Chapter Text
Seidou came into view and you were scared shitless.
“Are you sure this is a good idea, Rei?”
Rei glanced at you from the corner of her eyes, her lips pulled into a smile. She drove her silver Honda into Seidou’s parking lot. “Of course. We already cut your hair and tied up your girls. You’re just a bit too pretty.”
Three nights ago, Rei had visited your house. She was close friends with your mom, so you were used to seeing her around. She was always the sensible one out of the two (sorry mom), but when Rei had proposed a full scholarship if you joined Seidou’s baseball team you and your mom both jumped at the chance. Except… Seidou’s baseball team was for boys only.
“What if I chicken out?”
“Then I’ll make you take the bus all the way home. You wouldn’t have enough for the fare, just so you know.”
“Wow, Rei, just wow.”
She laughed and parked in her designated spot. She pushed up her glasses, a softer small appeared on her face. “You’ll be fine. Just think of the scholarship. You’ve been dying to get back into baseball and you get a scholarship. No more backwater schools.”
“My school wasn’t that bad…”
“Whatever you say, hon. But just remember, your name is Haru Yukimura. You’re a boy.”
You ignored the butterflies in your stomach and nodded. You sucked in a deep breath and then stepped out of the car with Rei.
The field wasn’t that far from where she had parked. It seemed as if the baseball team was already practicing. Great. You had hoped to just meet the coach, maybe the captain, and then prep yourself for the rest of the team tomorrow. But no. You were literally jumping into the frying pan. You just hoped you didn’t get burned.
You prayed that no one would notice you, but as soon as you stepped into the cage practice area all eyes turned to you when one of the boy’s shouted, “Hey, is that the new guy!?”
“Sawarmura, shut the fuck up and get back to practice!”
“Cheetah-senpai, don’t hit me!”
You and Rei stopped in front of a man who you could only assume was the head coach. His sunglasses hid his eyes, but you could tell he was staring at you. He crossed his arms.
“Coach Kataoka, this is Haru. The talented young man I mentioned before.”
Kataoka nodded in acknowledgment and turned his head towards another field. “You’ll practice with the second string for today. Since Rei has put in a high recommendation for you, you will play in a practice match with the first string tomorrow after class. Get changed and head over to the second field.”
You wiped your sweaty palms against your uniform pant leg and nodded. Rei patted your shoulder and motioned you to follow her. She led you along the back of the practice area, towards the change room. With the amount of eyes watching you, you must as well have been a painting in a gallery.
Rei handed you the baseball uniform and when you went inside of the changing room you were greeted with silence. Once you changed, you glanced yourself over in the mirror and bit the corner of your lip. A nervous habit.
“I guess I look more like a guy now. Could do worse.”
You tied up your laces, adjusted your cap, and sucked in a deep breath.
You were ready.
The next day, you found yourself warming up with your teammates from the second string.
The bat felt good in your hands and when your teammates gathered together for a cheer you felt a fire light in the pit of your stomach.
The first team was unbelieve. From the pitchers to the batter to the catchers – the first string was damn good.
When you stepped up to bat, you faced Tanba Koichiro. Ace of the first string who pitched fastballs, curveballs and forkballs. Variety at its finest.
“Oh-ho, so you’re the newbie everyone is talking about.”
You blinked and then glanced down at the very handsome catcher. Rei had given you a little run down on each of the players and this catcher’s name was Miyuki Kazuya. A brilliant catcher. He grinned up at you causing your cheeks to flood red.
“Y-yeah, I guess so.”
“Let’s see what you’re made of.”
You cleared your throat and refocused on Tanba. Tanba stared hard for a moment long before winding up to pitch. The noise droned out with each inhale and exhale.
Tanba quickly threw his arm down. The ball came fast, hard, and curved. But you were ready. You stepped forward and swung your bat.
Clink!
The pitch sailed across the sky until it landed with a soft plop outside of the fence.
You dropped your bat and jogged around the diamond amongst the cheers and yells from your second string teammates. Honestly, it was a little embarrassing but you welcomed it nonetheless.
