So,
This fic is told from multiple view points, but there are four prominent ones: Miyuki's, Sawamura's, Kuramochi's and Haruichi's.
There will be other points of view, though they are quite minuscule.
The point of having multiple views is not to confuse you, in fact, it's to help you understand the story better.
The different POVs will show you how certain characters are understanding what is happening and why certain things come about.
Along with that, I do realize the Diamond no Ace is all about baseball, for the purpose of this fic, the games will not be my focus, You will get small snippets or parts where their practice comes up, because of course that is still a huge part of their everyday lives, but the emotional aspect of things and their off field experience is what most of this fic will hold.
If this upsets you... Unfortunately I'm in charge and I want to write it this way :]
This is just me trying to explain it all and that means the word count is sky rocketed for this chapter XD
Thanks for reading
Anime4us
Chapter 2
Sawamura stood in the bullpen kicking at the dirt impatiently.
Where is that damned four-eyed demon?
"Eijun, what's wrong?" A small mop of pink hair asked quietly.
"Miyuki is late! How am I suppose to practice my amazing pitches without the catcher?!" Sawamura asked.
"Uh.. I think Miyuki showed up late... Coach made him run some extra laps." Haruichi stated before taking a sip of his water.
"The captain was late? How hypocritical of him!" Sawamura continued to shout.
Haruichi rose a brow at his friend's use of a large word.
"Kuramochi wants to work on some defensive plays, so I'm heading over to the field, shouldn't you work on your fielding as well?" the pinklet asked.
"I think I'll wait for Miyuki to show up, I want to perfect a certain pitch!" Sawamura declared.
0_0_0_0
Kuramochi glanced around the field, noticing right away that Miyuki wasn't there.
Is he sick?
His lips pursed as he thought about Miyuki's state last night.
Something is eating at him but the damn idiot lets his goddamn pride stop him from reaching out.
Kuramochi jumped when someone spoke.
"Kuramochi?..." Haruichi asked timidly.
"Sorry, lost in thought, what did you say?" Kuramochi replied before focusing on his new second baseman.
Damn... I just had to fall for Ryosuke's little brother... Miyuki wasn't wrong when he said Ryosuke was going to kill me... So damn over protective...
"I asked what you wanted to focus on right now." Haruichi said before offering a small smile that made the shortstop's stomach flip.
"Defensive plays." Kuramochi offered before looking towards the field.
"Ok, I'm just going to go grab my water bottle, I left it in the dugout." The pinklet said before turning away from the shortstop.
0_0_0_0
Morning came much too quickly for Miyuki. He was in such a blah mood that he couldn't force himself out of bed. Even as he reminded himself that Kataoka would make him run extra laps, his will power wasn't strong enough.
It took him a while to talk himself into getting up. The thought of Sawamura chiding him for not showing up being the result of his motivation.
While changing, Miyuki felt the bandaging on his throwing arm give away somewhat. With an unhappy sigh, he made his way to his dresser, pulling out a roll of bandages after having chucked his sweater onto his bed.
His facial expression was dark as he revealed the many jagged lines that covered his lower arms.
Why does it make me so upset? I did it to myself. If I hate it so much, why don't I just fucking stop?
Miyuki knew deep down that it wasn't that easy. He began to wrap a brand new set of bandaging around his arm, throwing the old ones into the bottom of his baseball bag so that he could throw them directly into the dumpster outside of the dorms after practice.
After he was done, he changed into his practice uniform before making his way towards the field slowly.
Kataoka was definitely not impressed. Everyone but the captain of the team had shown up on time. Miyuki offered his apology as sincerely as he could muster before he was forced into running the extra laps he had foreseen.
0_0_0_0
"MIYUKI KAZUYA! You are late!" Sawamura shouted as the catcher made his way into the bullpen.
"Why didn't you go work on fielding?" Miyuki asked while raising a brow.
He knew both Furuya and Kawakami had decided that fielding practice was the plan today, if the ace was practicing his fielding than Sawamura should have been out there to.
"A certain four-eyed demon catcher promised me he would catch my pitches today!" Sawamura said, poking Miyuki in the chest.
"Ah, did he?" Miyuki asked as he put his catcher's equipment on.
Sawamura bent down to help him clip up his shin guards.
