Soar Home

Chapter 1

The locker room was silent, like it always was, he never understood them. His 'Teammates', he couldn't even see them as his teammates, no, teammates were supposed to be a family who supported each other during the tough outcomes and cried tears of joy when they won. 'No', he thought again, 'We were never a family'. He let his eyes drift towards the locker room door as he heard the familiar sneers and chuckling. 'They have no right to talk lowly about other teams.' He thought as his eyebrows furrowed and his eyes narrowed in anger. "Yeah, I don't see how they thought they could even come close to scoring off of us.", "They probably couldn't find anyone and got stuck with the weak kids." Another jeered loudly, as he could still hear it clearly through the door separating them. The door was suddenly slammed open and the three bullies waltzed in. He sighed and his shoulders slumped, 'Of course its them, I would be able to tell from a mile away' he deadpanned mentally.

After a while he got annoyed, 'How long can they brag over themselves, they basically just stood there and did nothing the whole time' he sighed and stood abruptly, "Holy shit! How long have you been there Yōyū-kun!?" Yōyū rolled his eyes, "Maybe if you were more observant then you would've noticed that I have been here the entire time. That being said you could also be aware of how obnoxious you are. I'm sure if I could hear you then the other team would have." He stated sharply, watching as they winced a bit but he knew they didn't care about the other team hearing. They just wanted to make a good impression for their 'Ace', 'A real ace would be a role model...but none of this team understands and frankly they never try.' he thought grimly.

"You know, you guys should start practicing harder. I wont be here forever..." Yōyū said calmly and watched in amusement as puzzlement painted their faces. "What do you mean Yōyū-kun? There are still many games left until you go to high school, and everyone here goes to the same high school." Yōyū sighed and dragged his hand down his face in frustration. "I'm saying it because this was my last game here, I'm moving to a different district, maybe we will become opponents." the puzzlement soon morphed into horror and they started to ramble. "I apologize but this is how it ends, actually it would be to late for me to join any middle school team." Yōyū mentally growled as he saw relief written all over their faces. "But you know...I'm happy I'm leaving. Now I can quit without all of you bullying me back, this was never a team." he said blankly and he whisked himself out of the locker room, hearing their protest as he fled the scene.

Once his dorm room was in sight Yōyū slowed his pace, observing the place where he learned to love baseball for the last time. When he reached his room his hand froze on the doorknob and he leaned his head against the door letting out a sigh. 'I hope I'll be able to improve now that I'm not chained down by them' Going into his room, Yōyū sat down on his bed and rolled his shoulders. 'I have to keep my weights on tonight though, I don't want to just strain my arms.'

Before Yōyū knew it everything was packed into his two large suitcases. 'Well this is it. I thought moments like these would be saddening, but I'm the happiest I've been in a while' he thought, laughing. Quietly Yōyū slipped out of his room and made his way to the familiar orange car where his dad was waiting for him.

The car ride seemed to take forever and an awkward silence filled the air around Yōyū and his father. Things were never the same since his mother took off and ditched his father to take care of Yōyū. His father began to drink more and didn't spend as much time with Yōyū but his dad didn't physically abuse him...much anyways. Yōyū winced remembering when he got the scattered pale scars that stretched across his upper back up to the bottom of his neck. There were a few more scars in different places but Yōyū knew he deserved them, he pushed his father's boundaries and received the consequences.

The silence was suddenly was shattered by his father, "Have you picked a middle school yet, or do you think you can home school yourself." Yōyū was shocked, 'This is the first time he has asked me for my opinion.' "If...if you wouldn't mind I would like to homeschool myself." He said and stared at his fathers reflection in the little mirror in the front of the car. He father seemed to be thinking hard about something then his face slipped back into its normal blank look that appeared when he finally accepted that his wife had ran off for good. "Alright, but you better be doing actual work and not horsing around, this is only happening until the end of middle school. Then you need to earn your own scholarship for high school." "I understand." Yōyū said nodding in agreement, his father had a job but Yōyū had plans for getting into a good school so he had a better chance at obtaining a well paying job.

