Stealing First

Chapter 20

'Sawamura! Where is your focus? Get your head in the game or get off the mound!' Coach Katoaka bellowed at the rookie pitcher, who jumped to attention in response.

'Yes boss, sorry boss!' stammered Sawamura in reply. He knew he had been distracted towards the end of training as he kept glancing in the direction of the library to check if Charlie was heading their way yet. As he turned to wind up for his next pitch, he spied a shock of purple hair bobbing towards the practice field. 'Ah, Coach? A-Actually I need to use the bathroom...'

The brawny man pinched the bridge of his nose above his ever-present sunglasses in clear frustration. 'Fine. We are just about done for today anyway,' he sighed. 'Furuya! Give me ten fastballs before we wrap up.'

Sawamura jogged reluctantly off the mound as his chief rival took up his place with the coach. Miyuki had better be grateful for this, he thought moodily as he made his way from the field to intercept Charlie.

His bad mood quickly evaporated as he saw Charlie wave and flash him a warm grin. 'Hey Sawamura, how was practice? Are they almost done?'

'Charlie-san! Practice was good,' he lied, 'they should be done soon.' He noticed Charlie put her bag down on the bleachers and quickly interrupted. 'Your dad said he would meet you by the equipment shed. Let me show you the way.' Without waiting for a reply, the bull-headed rookie grabbed Charlie's bag and began to walk off in the direction of the sheds.

'Okayyyyyy,' shrugged Charlie as she trailed behind him, his direct approach so in character she didn't even think to question it.

They rounded the corner of a large blue building, its roller door flung open to reveal a treasure trove of equipment that would make any baseball enthusiast drool with envy.

'Here you go.' Sawamura gestured to the space within, adding, 'the spare base pads behind the bins over there make an excellent spot to sit. Not that I would know, I never slack off in here or anything, just something I heard...' His voice trailed off and a slight blush grew on his cheeks, revealing his lie.

Charlie chuckled softly, moving to retrieve her bag from her classmate and moving towards the bases as suggested. 'Thanks, Sawamura, I'll just wait here. See you in class tomorrow?'

Sawamura nodded, an odd look on his face, as he turned and walked slowly back through the open doors. Charlie sat and took out her book. Sawamura was right, she thought, these pads are surprisingly comfortable. She quickly became engrossed in the story, so didn't hear the banter of the two approaching second years until they had rounded the corner of the storage shed. She paused her reading and tilted her head to try to pick up who they were, and immediately froze. She knew that voice. His voice. Kazuya. 

Her eyes flared in instant panic and her heart began to race in her chest. She didn't want to see him, but judging from where their voices were, she could not escape without being seen. An encounter here would be beyond awkward, she thought, her mind reeling, trying desperately to find a solution to her dilemma. After seconds that felt like an eternity, she decided her best course of action was to stay where she was and hope that they didn't discover her. She quietly closed her book and shrank down as far as she dared into the base pads, praying no sound would give away her location.

'Why don't you start with the medicine balls in the corner?' called Kuramochi, his voice ringing with a confidence he certainly wasn't feeling. 'I'll start with the water bottles over here.'

Miyuki snorted derisively in reply, his usual personality beginning to resurface. 'Typical. Give me the real work while you slack off with the easy stuff.' Despite his sarcastic retort, Miyuki turned and began to make his way over to the metal shelving on the far wall housing the medicine balls.