The sun shined brightly streaming rays of yellow and orange through the window of the dining hall. Yuki popped a blueberry lollipop in her mouth as she turned the knob to the radio on. She curiously searched the drawers and cabinets in search of snacks, hearing the static and almost incoherent voices of the radio personality giving live updates, while Michiru ate her cereal not too far away browsing her phone. The former finally found some small packaged cakes and a pack of beef jerky but turned to the radio at the sudden grim news.
"Last night, Wild Calling won their game six to two. The losing team, Night Runners, had three deaths. With the death of the last dodo beastman in a double play during the game, dodo beastmen have officially gone extinct. In other news..."
She sighed heavily and shook her head with dismay. Such news spoken in such a casual way will never not be a surprise. In the human world, causing death in sports is completely forbidden, but it's strange hearing it be a common occurrence, and not one frowned upon, in the beast world.
Even so, it didn't deter Michiru's love for basketball.
She played happily and quite energetically in the courtyard. Though some of her shots never made it in the hoop, just bouncing off and hitting the bright red rim, she still held a large smile on her face with laughter of joy spewing from her lips. Yuki watched, grinning, at her friend's contentedness. She stood on the sidelines beside the lounging Shirou who promptly propped his foot up on a small round table. Near them was Miss Melissa hanging the laundry on the clothesline and pinning them in place with wooden pins.
Shirou looked almost just as interested as Yuki watching the tanuki play. "Aren't you turning back to your human form?" He asked with a raise eyebrow and a slight frown.
"Well, yes, but being in human form is like wearing high heels all the time. Do you know what I mean?" She answered dribbling the ball and shrugging her shoulders.
"Not in the least," Shirou shortly replied.
Michiru huffed and took another shot at the hoop. "Basically, this is way more comfortable!" She grunted jumping high into the air and slam dunking the ball inside the red circle.
Yuki and Shirou shared a look at the irony.
"Being a tanuki is more comfortable, you say?" He asked with a near retort in his voice standing from his seat. He joined Melissa up in the balcony and almost disappeared behind the thick curtain of white blankets.
Yuki quickly fetched the beef jerky from within her hoodie and quickly said, "Hey, Shirou! I found this snack for you!" holding the bag above her head. When he turned, she tossed it upwards and he neatly and swiftly caught it in his hands.
He gazed at it curiously before nodding his head approvingly. "Much appreciated, Hanamura."
A loud and overexaggerated gasp sounded suddenly from Michiru. They both turned to her and found her fist placed mischievously at her mouth, covering what no doubt was a large smirk. Her cheekbones were tinted red and her eyes suggested something else when they darted from Yuki to Shirou then back. "You guys not at each other's throats anymore? What, did you have a make-up make out session or something?"
Yuki, completely horrified, punched Michiru across the head, screaming anxiously, frantically, and, once again, still completely horrified at the implication, "No, we did not! Why are you always asking such weird questions?!"
Michiru fell to the ground, twitching from the impact, as Yuki hid her burning face behind her hands, trying to stifle the not-so-subtle whimpers from spilling between her fingers. She didn't dare to look at Shirou's face or what his response would've been! To look at him after that...?! Why does Michiru always bully her like that?! Please change the subject!
Yuki held her arms, still looking anywhere else but his direction, as Michiru approached the balcony from beneath, calling, "Miss Melissa! Isn't there a basketball club or a basketball association in this town?"
"Basketball?" Melissa asked trying to lessen the amused grin playing on her lips.
Michiru huffed and impatiently swirled the ball around her body. "I want to play in a game so bad! I haven't played in so long, I feel like I'm getting stiff!" She groaned spinning it on the tip of her finger.
"A game? We got one of those!" Melissa answered with a smile and the snap of her fingers.
"What? You do?" Michiru squealed happily.
Melissa nodded her head. "Yes, we have a court just down a couple blocks from here. Just keep going straight and it's on your left. You can't miss it. There's always beastmen watching and partaking in the sport. Plus, it's loud too and pretty competitive. Sounds much like your scene."
"Heck yeah, it is!" Michiru exclaimed and looped her arm with Yuki's. "Come on, girl! I'm treating you to a birthday game!"
Yuki smiled nervously at her, already feeling the insistent tug of her arm, but hesitated at the confused, "Birthday game?"
They both turned at the grunt and found Shirou watching them, leaning coolly against the balcony. "Uh, yeah, a birthday game. It's Yuki's birthday today," Michiru repeated much to Yuki's embarrassment.
"How old are you turning?" He asked her.
She giggled shyly, "Um, I'm turning 19."
"The big 1 9. That's why we have to celebrate," Michiru groaned giving Shirou a pointed glare and continued to tug Yuki along without a care.
"Does Hanamura even like playing sports?" He scoffed from behind. "You should probably do something she actually enjoys. What do you like to do, Hanamura?"
