AN: I'm trying my best to quickly update and finish the story, as I have a bad history with leaving the fics on hiatus, (that's why I've been writing oneshot lately (T _ T)''. I'll try to get the 3rd chapter up before saturday, thanks for taking time to read my fanfiction. Osu Osu!
"Narumiya-Senpai…umm…do you have time to talk?" Sawamura texted the message to the Narumiya the following night after he was told to stay away from the ball by Kataoka.
"You do realize that this is a text message right? Baka. Anyway, I'm free, what do you want?" Again, Sawamura felt like Narumiya always reminded him of a certain jerk in his team.
"Well…today, I couldn't throw the ball to in course properly…or rather I couldn't throw the inside of the batter then I thought back to what Narumiya-Senpai told me…about how I need to conquer it…were you talking about this?"
"Yep, but I didn't expect you to run into this wall so soon. Did anyone say anything about it?"
"Boss said." Sawamura deleted the text once before sending a reply. "The coach told me to leave the ball for 1 to 2 days before going back to touch the ball."
"…that would work or rather if your coach said so then don't worry about it."
"But…I want to know what's happening to me…"
"The coach would tell you sooner or later, just listen to the coach, I don't want to cross the line."
"Can't you just tell me what I'm currently facing…?"
"Ok..on one condition, come to my school tomorrow evening, don't let anyone in your club know, especially Kazuya, understand!?"
"Yes! Thank you, Narumiya-Senpai!"
Now Sawamura couldn't wait for the morning to pass by, he kept on running in the morning and in the class time, he was focusing on the lesson properly that most of the teachers could cry for his progress.
After the school finished, he made sure no one was following him or would notice he left the school, after he made sure, he sneaked out of the school, he changed the clothes into more of a usual clothes at the train station.
He got on the train and followed the direction gave by Narumiya to go to Inajitsu.
He bought something for dinner along the way as he walked to Inajitsu after he got off from the train station.
After he arrived at the school, it was around 5 – 6 in the evening, he texted Narumiya to pick him up in front of the school.
Ten minutes later, Narumiya came out with 2 of the Inajitsu baseball club's member.
"Ah…um…hello…" Sawamura greeted them.
"What's the meaning of this Mei? Why are you bringing the Seidou's pitcher here, if the coach heard of this, you'll be in trouble." Masa-San said.
"Well, he's not here today and if Masa-san and Itsuki don't say anything, then he won't know." Narumiya gave a cheeky brat smile to his teammates.
"You didn't answer my question." Masa-San said as he gave a deadly glared to Mei.
"W-what, I just want to help this guy Masa-san, you already saw how good his pitch was in the match." Narumiya explained.
"That's still doesn't explained why you wanted to help him out."
"Hmph…Masa-san is so persistence. I just want a worthy rival, if we could win the match easily, do we ever feel any achievement?" Mei explained. "And the harsher the match, the more you can grow, it's like a wall to overcome."
"Hmph, you did think about it thoroughly for once, I'll go along with you this time as I agreed about what you said about winning over easy match doesn't give anything."
"I know Masa-San would understand me!" Narumiya smiled and the 1st year was watching at them, Tadano was looking at them, feeling unrest, as he was to be put up with Narumiya after Masa-San left, as the next one in line to form Battery with Narumiya, he's afraid that will he be able to be as half good of Masa-San as a catcher. The trust that Narumiya gave to Masa-San is absolute, he wondered if he will be able to achieve that relationship with Narumiya.
Sawamura looked at the battery and think back about Miyuki, Sawamura would normally rely on Miyuki, he never used his head even once, even though Miyuki always called him Idiot and to leave everything up to Miyuki, just for once, Sawamura felt that he wanted to be able to grow up on his own at the same time, rather than just relying on Miyuki to guide and teach him about pitching.
"Let's go, we don't have much time." Sawamura nodded as he followed the Inajitsu trio onto the mound, since today was after their match, the club members took a rest and celebrating their win and ticket to Koushien.
