Chapter Text
As soon as the ball collided with Shirasu's bat, he took off running toward first base while his eyes made quick glances to the side to see where the ball would land.
Rin's gaze also followed the ball, her hand raising to shield the spitting rain from her eyes. Her body stilled, a split-second pause right before a rush of adrenaline took over as the ball hit the back fence for a homerun. A smile, followed by a small laugh, rang from her lips as she motioned for Miyuki to run straight home as he rounded second base with Shirasu following at a slower paced jog.
Rin and Miyuki didn’t say anything as he neared third, but they both felt it.
The game had just begun for Seido.
Third Inning
Wilson: 2
Seido: 2
After Shirasu's homerun, Seido was tied with Wilson going into the third inning.
For now, the rain had stopped, but the clouds were still moving quickly to prepare for another rainfall soon.
Rin gently played with the soaked strands of her brown hair while observing Furuya’s strong pitching. She feared he’d be fatigued after the rain delay, but the opposite happened. Despite the blank and rather serious look on his face, Rin could see the glint in his eyes where the nerves melted away and the pride took over.
“Can I pitch now?!”
“No,” Rin didn’t need to look away from Furuya to know that Eijun was behind her. “Why aren’t you warming up with Miyauchi?”
Eijun stuttered incoherent sounds, but eventually said, “I haven’t asked him yet! I wanted to know if I could pitch now.”
“Oh, look at that,” Rin slowly exhaled through her mouth, and lowered her eyes to the invisible watch on her wrist. "The answer is still no. I need to wait to put you in. They were expecting Furuya. They aren’t expecting you. You’ll finish us out. But for that to happen, I need you to go warm your shoulder. So, shoo.”
Fourth Inning
Wilson: 5
Seido: 2
It was the bottom of the fourth and Rin was standing in her position by the third baseline.
Kuramochi was up to bat and she signaled for him to swing away. He did as he was told and hit a line drive to centerfield which dropped. He wanted to go for second base, but the Wilson outfielders worked quickly to get the ball back in the infield. He stayed on first.
“Did you get to see Emme?” Maverick, the third baseman for Wilson High, removed his glove as Clay called for a time out. He wiped his sweaty hand against his thigh and tilted his head in Rin's direction.“I’m not sure she was too excited to see you.”
“Does it matter?” Rin blinked, crossed her arms, and remained facing forward, not giving Maverick the reaction he probably wanted. “I'd say I'm sorry, but I'm not sure what I'd be sorry about. It’s not like it’s easy to have a friendship when I’m across the country in a different continent, in a different time zone.”
Maverick nodded his head slowly, kicking his foot in the dirt and replied, “I guess you’re right. But Clay was pretty determined to make amends with you. He said things went sour when he came to visit this morning. Blamed it on that catcher.”
“Wow, why does that not surprise me," Rin resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “He never realizes when he’s in the wrong. It’s not hard to figure out that I’m not interested in making amends.”
“I will admit…the beanball was a pretty shitty thing to do," Maverick frowned and placed his glove back on his hand. “I guess he was starting to spiral and felt like he had to compete with that Miyuki Kazuya kid.. I also think…unfortunately, for Clay, he realizes that your catcher is a lot better than him. But don’t tell him I said that.”
Rin ignored Maverick as her eyes followed Logan who was leaving the field to the dugout next to her, only to be replaced by someone she didn't recognize. She finally turned to look at Maverick and asked, "Who is that?"
“Jay Young,” Maverick slowly backed away from Rin toward his spot on the field. “New freshman who’s got quite the pitch.”
Ryosuke, who was up next to bat, walked over to Rin, and they stood side by side, eyes watching Jay warm up his pitch. It didn't take long for them to notice that unlike Logan's overhead throw, Jay was a submarine pitcher, his arm releasing the ball near his waist and from the side.
"Shit," Rin muttered, lowering herself onto her heels with Ryosuke following suit beside her. "I'm sorry Kominato-san, I don't know anything about this guy other than his pitch is going to be difficult to track. I'd watch for maybe a heavy sinker or even the opposite, a quick rise ball. I wouldn't bunt though…this pitch looks slower than Logan's so you have a better chance swinging away. So, maybe start with a pull back and see how that goes."
