Chapter Text
Sakura trees are in full bloom with their petals falling gracefully, scattered in the land and creating a glorious sight. For Takigawa Chris Yuu, it was supposed to be an ordinary cold morning, not until he met him.
They were in the middle of an intra-squad scrimmage, top of 5th, one out, and runner on second. The team where he belonged was on defense. He, along with his battery mate Zaizen Naoyuki went to the bullpen to warm up the pitcher, and that was the moment he saw him.
A brunet that may be a year or two younger than him. Plump cheeks, mouth open, but what made him notice the kid was his eyes shining molten gold, reminding him of the warm heat of summer, on how the sun shines so bright in the sky, illuminating the entire place. Allowing people to see the beauty of nature.
He was entranced. From the way the child was star-struck upon seeing the field, eyes probably moving from left to right. The way he screams “OSHI” so loud that people tend to turn to him for disturbing. Lips flashed into a wide grin that reaches his ears. At that moment, Chris knew that he must make the boy love baseball as he does, and to do that, he needs to impress the child through his plays.
“Chris?” He was snapped to reality upon hearing someone calling at him. Face flushed pink; he apologized to Zaizen, who gave him a questioning look.
“Sorry, let’s continue.” As he crouched on the makeshift plate, right hand fumbling a sign as he placed his mitt low and away. The pitcher nodded and went through his windup motion, a ball thrown towards the mitt. At that moment, the umpire also called for the last out and to change sides.
“Do you know that child?”
“Sorry, what?”
“The child you are looking at.”
Chris answered by shaking his head as he went towards the plate. Glancing at where he saw the child to see him tilting his head to the side. He looked at the mound and sighed. Focus, Chris. Focus. He reprimanded himself.
All-of-a-sudden, the pace of the game has changed. Spectators, players, umpire, and coaches alike were confused at the brazen play Chris did. The formerly calm game became merciless, with the catcher fully showing off his baseball prowess. The other team has not scored even a single hit ever since.
After their coaches dismissed them, the next thing he knew, he was walking towards the kid. Upon standing in front of him, he asked with a smile, “Do you play baseball?”
The other looked at him with a twinkle in his eyes, his lips turning into a pout—and oh, he wants to squish the younger’s cheeks upon seeing the adorable sight. “I want to! But, I don’t know how?” His voice was loud at first, and Chris willed himself not to wince. But then, it turned to meek; at the same moment, the other’s gaze averted his.
“What is your name?”
“My name is Sawamura Eijun, and I am 11 years old! You can call me Eijun or Ei-chan!” So he was right, the child—or Eijun is younger than him.
“My name is Takigawa Chris Yuu; you can call me Chris or Yuu. I am two years older than you.”
“I’ll call you Yuu, then!” The younger exclaimed, sending a bright grin towards the elder.
“Yuu-chan, will you teach me how to play baseball?”
Later that day, both Eijun’s parents and Chris’ father had a hard time separating the two boys. The younger was whining to his parents while clinging to the catcher like a koala that he wants to play with ‘Yuu-chan’ while Chris, although reluctant to leave, was trying to pacify the younger.
“Eijun, I will be here every day, you know? You can still see me.”
The younger turned to him, eyes glistening with unshed tears, pouting. “We live in Nagano.”
“How about we will exchange contact information with your parents, Eijun-kun? So that you can talk with Yuu every day.” Is the suggestion of Animal, Chris’ father, which Eijun’s parents seem to agree with.
And that was how their friendship began, along with their parents’ closeness.
That night, Chris was sitting on the couch facing the television, which shows a baseball game between Seattle Mariners and San Francisco Giants. It was at the top of 5th, with a runner on first, when Casali of Giants hit a grounder caught by Crawford, and the ball was thrown towards second and first base, earning a spectacular 6-4-3 double play. Despite the interesting play shown on the television, Chris was fidgeting on his seat, his father’s phone in his hand, and is deep in his thoughts.
“What are you waiting for, Yuu?” The aforementioned jumped from his seat upon hearing his father’s question. Turning to the elder, he babbled several ‘what ifs’ such as; “What if he would not answer?”