"So what's the problem he's gotten himself into, Mei?" Masa-San asked as he's getting ready in his catcher gear.
"Probably Yips, he couldn't throw to the inside with the batter in the batter's box, that dead ball he threw to Shirakawa is probably the cause of this." Narumiya explained. "I guess as much that he would have this problem sooner or later."
"So you want to help him overcome his yips?" Narumiya nodded.
"Sawamura, just try throwing your ball normally. Don't worry, we wouldn't try to analyze your pitch, we have our own pride too, and Itsuki, get ready to stand in the box with protective gear." The 1st year nodded as they began getting themselves ready.
Sawamura first pitch threw Masa-San off guard as he missed it and let it bounce behind him. "I-I'm sorry, err…" Sawamura couldn't finish his sentence and he didn't know Masa-San's name.
"…Masa-san, don't worry, it's a good ball. Even though I knew the ball will break, it's still hard to catch it. Move on to the next place, I want to see what you can do now at the moment." Masa-San threw the ball back to Sawamura as they continued to try various place for Sawamura to pitch.
Even though Sawamura's control of the ball still low, what they want is for Sawamura to throw at least around the vicinity of Masa-San's mitt, even if it should stray a little bit is not the problem.
"Tadano, get into the batter's box." Masa-San ordered his Kouhai.
"Ye-Yes!" Tadano stood in the batter box, ready on his position. Masa-San signal for Sawamura to throw, starting from the out course.
Sawamura did a fine job in throwing to the outside, but when Masa-San asked for inside course, Sawamura's pitch went wild, rather than all over the pitch, it kept going high without any control.
"Wait, Sawamura." Narumiya walked up to Sawamura on the mound, giving the sign to Masa-san which he replied with nodded.
"Instead of throwing a pitch, now try to play catch and throw with Masa-san, just throw wherever Masa-san asked." Sawamura nodded.
"I'll asked for a very close throw to you, Tadano, prepare to dodge, don't worry, he's not gonna pitch anymore and even if the ball doesn't get close to you, just dodge." Tadano nodded.
Sawamura threw the ball softly and Tadano pretended to dodge just as Masa-san told him to. "So-Sorry!" Sawamura said.
"N-No problem. Tadano replied.
Narumiya went on the mount for a little more talk again. "Now, did you see that? The batter will try to dodge your ball anyway, so just relax and don't worry about hitting the batter. Even though you hit the batter, you still have to stay strong in your spirit, in sport, accident and injury happens all the time."
"Mei, it's getting late, we should for today." Masa-san said as he stood up from his catching position and everyone gathered around on the mount.
"I know it's hard to think the way I just told you, but if anyone is afraid of getting hurt or hurting someone by accident this much, it's better for that person to stop playing sports, after all, no one intended to hurt or get hurt by playing sport." Mei gave a small lecture to Sawamura.
"You can just practice with your teammates the way Mei just told you, I think that will help you, it may not give immediate result and it hasn't been proved to cure yips, but we people have the ability to adapt. So, do your best. Sawamura."
Sawamura felt in awe as the battery advised and gave small ideas to him. "Thank you so much for everything today, I hope I'm not a troubled for you." Sawamura bowed down his head.
"Idiot, if you felt that way, I'm going to stop helping and talking with you. I did because I want to, okay? So don't worry, now go back and get some sleep and be sure to keep your mouth shut tight about this."
"Ye-Yes! Thank you so much for everything today!" Sawamura bowed his head down again before he ran and left the school's ground.
"Mei, you know right that if he started to use his head, he will one of a big trouble for batters." Masa-san said.
"I doubt that he will be able to, not in just a year for sure. After all, he's an idiot. Anyway, I'm hungry, let's go grab something to eat, Itsuki, thanks for coming by the way." Mei said as he wrapped his hand around his Kouhai.
"N-No problem, I'm glad to be of help." Tadano smiled, he wanted to think that this is the first step toward his battery with Narumiya.
"Where have you been, Sawamura?" A glassed figure awaits him in front of the school's gate with a reaper's expression, ready to kill anyone.