Ryosuke acknowledged Rin and headed to the batter's box where he followed her signals–starting with his bat showing a bunt only to pull back at the last second to swing away. He jammed the hit on the first pitch and the pop-fly was caught effortlessly by Jay at the mound.
The rest of the inning wasn't in Seido's favor as Jay jammed nearly every batter that went against him while relying on the fielders for outs.
Seventh Inning
Wilson: 8
Seido: 5
Furuya was ready to head out of the dugout when he was quickly stopped by Rin outstretching her arm to let him know, “Pitcher change,” she patted him on the shoulder. “You’ve done well, but it’s time to rest. Sawamura will close us out.”
Eijun didn't waste any time. He sprinted onto the field as soon as he heard Rin mention a pitcher change. He was on the mound, pumping his fist in the air with every bit of pride and determination. Rin followed after him, tugging on the sleeves of her damp undershirt.
“Eijun,” She stood in front of him with a towel as she took the baseball from his hands to wipe it down. “Take a deep breath for me and not one from the chest, one from the stomach into the ribcage.. I know you’re excited, but I need your full focus on closing this inning. We’re down right now, so we can’t let up any more runs. Do you understand?”
“Yes!” He nodded with no hesitation. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Trusting me to close out the game,” Eijun’s genuine smile stirred something in her heart as he gently picked the baseball up from her hand. “I won’t let you down."
Rin was quiet…she didn't know what to say as she stared back at him, his eyes radiating a fire that Rin had never seen inside him before. Finally, she nodded once and said, "you better not," before turning away from him to walk back toward the dugout—but not without one last glance at Miyuki who was behind home plate, already in position to warm Eijun up with a few pitches.
As Rin expected, Eijun certainly didn’t disappoint. The Wilson batters weren’t prepared for his unpredictable pitch which is exactly what Rin had anticipated. He pitched three up and three down, closing the top of the inning with no one getting on base.
He was complimented by the fielders who gathered to the dugout for batting and as soon as Eijun stopped in front of Rin, she couldn’t help but smack him hard on the back.
“That was incredible!” Rin grinned, “and now you’re up to bat so grab your helmet and we’ll walk out together.”
Jay warmed up his submarine pitch, rubbing at his back every time he threw.
“I’ve never seen someone pitch like that,” Eijun was in awe at Jay’s unusual form. “It’s different from Kawakami’s pitch.”
Rin nodded, “It's different for sure. But, he’s straining his lower back every time he throws. He’ll be out of playing by the time he’s a junior if they don’t get his form under control. Eijun, let’s get on base. Swing away, but don't lose focus okay and don't be too eager…and time your swing. I can see you're nervous, so just take another deep breath from your stomach and know that you can do this. Time to prove the people who have no faith in you wrong."
Eijun high-fived Rin before stepping up to the batter's box, eyes fierce, unsettling, and narrowed in Jay's direction. Jay brushed off the glare–though if he had to admit, it was disturbing in itself–and prepared for his first pitch. As Jay whipped his arm from the waist, sending the ball spiraling toward home plate, Eijun swung too quickly and missed the ball completely. He stepped out of the batter's box to look at Rin who gave him the signal to slow down his swing.
The rain started to sprinkle again as Jay threw his second pitch. Eijun made contact with it, but it was a foul ball heading past the foul line by third base. Rin quickly moved out of the way as the ball hit the fence just behind her. Flashbacks appeared in her mind of the night Eijun pitched to her and struck her in the head with a baseball and never in her life did she want to feel pain like that again.
Eijun stepped out of the batter's box quickly and called out, “Rin!” He paused when he noticed Rin hold a hand up to let him know she was okay—shaken, but okay. “I’m sorry!”
She pressed her lips firmly together and shook her head.“Let’s get a hit,” she mumbled, signaling for him to swing away again. “Come on, Eijun…”
Eijun was able to hit a grounder, but it went straight to Jay who fielded it and threw it to first for an out. The same pattern followed the next inning in which the next two batters were thrown out at first.
Wilson High and Seido would remain at a standstill for the eighth inning.
Ninth Inning
Wilson: 8
Seido: 5
Now in the final inning, the Wilson players were unable to get any more runs and were now on the field for the bottom of the ninth.
