'd she want to catch his balls anyway? She was a confident girl, that all of them were sure of.

Back to the three, Sawamura was reluctant to grip the ball lightly as he found it unfair but Chris ordered him to.

"You sure you want to continue Rina-chan? If you really observed his pitches, you know that you can't get a clean hit easily. A girl like you can't possible pull it off." Miyuki taunted the girl in front of him but she ignored the catcher. Taking her stance, ready to bat she whispered a few words "We'll see about that. You can't judge a book by its cover."

"Shouldn't you be stopping her?" A man with shades asked the lady standing beside him.

"If I did, she'd probably do something more extreme. I'll let her away with tonight but if she ever pushes herself I'll have no choice but to send her back. In any case, I'll have someone to keep an eye on her activities." And then Rei sighed at the sight of her niece standing in the batter's box.

The first pitch, she swung and missed. Rina stayed relaxed nevertheless. She took a deep breath and focused. Taking a good look at the ball flying towards her, she swung once again.

CLANK!

The sound of the ball making contact with her bat was heard. She fouled off the ball. Whistles were heard from the bystanders. It was now Sawamura's third pitch. Rina didn't make a move so it was a strike. One more and the challenge will be over.

Miyuki placed his mat in the middle of the plate. The bespectacled boy thought, 'She can't possibly hit this. So Sawamura, give me your best shot.'

Rina took another deep breath, stood in position with great focus in her eyes. Sawamura on the other hand, gripped the ball lightly yet making sure that it was enough to throw a good pitch. He started with his motion and now the ball was flying towards Miyuki's glove. But then…

CLANK!

Rina made contact. She didn't foul it. Sadly, it was a pop fly. If there were actual fielders she'd definitely be out. "Noooo!" was the only word that came out of Rina's mouth as she knelt to the ground not wanting to accept her loss. "And I was so close."

"Hahaha! It's my win." Sawamura jumped up and down happily.

"Nice try." was all that Miyuki said.

"Oh shut up!" Rina retorted.

The others who were watching walked up to them, with some having questions they wanted answers to.

"Me too." Furuya said as he held a ball in his hand.

"Oi Takashima! Do play baseball, or maybe softball?" Isashiki Jun asked.

"Oh, I used to play baseball when I was young. Now I play a different sport… well not right now though." muttering her last few words so that they won't hear it clearly.

"Your position?" It was Kuramochi who inquired next.

"Miyuki." Rina said which brought her confused stares. After a few moments of processing though, they understood what she meant.

"So that's why you wanted to catch Sawamura's pitches." Ryousuke pointed out.

"Uhm, what sport do you play now?" A shy pink-haired boy asked the brunette.

"About that…" Rina trailed off. "Hey guys, I'm really tired now so let's leave the talk about me for tomorrow kay?" She took of the gear she was wearing and hurriedly went off to her room leaving all the guys standing there.

"What's with her?" Sawamura exclaimed.

"Dunno." was all that Kuramochi said.

"She's just probably tired." Chris remarked.

"She could be a good edition to the team." The team captain who was almost silent all the time of the happening suddenly spoke up.

"Oi Tetsu! Are you serious? What the fuck are you saying? She can't probably become a member of the team. She's a girl, remember?" Jun retaliated.

"No. She could." Sawamura declared, earning him a kick from Kuramochi and a chop from Ryousuke with an 'Idiot' coming from Miyuki.

"Eijun-kun…" Even Haruichi sighed at his friend and Furuya shook his head in disagreement.

"WHAT!?" Sawamura yelled wondering what he said wrong to deserve all this pity and abuse.