Chapter 4
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction, the characters go with their respective creators of diamond no ace and I do not claim ownership of the characters or the world. English is not my first language so I do apologize for spelling/grammatical errors, Thank you! P.S apologize in advance if some of the characters move out of their characteristic traits.
Sawamura took a deep sigh as he lay on the floor reading a book he barely understood. "Ughhhh.. I don't get it" Eijun complained as he flipped the book on another page, but still could not really understand what he was reading. He slowly put the book down on his side as he sat up and looked around. Tohru's children were outside playing with the nanny, while the baby was with sister Nina inside the kitchen. He tapped his head on top of the coffee table he had occupied when he started studying. He had been skipping school for six days straight now, and he had never thought he would actually miss going back to the four walls of a classroom with a lot of people. As he looked on his side, he noticed his phone, with a black screen, indicating it was turned off. Eijun decided to turn his phone off six days ago in order to remove distractions. I wonder if they have messages for me… Eijun thought sadly as he recalled the events that happened after the win from Inashiro. Well… perhaps the coach made up some stupid excuse… I don't really care anymore… he decided as he pulled up the book he dropped on his side and tried to read again, but with no avail. I don't really get it… he complained to himself again, as he tapped his head on the table again, at the same time remembered what his grandfather and childhood friend said when he first came to stay with his BJ's partner's family.
"Huh… what do you mean you are being dropped from the Koshien lineup?" Wakana asked in uttered disbelief.
"Can they even do that?" His father followed as he looked at Eijun eagerly.
"Huh… ahmmm" Eijun said in between finding words that could easily explain his situation to his family and his friends.
"I am guessing despite being the summer ace, they think you performed a bit short?" Eijun's grandfather informed in a serious tone, making Eijun sweat in nervousness.
"It is nothing like that Gramps, it's more like something else…" Eijun answered cheerfully, trying to ease the tension on the old man's posture.
"Something else on my foot… Imma go to those people and give them a piece of my mind…" As Eitoku stood up at the same time pulling up his sleeves as if he was going on a brawl.
"I agree with you father…" Eijun's father seconded as he also stood up, while Eijun grabbed his grandfather's waist, in an attempt to ease the old man.
"Look… it is nothing really like that…" Eijun attempts to explain, but to no avail.
"Nina do you have a stick or bat I can borrow somewhere?" Eijun's father asked as he moves towards the entryway.
"NOoooo… wait…. Hear me out!" Eijun was desperate while his grandfather was trying to pry him off his waist.
"Eijun let go… imma talk to those people…"he added.
Wakana sigh as she watches the chaos unfold in front of her. She wondered how Eijun's mother could keep these hard headed men in check, making her sigh again. "Ahm… I think it is more on Ei chans injury than his performance…" she started, making both Eijun's father and grandfather stand still and look at Wakana.
"Huh… what do you mean Wakana?" Eitoku asked curiously, while Eijun also turned to her looking surprised.
Wakana exhaled deeply, as she looked at the three men seriously, "well, if you look at it in a clear view, Eijun is injured right now" as she points out Eijun's pitching hand all wrapped up. "They did say it would heal after five days, but what if just in case it would not?" she asked, earning shocked reactions.
"WHAT?"
"HEY NOW, EIJUN… HOW BAD IS YOUR INJURY?"
"Wait wait… Wakana… It is not a bad injury…" Eijun tried to defend himself but was cut off by Wakana again.
"I only said What if…" Wakana explained calmly, making the three men look at each other. "So they are also looking into Eijun's future… It is bad to assume that they are being selfish if we don't really know the whole picture. Plus miss Tohru, and miss Harashi are all here to support Eijun… so I am sure it is not something serious…" as Wakana turned to look at Nina who was just standing in the sides watching them while smiling and looking at her meaningfully.
"Ahhh… I guess you're right…" Eitoku answered as he decided to sit back down.
"Well that is true…" Eijun's father seconded as he also sat back down.
Eijun watched as both older men backed down and sat comfortably back to their places. He turned to look at Wakana and silently uttered 'Thank you' while bowing for a bit, then turning back to his grandfather, as he started pouring sake to the old man. He failed to notice the slight blush the young woman had as his back was on her.