Seido was up to bat, and with this being the bottom of the ninth, this was their last chance to score and either win or tie the game.
Rin was slow to get off the bench. Her body was beginning to feel the coolness from the rain, her eyes were heavy with fatigue, and she was a bit hungry…but she was going to see this game all the way through. She finally stood with a soft groan, her body completely drained from any energy when something hit her and fell to the ground– a blue sweatshirt.
Rin looked at the sweatshirt on the ground, then up to meet a pair of amused brown eyes staring at her. “Did you just throw that at me?” Rin asked, bending to pick it up and looking to see the name on the back.“What was the point of that?”
“I honestly thought you were going to catch it,” Miyuki shrugged as he watched Rin begrudgingly throw it on. "You look more tired than people who are actually playing the baseball game…are you sure you don't need to sit this last inning out?"
There was a lilt to his voice, but underneath the teasing, he could see the paleness in her face, the way her body slightly swayed when she was standing from the bench, and the bags underneath her eyes growing with each new inning. She didn't look like she'd be able to last much longer.
"Zip it," Rin snapped, wringing out the rain in her hair and eyes flashing with irritation. "You're always on about how horrible I look, how I'm just so ill and frail, and I need you to focus more on how we're going to beat this team. I don't want to lose."
Miyuki raised his hands as if to signal he was backing off, but followed it with, "Wow, way harsh. But, sure, the odds aren't looking like they're in our favor…but we're last to bat which gives us the advantage. We're at the top of our line up too which have our strongest batters. I'd say the odds seem to be getting better the more I talk about it."
Rin coughed into her elbow, the fatigue hitting her harder as she moved back onto the field for the bottom of the ninth. She stood next to the third baseline, taking a few deep breaths to recenter herself, and readied herself for Kuramochi who was up to bat.
Unfortunately, Kuramochi and Ryosuke both jammed their hits and were out at first. Two outs and the next batter was Jun who hit a line drive between third and left field and was able to get on first base. Next was Tetsu…which Clay and Jay both agreed to walk him and let him go to first while Jun headed to second base.
Masuko was up to bat and he was quickly cornered with a 0-2 count before hitting a line drive to right field who was too slow to get it back in the infield. Now, the bases were loaded…and predictably, the pressure fell on the next batter–Miyuki Kazuya. From the stands, the Seido band played louder, the cheering echoed like a vibrant heartbeat across the stadium, and all eyes were on Miyuki.
While Wilson High called for a pitcher change and switched Jay out for Logan again, Miyuki walked over to Rin's side while Logan warmed his arm up on the field for a few pitches.
"I'd be surprised if they didn't walk you," Rin said, both of them analyzing Logan's pitches which were undeniably fast slamming into Clay's glove in the strike zone. "But you have a lot of options if they don't. All you need to do is swing and get on base."
"I'm not too sure they'll walk me, otherwise, they wouldn't have switched out the pitcher," Miyuki explained. This caught Rin's attention as she looked away from Logan over to Miyuki curiously. "They put in Logan who beaned me earlier in the game as an intimidation tactic. If they wanted to walk me, they would've kept Jay and not needed the pitcher change but bringing in Logan means they anticipate me jamming a hit or striking out."
Rin hummed in response, "I didn't think about that…I guess you're right. They won't bean you again though…at least, as far as I think. Not sure if that counts for much." She sighed and held out her hand for a high five followed by a fist bump which Miyuki took the initiative to do. "All you have to do is get on base and we score a run. That easy. I'm counting on you."
Miyuki left her side and made his way to the batter's box where he found Clay's eyes locked in on him. After getting into position, he looked ahead where Logan was messing with the ball behind his glove, changing grips, looking at the signals Clay was giving, and getting ready for the first pitch.
Logan raised his leg and his arm whipped down, sending the ball spiraling toward home plate where Miyuki's swing was just a tad early and he clipped the top of the ball, sending it toward the back fence—foul ball and strike one.
Miyuki adjusted his grip on his bat and exhaled slowly, waiting for the next pitch to arrive, knowing this one he could time right. While adjusting his grip, tightening his fingers around the end of his bat, he found his heart thrashing against his chest despite his slow, steadied breath. When his eyes flickered to the Seido dugout, he knew everyone was counting on him. He knew Rin was counting on him too. There were two outs and he had one strike right now…he needed to focus.