The first string managed to score four points when your team pitched. After a few more innings, it was finally your turn to bat again. This time, you faced Furuya Satoru.
From what Rei told you, Furuya had insane speed when he pitched.
“You surprised me with your last bat. I’ll get you this time for sure.”
You snorted and met Miyuki’s eyes. “Uh-huh, whatever you say.”
“It is whatever I say. And, I say I’m getting you out this time, short stuff.”
“Short? I’m not short!”
Miyuki smirked. “Could have fooled me. You’re almost kid size, huh.”
You opened your mouth to retort only to realize that Miyuki was trying to rile you up. Of course he was trying to! He threw him a glare, ignored his chuckle and repositioned yourself. Furuya pitched. You flinched back from how fast it actually was.
“Strike!”
That was insane. What did that guy eat to get his pitches that fast? Sonic the Hedgehog?
Another pitch came, but you didn’t move to hit it.
“Come on Yukimura! Hit the ball!”
His pitches might be fast, but they weren’t impossible to hit.
Your bat connected with the baseball, sending it flying outside of the gate again.
“Again!?” someone yelled from the first string.
And, you were about to do it again for the third time. The pitcher you faced in this inning was Sawamura.
“Kick his ass!” the bearded brunet yelled. “Or else I’ll kick yours!”
He must be pissed that you got him out in the last inning.
“Lion-senpai, prepare yourself! I will defeat you!”
You cocked your head to the side and blinked. “Lion-senpai?”
“He’s always like that.” Miyuki snorted. “Calls me bastard though. If you get another home run, you’re not human.”
You smiled and watched as Sawamura readied his pitch. It was strange that you couldn’t see his arm, but on his second pitch you scored another home run. He threw his pitches too high.
“What the fuck, man.”
You laughed at Miyuki’s grunt, the cheering from your teammates and Sawamura’s yells. You had missed this.
The practice match ended before you could pitch against Kawakami norifumi. Despite your home runs, the first string had scored too many times for the game to continue. The sun was starting to sink anyways.
Kataoka called you over once everyone was dismissed.
“Yes, Coach?”
“You played past my expectations today. I’ll talk to you tomorrow after your classes. Come to my office.”
You nodded and ignored the heat crawling up the side of your neck. Eyes on you again. After thanking Kataoka, you started heading towards the dorms, but didn’t get too far.
“Lion-senpai!”
Sawamura hopped in front of you and beamed. The sun, you thought, he reminded me of the sun.
“Lion-senpai? Are my ears showing?”
Sawamura laughed and was soon joined by Furuya and Haruichi.
“You were amazing! You kept hitting home runs! You’re like a great lion or a commander!”
“Senpai,” Furuya called.”
“Hm?”
You waited for Furuya to continue, but an arm swinging around your shoulders caused you to jump.
“Yukimura, was it?”
You swallowed the lump in your throat and turned your head towards Isashiki Jun.
“You really went and got me out today. That’s unforgivable.” He grinned, devilishly. “Come to Miyuki’s room. Make sure you show up… or else.”
“O-okay.”
Jun smirked again and then strode away.
“Wah, a challenge from Spitz-senpai!”
“Oh god…”
“Do you know where Miyuki-senpai’s room is, Yukimura-senpai?” Haruichi asked.
“Not a clue.”
“We can come by your room after showering to show you.”
You nodded and then told the three first-years your dorm room. When they left, you headed to your room to wait for the showers to clear out. When you got to the showers, no one was there, so you quickly cleaned yourself and changed into sweats and a slightly baggy shirt.
That was by far one of the scariest things that you have ever done.
It didn’t take long for Sawamura, Furuya and Haruichi to arrive at your dorm. They led you to Miyuki’s place and when they refused to open the door, you arched an eyebrow. Weirdos. So, you shrugged, grabbed the door, and then opened it. The room was pitch black except for the faces illuminated by several flashlights.
“Holy shit!”
Before you could react, you were pulled inside and into a headlock.
“Hyaha!”
What the hell was going on!?
The light switched on and most of the first strings were in the room, laughing. Jun crouched in front of you with a black permanent marker.
