After dinner, everyone went to Sendou's room. Sendou was the only one reading manga, while Wakaba pulled Sawamura outside. The others were playing board games.
"Eijun, why didn't you invite Akila to join the Baseball Club today?"
"He hasn't decided to join yet. I'll invite him tomorrow."
"He already wants to join, does Akila. It's just that, with his personality, there's no way he'd bring it up himself."
"What? I'm going right now!" Sawamura said, about to rush into the room, but Wakaba grabbed him.
"Idiot, if you invite him that directly, he'll definitely turn you down!"
"Why?"
"If he agreed to you, wouldn't that be no different from taking the initiative himself?"
"Is that how it works?" Sawamura still didn't understand.
"You really are an idiot!"
"Why are you saying that too, Wakaba?" Sawamura scratched his head.
"If he agreed, wouldn't he basically be telling everyone that he'd wanted to join all along? With his personality, how could he possibly agree under those circumstances?"
"Then, Wakaba, what should I do?" Sawamura pressed his palms together in a pleading gesture.
"Honestly, what am I supposed to do with you? Eijun, are you serious about going to nationals?"
"Of course! But what does that have to do with inviting Sendou?"
"You know this too, right? We're all amateurs at baseball. We have no idea what kind of training we need to do to get stronger. At this rate, forget nationals—we'll be lucky to even get our first win."
"Of course I know that. But we just have to work hard, don't we?"
Sawamura might have had slow reactions and been bad at all that twisted logical analysis, but that didn't mean he was so stupid that he understood nothing. He simply wanted to solve things his own way.
"Don't forget, before Sendou came here, he was the ace and cleanup hitter for a prestigious elementary school little league team.
Even though he'd only trained for three weeks, he might still be an amateur. But don't forget, he was only in fourth grade back then. That showed how highly regarded he was.
In other words, even if he's an amateur too, he at least knows how to get stronger. If we seriously ask him, he'll help us."
"You mean, have him be our coach?"
"Yes. Find a chance and seriously ask him! Even if he really doesn't like baseball, we're teammates, aren't we? We're teammates, right? Akila will definitely help."
"Yeah! Thanks, Wakaba!" Sawamura nodded earnestly in thanks.
When they returned, Sawamura saw that Sendou had been invited into the game by the others as well. The two of them silently chose not to say anything.
"It's already this late? We should get going!" At ten that night, Takeda Shin said.
"Okay!" everyone answered at once.
"Wait!" Sawamura lowered his head and shouted with all his might.
Thud!
"Eijun!"
"Ei-chan!"
"What are you doing?" Amid everyone's shocked cries, Sendou coldly asked Sawamura, who had suddenly dropped to his knees.
"I know. I know we can't make it to nationals with just us!" Sawamura said.
"Ei-chan!"
"But some of our teammates aren't interested in baseball. Some aren't even interested in sports at all. I was the one who dragged everyone into this. I want to take everyone to nationals!"
"Our strength isn't enough! I... I hate that so much."
"So! So! Join the Baseball Club, Sendou!!!
Teach us how to play baseball!!!
Even if you don't play in games!
Please!!!"
Having let his emotions take over, Sawamura stammered through those words, every feeling laid bare in his voice. Then he pressed his forehead against the tatami.
"Don't forget, Eijun. I'm a beginner too. There's almost no way I can take you to nationals."
"It's okay. If it's you, you can do it!
If it's only us, we don't even know how to get stronger. Please!" The others were completely stunned by Eijun's display.
"You want me to be your coach, and let me do whatever I want?"
"Yes!!! Please!"
"Sure. I accept. But not now. Gather at my house next weekend, one week from today."
Sawamura abruptly raised his head. Though he didn't know why Sendou said to wait a week—
he knew Sendou was the kind of man who would do what he promised.
"Don't just kneel so casually, idiot!" Sendou said, crouching down and rubbing Sawamura's head.
Of course, Sendou wasn't going to tease Sawamura anymore at a time like this. Otherwise, this little angel would start crying.
Sawamura was cutest when he was upset or acting foolish, but crying was absolutely not included.
If Sawamura cried, Sendou would instead feel deeply sad, along with many other complicated emotions.
Although Sawamura was nearly five months older than Sendou, Sendou had always treated him like a younger brother.
Likewise, without even realizing it himself, Sawamura treated Sendou like an older brother.
That was only when they were doing something serious. Usually, Sendou's thoughts were far too hard to figure out.
So much so that Sawamura felt even Miyuki, whom he met later, was easier to understand.
"Then it's settled. Teach us baseball!"
"Yeah. When have you ever seen me go back on my word?" Sendou said, helping Sawamura to his feet.
"You do it all the time!"
"..."
"But you never break a serious promise! Honestly."
The corners of Sendou's lips curled slightly.
"What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing! Anyway, don't come bothering me this week, or I'll kill you!" Sendou narrowed his eyes at once, seeming to glare with Killing Intent.
At the sight of that, Sawamura instantly dropped into a kneeling position, scooted back to the corner by the wall, and bowed his head.
"Yes!"
(This kind of kneeling was etiquette rather than a plea. There were many kinds of kneeling in Japan; this referred to the formal gesture used by kimono-clad attendants at some Japanese inns.)
That humble appearance thoroughly amused Sendou.
As expected, he's so cute, this guy, Sendou thought.
Even the others happily watched the adorable sight of the humble little angel.
"Then we'll head back first. The meat was delicious today!"
"Be careful on your way home!"
After a standard Japanese farewell, the lively gathering came to an end.
I can tell my brain isn't working for the moment. If I suddenly stop updating over the next couple of days, it means my condition has worsened and I can't think through the plot details anymore. I won't post a notice in the happy chapter. The temperature has been changing a lot these past few days, so everyone should take care too. Don't end up like me. These past few days have been so miserable I'd rather be dead. Even when I occasionally read for a while, I can't understand anything that takes even a slight turn in logic.
Oh, and brothers, after you finish reading, chat with the other readers here. It's so quiet. I like listening to people chat sometimes when I'm free. I prefer watching from the sidelines while everyone talks.
Before you continue