"As a matter of fact he did! He said he would catch at least a hundred pitches today!" Sawamura declared as he finished hooking up the second pad, earning a small thanks from Miyuki.
"Wow, this catcher of yours sounds amazing." Miyuki stated with a smirk.
"He can be." Sawamura said casually before shrugging.
Miyuki's smirk faltered for a second, his eyes widening slightly before he snapped back to reality. He slipped his arm around Sawamura's shoulders, normal shit-eating grin back on his face.
"You're just buttering me up so you can hog me all day aren't you?"
"I am going to be ace Miyuki! I need the first string catcher to catch my pitches!" The soon to be second year stated.
"Ah yes, yes." Miyuki said as he grabbed his mitt and made his way over to the make-shift plate.
"Just don't push yourself too far Mr. Ace wannabe, we have a game this afternoon." Miyuki stated before chuckling.
"I WILL BE ACE!" Sawamura bellowed.
Miyuki smirked before calling for a fastball. Sawamura's eyes blazed their golden color as he rose his leg impossibly high. As his foot slammed into the mound his arm whipped out, sending the baseball barrelling down and into Miyuki's mitt. With a smirk Miyuki stood and threw the ball back to Sawamura.
"Todaraki would have smashed that. Instant homerun." The catcher stated before chuckling.
Miyuki watched as the pitcher's anger rose about thirty notches before he forcibly calmed himself down.
"Then ask for something he won't hit!" Sawamura stated, determination set in his features.
"Yes, yes, that's a good boy, just follow my every sign." Miyuki stated before squatting back down.
He called for a low and inside pitch. Sawamura complied, sending the ball right into Miyuki's mitt.
"Nice pitch." The catcher stated, earning a grin from the pitcher.
0_0_0_0
Kuramochi dove for a pitch, under handing it straight to Haruichi who hit the base before throwing a bullet to first.
"Nice play Kuramochi! Kominato!" Maezono called from first.
Haruichi had a small blush on his face as he smiled while Kuramochi smirked at how they were starting to get each other's habits down.
"You're a lot like Ryosuke." Kijima stated casually. "Except, Ryosuke would have had that at first a lot faster." The second basemen said casually before taking Haruichi's position in the rotation.
Kuramochi's brow twitched in annoyance, ready to speak up when Haruichi laughed.
"My brother left some pretty big shoes to fill for his height, eh?" He said before continuing his chuckling.
Kijima had expected the first year to shy away from the heavy criticism, but to his surprise, Haruichi had spoken up.
"I'll just have to work harder." The pinklet offered before smiling.
Kuramochi smiled at the boldness that Haruichi showed.
Don't back down, he's threatened by your talent.
0_0_0_0
Miyuki stood crouching at the plate, Sawamura glaring down the batter from Yakushi's team.
Alright Sawamura, third batter, score 2-0 Yakushi, fifth inning, count 2-1 give me a strike.
Sawamura nodded his head at Miyuki's sign before winding up.
0_0_0_0
The practice match ended 3-2 for Seido. Miyuki had managed to hit a homer with both Haruichi and Kuramochi on base in the bottom of the eighth. After both Sawamura and Furuya had done their best against the opposing team, Kawakami was then able to keep the Yakushi batters in check in the ninth, leading Seido to take the game.
Dinner had come around and the bespectacled catcher was nowhere to be found. Sawamura had a frown on his face as his eyes swept the cafeteria, looking for the second year who loved to tease him so much.
"What's wrong Eijun?" Haruichi asked from beside him.
"Miyuki's not here..." the pitcher muttered before continuing to eat.
"Maybe he's not hungry?" Haruichi offered before shrugging.
0_0_0_0
Miyuki had his toiletries in hand as he pulled the door to the baths open. Just as he had anticipated, the baths were empty. Everyone was either eating dinner, napping or working on homework and had already taken their much needed baths.
Glancing around for the millionth time, his paranoia getting the better of him, Miyuki began to strip his clothing. He glanced down at his arms, his nose rolling slightly.
If anyone saw these... they'd think I was a freak...
He thought unhappily. He made his way towards the bathing area, toiletries clutched in his arms.
