More Than A Shadow

Something To Prove

"You can do it Mei!" Azusa yelled from the stands amidst the constant cheering for Mei. It was a small stadium but it was packed as if it was a high school baseball game since everyone wanted to check out the new prodigious pitcher. She couldn't help but to watch down in awe as her older brother demonstrated his skills.

They were playing against the Edogawa Dragons in the semi-final game of the junior high summer tournament. The game was close but they were winning 5-4. Only one more out and they were going to be in the finals.

Mei pitched again only to get a ball, but she wasn't very worried despite the fact that there were runners on both second and third base. The batter was the catcher Miyuki Kazuya and he had yet to get a hit off of Mei. So she didn't think that it was going to be any different now. During clutch moments like these, players usually get flustered and make rash decisions. Despite the catcher showing level-headnesses and resilience, he hadn't shown any extraordinary batting skills since he got struck out at every one of his at bats. He was also short like Mei (well not as short as Mei since everyone was taller than Mei) and was very small with glasses looking too big on his face. Definitely not an intimidating batter at all.

'But it would ease my nerves if he stopped pitching his fastball. It's obvious to me that the runners on base have thrown Mei off his game since his pitches are getting more rough. I'm pretty sure that the batter has yet to notice though,' Azusa mused in mild concern.

Mei geared himself up to pitch again and Azusa groaned as she noticed that he was going to throw a fastball. Again. 'Why does he obsess over certain pitches all the darn time?'

Miyuki stepped right in as if he knew what Mei was going to pitch already and the ball made perfect contact with his bat. It flew over past the shortstop and it hit the fence resulting in a home run.

"What?"Azusa's mouth hung open in disbelief while everyone else in the audience was also surprised. 'How did that even happen?'

She watched the runners advancing to the home plate still in a state of shock. Everything happened so fast and she was sure that they were going to win.

'Did... did the catcher know about Mei's weak point?'Azusa pondered while she glanced over at Mei. He was looking down at his feet and she was sure that he was hiding his tears. Mei hated losing more than anything else in the world.

What kind of player was Miyuki Kazuya?

Azusa got up from her seat in a dejected mood as she made her way out of the stadium along everyone else in the audience. She decided to wait for Mei and his team outside. She was the only person from elementary school so it was not like she could hang out with Mei's classmates from junior high. She couldn't wait until next year so she could be in junior high and be like the older kids. She was tired of being treated like a little kid. She was eleven years old already for god's sake.

Azusa then shook her head. 'You gotta grow up. Stop thinking about that. Right now the most important thing to do is to cheer up Mei. He probably is feeling very down now.'

"Oi Azusa! What are you doing standing there by yourself?"Azusa heard Mei obnoxiously calling out her name. He was close to the exit looking all sweaty and dirty from the game with his white uniform on.

Azusa clenched her fists in annoyance as she walked towards him. "I was waiting for you," she said in a restrained tone.

"Were you now? You're such a good little sister. Going to your amazing onii-chan's game and then wait for him all by yourself. Without caring that you may look like a friendless loser," Mei said in a teasing tone.