Strikeout

What a Shame

High school - 1st Year - Spring, April

Damn. She woke up late.

Sora stumbled out the dorm room, wrapping her jacket around her waist, her normal purple clip in her mouth as she jogged towards the grounds. She put her hair up in its normal messy bun as she descended the stairs and to the field. Sora was about to step into the open, except she reeled backwards. She pressed her back against the dugout and peered out from behind it.

Everyone was lined up, and the coach went down the line asking the players what positions they wanted to play. With such a tense atmosphere, she didn't think she'd walk in normally. The other managers were there too, Sora could easily sneak around the back if she so chose. She puffed out a sigh.

Well, it's not too bad. She's not actually a player, she could get away with being a little late after apologizing of course. If any other players showed up as late as she was, they wouldn't be too lucky. Sora sighed. Her hand ran through her bangs pushing them back. Now, all she had to do was wait it out.

Sora pulled back and turned around as another player entered the field. They immediately pulled to a stop. She scowled realizing who the person in front of her was.

"Oh, I see you're late too, Sora."

Miyuki grinned ear-to-ear folding his arms over his chest. Proud little guy isn't he? Even though he's about four inches taller than her. Sora crinkled her nose and turned back to the lineup. They were still going down the line. There were lots of freshman this year, herself and Miyuki included.

"So? Doesn't matter if I'm late, you're the one who's on the team, catching all the balls and whatever."She waved her hand dismissing his presence.

Sora looked back to Miyuki and with a single flick of her wrist knocked the hat off his head. He caught before it hit the ground, and put it back on top of his head twisting it sideways. She withdrew her hand and folded her arms over her chest.

"If you want to go now and not get in trouble, now's your chance."

Miyuki raised his brows at her, as if wondering what she meant by her remark. She pressed her back against the dugout and watched Miyuki look at the lineup. Sora pointed her right hand towards the line.

"See, they started at the left and going to the right. If you run right as the coach is shifting to the back, you'll sit right at the end without him noticing."

He let out a hum as the two of them pulled back, grabbing his chin in thought. It's not like she was lying. The coaches at her middle school did the same thing, at least when she stuck around to watch the practices. Granted they weren't nearly as strict or the teams weren't as nearly as big. There was also the fact everyone was an asshole on that middle school team, namely the catcher, pitcher and the captain. Sora counted off on her fingers. She remembered giving them each a black eye.

Sora curled her hand into a fist. Miyuki's lips curled into a smirk. Huh, it looked like he was going for it after all.

Idiot.

Sora shook her head, sighing. She looked at Miyuki with a deadpanned expression.

"Good luck. I'll be rooting for you."

"You don't sound very enthusiastic." Miyuki said, chuckling.

"I'm not. Hurry up before you miss your window."

She  glanced over at the line once more and held up her hand as if to tell him to wait. As soon as the coach reached the end of the line and started heading back towards the right, she motioned him to go. Miyuki took off towards the line while Sora slowly crouched down to the ground.

Ah, what a shame if he was foiled at the last possible second. What a shame it would be if he was caught dead sneaking into practice like the tool he was. 'What a shame' Sora thought while she raised her hands to her mouth making a cupping motion with them.

"AH, MIYUKI KAZUYA IS TRYING TO SNEAK INTO PRACTICE."

A shame indeed.

Miyuki skidded to a stop, casting a glance back at Sora who sat there at the edge, her lips having curled into a smirk smug enough to match his own. His eyebrow twitched, lips pulling into an uneasy smile. Sora bet he was regretting having trusted her in the first place now, huh.

Sora turned away, a hand over her mouth, fighting down the smile creeping onto her lips. The look on his face was priceless. She didn't know why she felt so satisfied calling him out like she did. But, it felt great and she couldn't help but letting out a couple of snickers fall past her lips.

She kept snickering until a shadow lingered over her. Sora craned her head to look up at the figure and covered her mouth. The coach stared at her, long and hard. Slowly, he raised his hand and pointed towards the field, and Miyuki.

"Laps. Now. Until the end of practice."

"...Yes, sir."

Honestly, she wanted to keep as much distance between her and Miyuki as possible. She didn't want to look at his face, hear his voice or any of the above. Even so, she couldn't stop him from catching up to her and placing a single hand on her shoulder while they ran.

"That wasn't a very nice thing you did, Sora. I looked so uncool."

"And? Does it look like I care?"

Sora shook off his hand.She picked up her pace a little bit trying to lose him or at least tire the bastard out. He caught up, running alongside her. Sora clicked her tongue. Miyuki made a face, jutting out his lower lip as if he were pouting. She really wanted to punch him in the face. Sora scowled at him.

"Awh, don't be like that. This is valuable bonding time."

"I don't care! And stop catching up to me, you're annoying!" 

Gods, she really hated that guy.