Starting Again
Warnings: extreme ooc. fem!Eijun. overprotective Seido boys.
Disclaimer: I dont own DnA.
italics- flashbacks or thoughts.
Reedited.
CHAPTER 3
6 PM
Takashima Rei watched silently from afar, half-impressed, half-stupefied, at the figures of two people still running laps around the field.
Since her order: "Don't stop running till I say stop", they had been running for a good hour and a half. The other club members had long been dismissed and were currently taking a bath or playing games. She wouldn't mind letting the two idiots off earlier, if they had been reflecting on their actions like they were supposed to.
For the past hour and a half, one was laughing as though he was humming while the smaller one was often falling for the taunts of the elder one.
Takashima crossed her arms and let out a short sigh. "Are they even trying?"
6:15 PM
"Here, a key to your room. You have two upperclassman in your room so ask them anything you wish." Takashima threw the key to Sawamura, finally deciding to let the two idiots off the hook.
"Thanks!"
"Rest well tonight, and DON'T be late tomorrow morning."
Sawamura heard the double meaning behind her words and a shiver was sent down her back - "If you're late again, then I won't be responsible for what happens."
"Y-yes ma'm." Sawamura could only nod powerlessly in front of the assistant coach.
"And Miyuki-kun." Takashima looked at Miyuki who was trying to creep away. "You know what you have to do right?"
Her eyes were smiling and laughing, but the back of those eyes weren't.
Miyuki kept a façade of calm and said, "O-of course I understand R-rei-chan."
"If you understand then please head back to your room. Good night!"
6:20 PM
Sawamura followed Miyuki to her room with a sour look on her face. "Why do you have to show me to my room? I'm not a child. I can get there by myself you know."
"Hahahahaha, stop lying Ei-chan." Miyuki said, "Remember that time in year 2 when you got lost trying to find a secret door? Or that time you got lost trying to find-"
"Shut up! That was in the past!" Sawamura shouted so vigorously she almost tripped on flat ground. "You can go now! I know where my room is already."
"Yeah?"
Sawamura pushed past him on purposely, feigning indifference. However, he didn't overlook the moment when her cheeks blushed. "So you can be kind of cute at times."
"Stupid Kazuya." Sawamura muttered as she wandered around the dorm. "Remembering the useless stuff."
While it was never planned, Sawamura didn't expect her first day in Tokyo to be so hectic. Having quit baseball for roughly half a year, her days had gone by effortlessly. She used to live a life where every day was like Monday, full of hardships and sweat.
Her first day in Tokyo that involved jumping from a two story building, running away from an annoying senior, getting lectured and then being forced to run laps had to have been her most eventful day since a long time.
"Hmmm…I have to admit that even I am getting tired." she sighed and plodded towards her room.
"Room 5: Kuramochi Youichi, Masuko Tooru, Sawamura Eijun." Sawamura repeated from the piece of paper, confirming it with the room in front of her. "It's here."
"So I'm sharing a room with the upperclassman." Sawamura said with utter curiosity. She didn't have any friendly relationships with her seniors from middle school, so she felt her heart throb with excitement. "It's a lot more nerve-wracking than I thought." But finally deciding that there was no point in hesitating anymore after making it this far, she gathered her wits before knocking.
"….."
There was no answer.
Sawamura furrowed her brows with suspicion and knocked again.
"….."
"…..That's weird."
She knocked a third time and a fourth time, and as she finally seemed to give up...
K-chunk.
The door opened.
Sawamura failed to respond - no she couldn't respond. The senior before her had a face as white as chalk with blood seeming to spill out from the eyes, mouth and nose.
"Hehehhe." He suddenly greeted, lips curled into a smirk.
"Eeeeeeeeyahhhh!" she let out an ear-piercing scream and stumbled backwards.
"Hyahahahaha!" The senior wiped off his make-up and looked at Sawamura, mocking her from the depths of his heart with a laugh.
"Don't hate me for this! I was in your shoes last year!"
"I-I see." Sawamura could only smile wryly at the senior. These people might just be bad as Kazuya! She thought.
