Haruna bit her lip as she watched her baby practice his swings. It had only been a week since he'd started practicing again, but each time she was out there with him – ready to intervene if anything happened. She leaned against her husband, her right arm gripping her left forearm tightly.

Swallowing, she glanced at her watch. "Haru-chan, you've been practicing for half an hour, why don't you come take a short break." Her son was sweating slightly, but didn't seem tired. Even so, she didn't want to take any chances.

"I'm fine." Though he said that, Haruna was happy to see he listened and came over to them.

"I know sweetheart, but I don't want you to push yourself too hard. Start off slow, alright?"

"Alright."

Watching Haruichi drink the lemonade she'd made, she twisted her hands together. "Haru-chan…"

"Yes Okaa-san?"

Taking a steading breath, the mother asked, "Are you…are you sure you want to keep playing baseball?"

She flinched at the shocked and slightly horrified look her son gave her. "Of course I want to keep playing! I love baseball!"

Haruna frowned. "I know that, but…maybe you should just play for fun, rather than competitively like you do now."

"Okaa-san! I like playing competitively! It's fun! And how would I have a chance at being a pro if I didn't play competitively?"

"You're still thinking about becoming a professional baseball player?"

"Why wouldn't I? So long as I'm careful and take care of myself, it shouldn't be a problem. I don't want to quit just because of this." He gestured sharply towards his chest.

"But Haru-chan, it's probably not a good idea. Why don't you try for something less…physical, like teaching or baking?"

Haruichi gaped at his mother for a few moments before turning to his father. "Otou-san!"

Ryounosuke shook his head and laid a hand on his wife's shoulder. "Haruna, I know you're worried, but Haruichi is determined. He's been taking it easy for you, and resting if he feels dizzy or tired. You shouldn't make him stop something her enjoys so much." Turning to his happy son, he folded his arms. "Haruichi, let me make this clear. You can keep playing baseball as you like, but I do agree with your mother that going pro for it is rather risky."

He raised a hand. "That's not to say I'm stopping you from it. We'll see how the rest of middle school and high school go for you with baseball before we decide if it will be alright for you to pursue a career in it or not. As it stands, should something happen while you're playing – be that breaking or damaging your ICD or having problems with your heart, then you will stop playing. Is that understood?"

The teen nodded begrudgingly and shuffled back over to start practicing again. Ryounosuke turned to his wife. "He'll be fine Haruna. Besides, did you really think he'd give up baseball that easily?"

"No. I just want him to be safe."

"I know you do honey. We both do. But we won't always be there to hold his hand and protect him from the world. We have to let him do the things he enjoys and just be there to catch him if he falls or stumbles."

Sighing and taking one more glance at her pouting baby, she turned to head inside. "I'm going to start dinner. Watch him for me?"

"Of course." Smiling as she entered the house, he called to his son. "That's enough batting practice for now. How about we play some catch?" Grabbing one of the extra mitts they had, he lightly tossed a baseball up and down. When Haruichi put his own mitt on, he lightly threw it towards the teen as a warmup.

"You're almost a second year. Any thoughts on where you want to go for high school?"

Haruichi caught the easy toss and returned it. "I want to go to Seidou with aniki."

Ryounosuke shook his head, having known it was coming. "I don't know about you going that far away for school. I would have been fine with it before, but now…"

"I'll let aniki know what's going on," Haruichi said stubbornly. "And I'll tell the coach so he'll let me sit out if I get tired or dizzy."

"What if he doesn't or says you shouldn't play?"

"He can't keep me from playing. Even if I'm not a regular there, I'll still be able to practice and play."

"I'm sure there are other places closer that would let you play as a regular."

"Maybe, but the schools nearby are small. I wouldn't have a good chance of going to koshien if I went to any of them. And besides, most of them don't choose the smaller players as regulars. At least if I'm at a bigger school I won't be skipped over because of my height."

"And what makes you so sure your brother will let you play when he finds out?"

Haruichi hesitated for a moment before he said, "Aniki can't make me stop playing."

"Oh? Ryousuke is like you mother in that they tend to find ways to get what they want."

"If I can convince everyone else, I can convince aniki."

"You sound awfully sure about that."

"Well…you're able to convince okaa-san about things, right?"

Ryounosuke laughed. "True, but I doubt some of my methods would work for you."

Haruichi tilted his head as he caught the baseball. "Why not?"

The father shook his head with a sly grin. "Just trust me on this." Catching the toss, he stretched his arms above his head. "Go ahead and take a bath before dinner. We can play some more tomorrow." Still confused, Haruichi nodded and gathered up his equipment. Still chuckling slightly, the elder Kominato headed inside and towards the kitchen.

"Done already?" Haruna asked, glancing back at him. "It's only been about five minutes."

"I figured he could use a bath before dinner, and I wanted a chance to talk to you alone for a bit." He sat on the edge of the table, grinning and moving to a chair when she glared at him.

"Talk about what?"

Pursing his lips, Ryounosuke said, "Haruichi wants to go to Seidou for high school."

Haruna paused before seemingly deflating. "I was afraid he would."

"He's completely set on it. He even agreed to tell Ryousuke himself about the ICD and everything, saying he could convince him to let him play."

The woman frowned down at the casserole she was putting together. "Is there any way we can talk him out of it? I don't want him to be that far away."

"Neither do I, but he seems fairly stubborn about it. We can try to wear him down, but I doubt he'd be very happy staying here."

"I want him to be happy," Haruna said, sticking the pan into the oven and turning towards her husband, "But is it too much for him to stay here near us?"

Standing and pulling the woman close, Ryounosuke whispered, "Let's think about it for the next few months. Give him some time to think it over as well. He's still a first year, so we have some time. We'll talk to him about it next year, before he becomes a third year, alright? It'll also let us see how he does playing baseball with his ICD."

Haruna nodded slightly. "Just promise me that even if he doesn't like it, if we think it's best we'll keep him here."

The male smiled and kissed her forehead. "Of course."

Haruna shook her head as she and Ryounosuke stood with their baby, waiting for his train. "You're sure you have everything?"

"Yes okaa-san. We went over the list three times before we left."

"And you're going to let the coaches and your brother know when you get there?"

"I've already called ahead and let the head coach know I needed to speak with him. I'll let aniki know when I see him."

"And you know where you're going? When and where to switch trains? Which stop to get off at? How to get to the school?"

"I have it all written down in here." He held up a small notebook and placed it back into his jacket pocket.

"And you'll call us when you arrive?"

"The second I find the phone."

Haruna hugged her baby, planting a kiss on his head. "Don't be like your brother and never call."

Haruichi smiled and nodded. "I'll call every month – week." He corrected himself after a stern look from his mother. "I'll call every week."

"Play hard over there," Ryounosuke said, ruffling the teen's hair. "Don't forget to take care of yourself."

"And don't skip those meetings every month with your cardiologist. I don't care how busy you are, don't you dare skip them."

"I promise I won't skip the meetings."

"Good. Let Ryou-chan know about them too. And tell him to call us more often."

"I will okaa-san."

Haruna hugged her baby again. "I'm going to miss you. The house is going to be so empty now that you and your brother are both gone."

"We'll be back during breaks."

"It won't be the same though." Shaking her head and wiping her eyes, she stepped back and smiled at him. "You both grew up too fast."

"Don't hesitate to call if you need anything," Ryounosuke said.

"I won't otou-san."

Seeing his train pulling up, Haruichi hugged his parents one last time before boarding, waving from the window until it pulled away. 'Seidou, here I come.'

So Haruichi will be in Seidou next chapter! Let me know what you thought!