He swung at the next pitch, too fast, rushing the swing, clipping the ball again, sending it toward the back fence a second time. He stepped out of the batter's box to recollect himself, adjust his position—until Clay stood from behind home plate and called for a time out.
The umpire approved Clay's time out and he didn't waste another second jogging to the pitcher's mound to have a chat with Logan along with the other Wilson infielders. Miyuki pivoted and moved down the third baseline toward Rin who spoke as soon as he was at her side and said, "you have two strikes, zero balls…why are you rushing your swing? You just need to make contact, not hit a homerun."
“I'm not trying to, I just needed–”
Rin interrupted, “you’re batting like you’re running out of time.”
Miyuki stilled and the world around him seemed to slow in time. He could see it, an hourglass, sand slipping down through the middle and filling the bottom signifying the game was near its end. He was running out of time to help his team out with a hit, with a play, with anything that could bring a runner back in.
"Miyuki Kazuya," his full name leaving her lips caught his attention, and his eyes peered to the side and down where she was standing with a teasing grin, "we have all the time in the world. This game isn't over yet. Remember what you said. We have the last bat, we were at the top of the lineup…and now the bases are loaded so it seems the odds are getting even better for Seido, hm? Worst case scenario we lose, but that's not going to happen. Best case scenario we win, which I prefer. Or…you get a hit and on base and we get runners in to tie the game and go into overtime."
He watched as she turned away, forcing a strained cough into her elbow, one that was rooted deep in her chest and came out hoarse. She exhaled after her fit and stood straighter, taking a deep breath in and shaking her head with fatigue washing over her once more.
"Yeah…you're not going to last until overtime," Miyuki's eyes moved from Rin back to the mound where it looked like there was a heated discussion between Logan and Clay. "I don't think you're going to last another five minutes if you keep coughing like you have bronchitis."
Rin rolled her eyes with scoff and replied, "just get on base. Do what you do best."
"Got it," Miyuki said, though he was still focused on the conversation happening between Logan and Clay. He tried to imagine himself as Clay, what he would be saying to Logan right now if Logan were his pitcher. He filtered through his memory, wondering if Logan wasn't pitching what Clay was calling…but that didn't matter because they were able to get Miyuki to swing both times.
Rin coughed again into the sleeve of the sweatshirt and wiped her heavy eyes as she apologized to Miyuki, promising to wash his sweatshirt when the game was over and return it. Another cough followed, but Rin could see Miyuki didn't hear anything she said, his mind was somewhere else.
He was still going through different scenarios…wondering what he'd be saying to Logan. Maybe he'd tell Logan that they couldn't risk it…that they should walk Miyuki and give up one more run before striking out the next batter who would be Shirasu…but that wouldn't make much sense considering Shirasu hit a homerun earlier in the game and he's a consistent hitter.
"Miyuki-kun," Rin nudged him gently with her elbow, drawing his attention back onto her. He looked down at her, still not fully present, but acknowledging her now. "Sorry, you weren't responding."
Miyuki watched as Clay pivoted away from Logan a little too fast…and a little too tense. He could see that whatever conversation he was having with Logan, did not come to an agreement the way Clay would've liked. "Slow down the swing, get on base, do what I do best," Miyuki grinned, heart beginning to pick up its pace again. "Got it."
He made his way back to the batter's box, the noise of the stadium's announcers and fans drowned out the moment he locked his gaze onto Logan. Clay glanced at Miyuki's stance and gave Logan a signal that Logan shook his head and didn't agree with. He gave another signal, but he could see in Logan's eyes he was going to throw the pitch he wanted to throw, not the one Clay was calling for.
Miyuki watched carefully as Logan lifted his leg and threw his arm down for the next pitch, and this one, Miyuki didn't shy away from. He took a step toward the ball, reached the bat low in the strike zone, and swung hard. As soon as the ball made contact with his bat, he took off running toward first base looking at where it was heading with quick glances.
