| Fan Fiction |
by Ifah_chan
It was our next match before the final. Finally, we had tremendously won every match. And the one who made it happened was, our one and only ace, Tomo-kun…. Soon enough, we were preparing to our semi-finals match. Our next opponent had the slider ace pitcher. I heard that he was fast and strong. But then, I certainly believed that Tomo-kun would shut him up…
These days I was obviously busy with everything. Being a manager in the baseball team was such tiring job yet fun. Both the players and we, the managers really had a great time. We trained ourselves as we played together and we enjoyed as we learned about everything. Even I had never seen Tomo-kun had so much fun before. He would laugh and smiled around with other players. Toma was the clown in our team, he had always made his stupid gimmicks, and that was what we liked about him.
But lately, I rather felt slightly down as the fighting spirit had been slowly faded away. I kept sighing everywhere I went. The day after our practice, we went to the hall as usual for final meeting before we went back to our room. I didn’t know why but I felt slightly worried about our next match. I looked at Tomo-kun. He seemed calm and more relax. He turned at me and smiled. But… I gave him a tired and gloomy smile and then I turned away.
"I wonder… Will Tomo-kun be alright in our next match?" I said sadly.
"Why?" Aya asked me curiously.
"Nothing… Suddenly I feel worried about everything. You know that our next opponent will be from Senkawa High School…. And his pitcher is tough." I sighed.
"Daijoubu! We will win, I can guarantee it!" said Toma as he ate his meal.
"Why? Why are you so confident?" asked Aya curiously.
Toma sniggered. "Because…. The match day will be at 'that day'…" he continued eating his meal.
"What do you mean, 'that day'..?" I asked him again.
Suddenly, Toma turned to us and startled. "Eh? Why should I tell you? Jaa na! I have to go…. Oyasumi…!" he stood up and waved at us. But Aya grabbed by his shirt and pulled him over.
"Where do you think are you going? You should answer us first then you can go! Tell us! What do you mean by 'that day'…?" Aya asked him as she stared at him annoyingly.
"I already told you…. There's nothing about it…. Now, let me go please…" Toma said timidly.
"That's not the answer, you idiot! Tell us!!" Aya showed her fist and Toma crumpled himself as to avoid Aya from hitting him.
"Aya… Don’t be that harsh… you will hurt him…" I stopped Aya.
"There's no way he's gonna get hurt…. He's a guy anyway… Now, hurry up!"
"Okay-Okay… I will tell you guys! But first, let me go…"
Aya turned to him and stared at him. "Make sure… You're not running away from us!" then she let go of her grip.
"That day will be on the day of Masami's birthday…."
"Masami-san's birthday??" I asked.
Toma nodded. "Hait… During our middle high school days, Tomo had never even once lost on that day… he had always won on Masami's birthday…."
"Really? So, now I will rest assure…. That our team will win on that day." I smiled bitterly.
"Maki-chan…" Aya looked at me sadly.
"Jaa… Can I go now?"
"Just go… I don’t need you anymore…" Aya pushed him away and then turned to me.
"Why?! I'm not a tool, you know!!!" Toma screamed as he stomped away to his room.
"Maki-chan… I…"
"Daijoubu!! We're gonna win, aren’t we…Aya?" I asked suddenly. I smiled widely at her.
Aya was startled and slowly smiled. "Un…! We're definitely gonna win this match!!!"
But….
We didn’t at all…. We totally lost against our opponent. Everybody was excited but yet, we lost… I didn’t know what happened but it was the saddest day of our lives. Even Tomo-kun…. He looked sad and extremely down. Since we lost the match, we would have to go back the day after…. That night, I was told by Tomo-kun that he needed to be alone so I didn’t disturb him at all. I felt that I had to comfort him or something. I thought I wanted to tell him something but…. The next day, early in the morning, suddenly, I was told by Toma that Tomo-kun wasn’t in his room. I bit my lips… he still sad about the match…
"Don’t worry, I'll go and find him… Toma just stay here…" I said instantly.
"But… I'll help you…" Toma offered.
I shook my head. "No… You must be tired so, you should rest…."
"I'll follow her!" said Aya suddenly, who just stood by the door.
