Chapter 19: Worth (2)
"Bring it in," Minho called out.
Rei turned to Minho and saw all the coaches standing next to him.
Rei and the rest of the team jogged to them before stopping.
"Okay, Yue and Kai get ready to pitch against Rei, Sora get your gear on, everyone else will do fielding drills in the outfield Coach Smith." Coach Helios clapped his hands signaling everyone to disperse.
Everyone started to disperse besides those called, but Minho stayed with Coach Helios, while Coach Smith took the players to the edge of the outfield.
Rei headed to the dugout with Sora tagging behind.
"How do you think you'll do against our best pitchers? Think you can handle it?" Sora said with a sly smile with a playful tone lingering in his voice.
Rei ignored him, as he grabbed his wooden bat and helmet.
"I was meaning to ask but why do you use a wooden bat?"
"Come on! You're not using that old wooden bat just because it's your lucky charm, right?"
"I bet you're secretly a traditionalist who thinks aluminum bats are for wimps, am I right?"
Sora asked question after question as he eyed Rei's bat, as his eyes twinkled, and he still kept the same cunning smile on his face.
He continued to ignore Sora, as he exited the dugout, and started taking a few practice swings.
Sora pouted, "Your no fun," he faked crying as he put on his catcher's gear.
"...My sister uses wooden bats."
Sora's expression brightened like a million suns.
"Ohh~ but softball players don't use wooden bats."
"When she practices at home, she uses baseballs," Rei answered his voice still colder than usual.
Sora looked up after he put on his shin guards, only to see Rei at home plate.
'He's so cold,' Sora silently cried as he put on the rest of his gear in silence.
...
...
...
As Rei arrived at home base, he saw Coach Helios, and the other two coaches along with Minho, Yue, and Kai.
"We'll go with Yue first, and if we have to we'll use Kai." Coach Helios said as he looked at Rei and then at Yue before looking back at Rei, "Just bat, you don't have to run."
Rei nodded, as everyone went to their respective positions, while Minho, Kai, and the coaches stood off to the side, as Sora tightened his gear and squatted down, and Yue walked to the mound, while Rei stood outside the batter's box watching Yue silently.
As Rei watched Yue he noticed he only threw fastballs to warm up and that he was a lefty.
Seeing Yue done warming up, he stepped into the righty box, feeling the cool breeze brush against his skin. The sun was shining down on the field, casting a warm glow that enveloped the entire area. As he looked out into the empty expanse of the field, he couldn't help but feel a sense of peace wash over him.
The only sounds were the distant chatter of players doing drills and the occasional chirping of birds. The smell of freshly cut grass filled his nostrils, and he took a deep breath, relishing the scent.
He took a few practice swings, feeling the weight of the bat in his hands, the smooth wood against his palms.
He glanced over at the group of players huddling at the edge of the outfield doing drills, their faces serious and focused.
"Rei. Step in. Anything close will be a strike, anything outside will be a ball. Don't worry about the calls. Let's see what you can do." Coach Helios commanded.
The scene before them was nothing short of electrifying.
Both Rei and Yue had a palpable intensity about them as they stood across from each other. Rei, with his cold and calculating gaze, seemed to be searching for any weakness in Yue's stance. His body radiated an icy aura, almost as if he had summoned a snowstorm to surround him in the batter's box.
He stood there, tall and imposing, his muscles tense and ready for action. His eyes glittered with a fierce determination, his gaze fixed firmly on Yue. With each passing second, the air around him grew colder, the temperature dropping several degrees with each breath he took.
It was as if he was a living embodiment of winter, a creature of ice and snow come to life. And yet, despite his frigid exterior, there was a palpable heat emanating from him, a fiery intensity that burned within his soul.
On the other hand, Yue was like a blazing sun. His fiery spirit was palpable and could be seen lingering in his eyes as he stared down Rei. It was as if he was daring him to take a swing.
The tension between them was almost tangible as they both nodded in agreement, acknowledging that they were ready to begin.
The atmosphere was charged with excitement, and it was clear that whatever was about to happen would be nothing short of exhilarating.
Yue started his motion, pulling his right arm back behind him as he lifted his left leg lifts and began to drive forward. As he reached the peak of his delivery, his throwing arm whipped forward with incredible speed and power, as the ball rocketed out of his hand.
A 88 mph fastball, to Rei's chest.
Rei eyed the ball perfectly, as he started his motion he lifted his left leg off the ground and brought it towards him, leaving it hanging for a second. It was as if time stood still for a moment. Then, with perfect precision, he planted his left foot firmly on the ground. His back heel was behind him at the edge of the batter's box, and his body opened up which perfectly aligned with the ball.
It was a beautiful sight to behold.
With the weight of the bat poised to strike, Rei waited for the perfect moment to swing. The tension in the air was electric.
"CRACK!"
The sound of the bat cracking through the air echoed throughout the field as Rei made perfect contact with the ball. The bat flashed through the zone-like lighting, providing a stunning visual display for those watching. The wooden bat connected with the ball in a perfect, synchronized motion, producing an exhilarating feeling.
As the ball left the bat, it soared through the air with incredible speed, piercing through the silence of the field. The ball flew down the middle, its trajectory perfectly aligned with the center of the field. Everyone held their breath as they watched the ball soar higher and higher, reaching a height most could only dream of, the ball continued its journey, its momentum carrying it past the Center field gate that was 400ft away from home plate, but 35 ft tall, as the ball disappeared from their view.
Silence permitted the field as even the players at the edge of the outfield stopped their drills, as they stared at Rei across the baseball field, as Yue from the pitching mound looked at the center field where the ball disappeared, clear disbelief on his face.
"Yue," Sora called out, as Yue turned.
With a powerful motion, Sora hurled the ball toward Yue with all his might, cutting through the air, as it made a satisfying smack as it connected with Yue's glove.
"Next pitch."
Yue smiled and nodded as the homerun he just gave up disappeared from his mind like it never happened.
Rei looked back at Sora, his face was still cold.
'Yue should have been somewhat distraught with that hit, but with a single throw, Sora made him forget about it.' he thought as he looked at Sora, his cold eyes calculating.
Sora gave a cunning smile, before looking back at the mound.
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