Author's Note; Oofuri isn't mine no matter how I wish it. That being said, sorry for the delay. Somehow I never quite realized that when people say they have writer's "block" they literally meant "Boulder". Anyways enjoy.

Ah. Konnichiwa!! My name is Sakaeguchi. How are you today? Ah! That is so nice. How may I help you today? Oh…about Nishiura? Well, I suppose it was Abe and I who first came in here with the intent of seeing their baseball team and the grounds of course. We started coming here during spring break. We found out that there wasn't a baseball team yet—well until this year that is. It's a new one with just new members—and that the coach would still be looking for members during the start of the school.

Me, I stayed because the place felt good. Yes good…I mean it feels comfortable and there was the fact that we would all be first years which means I could have the chance to be a regular player if I try hard enough. Baseball's always been fun and although my old team wasn't that strong—it was ok for a time. It gave me a chance to play and improve and I would always remember middle school with fondness. But Nishiura felt every different even from the very start. There was an air of possibility around the team that excited me a whole lot. I wanted very much to explore what it means. It didn't hurt both that it was kind of near my house and that it won't cost much to attend Nishiura.

Nishiura is—something else though. I mean just look at Momokan. She sure is something isn't she? Yes, she can be scary…ok, very, very scary when she has to be and sometimes even when she has NO reason to be…er…yes I think about the "orange incident" too and of course there were other things…but you couldn't help but admire her for her love of the game. I mean her savings are what kept us alive until now…she must really like baseball to sacrifice that much. Giving up her paycheck sure made us appreciate her even more and her devotion is something else I haven't seen in any other coach. It's up to us to make sure that she doesn't regret her decision to support the team.

Shiga-sensei is also—well…he is someone you need to experience. He teaches Math, well that's what he's suppose to do but most of the time we wonder what exactly it is that he's doing with us. We heard that Sensei likes to attend seminars and study diverse things and I suppose that's as good an explanation for the weird things that he's been teaching us. Not that its useless or anything! Actually it's been the secret of our success. Shiga-sensei's meditation sessions helped me find a way to calm down during the most desperate of situations—whether good or bad—those sessions helped a whole lot. It also didn't hurt that my teammates are amazing.

Suyama, Oki, Izumi, Mizutani, even Nishihiro are all great guys. They give it their all. Suyama might be a bit thoughtful and Oki a bit quiet but we all get along fine. We're waiting for Nishihiro to become a regular but that won't be long now. He's getting better all the time. Izumi is the team's resident cool dude and I think the girls like him a lot. Mizutani is our team prankster, though that trick Momokan played on him (and his head) really put an end to it. All in all they are a really great bunch of guys.

Just look at Captain Hanai. He used to be a clean-up hitter in middle school and now he is our leader whenever sensei or Momokan's not around. He is extremely reliable and even undertook having lessons together so that those of us who were lacking could find support and yes, free tutorials from Nishihiro. I'm glad that he could control all the other guys and as one of his vice-captains, I would do all that is possible to assist him. Shinooka deals with the things like supplies and our food and Captain deals with things in the field. Between the two of them, we do pretty well when were by ourselves.

Speaking of vice-captains, I of course mean Abe-kun. He and I came from the same middle school though we weren't classmates. When we came down to scout schools with baseball teams I guess I thought at the time that Abe would choose another school—after all he was in a really good team back in middle school and he had a really good battery with an amazing pitcher. Nishiura was just starting out. He knows more than anyone that he could get into any established school but for some reason, in the end, he chose Nishiura. I admit that I was glad he did because someone like Abe would be good to have on the team. I don't know still why he stayed but you could bet that I'm not the only one that's happy that he did. But I still haven't forgotten that he told the entire team of my habits! It's not my fault my tummy gets uncooperative when I get nervous.

Still Abe is remarkable both as a player and as a person. He is the one that made Mihashi feel welcome on the team. Sure he gets loud and a bit scary but that's just his way and he means no harm by it. He really has a loud voice, that's all. I think it's because he uses it on the field a lot that he couldn't turn it down a notch or three even when he's OFF the field. But at least he takes excellent care of our fidgety pitcher. Abe had an amazing partner before and they even managed to reach Koushien…but there's something not quite the same when he's with Mihashi.

Well, yes I know Mihashi. Yes, I know what he is like and you wouldn't believe the waterworks he's capable of. I had half a mind to bring extra handkerchiefs just in case it reaches a point when his won wouldn't suffice. He is such a nice kid too and we all wonder why he thinks so poorly of himself. He works the hardest of all to make those pitches and he never seems to tire when it comes to finding ways to improve his game. But while he is very tenacious with his game, he couldn't seem to see that he is an amazing guy he is just by being himself. I couldn't really blame Abe for shouting most of the time but it is getting a bit better each day. At least he doesn't cry as much and Abe's tempers been slowly improving.

Oh well…they haven't shouted at one another as much and after our match with Mihashi's old school it helped heaps to calm him down. Of course, Abe still shouts. It wouldn't be him if he didn't. They have amazing chemistry together. Now, if only I could calm Mihashi down so that he could see how hard Abe is working for him.

Speaking of amazing—you guys know Tajima. Yes, him. Our clean-up hitter. He's one brilliant kid. I still wonder how he got the motion of that Tousei pitcher. He really is er, well…he is something. Kinda like Shiga-sensei, you need to "experience" Tajima to believe and understand what he is. Oh, there's no mistaking that he's an awesome player. I haven't seen anyone as talented as him. Its just—well…Tajima is a force of nature to be reckoned with. He has this energy about him—like a typhoon that swoops in and just drags you along. He is so fun to be with—if only he could control that habit of his of telling everyone his favorite hobby.

Ah! Look at the time. I think its time for practice....Tajima's hobby? You're curious?

His hobby?

Oh well…it would be better if you ask him. Ja!