10 Trailblazer

'Runners on 3rd and second base, all I need is a single but let's see what he throws.' Rei thought as he steadied into his batting position.

As the pitcher started his windup, he saw his fingers on the laces in position for a fastball, while he let go of the ball as hard as could, throwing a fastball at the bottom right corner near his feet for a called ball 1-0.

Starting his windup he saw his fingers in position for a sinker, throwing it in the bottom of the strike zone for a called strike that could've been a ground ball to the shortstop.

Then came the third pitch a fastball going 85 mph (137 km/h) to the top of the strike zone.

Rei started his motion that would make even professionals jealous.

Once he made contact with the ball, the sound of the ball flying off his bat was heard as the baseball flew towards the outfield going right, the centerfielder didn't even try running for it as he knew it was pointless.

The ball didn't go over the huge fence this time but rammed into it a few feet above 20 ft, as the sound of the ball hitting the fence was heard.

Silence enveloped the field as everyone looked toward the umpire waiting for his decision.

"HOME RUN!" The umpire yelled out for everyone to hear as everyone went crazy with cheers.

He rounded the bases until he reached home plate; once he reached the plate he was welcomed by Star and Stiles.

"Damn man your a monster!"

"Rei, your definitely going JV!"

Both Stars and Stiles complimented him as they high-fived.

[Score: Team 1 = 3 | Team 2 = 0]

As he was walking back he turned to the stands to see Yuxin smiling and waving at him; with a slight chuckle, he also gave her a caring smile and a wave back before heading into the dugout.

Kyle was already in the batter's box waiting for the first pitch as the pitcher and catcher were talking before the umpire interrupted them resuming the game.

The pitcher was frustrated and a bit dejected from what Rei could tell as his eyes lost their shine, the first few pitches were balls for a 2-0 count, and he tried mixing in every pitch he had in different places.

The pitcher already threw 12 pitches with a full count as the crowd was riled up some hoping for a strikeout and some hoping for a hit.

The pitcher was already frustrated from earlier now he was feeling tired and irritated, he tried throwing a change-up out of the zone near Kyle's feet but it didn't work as the change-up was too high, just below the center of the zone.

Kyle's eyes shined as he started his swing.

- Ding!

Since everyone beside Rei was using a metal bat a ding was heard when he made contact, as the ball soared through the air looking like a home run but at its peak, it started dying down as it headed towards the center field a bit to the right.

The guy with the black hair backstepped for a bit, waiting for the perfect time, stalling, before he started sprinting, after a few sprints, he was a few feet away from the gates until he jumped up using the gate as a stepping ladder using his left foot and extended his body and put up his glove as high as he could.

After a few seconds, he landed on the ground as everyone was holding their breath waiting to see if he caught it.

The guy raised his glove as high as he could toward the field.

There it was the baseball right in his mitt, as the crowd and his teammates cheered.

"OUT! SWITCH!" The umpire called out.

"That was so close!" Star sighed as he grabbed his glove and looked at Stiles and Rei.

"So who's pitching?"

Stiles also looked at Rei as he was sitting right next to him while Kyle returned to the dugout.

"Same as the first game, with me in center field and Stiles pitching," he answered before Stiles even had the chance to speak.

He looked like a wanted to refuse but he accepted it before standing up and grabbing his glove.

"Let's close this out and make the team!" Stiles tried firing them up, as they all looked at each other.

Even though the three had a problem with Kyle and Austin they all had the same goal in mind.

"Yeah!" All five of them yelled out together before they started running onto the field.

Rei was the last one out of the dugout as he looked out to the field with everyone in their positions just waiting on him; they all gave him questioning looks.

He looked at Stiles who was on the mound looking at him with a pondering gaze.

He simply smiled at him, before heading towards 3rd and 2nd.

Kyle looked at him with an uncomfortable gaze, "Move to third I'll play shortstop." he said with no emotions, not leaving any room for arguments.

Kyle nodded and moved as he moved to shortstop before facing home plate, as everyone looked dumbfounded.

He faced Stiles and made eye contact before he raised his glove and pounded his chest.

Stiles smiled and gave a nod before turning around to face home plate.

The umpire gave his signal to start as the first batter stepped up.

Stiles was calm and collected his presence changed as he released a slight pressure; Rei smiled seeing the change in his demeanor.

The first batter stood no chance as he didn't even swing or more accurately couldn't swing due to the great pitching Stiles was doing.

The second batter was no different only this time he tried swinging but missed horribly.

