Girl Next Door

Chapter Seventeen

The crowd in the stadium was going wild. They were anxious to see the game, a game between two rival schools: Yoshiba High and Minamino Academy. The two were known for their century-long rivalry, especially in sporting events such as this. Kyosuke had become part of this generation of Yoshiba's baseball contenders, and he was proud of it.

At last, Yoshiba's team name was called, and Coach Hiashi, followed by his loyal students walked over towards the field, followed by a roar of the crowd. Risa on the bleachers was cheerfully calling out his name, pom-poms in hand.

"Kyosuke! Kyosuke!" she cheered.

"Friend of yours?" a cheerleader asked her.

"Only my best friend," replied Risa proudly.

"Are you sure you're just friends?" asked another.

"O-Of course we are," replied Risa, smiling sheepishly.

At that Risa saw her grandmother among the crowd with Kyosuke's mother and sister. She then proceeded to call her.

"Grandma!"

Mrs. Takanaka looked to where she heard her granddaughter's voice. When she spotted her waving, she waved back smiling.

Later on, it was time for the rival team to be called. Minamino High's baseball team, clad in red and white and led by their coach, walked out and into the field. Kyosuke saw among them a blond-haired boy with bangs covering the right side of his face and a smirk to his lip. He wore a  jersey with the number 05. Kyosuke and Takeru knew him very well.

"Isn't that Chiba Hozuki?" asked Takeru with a stern expression on his face.

"That annoying spoiled rich kid from junior high?" replied Kyosuke with a similar expression. "Yeah, I remember him."

"He's got balls studying in Minamino," said Takeru.

"Well, he does have the cash," said Kyosuke with a smirk.

As team Minamino approached team Yoshiba, Chiba's eyes met Kyosuke's. The two boys looked at each other like wolves about to tear each other apart.

"Long time no see, Matsumaru," said Chiba, smirking.

"Hozuki," replied Kyosuke, also smirking. "Didn't know you were such a sportsman."

"Yeah," put in Takeru. "I thought you just spend your days laying around on a scented couch listening to people playing violins for you."

"Very funny," retorted Chiba with a scoff. Then he turned to Kyosuke. "You know, it's not to late to reconsider. You can still save your reputation."

"Heh," scoffed Kyosuke. "I heard someone say that to me before a game. I don't wanna see a sore loser after this, so I suggest we just settle this right here, right now."

"Very well," replied Chiba.

Then the two teams went their separate ways and each took their time to huddle up.

Coach Hiashi began his pep talk.

"All right, boys, this is it. No turning back now. We are here, why?"

"Not for winning," answered his team, "but for glory!"

"We will show Minamino what we're made of!" said the coach.

"Yessir!" came the team's reply.

"Come on, guys," put in Saito, "hands together."

The team put their hands together and raised them high in the sky with a loud "Yeah!!"