Strikeout

A Decision

Middle School - Transition - Winter

Entrance exams were the bane of her existence. Private entrance exams were her worst nightmare. To get into her school of choosing, she had to take a private entrance exam at 6 in the morning. Weeks and weeks of cramming had prepared her for this moment, and she left the testing center with her head held high and a sore right hand.

It was time for a celebration.

Party of one.

Sora pulled up her scarf to her nose, shoving her hands into her coat pockets and began walking. It was the perfect day for a nice hot bowl of ramen. Her Uncle, aunt and mother would be working extra hard today, this kind of weather always made the shop busy.

Maybe she should skip the celebration and help in the shop.

"Sora-sama!"

Who the...

Sora glanced over her shoulder seeing a tall male with messy Auburn hair and a small smile on his face. He's bundled up for the weather, along with a pair of sunglasses covering his dark brown eyes. She slumped her shoulders, and relaxed. It was one of the tolerable guys in her group.

Suzuki Tarou.

Two years her senior and an avid baseball fan. So much of a baseball fan he joined the baseball team at his high school. From what she remembered, he was an outfielder and part of the cleanup crew. She listened to him babble on how amazing it was to be on a powerful team.

He's a real baseball idiot.

Sora slowed her pace and let the tall high school student fall into step next to her. Although, she had to pick up her pace because she was shorter and he had longer strides.

"Did you finish your exams?"

She replied with a simple nod. Tarou beamed.

"What school did you plan on going to?"

They stopped at an intersection. A couple of cars went by .

"I thought about going to a school that's primarily focused on studies. But, Seido is the closest to home, so I can take the bus or my bike and not have to worry about train fare. That's the one you're going to, right?"

They started walking again, heading towards the commercial ward of their distract. Lots of family owned shops, a couple of convenient stores. It was a breath of fresh air compare to the inner most sanctions of Tokyo.

"Yeah, I'll be a third year starting in spring. I'm determined to make it to the first string this time."

He's been asking her to pitch for him for the past couple of months. Ever since he found out her uncle taught her baseball, and how to pitch no less, he's been asking her to throw him fastballs, curve balls, and even breaking balls.

Although, her uncle only taught her fastballs, she had to ask him to oversee their practice sessions and she was learning different pitches almost each time. The good thing is her uncle said her control had improved. The bad thing is that she woke up with a sore shoulder.

It was a little tiring, but it was something fun to do with her uncle and Tarou.

She'd really wish Tarou would stop asking people to come watch. Honestly...

Sora reached up to pat him on the shoulder. She almost had to stand on the tips of her toes.

"You can do it."

Tarou rubbed the back of his neck, grinning as if he'd received the biggest praise of his life. Well, according to him anyways. Ever since she beat up that gang leader a couple months ago, his group now became her group and they followed her around. The gang leader before her had something over each member, like blackmail or they owed him money.

Sora told them they could do whatever.

They decided to stick with her. It was like looking after a bunch of kids.

This was the moment in an anime where the protag gained a loyal band of companions who would risk their life for them. Sora was their esteemed leader and they'd follow her to the ends of the earth. A lot of discipline was implemented though. She once had to travel all the way to Chiba to break up a fight between her lovable yankees and someone else's.

She never caught his name, but he had striking blonde hair and a shrill laugh that she wouldn't be able to forget. Very odd, very peculiar and could throw one hell of a punch. Sora touched her jaw subconsciously. She was very fortunate enough it didn't break. She had apologized to the male and forced her members to bow their heads.

Never went back to Chiba, but she had a feeling she'd see that guy again. Blonde didn't really suit him in her opinion. After the whole ordeal in Chiba, Sora decided to crack down on them. Nothing too bad really.

She only told them to behave, do well in school and maybe help around the shop. If they misbehaved then she'd kick their ass. Most of them had flinched as if remembering the beating she dished out when they all first met.

The next week, she found them doing various activities around town helping people out. It warmed the heart.

Now if only she could get them to stop calling her 'Sora-sama'.

"Do you have any idea what you want to do for after school?"

Sora shook her head making her shoulder length black hair swish. She really needed to cut it again. It was getting in the way.

"No, I thought I could work after school to help with the family, why?"

She looked to Tarou. He smiled rubbing the back of his neck albeit sheepishly.

"If you want, the baseball team is looking for managers. We could use some, and you'd be a big help."

A manager, huh?

Tarou slowed to a stop and soon Sora stopped as well. She tilted her head side to side, thinking about his offer.

"Maybe, I'll think about Tarou."

"Thank you so much! Sora-sama!"

Really wished they would stop calling her that.

He bowed his head and then stood up with a huge smile on his face. Sora waved him goodbye and they parted ways as she crossed the railroad tracks. Maybe she'll check out practice and see what's up. She was still set on leaving after school to help with the shop. On the other hand, her mom wanted her to have more of a normal teenage life.

Sora doubted most teenagers were leaders of gangs. Although her gang seemed more like a community group to be accurate.

She'll check it out. If not for her own sake, for her mother and Tarou.

What's the worst that could happen?

----------

Seido will come in the next chapter, just getting background stuff out of the way!