One more put until they win, as Rei stared at Stiles back as he remained calm and collected not trying to rush before Rei switched his gaze towards the batter.

The guy with black hair and fish eyes stepped up onto the plate in the rights batters box.

Stiles was breathing calmly from where he was standing as he showed no nerves. Stiles started his windup and threw a cutter at the bottom corner of the zone for a called strike.

He threw another cutter towards his waist just missing the zone for a ball, with the count being 1-1.

The guy bating was calm and collected, as he hit a fastball for a foul making it a 1-2.

He was putting up a good fight as Rei examined the situation as both Stiles and the batter showed no sign of backing down.

Stiles started his motion and threw a slider that mirrored frisbee-like movement making it look like it was heading inside the zone to his chest like a fastball before it broke to the left diagonally for a strike right down the middle freezing the batter.

"Yeaahhhh!!"

"ONE MORE STRIKE!"

"You got this!"

Rei heard multiple cheers resounding from the crowd, as he would have cheered too but he knew it wouldn't help as he didn't want to mess with Stiles's focus. Starting his motion Stiles released the ball to everyone's shock it was a changeup as it caught the batter completely off guard but he tried to salvage it, as he took off his right hand from the bat making it from a two-handed swing to a one-handed swing as he dipped the bat.

-Ding!

Rei saw the batter barely making contact with the ball as it flew low, straight to the mound Stiles couldn't react in time as the ball hit the mound changing its trajectory to the shortstop.

Seeing the ball coming his way fast he lowered his stance though he didn't lower his glove as he eyed the ball that was slightly above the ground; a few feet away from him right when the ball hit the ground it took a weird bounce to his left.

The ball was about two arm's length to his left he knew if he moved regularly and sprinted there was a chance he could miss it even with his insane speed, or if he dived there was a bigger chance of him missing it due to how fast the ball was going until he finally made up his mind to make the catch.

Since he was in a lowered stance he didn't have to move he simply started turning his body backward to the left and used his left foot as a pivot; turning his entire body to the left he stretched out his right hand, he didn't have time to look as he felt the ball hit his ungloved hand causing a slight sting as the ball fell to the ground.

Not wasting a second he picked up the ball within less than a second, and saw the runner halfway between bases.

He threw the ball straight toward Star at first base beating out the runner.

"Out!" The umpire yelled out.

Rei heard multiple cheers from the stands as Austin slumped to the ground, Kyle walked to the dugout, and both Stiles and Star were cheering with each other as they high-fived.

He turned to the stands and was surprised at how packed it was everyone was there, from Jv to a few varsity players, even some softball players, it took him a few seconds as he scanned the crowd until he spotted Yuxin.

She was yelling and clapping as she showed him a dazzling smile, he laughed and threw her a wave which caused multiple girls to scream out in excitement which then caused Yuxin to stare daggers at them, like a mama bear protecting her cub.

He chuckled and turned around just in time to see Stars lunging at him as he stepped back quickly enough.

- Thud!

He landed on the ground as both Stiles and he laughed at Star.

"Not cool man!" Star said as he stood up but still had a smile on his face.

"Damn Rei you saved my ass on that last pitch, it was a crazy play," Stiles said as he ignored Stars.

"No problem," he said as they all touched gloves.

"Okay! All you sissies line up!" Coach Miller yelled out as he had the rest of his coaching staff behind him which included Coach Smith and Yuxin.

They didn't dillydally and all lined up like before in teams in four rows.

Coach Miller stepped up and started speaking.

"That was a good effort all of you now unfortunately we can't have you all on the team as this was the third and last tryout. Now before I announce how many players we allowed in the first two tryouts keep in mind that we also scouted players who were promised a seat on the team.

They have to earn their position but they already made the team and there are only three scouted players; now in the first tryout, we allowed six players on the freshman team, in the second tryout we allowed four players, and in this final tryout we are allowing..... eight of you!" Coach Miller bellowed causing a commotion among the players and the crowd.

"Calm down all of you!" Coach Miller said as he blew his whistle which settled down the ruckus.

"There is a reason for this, but I won't be the one announcing those who made the team. Let's give a round of applause to Ms. Sun Yuxin Varsity Captain of the softball team!" Coach Miller said as he started clapping causing the rest of them to clap.

Rei clapped and did a little wave as she waved back at him with an innocent smile then stepped up to where Coach Miller was.