"I really do wonder why you are so good at pitching sequences and yet find this hard to understand" as Nina took the book Eijun that was put beside his head and was looking at as if it would grow a head.
"Sister Nina…" Eijun greeted cheerfully, as he turn to look around where the baby was, and noticed that the nanny was already holding him. "Owhhh… I thought I could get baby duty for a bit?" he asked, trying to find a way to escape a lecture at the same time not bothering to answer her question
"Hmmmm… how about something else…" Nina smiled as she closed the book, making Eijun look up at her expectantly. "Don't give me that look…" making her giggle and shake her head.
"Huh… what look?" Eijun asked as he seemed to be like a puppy waiting for a new toy or a threat to be thrown on his way, making Nina laugh.
"Go get your gears, I need to get some stuff in Hero's apartment, you can go play catch on the bullpen for a while," Nina informs, as Eijun immediately stood up and ran towards the guest room. Nina smiled watching Eijun's back, then she looked around at the scattered notes and books. I had already made adjustments with the lessons, I wonder if… but her thoughts was suddenly cut off, when Eijun burst inside the living room, carrying his Seido bag fully dressed in his practice uniform.
"Im ready!" Eijun called, making Nina laugh, as she drop the book she was holding, and walked towards the entryway Eijun followed not far behind.
"Miyuki… what do you plan to do with Sawamura?" Kuramochi asked, as he was waiting for his turn behind Miyuki at the batting cage.
"I don't know what you mean…" Miyuki answered nonchalantly as he nodded once to Tojou who was practicing his pitching, indicating he was ready for the pitch.
"Pshhhh… don't give me that…" Kuramochi was annoyed, at the same time he saw Tojou throw a fastball towards Miyuki, where the Seido captain easily hit the pitch sending it towards the outfielders. "You might fool others, but not me…" he said as he put on his helmet at the same time move towards the batting cage where Miyuki stepped aside.
"Nice pitch Tojou" Miyuki called out, where the latter nodding once but seems displeased with the hit Miyuki move out of his position as Kuramochi was about to step in, "I was planning to drag him back, but Rei chan said they would handle it" Miyuki informed when Kuramochi passed by him.
"And… that's it? You just gonna wait?" Kuramochi asked again, as he tries to swing a few times.
Miyuki sighs, as he watches the other players doing their fielding practice. "I don't know yet, but if nothing happens in three days, I know where he is, so I can just go and drag him back…" he finally said, making Kuramochi smile, at the same time hitting the thrown pitch sending it far back the right side of the field.
"Tell me when you will go… I will help you drag him back" at the same time Kuramochi turning to look at Miyuki where both seniors grin evilly.
Tojou watched his two seniors as he took in deep breaths. He could barely hear out what their Seido captain was talking about, but he could pretty much guess it was involving a certain pitcher whose absence seem to be felt by the whole team. I wonder what they plan to do, I need to ask Shinji or Haruichi later for any updates. He thought at the same time he heard Kuramochi calling out to him asking for another pitch. "Tojou send me your best pitch!" making him sigh deeply, "Understood…" he answered as he fixed his footing.
"Whoa… they are here!" Eijun exclaimed as he noticed the regular players of BJ was on the field, while the others where either in the batting cage or the bullpen.
"Mhmm, I heard they are preparing for the playoffs, why don't you go say hi, while I go grab something. I might take a while, so you can take your time catching up with the others" Nina informs as she smiled at Eijun who was beaming with joy, as the young pitcher ran towards the dug out where he noticed their BJ captain was talking to a few players.
"Captain!" Eijun called out as he was carrying his bag moving towards the BJ dugout.
A few players turned towards the direction of the loud voice, "Well well… look at what the cat drag in…" Asano cheered as he immediately put his arms around the young pitcher.
"Sawamura… took your sweet time to actually come visit us.." Haneki complained the moment that Eijun got close.
"Hehehehehe… was a bit busy…" Eijun answered grinning, then he noticed not far and standing close to the BJ captain was Tadano, who seems to be looking away. Itsuki… what are you doing here. Eijun thought excitedly, seemingly to forget the argument rhey had after the west Tokyo finals.
"Itsuki…" Eijun whispered, he was about to greet the Inashiro catcher, when he heard his captain speak to him.
