AN: This all began when me and my friends were fanboying/girling over the spoilers, and it we kept talking and I couldn't resist the urge to make it like this, I hope I didn't make OOCness in this story, if anything to improve my writing style/habit, I'd be glad to take it. Thanks! OSU!

Right after the match, Sawamura who lost his fighting spirit was sitting alone in the locker room like a doll, the brightness aura that he usually gave completely disappeared. "Sawamura Eijun…"

A voice called out to him, but he was lost in his thought that he couldn't hear someone calling out to him until the owner of the voice have to called him again and shook his body.

"Sawamura Eijun! How long are you going to keep moping around!" Sawamura finally glanced up to see who was calling him.

"Na-Narumiya…Mei…?" Narumiya could see how the liveliness left the boy, he didn't expect the younger boy to be like this when he decided to come here.

"Hey, what happened to you? Where's all that noisy shout all around you…" Sawamura didn't reply.

"Umm…hey, look…honestly I didn't come here to cheer you up, what I came here to tell you…that…it was a good game…you really gave me a shock back there." Narumiya sat beside the soulless pitcher before he continued. "When we first met, I didn't think that you would give me such a pressure and trouble…" Sawamura stayed lifeless and didn't even take a look at Narumiya.

"Hey, are you listening!? If you have time to moping around then better get your ass up and start practicing harder!"

"Huh…? But…I…that dead ball…made the team lost…" Sawamura finally replied.

"So what? Did Kazuya blame you for that?" Sawamura shook his head. "Then all you can do is to use this as an experienced and keep moving forward." Narumiya said.

"But…the senpai…they're not there anymore…"

"So…isn't it your job to carry your dream? How to put this…I'm not good at this type of thing…but well you see…it's not like the end right? When you carry your Senpai's dream doesn't that fire you up?"

"Senpai's dream…?"

"Yes, have you ever think…that if you carry your Senpai's dream and achieve it, that moment…don't you think it will feel awesome?"

"…" Narumiya took a glanced at Sawamura.

"…An Ace…is someone who can shoulder the burden of the whole team…do you think you can become an Ace with this attitude?" Sawamura's eyes finally came back to life when he heard that sentence. "What's important for the Ace is his strong will and be able to keep the team going on even though they're in a pinch and never give up…but look at you, you already give up isn't it?"

"I…I'm not giving up!" Narumiya smirked.

"Good then, I'm glad to hear that…"

"Why…are you saying this to me? Narumiya…?"

"Senpai, I'm a 2nd year, you know?" Sawamura felt like Narumiya reminded him of certain someone.

"Narumiya…Senpai…why are you going all the way out to say this to me?" Sawamura asked.

"…Because I'm interested in you, even though you're not the Ace…the way you pitched, and how the team reacted with your play…it was great, I didn't expect to see this. Don't get me wrong, I still respect Tanba-San but you're different…"

Sawamura looked at Narumiya with wide eyes, he didn't expect to hear this, especially from his enemy Ace. "It just that you reminded me how I used to be on the 1st year time, that's all…" Narumiya said, looking away so Sawamura couldn't see his expression. "Basically said, I finally feel like I find someone I can have a rival with, I came here to tell you that you're worthy to be my rival okay!? Nothing more than that."

Sawamura couldn't believe what he just heard, him, Narumiya's Rival? All he ever thought was to stand on the mound as an Ace, but he never thought to be a someone's rival, Furuya excluded, he knew that they're rival, competing for the Ace's jersey.

"So, be strong and kept on improving yourself! I hope to have more a challenging match next time we face each other off in Fall, got that into your head, got it?" Sawamura nodded. "By the way, how're you feeling after you threw dead ball to Shirakawa?"

When Sawamura was reminded of that moment again, his body suddenly felt cold and he started to tremble. "Hey…it's okay, throwing dead ball is one of the stepping stone for you, I too, threw a dead ball to the same place, to the batter head, but what does matter is how you conquer it after that."

"Conquer it?" Sawamura asked, he couldn't understand what Narumiya meant, although it was mostly the same as when Kataoka told him to make it count next time after Raichi got the homerun off him.

