6. Smoke and Blood

A playback video is projected on the monitor.

The numbers floating on the corner of the screen that the video is 23 hours ago.

The early summer sky on the roof of the high school building. The sunlight of the afternoon when the day is sinking. Past 4 oclock

It seems that the image is taken with a hidden camera.

A duo whos practicing from baseball club has come.

One is a fat man and the other is a tall man.

The fat one is Sugiyama and the tall one is KoizumiBoth of them are second year students.

Theyre second year but theyre second string playersand in addition, a reserve of reserve.

It seems that they dont have the possibility to have the firepower like the others to be a regular.

The two of them doesnt notice the hidden camera at all.

The fat Sugiyama took a cigarette from his pocket.

The brand is Lucky Strike

Could it be that theyre attracted to the word strike because theyre baseball club members.

He took one out with his finger soiled with mud then he passed it to tall Koizumi.

The two second years of the baseball club are having cigarette at the same time.

Sugiyama used his fat fingers to light up the cheap oil lighter.

After his own cigarette lit up, he urged Koizumi with his eyes.

Koizumi bends his tall body and placed the cigarette tip on the flame

The two of them breathed in and exhaled at the same time

The tobacco smoke goes up on the rooftop

Suddenly, a voice was heard from outside of the screen!

Sugiyama-san and Koizumi-san, you were hiding here?

Another silhouette appears into the screen.

Thats Kenji Endou whos wearing baseballs practicewear.

Endou doesnt notice the camera either

What the hell Endou?

The fat Sugiyama mutters expressionlessly while exhaling smoke.

Dont be like that! Coach is looking for you. Sugiyama-san and Koizumi-san had disappeared even though its training. Ive been ordered by the captain to look for the two of youOr rather, its bad time to smoke

Tsk, shut upsaid Koizumi.

We sneaked out just to have a short rest for a while

The two senpai were expressionlessly sucking the cigarette.

On the other side, Endou doesnt look like he has enough composure at all.

Anyway, please hurry up and return to the ground immediately. Its dangerous. Coach is already on the verge of bursting

Is that so? Well fine. Well return after we finish smoking this cigaretteright, Sugiyama?

Right, lets do that Koizumi

The two breathed in and exhaled smoke again.

Theyre not seen rushing at all.

Rather, Endou is the only one whos come to call the two in hurry.

No, you see senpaiplease spare me already!!

I told you to wait for us until we finish smoking

Isnt smoking dangerous?!!!!

Huh? You, why are you so frolic?

With the two Senpai not shaken at all, Endou lost his temper.

Please stop this already!! The district meet is already near. Isnt that obvious that its dangerous for you two to take your time and smoke!? Do you even understand that!?

Endou strongly denounces the two.

Thats what Endou-chan said but, what to do Koizumi-chan?

What to do, Sugiyama-chan?

The two of them exhaled smoke.

In other words, Endouyou disagree with the two of us smoking?!

In the first place, isnt it bad for a high school baseball player to smoke?

T-Thatsnot on that level of disagreementIf were found out that were smoking at this time, we would be leaving the summer meet. That wont just be the senpai but our whole school would be blacklisted, what would you do? You do know that the whole high school baseball is all in the hands of the upperclassmen!Please. Stop smoking already!

OhIsnt that fine if we dont participate anymore?

Right, rightIt might not be bad for us to take a rest from an official game for a year

Endou desperately persuades them but the two second years just lightly wash it away.

Please dont joke with me!! Im seriously saying it!

Endou finally presses the two senpai with a serious face.

However

Hey Endou. Youre opposing a senior even though youre just a first year?

Could it be that youre underestimating us?

The fat and tall mans attitude became threatening suddenly.

UhmThats not it, Im just thinking about the team

Hmm, well, of course you will be. Even though youre a first year, its possible for you to get off the bench and become a regular

However , we cant participate the game if were kicked

Were going to support you from the audience instead of the bench

Were truant and we dont need to be there so at least let us off when we skip practice and smoke

Really really, seriously

No, but, thatIm sorry if my attitude seem arrogant. Forgive me. But please. Please stop smoking. Its because like this

Saying that, Endou takes of his had and bows in front of the two people deeply.

