Forbidden Protege

Ch. 2: Class and Field (Part 4)

As the trio neared the field, Alexia split off to find the coach and Kimura and Miyuki went to warm up for practice. Kuramochi was already there as was the first-year group. Sawamura was running laps with Furuya and Haruichi was stretching nearby. The third-years were all stretching together was well. Kuramochi nodded towards Miyuki as he approached. "Is Alex-chan joining us?"

"Yeah, she just went to find the coach first," Miyuki replied, beginning his own stretches. "He'll probably have her introduce herself to the team before we officially begin practice. I wonder if he'll have her join the primary practice since she's a second-year or if he'll make her work with the first-years first."

"Dunno. I guess it depends on what kind of record she had back in America, since she's already played on a high school team for a while," came the reply. "I take it you guys all left your rooms at the same time, then?" Kuramochi asked, aware that Miyuki and Kimura had made it to the field at the same time as Alexia.

Miyuki grimmanced, remembering the almost-catastrophe. "Yeah, and she tried to knock me down the stairs."

"What?!" Kuramochi yelled, gaining the attention of the third-years. "Did Alex-chan really try to push you down the stairs?"

"She did what?!" Jun yelled back angrily. Miyuki looked over and saw the rest of the third-years with a mixture of anger and concern on their faces.

"Well, not exactly," Miyuki hurried to explain. He understood that it had just been a miscalculation on her part and wasn't looking to get her in trouble. "She spooked me and that caused me to back up and nearly fall down the stairs. She grabbed me and thanks to Kimura-san we didn't fall. It was an accident."

"Naru-chan scared you?" Ryosuke asked, clearly amused. 'Crap,' Miyuki thought. 'Now they're going to tease me for that.'

"No, but the fact that she jabbed my sides caused me to jump," he said, trying to minimize the damage.

"Your sides?" Tanba asked curiously. "Naru-chan seems to be fairly relaxed around you." Miyuki realized that his observation was true. Ever since he had first met her, she seemed to be completely at ease with him, and Kuramochi. She didn't seem to care when they had entered her room without permission, had let them help put her stuff away, and had no issue with joining them for lunch either. After that, they had left to practice while she went to deal with paperwork for the school and didn't see her until the morning. In class however, she had made casual conversation with them and now she was fine with being physical with him and Kimura.

"I guess you're right. When Kuramochi and I first met her she seemed completely fine with the idea of being in the guys' dorms and was relaxed around us immediately," Miyuki agreed.

"That's true," Kuramochi spoke up. "She basically just acted like she was another guy on the team from the get-go. And she spoke casually with us as well. I just assumed that that was normal in America."

Ryosuke hummed. "She certainly doesn't seem to mind being rude to her senpais either. I wonder where she learned her manners?" Miyuki and Kuramochi both tensed slightly, remembering her first run in with the third-years.

"Coach Kataoka and Rei-san both made it clear that she should be treated like any other player. I believe that she understands and wants that as well," Yuki stated matter-of-factly. "We should treat her like a guy."

Tanba looked at their captain hesitantly. "I think there's a difference between treating her like another teammate and treating her like a guy."

"Well, she certainly doesn't act very much like a girl. If it weren't for her hair, she could easily pass as a guy," Miyuki mused. "Her way of speaking definitely isn't very lady-like."

"Kyahahahaha! You can say that again," Kuramochi laughed loudly, turning to Ryosuke. "She cusses so much, it's like she doesn't know how to stop."

"She sounds like more of a delinquent than you," Ryosuke said, smiling at his field partner. Kuramochi puffed his cheeks and pouted slightly. He couldn't say anything back.

"Line Up!"

All of the players turned and ran towards where their coach was standing at the dugout. The entire team, first and second string, and even the first years were all gathered. They stood neatly in line at attention ready to hear what their coach had to say. Most of the players eyed the figure next to Rei with hesitation. There was no way that any of them hadn't heard about the discovery the night before.

"As of today, there will be one additional player on the team," the coach declared before nodding at the girl. She nodded back and stepped forward, carrying her steady gaze over the team, not seeming the least bit intimidated.

"I'm sure by now you've all heard about me. My name is Narumiya Alexia. I'm a second-year and will be joining your team. I played baseball in America for the last five years and I can assure you that I can hold my own on the field. I am a pitcher, however my secondary position is catcher. It's a pleasure to meet you." She did not bow. She held the gaze of each and every member who was staring at her in disbelief.

Hushed murmurs started spreading. Like Miyuki, most of them had assumed that she would play outfield, or maybe infield. Her declaration that she was a pitcher and a catcher caught everyone by surprise. As did her confidence. Her clear statements and ability to look everyone in the eyes may have come across as arrogant or rude had it been anyone else, but the entire team was in silent agreement that neither word fit. It was pure, quiet, solid confidence.

"Naru-san will be joining the first-year practice as well as the second-string practice from today. Treat her as you would any other teammate. First-years, running. Situational fielding and batting practice for the rest. Dismissed!" The coach ordered. No one wasted a second running off towards their designated areas. Alexia followed the two familiar faces she knew towards practice field B.

Miyuki and Kuramochi followed after the other first-string players. "So she's a pitcher and a catcher. You scared she's coming for your position," Kuramochi jabbed at Miyuki.

"Ha. As if," Miyuki said back lazily. "It is certainly interesting, though. Especially with the way she introduced herself and the fact that the coach immediately put her on the second-string team. She must have been good in America." Miyuki narrowed his eyes. He was hoping he'd get the chance to catch her pitch sooner rather than later to find out why she seemed so confident and why the coach seemed so sure of her abilities.

"She must be good to be put on the team like that," Kuramochi agreed. "I can't wait to see her pitch."