Rin followed the ball with her eyes as the ball spiraled toward left field and hit the wall, bouncing off at an odd angle right over the left fielder's head. That was her opportunity to send each player home—Jun and Tetsu made it home safely just as the left fielder was able to grab the ball from the grass. But, Rin didn't stop there; she motioned for Masuko to round third and head home with Miyuki trailing a base behind him.
"Go, go!" There was no second thought or hesitation, Rin made her choice, even as the left fielder sent the ball in toward the second baseman acting as a cutoff, who would then throw to Clay stationed at home plate to tag Miyuki out. "Home!"
She gestured for Miyuki to round third and head home, and as he neared the plate, she yelled, "down!". The ball was thrown from the second baseman to Clay who turned just as Miyuki slid down to the home plate. His hand was already crossing the plate, seconds before Clay had a chance to tag him.
"Safe!" The umpire crossed and outstretched his hands to the sides to gesture that Miyuki was safe and the stadium erupted into cheers and screams.
The announcer overhead echoed, "Miyuki hits an inside-the-park homerun to end the game with a win for Seido. The score is complete with 9 runs for Seido and 8 runs for Wilson!"
Miyuki, still breathless from making his way around the bases and leading Seido to their win, didn't have a chance to catch a break. Rin was the first to get to him as he stood from the dirt, jumping onto his back with her arms around his neck. The Seido players flooded onto the field from the dugout and also grabbed onto Miyuki, pulling him in different directions with cheers and adrenaline.
Rin let her arms go after a moment and turned to high five Kuramochi followed by a fist bump to Rysouke. She stood near the dugout with her heart still racing from the exciting end to the game as the two teams lined up to bow to each other.
After bowing, Clay moved in front of Miyuki and held his hand, shaking Miyuki's hand firmly as he said, "congratulations." His eyes moved past Miyuki's shoulder where Rin was near the dugout, arms crossed, eyes narrowed in his direction as if she were trying to decipher what he was saying to Miyuki. Clay didn't have anything else to say though, and he wanted to go up to Rin, to exchange some final words, but he couldn't. And so, he turned away, and stormed into the opposing dugout to gather his stuff together.
A hand landed on Rin's shoulder and she looked behind her to find her father, Coach Kataoka, looking ahead at the field where the Wilson and Seido players were exchanging some last minute words. "I'm proud of you," he finally said, eyes flickering down to look at Rin through his sunglasses. "The call to send Miyuki home was risky, but you didn't hesitate. Had you thought twice, Miyuki wouldn't have made it."
"It's all about trust. I trusted him to be fast enough to round the bases and slide home and he trusted me to make the right call. But the credit goes to him," Rin paused, watching as Kuramochi and Miyuki stood side by side, talking with Logan and Jay. "He got that hit in the first place even though he was cornered. He pulled through."
"Seems like things haven't changed all these years," Kataoka said. "You and Miyuki still work great together."
"What do you mean?"
"You two have been playing ball since you were little."
Rin opened her mouth, but no words came out. Instead, confusion clouded her mind, her thoughts began to contradict one another, and when she finally mustered up the courage to ask the question that's been burning in her mind for years…reporters pulled Kataoka away for a quick interview.
She staggered back a step, and when she pivoted, she found Miyuki right behind her with his bag slung on his shoulder, a lop-sided grin on his lips, and amusement glinting in his amber eyes. Now looking at him, looking into those eyes, she could feel the weight of familiarity that she hadn't felt…hadn't seen before.
"We won the game and you look like you're about to pass out over here," he may have been smiling, but his eyes were sharp. He could see the fatigue in Rin's face, in the way she was standing…but there was something else. Resignation? Confusion? Maybe even betrayal? "We're about to board the bus and you can pass out and sleep on there–"
"Wait, hold on for just a second," Rin finally managed to say, her eyes searching his for confirmation and answers. "Miyuki, I need to know if you're the–"
"Miyuki-senpai!" Eijun appeared from the backroom with his duffel bag over his shoulder and moved beside Miyuki, "The coaches said to hurry up because the bus is waiting on you and Rin!"
"I'll be there in a second," Miyuki waved him off. "What were you about to ask me?"
