Chapter 13: Baseball Idiots and battery partners
"Alright, Chris-senpai. We're done for today. You can put your shirt back on", Sora said washing her hands and pulling down her sleeves.
"Thank you, Sora", he gave back calmly, rolled his injured shoulder and got dressed before standing up from the infirmary stretcher. "Isashiki, Sawamura and Miyuki were right to praise you. You're surprisingly good at giving massages. And I can say that since I got a lot of them from many different people lately"
In fact, Sora had given more and more massages to almost every member of the first string and even some of the second string since it had gotten around a lot that her family was running a wellness center and also that she helped with Miyuki's recovery and the pitchers taking care of their shoulders. Especially Furuya used to get a little tense, so Sora had offered her help naturally. The blue haired girl also gave advice on taping, showed her teammates correct stretching and even volunteered to help out with partner exercises occasionally. And additionally, the third years had been dropping by since Sawamura had introduced them to her.
"You've talked to Kaz about me?!"
Well, that was certainly a surprise. The young girl knew that Miyuki was admiring Takigawa because he couldn't beat him as a catcher, but she wouldn't have thought that the two of them would have casual chit-chats about her massaging skills. That somehow really felt out of place.
"Ah, so apparently he didn't tell you. I'm not really surprised. It seems like he didn't tell anyone on the team besides Takashima…"
"…Tell me… what?"
"You know that he had been injured before the fall tournament and still played the whole match? And that he was banned from practice and his duties as the team's captain in consequence so that he could focus on his recovery properly? Kuramochi has been working as the captain's substitute since back then. I think that was even before you've entered Seidou"
"Not that I've heard the story in so much detail, but yeah, I thought something like that. It's pretty obvious that Mochi is leading the team at the moment and that Kaz has to sit out because of his injury", Sora responded, tilting her head in curiosity at the older catcher.
"Well, the team was still having matches at that time before entering the off-season and Miyuki had to watch them from the stands for the first time. It must've had some kind of impact for him, because not much later after our team had lost with Ono as the regular catcher, he suddenly started showing up in the clinic where I'm doing my rehab. Miyuki requested to exercise with me and Takashima approved, so we're working together since that day. I guess he didn't want to miss out on practice too much. Of course, that makes sense and he will have to attend the winter camp as well, so I didn't think much of it, but after I heard that you're helping him with his recovery as well… How should I put it? I guess, there is… something going on in his mind after all"
Sora chuckled and shook her head.
"That's just so… him!"
Takigawa raised an eyebrow at the young girl questioningly.
"Doing stuff secretly so that no one would notice how much he actually cares. Because in fact he really does, even though he always acts like he doesn't for whatever reason. He's fine with being the bad guy and others hating him, but Heaven forbid that someone might want to be his friend or very close to him in any other way. And no one is allowed to know that he works his ass off for the team, although it's pretty obvious that everybody already knows anyway, he still tries to hide it. He's good at upsetting people and pushing them away on purpose and his social skills suck great deal. So much that it's giving me a headache regularly. But I really think that he's a sensitive one somewhere deep down. He just has buried his emotions somewhere beneath all that mischief and sarcasm. Kaz is bad at expressing himself properly, so you have to watch closely to understand. If I didn't know any better, I'd classify him as some weird sort of Tsundere-boy", the blue haired girl explained while she was walking down the hallway with her kind upperclassman.
"You're very observant, I've got to say. I don't think anyone in the team can read Miyuki like that. Even I'm surprised after hearing that much from you", Takigawa gave back with a mixture of concern and astonishment on his face.
"Yeah, I mean Kaz has trust issues and I'm pretty sure that he's been through some nasty stuff in his past, so we're somehow alike, I guess? Not that he would talk with me about whatever happened, I'm just sure that something has happened, but I don't know the background story. Which is kinda frustrating since that evil guy has made me tell him and the majority of the first-string team everything about me and now I've got the feeling, that the whole team has found out about my past. Even you third years know, I mean… c'mon… What's with keeping secrets between teammates?!"
Takigawa chuckled amused and patted Sora's shoulder sympathetically. They came to a halt when they arrived at the bottom of the stairs which led to the third-year level.
"I think in your case it's important for you to recognize that there are people who care about you and who would be there for you if you ever needed them. It helps keeping you grounded and you need a solid basement to build new trust and confidence on it", the calm catcher stated matter-of-factly and gave Sora a small smile.
