Souta Fushimi's POV – Age 8
It started with a simple question.
"Hey, Souta, wanna hang out after school?"
Since that day Eijun and I had become inseparable. Whether it was tossing a ball, talking about baseball, or just hanging out and eating snacks, there was something easy and fun about being around him.
Eijun had this wild energy that just never quit. Everything he did was loud, passionate, and straight from the heart.
We spent that afternoon walking around town, sipping soda from vending machines, arguing over who was better Japanese or American teams and mimicking pitching stances from old baseball cards.
We even climbed a hill behind my house, laid on the grass, and watched the clouds move.
"You really love pitching, huh?" I asked.
Eijun nodded. "When I stand on the mound, it's like... I can talk without words. I just feel it, you know? Like the ball's how I say what I'm thinking."
I smiled. "Sounds like a pitcher thing to say."
"And you love catching?"
"More than anything. It's not just catching pitches. It's about leading the team and protecting them as well as reading the opponents"
Eijun grinned. "We're gonna be the best battery in Japan someday, huh?"
I nodded, no hesitation. "Yeah! We definitely will."
Riku Fushimi's POV – Later that Week
Watching the boys train together behind our house reminded me of the old days.
I stood beside Kazuki, arms crossed, as Souta shifted his stance into a low crouch, barking a quick signal.
Without hesitation, Eijun wound up and let the ball fly.
Thwack.
Right into the center of Souta's glove.
They didn't need words. They just clicked.
Kazuki let out a whistle. "They're syncing faster than I expected."
"Yeah," I said. "Souta's smart, too smart sometimes. Eijun's got that wild spark, It pushes them both."
Kazuki chuckled. "Eijun's always been that way. All heart, no brakes."
I watched Souta step out of the crouch and point toward Eijun's stride. "His posture's adjusting Eijun's form without even saying anything," I murmured.
Kazuki nodded. "And Eijun's trusting him. That's not like him. He hates being told what to do."
"They're a good match," I said quietly.
We stood there in silence for a while two old players, watching the next generation take shape before our eyes.
Family Dinner at the Fushimi House
That evening, Haruka had gone all out. Homemade karaage, stewed pork belly, miso soup, steamed rice, pickled vegetables, and a cake for dessert. Eijun's eyes lit up the moment he saw all the food. "ITADAKIMASU!!"
Our dining room table was filled with more than just food tonight it was filled with two families becoming one.
Eijun's parents, Shinji and Yuki Sawamura, had joined us as well. Shinji was a bit like Eijun easygoing with a sharp wit while Yuki was bright, warm, and full of laughter that echoed through the house like a song.
"This meal is amazing, Haruka-san!" Yuki said, practically glowing. "You must give me your karaage recipe!"
Haruka smiled modestly. "Only if you promise to make me your miso eggplant next time."
"I think I married into a trade war," Riku whispered to me with a grin.
The kids, of course, were loud and oblivious, Souta and Eijun having an intense chopstick duel over the last fried dumpling.
"You little" Eijun gasped as Souta snagged it with ninja precision.
"Better luck next time," Souta smirked.
Their laughter filled the room.
"So," Shinji turned to Riku, raising his glass, "how does it feel watching your son take the same path as you?"
Riku looked down the table at Souta. "It's different now. Back then, it was about chasing the dream. Now? It's about giving him the space to find his own."
Kazuki nodded. "Same here. I wanted to protect Eijun from pressure, but he's sprinting toward it like he's racing the sun."
Yuki smiled. "That's our boy. Loud, stubborn, and impossible to stop."
"And your son," she added to Haruka, "is so calm and thoughtful. I can tell he's always thinking three pitches ahead."
Haruka beamed. "He's always been observant. Quiet on the outside, storm on the inside."
After dinner, the adults sat back with coffee and quiet conversation, while the boys passed out on the tatami, limbs tangled, faces peaceful.
"They've got something special," Kazuki said softly. "Not just talent. Something deeper."
Riku nodded. "Like they were meant to find each other."
And maybe… just maybe… the future of Japanese baseball was already asleep in front of us, dreaming of the next pitch.