"Well…you'll notice it soon and when the time comes, don't hesitate to ask me, after all, I want a strong rival to compete with. Just me standing in the spot light alone is boring." Narumiya ask Sawamura's phone number, exchanging , and said. "One of your good points is that bright and cheerful aura of yours, don't lose it. It's a ticket to the Ace Number for you." Before he finally left the room.

Sawamura grabbed his pants as he took a deep breath and set his determination away, what Narumiya told him was right, Ace is the one who shoulders the burden of the whole team, if he were to give up and keep moping around with the past, how could he become the Ace who shoulders the whole team.

"Oi, Sawamura…how are you feeling? Anyway, we're leaving…" Miyuki called out to him from the door. "Why did Mei come here?"

"Mei…? You mean…Narumiya-S-" Sawamura could feel his phone vibrated by the incoming text message in his bag.

He picked up his phone and looked who sent him the message, surprisingly it was Narumiya. "Don't tell Kazuya, what we talk and no one else. Got that? Only talk to me, I'll be here to help you."

"Um…Yes, it was Narumiya…just now." Sawamura replied while putting his phone back into the bag.

"What did Mei say to you?" There was a brief pause before Sawamura replied.

"Nothing, he was…looking for you actually…" Sawamura replied but Miyuki wouldn't take the reply easily.

"Oi, tell me properly, what did Mei say to you?" Miyuki's expression shifted.

"H-He just told me what I told you!" Sawamura shouted.

"You think I'm just gonna believe that? Mei is-"

"Oi, What took you two so long, we're about to leave." Kuramochi interrupted the conversation.

"Tch…" Miyuki clicked his tongue before he left the room with his bag.

"Did something happen?" Kuramochi asked.

"Nothing…Let's go Kuramochi-senpai." Kuramochi was a little bit surprised to see Sawamura talking back to him like usual, 30 minutes ago, he was depressing like a black hole, his emotions were all but consumed into the emptiness.

On the bus, tears were flowing down on every player except for Miyuki, Chris and Sawamura.

Sawamura decided that he will hold strong and improve himself, to be able to shoulder the burden of the team, he decided that he wouldn't cry in front of his teammates anymore.

Kuramochi did notice that Sawamura didn't cry or shed a tear when they were on the bus or the dining hall, all Sawamura did was kept quiet.

After that depressing night, the 3rd year retired from the club, Sawamura watched them as they leave, and when Matsuko left the dorm, Sawamura added the pressure to himself, to get stronger.

Kataoka called the rest of the club member, which are the 1st and 2nd year for a meeting. He chose Miyuki, as the next captain after Yuki, and Kuramochi and Zono are going to be the vice captains, since there's no time for them to keep loitering around.

If they're going to waste time on such matter, it's better to decide now and spend the time more efficiently.

Sawamura didn't say anything but just kept quiet to himself, that night after the meeting he texted to Narumiya, asking for guidance, many things from the last match, the Inajitsu match, left many things for him to question about and one of the things he wanted to ask the most was, what was his mistake in the match, he's not going to blame himself or anything, but to get improved, he needed to know what his flaws were.

Narumiya replied the text messages, telling Sawamura that what he did in the match, was already good enough, no one will ever think that he will be able to shut off Inajitsu as a 1st year pitcher, Narumiya said that he didn't know what would become of the game if Sawamura was still able to keep going at his pace, so what Sawamura lacked in that match was probably, his experience and how to control himself under the pressured, since the dead ball was most likely came from the pressure he felt on the mound and cause him to lose control on the ball.

Those stuffs couldn't be taught unless you learn it the hard way, which that hard way is to find experiences in real life match not through knowledge or theory.

When the next morning came, Sawamura woke up early as he glanced over Matsuko's bed, he clenched his fist before he went out early for a practice.

He started by warming up his body, running with the tires, he felt the need to move forward, he want to become better for the sake of his team. He wanted to stand on the mound of Koshien alongside with his teammates in Seidou.

Before he's going to start practicing throwing at the net, Miyuki joined him. "Why are you practicing so early in the morning, Baka? Did you rest properly?" Miyuki asked. "Wait a little bit, I'll catch your pitch."