The field seemed to grow colder as her demeanor changed. Her smile, which had been so bright and full of life, suddenly vanished, replaced by a serious expression. Her posture shifted, becoming more firm and rigid, and her aura seemed to evolve. She had gone from a lovestruck teenage girl to a cold goddess, her gaze now cold and calculating.

Her eyes seemed to pierce through the air as if she was staring down her subjects. Her lips were pursed, her brow furrowed, and her jaw set. She seemed to be in control of the situation, her presence commanding and intimidating.

Her gaze was unwavering, her stance unyielding. She was a force to be reckoned with, and it was clear that she was not to be trifled with. Her transformation was enchanting, and it was clear that she was now an assertive figure, one that was not to be taken lightly.

Rei felt his heart flutter like a thousand butterflies, his breath catching in his throat as he was mesmerized by her transformation, unable to look away from her as if he was caught in a trance.

"Thank you, Coach Miller. Now all of you who may not know me as Coach said, I'm a sophomore who was promoted to varsity this year and announced captain by my peers and my head coach.

It is tradition for Varsity Captains to witness all-freshman tryouts and scout for potential talents for the future, it also helps team bonding between the two teams.

Now let me announce all eight players...

Austin Carter

Kyle Baker

Starling Kaiyo*

Kaminari Akuma*

Jin Suen

Tim Sering

Drake Maine

Rei Kitsune**"

Yuxin finished her speech without wasting any words and kept a cold stern face until she said Rei's name which caused a loving smile on her face before it disappeared and returned to her cold face.

Everyone who made the team cheered and those who didn't put their head down, and were depressed.

The crowd cheered too, as Rei scanned his surrounding until he landed on Yuxin and gave her a gentle smile.

Yuxin gently smiled back and then continued talking.

"Now for the eight of you, only five of you made the freshman team. Two of you made JV and one of you... made Varsity. Kaminari Akuma, Starling Kaiyo welcome to the JV team please step up in front of everybody." Yuxin said still holding her cold face.

Both Star and Stiles had smiles on their faces and stepped in front of everybody as they garnered applause and cheers, as they turned to Coach Smith and bowed towards him as Coach Smith gave a slight nod with a smile.

"Last but not least..." Yuxin couldn't contain her excitement and released a loving goofy smile in front of everybody stunning everyone as multiple boys' faces turned red in embarrassment.

"For the first time in history, in Sun Academy and the entire high school Division l world of baseball and softball~ the very first Varsity Freshman!~ Rei Kitsune!!" Yuxin was filled with an overwhelming sense of joy and excitement as she started clapping. Her hands moved in a flurry of motion, her palms slapping together in a rhythm that was almost contagious. Her eyes sparkled with delight, and her mouth was curved into a wide smile. She shouted out her joy, her voice ringing out in the air like a bell.

She was like a child on Christmas morning, filled with an unbridled joy that was impossible to contain.

Everyone was still stunned as no one as ever seen her like this before, soon they came back to their senses and started clapping along with her.

He tried to look away, but his brain and eyes wouldn't listen. He just stared at her, taking in her beauty and grace. Her long, white hair cascaded down her back slightly dancing with the morning breeze, and her slight silver eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky. Rei felt his heart racing as he watched her. He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't even realize he was staring until everyone started clapping.

He snapped out of his trance and quickly looked away, embarrassed before he nodded at everyone and walked forward next to Stiles, and Stars in the front and saw them clapping for him too.

He gave him a nod, before turning forward and staring at Yuxin as their eyes locked in with each other once more. He felt like the entire world was smiling at him as he stared into her eyes. It was like the two of them were the only people in the world, standing atop a snow-covered mountain. The snow was glistening in the sunlight, and the air was crisp and cold. He felt like he was in a dream, and he was mesmerized by her beauty.

Her light grey eyes were like a moonlit lake, shimmering in the night sky. As if stars twinkled in the reflection of her eyes, like a million tiny diamonds scattered across the sky, they were a reminder of the beauty of the night and the infinite possibilities that lay ahead, and he felt like he could get lost in them forever.

Until he was brought out of it by Coach Miller as he coughed trying to get their attention.

Yuxin and Rei broke eye contact as he turned away his gaze and Yuxin's face turned even redder in embarrassment and she hung her head down, avoiding everyone's gaze. She felt like she was on fire, and she was sure that everyone on the field could see the heat radiating off of her. She wanted to disappear, to run away and hide from the intense emotions that were coursing through her body. But she was rooted to the spot, unable to move or speak. All she could do was stand there, her face burning with embarrassment, and hope that no one noticed the intensity of the moment that had just passed between her and Rei.