"Why is this so hard?" Azusa asked, complaining as she grew more exasperated. She was cleaning the dirty metal baseball bats with a cloth. "This is literally such a menial task! So why is it harder than it looks?" she said through gritted teeth as she wiped harder with each word.

Being manager was not as easy as she thought it would be. Since she always helped Mei with everything from catching his pitches, helping him practice, to cleaning his personal equipment at home, she thought it would be a piece of cake. But taking care of one person doesn't compare to taking care of an entire team.

Even if Mei's personality is worse than two teams combined.

"Maybe because the players use it a lot," Haruno, who was sitting next to her on the ground offered. "At least look at the bright side."

Azusa snorted. "Which is?"

"That we're almost done," Haruno replied with a small smile.

"No, you're not," Sachiko said, standing behind them.

Haruno shuddered at her presence.

Azusa shot daggers at the older manager. "Why not?"

Sachiko smirked while crouching down on the ground and took a baseball bat. "There is a smudge here," she said, pointing to a faint black smudge on the base of the bat. Then she dropped it to the ground and took another one. "And this one has a smudge here," she pointed to another faint black smudge on the top part of the bat. "You're doing a sloppy job."

"No, we're not!" Azusa argued. "There's almost nothing there!" she exclaimed while pointing to the spot that Sachiko was referring to.

"I don't want 'almost nothing' I was nothing!," the pigtailed manager said with air quotes. "It has to be spotless."

"But no one can see that," Azusa insisted.

"Azusa-san," Haruno whispered to her in fear since she was defying the older manager but Azusa didn't care.

"But I can and that's all that matters," Sachiko said in a firm tone. "Now stop wasting time arguing with me. You still have to clean those up and also these," she added while putting a bucket of baseballs in front of them.

The two first-year managers went pale as they gasped in horror.

"W-we have to clean the baseballs too?" Haruno asked.

"Yup," Sachiko replied with a cheeky grin.

Azusa narrowed her blue eyes at the manager. "And what are you going to be doing in the meanwhile?" she asked with disdain.

Sachiko raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"She didn't say anything!" Haruno exclaimed, covering Azusa's mouth. "We're going to work as hard and fast as possible senpai," she said with a nervous laugh.

"Good," Sachiko said in a flat tone before turning around to leave.

As soon as Sachiko was nowhere to be seen, Haruno released Azusa.

"Why did you do that for? I needed answers since she's been really hard on us since day one!" Azusa angrily demanded.

"What were you thinking?" Haruno asked her in turn. "Talking back to a senpai? Do you want to get in trouble?"

Azusa rolled her eyes as she huffed in exasperation. "I'm not scared of her."

"But I am," Haruno said. "So don't do that again!"

Azusa just looked away annoyed.

"Azusa-san?"

"..."

"Azusa-san!"

"What?" she snapped, turning around.

"You have to promise that you won't do it again," Haruno said in the most firm tone that she could muster.

Azusa quietly growled to herself before letting out a sigh to calm down her anger. "Fine," she simply replied before going back to her task.

Being a manager was not easy.

"My name is Sawamura Eijun, and I'm going to be the ace!" the pitcher declared in front of all of his classmates during class.

Azusa rolled her eyes.

'Especially not if I'm the manager of a team where this buffoon could be the ace," she thought as she spared Sawamura a glance. Unfortunately, she was stuck with him in class since not only they were both in the same classroom, but also sat right next to each other.

Everyone in class burst out laughing at his declaration after a long pause of silence.

Even the teacher who was scolding him for sleeping in class previously.

Azusa wasn't surprised. Why didn't he think before sputtering nonsense out loud? It was as if he liked getting embarrassed in public.

Then the school bell rang indicating the end of class and the start of lunch. Everyone got up from their seats happily as they chatted away, forgetting about Sawamura's outburst. The pitcher was just looking around annoyed.

"You truly surpass my expectations when it comes to your stupidity," Azusa said without bothering to spare a glance towards the southpaw.

"What was that?" Sawamura angrily said, putting his fist in the air.