"Yeah, speaking of which… I'm gonna have my test with Kaz as my battery partner in front of the coach and the rest of the staff tomorrow…" The blue haired girl still cringed inwardly at the thought.
"Oh, even before Christmas and the winter camp? Well, Miyuki has indeed healed properly, so I don't think it'll be a big problem"
"Yeah, it's also gonna be a test run for him since he hasn't caught in a while now. I think they didn't want to throw him right into winter camp before making sure he can handle after all"
Takigawa nodded his head in agreement, but his calm gaze never left Sora's azure blue eyes.
"You're worried"
"Can you blame me?"
"Have some faith. I'm sure you and Miyuki will form a good battery. I'd want to catch for you myself if they let me and if it wasn't for my injury and my retirement"
"Wha-?! Really?!" Sora gaped in utter disbelief, but her kindhearted upperclassman nodded. "And what if you weren't able to catch them? My pitches?"
"Mh, then I'd like to try until I could, I suppose. Or figure something out to make it work some way or the other. It certainly would be interesting to take on that challenge since something similar has never happened to me before", the older catcher reassured her softly.
The young girl sighed and her shoulders dropped. If life just could be so easy. But she still had her masterplan prepared to deceive the coach, so there was still some hope left.
"Maybe you can look forward to some of us third years starting to help out with your practices again. We had a lot of college and future related stuff and conversations with teachers and the coach and also the principal going on lately, but I think for winter camp we'll manage to drop by more often again. And we're gonna keep it up until graduation"
It was truly cute how Takigawa made a serious effort to distract the blue haired girl and to cheer her up a little bit, so she felt like rewarding him with a grateful smile at least.
"Thank you very much, Chris-senpai. I think it'll be a great experience learning from you and seeing some of you in action for the first time. Apart from TV of course"
"Good luck for tomorrow, Sora. It'll work out just fine, believe me"
"Yeah, thanks"
However, the next day when Sora was meeting up with a grinning Miyuki, the young girl just felt horrible.
"Ready?" the catcher teased and she groaned.
"Kill me!"
"Later, maybe…"
"Just… get that shit-eating grin out of your face for God's sake! I'm seriously so not in the mood today…!"
"Ehhh, but I'm glad I'm finally able to catch again…" the brown haired captain pouted playfully and earned a prominent frown on Sora's troubled face.
"You can catch my fist with your face if you keep going on like that!"
"Heh… someone's grumpy today"
"And exactly whose fault is that?!" The blue haired girl glared at her captain meaningfully, but his facial expression was only full of glee and innocence.
"Wanna warm up together?"
"Hell, no!"
Miyuki raised his eyebrows at his soon to be battery partner. The blue head's answer had been deadly serious despite their usual bickering and for the first time the young captain recognized Sora's trembling hands and the flash of worry clouding the bright blue eyes.
"Ah, sorry captain, no offense, but let me have a moment for myself, please. I need to find my focus and I have to concentrate on my own before I pitch to you. But you could do me the favor and talk to coach Kataoka so that he can give us his orders on which kinds of pitches he wants to see from me"
"Sora…"
"Hm?"
The two of them stopped walking shortly before entering the bullpen. Miyuki scratched the back of his head a little uncomfortably. Cheering people up wasn't really his thing, so he struggled to find the right words.
"Uhm…"
"It's alright, Kaz. Just go and do your stretches properly, will you. Can't have our captain getting injured again, right?!"
"Aw, Sora! No need to be so worried 'bout me, I'm completely recovered and full of energy. Also partly thanks to you, by the way"
"If you're not careful you could actually sound like you wanted to praise me, captain", the young girl teased back in a sweet voice.
"Don't get used to it", Miyuki gave back casually.
"Sure as hell not! If you started being nice all of a sudden I'd truly be worried this time!"
"Oi, oi…"
The blue haired girl shot her captain beside her a short glance and took a deep breath to calm her nerves. Everything would be okay! She had her plan. It would work out just fine. Yeah, like Takigawa had assured her.
"Let's go warm up!" she finally breathed out.
"Right, see ya in a few then"
"Ah, captain. Almost forgot. Ask coach which hand he wants me to throw with"
"Huh?!"