"W-Well, I usually play my ocarina when I have the time but I left it back at home in the human world," Yuki stammered under both his and Michiru's expectant gazes. She didn't mean for anyone else to find out about her birthday, or for Michiru to remember it at all. She hoped for it to be an uneventful day. "Though, I do enjoy watching Michiru play basketball. I went to every single game of hers. I don't mind watching her play some more," She carefully answered much to the disappointment in Shirou's face.
Michiru stuck her tongue out at him. "Bleh! I win! Now, come on, Yuki!"
They didn't get very far before they were stopped.
They were a couple steps taken from the beastman headquarters, arm in arm, when a tiger beastman walking by stopped in his tracks and took a double-take toward the girls. He smirked and lifted a hand. He pushed it into the wall, his arm blocking their path, and sneered down at them. "Hey, pretty girl. I've never seen you around before. Nice to meet you, I'm Mako," He said speaking right toward... Yuki?!
Yuki forced a strained smile on her face, a bead of nervous anxiousness falling in the pit of her stomach. "Uh, hi, I'm-"
"Don't give this creep your name! Back off, jerk!" Michiru quickly interrupted her and glared up at the tiger.
"Ain't no one talking to you, chick. I'm just asking for your friend's name," He chuckled lowly getting too close to Yuki's face.
Yuki glared up at him and huffed, "Leave us alone."
"Aw, don't be like that-"
The tiger suddenly seized up. The fur on his skin strangely lifted on all ends sticking high into the sky with his tail puffing up like a dust fan behind him. His claws that had been outstretched retracted back into his body, his eyes going wide with what looked to be fear, and a cold sweat going down his fore-head. His adam's apple bobbed heavily and his eyes flickered to the left just once. Without saying another word, he scampered away just as quick as he came.
Yuki was glad his presence left in a matter of one minute, but she looked at Michiru with a troubled look. What bothered him so much he left in such a hurry? She gazed in the same direction he had and only saw Shirou watching Melissa continue with her laundry. There was nothing behind him. She was certainly confused but she won't question the peace.
The two of them found the court without any more trouble but... it wasn't what they expected.
Yuki and Michiru sat in the stands, the latter clutching her basketball, and watched a dirty white ball sail over the field with tilted heads. Players dressed in white ran around the diamond shape embedded in the dirt and slid swiftly into the white bases, umpires watching closely and carefully as the game continued. Yuki and Michiru shared a knowing and annoyed look: This was a game of baseball. Definitely not basketball.
"Hello to the five or six baseball fans in Anima-City," The duck beastman announcer blasted into his megaphone from the sideline sitting on his tall green baseball theme chair. "Pink Flamingos, as you can see, are all hotties! Their opponent, Bears, as you can see, are lamebrain bears. They're on a fantastic record-breaking losing streak!"
Yuki watched the beginning of the game fascinated. The pink flamingos team were beautiful women transformed into even more beautiful flamingos. They waved, smiled, and batted their eyelashes at their adoring fans. On the opposite side, bears of different species entered the field looking... a mixture of exhaustion and lifelessness. Dead expressions were plastered on their faces. Their baseball bats dragged in the dirt behind them. Their bodies slouched forward and heavily at that. They did look the part of a losing streak team.
A yelp choked from them at a pitched ball surging straight into the stands! A beastman behind them was knocked unconscious by the impact but it landed gently in Michiru's hand.
"Here! Here! Heeeere!" The Bear umpire called for Michiru waving her hands in the air.
Michiru smirked at the ball mischievously and stood from her seat. She threw her leg up, winded her arm back, and stomped her foot down ready to pitch! Yuki's eyes widened tremendously at the size of her muscles growing and growing! They grew more than three times the size of her body and threw the ball forward with such force and speed, the wind around them surged powerfully enough to knock many people off the stand! The umpire even spun more than a dozen times when the ball connected with her mitt, screaming as she went! When she finally slowed down, the ball landed gently on the ground.
"WHA-?! A miracle pitch!" The umpire squealed into the air much to their shock and surprise.
Michiru recoiled in embarrassment, and the fear of Shirou catching wind of what happened, and grabbed her basketball, as well as Yuki's hand. She forced the two of them further down the stands away from the umpire still shaking in her spot staring at the ball as if it were a magical golden hand reaching out from underneath the dirt.
"In the bottom half, the pink babes have taken the field," The announcer commented as the pink flamingo pitcher threw her ball.
The panda bear smacked his baseball bat into the white ball and watched it soar over the field. He moved to run and had already taken a few steps when the ball was already caught in the first base flamingo's wing. Though, suddenly, half a dozen blades swooped from underneath her wing and embedded themselves in the panda! He fell to the ground, not moving, with the flamingo touching him with her wing, the ball still clutching in her grasp!
"He's out!" The announcer exclaimed without a shred of worry or concern!
Yuki scoffed angrily at the result and stared terrified at the panda who still wasn't moving!
