Chapter Text
Akagi Junior High baseball team lost in the semi final of prefectual tournament.
Their ace was great on the mound, flawless even, but it was all meaningless since they can't score a run they need. And when the game came to extra inning, they can't help but gave up 'cause their ace had pitched too much that day. He sweated a lot, too tired to encourage them loudly like usual, and the balls he pitched were barely in strike zone after 80 pitches. If the game continued, they afraid that he would either injure himself or opponents. Therefore, they tried their best to convince him to switch place with other player, knowing full well that it meant they indirectly gave up the game.
It can't be help, though. Sawamura Eijun, their ace and captain was much more important than the game.
He was their precious friend and the main reason they joined baseball team and tried to compete with other schools' baseball team, even though they only had 9 players, or to be exact 9 inexperienced beginners without a proper coach. It was already a miracle that they made it to top 4 of the prefecture, and this miracle only happened because of Eijun's pitching.
Fortunately, it wasn't only them who can recognize Eijun's talent.
While they were worried sick that Eijun's academic grade can't make it to the same school as them, they heard that he was scouted by Seido high school. Even though it was a pity that they can't continue playing baseball with him, they were all happy for him and encouraged him to go.
Their precious friend deserves all the best thing, and they just can't wait for the world to see him shines brightly on the mound.
#
First day in Seido and already late for practice, Sawamura Eijun cursed himself.
Though the biggest reason for his late was his roommates, whom made him play game until midnight and didn't wake him up, he was still guilty for trying to sneak in. And speaking of sneaking in, the guy convinced (read: tricked) him to do that was the mischievous catcher whom he met in his tour to Seido several months ago. He should have known, being a genius catcher doesn't mean that Miyuki Kazuya is a trustworthy man, not when they are off the field at least.
Anyway, blaming either his roommates or Miyuki Kazuya didn't help Eijun. The head coach - who looked a lot like a yakuza boss with his sunglasses - already had bad impression of Eijun, and he didn't even let him join the practice because Eijun was also late in apologizing.
How the hell he do that while struggling to run with tire and digesting three bowls of rice after that?
Again, Eijun should have known that coach Kataoka was as strict as his boss-like appearance.
Oh well, Eijun wasn't born or taught to be someone that give up without a fight.
"I apologize for being late for practice, and for being late in apologizing, too. You can punish me as much as you want, but why do my awful social skills affect your evaluation on my baseball skills?" Eijun said, didn't have an ounce of shame while admitting his shortcomings. Knowing and accepting his own flaws is the first step to fix them, his grandpa taught him so.
When coach Kataoka looked back at him, Eijun continued, "I come to Seido to play baseball, and I aim to be an ace pitcher. So the only way you can tell me to leave this place is let me play baseball. Prove to me that in this place there were plenty of pitchers better than me! Show me that no matter how much this school teach me, how much effort I put in, I won't reach their level in my next three years of high school! Let me lose every innings, every games you put me in. Crush my naive dream of being an ace pitcher in Koshien, and then I will walk out of this place like you said!"
Eijun's voice was loud and clear. God knew how much effort he put in to convey his thoughts.
Silence swept through the baseball field. Sawamura Eijun was still standing there, face to face with Seido's baseball team head coach, not backing down an inch. He wasn't a very tall or muscular teenager. In fact, he had a lean body that was common for kids his age, but not very impressive for an athlete. Yet, in that specific moment, in the eyes of everyone there, his presence was nothing they could ignore.
Eijun didn't know how others look at him. He didn't even care. He looked straight to coach Kataoka's eyes, yet didn't see anything clearly because of the sunglasses.
Kataoka seemed to look at him for a moment, then he said: "Easier said than done. You want me test your skill, then..."
Kataoka suddenly swung his arm and Eijun flinched and covered his head on reflex.
Then, he heard a loud sound of something hit something made from metal. He turned around and saw a ball dropped near the fence. He realized that Kataoka just threw a ball there, from where they stood to the fence that was about 90 meters away.
"If you managed to get to the fence in one long throw, I'll let you join practice." Kataoka said, to Eijun surprised, "But if you can't, you have to give up being a pitcher right now."
"That's how you evaluate? Is that all?" Eijun asked, he didn't think it was that simple.
Kataoka crossed his arms, "It's my first test for you."
"Alright." Eijun nodded, at least satisfied that he was given a chance.
"Alright?" Someone said, "Isn't that too hard?"
"Coach, this is..." Someone looked at the coach, hoped that he changed his mind.
But both Kataoka and Eijun were just happened to be the same type of man - the stubborn one.
Kataoka didn't change his mind, and Eijun already accepted the challenge.
Eijun stood at the home plate, gripped the ball. Zeroing his eyes on the fence, Eijun swung his left arm and "whoosh" the ball flew.
"Clang"
"It... It hit." Everyone awed.
The ball hit the fence, it spun like crazy before it stopped its momentum and dropped on the ground.
And just like that, Sawamura Eijun was allowed to join practice with other first year players.
#
"That Sawamura kid, he threw an incredibly straight ball and it didn't seem like it drop its speed along the way." Tetsuya Yuuki suddenly said while he was in the middle of their batting practice. He emitted an aura that said he wanted to hit Sawamura's pitch.
"The most impressive thing is the spin on the ball he threw." Surprised by their usually quiet captain, yet Ishisaki Jun immediately joined in the conversation, still vividly remembered the crazily spinning ball that Sawamura threw.
"It would be hard to hit its sweet spot and send it flying." Kominato Ryousuke said, "That won't be a big threat to metal bat, though. He doesn't seem to have enough strength to overpower batters."
"Oh, believe me. He has something more interesting than strength." Miyuki Kazuya said, as he walked into one of the batting cages.
"What's this? It's rare for you to praise someone. Did you catch for him?" Kuramochi Yoichi asked, was kinda curious about his youngest roommate.
"I'm not praising him." Miyuki said, "But I did catch for him when he came here with Rei-chan months ago."
"So he was scouted then." Isashiki Jun said, turned towards Miyuki, "What more does he have aside from that straight fastball?"
Miyuki Kazuya, as wicked as he usually is, shrugged and smirked, "It would be more interesting for you to see it yourself."
"That's it! I'm gonna destroy your pretty boy face!" Jun growled, was about to leave his spot and come after Miyuki's blood.
"Violence would harm our baseball team's reputation, so no, don't do it, Jun." Tetsuya stated the obvious fact.
"Ah, so that's why we still tolerate this mischievous underclassman of us." Ryousuke said, hit the ball that came flying towards him with ease, "Guess we must wait 'til graduation, huh?"
Miyuki sweated, decided to shut up when Ryousuke joined the conversation. While Ryousuke was a pain to their opponents on the field, he unfortunately could also be a pain to his own teammates when they were off the field.
"Hyahaha, don't worry Miyuki, I will carry you to infirmary afterwards." Kuramochi laughed.
"Shut up, Mochi." Miyuki said under his breath.
After that, they didn't continue their talk about Sawamura. Sure, the kid was interesting and what he said was motivating them even more (not that any of them would admit, though), but they were too busy for Tokyo Spring Tournament to care for a kid who just freshly graduated from middle school.