Marionette

Skies, Chapter Twelve - Kanjō no hako [感情の箱]

No words were said in response to Amayas confession, though she was heard with deafening clarity. After what felt like a minute of uncomfortable, horrified silence, Sugino was called up to bat.

Hesitantly, as Sugino succeeded in clearing Kimura, Nagisa and Isogai off of the field while reaching Third Base himself, Maehara broke his silence.

He let out an uncomfortable breath, lifting a hand to gently ruffle Amayas hair as he looked over at the ecstatic, cheering Chiba, Sugaya and Okajima nearby.

'Of course you can stay in here - Don't be stupid, Maya-chan.' He spoke, though he didn't say anything further on the point. He nudged her towards the bench, casting as bright a grin as he could towards a beaming Isogai, who hadn't noticed Amayas appearance just yet.

Amaya heard loud and clear, so she did as she was told.

She ambled over to the benches that Karma was sitting on, dropping herself down on the floor behind with her back resting against the wood.

'Huh? What the--?' She heard him say all of a sudden, though she didn't look up. 'What are you doing, Amay?'

She bit her lip, maintaining her silence as she heard Karma turn on the bench to look down at her a little better.

'Amay?' He spoke her name, concern reflected in his tone of voice at her lack of response.

A few seconds later, he let out a breath, closing the little gaming machine in his hands before he rose to his feet.

He leaped over the back of the bench to land just next to her, crouching down just in front of her as something happened out on the field.

He seemed to glance down at her hands for a second, his brow furrowing for a second before he looked back up at her face.

'Okay, who'd you pick a fight with?' He questioned her.

'I didn't ...' She spoke quietly in response.

'Wanna try that again?' He asked her, grabbing her right wrist and waving the back of her hand in front of her face gently. She found that her knuckles were a little swollen, and there was a little blood flecked over her hand.

Great ...

Amaya shook her head slightly in response, a small breath escaping her.

'I didn't pick a fight with anyone ...' Amaya responded, furtively looking away from the redhead.

'Oh?' He hummed in surprise, though she didn't believe this was the case - She could hear the sarcasm as clear as day. 'Then who'd be stupid enough to pick a fight with you?'

Stupid enough?

Amaya didn't know what to say to that, and she didn't know if she should be a little bothered by it, either.

Most people either threw her filthy looks or picked a fight with her.

Or in Asanos case, throw prodding remark after prodding remark just to make her mad.

'I don't ... really want to talk about it ...' She spoke softly in response.

There was no immediate response to her words, however she heard him shift slightly in front of her.

His hold of her wrist was still there, strangely enough.

'Awww jeeze.' Maehara all of a sudden seemed to sigh in exasperation, seeming to draw Karmas attention away from Amaya. 'Top of the first inning and the final boss already makes his appearance?'

Amaya couldn't stop the flinch from escaping her as she immediately realize who it was that Maehara was talking about.

She hoped to whoever the hell was listening that he wasn't here to personally inform her that she was expelled.