"Hold on! That chick took something out of her wing and threw them at the guy! That's not fair at all! Are you gonna call it or what, ref?!" Michiru screamed at the llama umpire beastman pointing an accusing finger at the pink flamingo.
"Huh?!" Three pink flamingos scoffed as they suddenly swarmed them.
"What about it?"
"Who do you think you are?"
"There's always some ugly prig prattling about right and wrong! What a priggish mouth!"
With wings on their pushed out hips, beaks upturned, and condescending eyes staring down at them, they skipped away giggling maniacally at their dumbfounded faces. Still, Yuki glared at their backs. She no longer found them beautiful but hideous instead.
"Well, if it isn't Ms. Tanuki and her friend. Fancy meeting you here," A sly, raspy voice piped up from behind them. Marie sat there, fist resting against her cheek, legs crossed, and a smirk playing on her lips. Before they could even get a small peep out, she unexpectedly glowered heavily, angrily, and almost viciously down at them, her voice dark and cold, sneering, "I'm a mink! I'm not a weasel. I'm Marie the mink."
Yuki and Michiru quirked an eyebrow. "We didn't even say anything."
She instantly went back to normal. The smirk reappeared and so did her cool appearance. "So who are you betting on?" She asked with a slight chuckle.
"Bet?" They asked in unison.
"As usual, you don't have a clue," Marie scoffed at them much to their annoyance. "Baseball in Anima-City is a total gambling deathmatch. It's beastman nature to want to win even if you have to kill. The flashier the kills, the happier the fans are. That's what they bet on. Win or lose. Live or die. That's Anima-City baseball."
At her casual explanation, if Yuki and Michiru had been horrified before, they're now ten times above that mixed with disgust. "You must be kidding," They could only groan.
"Okay! The babes are up to bat!" The announcer once again continued to comment with the pink flamingos now taking up the bat. The pink flamingo tapped the base and swung hard at the incoming ball. "With her flamingo swing, she hits the ball! It happens to..." The ball soared straight into the yellow bear's face with a devastating punch "...into the pitcher! It hammered Bears' pitcher, Winnie Poo. Poor poor Poo Poo is getting carried off on a stretcher."
Yuki watched, frowning, and spoke, "This is hard to watch."
With their pitcher carried away, the bears team was down one member leaving them only with 9. The pink flamingos smirked at the result leaving them with a win by default. That was, until, the umpire pointed a claw into the stand, announcing, "We're changing pitchers! We want her!"
Everyone's eyes landed on the frazzled Michiru. "What? Me?" She squeaked out.
Yuki could only watch, wide-eyed, as her friend was grabbed and kidnapped toward the field. Even more so when they stripped her clean of her clothes and forced their uniform on her person.
"We can do it, riiiiight!" The umpire screamed at her team enthusiastically.
It was returned with the most unenthusiastic "Yaaaaay..." Yuki's ever heard.
Standing in the middle of the field, a ball in her mitt, and adorned in the surprisingly cute uniform was Michiru! She looked completely out of her element staring at the pink flamingos whose icy glares could freeze the equator themselves. Nonetheless, she stayed grounded on her base and gulped the lump down her throat.
"Bears have a new pitcher. She's clearly an amateur tanuki girl they've forced onto the field. They're clearly shorthanded," The announcer commented.
Michiru seemed to have snapped out of it. It looked like she had turned to leave.
Until, "Hey, ugly! I'm talking to you, ugly! Hurry it up, ugly! You're so ugly and you are a tanuki! That's so pitiful, I want to cry. But I've got a nail appointment later, so I've got no time for sympathy! If you're not going to pitch, ugly girl, then go back home and build a mud boat!"
Yuki's eyes darted to the smirking and smug-looking flamingo at the bat yelling at Michiru's back. The way she screamed with her face all contorted and spit flying from her beak, it was disgusting. She then noted the sudden rigidness of Michiru who halted sharply in her step. She smirked and sat back, waiting for the real show to begin.
The grip Michiru had on the ball tighten so much her veins protruded from her fur. Her head snapped backwards over her shoulder to reveal a fire burning in her eyes. Yuki could literally see the anger coming off of waves from her body! The grit of her teeth, the shake of her fist, and the snarl on her face, it was kind of scary! "You're the ones who are so disgusting that it looks pitiful. How dare you mock the way people look because they're born that way? Moreover, you pigeonhole them to make yourselves feel superior!"
At her declaration of war, her arm bulked up large once again and pitched the ball forward! It was so fast the flamingo didn't have time to swing, and didn't expect most of her feathers to pluck straight off her skin!
"HAHA! That's a sexy strike! You've got to be kidding me! That's an unbelievably brilliant miracle pitch!" The announcer screamed excitedly.
Throughout the entire turn she pitched, the pink flamingos couldn't score a single hit. Strike after strike after strike, three flamingos weren't up to par with neither Michiru's speed or her strength. They screamed, shrieked, and cried at the loss of both their feathers and their pride. After three strikes and three flamingos down, the teams were forced to switch with the Bears now taking up the bat and their bases.