"Yes, I did get a good rest last night…what about you, Miyuki-senpai, it's unusual to see you so early."

"I just couldn't sleep properly." Miyuki looked at the pitcher while he's getting ready, somehow, this Sawamura felt strange from the usual Sawamura. His fighting spirit was probably the same or even at higher height now when Miyuki glanced at him, and considering each time when he got subbed out, he took a long time to recover but this time, not even 1 hour passed after the match and he already recovered, Miyuki felt that something was off.

"Hey…the match with Inajitsu…did you know what happen with you…? Did you notice how much strength you put into the ball?" Miyuki asked as he walked up to the pitcher.

"…I don't know…" Sawamura replied.

"What made you threw that way was probably because of the pressure…although I couldn't say that it was your fault only." Miyuki said.

"It's because of my inexperienced that cause that, so it's partly my fault…it's okay…I know that I'm weak…" Sawamura replied which gave another surprised to Miyuki, how could Sawamura changed over the night after he lost the match, something is totally off with Sawamura.

"Don't overthink about it, last night I watched the recording of our match, your face was totally stiff and grim, I didn't notice that so the fault lies with me. Since I'm the one who's leading you when you're on the mound."

"It's partly my fault…Don't sweat it Miyuki-Senpai…if only I know how to pitcher with better control and could response to any of your lead, the results…would have been different." Sawamura said.

Miyuki's expression was full of curiosity, whenever the usual Sawamura blamed himself or when he felt that he failed the coach expectation, he always goes into the poor mind state, but this current Sawamura blamed himself and yet still keep on going forward, it's not normal anymore.

"Wait, give me 5 minutes, go rest a little bit and wait for me okay?" Sawamura nodded.

Miyuki left Sawamura alone and went for a text message, the one he sent to, was to Narumiya.

"Mei, I know you said something to Sawamura, tell me now before it's too late."

"What? I didn't talk to the boy, Kazuya."

"You think I wouldn't know your nature? Your bad habit is sticking out as usual Mei, now tell me seriously."

"And you think I don't know your personality? You're one to say about personality, but anyway, I didn't talk anything to boy, his change of behavior is not my fault."

"…How did you know? I didn't say anything yet."

"and since when you start to care for other people? I thought you preferred to stay out of other people business."

"It's my job as a catcher."

"Oh really? Anyway, I have to go and practice, talk to you later."

"Damn, Mei…you think you can lie to me?" Miyuki put his phone back into his pocket before he wore the mitt and went back to Sawamura.

"Okay, let's get started, Sawamura." Sawamura nodded.

Miyuki checked Sawamura pitching on numerous spot, he asked for only Sawamura moving fastball, much to his surprise, it was just as good as against the match against Inajitsu, until he threw the dead ball though.

Miyuki tried to check on 4 seam and most of the other basic stuff, and Sawamura was performing like usual. "Are you feeling fine now…?"

"Well…in a way I guess…" Sawamura replied while looked up to the sky. "But…that's all in the past now…even if I dwelled on it…I wouldn't get better right?"

Miyuki twitched his eyes when he heard that sentence came out from Sawamura's lip. This definitely not the Sawamura he knew, that idiot Sawamura he knew wouldn't say something like that after all he's an idiot.

"I thought you…would be feeling depressed for a while, but it seems that you've already recovered earlier than I expect." Miyuki commented as he waited for Sawamura's reaction.

"I guess so…" Sawamura replied as he pitched another ball into Miyuki's mitt.

"Let's stop here for the morning, we'll continue later in the afternoon. Go and have breakfast, Sawamura."

"But I still wanna pitch more!" Sawamura said.

"I didn't say we're done for today, just for now. Now go." Sawamura took a brief pause to his action before he nodded and left.

Miyuki separated himself from Sawamura as he went to find Kuramochi in his room.

"Kuramochi, you awake?" Miyuki turned on the light as he entered the room.

"You jerk, even if I'm still asleep I'd be woken up by the light…what do you want?" Kuramochi asked as he get off his bed, actually, he woke up since Sawamura left the room.