"How is the hand Sawamura? Did Dr. Naofumi gave you the all green?" Daiki asked as he noticed that Sawamura's hands were no longer bandaged, and he was carrying his baseball bag.
"Yep!" Eijun answered as he raised his pitching hand, "He said I can also start pitching in order to get my sensation back!"
"Nice…" Asano cheered while the other BJ players also seems happy with the news.
Though Eijun was happy with the greetings, he still noticed Tadano not looking at his direction and seemed to be completely ignoring him. He was about to call his attention again, when he noticed a new person in the dugout carrying a bat. He seems to be young, close to their age, or a bit older he was not sure, but he could sense that something was different from the new person, especially with the confidence and defiant look he was giving him. Who is he… he thought as he watched him walk out the dugout towards his direction.
"Then is it ok if we try out the future center line of BJ" the new kid asked looking at Sawamura seemingly belittling the future BJ ace.
Eijun noticed the other players grinning and sighing, while the others looked at their BJ captain as if they were expecting him to step in. "Give it a rest, brat… Sawamura is just out from injury… the last thing we need is for him to be injured again" Haneki informed the newcomer.
"True… unlike you, Sawamura does not need to prove anything" Maki added as he seems to be also annoyed at the new kid.
"Owhhh common Maki senpai… I am not just talking about him, I am talking about the future center line of BJ, that includes the catcher right" as the new kid points towards Tadano while Itsuki looked at the new player, seemingly void of any expression. "They will be the future ace and catcher of BJ right, I have yet to see what they are really capable off"
"This damn brat" Maki was about to hit the new kid but Towa stopped him.
"I don't see any problem with that…" Daiki interjected, as he could sense the tension rising up. The moment he spoke those words, the players surrounding them looked at Daiki like he grew another head.
"Owhhh common Daiki, give it a rest will you…" Asano complained, while the new kid seemed to be overjoyed by the news. "See the captain said its ok…" he cheered as he looked at Sawamura excitedly, making Eijun feel chills run down his back.
"You good to go right, Sawamura?" Daiki asked again, looking at Eijun expectantly.
Eijun nod absently "sure thing cap…" Eijun answered looking at Tadano who seems to be still ignoring him.
"What about you Tadano?" Daiki asked looking at Itsuki.
"Whatever…" Tadano curtly answered as he picked up his catching mask, and walk towards the field catching position. Everyone watched Itsuki walked away as they all sigh in defeat. They have known that there was a certain tension between Eijun and Tadano after the Tokyo qualifier, especially when they found out from Tadano himself that he and Eijun had a certain disagreement after the game. The new kid on another hand seems excited as he walks off following Tadano stepping in the batters box.
Eijun looked a bit sad as he watched his BJ partner walk away. "I'm gonna get in gear…" he answered as he stepped into the dugout to drop his bag, and pull out his pitching gears.
"This is a bad idea Daiki…" Sagato informed as he got close to the BJ captain.
"Hey… I thought you were in the bullpen" Daiki informed, seemingly not aware of the tension.
"Give me a break, I heard Sawamura so I came out, but what are you doing with those two, especially with their situation." Sagato asked as he looked at Tadano worriedly.
"I agree Daiki, Tohru is not here, he is with the coach and Miro at the moment. If somethings happens with those two it will be on you" Asano added.
"Just relax guys… those two will be fine…" Daiki answered calmly.
"Miro would kill you if that brat's head gets any bigger than it is right now…" Maki informed, seeming unimpressed and indicating the newcomer as he watched from the sidelines.
Eijun heard a few comments from his BJ team as he quietly walked towards the centerfield. So they knew about me and Itsuki's issues huh, I totally forgot about it… Eijun then look at the new guy who seem to be talking to Itsuki comfortably, making him also feel conflictd for some reason. Anyway who is that guy … Eijun thought as he fixed his foot on the mound. "I'm ready!" Eijun called out as he looked at Itsuki in his catching position.
"Let us do a bit of warm up…" Itsuki asked as he seem to be bored crouching down in his catching position. "Just give me ten fastballs…" he added.
Eijun nodded once as if agreeing as he threw a few fastballs towards Itsuki. Crap… is he still really mad at me? Eijun was on that thought as the ball went back and forth between the two.