“Penis face?” Jun nodded. “ Yeah, penis face.”
Once Jun finished drawing on your forehead, a bowl of shaving cream hit your face. You were suddenly released from the headlock, allowing you to roll over on your back and stare up at the ceiling.
“Uh, what? What just happened?”
“Revenge!” Jun cackled.
“I-I see. Has it been accomplished?”
“It has.”
“Thank fuck.”
The boy erupted as Yuuki took pitched of your face. Apparently they were for team bonding nights.
“Hyaha, hope you liked your welcome party!”
You turned to look at the boy who had you in a choke hold before, Kuramochi. “ This is how you welcome people!?”
“This was pretty tame. You should have seen my welcome party.”
Haruichi handed you a wet towel. You wiped off your face and once that was done the team introduced themselves to you properly. After the introductions, the players did their own things. Kuramochi wrestled Sawamura into a choke hold (you flinched). Haruichi watched helplessly. Masuko ate pudding while watching Yuuki play shogi with Ryosuke. Jun threw in his comments every now and then about the board game.
After chilling with them for a while, you left the room to get fresh air. You stood in front of the vending machine, contemplating if you should get one of the overpriced drinks.
“Senpai.”
You yelped and jumped forward. You spun around. Furuya blinked down at you.
“You scared me!”
He seemed apologetic for a moment. “Senpai, I was amazed that you were able to hit a home run off of me today.”
“Am I your idol now?” you teased.
When he stared at you seriously, you rubbed the back of your neck.
“Oh, I was just joking. It’s good to have idols! Even though it’s a bit embarrassing right now.”
“Next time we practice, you won’t get a hit on me.”
Before you could reply, he took off with an air of excitement around him.
“Weird guy…”
“He’s a lot to handle.”
You shrieked for the third time tonight. This time, Miyuki stood behind you.
“Why does everyone like scaring me here?”
“Scaring people is fun.” Miyuki grinned. “Did you like your little welcome party? I helped plan it.”
“Yeah, I loved having shaving cream pie smashed in my face.”
“It’ll help you grow facial hair.”
“I-I shave!”
“Where? You’ve never experienced puberty, huh. Even your voice is girly.” Miyuki swung an arm around your shoulders and grinned. “And you’re tiny compared to us. Aw, just like an iddy-biddy hobbit! Bobo Baggins everyone!”
“Oh, shut up.”
Miyuki laughed when you nudged him away. “Haru, we’re bonding! Don’t push me away!”
“Don’t use my first name so casually!”
“Why not? We’re in the same grade, right? Second year?”
“Yeah.”
“See? That makes us friends already.”
“I don’t want to be your friend!”
“Sure, you don’t.”
You rolled your eyes and walked along the side of the building until you found some grass to sit on. Miyuki plopped down beside you.
“How’d Rei-chan find you?”
“Rei and my mom are best friends. She wanted me to play on this team, so here I am.”
“What about your old school?”
“They didn’t have a team.”
“What kind of school did you go to? Some sad place in the boondocks?”
“Listen here your majesty —”
“Oh, I like the sound of that.”
“Not everyone is as blessed as you, but I didn’t come from the boondocks.”
“Could have fooled me.”
“You’re so annoying!”
“I’ve been told before. Not that I care.”
Nothing you said seemed to faze that stupid grin on his face!
You shot Miyuki a dirty look before standing up. You stretched your right arm.
“You do that a lot.”
“What?”
He motioned to your arm. “Did you injure it before?”
“Yeah… a while ago. I just have to keep stretching it. It feels all weird if I don’t.”
Miyuki hummed. “We have a manager who injured his shoulder before. I’ll introduce you to Chris-senpai tomorrow.”
“That would be amazing. Thanks, Miyuki.”
“Oi, where’s the respect for me? ‘Miyuki-san’ should be leaving your lips.”
“As if.”
“You’re now downgraded to Merry Brandybuck.”
“Merry is wonderful and you will not insult him.”
“Sauron was such a great guy. He was just looking out for everyone.”
“Miyuki… just stop.”