Rin swallowed her question and took a step back, knowing this conversation would need to wait for another time. "It's okay," she breathed out, "you have to get ready to board the bus or they'll leave us both behind for being late. Go." She noticed his slight hesitation to leave her and she forced a small smile on her face. "We can talk later. I promise. Go."
She watched as he disappeared in the backroom and as soon as he was out of view, her smile dropped and her hand flew to her stomach that was suddenly aching and nauseous. She grabbed her items from the dugout and made her way toward the bus with her earbuds in and her mind a complete mess from the day she had.
𓇼 ⋆.˚ 𓆉 𓆝 𓆡⋆.˚ 𓇼
ride or dies
Caught in 5k
ANJKDBBFHSSAHKBKBD
SEIDO
WINS
WE AVENGE KATAOKA RIN
WE
ARE
CHAMPIONS
<< image >>
Mochi
Do you guys want to see what Avaron sent me
as the game was going on?
Sending it anyway
<< image >>
Caught in 5k
I'm just a girl
૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა
Pretty Boy
lol
Track God
girl…
<< image >>
Caught in 5k
PLZ
ASADJKANJDN
MOCHI WHY
YOU EMBARRASSED ME
IN FRONT OF RIN
<< image >>
Track God
yeah
i don't think u need his help
to do that
Track God changed the group name to Coach Wouldn't Approve
Pretty Boy
lol
we win and she's reading a book
<< image >>
Track God
delete it now
or else
Pretty Boy
? or else?
Mochi
👀
Caught in 5k
👀
Mochi
👀👀
Caught in 5k
👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀
Pretty Boy
okay i deleted it
Caught in 5k
?? What did she do
Pretty Boy
😊
Track God
he knew i was going to leave the gc
Mochi
How would he ever survive
if you left the gc
Caught in 5k
How would he breathe
He doesn't know how to function
without Rin
Track God
lmaooo ur so right
he's obsessed with me
Pretty Boy
you're so right
Track God
ew don't agree
Pretty Boy
lol
Caught in 5k
Omg
🚨 FLRTING THEY ARE FLRITING
FDBFSABDJB
MOCHI
MOCHI R U THERE? OVER
Just date already
Mochi
🚨MOCHI IS HERE
OVER.
Kataoka and Miyuki dating?
Conspiracy
Here's the evidence
<< image >>
<< image >>
Track God
i audibly gasped
wth
okay paparazzi
tf were these pics taken on?
a nokia flip phone??
Pretty Boy
lol
the window pic
Caught in 5k
🧐
<< image >>
May the evidence speak for itself
Track God
enough
im sick asf
Pretty Boy
kataoka date me
Track God
no.
Pretty Boy
lol
proof against the conspiracy
right here
now no more of that
let's talk about the game today
Track God
no
our turn
Caught in 5k
Your turn for what?
Mochi
I don't like the sound of that
Track God
go get em pretty boy
Pretty Boy
lol what
Track God
seriously?
avaron and kuramochi
dating conspiracy
ik you have pics of them
Pretty Boy
oh
we were not on the same page
lol
here you go
<< image >>
<< image >>
<< image >>
Caught in 5k
LOL
I see you have chosen
WAR
WELL
LET
THE
GAMES
COMMENCE
Mochi
War it is
Pretty Boy
lol
Track God
may the best win
aka me
Pretty Boy
you mean us
Track God
no i definitely meant me
𓇼 ⋆.˚ 𓆉 𓆝 𓆡⋆.˚ 𓇼
⇄
@ cheetahfromchiba just posted a new photo
Caption: W’s in the chat 🗣️🔥
View all 214 comments
↳ @ _miyuki02: ⚾️
↳ @ vitamin.A: AYEEEEE WILSON STARTS WITH W BUT THEY LEFT WITH L'S
↳ @ vitamin.A : DUBS DUBS DUBS
↳ @ centerspitz: ⚾️⚾️⚾️ why am i not in this picture
↳ @ cheetahfromchiba: ur centerfield energy has too much aura
↳ @ _CaptainKo: Congratulations Seido baseball 💜
↳ @ _sawamuraeijunfutureace: Another day, Another Win. Someone should check on the scoreboard 😮💨🥱😤
@ _miyuki02: just posted a new story
Caption: third base coach led us to a W
The account @ rin_walker1 has been deleted