Feelings Feelings Go Away | Oikawa Tooru

Opening Practice

The weather is in our favor. Its's cloudy but not enough for the sky to pour, just for the sun to rest. Which means, we can finally practice on an actual ground. We are currently in the changing room, putting on our gym clothes. While on it, I catch a glimpse of the new jersey. It looks so unfamiliar in my locker, something that doesn't look like mine, something that doesn't belong to me. I snap back to reality, tuck the hem of my shirt in my shorts and pat it to make it look clean.

I see Michiko and the others exiting the space and I follow in toe. Looking up, I realize that today might be the best day for our opening practice, where we actually play as a team, in our designated positions. Today we can get a lot done without frying to death.

"Everyone assemble!!", I hear Mrs. Yamada's voice.

She instructs the fist years to the game play. We've already spent a fair share of practices to get them familiar to our gameplay, the new gameplay.

"Okay, then. Split into 2 hits, one with Michiko and Ritsu, another with Y/N and Airi."

The groups choose their players, keeping in mind their abilities and attributes, creating a balance in each one. Then they toss. We are up for batting first. I and Michiko exchange greetings and with that the team is set. Michiko starts with Eva as her opening pitcher while I send Asagi to destroy her. And we start. As the match progresses, I watch Mrs. Yamada's shoulders grow less tense. I totally relate, our team looks a lot better than a few days ago, I'd say even better than last year's. The current team here on this diamond has everything the last lacked, communication, trust, co-operation, bond, belief-

I hear my name being called out in the distance. I whip my head to see Ashton sitting beside the coach, waving at me. I wave back, reflecting his expression.

Belief and supporters. This team is better in every way.

The match progresses smoothly and one by one I sent my hitters and console the ones getting tapped out. It is fun to watch from a distance. As every hitter finishes with their turn, my palms get sweatier. Don't get me wrong, I am a really well player, but when it comes to batting, I'm not the one you'd be looking for. I pitch really well, that's the only reason I survived Arisa-san last year, our captain. She would often scold me for my amateur bat play, sometimes enough to make me want to quit. But Michiko helped me with it. And I have grown in my skills to a beginner, which is not enough to show on the field. I just don't want the newbies to see their vice-captain play like that.

We hit another home run, so far, my hitters are better than that of Michiko's, which we did probably to balance with my skills with the bat. The pitchers are better in hers, for the same reason but, not because Michiko sucks at pitching, but because I'm pretty good.

"Oi vice!! Send your next batter.", Mrs. Yamada shouts.

I search for the next batter but, find only myself. I resist falling on to my knees to process this despair. One of the underclassmen hands me a bat and wishes me luck, which I receive jitterily. I dart my eyes to the ground to see who I'd be having a faceoff with; it is a second year who probably knows that she doesn't have to sweat about me. I shake hands with Airi who gives me a reassuring pat on the back, my eyes next search for Michiko's who has been already searching mine. She too assures me with her gaze. In a distance, I make out another figure cheering, Ashton. With all that reassurance, I make my way to my position and look the pitcher, dead in the eyes. I couldn't see if she jumped as everything around me blurred, my body stared drenching with cold beads.

"EVERYONE TO THE GYM!!!" the downpour's so loud, I can't even hear Mrs. Yamada.

"B-But I just got the bat." I was so prepared to rip the pitcher.

A hand on my shoulder turns me around. I find Michiko smiling at me with a ball in her hand.

"Want me to pitch?"

"Yes, please."

We take our positions. The anxiety from earlier has left as I see Michiko getting ready for the pitch. I've no problem messing up when with her, heck I'm even excited how I'm going to do. And totally sure, no matter how much it sucks, she won't blame me. I'm sure to get better and happier by the time this session ends.

"Here it comes."

Her form is off but still good. I manage to hit it but with flaw.

"Don't mind. Relax your body. Power is enough, just fix your form."

"Sure, and you too."

"Sure." She takes another ball. "Get ready for another."

This time she is flawless.

"Good, good. Now swing the bat up to your shoulder, I'm sure you'll hit a home run."

This one, I don't completely mess up. I hit it pretty high. It is just that it ends up in her hands.

"Ah, you're outtt. Another one now."

We continue till all the balls are tossed to all the corners of the diamond, I did not hit a single home run, but I didn't miss any hit either, which is a bigger win than a home run, at least for me.

"Should we get the balls??"

"We should. Look at them, all scattered."

"NO.1!! NO.2!!" Mrs. Yamada, under her umbrella, warm and dry, pierces my back and Michiko's forehead.

It's raining. I'm blown to notice it just now. As soon I process this fact, I feel the droplets trickling down the side of my face, my t-shirt clinging on to me, goosebumps all over me from the cold.

The same noisy downpour reaches my ears and I connect the events before this rainy session and my eyes grow wide when I process it all. I look over at Michiko and she gives me the same knowing look.

We're supposed to follow her to the
gym a loooong time ago...

S

Sooo sorry. Didn't even realize it has been a month T^T