Eiji was sulking on the field as he warmed up with a game of catch with a few teammates, the late Spring sun beating down on the baseball cap atop his head. His throws were flimsy, and all his teammates knew he was being a drama queen again. The scent of freshly cut grass mingled with the faint smell of sweat in the warm air.

"What's up with him this time?" asked one of his peers, throwing the ball particularly hard at Eiji, who caught it with ease despite his distracted state.

Eiji just made a pathetic sound, wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his glove hand.

Leo, one of Eiji's best friends, sighed. "I don't know. He probably chickened out on talking to that one person again. He says it isn't a crush, but whatever."

"His name is..." Eiji piped up, trailing off as he realized he couldn't say the name without feeling his cheeks warm, "and second: shut up."

His teammates snickered, making teasing remarks that Eiji brushed off by purposely throwing the ball harder or farther than he should have to make them work for it. It led to some boyish bickering which would've gone on forever if their coach hadn't intervened.

"Boys!" Coach called, and they all looked over to see the older man walking onto the field with a slouched figure trailing behind him. A figure that was wearing a hoodie that Eiji saw every day in one of his classes.

Eiji's heart skipped a beat as recognition dawned.

"Gather around," Coach ordered, watching his students jog over, all equally curious. "I have news. We finally have a manager like those hot shot schools."

Eiji's team started to cheer, already going on about how they had to win nationals this year for sure, but all Eiji could focus on was the face that was always on his mind, grimacing against the glare of the sun. Standing right beside the coach now.

Eiji couldn't tell if he was dreaming or not as Coach nudged the new manager forward for introductions.