Change My World - A One Outs Fanfiction

Chapter 11

"He held back at the last second... Darn." Ahh! So that's it! Itsuki learned the secret of Toua's 'slipping fast ball'. I pat his shoulder.

"Huh?" Said Kojima.

"That Takami guy, he's way trickier than I expected."

"I warned you to be more cautious around him didn't I? And it's not like he can device a plan against you that easily." But even I don't believe in my own words.

"There you go again, fooling yourself." I just ignored him.

I glanced over Itsuki. Looks like he is already spreading the information about Toua's fastball.

Yeah, this is bad. Itsuki is a genius after all. He might come up of something at the end.

I look back at Toua to see him staring at me.

"What?" I stare back with knitted brows.

"Betsuni... (Nothing in particular...)"

"Nothing? Are you alright? Or a screw or two come off of you because of Itsuki?"

"Eri, have you ever done something you like?" A sudden, out of the blue question from him.

"Of course I am." Well, who isn't?

"Like what?"

"Are you really sure your alright?" He just continued to stare.

"*Sigh* Everything that I am doing up to now is something that I want." Just to finish this nonsensical conversation with him.

"Are you sure about that?"

"Seriously Toua, what is your problem?"

"The only thing I can see you've done so far is playing baseball." I stiffened. What's the meaning of this?

"You know, you may have became like me, if only you're not that stubborn." He continued.

"So you're telling me I am inferior to you?" What I hate the most is that someone is belittling me.

"Yes I am."

"Who do you think you are? You don't know what I have been through to be what I am now. Don't you dare compare me with yourself just becase your like that!" My voice started to rise up with irritation.

"Hah! Do you even wanted to be like that at the first place?" He scoffs. Seriously, why is he messing with me?

"Everyone wants to be perfect. Wanted to be like me."

"I'm not asking about everyone. I'm asking about you."

"What's your problem, huh? Tell me." It turns out into another staring contest.

"Tokuchi, Miyazono, what's going on?" We look at Kojima-san.

"Nandemonai. Just this annoying urchin being a jerk." I didn't gaze back at Toua but I could feel he is still looking at me, but I just ignored it. I'm too irritated to look back.

The game continued with that dreadful atmosphere between me and Tokuchi.

The scoreless innings is still ongoing up to now, the 7th inning. As I gaze at the Mariners' dugout, the only thing I can see is the typical scenario, Brooklyn talking nonsense and bragging to his teammates, this time probably with his heavy bat, which he do from time to time.

Well, nothing special. I continue watching the game of stalemate. At the end of 7th inning, we still don't have any runs. Ugh, seriously? The 8th inning starts with us on defense.