May in Nagano had a way of feeling like a gentle promise. The skies were clear, the breeze warm, and in the Fushimi household, The morning sun poured softly through the windows as Souta Fushimi and Sawamura Eijun woke up to the cheerful sounds of laughter and the smell of freshly baked cake. Today was special both boys were turning nine years old.
Souta and Eijun's families had come together for their shared ninth birthday. Souta's mother prepared a homemade cake, while Eijun's parents brought a favorite dish.
"Happy Birthday, Souta! Happy Birthday, Eijun!" everyone chimed in unison as the boys beamed with happiness.
Between bites of cake and laughter, Souta's mother smiled, "You boys have grown so fast. I can't wait to see what this year brings."
Eijun grinned, eyes sparkling. "More baseball, definitely."
Laughter echoed in the backyard as the boys tore open gifts, their cheeks red from excitement and running around.
Later that day, as they practiced catching signs in the backyard, Kazuki Sawamura's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and smiled.
"Hey, kids Animal just called. He said Chris wants to invite you both to Tokyo to play some baseball with his friends."
Souta's eyes lit up, and Eijun pumped his fist excitedly.
Riku Fushimi nodded, "Sounds like a great chance to get some real game experience."
The next weekend, with Riku and Kazuki accompanying them, they headed to Tokyo.
Arriving at the baseball field, Souta and Eijun's jaws dropped. The field buzzed with energy, rows of kids warmed up along the baselines. Baseballs cracked off bats, gloves snapped, and chatter filled the air.
"This place is packed," Eijun said, whistling low.
Suddenly, a loud voice rang out. "Chris! Get over here, man!"
Chris Yū jogged over and, with a broad smile, led the boys toward a group of kids who greeted them warmly.
"Everyone, this is Souta and Eijun, they are my friends from Nagano. Sawamura is a pitcher and Fushimi is a catcher."" Chris introduced.
"Let's play two short games, in the first one the batteries will be me and Eijun and Souta you'll be paired with Takao." said Chris
Souta nodded and walked off with the lanky right-hander, Takao. "It's a pleasure playing with you senpai" he said while bowing. "Please trust my glove."
Takao blinked. "Okay."
The teams quickly organized, and the first game began.
The first match began with Eijun standing tall on the mound. The summer sun beat down, but his energy was electric. On the other end, Chris crouched behind the plate steady, silent and composed.
Top of the 1st inning:
Eijun's fastballs came flying in with a loud pop into Chris's mitt. The timing between them wasn't perfect, but it was solid. Eijun's flexible joints gave life to his pitches natural tailing, unpredictable angle and Chris called the game like a veteran, quickly adapting to Eijun's movement.
Chris called for a fastball inside.
Pop! "Strike!"
"His ball's dancing," murmured one of the older players watching.
Chris smirked behind the mask. "He's got something raw… but it's real."
Eijun threw three scoreless innings. He gave up a hit or two, but his mound presence stunned the older kids.
Bottom of the 1st:
On the other side, Souta paired with a pitcher named Takao a lanky, quiet kid with a nervous grip. Chris's teammates thought Souta would struggle catching unfamiliar pitches.
Souta crouched behind the plate, hitting his chest signalling. "I've got you!" he told Yuto. "Don't overthink, just trust me senpai."
And somehow, the pitcher did.
With Souta's framing, sudden glove movement, and authoritative calls, Yuto struck out two batters in the first inning something he hadn't done in months.
Between innings, Chris stood near the dugout, arms crossed. "That catcher… he's something else."
Souta stepped up to bat next inning, his wooden bat drawing whispers from the bench.
"Is that kid using wood?"
"He's still in a grade school, wooden bat is a bit too much."
But Souta calmly took his stance and, after two foul balls, flicked a short line drive to right. Nothing flashy, but pure contact.
Eijun cheered. "That's how you do it!"
Chris, crouching behind the plate, made a mental note. That bat control…
Mid-game
Chris turned to Eijun."You're loud on the mound but you got a good rhythm."
Eijun grinned. "My battery partner is the amazing one."
Chris chuckled. "You're both crazy good for your age"
Final score: 3-2.
Chris's team edged out the win, but the real surprise was Souta and Eijun's poise.
Chris called out, "This time, let's see what the two of you can do together."
Everyone gathered, curious.
Souta nodded to Eijun as he pulled on his catcher's gear.
"You ready?"
"Always," Eijun said, cracking his knuckles with a confident grin.
Top of the 1st inning:
Chris's team sent up their best batters. But the moment Eijun threw the first pitch and it landed in Souta's mitt
'thwap'
The umpire hesitated."Strike!"
The batter turned to look at him but didn't said anything.
Souta was tossed the ball back . The strike zone had been claimed.
The second batter flinched at a pitch low and away. It was outside but Souta's swift glove framed it back in, clean and convincing.
"Strike!"
Chris, watching from the dugout, blinked. "He's fooling the umpire perfectly."
Even the third batter looked shaken. Eijun played with timing, throwing quick and slow, while Souta gave sharp commands, shifting in his crouch like a general.
By the end of the third inning, they'd recorded five strikeouts.
Bottom of the 2nd:
Now it was Chris behind the plate, and Eijun standing in the batter's box.
Chris narrowed his eyes. "I've seen your pitches. Let's see how your swing looks."
First pitch: inside fastball.
Eijun swung and fouled it back. "Whoa! He's reading me."
Second pitch: off-speed. Eijun held back. "Ball!"
Souta leaned on the fence. "Eyes on the ball, Eijun! He's not giving you any heat balls again"
Third pitch: high fastball.
Eijun grinned. There you are.
He whipped his bat forward and cracked it into center just over the shortstop's head.
On second base, he beamed toward Souta.
"I'm not just a pitcher, you know."
Souta chuckled. "We'll see about that."
Bottom of the 4th:
Now it was Souta vs. Eijun.
Chris squatted behind the plate, eyes sharpened.
Eijun stared at Souta, smirking. "Think you can hit me?"
Souta adjusted his helmet. "I'll let the bat do the talking."
Pitch 1: Fastball high. Souta didn't flinch. "Ball!"
Pitch 2: Fastball inside, He fouled it back. Eijun grinned.
Pitch 3: Fastball low, Souta barely held up. "Ball!"
Pitch 4: Fastball outside. He swung—CRACK!—just foul.
2-2 count.
Souta stepped out of the box. "You're not bad."
Eijun rubbed the ball. "You're better than not bad."
Final pitch: Two-seamer.
Eijun let it rip. Souta read the tail, adjusted at the last second
CRACK! A sharp grounder just past third.
The field roared. Chris, standing up, whistled. "He read the break. At that age?"
Eijun looked stunned. Then he smiled, wide and proud.
"That's my catcher!"
Final score: 5-3.
No one remembered who won.
They remembered the battery that lit up the field.