Yuki smiled, cheered loudly, and laughed happily at Michiru's retort when she picked up at the bat with a smug smirk, aiming the rounded point at the pink flamingo now devoid of feathers, "I've got to build a mud boat later, so can you hurry this up?"
At the taunt, the flamingo cursed and threw the ball extremely fast, but Michiru knew it was coming. Both of her bulked to the size of tanks, holding her bat tightly in both grip, and swung! The ball exploded against the wooden stick and soared across the sky like a shooting star! It actually slammed into and destroyed the scoreboard! An out of park ball! The bears on the bases ran the entire diamond without the fear of getting out. The Bears won their first ever match, and it was all thanks to Michiru! Yuki couldn't help but jump out of the stands and join the bears in their celebration.
"She's hit it! It's gone! It's out of park! I'm dumbfounded! It's come-from-behind win for Bears!"
Unbeknownst to them, during the game, Shirou had been tasked by Mayor Rose to get proof of the baseball gambling going on around the city. It wouldn't exactly be an easy job for him. He knew it was all being handled by Flip of the Mafia Family. To anger him would be to anger the entire underworld. Though, the dodo beastmen went extinct after that last game. He took the job without question. Baseball gambling was a threat and he had no doubt somehow Hanamura and Kagemori would get involved with the sport after Mrs. Horner showed them the way to the field. He needed to keep Hanamura safe, no matter what.
"We've got no money, and we've got no dreams either. But we've got double the hunger of anyone," The Bears sang the grim song strangely happily as they marched, and carried a member of their injured team member on a stretcher, back to where they lived.
The entire area was built on mostly rusty and crusted metal. The buildings, the shacks, the borders, with the exception of the staircases leading to the upper levels made on concrete and stone. It saddened Yuki to see such a rundown place with nobody caring for the citizens who could be living in such poor conditions. Though, it was nice to see the Bears completely content with what they had.
"It's not big, but come on in," Jackie, the girl who "recruited" Michiru, gestured with the wave of her hand.
A stitched up yet with still some exposed fluff pillow was offered to both Yuki and Michiru. They sat in the center and took in their surroundings. The Bears sat around them with barely 1 foot of space between them. Their injured teammate laid on the bed pressed against the wall just right behind the teammate to Yuki's immediate right.
"Wow, it really is small in here," Michiru mumbled.
Jackie grabbed a teapot from beside a filled kiddie pool and bucket pouring two cups of water. "Our water supply has been cut, so I got water from the park. Here," She explained placing the cups down in front of them and pushed her head low to the ground. Then, she rolled on the floor sheepishly. "We've got a favor to ask you, Michiru. Would you please become the pitcher for the Bears? Please, please, pleeeease!" She begged loudly and desperately slamming her head hard into the ground with every plea.
The rest of the group followed suit, chanting, "Please?" and slamming their heads! The building shook, little bits of rock started to fall from the ceiling, and the force pushed Yuki and Michiru in the air with each slam.
"Ah! Hold on a second! Look, I'm not even a bear!" Michiru quickly spoke ushering them to stop.
Jackie only smiled and raised her paw. "That's ok. Being a raccoon is good enough. It's kind of, sort of, like bear, so that works. We Bears don't discriminate."
Michiru frowned at the comparison.
Arai raised her paw, an actual raccoon beastman herself, and had her eyes transfixed on Michiru behind her thick lens, speaking happily, "I was so happy when we won today."
"We've only ever won by default. That's because the other team didn't show," Their panda beastman teammate chuckled.
"With you on our team, Michiru, we could be champions," Jackie added.
The bears stood and started to jump together with clasped hands, chanting, "Champions! Champions!"
Yuki smiled encouragingly at Michiru but it fell at her friend's sad expression. With her ears downturned, eyes no longer able to look at them, she mumbled, "You know, I really can't play baseball. I'm really, really sorry."
The bears had stopped chanting and stared at Michiru with dumbfound shock when she stood and left with Yuki close on her heels. They took one step outside and saw the real damage of the area. Broken metal panels were used as walkways from ceiling to ceiling, aged garbage lining the side of pathways of homes, dark and brown water running through pipes and canals, and the horrible smell of rot in the air. It was all mixed with the tears of the Bears crying behind them.
Michiru clenched her fists, took in a shuddering breath, and groaned, "Okay, fine! I'll play!"
"Yay!" They cheered tears suddenly dry.
She swiftly turned and pointed a demanding finger. "However! You are not allowed to kill anyone!"
"Huh? Why not?" They asked in unison.
"I will play baseball, but I'm not going to kill!" Michiru huffed and turned away with the cross of her arms.
"Can we just injure them really badly?"
"No way."
"Sprain their fingers?"
"No way."
"Cutting their toenails too far?"
"Give them a wedgie?"