"Are you deaf now too?" she asked while narrowing her eyes at him and propped her elbow on the desk to rest her chin on her hand.

"My hearing is perfectly fine, blondie!" he said the last part with disdain.

"Don't call me blondie, wannabe ace," Azusa sneered at him.

"Who are you calling wannabe ace? I'm going to be the ace of this team!" Sawamura declared with determination.

Azusa had to give it to him.

He had spirit and an unyielding will.

But she wasn't going to let him know that; at least not yet.

Azusa scowled at him but then let her expression settle into a neutral one; deciding to stop fighting. "How?" she inquired in a curious tone.

Sawamura blinked in confusion. "Huh?"

"How are you going to be the ace?" the blonde manager reiterated. "Kanemaru-kun was right. You're not even officially on the team."

The pitcher flinched and averted his gaze for a quick moment only to make eye contact with her again. "That's not going to stop me. I just need to prove my skills to the coach and show him that I'm good enough to be on the team."

Azusa snorted. "That's not even a concrete plan."

"Shut up!" he said with a small blush. "You'll see today at practice. I'll show everyone that I'm worthy to be on the team."

Azusa burst out laughing which caught Sawamura off guard.

"W-what's so funny?" he asked, confused.

Azusa continued laughing while wiping a tear off her eye. "You truly are dumb," she said between fits of laughter. "Not to mention out of the loop."

"What do you mean?" Sawamura asked in an exasperated tone.

"It means that you won't be able to show off your skills during today's practice. Since we're going to play against Ichidai Third High in the spring tournament, baka, " she explained.

"What? Why didn't anyone tell me?" he shrieked.

"Well be-"

'Bzzz'

"Huh?" Azusa looked down to her uniform skirt and took out her phone from her pocket. She got a new text message.

Mei:

'Stop ignoring me.'

Azusa glared at her phone as she read the text message along with the missed calls notifications.

"Stop bothering me," she wanted to type back but refused to. If she starts responding to any of his texts then he wouldn't really leave her alone.

'Bzz'

'Stop being so mean and answer my texts Azu-chan :( '

"What's wrong?" Sawamura asked, making Azusa jump out of her thoughts.

"I...uhh... Nothing," she stammered while putting her phone back in her pocket. She didn't want him or anyone to know about her relation to Mei. Even though she doubted that Sawamura knew who was Mei in the first place.

"Let me guess," he began with a devilish smirk. "I bet it was your boyfriend like the heroines in shoujo manga."

Azusa felt her face grew hotter as a blush spread across her cheeks. "S-shut up," she lamely shot back.

"So it was your boyfriend?" he continued with a teasing tone.

"I don't have a boyfriend!" she exclaimed.

There was no way she could have a boyfriend.

The only guy she had eyes for was...

"Now that I'm thinking about it someone like you wouldn't have one," he quipped while tapping his chin thoughtfully.

"I said to shut up!" she yelled. "You better spend time thinking of how you're going to get on the team in the first place, you idiot!" she added fuming before storming out of the classroom.

She could only handle so much of Sawamura.

She also didn't want to be in a bad mood since she was going to watch the team play for the first time.

And a certain someone too.

The game went well since Seido won but at the same time it was almost as if the team lost since the atmosphere was so gloomy. If she would've known how tense things were going to be, then she wouldn't had volunteered to pick up the request notebook from the cafeteria. All the players would write things that they need there and the managers would get it for them. But then again, she only had herself to blame considering how quiet the bus ride back to campus was.

Azusa quietly sneaked into the cafeteria from the back entrance that the cooks use. Then made her way into the actual dining area and let her eyes scanned the scene. All the players were getting their dinner, eating, and making small talk. There was no way they would notice her since they barely pay the managers any attention anyway. She also noticed Miyuki who was eating and talking to Sawamura.

'Now it's my chance!' she thought before making run to the far corner and grabbing the small black notebook. She just has to get out and give this to Takako and no one would know that she was there. And by no one she meant Miyuki.

"What did you say?" she heard a masculine voice ask in an angry tone.

