Radiant as the Sun

Underestimating

"I guess it's finally time to introduce myself to the cutie sidekick of Sawamura-kun," a teasing voice interrupts the first year duo eating their rice. Natsumi's cool gaze lifted to the second year who caused again in trouble with the coach. But maybe it was a good thing? Again, she is now more motivated than ever with the running and... Furuya.

"I'm Miyuki Kazuya," he said with a grin.

"Tsukishima," she said.

"Ehhh? What's your first name, Tsuki-chan?" Miyuki sits across from her and beside Eijun. Miyuki smirks when the girl ignores him. She's cute, he thought.

"Why is it quiet here?" Eijun changes the subject.

"The first years are having a game with the second and third years tomorrow," Miyuki replies, eyes never leaving Natsumi.

"What! I haven't heard of this. Have you, Natsu?" Miyuki's eyebrow lifted at the name for the mysterious dark haired beauty.

"Yes, I'm playing," she said with a shrug.

"Why haven't you told me? If I'm not playing, at least I get to see you show off your skills," he pouts.

"Because I won't play my best. I don't play well with others I don't know especially when they look down at me," she said. Miyuki could see the cold aura surrounding her at that statement. "I also play my best when you play too. You are great motivation, Ei-chan."

Miyuki frowned. These first name basis with each other is pissing him off. The girl was not even paying him any attention. "Are you guys dating?"

"Ehhhh! She's my best friend since we were six."

"Like hell I think of him in that way—

"—is it okay if I sit here," that quiet voice said from behind Miyuki.

"No," Natsumi growled causing Miyuki to raise his eyebrows. Furuya ignored the female and sat between the catcher and pitcher.

"Hey! There was room next to Natsu-chan," he yells at the pitcher. Furuya decided to ignore him, too.

"Miyuki...I don't think any of them will hit my pitches tomorrow. If I'm correct will you make a battery with me," his quiet voice might as well have been a loud declaration across the quiet room full of determined baseball players.

"You talkin' cocky," Natsumi thought. As soon as she was ready to say something, many of the players circled around their table with menacing glares.

"Hey, Rookie," one called out to him.

They started provoking him. Furuya not flinching at being surrounded by angry senpais. Natsumi had to hand it to him. He may be cocky but he hold his own.

"Enough. We'll settle this through baseball," a voice cut through the tension. Natsumi's eyes followed everyone's to the team's ace.

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Furuya's cool gaze was fixated on the ace as he pitched his infamous curves. It was fast, but nothing close to his. It was the breaking ball of Tanba's that was threatening. He could hear the surrounding first years as stared in awe at this. Each batter coming up defeated by the power and intensity of his pitches.

He subtly searched for the first-year female that clouded his thoughts since that day she pitched to him. She didn't throw the ball like he expected most female softball players do. He glanced to the back where he laid eyes on her. She was next to the pink haired kid who was wiping his wooden bat.