More Than A Shadow

Maybe Not Just Yet

"Not again!" Azusa groaned out in frustration.

The manager crouched down on the ground as she started to pick up the baseballs that she dropped from the basket.

"Are you alright, Azusa-san?" Haruno asked turning around.

"Yes, yes, I'm fine," Azusa said without looking up to Haruno. She was too preoccupied with her task at hand.

"This is not the first time that you've dropped something today," Haruno said, glancing at her with concern. "You seem very nervous today, is there something wrong?"

Azusa gave her a nervous chuckle in response while getting up with her basket. "Of course I'm fine, why wouldn't I be?" she asked in turn with another awkward laugh.

Haruno narrowed her eyes at Azusa, giving her an unconvinced expression. "If you want, I can take that to the shed since you seem so jittery," she offered.

"I'm not jittery!" Azusa protested. "I'm going to the shed real quick and then I'll grab you so we can watch the games together."

"Alright then," Haruno gave her a slow nod." Don't take too long. Remember that Inashiro is playing in the three way robin today," she reminded Azusa.

"Oh, I know," Azusa deadpanned while having a forced smile plastered on her face.

Then she parted ways with Haruno to go towards the shed.

'How could I forget?' Azusa thought bitterly to herself.

It was all she could think about as soon as she got in bed last night and not to mention this morning. Not even spending time with Miyuki last night calmed her nerves. Haruno was right. She was jittery. She couldn't stop shaking and was very distracted which greatly annoyed her senpai because of how many times they had to repeat themselves. She was so nervous that she hadn't made any complaints all day long. And she always complains. Always.

But today she was having more important issues than being uncomfortable in the hot summer weather, Sachiko being too bossy, or Sawamura being annoying.

Mei was going to be at Seido any moment now and she had no idea how he was going to act.

Was he going to shout her name for the entire team to hear while looking for her?

Was he going to try to convince her to leave Seido?

Tell everyone that they were siblings?

She was screwed. Some people would say she was exaggerating but in her opinion her fears were well justified. She was the sister of the ace of Seido's top rival team that had been preventing them from going to Koshien. How can she expect people to react kindly to that? The sports world was already competitive as it was.

'I just have to hide until he leaves,' Azusa thought to herself.' If he doesn't see me then he won't embarrass me. The most he can do is to ask Miyuki about me, and I doubt he'll sell me out in this situation. '

'Sounds like a plan!'

"Furuya is not throwing today?" Azusa overheard an overly familiar masculine voice complain.

Oh no...

Azusa froze.

Mei was here.

"Have you two heard of Seido's other amazing pitcher?" Azusa then heard Sawamura's voice.

'Oh great! And he is talking to Mei too?' Azusa pondered as walked discreetly towards the dugout so she could hide behind it and listen to their conversation.