Azusa immediately looked up to see what was the commotion about. She noticed that some other players had angry expressions and got up from their seats. All of them were directed towards Miyuki.

'Oh no! Don't tell me that Miyuki did something to anger those players,' Azusa thought in concern. 'They better not hurt him!'

"You think you're good enough for Miyuki?" one of them asked.

Azusa blinked. 'So Miyuki is not at fault? Then who...' she then noticed that there was a tall guy with short black hair alongside Miyuki and figured that it was him.

"You really think that no one will hit your pitches? You're underestimating us, you cocky first-year!" another upperclassman exclaimed.

'That's what he said. That's awfully confident of him.'

"Enough. Stop ganging up on him," the former ace Tanba who was quietly sitting said in a calm tone. "Whatever you have to say, show it through baseball," he declared with arms crossed.

Azusa couldn't help but to agree with him.

And the other players seemed to agree too since his statement helped diffuse the situation.

However, she was not interested in moody upperclassmen.

At the moment, that was only reserved for that mysterious first-year.

*Time Skip*

After the confrontation, Azusa snuck herself out of the cafeteria through the entrance without being seen. She had to thank Furuya for that since his declaration completely changed the mood of the room.

"Azusa-san!" Haruno exclaimed, snapping Azusa out of her thoughts.

"Y-yes?" the blonde manager asked a little disconcerted.

"What are you doing just standing there?" Haruno asked.

"Huh?" Azusa looked around and realized that she was standing in the middle of the entrance. "N-nothing," she said with a nervous laugh as she moved aside. "Just picking up the request notebook."

Haruno gave her a slight smile. "I was on my way to see Takako-senpai, if you want I can give her the notebook and then we can meet at the entrance to go home together," she suggested.

Azusa nodded. "Thanks! That would be great," she said, handing Haruno the little black notebook. "I'll get my stuff then."

"See you soon!" Haruno said before going in the opposite direction.

Azusa was going to her locker to pick up her things but she glanced at the door and noticed that someone was coming.

A shadow of a fairly tall person was approaching.

Could it be?

As soon as the door swung open, her suspicions became true when she saw his figure.

"Furuya-kun?" Azusa asked while she leaned against the wall of the cafeteria.

The pitcher reacted in curiosity at the mention of his name and turned to her with a puzzled expression.

"Who are you?" he simply asked.

"I'm-" she stopped herself before revealing her name. If he was talking to Miyuki then there was the possibility of him mentioning her to the catcher. "I'm just a new manager for the team," she replied instead.

"I haven't seen you before," Furuya said.

Azusa giggled. "I'm not surprised," she said. "I don't think any of the players really pay us any mind," she added. "But anyway... That was a big statement that you made a while ago."

"Hn," he replied.

It was obvious that he was a man of few words; the complete opposite of Sawamura.

"Do you really think that no one will be able to hit your pitch?" the manager asked, unfazed by his nonchalant expression.

"I'm going to show everyone tomorrow," Furuya said in a rather confident tone. "And then I'll see if Miyuki-senpai can catch my pitches."

Azusa grinned at him. "Can catch? So you think that he won't be able to?"

Furuya remained silent as he looked deep in thought before replying. "I think he can," he finally said. "I hope he does," he added in an optimistic tone.

"Miyuki-senpai is the best catcher in Tokyo," Azusa said in a matter-of-fact tone. "So your pitches better be something special if you hope to form a battery with him."

"They are," Furuya retorted with a fiery silent aura. "That's why I came to Seido after I found out about him."

Azusa widened her blue eyes in surprise. "You came all the way to Seido just for him?"

Furuya stiffened at her question and averted his gaze with a small blush across his cheeks.

Azusa smiled at him. Despite how embarrassing he probably thought his declaration was, she couldn't find it in herself to make fun of him for that or for his reaction. Azusa could relate to him. Miyuki was a very magnetic person. So she isn't surprised that he had that effect in people; even if they don't know him. Specially since she came to Seido for similar reasons.

Azusa took a step forward away from the wall and spare Furuya glance. "Since you came this far then, I wish you good luck tomorrow," she said before waving goodbye.

