Sorry for the long update guys... Reality had me prancing around their palm. Anyways, I had too many ideas for this chapter that I couldn't fit it into just one chapter. I did try splitting it into two but it was hard to create understandable transitions. I'm really disappointed I had to remove scenes I had favored for the sake of the story's flow. But I'll try to compensate that with the filler chapters I plan to have. Author's notes at the end.

Support

Sitting on his bed alone in the room, Kuramochi stared at the ceiling while in deep thought. Earlier in the day, the shortstop had a small argument with Miyuki regarding Sawamura and his current condition. While it seems that he had trusted the catcher's indirect statement of his trust in the first year southpaw, the green-haired boy still couldn't shake off the lingering concern he had for his underclassman. And so he brought out his phone and dialed the number of a person all too familiar.

The phone kept on ringing for a while until they finally picked up… The first thing Kuramochi heard at the other end of the line were deep respirations of someone trying to catch their breath before they spoke a word.

'Hello?'

'Hello? Rina?'

'You-chan!? Why this is a surprise, calling so suddenly… Is something up?' the girl, who been gone in Seido for more than a month already, replied nonchalantly.

'Yeah' The male's tone turned slightly serious. 'The thing is… it's about Sawamura.'

'Ei-chan? What's wrong with him? Don't tell me his still depressed about losing against Inajitsu?'

'Worse. He's gotten the Yips.'

'What!' After Rina's surprised reaction Kuramochi started to detail out how the first year had gotten it, from their practice game against Yakushi and up to what Sawamura's current condition is today.

'I see.'

Hearing the tone of her voice with lesser worry than you would've expected, she asked what Miyuki said to him exactly.

'That's so typical of him.' the brunette commented. 'But you understand as well that Kazu-chan meant he believes in Ei-chan right? So there's nothing to worry much about You-chan.'

'Seriously, you can really be such a worrywart sometimes you know.' Laughing off, she coninued. 'Knowing Kazu-chan, he'll make a move sooner or later. All you can do right now as his senpai is to make sure he doesn't do anything rash.'

A slightly annoyed Kuramochi replied to Rina, 'That previous comment was uncalled for but okay then. If I have to lock him into one of my wrestling moves everynight then I will.'

'You can always call me if you need anything else. I'll also be calling when the time comes. Well then, I need to take a shower. I got sweaty from my early jogging. Bye! '

'Yeah, bye.'

Once the call was over, Kuramochi put down his phone and decided to go over to Miyuki's room and play games there since Sawamura was still taking a bath with the other two first years.

_._._._._

"Ei-chan's in a real slump isn't he?" Rina thought out loud to herself.

"But if Kazu-chan hasn't made a move yet I wonder about Chris-senpai?"

"Alright! It's time to call Shin-chan!" Rina swiftly searched for Kanemaru's number in her phonebook and pressed the call button without hesitation.

"Someone calling me at a time like this? I wonder who could it be…" Kanemaru looked at the caller ID only to be surprised at who it was.

'Hello?'

'Ah! Shin-chan? How've you been?'

'Rina… Speak in Japanese will you.' Kanemaru replied to the girl as he sighed.

'Eh? But it's not like you can't understand me though. Didn't you say English was your favorite subject? Your grades are also high aren't they?'

'Just drop the English. It's for easier conversation. So, how come you're calling now even though you haven't contacted anyone from here ever since you left. You got a problem or something?'

'Boo! You're no fun. Anyways, that should be my line. I heard about Ei-chan… They say he's gotten the yips right?'

'Who told you that?' A surprised Kanemaru asked.

'You-chan.'

From Kuramochi-senpai? The blonde first year questioned in his inner thoughts.

'So, what's the purpose of calling me now?'

'Well, I thought it would be akward to ask Chris-senpai what he thinks of Ei-chan's current condition so I thought you might have a clue as to what…'

Before Rina could finish what she was trying to say, Kanemaru cut her off 'Actually, Chris-senpai overheard us talking about that the other day and asked us to fill him in on the details. I asked him if he would at least have a word with Sawamura but he said he trusts that that idiot can overcome this slump.'

'I see… then there's no need for me to meddle in as well.' The brunette murmured as she smiled on the her side on the line.

'Before I hang up though, Shin-chan do me a favor. If Ei-chan asks you to help him with practice, tell me asap.'

'Fine. I'm hanging up now.'

'Un! I also need to prepare for my training now. Bye bye!'

'Yeah.'

_._._._._

The night of September 19.

Most of the regulars were watching a video of tomorrow's opponent. Furuya left to sleep already while Miyuki had gone off somewhere. At that time, Kuramochi received a mail from Rina. It went like this:

[You-chan,

I've decided… I left Sora with you didn't I? Lend it to Ei-chan. It probably won't help him regain his ability to pitch inside but I want to show him my support. I'm sure he's over thinking things right now and being all frustrated so I want to cheer him up. There's also a number of letters in the drawer of the study table in your room, if you haven't noticed them till now. Give it out to their respective recipients and don't you dare to try to read any letter other than yours. Well then, if you're not busy better give Sora to Ei-chan and the letters out NOW.

PS. If Sora isn't in one piece when I get back you guys are dead. I mean it.

-Rina]

The last line had Kuramochi curious so he sent a reply before going back to their room to retrieve the stuffed toy.

[You're coming back here?]