I smiled and turned to Toma. "Daijoubu…. We will look for him. So, rest assure!" Immediately, Aya and I took the bicycles and we ride along the street.
We searched everywhere but he was nowhere to be found. We had even spilt up so we could find him easily. But again, we failed. Then, we met up and walked along the bridge nearby while we had also looked for him. Suddenly, my legs stopped as I saw Tomo-kun. But he wasn’t alone…. He was with Masami-san, and they even hugged at each other. I could see Tomo-kun's tears while holding her…. My lips trembled and my legs couldn’t move. I had to hold my tears from falling and forced myself to smile….
"Let's go!!!" said Aya suddenly in an angry tone as she grabbed my hand and dragged me along with her.
"Aya…. What's wrong?" I asked.
"There's no need for you to cry for him anymore!! He's totally made me mad!!" Aya frustrated.
"But… We have to…." I said in a trembling voice.
"No!!! He can go back to the dorm all by himself!! I had enough of this!! Aargh!!!!" She crumpled her hair as she was frustrated. "I'll kill that Masami!!!"
I smiled and laughed as I looked at Aya. "You're so funny, Aya…"
"Why?! Why are you laughing?" She asked.
I was hurt…. Totally hurt…. But I forced myself to smile away. I didn’t want anybody to know my true feelings. And I didn’t want anybody to know that I was hurt. It was one-sided love after all… I couldn’t force Tomo-kun to like me or something. But instead, I started to avoid him. I know it seemed wrong but I just couldn’t face him at all. Since our lost, we were entering the new semester. And we were busy focusing with our study. Even though Tomo-kun and I were in the same class but I seldom saw him. Further more, since then, I had never gone up to the roof anymore…. I told myself that I didn’t want to get hurt anymore. But then, I felt lonely. And Tomo-kun had never asked me or looked for me…
I didn’t want to think about it anymore. So, I kept myself busy with my works. Since the match, Tomo-kun's popularity had increased so as Toma…. Actually, I was proud of him. He really improved himself. Nowadays, he intended to smile a lot. It was like he was having so much fun… But, I felt lonely. I was really felt lonely. I intended to stay away from him. I don’t know why, but I just knew that he loved Masami-san more, from the bottom of his heart. Then, I thought I could stay away from him but….
"Maki…"
I was startled. I stopped my move as soon as I heard Tomo-kun's voice. I didn’t know what to do but I could hear his steps walking towards me. My hands were trembled and I just couldn’t move my legs.
"Maki…"
"H-Hait…." Slowly, I turned to him.
He was slightly smiled at me. "What are you doing?" he then near me and looked at the box I carried. "What is this?" he asked me again.
I bit my lips and forced myself to smile. "This…? Ohh… Since that match, Tomo-kun has become more and more popular. These are the letters from your fans from all over the world."
"Really? Well, I don’t need all these…"
"No… You can't!! You must accept it! It's a gratitude for you for being such a good player….." I said and then again I smiled.
"If that's what you want, I'll take it…." he said while looking away from me. I turned to him in amaze. I couldn’t believe that he was actually listened to me. I blushed.
"Maki… It's about that thing…."
"Hait…." I continued to arrange the letters.
"Maki…. Did you…. That day…. When we lost at Koshien, the next day…." He stopped and looked at me. I startled but I didn’t look at him though. "I heard you went to search for me…" We were quiet for quite some time, and I didn’t dare to look at him. But I could see his lips were trembling.
I was panicked actually when he told me about that day. Quickly, I stood up, took the box and walked away without looking at him.
Suddenly, he called my name. "Maki… If-If… Today, I'll wait for you by the gate. Let's go and eat Okonomiyaki together…."
I panted. I pressed my lips tightly. Then… "Gomen… Today…. I can't go with you. I have to stay back for my works here…" I clutched my hands to the box. Then, I turned to him and grinned. "Next time then… Gomen ne…" Immediately, I walked away without turning back at him.
But it didn’t last long, and again I smiled at him. I just couldn’t leave him behind. I thought I could but…. My heart lured me to him. My heart had always beats for him… Even it hurting me so much… But the moment he smiled at me, I was already lost…
"Maki… Everything I do and every match I win…. Is actually for you…." He turned to me and he smiled widely at me for the first time. That moment I knew, I had loved you…..