XII. National Catcher (Part One)

Nanairō

I stood opposite of Miyuki with my batting gloves on and a smirk. Somehow, a few publications, Universities, Pro-teams, and reporters caught wind about the show down between Miyuki and I. Makes me wonder just how last minute this game actually is... I glanced up at the stands to see the reporters and everyone all standing and watching. And then I spotted a singular familiar face. D-Dad? He was wearing a proud smile as he waved at me from the stands. His hat and sunglasses hid his identity but I recognized him. Something was different. Was he... Sober? I also noticed the step witch and her evil spawn were no where in sight. "Am I imagining things..." I mumbled under my breath, before smiling lightly. I turned back to Coach.

"Bow!" We did as he said. "Have a good fair match!" We all cheered, but I roared in an unfamiliar feeling. Hope?

We were at bat first, and they were starting off with Furuya. I was batting first round cleanup. The three before me looked to me for confirmation that the plan was still in play based on pitcher choice and I nodded.

"If they start off with Tanba, aim for his wicked curve balls. He uses them most abundantly. Just know he's riled up so it'll curve more than usual. If it's Kawakami, aim for the sliders to the inside and just try to pop it where their defense is the weakest: left field. Whatever you do, don't pop it to center, otherwise it's game over. And if it's Furuya, don't swing unless your count is full or you're at two strikes. If it's a meatball, knock it back but after seeing his patterns, it'll most likely be too high. He's going to try and shut you out with power, so be ready to swing and stand in the back of the box. Haruichi, you're the only one I want crowding the plate. Let them underestimate us, but never underestimate them. Remember, the only one we really have to watch for is Tanba."

I recalled my words to our starting nine as I watched Furuya pitch his warm-up pitches. They were curving up like usual. Good, he's being predictable yet wild. I leaned against the fence to watch. Coach called for Haruichi. He looked at me and did the sign we agreed on. Show a bunt and pull back, only swing if it's perfect. Miyuki frowned slightly at our signals. He must've known that we had a plan to disable their pitchers. Haruichi crouched and as Furuya prepared to throw, he showed a bunt. Disoriented, Furuya three it high, but Haruichi had already pulled his bat back. "Ball one!"

I grinned, and Miyuki looked at me in surprise. Shocked that I know how to break a pitcher, Miyuki? You forget I am one too. "Forgive me, Furuya, but I'm going to have to break your spirit a bit." I mumbled. Miyuki moved his mitt to low and inside. Furuya wound up again, but Haruichi threw him off by showing a bunt again. Furuya pitched. That's a meatball! "HIT IT!" Haruichi made a full connection by changing his form and pulled it straight down the third base line. The ball soared deep into the outfield, while the left fielder struggled to keep up with it, and elected to catch it on the bounce. By the time the ball reached the infield, Haruichi popped up from his slide to second.

"Safe!" I heard murmurings from the crowd grouped around the fence.

"Woah how did that kid pull it so hard! But the Coach isn't in the second string dugout! Who would've known how to cut through their defense like that though? They're not even varsity!" I grinned.

"Hear that? They're underestimating you up there in the stands, you just gonna take it?" Everyone shouted.

"The short one, isn't he a prestigious catcher? I feel like I recognize him."

"That's Chibana Satōshi, formerly Nakatomi Satōshi. He's tied with Miyuki Kazuya, who is catching for First String right now for number one catcher in the nation. He's a master at almost every position and skill in baseball, and is a great strategist as a result. He's been playing from a young age and is said to have been coached by the alumni of this school to breed him for highschool baseball. He also was on a team in Osaka that was a Finalist for Kōshien Qualifiers, but lost to Miyuki-kun's team. He's only catching today from what I hear, even though he normally pitches." The surrounding reporters gasped in amazement.

"A true Prodigy!" I shook my head modestly, ignoring them and refocused on my teammates as our second hole barely managed to get on first.

"Oh? What's going on? Is that really the second string?" As I approached the batter's circle I turned around and pointed my bat at the dugout. They all screamed, distracting the crowd. "Their cleanup is coming in soon. They can't avoid it now I guess... W-wha! The third batter just showed a bunt?! Are they crazy?!" Zono quickly pulled the bat back with confidence and watched the ball glide in as our runner on first slid into second, barely beating Miyuki's reflexes.

"Ball One!" I grinned at Miyuki. Good, we're in his head now. And now if I can disable Miyuki's defense, I'll have the battery under control.

"Zono!" He looked at me and I gave him the signal. He crowded the plate in the back of the box, stealing Miyuki's wiggle room. Haruichi inched off of third, catching Furuya's attention and throwing his rhythm off midpitch. Haruichi quickly hopped back on base. I heard a loud thump

"Batter hit!"

"Oi, oi! Furuya pay attention!" I received a glare from Zono. Sorry, I didn't know the baka would hit you!

