"Are you sure you have everything?"
Makoto sighed, as he turned to his mother. He finally made it to the Seido dormitory after a long flight, and an even longer bus ride.
"Yes mother, I double checked the bags before we left London. This should be everything." Despite the earlier sigh, he gave her an endearing smile. What felt like a pain of having his mother making sure he was already ready and prepared, would be something he'd miss being away from home.
"Okay, you know I worry." I hugged her goodbye, before I began to walk towards the dormitory, when my mother stopped me. "You know he would've been so proud of you."
Makoto didn't know how to respond to those words, since returning from London, he hadn't thought much about his father. Nonetheless, he was following in his footsteps and playing baseball, in the exact same region of West Tokyo he did.
"Yeah, he would've..." Makoto didn't turn to face his mother, but instead continued walking. As much as he wanted to turn around, he didn't have the heart in that moment. He shook his head and shifted his focus. He was already behind on joining the team, considering he missed the Summer tournament due to having to return to London, and after catching up on all his classes, he was able to return for Mid August, just in time for training for the Fall Tournament.
He opened his phone, and checked his room assignments. "Let's see...I should be in Room.6 with Tojo-Senpai and Seki-Senpai." He mumbled to himself, as he began to navigate the dormitories. It was relatively late in the evening, so he was doing his best to remain quiet and not disturb anyway when he finally found it.
He took a deep breath, whilst delayed, this would be the official beginning of his High School Baseball career.
"Wish me luck Dad." He whispered to himself, as he opened the door. He was met with two boys, laughing to themselves as they turned to look at him.
"Um hello." He waved awkwardly.
"Ah, you must be Blaze-chan." Tojo said.
"He's late, see, see!" Seki added.
"Yeah, apologies, due to family problems I wasn't able to arrive until now, I saw you won the Summer Tournament though!" He added.
"Yeah, I wasn't on the roster, but Tojo was the starting center fielder at Koushien!" Seki chuckled.
"No, no, you applaud me too much Seki-Senpai. I'm just disappointed we couldn't win." Tojo sighed.
Makoto bit his tongue, wondering if he should mention it. He knew the team made it to the semi-finals of the Koushien, but lost to Yoshinaga in a walk off.
"Well, you still have the fall and the next summer, so you better take the coach by then." Seki smiled.
Tojo smiled in response, which made Makoto feel slightly better.
"So, what position do you play?" He asked, turning to Makoto.
"Oh, I play outfielder, I'm hoping to be able to show my stuff in practice tomorrow." Makoto smiled.
"Well, with what we've heard about you from Junior High, I'm sure youll be impressing!" He laughed back.
Makoto blushed and looked away slightly, he played for Seio Senior in Junior High, a strong school, but for reasons he didn't want to speak of it.
"Oh...yeah, well if you don't mind, it was a long flight so I'd like to be rested for morning practice tomorrow." Makoto bowed and began putting his things away by the empty bed.
"Oh, okay." Seki said, as him and Tojo looked at each other, wondering if something was wrong.
Makoto finished and turned away in his bed. Those memories from Junior High...that final game at Nationals...he didn't want to relive something like that ever again. This time would be different. He swore it.