Catching Feels - KiriBaku Baseball AU (ongoing)

Chapter 5

Friday

If I could go back in time, there is only one thing I would tell myself; don't jerk off to your best friend.

I thought it'd be fine– I thought I would see him at practice like normal and nothing would be different– I was wrong. I mean, just seeing him would bring back memories I didn't particularly want to remember at that moment, and now, all I could associate him with was– well.. that. I did my best to ignore it, warming up as usual and even running an extra lap to get it out of my head.

When it came time for the game to start, everything was going well, my pitching was going good and I had managed to put everything out of my mind for the most part. I avoided Kirishima, besides when I was pitching, to avoid any mishaps. He also seemed to be a bit quieter than usual today. However I didn't mind– I didn't need him distracting me with his voice, my priority was winning this game and nothing could stop me. By the top of the sixth inning my pitching was still going strong, I had even heard the opposing team's coach commenting on my stamina. 

Kirishima was still quiet besides calling out the plays when he had to. A faint worry entered my mind, wondering why he could have been acting differently, but I pushed that thought to the side for now. I got the third out when the batter swung and missed on my changeup. 

Entering the dugout, I was immediately up to bat. I grabbed my helmet and gloves and took a few practice swings, I then observed the pitcher for a moment, and he was good. I knew that Sero and Kaminari were the ones following me in the batting order, and also two of our weakest hitters on the lineup, especially when it came to judging pitches. Bottom of the sixth, we were leading by just one– I needed this run, to give us a bigger cushion. As I step inside the batter's box I take the first pitch, a strike, but now I know where it is. I hear the team cheering me on, "Alright Kacchan, now you've seen it! Get the next one!" I hear Deku shouting from the sidelines, always quite the cheerleader, ever since we played coach pitch together as kids. 

I step out of the box to take a look at our coach for a signal on how he wants me to hit or if he would rather me take another. I watch as he gives the indicator and the sign for batter's choice. He's leaving it up to me now. I glance at the dugout, noticing that Kirishima is the only one who isn't actively cheering, but rather watching quietly and attentively with a strange piercing gaze. I swallow hard as I step back into the box, not sure why Kirishima's gaze seems to throw me off so much. I'm ready for the pitch, I see the ball approaching, I swing– and I miss. 

The count is 0-2, one wrong move and I'm out. I hate to admit how much my hands are sweating under these gloves. I readjust my grip on the bat and ready my stance. He's most likely going to throw a changeup– I know that, I won't let him catch me off guard.

And of course, my instinct is correct. My swing meets the ball with enough power to drive it right between left and center, past both outfielders and into the fence. My ideal hit.

I take off running, the left fielder makes the throw to their cutoff, which is shortstop, but he fumbles the ball and makes a bad toss to third. The ball goes over the third baseman's head as I round the bag, digging my heels into the ground pushing my speed as much as possible. The third baseman gets a hold of the ball and makes the throw, fast and accurately, I'm down, sliding into home in a horribly familiar way. 

Of course my mind has to go there– sliding into Kirishima and knocking him off balance, him landing on top of me– but it's different now. The catcher doesn't fall, and I'm hoping he didn't make a tag either, my mind was too busy to be able to distinctly tell. It feels as if the whole world is frozen, holding its breath as the umpire makes the call.

"Safe!" 

The entire dugout bursts into cheers and yells as I make my way back to my team in what would normally be an amazing triumph, but I can't help but angle my head towards the ground as I sit back down on the bench. "Great hit." Kirishima says plainly, not even turning to face me. I grind my teeth as I can feel my face heating up just from the simple compliment. I nod in response, attempting to keep any thoughts other than playing baseball at bay.

Word count: 835