I stepped up to the plate and dug my feet against the dirt. "You're breaking Furuya. How am I supposed to fix him if you keep tearing down his pitches with distractions?" I grinned down at the megane. "Oi, oi, who is joking? You don't have to catch for the idiot while he's broken..." He's not the only one broken. Don't let my strategies get you wrapped up, otherwise you'll break too. I crouched into an unfamiliar stance to Miyuki and changed how I was gripping the bat. Furuya wound up and I quickly showed a bunt and pulled it back. I'll break your spirit and fix it again! He pitched a meatball so I quickly shifted stances and swung through, watching the ball hit the sweet spot of the bat with a satisfying clank. It went flying over the fence and bounced across the street.

I smirked down at Miyuki, who had a shocked expression. "What's wrong Snake-kun? Shocked that it wasn't just Furuya broken?" Coach smirked from behind, "Be careful getting twisted up in my strategy. You forgot your own in the process." I sprinted off, running the baseline behind Zono as we ran the diamond. As I stepped foot on the plate I noticed Miyuki's wavering confidence as well as the First Strings fallen moods.

"OI, OI YOU PUNKS! GET OUT OF YOUR HEADS AND PLAY THE DAMN GAME!" All of the First String players flinched at my shouting and turned to look at me. "HOW CAN YOU GET TO NATIONALS IF YOU CAN'T HANDLE A CLEANUP!" That should rile them up plenty. My words held to their purpose, as the player's quickly regained confidence and fighting spirit.

"SHUT IT YOU DISRESPECTFUL KOHAI!"

"YES SIR, SPITZ-SEMPAI!"

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SPITZ!"

Everyone was either laughing or ready to fight again, on both teams. "Hey second string! Just because we're ahead doesn't mean you can be lazy, you bastards!" I grinned and they returned it. I turned my head slightly to Coach, who was smirking. He gave me a nod of approval. "Let's go!" I led the other three back to the dugout and greeted the next three.

"Don't swing, if he strikes you out, it happens. After this inning he'll be pulled, since we so damaged his pride. And though I hope you won't, if you do swing, only at meatballs, and watch it connect. Aim for the third base line if you want a chance." They all nodded eagerly. God I hated to send them off to be struck out, but I knew the more we scored the more likely we were to lose. The more we take, the more motivation we give.

Soon enough, we got a runner on base by walk, who tried to steal but got caught. The other disobeyed my instructions not to swing and struck out on high balls. I put my gear on quickly. And took the field. As I waited at the plate Coach initiated a conversation. "You certainly did what you told me you would do. At the moment, you should focus on shutting out the first three, because I can guarantee the rest will hit." I whined.

"Ah, sir, they're not ready for hard hits yet though—"

"No matter the situation, you should lead them well. As far as I'm concerned, you've already proved yourself more strategic than Miyuki, but how will you lead?" I nodded, a noise of understanding coming out.

"Well then, it seems they're ready to fight. If you'll excuse me sir." I moved to my position and caught a few pitches (I felt bad for not remembering his name, but there were just too many) for his warm-up.

"Batter!" Kuramochi grinned as he approached.

"Oh would you look at that! It's the Sadist Catcher! You should know, Miyuki is seriously broken. He's been giggling to himself for ten fucking minutes." I grinned.

"Kuramochi, talking endlessly doesn't distract me." He frowned. "I'm no idiot." He cackled.

"You certainly aren't!" I glanced at his form. Bunt.

I called for a curve ball low and inside. The pitcher nodded, and as I expected, Kuramochi showed a bunt. He barely tipped it and took off, but I was faster than him. I swiftly snatched the ball that had barely rolled from the plate in a side slide and threw it to first in a flash and a bang. "Out!" Kuramochi came back gritting his teeth.

"Damn! You're still faster than me! Remind me to kick your ass later as punishment!" I grinned. Next up was Ryousuke.

"What was that play! I've never seen anything like that before in highschool baseball! Why is that at her second string?" Ryou approached me with a calculating look.

"Satōshi, you shouldn't show off, it's disrespectful." I grinned.

"Ne, Ryou-senpai, are you ready to face off against your brother?" Provoked: check. I noticed his hands tighten on his bat handle. He's going to hit it to you, Haru! I looked at Haru and he got the message and nonchalantly prepared.

"You're really good at provoking people Chibana. It's no wonder you, Kuramochi, and Miyuki are three peas in a pod. Since you're calling the shots, I guess you know where I'm aiming?" I grinned.

"Something like that."

"Ah, I almost forgot how much of a genius you were."

"Ryou-senpai, you give me too much credit." I called for a fastball down the middle. The pitcher flinched and shook his head but I insisted on the call. Spare me your pride and do as I say! The pitcher once again refused, so I stood and looked at coach. "Time?" He nodded.

