I Am A Shadow (DnA Fanfic)

7. Training Officially Starts NOW!

Sawamura Esumi sat in the dugout, speaking with the third year that was training her brother. Chris told her that he'd shown up at his dorm last night and asked Chris to catch for him. Esumi sighed. "Mou, sorry Chris-senpai. Ei-nii's cocky and persistent. A very irritating combination." Esumi muttered an apology. She turned to glance at the field, where her brother was running off steam.

"WON'T YOU HAVE GRADUATED BY THEN!? DO YOU DETEST ME THAT MUCH!?" Eijun yelled suddenly and began to run faster.

"It's okay." Chris patted the young female's head. Esumi smiled a bit and looked up at the third year happily. "Excuse me, I have to head off Esumi-chan." He told the girl.

"Ah..Okay." She replied back. In the back of her head, she knew where Chris was disappearing to. Her research showed that much. With a sigh, she looked back at her brother. He looked shocked that Chris was leaving early. Esumi shook her head. "So dense Ei-nii...." She muttered, returning to her own practice.

~__!__~

It was the day of the Kantou tournament. Seidou was playing, down by four and the end of the seventh inning. Esumi was well aware of the spectators comments about their playing today. The younger Sawamura sat in the dugout, waiting to be called to play. She glanced at the field, then at Kataoka. 'If I were Kataoka, I'd switch pitchers. Tanba-senpai can't hold much longer like this..' Esumi thought as she glanced to see if the third year pitcher was alright. Tanba's breath was rigid and he was sweating quite a bit.

"First half of the eighth inning, Seidou pitcher change and right field substitute." The commentator announced. "The eighth inning substitute for Tanba is Pitcher Furuya! And substituting Shirasu is Sawamura!" Furuya began walking out toward the field. Esumi was shocked hearing her name.

"What is it Sawamura? You not warmed up properly?" Kataoka asked seriously. Esumi shook her head. "Then get out there and play your hardest." He ordered.

"Yes sir!" Esumi said as loudly as she could and followed Furuya out to the field. She tightened her ponytail, and brushed her bangs out of her eyes. Shirasu patted her head as he made his way back toward the dugout.

"Good luck. Esumi-chan." He told her.

"Thanks, Shirasu-senpai." Esumi took her position in right field. The spectators behind her began talking.

"Hey, aren't those to first years?"

"That one's a girl!"

"To play first years in such an important match..."

"Is Seidou throwing in the towel?"

Esumi was nervous. She was making a debut in baseball on an all male team. She tried her best to stay calm. Like Furuya, who paid no attention to the crowd. Esumi looked at the other team's, Yokohama's, dugout. They seemed pissed that Furuya and her entered the stage. She read their coach's lips. "They're really underestimating us... To actually send in two rookie first years. Not to mention a girl. What the hell is this!? LET'S GIVE THOSE ROOKIES A TASTE OF THE HARSHNESS OF HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL!!" He ended up yelling.

The first batter stepped up, smirking at Furuya. Esumi relaxed. 'They're underestimating Furuya. I'm not gonna get a hit back here..' She sighed.

"Oi! Don't slack off Sawamura-chan!" Jun called toward Esumi. She looked at the current center fielder, and nodded.

"Yes!" She replied back.

Furuya winded up his pitch. A loud smack sounded and the crowds fell silent. Miyuki was smirking in delight at everyone's reactions toward the monster rookie. Esumi observed as Yokohama went into panic mode. The coach from the dugout began yelling at his players. The other Yokohama team members were froze in shock. The crowd erupted with comments and cheers. Esumi lightly swayed side to side on her feet, something she did on the field when she wasn't getting enough action.