Radiant as the Sun

First Impressions

Tsukishima Natsumi stood with the rest of her new teammates in the morning. The light breeze of the spring blowing through tickling her skin. Goosebumps rised as a shiver ran through her body. A yawn ready to come out her pretty pink lips as she was still sleepy from reading Shoujo manga all night. Her midnight black hair pulled into the baseball cap hiding her flowing locks. The only thing that stood out now was her petite height and her feminine features. No one didn't know any better since her (already small) breast was bind down with a sports bra.

Her sharp blue steel eyes looked frantically through the crowd trying to find her childhood best friend.

Sawamura Eijun.

She sighed to herself. Of course, he slept in, she thought to herself.

It was a few minutes later when she caught movement in one of the sheds across from her. She saw her best friend trying to find the right time to rush to the line.

The next thing that happened was again running full speed and a yell came out of nowhere: "Even though he's late he's trying to sneak into the line!"

She could see the shock go over Ei-chan's face. The coach turned with a glare that was easy to notice under his shades. The snickering from the two second years in the front line snickered—well just the smaller one with the annoying cackle—along with the very guy who yelled about Ei-chan's sneaking. Natsumi already figured not to like him.

Miyuki Kazuya. The very guy, why Ei-chan wanted to come here... along with Natsumi.

She couldn't help but shake her head in disbelief when he was told to run for the rest of practice.

He sure knows how making a first impression, she thought to herself.

It was about ten minutes into introduction when it was her turn. She stepped forward and locked eyes with coach—opposite with what other first years did. Her father was more intimidating. He always told her that avoiding the eyes shows weakness. Face a man head on and show that you are not one to reckon with.

"Tsukishima Natsumi," she called out with a determined look. Her voice not much a yell but still strong. She knew what it took for Rei to get her here. She trusted Natsumi's skills and talents good enough to fight for her to be the first and only female on their baseball team. Softball was never the younger girl's passion. She was raised to love and adore only baseball.

Natsumi knew what is to be expected with these new teammates. Hell, there may be bullied and she was ready for it. "I want to be a right fielder, sir," she said.

"So, you're the girl?" Coach asked. Everyone went into murmurs. They thought it was a rumor a female was joining their team, but here she is. Five foot two female wanting to be right fielder? They expected maybe batter or second baseman, but right fielder? There was not much strength in batting compared to right field when throwing balls at long distances.

"You won't regret your decision, sir," she said before stepping back for the next one to introduce themselves. Natsumi couldn't help but think the pink haired boy next to her too be adorable.

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"Three Bowls!" Ei-chan cried out at the sign that hung up in their cafeteria. It was lunch now and he came into the cafeteria drenched in sweat. He grumbled as he sat at the empty table that Natsumi kept occupied. His eyes went wide at the sight of his best friend already finishing her second bowl. "Wahhh, Natsu-chan," he whines.

"You know that I have a fast metabolism," she stated with a flat toned voice. It also helped when living in a home full of males who ate for three people.

She could see the players around them glancing at their tables. But she didn't care. "At least you have the coach's attention now." You joked with him causing steam to come out of his ears. A chuckle leaving her throat.

After her shower, Natsumi decided that it was time to see Eijun again to see how he was after practice. After three knocks, the door swung open, revealing the cackling fool who laughed at Ei-chan's misery. He greeted her with a glare right before a blush appeared right onto his annoying face. His eyes wide as he struggled to come up with words.

"You must be Kuramochi-senpai," Natsumi bowed her head slightly before looking past him to see her best friend pouting on her bed. "I came to see Eijun-chan," she said as she locked eyes with his.

Kuramochi didn't know what he was seeing right now. This is the same girl from the field. She wore a glare and her chest bound down with a sports bra showing no shape indicating that she's a female. But here she is. Her black hair falling past her shoulders. Her bangs too long that hides her cat like eyes. She was wearing a snug fit under armor shirt that gave him the shape of her toned body along with running shorts that put her toned short legs on display.

"Natsu-chan!" she can hear the cries from EI-chan. Kuramochi face went red at the thought of Sawamura-kun having this cute girl visit him on his first day! Not only cute, but played baseball and must have been pretty good to be accepted by the coach! He instantly tackled the first-year boy to the ground, putting him into a compromising position.

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"You're not going to watch our game, Tsukishima-san?" one of the female managers asked her as she passed the players that was heading to the bus. She had no interest in a game that she's not playing in. There was no need for her to go. She might as well train with Eijun.

"Nah, I'm gonna train. Gotta stay ahead of the boys as much as I can," she said giving a look of determination to the girl leaving her flustered.

"If only you were a boy..." she said as she kicked the dirt.

Natsumi stopped and dropped her water bottle. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. He was running with two tires! The guy who hated running in middle school for gym was doing this out of his own sheer will. Natsumi headed for the extra tire that lay next to the dugout. She could at least run with one. She had great endurance, but need to make her strength better to compete with this kind of team.

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"Can I play catch with you?" a quiet voice asked. Natsumi and Eijun decided to quit the running and play catch.

There he was leaned against the fence with a calm air surrounding him. She recalled him introducing himself. Furuya Satoru. He wants to be a pitcher. She glared at him. She didn't need more competition against her Ei-cahn.

"N—

"—more the merrier!" Ei-chan grins. "Why'd you didn't go to the game?"

"I was in the restroom when the bus left...not like I care. I'm not interested in games I'm not playing in," he said with cool eyes. "You must be the same as me if you stayed here."

Natsumi stood there shocked at what this guy threw two Eijun. He fell to the ground because of the speed and power. Natsumi ran to him and picked up the baseball angry at the first year. She didn't care that it was not on purpose, but he didn't even give Eijun a warning about his pitches. Right after insulting EI-chan's pitches, calling them nasty he shows off with his bullet like pitches. She sucks her teeth in before standing up and glaring at him. "You could have warned him," she said as she planted her feet.

"I told him I'm warmed—

"—yeah but did he give the okay," she clenched her teeth. "I'm warmed up so I'm gonna go all out," she said. Furuya shrugs and prepares for the pitch not expecting anything from the first-year girl. Natsumi thought a simple fastball would be suffice. So she pivots her leg and threw with her left arm not caring that she was supposed to use her right one.

Furuya couldn't believe the speed that left her slender fingers. In a blink of the eye, the ball slammed against his mitts living a stinging pain. Bearable but it still hurts.

"I... I thought you wanted to be a right fielder?" he said as he stares at the ball in his hand.

"I do." And with that she left her attention to the pitcher on the ground.