"I will be away for about two months, I'm assuming you can care for yourself that long. Since you will be by yourself in high school." his father stated bluntly and Yōyū sighed quietly, 'He can't even bare my presence for a few days before he has an excuse to leave.' he thought sadly. 'I guess that's what I get for looking like mom.' his mind brought him to the last time he saw her. With her dark purple/blue hair that fell in waves which ended just above her hips and her pale skin with light freckles splatter painted across the bridge of her nose. Her appearance was a great contrast compared to his father. With his dirty blonde hair that was buzz cut and skin that was its dark caramel color from day after day in the sun.

Yōyū's eyes on the other hand, seemingly came from no one. He had never really seen much of his family, especially not from his mother's side. But from what he saw none of them had his unique turquoise eyes, that many people on his old team said, appeared to illuminate when he got into the zone. 'Not that I did that much...' Yōyū thought, amused.

"We're here" his fathers gruff voice waking Yōyū from his thoughts. "Ok...would you like me to make us dinner?" Yōyū asked quietly. "No, I'll make some ramen as a treat but I expect you to continue eating healthy when I leave." Yōyū rolled his eyes when he knew his father wouldn't see, 'Why is he trying to make it seem like he cares. I've practically been on my own since mom's disappearance!' "I understand." "Good, I'll be packing my bags all day tomorrow so don't expect to see me much. Also, I took the time to sign you up for online classes that I had planned for you to do as extra work. But seeing how you're homeschooling yourself, I'll pay for more advanced classes for you to take." Yōyū silently was cheering, he tended to be one of those...unique people who loved extending his knowledge.

When they got into the house, Yōyū's old routine took over his body as his feet lead him to his room. He turned the knob and found his room exactly the way he had left it, his father would never come into his room, 'He didn't even scavenge around like any parent would do to make sure their kids weren't doing drugs or anything.' Yōyū sighed. 'And I know it isn't because he trusts me...he just doesn't care.' He fell back onto his bed and stared up at the ceiling. 'Where should I go to high school...I want baseball to remain in my life as long as it can, but I'm definitely not getting a scholarship for baseball since I'm homeschooling myself.' He thought hard for a bit before a smile graced his lips. 'I might be able to go to Seidou, they have an amazing baseball program. It will be difficult to get in without the scholarship...' He grinned, "But I have always loved being challenged." Yōyū threw his head back and let out a quiet laugh.

"I'd better stay in shape and stick to my training regiment, I'll probably add more to work on my core to add speed to my pitches." Yōyū mumbled and grabbed a sheet of paper out from his bag. 'I'll also watch some videos on grips that I can hold the ball and I think my form is working pretty well for me.'

After an hour he had reread the paper three times and felt satisfied, "I won't be left behind by them!" Yōyū said with his eyes burning with passion and excitement.

Yōyū grudgingly headed for the kitchen where he knew more silence would greet him. When he entered the kitchen a sigh of relief escaped him as his shoulders relaxed, Yōyū's father had left a note on the counter saying that he had went to bed early because he had a long day of packing tomorrow. 'Not that he is going to bring much.' Yōyū thought, remembering the last time his father had ditched him. Which was Yōyū's winter break and he looked into his fathers room seeing that the other two suitcases that they had were still there, they only had three. 'He probably just stuffs it with a few snacks and leaves room for his sports magazines.' He looked around the kitchen and didn't see his promised ramen so he went over to his father's note and flipped it over. 'We don't have any ramen, and you should just stick to your healthy food anyways. Goodnight Yōyū-kin' Yōyū sighed, 'As I suspected.' he walked over to the island and grabbed an apple out of the basket of fruit before whisking himself to his room. "I have a long ways to go before high school but I will definitely be striving to do my best, and I will make it into Seidou. Nothing is impossible if I try my hardest!" Yōyū quietly shouted before drifting off into his dreams of finally achieving an amazing team, and an even better family.