"No way, no way, no way! When I say no, it means no!" Michiru exploded completely exasperated. Yuki only smiled in nervousness but also excitement. She had been stuck in Anima-City with almost nothing to do, even though Shirou had loosened the reins just the tiniest bit. The baseball games is what she needed to rejuvenate herself.
On the way back to headquarters, Michiru regarded Yuki with a sheepish yet sad look. "Hey, Yuki, I'm sorry your birthday didn't go as planned. I didn't expect to get roped up into a baseball game, and into a baseball team for that matter. I should've just listened and asked what you wanted to do."
Yuki only smiled and shook her head. "It was a good birthday. I was able to hang out with my best friend and watch her play once more, even if it wasn't basketball. It sort of felt like old times. It was more than I could ask for."
Michiru slung an arm over her shoulders and gave her a thumbs up along with a wink. "I swear to throw you the best birthday party when all of this baseball mess is over with!"
The next game were against the Buffalo team. They and the Bears stood off to greet each other in the center of the field. Yuki watched from the near-desolate stands far away from the initial address. Though, even from where she sat, the Buffalo's were not one to laugh at. They completely towered over and overpowered the entire Bear team just by size and muscle alone. Their stern and unforgiving gazes penetrated those of the fear and anxious stares of the frightened Bears, and surprisingly frightened Michiru.
Though, when the game began, Yuki quirked an eyebrow at the first pitch the Buffalo pitcher made. It was really slow, enough to the point where the bear batter was able to easily hit it with a normal swing. He ran to first base as if he were jogging in the park. By the time he placed his foot down on the base, two buffalo's had trampled over each other trying to catch the bouncing ball across the dirt.
The coach strangely signed for the next batter to play a bunt. The Buffalo's had caught on and all moved infield to prevent another runner. Yuki was sure the batter would hit it hard enough for 2 bases, but he did it anyway! The ball was easily caught and the batter tackled before he could move halfway.
A new batter went up next. Then, there was another bunt sign. Another bunt hit. Another excruciating tackle. Another disappointing out.
Up next was Michiru's turn and, no surprise, the coach signaled for a bunt hit. The Buffalo's, once again, moved very close infield almost intimidating Michiru. Though, instead, at the slow pitch, her arms bulked massively with the arms of a gorilla and swung as hard as she could! The ball shot across the sky like a shooting star, the Buffalo's desperately clambering and running after its disappearance, and she took off down toward first base! That was not all! Her legs transformed from that of a tanuki to that of a cheetah! Even though the Buffalo's fumbled with the ball, Michiru had to outpace its speed toward last base!
She slid and covered herself in a mushroom cloud of debris as the ball finally landed in the umpire's hand. As the clouds parted, it showed her hand touching the base! The Bears won 8-7!
At night, on the other side of the city, Shirou had begun investigating the baseball gambling. His first lead was the Bears coach. He followed him to a pizza shop and waited outside until "business" was done. Apparently, that "business" was making sure the Bears lost their match, but they had won instead, making the mafia lose tons in profit. The coach exited looking bruised and beaten to hell. Shirou initially asked the coach if he would testify against the Family, but the coach declined. He believed gambling was the only way beastmen would survive in the world.
Yuki had been there that morning before the game when Michiru was removed from her spot as pitcher and instead placed at right field. Pitcher was subsequently taken by Arai. Everyone on the team knew Michiru was their ace, the card up their sleeve, at winning the games but for some reason the coach switched her! Yuki knew he had problems, with him drinking more than a pack of beer cans almost every hour of the day, but she didn't realize it would mess him up that badly.
The next game... were against the Tigers. And unlike the Buffalo's, they knew what they were doing.
Poor Arai was trembling violently from her pitcher base staring at the snarling tiger batting just directly ahead of her. He kept his glare and widespread growl on his face. He even roared in her face! She screamed pitifully, dropped low to the ground, and simply tossed the ball in a fit of fright.
It was a hit the tiger managed to hit. They all helplessly watched the ball fly, fly, and continue flying straight over the field and into the sky. It had been a clear home-run... but Michiru chased after it with her cheetah legs!
"Go, Michiru!" Yuki cheered out loud, her voice echoing across the empty stands, watching her friend go faster and faster.
Michiru ran and ran across the entire field! She climbed up the fence, the press box, above the scoreboard, and extended her arm upwards. The ball wasn't even close to her mitt but her arm suddenly elongated itself giving her the ability of catching the ball! The Bears won again with the score of 5-4! They're on their way to the finals!
That night, after a round of celebratory victory with the team, Yuki and Michiru were relaxing in their room. The storage room to be more precise. They had upgraded it since they first moved in. Cleared of all junk, real soft beds placed on either side of the room with each owning their own desk, and a red couch sitting in the very center made it feel cozy and even more at home. Michiru fancied herself on the couch while Yuki laid on her bed reading a magazine.
