Girl Next Door

Chapter Twenty-Eight

All the boys in the team were shocked, especially Kyosuke. He had trouble believing what Risa had just said.

"E-Excuse me?" said Hiashi, shocked himself.

"R-Risa..." said Kyosuke in a concerned tone, "what are you doing?"

"Well," Risa replied calmly, "I heard you guys are short of one member, so I'd like to help."

"In case you haven't noticed, Miss," said Hiashi, "this is a boys' team. I'm sorry."

The rest of the team sighed in disappointment. So did Risa, as she really wanted to help them. But Kyosuke spoke once again.

"Coach, please give her a chance...!"

"You don't get to give me orders, kid," said Hiashi sternly.

"It's not an order, sir, it's a suggestion," replied Kyosuke. "We need her."

"As what? Moral support?" quipped Hiashi. He then turned away.

Kyosuke took a deep breath before speaking again.

"She's a good batter." He gave a confident smirk.

The rest of the team murmured to one another.

"Really?" replied the coach with a sarcastic smirk. "Is this true, Miss?"

"Yes, I am," replied Risa with a sweet smile.

"I'll be the judge of that," said Coach Hiashi. "Boys?"

All the boys stood up from the grass and replied, "Yessir?"

"We'll have to give Miss--" Hiashi said before pausing. "What's your name?"

"Risa Takanaka, sir," replied Risa.

"We'll have to give Takanaka-san here a shot," said the coach, looking firmly at Risa.

The boys murmured to each other again. They felt it wasn't right that a girl should join the team. Some of them, however, felt confident that she wouldn't land a place in the team. But Kyosuke smiled, knowing Risa can prove them wrong.

As the coach and the rest of the boys in the team went over to one side of the field to discuss the situation, Kyosuke and Takeru approached Risa to talk to her.

"Risa-chan, are you crazy?" said Takeru with a worried expression. "This is a boys' team. Do you have any idea what that means?"

"I do," replied Risa with a sweet smile, "but I want to help you guys."

"She's right," put in Kyosuke. "We don't have much of a choice. The team could be abolished if we're short of one member."

"Well, is it true you're a good batter?" Takeru asked Risa.

"I used to play baseball in middle school," replied Risa, "so yeah, I think I am."

"I'm really glad you showed up, Risa," said Kyosuke with a smile. "Thank you."

"Tee-hee," giggled Risa. "Well, I really want to help you guys fulfill your dreams." She smiled sweetly at both of them.

"Matsumaru, Sakurai," Hiashi called out to Kyosuke and Takeru. The two ran over to where the coach and the team stood. There Hiashi discussed to them his plans, but Risa could not hear it. Then the coach and the boys approached Risa where she stood.

"All right, Takanaka-san," he said to her. "Here's what we're gonna do. You get to play on one team, and Matsumaru and Sakurai on another. If your team wins, I might consider letting you join the team. Understood?"

Kyosuke and Takeru smiled with excitement, and so did Risa.

"Yessir," replied Risa.

At that, Hiashi handed her a a baseball helmet and a pair of gloves.