❛ ARE YOU SURE IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO SCOUT
A BOY WHO HAS ONLY EVER PLAYED ON A
SANDLOT, REI TAKASHIMA? ❜
❛ I'LL TAKE MY CHANCES. ❜
katsu higashi fell in love with baseball the minute the ball made...
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THE SANDLOT ! CHAPTER NINE
SECOND WEEK OF JUNE FIRST DAY OF TRAINING CAMP
there were thirty-something minutes left of their morning practice and he's been stuck on center-field for almost an hour. an hour. katsu was dying to join the third years who were currently practicing their swings with actual pitchers and not the pitching machines. "higashi!" zono yells from his spot near the mound, the harsh volume of his voice startling him out of his daydreaming. "are you paying attention?!" katsu cringes, unable to meet zono's eyes as he points at him threateningly with a metal bat. "you need to be mindful of your surroundings dammit!!"
katsu inwardly weeps, falling into position when the second year orders the hitter to send the ball towards him. shit. gritting his teeth, katsu quickly runs backward when the ball flies over his head. i want to bat. "throw it to third base!" faintly registering zono's grating voice, he swivels around on his heel as the ball snugly falls into his glove. with a quick motion of his left wrist, katsu efficiently sends it right into the third baseman's mitt.
"good job!"
giving him a firm yet appreciative nod, zono redirects his attention back to the clueless brunet pitcher. "oi sawamura don't play dumb!" letting out a small sigh, katsu is left with no other option than to watch the chaos happening on the in-field. poking the grass with the tip of his shoe, his stomach rumbles loudly. the sooner this ends, the sooner i can finally eat breakfast. it's enough for him to endure the remainder of practice.
----
before he knows it, the sun is setting. though the practice is nowhere near being over.
katsu grimaces, unable to find a clean rag or napkin to wipe away the sweat gathering on the dips of his collarbones and neck. if there's anything he hates more than sweat, it's the feeling of clothes sticking to his skin like glue. he hooks a finger on the high collar of his undershirt and pulls it down, hoping the non-existent breeze dries it off soon.
the others were lounging on the ground when he finally joins them, biting into the rice balls and bananas that were being handed out by the managers. a pretty red-head wanders over once she spots him, a small smile on her clean face. "there's plenty of food, so eat all you want." katsu gives her a hasty thanks, grabbing a single riceball from her full plate. after making sure he didn't need anything else, she strides away to deliver the rest.
"katsu!! come sit over here!!"
sawamura wildly waves his arms around as if katsu wasn't able to easily spot him. "oi, watch it!" kuramochi pulls him into a headlock when he's accidentally smacked across the face, and sawamura begins to plead for his life. katsu sighs but makes his way toward the duo, walking on his tippy toes to avoid stepping on anyone.