They paid no mind to the door opening and the figure leaning against the doorway. The sudden presence of Shirou had become a rather normal occurrence, and his glowering as well. Yuki had no doubt he wanted to say something after the team's victory, she had saw him join during the last round.
Arms crossed, glaring straight at Michiru tending to her mitt, he huffed unpleasantly, "Hey, gorilla tanuki. Didn't you promise not to use your power in public? Don't get carried away. What exactly will you do if someone finds out?"
Michiru looked taken back at the heavy threat. "I-I'm not sure..."
"If your power is exposed, you'll be kicked out of this town before you're cured. Not to mention putting Hanamura's life in danger. If the beastmen found out a human was living among them, and the fact she knew about this beastman-itis, you're going to be the reason why if something happens to her," He suddenly added with an angry spat that almost frightened them.
Yuki sat up on her bed, setting aside her magazine, and leveled her eyes with his. "That's enough, Shirou. She gets the point," She had spoken sternly but with soft eyes.
He stared back for a long moment. His blue eyes looked almost like pure icicles ready to snap and stab the ground with that much fire burning inside. She didn't look away but tried as much as she could to still the rage lingering on his face with her gentle expression. It seemed to have worked slightly. He turned away hiding half of his face behind his upturned collar. She could only take a faint breath. Seeing him get worked up over her, from baseball at that, made her anxious at best.
Michiru didn't seem to have noticed his near outburst. She gazed longingly into her mit and sighed, "Bears are so dumb, it's pitiful. But they love baseball so much. I have never met beastmen like that before. When I play baseball with them, I forget about my beastman-itis."
"You think that's okay?" He asked with a slight scoff.
"No, not really," She had answered but her smile never faded from her lips. "But for the first time since I came here... In fact, since I got beastman-itis, I feel happy."
Shirou only grunted in return but his eyes still held lingering suspicion and doubt underneath.
The evening of the championships finally arrived. Yuki was granted premium access to sit and watch the game from the dugout. Her eyes went wide from the bright lights beaming down heavily on the crisp clean diamond shaped field. The fake grass immaculately clipped and smooth as ice. The stands, which she had gone used to seeing completely deserted, filled with what seemed like hundreds upon hundreds of energetic fans. More flashes of bright lights bobbed and weaved from the darkened yet bodied bleachers. Her eyes lingered on the giant electronic screen at the side of the field acting as both an announcement and scoreboard.
"Hello, all you gambling addicts! The big day is finally here," The announcer screamed into his mic from the press box. "It's the championship game of the Anima-City baseball league. It's the Bears, who used to be idiots but are now the stars of the slums, versus the Killer Animals, whose motto is 'Kill them before they kill you'."
Their looks certainly lived up to their name. They were tall, muscular, and eyes completely white from violent anticipation. Snarls spread wide on their mouths, snouts, and beaks. No mercy could be found in their faces. They even held weapons meant for maim and murder in their grips! What kind of baseball team is this?! Though, among the Bears who trembled at the mere sight of them, only Michiru stood up in the very front and stared them down. They stared maliciously right back but she stayed her ground.
The rabid dog batter giggled maniacally behind his muzzle holding his spiked and cracked ball in his grip. Michiru pitched the ball forward and cracked his baseball bat as he swung! Yuki almost sensed victory but saw both the projectile of the ball and the razor-sharp splinters soar right for Michiru!
"Michiru, watch out!" Yuki screamed jumping from her seat.
Michiru immediately ducked in time for only her yellow cap to be shredded into pieces... and for the panda beastman to get impaled again.
One after the other, the members of the Bears have been beaten, bruised, thrown, and stabbed many times as the Killer Animals scored home-run after home-run. When it was the Bears turn to bat, they were so exhausted none of them managed to hit any of the pitched ball. Strike after strike, they were forced to switch sides again into another hellish beat and many more after that. It had become too painful to watch.
"Hey, coach!" Michiru frantically turned to the seat beside her only to find it empty. "Ah! He's gone!" She screamed before looking to her groaning and sweaty teammates. "What's wrong with all of you? What happened to us?!"
Jackie jumped in her seat and quickly stammered, "H-Huh? Nothing!"
"You're hiding something from me!" Michiru growled staring at the teammates who wouldn't look at her anymore. They all tilted their heads down and averted their eyes from her furious, scrutinizing gaze.
The panda beastman caved in. "It's not like we're hiding that we'll get paid even if we lose."
"You moron!" The teammates screamed clapping all of their hands over his face but it was too late.
Michiru crossed her arms and quirked an eyebrow at Jackie. "Tell me everything," She demanded.
And the bear did. She told them the short story of a couple mafia men venturing into the slums before the game and offering them a sum of money they would never be able to see again in their lives. The condition was to lose the game, and they accepted wholeheartedly without hesitation.
"You mean, you're gonna lose on purpose?!" Michiru screamed angrily at the end.
All of the Bears started to break down in tears and shame. "I don't know if we can win, but it's really easy to lose," Panda beastman sighed.