"Welcome to Seidou Baseball High School team!" he suddenly welcomed warmly with a smile. "I'm Kuramochi Youichi! A second year and the person behind me,"
A stern looking guy from behind stood with his arms crossed, and at Kuromochi's cue, he held up a sheet of paper that read "Nice to meet you."
"He is Masuko Tooru, a third year. Because he made an error yesterday, he banned himself from talking. Hyahahaha!"
"Uh-huh…." Sawamura nodded briefly. "Nice to meet you too." She lowered her head, forgetting for a moment that she still hadn't stood up from the ruckus.
"Hyahaha why are you still sitting down there? Here."
Kuramochi extended out his hand towards Sawamura. Sawamura couldn't help but feel a bit skeptical after what he just pulled on her, but rejecting him here would be a tad bit too mean. And he didn't seem like that bad of a senior either. So far at least.
Sawamura extended her hand and grabbed a hold of his. At that moment, Kuromochi looked down at her, stunned.
"….eh? Kuramochi-senpai?"
Sawamura's call snapped him out it. He blinked and found Sawamura staring blankly back at him. He shook his head and answered, "I'm alright! Just a bit dazed." Soon pulling Sawamura up and letting her in.
"Hey Masuko-senpai! Show her which bed is hers and do the explaining, I'm going to head over to Miyuki's." Kuramochi said as he stepped out and closed the door behind him.
Kuramochi leaned against the door with a serious mien, thinking deeply about something whilst looking at his hand. "Hmm..."
"Okay, I'm opening up now!"
Kuramochi waited patiently outside until the door opened.
"Kuramochi?" Miyuki seemed honestly surprised at Kuramochi's visit but invited him in nonetheless. "What's wrong? You look like you have something you want to say so why don't you come in and take a seat?"
But when Kuramochi made no attempt to move and remained silent, Miyuki's eyes flitted to his room and back. "My room isn't that dirty you know?"
Kuramochi waved his hand, playing it off and finally said, "Just get me some water" before walking in Miyuki's room and plopped himself down cross-legged on the floor.
Miyuki was still confused at this point but made his way straight to the cupboard. He took one bottled water out and threw it to Kuramochi. "Enjoy." He said.
Kuramochi drank about half of it before placing it next to him and slowly spoke up.
"...Hey."
"Hm?" Miyuki responded and gave him a glance that suggested him to continue.
"What's your relationship with Sawamura Eijun?"
"..."
"Oi! Miyuki you bastard! What's with that surprised look?" Kuramochi glared at Miyuki whose shoulders started to tremble, seemingly a little angry. "Stop laughing, you're pissing me off."
"I was wondering why you were so awkward! Hahaha! And to think I expected something serious." Miyuki let out a short sigh and smiled. "You're surprisingly a really nice guy."
"...don't think I'm the same as you." Kuramochi shot back, looking away furtively to hide his slight flush. He was trying to be considerate towards his friend's private matters, but it seems that doing something you aren't used to always yields bad results.
"So what about Ei-chan? You met her already yeah?"
"Ei-chan?" Kuramochi reverted back to his normal smirk. "Whats with that nickname? Are you guys dating or something?"
"You've got it all wrong, she's just a friend back from the time I lived in the countryside."
At Miyuki's bittersweet smile, Kuramochi didn't feel like teasing him anymore. "Hmm? Oh. Really. Then...is she good at baseball? I'm guessing she can play at least because the assistant coach seems pretty confident about her eventually joining the team."
"She was pretty good...I guess?"
"Hyahahaha!" Kuramochi cackled in laughter. "Why are you answering a question with a question?"
"Her pitching and stamina stood out back when we were kids...but her control was horrible." Miyuki replied. "Moreover, I haven't seen her for about 10 years so I can't really say."
"You didn't try stay in contact?"
"I tried. But that little twerp doesn't understand how to use a phone so she just leaves it at home and never ever replies to my emails. In the end I gave up trying to message her and now I just settle for updates every now and then from her best friend. Jeez, I hope she knows how to use a phone now in this day and age." Miyuki spat those words in one breath only to have Kuramochi blink at him in surprise. "I think she practiced quite regularly throughout middle school though." Miyuki added nervously.
