Archive of Our Own ^beta

Originally, Miyuki and Chris were watching and taking notes on the other team, not Akagi. However… a certain pitcher was just too loud to ignore.

Even though Akagi was losing pretty badly, that loud pitcher was still so positive, shining like the sun that it almost blinded them.

He encouraged them, and they responded in kind. They kept playing…even if they felt like wanting to quit.

Needless to say, Miyuki and Chris were impressed by his attitude.

As the game went on, Chris glanced at the dugout and couldn’t believe it.

A quick tap on the shoulder was enough to get Miyuki’s attention, the younger turning to him. 

“There's no one in the dugout on Akagi’s side,” sighs Chris.

“…you mean he’s just leading the team on his own?!” Miyuki yells in surprise.

And yes…indeed, the pitcher was leading his team alone. However, Miyuki just felt that something wasn’t right as he kept watching the pitcher, Sawamura Eijun if he remembers correctly. 

After the game was over, Akagi lost, and Miyuki and Chris both go to the back, wanting to talk to Sawamura.

They see Akagi leaving.

“Wait up!”

This stops Akagi in their tracks, curious about the newcomers.

“Sawamura, right?”

“Hai?” Sawamura tilts his head to the side like a puppy.

“Why were you holding back?” Miyuki asks, much to Chris’ surprise.

“Pfftt… Ahahahaha!” Sawamura starts laughing, surprising everyone. He eventually calms himself down, “Sorry, sorry. But… haha… no one’s asked me that! Neither our past opponents nor the adults noticed that but you did!”

Sighing and getting his breathing under control, Sawamura smiles, “You’re interesting…”

Miyuki and Chris smile before introducing themselves. Then, as soon as they said they were catchers, Sawamura’s eyes lit up, sparkling.

“Catch for me! Please!”

“Ei-chan…” Akagi sweat-drops, “We have to go soon…”

“You guys can go on without me! We‘re not doing anything after this anyway!” Sawamura insists.

“…sure,” Miyuki smiles innocently, “Just not here.”

“Yay!” Sawamura cheers before pulling Miyuki away like an excited puppy on a leash.

“I’ll make sure they both get home safely,” Chris sweat-drops, being the responsible one.

“…please do,” the class advisor relents, sighing and shaking his head.

Then, Chris goes after them.

Once Chris catches up to them, in a quiet corner…

“You’re really going to catch for him?” Chris asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Of course not~,” Miyuki smiles, “I don’t have my mitt with me. I just wanted to talk to him in private, is all.”

"You tricked me! You…you tanuki!" Sawamura yells, cat-eyed.

Miyuki blinks before laughing at the bristled cat in front of him, "Hahaha! Tanuki? Really?"

“You look like one!”

Miyuki giggles before regaining control of himself, “Seriously though, why were you holding back?”

Sawamura sighs, “I don’t have a choice. My teammates can’t catch my pitches…”

Miyuki and Chris don’t know what to say to that.

“…we noticed there was no one in the dugout on your side. That you were leading the team by yourself,” Chris says.

Sawamura huffs, “Try creating a team from scratch by yourself, leading as both ace and captain, and doing everything by yourself without a coach. It’s harder than it looks.”

“But you’re still doing it,” Miyuki comments.

“I love baseball too much to stop now,” Sawamura shakes his head, smiling. 

The catchers look at each other and smile, seemingly agreeing on something.

They give Sawamura their contact info.

“Let us know if you’re in Tokyo, and want to play catch,” Miyuki smiles.

Sawamura glares at him with suspicion, “This better not be another trick, tanuki…”

“Of course not~,” Miyuki teases before becoming serious, “I want to catch for you.”

“We both do,” Chris smiles.

Looking at their sincerity, Sawamura sighs, relenting as he takes their info, “…alright.”

Then, Chris watches Miyuki and Sawamura bicker as they walk to Sawamura’s bus. Thus, was the start of a new friendship. (Chris may or may not invite Sawamura over too, along with Miyuki.)