Rainy Day Fun (Part 2)

"Because the time you spend waiting for the laundry isn't long or short—it's kind of awkward, right?

As high school baseball players, even a single second is precious. We can't waste it!" Sawamura thought Kominato simply hadn't understood his idea, so he enthusiastically explained.

"The washing machine's timer shows when it'll be done!

So couldn't you just check your watch and come back when it's time?

And if time is precious, wouldn't it be better to do something else?" Kominato said gently.

"Do you even need to practice that?

It's completely useless, isn't it?" Sendou suddenly jabbed.

"What did you say?

How can you have a spirited victory shout without practicing it?!!" Sawamura shouted back.

"Ding..."

"Oh! My laundry's done!" Kominato's voice interrupted the two of them.

"But ten or fifteen minutes is still kind of awkward!

As for what you can do in that time..." Sawamura calmed down and realized that what he was doing had basically no practical value. He just hadn't wanted to lose to Sendou in terms of momentum. (What a strange brain circuit.)

"I'd go take some swings! Eijun-kun, why don't you give it a try too?

You're good at bunting, but have you ever hit a normal pitch?

You whiffed on every swing in the Indoor Practice Field just now!"

"Cough! You've gotten pretty sharp-tongued lately, Kominato!

Aren't you becoming more and more like your big brother?"

"Huh? Oh!

Is that so?" Kominato was startled, then replied softly and bashfully, like a girl whose secret had been exposed.

"That!!!

Isn't something you should be happy about!!" Sawamura shouted.

Sawamura never could have imagined that Kominato would be happy to be told he resembled his big brother—and in his bad habits, no less...

"Oh!" Furuya suddenly entered the laundry room and spotted the three of