Sora suppressed a snort. Miyuki's face was definitely priceless.
"I'm telling you to ask the coach if he wants me to pitch right or left. Do I have to write it down?!"
Honestly, what was with his reaction?
"Wait a sec…" Miyuki held up a hand. "You wanna tell me you're ambidextrous?!"
"Well, yes. Obviously. Otherwise I wouldn't ask you to let the coach choose", the blue head replied flatly, not understanding why her captain was making such a big deal out of it.
"And you tell me now?!"
"Uhm… yeah…?"
The brown haired catcher pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed in exasperation while Sora was still kinda oblivious.
"I mean, better than after our practice, right? Does it make such a big difference for you? Since Eijun is a southpaw and Furuya is a righty, I simply assumed you'd be okay with either way. But if you're more comfortable with it, I can also leave the choice to you. Just tell me if you have a preference"
"That's absolutely not my point here!" the captain clarified, still dumbfounded after Sora's all too casual remark. "I'm absolutely fine with both. I just would've liked to know. Honestly, Sora you have to start telling me such things"
"Can I make a request then?" Sora asked without her teasing tone of voice.
"That's rare for you… What's up now shortly before we have to present your pitches to the coach? Anything else I need to know?"
"No. Just try to make the pitches a little bit more difficult than usual. Believe me if I tell you I can handle", the young girl stated crossing her arms over her chest. "If coach tells you the type of pitch, don't get into the common stance and let me throw something ordinary, bring it up one or maybe two levels of difficulty. I can do that if you let me. I'm just telling you that because we don't have agreed on any signs yet"
"Heh… Interesting enough. Alright, I understand, but don't come back complaining to me later"
"That's my line, remember?!" Sora scoffed, but Miyuki's caramel eyes shone with excitement already.
The two teammates parted ways to do their individual warm-ups and the young captain really went to talk to their head coach before preparing for their little performance. Kataoka seemed pleased with Sora's and Miyuki's mutual decision and decided that he wanted to see the blue head pitch with both hands, first right, then also left, if his students claimed they would be able to do it. Also Takashima appeared to approve, so it was settled.
Miyuki for his part was beyond thrilled and had trouble to mask his exhilaration. Maybe he had missed catching for his baseball idiots a bit more than he would've thought. And Sora dropping the bombshell on him that the blue head was actually ambidextrous was his personal highlight of the day, although he'd rather die than admit it openly.
In the bullpen were also Sawamura, Furuya and Kawakami practicing and Ono, one of their practice catchers and a member of the first string greeted Miyuki as he passed by his fellow second year. The rest of the team was outside, doing some free batting, but since they all knew what was happening, the boys were oh so very coincidentally hanging very closely around the bullpen to be able to notice what was happening inside.
When the brown haired catcher was sure that he had warmed up sufficiently and also that he wasn't just being impatient, he gestured for Sora to come over. The blue haired girl glanced at the coach and the female scout and both gave her a short nod as a sign that it was okay for her to start pitching. It suddenly became very quiet inside of the bullpen as the two battery partners were taking their respective positions across from each other.
"We're gonna start with your right", her catcher informed the young girl and she nodded, picking the correct glove for her left hand. "Coach, if you'd be so kind, please"
Miyuki looked at the head coach and Takashima for their first orders.
Kataoka instructed them to begin with pitching some fastballs right through the middle, to the inside and to the outside to get a feeling for the basics first before starting to throw some more difficult breaking balls and changeups.
The young baseball captain got into position and smirked. He would finally be able to experience what the blue head was truly made of!
Sora readied her pitching stance and inhaled, held her breath for a while and let out the air audibly before relaxing her shoulders and fixating Miyuki. Or rather, his mitt to be precise.
For the catcher it felt like chills going down his spine. Sora's azure blue eyes were crystal clear and highly focused. The sheer concentration was almost visible in the air. The atmosphere was heavy and brimming with a mixture of anticipation, nervousness and determination. It was like the calm before a dangerous storm. Miyuki opened his mitt and his partner nodded. Balls right through the middle weren't very challenging, but they would get a first impression and a feeling for each other which was also important.