Kuramochi smiled, as if he understood something about Miyuki given his immediate response.
"What?"
"Nothing." Kuramochi replied vaguely. "Oh yeah, speaking of which, I'm 100% sure she practiced everyday." He held up his palm for Miyuki to see.
"Nice palm Kuramochi." Miyuki joked.
"That's not what I meant asshole. Anyway, as I was saying, you can't get hard blisters like that if you don't practice everyday." Kuramochi remembered the odd sensation he felt when he helped Sawamura up. "Some were pretty recent too."
"I heard she hasn't played baseball in five months though."
"Then the friend you heard it from is either a big liar or your childhood friend secretly practices by herself."
"Wait wait wait..." Miyuki paused to think and then frantically scratched his head. "What the hell is this?"
"Your uncharacteristically slow today." Kuramochi commented. It was rare for Miyuki not to read between the lines due to his honed observational abilities as a catcher, so Kuramochi couldn't help but be a little surprised.
"Can you-
Miyuki opened his mouth slightly, wanting to say something.
"-no don't worry. Anyway" - Miyuki decided to change the subject before Kuramochi tried to mock him any further - "are you satisfied?"
"Yeah, I'm done bothering you." Kuramochi stretched out his back and began to leave.
But then Miyuki called out to his friend again, "wait a second."
Kuramochi asked, "What is it?" without turning around.
"Please get along with her." Miyuki asked. His choice of words were more formal than usual, like one might use to request something from a respectable senior or teacher. But that tone of his was terrifying it sounded more like a demand to Kuramochi.
"Miyuki...I'm sorry but I can't promise you anything." Kuramochi tilted his head to the side, wondering if he should say this nicely or honestly. In the span of half a second, he decided to go with the latter. "Don't overestimate me. I'm not that kind-hearted. I won't ever trust or become friends with someone I don't resp-"
"I know." Miyuki answered, strangely confident.
Whether his confidence stems from his utmost faith in his childhood friend's ability to prove herself, or his complete trust that his teammate would never dismiss his requests as nonsense - Kuramochi did not know.
THE NEXT MORNING
"Anyone in here want to play catcher?" The coach asked a bunch of kids gathered in front of him.
"Ehhhh catcher?"
"No way! I want to be in a cooler position!"
"Why don't you do it, you look catcher-like."
"Un! Un! Me! Me!" A small boy was jumping here and there, trying to catch the coach's attention. "I want to be catcher!"
To make it worse, his tiny voice was easily drowned out by the grumblings of all the other kids.
The next moment, without any warning, his arm was grasped and shot upwards.
"KAZUYA SAID HE WANTS TO BECOME A CATCHER." A tall child came in with an even louder voice.
The loud, tall child with short-cropped hair who looked like a boy was, in fact, a girl - a fairly cute one if she prettied herself up.
"Ei-chan!"
Ignoring him, she continued waving his arm and said, with a voice much louder than necessary, "Kazuya wants that position coach! Here! Here!"
"There's no way Kazuya can become the catcher!" Another boy retorted, "He's super short! A midget can't be entrusted with such a critical position!"
The girl let go of her friend, walked up towards the boy and then pushed him down.
"….?"
"Shut up bushy eyebrows! Kazuya may be RIDICULOUSLY short for a guy but he has 100 - no, 1000 times more potential than you! He'll definitely be the best catcher in Japan! And I'm going to be the best pitcher!"
"-ahhhhh. What a nostalgic dream." Sawamura mumbled, and then opened her eyes. "Best catcher and best pitcher….mmm….more like nastiest catcher and baseball team manager number five."
Is was five o'clock in the morning.
Sawamura was no longer in her room in Nagano but in the dorms of Seido High School.
After her run yesterday evening, she found her room and went to bed at once. But in the end, she was oddly awake - or rather, she had too much on her mind - and so, unable to fall asleep again, she climbed out of bed and walked to the baseball grounds.
"Maybe I should do my first manager duty." She said for no particular reason.
As she arrived at the grounds, Sawamura realized that she had no idea what a manager was supposed to do. "Our team back at Akagi Middle wasn't as prestigious as Seido, so we didn't even have managers in the first place….everyone just kinda….took everything out."
