Catching Feels - KiriBaku Baseball AU (ongoing)

Chapter 2

My first few pitches are a little rough, curveballs flying way past the zone and sinkers falling short, but of course, Kirishima just kept that bright, happy smile, encouraging me, telling me I'll get the next one, he's sure of it.

And he was right, once I had gotten into it, I was making every pitch, hearing the satisfying smack as the ball met his glove, and he would smile up excitedly at me after each pitch, as if each one was the best pitch I had ever thrown. I find myself smiling back in return as he throws the ball to me and smiling down at the ground, I take a few steps back to my mound to wind up for another pitch. 

In fractions of a second my fastball hits his glove and I can hear two new voices approaching. 

"Yeah! That's our Bakugou!" 

"That was a nice pitch, man."

I turn to see Kaminari, our first baseman, and Sero, our second baseman, walking up to the field. "You act surprised that I can pitch." I say, sounding a bit cocky which was rather the norm when it came to those two. It's fun to mess with them. They roll their eyes and Kaminari laughs happily as he grabs his glove. 

"Hey, we can take first and second so we can practice some throw downs and turns too!" He says excitedly as he runs out onto the field leaving Sero behind in the dugout. 

"It'd be best if y'all stretched out first though, don't want you pulling anything." Kirishima responds as he stands up, tossing his glove on the ground and taking his helmet off, running a hand through sweat matted hair. "Oh Sero, can you grab my water right there on your way out– thanks." he asks, pointing to a plastic water bottle on the bench.

"Sure thing, here ya go!" he responds as he grabs it, tossing the bottle to Kirishima as he ran out onto the field to stretch with Kaminari. Kirishima quickly removes the cap, taking a few swigs from the bottle before closing it and looking up at me, probably noticing that I had been staring.

"Here, want some?" he asks, tossing the bottle my way. He thought I was staring at the water– funny. I look at the bottle for a moment then back at him. "I've got extra so feel free." he says as he puts his helmet back on and grabs his glove. 

"Yeah.. thanks." I mumble just loud enough for him to hear from his position as I open the bottle and drink some by waterfall, not letting it touch my lips. I screw the cap back on and set the bottle down next to me out of the way. I turn to see Kaminari and Sero, who are done stretching, making their way to first and second. "Y'all ready?" I ask all three.

"Good to go!" Kaminari says pointing finger guns toward me, even though one hand is covered by his glove. Kirishima nods as he squats down ready to catch. 

"Going two, turn one!" he calls before the pitch. I turn the ball in my hand a few times, before I relax my body, preparing to start a full wind up. I draw my hands in toward my chest as I lift my knee, leaning forward slightly bringing my knee to its highest point as I bring my arm back, placing my lifted foot down and bringing my arm up, rotating around as I lift my back leg swinging it around as I bring my arm down for the release, bringing my back leg forward for the follow through. I hear the smack of the ball meeting glove and Sero calling "Two, two!" as Kirishima stands and prepares to throw. I step out of his way and watch as he puts all his power into the ball as it flies across the field, landing with a smack in the center of Sero's glove. 

"Turn one!" Kirishima calls as he watches the rest of the play finish out, Sero pivoting towards first, twisting and throwing to Kaminari who is calling for the ball. He makes a good reach when Sero's throw falls a bit short since he hadn't gotten a full step into his throw. He makes the catch with his back foot still on the bag before he throws the ball back to me with a satisfied smile. 

"Not bad." I say encouragingly, because as much of an asshole I can be sometimes, I really do appreciate my team.

Word count: 762