"Ah, what the hell... The catcher should just squat into position already!" I walked up to the mound and slammed my gloves hand against the pitcher's chest.

"Hey Okura-san," he gulped at my threatening smile, "Are you afraid to follow my calls because it's aggressive? Or to spare your pride?" I heard the upperclassmen infielders cough awkwardly at my directness. "If it's either of them, get off the mound! Proving ourselves isn't about winning or losing, it's about proving your spirit through teamwork! If you can't trust me or the fielders behind you, then you should run with the First years!" The pitcher gasped and gritted his teeth at my direct challenge.

"How can I pitch down the middle and let him hit it! I'll never freely give up a hit!" I grew irritated.

"Bakairo! It's not about you! This battle is a battle between fielders and batter! He's going to hit whatever you pitch, so do it with spirit regardless! Swallow your pride!" Everyone on both strings seemed to come to the same realization all at once.

"T-that's—"

My expression softened as I leaned closer to the second year pitcher. "Okura-san, trust me here please." I stepped away, and the moment I stepped off of the mound everyone was even more intensely riled up tan before.

"Okura-senpai! Shut him down!"

"Ryousuke you better hit that ball!"

"Look out little brother!"

"GO OKURA-SENPAI!"

"YEAH! LET'S PUT THEM IN THEIR PLACE!"

"Shut it, Jun!"

"WHAT!"

I grinned at the shouting madness from both strings of players. "Tsk, tsk. Who would've guessed that you'd have them all this loud when you weren't even talking to them... You're dangerous... you disrespectful kohai!" I grinned at the older Kominato sibling as I reached the plate. "Even the crowd is shouting now..." I looked back, and sure enough they were.

"RYOUSUKE! YOU BETTER PUT THEM IN THEIR PLACE!"

"THE ALUMNI ARE COUNTING ON YOU!"

I grinned at the alumni I recognized, who were staring at me with pride. "Satōshi... Don't disappoint us!" I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes as I nodded with the same shit-eating grin.

"HAI!" I turned around and popped into position, giving the same call. With an uneasy look, Okura nodded.

"Face our spirit... Ryou-senpai!"

Clink!

Bang!

Confused cheers erupted. Haruichi held up his glove proudly, blushing. Ryousuke chuckled. "God it's scary having a brother like that..." I grinned at him as I stood.

"Two outs! One more!" I heard the loud Jun come thundering out of the warm up circle flamboyantly.

"OI, OI! YOU LITTLE SHITS BETTER BE READY!" I grinned.

"Wouldn't be caught any other way Spitz-sempai~"

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SPITZ, SATŌ! GET ON THE MOUND, NOW I WANT TO BLAST YOUR BALL OUT OF THE PARK!" I grinned cheekily.

"Sorry, sorry! I'm catching today!" He growled and I could've sworn I saw his veins pop.

"THAT'S FINE! I'LL PUT YOU IN YOUR PLACE AS A CATCHER TOO!" I started cackling at his growing irritation. "YAH! STOP LAUGHING AND GET THAT PITCHER THROWING ALREADY!"

"Yes Spitz-sempai~" He growled but ignored me.

"What a catcher! And did you see that Second Baseman! They're all so amazing! Why are they second string!"

"Who knows?"

I grinned and signalled for a curve ball to the middle outside. Bam!

"Strike One!"

"Careful Spitz-sempai~ if you underestimate Okura-san you might strike out~"

"SHUT IT!" I grinned and signalled for a low and inside fastball. Clink!

"Foul!" I grinned. The right fielder threw it back to Okura.

I called for a high and inside fastball, wanting a ball. Clank! I watched the ball bounce to center field, and quickly get thrown to second. Jun ran through first with an over confident smirk. "Yah, Jun! Don't smirk like that when you only got to first!"

"S-shut it!" I cackled at the bickering third years.

"FASTBALL-SEMPAI! PUT ME IN! I WON'T LET ANYONE HIT MY PITCH!" I looked at Sawamura.

"Oi, Sawamura! Who told you to warm up! You're pitching last!" He flinched and his face turned red.

"B-but senpai!"

"No buts!" He pouted like a child and stomped back to the dugout. "Hey, Okura." He snapped out of his downcasted look of shame. I held up my pointer finger and pinky with a grin. "Two outs! Focus on the batter and trust us to do our jobs, yeah?" He nodded with newfound confidence.

"You're really serious about this aren't you?" I looked at Captain Yuuki, finding a smirk forming on my face at his pitcher-scaring aura.

"Ah, shouldn't you put up that pressuring aura of yours? You'll scare him."

"Wasn't that the point of calling a pitch you knew Jun would hit?" My eyes widened slightly.

"That obvious huh? He needs to learn how to play under pressure, I guess."