[Nope. Though, I might be there for the winter break. For vacation that is… :P]

Kuramochi didn't reply anymore and left for their room. Once he opened the door, Sawamura was absent from the premises but he had a good guess where the first year could be. So, he picked up the blue bear placed on the study table, grabbing the letter Rina mentioned in the process. Then, he dragged his feet to the indoor practice ground where Sawamura would most likely be at.

_._._._._

"I'm sorry that even you had to be brought in to help, Chris-senpai." Miyuki said to the older catcher standing by his side.

"No, it's something I've always wanted to tell him. I hope it gives him motivation."

I hate to admit it but, it's more effective coming from him. Miyuki thought to himself as they watch over Sawamura practicing his outside pitches.

"All that's left is how he'll overcome this himself." Coach Kataoka spoke as he stood beside the two catchers.

While Kuramochi was only a few more strides from the entrance of the indoor practice ground, he caught the sight of what Sawamura dubbed as "Seido's Big Three".

Rina was right. It looks like Miyuki did make a move regarding that idiot. Amazed and annoyed at the fact that the girl believed something like this was going to happen, Kuramochi also wondered if she had set him up to give the bear just to slap this scene into his face. But the green-haired boy shook his head musing to himself that this was probably a coincidence.

Kataoka soon noticed his shortstop walking over to them and raised a brow when he saw the blue teddy bear he was holding in his right arm. The man with shades stood silent for a few moments before leaving his players to their own.

"I think I've been misunderstood…" Kuramochi mumbled as he was unsure what reaction to make. Miyuki snickered before asking his fellow second year why he had the blue bear with him.

"Oi Kuramochi, isn't that bear the one Sawamura and the others gave to Rina? Why do you have it?"

"She purposely left it in our room and said to take good care of it until she comes back." Kuramochi answered.

"Then why do you have it with you outside. It'll get dirty plus you'll get misunderstood like earlier." Miyuki stated as he tried to hold in his laughter.

"Shut up! Rina told me to give it to Sawamura right now. Here, look at her mail." Kuramochi then pulled out his cellphone to prove that he was telling the truth.

"Also, she asked me to give these out. This one's for you, Miyuki." Kuramochi held out the letter Rina made for select members of the team, those she had been close with.

"So she finally found the right timing to give it to you guys." Chris pointed out.

"Chris-senpai, you knew about these?" Miyuki asked.

"A few of us third years also received them. She entrusted our letters to the managers before she left."

"Heh… Ah! Now that you mention it, did you say she was coming back Kuramochi?" Miyuki asked.

"She said she might come back during winter break for a vacation."

"Hmm…"

"Well then, I'm going to give this to Sawamura already." Kuramochi turned to walk towards Sawamura leaving the two catchers back there. "Oi Bakamura!"

As the two watched Kuramochi make his way to the southpaw, Chris started to talk a little bit about Rina.

"I heard from Takashima-sensei that Rina decided to return to complete her rehabilitation and start training again. Even if we had won back then, she was already set on going back. What I will say may be a given but that girl is doing her best right now; you guys should give it your all as well because you guys are now members of the new team. That's all from me. I'll be heading back now."

"Yes!" Miyuki gave Chris a solid reply before walking away from the indoor practice ground. Accompanying Chris for a little while longer as the bespectacled boy decided to go back to his own room as well.

_._._._._

"Do you need something Kuramochi-senpai? As you can see I'm a bit busy right now." Sawamura unintentionally tried to turn away his senior.

"Sawamura, do you want me to get kicked? Huh!? Where's the respect for your senpai you idiot!?" Kuramochi glared at his underclassmen and roomate.

"I'm sorry!" Sawamura stiffened.

"Anyways, this… Rina told me to lend it to you."

"Eh!? This is Sora right? The one that Harucchi won at the game center and decided to give to Rina as a present… why do you have it senpai!?" A surprised Sawamura asked loudly.

"Seriously!? After all this time don't tell me that you never once noticed this in the room… you gloomy idiot! If Rina finds out about that I wonder how she'll react." Kuramochi continuously teased Sawamura.

"Yes. I'm so sorry! Please don't tell her." Sawamura deeply bowed his head then took the bear from Kuramochi's hand.

"Alright, alright. Here… dhe also asked me to give you this. Kanemaru, you have one as well."

"A letter?" Sawamura tilted his head in puzzlement.

"I have one as well?" Kanemaru asking in confirmation.

"Yeah. I still have remaining letters to give out so I'm going on ahead. Don't stay up too late practicing. Make sure you sleep early." With one last wave of his hand as he turned his back on the first years, he left to go to the rooms of the other recipients of the letters.

First it was Chris-senpai and now, it's Rina. I really have a lot of things I must do. I need to show them that I can do this!

Sawamura tried to motivate himself internally before placing the important item he was lent together with the letter on a place where it wouldn't get dirty then continued to practice for a bit more.

"Still too wide. One more ball!"

In case you got confused here are my author's notes:

1.) Story timeline has it's time skip. I skipped the summer tournament (Though believe me how much I wanted to put it in TAT) and right now where in September. This takes scenes from Chapter 220 & 224 while in the anime it's Episodes 71-72.

2.) Kuramochi called Rina at 7pm so in the US its 6am.

(Note: If you're still confused message me ;))

You guys can always message me if you want to ask or say something... Well then, till next chapter~!