Hey, Endou

Yes?

The fat Sugiyama called him out and Endou raised his face.

Youre really pampered even though youre just a first year, you dont know a think on how to respect your seniors

Yes?

Hes really no good

The tall Koizumi had an amazed expression and threw his cigarette on Endous feet.

The cigarette hits the floor and made a spark.

T-Thank you very much!

Endou seems to have misunderstood that Koizumi abandoned smoking

Thats not it idiot.

Koizumi received a new cigarette from Sugiyama and lit it up.

Then, should I take my second too?

Sugiyama lit up his second cigarette too.

Endou instinctively looked at the two people with strong hatred.

Look, its that kind of eyes.

Eyes that look at people like a fool, not thinking that its his seniour

First years with talent are so different

Seriously

The two of them exhaled smoke again

How can I stop the two of you from smoking?

Endou asks the two people calmly

Say something Sugiyama-chan

The voice is too small that I didnt hear it Koizumi-chan

He asked how to make usStop smoking

He doesnt have a brain does he?

It might be hindered by his big pride?

Even earlier, he bowed his head just for a bit and Like this?he asked

He doesnt even have the resolve to dogeza does he?

Probably none. Hes a first year overflowing with talent thats aiming to become a regular after all

The fat and tall man laughed while puffing smoke out.[

Should I just kneel on the ground?

Endous voice is shaking

The two said Dogezabut it seems that theres strong anger felt from the two.

Its a problem if you dont understand unless youre told to

Well, isnt that fine if you just at least kneel? I dont know whether we would stop smoking though.

He surely wont, his pride is too high after all

Right, hes a bit of narcissist after all

He even had a cute girlfriend recently

well, ikemen riajuu will never kneel on the ground of course

Everyone knows what will happen to a guy like Endou after all of this.

Okay! Ill dogeza

He got on all fours then placed his hand on the floor.

I beg the two of you! Please stop smoking!!!

Rubbing his forehead on the ground, Endou begs the two!

At that time!

I opened the iron door of the rooftop and jumped out!

Im holding a digital camera on the ground.

Then I took the photograph of whats going on!!

Click Click Click Click Click Click Click Click!

The baseball club seniors are smoking on the roof!

And Endou kneeling in front of the two of them!

I recorded the image in my camera!!

Endou who noticed me was taken aback!!

He had a foolish look of surprise in his face!

Aryayaya, I came to the roof by coincidence and I saw something unbelievable!!

I murmured some foolish lines from something like Cagliostros castle.

I feel ashamed from my miserable acting when I saw the recording.

Yoshidaaaa, fuckeeer!

Endou who confirmed it was me stood up!

Endou, destroy his camera!!

Y-Yes!!!

Endou who has his blood completely gone up to his head obeyed Sugiyamas instruction from the series of events.

He jumped to me and take the digital camera from my hand!!

Then, he threw it to the ground with all of his strength!!

The camera was squashed and breaks!!

EndouShut him up so he wont talk!

Anyway, hit him twice or thrice!!

Okay!!

Endou whos already on his limit hits me reflexively!!

One! Two! Three hits!!

Its hard to watch myself being beaten in the video!

The pain from 23 hours ago came back!

The taste of blood spreads in my mouth

I was lying down on the rooftop grounds.

Then Endou bends over and grabs my collar to raise me!!

Several buttons on my uniform popped and flewl!!

Hey Yoshida!! Dont even think of talking about this!! If you do, Ill kill you!!

Endous face isnt normal already.

Hes helplessly excited already.

Thiswhat this?

The image of me yesterday asks Endou while bleeding at the mouth.

The smoking? You breaking my camera? Beating me up?Or

Im looking at Endou filled with scorn while speaking.

That you kneeled on the floor?

Fuckeeer!!

Endu hit me once again.

One! Two! Three hits!

Endous anger isnt calming down!!

Four! Five! Six hits!!

The video stops suddenly.

The black haired female teacherYuzuki sensei stopped the video.

The teacher smiles and turned to the two students who are watching the video.

The first one is of course me. My head is rolled on bandage and plasters are pasted on my face.

And the other one isShirasaka Yukino.

She completely lost blood from seeing the video of her own boyfriends violence.