"Well at least they are talking…" Towa said while also watching in the sidelines while a few BJ players look at him in disbelief.
"If they don't get their act together, the batter will eat them both alive you know…" Asano said while looking at Daiki accusingly.
"Owhhh give it a rest man… they would be fine… they are the future of BJ afterall" Daiki answered ignoring the dagger glares given by his teammates.
"This is why Miro should always be around you…" Masato, BJ's assistant coach said as he stood beside Daiki.
"Ok I think I'm good!" Eijun called out as he rotates his pitching hand shoulder.
"About damn time… I was getting bored staying still" the batter complained as he step in the batter's box.
Eijun wrinkled his forehead the moment he heard the batter comment. What the hell is the deal with him… He noticed Itsuki just sighing not even responding to the batter as he crouched down in his catching position, and watched him position his mitt in the outside upper right portion of the plate. Eijun notices the new guy grinning while in his batting position as if provoking him. He did not give a sign… is he asking for a fastball in the upper right? Eijun thought as he only saw Itsuki positioning his mitt, not giving any signs at all. He took a deep breath in, fix his grip, and raised his knee in a pitching form, and threw his fastball targeting the outside upper right portion of the field, but as the ball sailed he heard a bat cleanly hitting his pitch, sending it out the outer field. Owhhhh… this guy has power… he reminds me of Yakushu's Raichi… Eijun thought as he looked at the batter seemingly unimpressed with the pitch.
"Is that it?" he asked as if taunting Sawamura.
Eijun felt his hair rising at his back as if like a cat provoked. He grip the baseball, sensing the familiar sensation of the ball. "Pshhh… let's do this Itsuki!" he called out, but he still noticed Itsuki not seemingly bothered, and just positioned his mitt, not giving any signs yet again. Eijun still threw fastballs following every position that Itsuki placed his mitt, but still got hit easily out the field, he knew that he and Itsuki need to talk especially with Itsuki's game calling, but he trust him, and he knows that if he just hold on, Itsuki would come around. Eijun was already starting to sweat, but he did not bend with his fastballs, still following Itsuki's mitt positioning.
"How many pitches was that?" Maki asked as he looked troubled watching Sawamura struggling with his pitches.
"I think it was his ninth pitch," Towa answered at the same time a loud 'CLANK' sound indicating a ball and bat hitting cleanly was heard. "That was his tenth pitch" Towa added.
"Damn it… what is he doing…" Maki complained.
"Maki… Don't you dare… let them be…" Daiki ordered as he noticed his teammate being agitated.
"How long are we going to watch this… it's hurting my eyes you know…" Asano complained, but Daiki did not answer.
"This is really lame…" the batter complained after hitting Sawamura's tenth fastball and sending it out towards the field.
"Huh! What? You tired now! I can do this all day!" Eijun was agitated but he was not backing down looking at the batter.
"Hey look man, it's not you… You seem to have interesting fastballs, it is just that… your game is so predictable" the batter informs, making Itsuki flinch. "If this is the center line of BJ in the future, then I guess we wont be able to win any title at all…"
"Huh… what do you mean… plus we are just warming up right Itsuki!" Eijun said making the batter sigh.
"Please give me a break… Towa senpai… why don't you just change with this guy?" the batter utter aloud seemingly pointing towards Itsuki with his bat, making the other players freeze especially Eijun.
"What do you mean…" Eijun asked quietly.
"This guy is lame senpai… I really want to hit his real pitches… not just lame fastballs, just change with him already…" the batter complained again, not noticing Sawamura's sudden change in demeanor, however Itsuki noticed it as he looked at Sawamura worriedly.
"Ahm… hey I think you should watch what you say…" Tadano inform to appease the situation, but it seem to escalate it more.
"Huh… what… Look man… you are lame…" as the batter seem to shrug off Tadano's advice and look out towards the BJ regular players, "common Towa senpai… just change with him already!"
Towa smiled meaningfully, shaking his head, "sorry brat… you asked for this…" he answered.
"Owhhh common senpai… this catcher is lame…" he inform not noticing Sawamura walking towards him and was actually about to grab him, but Tadano was much faster rushing towards Eijun and holding him, away from the batter. "Huh… what's your problem man?"