"It's about Sawamura…"

"So you noticed too?" Miyuki nodded as he went to lock the door. "It's like he's becoming a different person right?"

"Yeah, I felt like he's becoming more dependable but that doesn't mean it's a good thing, well it's a good thing in a way but you know what I meant right?" Miyuki asked as he sat on the chair.

"Yeah, he didn't even cry on the bus, you know? Neither in the dining hall or in the dorm. Not a single tear dropped from that idiot. Did something happen between you two before I came to fetch you two after the match?"

"It wasn't with me, but it was with Mei. It's obvious that he talked something with Sawamura but neither of them were obliged to tell me." Miyuki's expression changed, he didn't like it when he was moving in the other's palm, he'd rather be controlling or bent the people to follow his way than being bent into someone's game.

"Mei, you mean that Narumiya?"

"Yeah…well, just keep on watching Sawamura for now. I know you'd be able to sniff something out from him."

"Okay, I'll do it."

"Let's hope that things aren't going to get worse, as we already have the problem with our batting line up, I don't want to have problem from Pitcher's side too.

"What do you mean by batting line up…?"

"Eijun-kun, you can eat it slowly." Kuramochi said as he watched Sawamura swallowed his breakfast like a swarm of mantis destroying the crop field.

"I want to go and practice more!" Sawamura still eating his food in a fast pace.

"Sawamura." A low voiced called out to him, he took a look at the owner of the voice.

"Bo-Boss! What can I help you today!?" Sawamura said with his mouth stuffed with foods.

"First of all, eat the breakfast properly, then come and see me on the field."

"Y-Yes!" Kataoka left the dining hall afterwards. "On the field huh?" Sawamura mumbled.

"I've come, Boss!" Sawamura shouted as an idiot like usual, only in front of Kataoka that he seemed to act like how he used to.

"Get on the mound, I want to check something. Ono is going to catch for you, get ready."

As they get ready, Kataoka had been analyzing every bit of Sawamura's action and expression.

Sawamura pitched at Kataoka's order, and it was the same when he threw for Miyuki, it was the same as his usual except that he's shouting like an idiot or rather his usual self in front of Kataoka.

"Okay, Sawamura, how about this." Kataoka wore the batter's helmet as he get into the batter's box.

"Can you pitch to the in course?" Sawamura nodded, but to Sawamura's surprised, when he pitch his first ball that he intent to go for in course, it flew to the other side.

"W-what was that…" Sawamura mumbled to himself.

"Try throwing it again Sawamura." The pitcher nodded and pitched once again, this time, the ball turned out to be a careless pitch, an easy ball for the batter.

'is this…what Narumiya-senpai was talking about…? That I have to conquer it…' Sawamura thought to himself.

"Sawamura…don't touch the ball for one or two days, just keep practicing on other parts, you understand?"

Sawamura took a glanced at the ball before he decided to reply. "Yes, Boss! I'll not fail you again!" Sawamura bowed down as he excused himself and went to run around the field.

"Miyuki, I want you to take care of Furuya as he's going to be the starting pitcher for the fall tournament." Kataoka called Miyuki to talk in the teacher's office.

"What about Sawamura, sir?" Miyuki asked, worrying about the idiot pitcher.

"Sawamura…it all depends if he can make a comeback or not, I just checked up on him just now."

"May I ask for the result?"

"He couldn't throw properly when there's a batter, he was doing good until I stand in the batter's box." Kataoka explained. "I told him to stop touching the ball for 1 or 2 days then I'll judge him again later what is the problem he's facing."

"How was his reaction, sir? Did he…keep quiet the whole time?"

"Hmm? He was noisy as usual. Is there a problem with him?"

"N-No, sir. I didn't expect him to recover so fast, that's all." Miyuki explained his question.

"If someone is capable of doing so, he will be able to do it right away, this just mean that Sawamura has the potential, that's all." Miyuki did a secret smirk when he heard those words, he excused himself after that.

Miyuki texted Kuramochi about Sawamura. "Seems like we got a problem about that idiot."

"So you finally came, Sawamura."

"Yes, please take care of me! Even if it's one night! I hope to learn something from you!" Sawamura bowed down his head.