0_0_0_0
A knock brought him back to reality. He hadn't realized how hard he had been clutching the object in his hand until he heard the knock. He almost puked when it happened though.
What the fuck do I do? If I ignore it, they'll go away. Just ignore it Kazuya...
"Don't ignore me Miyuki Kazuya!" Came an overly loud voice.
No... please... just, go away... Not right now...
Miyuki was biting into his bottom lip so hard he broke skin. He hissed in pain before chucking the blade to the side.
What the fuck is wrong with me?!
He was clenching his teeth so hard he was almost certain that they'd disintegrate.
"How rude!" Sawamura persisted angrily.
I can't, not him.
Miyuki grabbed the bloody rag that had been beside him and pressed it to the freshly marred skin of his lower catching arm. He'd been so put off from the knock that he'd momentarily forgotten about the blood pooling on his arm. Pressing the cloth against his arm, he silently cursed himself for letting the blood drip onto the wooden floors that decorated his dorm room.
"Miyuki?..." Sawamura murmured, worried lacing his voice.
"Stop pitying me!" Miyuki regretted the words as soon as they had left his lips.
0_0_0_0
Sawamura had decided that after dinner, he would go visit the catcher.
Something's off about Miyuki. He still smiles... still teases me... but he seems... broken?
The thought of the ever so perfect catcher being broken disturbed him.
He's smart, an amazing catcher, not to mention batter. Well... It may take having people on base but hey, one flaw had to surface at some point. He managed to bring me where I am today, not to mention he's attractive.
Sawamura's eyes flew open, his strides stopping as he realized what he had thought.
Did I just call Miyuki... Attractive?!
His whole face just engulfed with a blush as he continued his strides towards the catcher's dorm room.
He knocked once, waiting for the captain to pull the door open. A long thirty seconds of silence filled the air before he spoke.
"Don't ignore me Miyuki Kazuya!"
There was nothing but silence that filled the air once more.
"How rude!" He added with a huff.
He was about to leave when he heard some shuffling from inside Miyuki's room.
"Miyuki?..." Sawamura asked, his voice holding how lost he was.
Why hadn't Miyuki simply answered the door when he'd knocked previously?
"Stop pitying me!" Came Miyuki's voice.
Sawamura's eyes widened with surprise.
Pity? Where?!
Sawamura pounded on the door with his fist.
"Let me in Miyuki!" He demanded.
"I'm busy Sawamura."
"I have to ask you something." The pitcher persisted.
He didn't know what, but something was very wrong.
"Ask me through the door."
"Miyuki..."
"Im not getting up from bed Sawamura."
Miyuki's voice was controlled once more, not holding any of the annoyance and brokenness he'd heard mere seconds ago.
"Are you ok?..." The first year whispered.
"I didn't get that." Miyuki said.
"I said, I didn't see you downstairs for dinner." Sawamura said quickly, small blush covering his face again.
"Oh yea, I was doing homework, Kuramochi came by with food before, I'm good."
Sawamura sighed before pushing away from the door.
"Don't be late for practice tomorrow."
"Hah! My junior is looking out for me tonight." Miyuki stated, laughter leaking through the door. "Don't worry, I will be catching for the ace tomorrow, so even if I'm late, it won't affect you any."
Sawamura felt anger boiling.
"Whatever you evil, four-eyed demon catcher!" He stated before storming off.
0_0_0_0
"What's Miyuki up to?" Kuramochi asked as Sawamura walked into the room.
"Who cares?!" Sawamura huffed before getting into bed.
Kuramochi rose a brow before pushing up from in front of the gaming consul.
"I'm going to go swing for a bit." He stated before grabbing his bat.
"Is Haruichi going with you?" Sawamura asked casually, his anger dissipating.
"Why do you ask?" Kuramochi asked, brows raising once more.
"Just wondering." Sawamura said while shrugging.
He made his way over to the desk to pull out some homework.
"I heard you brought Miyuki dinner. That was nice of you." Sawamura said as Kuramochi pulled their dorm room's door open.
Huh? When did I?... Dammit Kazuya... What the fuck is going on?
"Yea, can't have the captain getting sick because he forgets to eat." Kuramochi offered, giving the best nonchalant shrug he could offer.
You need to get your shit together Kazuya, I won't lie for you forever.