"M-Miyuki Kazuya!? W-What are you doing here?" Sawamura said as he stopped his feet as soon as he saw Miyuki's expression.
"Where have you been, answered the question."
"I-I've been going with my…classmates t-to scout out Tokyo." Sawamura's trembling hardly, whenever Miyuki is angry, it's a very bad sign and should stay as far away as possible just like a thief with a alerted security robot, once you're caught it spelled the word "Over" for you immediately.
Sawamura felt a huge relieved that he decided to change back to his student uniform at the train station again before he went back to the school.
"Really? But I asked Kanemaru and seems like no one left the class with you today."
Sweats began dropping down on Sawamura's face. "Mi-Miyuki looked at that!" Sawamura pointed into another way.
"Do you think I'm idiot who would fall for that?"
Sweat began dropping more when Sawamura didn't know how to get out of this situation. That's when he decided to charge through Miyuki but Miyuki was quick enough to grab Sawamura wrist by the second he ran passed him. "You think I would let you escape that easily?"
Miyuki dragged Sawamura to the baseball field, preferring to continue their conversation over there, as the front gate is too open for him to force the truth out of the idiot's lip.
Miyuki pinned Sawamura onto the fence, locking Sawamura's between his arms. "Now, ready to spill the truth?"
"W-Why do you need to know where did I go! I-It's none of…your business…" Lucky for Sawamura that he said with a pouted face and soft voice, or else Miyuki would have gotten more upset over that sentence.
"Because it is, you idiot! It's totally my business to take care of my partner!" Sawamura flinched when he heard those words, he started to feel guilty about what he just said. "Now, tell me where did you go! I'm starting to lose my patient over here, Sawamura Eijun!"
Sawamura was surprised to see Miyuki shouted at him, never before he saw the catcher with such emotion. "I-I…" Sawamura went onto a brief silenced.
Miyuki let out a heavy breath. "Forget it, let's go back to the dorm."
Sawamura was puzzled with Miyuki switch of gear, one second ago he was still angry as hell and now he just changed the mood entirely. "Yo-You not gonna ask…where I went anymore?"
"I said forget it right? Then that's it, at least you come back, that what matters. Go and get some rest, you're going to throw for me tomorrow." But instead of leaving when they arrived at the dorm, Miyuki entered the Sawamura's room as well, the first thing he did was giving a glancing sign to Kuramochi.
Kuramochi went quiet and didn't say anything as he waited for Miyuki to say something first. "Go and take a bath, Sawamura."
"O-Okay." Sawamura knew that given the chance to comply with Miyuki's order, it's better to do it, instead of taking the risk of facing angry Miyuki again. Sawamura quickly gathered his stuff before he ran out of the room, leaving the 2nd years alone.
"That idiot didn't say anything?" Kuramochi asked.
"Nope."
"What are you going to do next?
"I don't know yet, I need to think about it, you just keep watching over him for now. If he did anything out of regularity, tell me then. Night." Miyuki left the room and closed the door with a bang.
Kuramochi thought that the catcher have finally calmed down, but the action just now showed him that he guessed it wrong.
That night, Kuramochi pretended to sleep , to trick Sawamura into thinking that's he finally have his private time, when Kuramochi glanced down from his bed, he saw the idiot typing on the phone very quickly.
"Did he use to text to his friends that much?" Kuramochi thought to himself, and he did a check on his memory and remembered that Sawamura told him that he doesn't reply to his old friends that much.
Kuramochi waited until Sawamura finally fell asleep and he silently crawled down from his bed and took Sawamura's phone to check his text, much to his surprised, the one Sawamura was exchanging text with isn't someone he could ever imagine of, it's Narumiya Mei from Inajitsu.
Kuramochi returned the phone and go back to his sleep quietly, Miyuki will need to hear this out before he let himself fell into the sleep.
Next chapter is going to be the start of their relationship! I'm sorry for such a slow pace and cliffhangar. (t _ t )''.