However, when the first pitch hit his mitt only a split second later, the captain blinked in silent and well-hidden admiration behind his catcher mask. It hadn't been very strong or fast, but Miyuki had felt the precision behind Sora's throw. Now he was absolutely convinced that the blue head would be able to follow every single one of his calls flawlessly and he as the catcher wouldn't have any trouble to receive the pitches. Oh, how he loved pitchers who could control their throws perfectly! It was such a good feeling and less trouble for him to lead a proper strategy! He let out a relieved and very pleased sigh and threw the ball back to his partner.
"Nice pitch! Give me another one"
And the blue haired girl did. To be fairly honest, it was pretty easy to get used to Miyuki as a catcher when pitching normal balls like that.
When they started to switch to the inside and outside pitches, the young catcher smirked mischievously. As per Sora's earlier request, he certainly would raise the level of difficulty a little bit. Or maybe… more than just a little… After having caught the blue heads fastballs, the brown haired captain was sure his partner would be able to handle more than they had agreed on, so he wanted to go for a challenge. The coach only furrowed his brows at his stance, but didn't say anything and Takashima didn't really react, so Miyuki took it as approval.
Sora on the other hand sweat dropped and rolled her cerulean eyes mockingly. She could almost think it was funny how her battery partner seriously assumed this would be some sort of a challenge for her, but she tried not to make it all too obvious in order not to blow her own cover. Miyuki was observant enough to notice something like that immediately and since he didn't know how her most extreme pitches could actually look like, Sora definitely wanted to make sure to just keep it at that. So, she just showed the arrogant catcher that she was able to keep up with his stupid attempts to provoke her quite effortlessly, much to his delight.
Meanwhile the other pitchers and catchers in the bullpen had stopped practicing and watched the duo as they advanced to performing some breaking balls and changeups ordered by the coach. Kataoka looked pleased and Sora managed to pitch every ball exactly as instructed.
However, Takashima began furrowing her brows since this was not what she had seen the day she had scouted the blue haired girl and also Miyuki was slightly confused because he wondered why his partner had made such a fuss about not being able to form a proper battery with a catcher when everything was going so smoothly. Even his more difficult positions had been a great success, so he couldn't really understand the problem of the blue head.
Even the rest of the first string was assembling curiously around the entrance and other openings of the bullpen to peek through and observe Sora's first pitcher test. They all wanted to know if their Seidou baseball team would get a fourth pitcher in their ensemble during winter break and beyond.
Not one of the currently present people in and around the bullpen would've expected what happened right after Sora had been ordered to switch to her left hand for pitching though…
An utterly pissed off Sawamura stomped over to his captain who was still crouching, pulled him to his feet holding onto Miyuki's protective gear and shoved him out of the way rather rudely. Positioning himself on the catcher's spot instead, the young southpaw put his hands on his hips and glared at Sora with his usually friendly hazel eyes. Everyone else watching the scene could only gape at the brown haired pitcher in shock and disbelief. Even the coach and Takashima only stood rigid and widened their eyes. Had the young boy lost every single bit of his mind? Or did he have a death wish to act like that right in front of the head coach and the female scout?
"Oi Sora, what the fuck do ya think you're doin' here?" Sawamura questioned deadly serious making his stunned captain regain consciousness after his confusion. "Haven't seen somethin' so half-assed the rest of my life. Doesn't suit ya at all that crappy act, even if it's to save Cap's reputation in front of the boss!"
Kuramochi wanted to intervene quickly and give the dumb hot head a proper beating for his impudence to interrupt such an important event when the whole team and the coach were being present, but a suspicious Miyuki stopped him before the green haired shortstop could act. The captain certainly wanted to hear what Sawamura had to say. It was just getting interesting. What was that about saving his reputation?! He remembered hearing something like that back then when the young catcher and his vice-captain had been eavesdropping on a conversation between Sora and Sawamura. Miyuki just knew it might've been a little bit too convenient for him up until now.
"Eijun!" Sora hissed with a fearful glance at the head coach. "Have you gone insane? What are you thinking?! Or rather, are you even thinking at all? Get out of the way and apologize to coach Kataoka if you want to live on!"
But the brown haired pitcher only waved his hand.
"I'm gonna apologize to the boss later, he'll understand", he stated with total conviction causing said coach to raise his eyebrows at his relief pitcher. "You're gonna play catch with me now. Get ready!"
"Wha-?! Are you nuts?! No! Like hell I'm gonna do that now! Just how stupid are you?!"