She couldn't wait to see tomorrow's practice game.

Not just for Furuya, but also because of a certain loudmouth pitcher.

"Here is more ice, Haruno!" Azusa said slightly out of breath as she sprinted towards the red-headed manager. They were stocking up the coolers near the field where the practice game between the first years and the senior players was taking place.

"Wow, that was quick," Haruno exclaimed while looking up at her. She was crouched down trying to refill a cooler with ice.

"I just didn't want to miss anything," Azusa replied while panting and setting the ice on the ground. "Did Furuya already go up to pitch?"

Haruno frowned at her. "If the senpai notice that you're rushing through your work so you could watch the game they'll get mad," she warned.

Azusa narrowed her eyes at Haruno. "Oh please, as if you're not focusing on the game more than actually focusing on filling the coolers up," the blonde said in accusing tone. "I saw how you accidentally ripped the ice bag open on my way here because you were distracted."

Haruno blushed and averted her gaze. "I-I was just surprised because I wasn't expecting the coach to let Sawamura play in this game."

"What?!" Azusa said loudly while taking a step back in shock. "Sawamura is playing?"

'Before Furuya?' she thought while she scanned the field. Granted she was extremely interested in seeing Furuya play to see if he really could back up his bold claims, but if she had the chance to see Sawamura play as well then that just would be the cherry on top. The loudmouth pitcher was unbearable, but she couldn't ignore the feeling that was telling her that there is something special about him.

A puzzled look graced Azusa's features when she saw a different pitcher on the mound. "What do you mean he is playing? He is not the pitcher," she asked, turning to Haruno.

"He is an outfielder," Haruno replied, pointing towards the right field.

"Well, that's no fun," she grumbled with a pout. She turned to the game and a ball was precisely flying towards the right field and lo and behold Sawamura looked so unprepared as the ball flew past him. "How can you miss that? He is so-."

Her words died on her lips as she watched him picked up the ball and throw it to third base where it hit one of the senpai .

The ball... Curved?

Everyone burst out laughing at Sawamura's mishap just like they did when he tried to hit the fence with his pitch.

"Oh no, I feel terrible for Sawamura-kun," Haruno said while looking around at the spectators who were laughing at the first-year pitcher. Then she turned to Azusa. "What's wrong?" she asked, noticing Azusa's pensive expression.

"It curved," the blonde manager replied in a cryptic tone. She crouched down on the ground and started helping Haruno with opening a new bag of ice. "This is not the first time that the ball curves when he throws it," Azusa elaborated.

Haruno cocked her head to the side while tapping her chin. "Maybe it's because he doesn't have a lot of experience so perhaps it's not significant."

'Or perhaps it is,' Azusa thought while sparing a quick glance at the game unfolding. She didn't want to risk getting yelled at if nothing significant was going to happen in the game. To be honest, the practice game wasn't that interesting since the first-years were not playing with tenacity. Since they let the senpai crushed their spirit without giving them any fight.They gave up too soon, and the only redeeming quality so far was Sawamura. Not that she would ever tell him that, of course.

Azusa disliked many things and at the top of the list were quitters.

There was nothing that she disliked more than a quitter.

"It seems like the first-years are exhausted," Haruno said while bringing another cooler and then set it down on the ground next to Azusa. "I feel bad for them."

"If they can't push through the fatigue now then, they are not going to be useful for the team," Azusa said in a rather harsh tone while stocking up the cooler with ice. They needed to store drinks for the players.

Haruno shot her a disapproving look. "Don't you think that-"

"Pitcher change, Furuya Satoru!" the coach's booming voice interrupted Haruno.

Azusa perked up. "Furuya is playing?" .

Everyone in the field started whispering among themselves in anticipation of seeing Furuya play. Azusa watched him as he slowly walked towards the mound and she couldn't help but to feel nervous for him. Which was silly considering how cool, calm, and collected he looked.

Was he really that confident that no one will be able to hit his pitch?

The batter positioned himself with a determined look since he, along with the rest of the older players, were eager to prove Furuya