"Wasn't it your dream to be champions? What changed? Why would you throw that away when it's right here at your fingertips?" Yuki asked with wide eyes and a twinging heart. They only groaned in response.
Michiru shook her head vigorously, scowling, "Dazzled by money, you toss aside your dreams so easily? How stupid can you be?!"
"Yes! We're stupid! We were all born poor, and we'll always be poor! What's wrong with taking money that'll take us out of this hellhole?!" Jackie suddenly snapped with tears and snot running down her face. Yuki and Michiru could only watch with wide eyes at the poor Bears crying in their seats.
They didn't have time to think of anything to say. The stands and bleachers suddenly went into a huge uproar over the loss of money. They screamed and roared about the money from the baseball betting having been stolen. That baseball was useless, boring, and stupid without it. They threw their junk food, soda, and whatever perishables they had onto the diamond field. Because of the uproar, or perhaps the loss of money, the game was going to be postponed.
Yuki watched Michiru approach the field still being littered with various trash. Without saying a word, she threw back her arm, bulked it up to the size of a tank, and pitched it forward.
The sound barrier snapped. The roar of an airplane taking off boomed across the stadium. The screams of beastmen immediately silenced. A large ball-shaped dent was embedded into the wall in front. It cracked and started to form a small spider-web along its length.
Michiru effortlessly caught the ball sailing back for her and stared hard into the wall. "The game is not over yet!"
She threw it again.
"Are you going to run with your tail between your legs?"
Again.
"Are you that afraid of losing?!"
Again.
"What are you so scared of?!"
And again.
"Isn't baseball in this town about winning or losing, living or dying? Play fair and square! Get out here and play with pride like your life depends on it! You need to fight and live!" She screamed continuously throwing the ball, forming dent after dent, chipping away bit by bit at the once immaculate navy blue wall.
When she threw the ball again, it was unexpectedly caught in a green mitt. Kneeling just behind it was the determined expression of Jackie!
"With one might swing, we'll come from behind and win! We are Bears! The hope of all bears!" The Bears started to sing cheerfully as they walked out from underneath the dugout and back onto the field. Yuki and Michiru smiled and cheered at their renewed attitudes.
Jackie threw the ball back at Michiru and screamed, "We can do it, riiiiight?!"
"Yaaaay!" The Bears screamed enthusiastically and determinedly.
The Killer Animals smirked at their cheerfulness and rejoined the field as well. The hostility and murderous lust never faded from them even as they took up the bat once more. The game was back on better than ever.
As the game progressed, the Bears quickly closing the gap between they and the Killer Animals, Shirou found the coach running through the streets and stopped him in his tracks. He had learned the coach used to be a professional baseball player but was never accepted into the team or the game. Called vile insults and slurs, he was forced to retire after he attacked the opposing team during a live game. After that, he deduced the coach was the one who stole the betting money from the mafia. The coach, beaten and bruised to hell, begged for mercy when Shirou reached into his pocket believing he was going to brandish a gun. Instead, he pulled out a radio and let him listen to the Bears starting to win the game. The coach broke down into tears remembering the times when he was young and naive catching his first home-run baseball during a game as a child. It kick-started his dream and now it was being lived because of the tanuki girl, Michiru.
Yuki had been in awe watching beastmen filling up the stadium even more, and climbing on top of the building itself to watch the game! The underdog story never gets old, apparently in the beastman world too! She was more surprised to see the coach running through the dugout and giving incoherent signs to Michiru as she took up the bat.
"Another sign? But I don't wanna bunt though!" Michiru said cocking her head in confusion. "Swing away? Give it my all? Just do it? I-I don't understand."
The coach huffed and cupped his hands around his mouth, screaming as hard as he could, "Put all your strength into it! The game depends on this! Let's win this thing!"
The game progressed and so did some crafty underdealing. Shirou returned the bag of stolen money to the confused mafia.
His only explanation? "I placed a bet as well. 'Cause I love baseball," He chuckled with a sly smirk.
On the other side of the stadium, Alan Sylvasta of Sylvasta Pharmaceuticals watched from the VIP box. He had eyed Michiru and her transformation powers throughout the game with mischievous interest.
Unfortunately for the Bears, they lost the game 20-21.
But, as they walked off the field, crying and sobbing as they went, the beastmen in the stands cheered loudly for them. They clapped, smiled, and congratulated them. The ending of the championships was bittersweet but the Bears are forever known as the team who didn't commit any murderous attempt on their opponents lives. They may even have changed the trajectory of baseball betting forever in Anima-City. The Bears' coach didn't accept the money he won from the team losing, wanting to change his life and commit to the game instead, and Shirou lied to Mayor Rose about finding no evidence in order to protect him.
It was the next day and Yuki had finally thought she was going to get some peace and quiet.