She arrived in front of the storage shed. When she tried to open the door, it turned out to be locked, as expected.
"What should I do nowwwww?"
After staring into the open field, letting the wind have its way with her, she noticed a few leftover baseballs behind the shed, blown out by the wind.
Sawamura looked left and right, collected all the balls and propped them next to her.
"Damn this shit."
She mumbled, and suddenly, with her left hand she picked up the ball and threw it.
Sawamura continued to throw a second and third time. There was nothing particular for her to aim at in an open ground roughly 90m back, but just throwing the ball gave her the refreshing feeling of clearing something in her heart.
"Wow, hardballs," She stopped and said, "It fits better in my hand than rubber balls, but…"
She furrowed her brows, "why do they just stop a few centimeters from the fence!?"
Looking at the balls she threw, she could see that they were all around 30 centimeters away from the edge of the fence. She could say it with certainty because her eyes were both 20-20.
"Why don't they reach the fence? Am I not shifting my weight enough? Is my arm not swinging down enough?!"
She forcefully took a deep breath, and then declared with a clear voice.
"Yosh, let's try again."
She picked up another ball, took a few steps forward to build up momentum and threw with all her might on her eighth step. Watching the ball soar through the air, it looked like it was going to reach the goal, until-
"AH!" Sawamura shouted, "Don't turn!"
-the ball suddenly broke in another direction and dived into the ground, rolling towards the same position as the other three balls.
"Tsk, I guess the ball won't break as I wish over a long distance." She finally said. "Either way, this was just to make myself feel better….."
"You own quite a powerful arm. Do you play baseball?"
Suddenly, a voice spoke to the girl from behind and Sawamura turned around in surprise. She had figured out who it was based on the voice, but in any case there was the Coach of the baseball team, Kataoka Tesshin.
"…..good morning boss."
"Who are you calling boss." The Coach said in a tone that was neither angry nor happy. "So what is a manager like you doing so early in the morning?"
"…..nothing much, I just wanted to move around a bit. Morning exercise is important." Sawamura moved towards the balls gathered near the fence, as if escaping from the Coach.
"Hmmm…it's my first time seeing a girl throw nearly 90 meters for morning exercise."
"There are a lot of people in the world. Maybe I was just feeling good today. No, it must be because I was feeling good today that I could throw that far. Usually my throws only go about 20 meters."
"Coincidentally, the distance from the mound to the home plate is also around 20 meters."
"…"
The Coach seemed pleased with the surprised look on Sawamura's face. "So, answer me honestly. Do you play baseball?"
"…no."
"Fine. Did you play baseball?"
"…maybe."
"Do you want to play baseball?"
"…n-no."
"Okay, I'll be the catcher so pitch me a ball to the inside corner." the coach stated and went to get a catcher's mitt.
Sawamura was taken back at how quickly the conversation proceeded and was unable to retain her surprise. "Huh? Wait what wait what. Ummm…sorry, I am confused. Were you listening to me?"
"You didn't say much for me to listen to."
"Well, that's true." Sawamura suddenly felt defeated.
"Come on. We don't have all day. Unless you want to do it in front of everyone else?" he said, already in a crouch position.
"….what if I refuse?"
The coach directly looked at Sawamura with a stern glint in his eyes and answered immediately. "You won't. Come on. Inside pitch, runners on first and third, no outs."
His unmoving and striking tone pierced through the southpaw directly. The forceful intensity cause her to choke on her own voice.
In the silence, she stomped her foot firmly on the mound, facing downwards.
Thump.
What is this feeling rushing through me?
Thump.
I don't know what it is but…..
Thump.
Then she looked up and showed that grin that truly suited her.
I want to throw!
She started her wind-up, building as much momentum as she could on her left leg while her left arm hung loosely behind her body, hidden from view. Finally finding the right time, she planted her foot firmly in front of the rubber, pointing at home base.
With a twist of her body, her weight shifted from one foot to the other.
A moment's pause.
And then her arm swung down at double speed.
She left the Coach not even time enough to gasp. He didn't have time to gasp before the ball abruptly entered his field of vision, as if it teleported.
_!