Sora was more than beside herself. What in the ever-loving hell was going on with her friend?!
"Tch. Says you!" Sawamura countered equally furious. "Who's playing goody-two-shoes here? Pisses me off! You can do much more than you're showing and that during your debut as pitcher in front of the boss. Only because you're scared of causing trouble for anyone. That is stupid if you ask me! Not gonna have that, so throw your goddamn killer pitch!"
"Literally no one here asked for your personal opinion, Eijun, so get lost already!"
"Yeah, try to make me if you dare"
The brown haired pitcher crouched, not wearing any protectors at all and positioned his mitt as he remembered from the last time he had caught Sora's freak ball how she always called it. Miyuki's caramel eyes widened in shock.
"Oi, oi, what is that Bakamura doing?!" Kuramochi beside the captain wondered, but he only shook his head.
What kind of crazy angle was that?! And why would Sawamura of all people know how to use it?!
"What now? You're gonna throw or wanna take roots over there?!"
"Eijun, I swear…!"
Sora's teammates held their breaths as the blue haired girl narrowed her icy cold, blue eyes at the young southpaw and he glared back equally deadly serious, hazel eyes turning into dangerous amber. Two auras of two very pissed pitchers were colliding in the Seidou bullpen, giving everyone witnessing the scene chills to no ends. However, Takashima only smirked, secretly appreciating Sawamura's little outburst.
Sora got ready into pitching position. She really wanted to make this stupid dork regret his actions. Maybe smacking him right in the face would be a proper punishment?!
"You know what that pitch does?"
"How could I ever forget?!"
"Maybe I forget to make it break today"
Sawamura's wide grin showed too many teeth. It almost looked like baring his fangs.
"Snipe me, Sora! Assassinate my mitt! Show the guys what kind of a sick sharpshooter you actually are!"
"Don't you dare move without any gear!"
"No need to wear any if it's you and no batter's around! Cap just doesn't know that yet"
Sora sighed and continued her glaring contest with her brown haired stubborn friend.
"How nice of you to show him then…"
"I know, right. Better be grateful!"
"Oh, shut up!"
"As I said, make me!"
Furuya and Kawakami exchanged a glance with each other, but both boys were kind of lost despite being pitchers as well. What were the other two even arguing about? And why was Sawamura of all people volunteering to catch for another pitcher?!
The answer came only a short moment later when Sora threw her fastball directly at Sawamura's face. Almost everyone winced and gasped for air right before the ball broke like crazy and landed spot on in the brown haired boy's mitt. The young southpaw hadn't moved an inch and the bangs covering his forehead swirled slightly just like last time.
Takashima nodded her head in satisfaction and pushed up her glasses while her students were completely paralyzed. Most of them just had their jaws dropped to the floor with enlarged, incredulous eyes.
"This is the pitch I wanted to show you. I've seen it on the day I scouted Aoki-kun", she simply commented looking at the coach.
Kataoka nodded seriously as if being completely unaffected.
"I see. That makes sense"
"Holy fuck!" Kuramochi was the first one to break the silence.
"Yeah, you can say that again!" Miyuki agreed as if waking up from a dream.
"Great! Now make it one-bounce" Sawamura ordered lightheartedly, throwing the ball back to the blue head completely unimpressed.
"Would you stop ordering me around already!" Sora yelled in utter annoyance, but nevertheless complied and did what the young southpaw had asked of her.
"Nice pitch, Sora!"
"You've gotta be kidding me…!" the captain muttered, still staring at the two pitchers.
"Hyaha! Seems like you've got an interesting new toy. Good for ya, huh Miyuki?"
"Oh, you've got no idea…"
The young catcher's smirk grew malicious as always as he regained his usual attitude and composure. His vice-captain only raised an eyebrow at him.
"Do I even want to know?"
"Nope"
"Uh-huh figures. Creeps me out dude. You're hidden intentions are leaking"
"Such evil accusations hurt me, Kuramochi", Miyuki deadpanned.
"Hyaha! Serves you right!"
The rest of the first-string team broke out in loud cheers for the blue haired girl and Sawamura belatedly and excited discussions and babbling could be heard from outside of the bullpen.
With that kind of a performance everybody knew that it was already settled that the Seidou team would get a new pitcher soon enough.