“Yuu, there’s no harm in trying to contact the Sawamura’s. How about I do it in your stead?” He did not answer his father and instead gave the phone, trying not to look eager as his father called the number the Sawamura’s gave.
(“Moshi moshi. Sawamura Eitoku speaking.”) Chris’ ears perked up when an orotund voice spoke. After a while, his brows furrowed at the unfamiliar tone, then remembering how he introduced himself.
“Moshi moshi Sawamura-san, this is Animal, Yuu’s father. Is Sawamura Eijun around?” After replying to the person on the phone, a loud “Eijun, come here, you brat!” was heard by both father and son.
(“Oji-san, what is it?”) A high-pitched tone was heard, along with footsteps getting louder.
(“Someone wants to talk to you.” “That’s probably Animal-san and Yuu-chan!”) Both father and son chuckled at the giddy tone the youngest member of the Sawamura household was sprouting. Animal then gave the phone to Chris, not before a pat on the head, and left the vicinity.
“Eijun?” He heard a gasp from the other line.
(“It’s Yuu-chan!”)
“Yes, it’s me. So, I’m guessing that you already are at Nagano?”
(“Yes, although I wish I can see you play more. Even though you look like an absolute beast playing!”) His brows furrowed at the younger’s statement. “Beast?”
(“Yes! A beast!”)
“Why a beast, though?”
(“Your plays are scary?”) Chris jaw dropped at the younger’s remark and meek tone. (“I mean—don’t misunderstand! Your games are scary in a way that it also gives fear to the spectators. They said something about you having scary calls even though you are still a child and for sure you would become a fearsome catcher when you grow up. Even with that, your game is also beautiful to watch! As if you are a mythical beast like the Byakko!”)
“B-byakko?”
The younger hummed as a confirmation. (“Did you know, a Byakko’s image is taken from a white tiger, and according to myths, they (white tiger) primarily served as a protector and preserver? It’s just like what you did earlier!”) At this point, Chris was stuck in between exasperation and flattered, face turning crimson at the younger’s random knowledge.
“Oh well, I’m flattered that you think of me that way, but isn’t it too much?”
(“NO, IT’S NOT! I THINK I SAW THE BASEBALL GOD PLAY EARLIER RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY EYES AND IT MAKES ME WANT TO PLAY BASEBALL! ALSO, YOU PROMISED ME!”)
“That I did. So, where do you want to start?”
(“TEACH ME ALL THE BASICS, SHISHOU!”) Chris then heard a thump across the phone and a tiny “Oww.”
“Did you just...bowed?”
(“It’s manners! Manners!”)
“Well~ that’s what you said.”
(“YUU-CHAN?!”)
“Yes, Ei-jun~?”
(“Let’s just start!”)
Chris laughed. “So, before going through the basics, what do you want to ask?”
(“...Ne, Yuu-chan. What position do you play?”)
“I play catcher, just like my father.”
(“Catcher? What is that?”) He can imagine the younger’s head tilting, question marks around his head at the unfamiliar term.
“A catcher is the coach on the field. He is the one who makes calls to the pitcher to strike a batter. They catch the pitcher’s pitch and bring out the best in them.”
(“Is it fun?”)
“Yes, it is. Baseball is fun, and being able to play catcher is what makes it very enjoyable.”
(“What is a pitcher?”)
“A pitcher throws a ball towards the catcher to retire the batter.”
(“So, a pitcher and a catcher create a work of art together.”) A smile escaped from the older’s lips upon hearing the younger’s statement.
“Yes.”
(“THAT’S IT!”)
“E-Eijun?”
“I want to become a pitcher to create a work of art with Yuu-chan!” His heart skipped upon hearing the younger’s declaration as his left hand tingled as if he caught a pitcher’s best pitch. He knows he would catch that pitch from the younger, standing 18.44 meters away from him. Golden eyes shining with a laser focus on his mitt while he receives the pitch would feel the chills down on his spine at the younger’s gaze. Soon. He thinks. Soon.
He cannot wait for that time to come.
With a wide grin on his face, olive eyes shining with absolute glee. “Well, Eijun. I can help you with that.”