That was until Michiru dragged her out of bed and into the streets below to go on a shopping spree. She had no idea what she was on about when she enthusiastically spoke of buying new outfits, getting their hair, nails, and make-up done, and going sightseeing around the city. Yuki was forced into a violet dress, her hair elegantly curled down to her waist, and her face was pampered lightly with foundation and blush. She was never a fan of any of those things but she allowed it for the sake of her friend.
By the time they finished and arrived back to headquarters, the sun was already below the horizon and the lights of the building had been completely shut off.
"We should be quiet. I don't want to wake Jem or Melissa up," Yuki whispered to Michiru as she turned the knob of the door.
As soon as it creaked open, Michiru didn't hesitate to reach forward and pop on the lights. As soon as it did, a rush of loud noises hit their ears.
"Happy belated birthday, Yuki!"
Yuki gasped at the voices coming at her. She blinked against the bright lights multiple times before going speechless. She stared wide-eyed at the colorful birthday banner hanging above her head, the entire Bears team, Melissa, and Jem standing with a huge jump from cover with large, bright smiles, confetti littering the floor, balloons attached to chairs and the coach floating delicately in the air, and a large cake reading Happy Birthday sitting in the center of the main table.
She stammered, still in shock, "B-But how-? When did you have time to...?"
Michiru slung an arm over her shoulders, laughing, "Why do you think I had us out shopping the whole day? I swore I'd throw you the best birthday party once the whole baseball mess was finished!"
Yuki smiled tearfully at Michiru. "You didn't have to go into all of this trouble for me. None of you needed to," She giggled adding the last part toward everyone.
"Oh, sweetie, we just wanted you to have a nice birthday. That's all," Melissa said with a smile and the casual dismissive wave of her hand.
Jackie stepped forward and gave her a thumbs up. "Besides, you believed in the Bears from the very beginning. You were our first fan and our official #1 fan. Even if your birthday hadn't passed, we would've done something for both you and Michiru for helping the Bears reach the championships, doesn't matter if we won or not."
Michiru immediately shook her head. "No, no, this night is all about Yuki. No talking about doing something for me," She quickly demanded of them.
Jem held up a gift and said, "Let's open presents. I want to see what everyone got you!"
Yuki, suddenly shy, started opening various birthday gifts from everyone who attended. The gifts ranged from combs to posters, candy, chocolate, a baseball, and a Bears fan shirt.
"Okay, who gave Yuki their baseball?! Fess up, one of you!" Michiru screamed pointing an accusing finger at her teammates.
Yuki only giggled in response and almost turned away to her cake when she noticed a lone present sitting at the far edge of the room. It was a navy blue box wrapped delicately with a sliver of thin silver ribbon, a matching bow resting on top. She curiously moved toward it and hefted it in her hands. YUKI the dangled card read but no gifter name was attached.
She gently unfurled the bow, let the ribbon fall to the ground, and pulled off the top.
A small gasp escaped from her.
"What is it?" Michiru asked popping her head over her shoulder.
Yuki carefully lifted her gift from within and held it up for her to see. "It's an ocarina. Someone got me an ocarina," She spoke breathlessly staring at the beautiful lilac instrument laying in the palm of her hands.
"Oh, that's such a cute gift!" Michiru cooed down at the ceramic object. Then she pondered for a moment with a confused expression. "No one else but you and I knew you played the ocarina. Kind of of a weird coincidence to see one pop out of nowhere just in time for your birthday party. I say it's a trap."
Yuki rolled her eyes and laughed, "No! They must've overheard me talking about it at one point."
"Well, no one is fessing up so I still call it strange," Michiru humphed with the cross of her arms.
"We can play detective later! I'm just eager to hear Yuki play!" Arai squealed taking a seat on the couch.
Yuki blushed heavily seeing everyone zoom for a spot on the couch and the floor around it. They stared at her with bright and eager eyes waiting for her first song.
She nervously cleared her throat and licked her lips. Placing her mouth on the mouthpiece, she blew testing her first note. She was stunned to hear it already in tune and the note completely, and perfectly, clear. Ocarinas with crisp sounds were hard to come by because of how expensive they were.
Confidence flowed through her and she started to blow. The first song she played was one she had taught herself to learn back home, Lost Woods from the Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time game. Its jovial and upbeat tone flowed freely through the air, her spinning all around the room to the beat she felt in her heart, accented by the claps of her happy audience.
Standing on the roof beside the beastman headquarters, under the starry night sky, Shirou could hear the ocarina clearly from the shadows. Hands shoved in the pockets of his coat, he watched the party in full swing. His eyes attentively followed Hanamura playing, smiling, and spinning, the skirt of her dress following her as she went. Her fingers expertly popped up and down, covering and uncovering the holes, producing tunes he thought he'd never hear. The song she played was beautiful and it matched the beauty of the smile gracing her face.
He was all out of cash, but it was okay. Seeing her smile after everything she had been through was worth it. Shirou grinned and continued hearing and watching Hanamura in the shield of darkness.