"Eijun stop… relax…he does not really mean it… it's just his personality" Itsuki tries to console Sawamura who seems to be pissed off.
"Look here… I don't know who you are! But don't you dare say bad things about my friends… You don't know anything about Itsuki and how we do our battery…" Eijun yells out as he struggles from Tadano's hold, "Itsuki let me go… let me grab that guy and strangle him… You don't know crap, how hard he catch and train a lot, I don't care what you say about my pitches, but don't you dare say my partner is lame… let me go Itsuki!"
"Eijun… relax… he does not really mean it… I swear…" as Tadano try to reason to Eijun again.
While the batter looks at them seemingly bored. "What's his problem… I just say things that I really see…"
Tadano sigh again, "Will you please stop trying to agitate him more Miro san… You are not helping one bit…" he complained, making Eijun stop from struggling and look at Tadano bewildered.
"Wait… why did you call him Miro? And you know him?" Eijun asked surprised.
Tadano sigh again, turning to look at their captain who seems to be enjoying the show, "Yes… he had been hanging out around BJ for a while, and if you just calm down, I can explain everything…" at the same time Tadano push Eijun back towards the mound.
Eijun does not seem convinced as he lets himself be pushed by Itsuki. The moment he got back on top of the mound, he put up his mitt to hide his mouth, "What the hell is going on Itsuki? Who the hell is that guy anyways…"
"Eijun, you need to relax, he is not really a bad guy or anything related to it. Believe me, he's much better than captain Daiki" Itsuki explained, yet he could notice Eijun's face of disbelief. "Ahm… look the way he talk may seem crass, but it's just because he is not used to our culture yet" Itsuki started, "First off, his name is Miro Kiseki, Miro senpai's cousin, their father are siblings and he plays with Komadai Fujimaki Kōkō"
"Huh… wait he plays with Komadai… the Komadai? But wait I never met him, this is the first time i saw him too, and his Miro senpai's cousin? They don't act alike…" Eijun looks bewildered as he turn at the batter, seeming bored.
"I heard he got called up for a try out in the minor league in the US just recently, that is why he did not join the Koshien games. He just got back… and he has been staying here for a while before going back to Hokkaido. Eijun, don't get offended by him ok, his mother is American, and he mostly grew up in the US before moving here in Japan in his middle school." Itsuki explained, as he also notice Eijun seeming to have calm down now.
"Fine… you seem to know him a lot… but he still said our battery was lame… what the hell is that about" Eijun still complained as he glare at the batter which seem to be waiting for them in the batter box.
"Ahhh about that…" Itsuki smiled as he remembered Eijun getting mad for him. "Actually that is more on me than on you, he knew about our situation, so I guess he just wanted to help out in his own way…" Itsuki slightly laughed but cut short when he noticed Eijun still looked pissed. "But anyways… don't get mad ok… his just like that…"
"Fine… what is about our situation anyways?... we both are in good shape, I feel great despite being out of injury, you seem to be in good condition too… so what's the deal?" Eijun asked.
"Ehhh… I mean our…" but as Itsuki looked at Eijun with his bright golden eyes looking back at him questioningly, he smiled instead while shaking his head, of course… typical Eijun… his optimism and his demeanor… "nothing… never mind then… I guess we are good then and can go all serious? This time I won't be holding back?" as he looked at Eijun and could feel his adrenaline kicking in.
"Huh… I am always serious with baseball… what's the big deal anyways… we can just easily strike him out…" Eijun answered while grinning.
"Yeah yeah… make sure to put the ball where I asked ok…" as Itsuki started to walk away back towards his catching position.
"I always put the ball where your mitt is!" Eijun called out, as he picked up the resin bag.
"Owhhh… you done? Are we going for round two?" Sota asked Itsuki the moment he got back from the mound and crouched back down in his position.
"Yeah… be careful Sota… his way is different when he's serious, I hope you are ready for it" Itsuki smiled while pulling down his catching mask.
"Owhhh… interesting" Sota smiled as he then positioned himself for his batting stance. He put up his bat, and looked at Sawamura, then all of a sudden, he could sense pressure, as the bright golden eyes were looking back at him intensely.