"You should be playing for us, not them. I hope you understand that, Satō-kun. But I'm glad I have the chance to pit our efforts against yours and crush you for once. You always were confident." I flinched.

"O-Oi! Don't say things like that, you bastard! Now I really want to strike you out!" I grinned mischievously at the Captain's very subtle smirk.

I turned to check on Okura and saw his terrified expression. I frowned. Hey, hey... What happened to your confidence? If you let a simple clean up scare you I can't help that...!

I called for a curve ball at the Captain's chest. Jun feigned a steal, so I glared him down, causing him to flinch. Back off or the next one will be a pickoff.

Clink!

The Captain fouled the ball. I called for another pitch in the dirt, knowing this would be when Jun would steal. Okura looked at me in confusion, but I dared him to challenge me with a glare.

Bam!

"Strike Two!" I sent the ball flying in a straight line to second, where the short stop's glove flew off but Haruichi was there to stop the ball and Jun.

"Out!" I caught a shocked look from the opposing dugout and a couple Second string members: Okura, because the ball zipped past his head without warning, Nami (the second baseman) because of how hard the throw was, and Haruichi at how risky the play was. Most of all was Jun and Yuuki.

"Y-YAH! WERE YOU TRYING TO TAKE OFF MY HEAD WITH THAT PICKOFF, YOU DISRESPECTFUL KOHAI!"

I grinned cheekily. "Sorry, next time I'll be more on target Spitz-senpai!" He ran up to me and put me in a headlock.

"NOTHING IS FUNNY! STOP LAUGHING!" I was cracking up.

"D-Don't hit me Spitz-senpai! You're just so much fun to mess with!"

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SPITZ?!"

"Jun!" He let go, startled by the Captain's interruption. "Let's go destroy them in defense."

With a cocky smirk Jun stepped off with Yuuki. I walked back to the dugout.

"That throw the catcher made was something else... Did it... Curve around the pitcher to hit it's target? There's no way he missed his target."

"But what about that short stop? Just how hard did the catcher throw to knock his glove off?"

"156 kilometers per hour." I heard startled gasps and I looked at the crowd to see a scout holding a speed gun. "156kph on a throw from home to Second base... I can't even begin to imagine how crazy a pitcher he must be."

"Gosh, since when did crazy kids like that one exist! He sure as hell gives Miyuki a run for his money, there's not a single doubt about that."

"He's an all around monster alright. Didn't you know his official league batting average is 0.935, and he's batted 46 times in official games. That's just his highschool average too." I heard gasps and cries of amazement from the crowd.

"W-woah! That's unreal! Wasn't he the monster whose team purposely loaded up the bases for him to hit Grand slams in Middle School? Is he really only a kid?" I paid no heed to the comments being made and instead looped an arm over Nami and Haruichi's shoulders. Good thing they're both close to my height!

"O-Oi! Satō-senpai, what was that throw!" I grinned cheekily.

"You wanted the out right~? No way we would've gotten it if I did some half assed job, so there's no way around it. How's your hand by the way? Saw your glove go flying." Nami threw my hand off of his shoulder in irritation and embarrassment.

"It's just fine! What was that throw anyways! Don't you know control?"

"Nami-san~" I looped an arm over his shoulder again, but put him in a tighter hold this time (almost a head lock).

"What!" A threatening glint held with a tight smile.

"Are you disrespecting your senpai?" He flinched hard at the coldness in my voice. I heard Haruichi biting back a laugh.

"N-no sir!" I released him with a teasing grin.

"Good, I'd hate to have to punish someone for being disrespectful." I saw him shiver and walked briskly to get away.

"Hey Satō-senpai? Doesn't Isashiki-senpai call you disrespectful Kohai though?" I grinned at the shy yet bold Kominato brother.

"It's a nickname." I shrugged.

"NO IT'S NOT YOU SHITHEAD!" I cackled at Jun's interjection from Center field.

"Oi, Oi! Don't you have more pressing things to focus on Spitz-senpai?"

"SATŌ YOU'RE TOO COCKY! WE'RE GOING TO WRESTLE LATER!" I laughed harder at the easily irritated Third year. "NOTHING IS FUNNY!" At that point I was laughing so hard my sides hurt.

"Y-You're too funny!"

"Senpai." I snapped out of my laughing fit in an instant.

"Oh?" I looked up to the incredibly tall First year who approached me.

"Please teach me to catch later!" He bowed abruptly, startling all of us in the dugout. Everyone stood in complete silence.

"T-Tachibana I don't—"

"Please, Senpai!" I felt my heart melt at the First Year's approach.

"Alright. Be at my dorm after you eat and shower. We'll start immediately."

"Y-yes sir!" I smiled at the boy before turning back towards the game.

"Now then, let's get back to work, shall we?"

"YEAH!"