"Ahhh shit." Sawamura grumbled while walking to class. "I totally got dragged into the Coach's pace. I'm lucky that someone came before he asked anymore."
Back an hour or two….
_!
The ball flew straight into the Coach's mitt with a loud sound.
One looking completely satisfied with a grin stretching from one side of her face to another, and the other had more of a blank look. Hard to say as his stylish sunglasses rendered his expression unreadable.
The two stayed like for as long as three hours, or maybe it was just three seconds, and then, "did I just..." The southpaw pitcher said, dropping her glove.
"You just pitched." The Coach replied, straightening his posture.
"Erm…yeah..man…what a coincidence! Wow!"
"Mmmmm…" The Coach wasn't looking too convinced but Sawamura vehemently hoped he would leave it at that.
"Sawamura."
"Y-yyeyeyeyeyes!" She was so scared of whatever he may ask that her voice wouldn't come out properly.
"You-"
"Coach! Will we be needing the machines today?" a voice cut in.
The managers had woken up it seemed, ready for actual duties. Sawamura could honestly give each of them a big hug for their superb timing.
The Coach however, remained silent, occasionally glancing at the southpaw.
"Could it be that we were interrupting?"
"N-no-nonononono no!" Sawamura answered almost immediately. "I was just wondering where I should go, but now you seniors are here I don't have to ask the Coach!"
"Thanks Bos- I mean Coach!"
Present...
She stopped staring meaninglessly at the sky thinking about the past and continued to worry in the present.
"He didn't ask me anything after that, and he was also pretty normal during the morning practice….so I guess I'm alright?" She started thinking positively.
"I hope it stays this way….because there's no way that I can play baseball….I…can't…" She sighed, giving her arm a stretch. "I guess I'll have to tell him about my problem if it gets down to it."
"On another note, I got to know some of their regulars today! Wow, I guess Kazuya isn't all that useless on the field as he is normally. And everyone is so funny and good at batting." Sawamura said as she giggled amusingly. It was quite a refreshing experience, watching morning practice up close. She never really paid attention to what she had to do when she was doing it so she felt a bit enlightened.
For the rest of the morning practice, she was left in charge of monitoring the first-string instead of doing the usual duties that managers do. It might have been because she couldn't do normal chores properly but, everyone has stuff they're good and bad at! She thought, convincing herself.
So then, out of the regulars she met today, there were a few that left an impression on her.
Isashiki Jun. A third year who throws hard and hits hard. He bats third is the loud center fielder of the regular team.
"Isa-...isa…Hmmmmm…Isasomething-senpai! Can I call you Spitz-senpai?"
"Who are you calling a Spitz?!" yelled Isashiki
"Hahahaha but Spitz-senpai is Spitz-senpai."
"Stop laughing you clumsy girl! I'll kill you!"
Although Isashiki Jun was a very hot-headed player who would often intimidate many first years, Sawamura found him to be an amusing fellow. There weren't many people who could be such a softie on the inside but have such a rough exterior.
Yuuki Tesutya - Captain, or leader as Sawamura likes to call him - was the irreplaceable clean-up hitter with a keen eye for chances.
"…It's okay, failure is just the first step to improving," the captain said as he vigorously patted Sawamura's head, and then continued. "I believe you have the potential to get better."
Sawamura nodded, not that she knew what he was talking about. It might have been about her ineptitude as a manager, but she didn't really care about that. While Sawamura was enamored by his skill and aura as a hitter and captain, as it turns out, it seems that he was also fond of the female southpaw.
But even then, the fondness he showed her was similar to the fondness a person would show to their pet cat. He always had the 'aww… that's kinda cute," feeling when he was with Sawamura.
Sawamura was also impressed by the defense of the team, especially by the impenetrable keystone combo.
Kuramochi Youichi, her dorm buddy, was a part of this combo and performs as the swiftly lead-off hitter. Despite all his teasing and violence, he really does shine when he's on base. On the field, he plays as the short-stop, often preventing the ball from going outside the diamond. Sawamura enjoyed laughing at his muddy uniform when he made the dive.
"Hahahahaha! Kuramochi-senpai did you slip and fall? Want a towel?" Sawamura feigned innocence and questioned her senior, with the occasional giggle mixed in.
"Shut up Sawamura!" Kuramochi ran up to the small first year and his sharp kick landed straight in her buttocks.
"Ow! That hurt Kuramochi-senpai!"
Despite his violence, ten out of ten people would say that the two were getting along well. After all, Kuramochi doesn't just kick anyone. However, Sawamura couldn't help but feel slightly concerned about her senior's occasional sidelong glance, observing her every movement.
Did I do something to make him wary of me? She wondered.
Kominato Ryousuke was a third year and was the other part of the combo with Kuramochi. He plays as the second baseman on the field and in Sawamura's eyes, he was just like a cat. Even with his disadvantageous small stature, he was quick and flexible when defending, not even letting a single ball breach his wall of defense. He also performed his job as the second batter well, often making contact with the ball and forcing pitchers to throw much more than necessary.
However, although this senior might look gentle, his unbelievably sharp tongue and tendency to deliver a 'chop' with his hand, caused many to be wary of what they said and did around him. All except a single female manager.
"Kominato-senpai!" Sawamura called as she walked over to the second baseman. "Here's your water bottle."
"Thanks."
Sawamura beamed happily as she waited for Kominato to finish drinking. I want to give him a pat on the head. She thought.
Ryousuke was quite observative and was apparently irritated with something and ran his iron fist into the pit of her stomach.
"….Ugh! I didn't even say anything…does anybody know why I deserved to be punched?"
Her trembling question was only met with pitiful glances.
"You didn't say anything, but you were thinking of it right?" Ryousuke may have been smiling, but Sawamura was sure that he was calling her a 'dumbass' in his head. "That's why you deserved a punch, not a 'chop', you dumbass."
Sawamura's intuition never betrays.
Masuko Tooru, Sawamura's other roommate, was still in the second string because of an error he caused. However, when Sawamura saw him practicing as hard as he could, she knew that he had the potential to be part of the regulars again.
"Probably good enough for…mmmm…fifth batter and third baseman?" Sawamura said, "But first,"
She approached Masuko and gave him a small tap on the shoulder, "Even if you make your swing smaller, with your power Masuko-senpai, it will still fly pretty far."
Sawamura left immediately after giving him a small piece of advice, so she wasn't sure if he put it to use but, she had a feeling that that gentle senior who was always strict on himself would make a comeback.
And Miyuki Kazuya. Putting aside personal feelings, Sawamura genuinely respected Miyuki as a catcher from her heart. And as can be seen from practice, he was no doubt the key player who supported Seido baseball team.
He's a great player. Sawamura admitted, watching his mesmerizing throw from home to second. But Sawamura decided, if there comes a day that she tells Miyuki, it will be the day she'll shave her head bald and change her name to Bakamura.
"Ei-chan! Where's my water?"
"…." Sawamura was probably the only first year who was mentally strong enough to flat-out ignore the esteemed catcher of Seido.
"Ei-chan!"
"…."
"Ah! Fine!" Miyuki said while gritting his teeth. "Sawamura!"
"What is it Miyuki-senpai?" The bold first year replied, smile ever so radiant. There were only a certain number of people who could resist this girl.
"Just call me Kazuya like usual, or else it feels off. And calling you Sawamura doesn't feel right either."
Sawamura smoothly evaded the topic and continued on with her act, lacing her words with a bit of sarcasm.
"I am so jealous of every first year on the team, to be working together with Miyuki-senpai. I can't even imagine the bliss it would be to receive Miyuki-senpai's guidance and advice."
The regulars who knew better, chuckled at the girl's exorbitant exaggeration. And Miyuki, being the person who knew her real personality better, smiled wryly at her star-like attitude. "You twerp…."
Sawamura had reached her classroom while she had been reminiscing. Thinking back, the regulars were all players with top-notch skill and unique personalities. All they needed, was an Ace.
"Coming!" Takashima Rei threw her files on the table and left.
The file was a data and record book of the first-years that joined.
The front sheet read:
Name: Furuya Satoru
From: Hokkaido Tomakomai Junior High School
Long Throw distance test: 120M
A/N: Changed things up a bit!