#shohei ohtani fanfiction

[kcake555]

Shohei Ohtani cake 🍰

athlete

[leclucklerc]

Against the World SO17 - 01. Friends

Pairings: Shohei Ohtani x reader

Summary: High school and dreams. Problems that every 15 years old faced

Word count: 5.2K

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Y/n will be the first to admit that performing at malls is one of the most embarrassing things she has ever done. She knows that a mall performance is not an unusual thing for an idol, especially a budding idol who’s hoping to make it big like her. She knows it’s good publicity – especially for a failed idol like her. She knows that it’s easy to arrange and dirt cheap compared to other kinds of publicity, that’s why her agency decided to arrange one for her despite her so-called hiatus and all.

She knows that performing at malls has more pros than cons.

But still, it’s so embarrassing when it’s clear that everyone has no idea who she is.

She can see the disinterest in all of the audience’s eyes, clearly not recognizing her. She can see the half-hearted banner that the mall had set up for her, clearly not knowing who she is. She can see the cheap costumes and the small flyers that her company had made, showing their small budget for all eyes to see. 

Especially after the MC made a huge deal about it. Boasting how their small-scale mall in a small town like Iwate can afford a famous idol from Tokyo. How an idol from Tokyo is a born and bred Iwate girl that’s chasing her dream to become the greatest idol in Japan.

It’s so embarrassing she almost chickened out on performing.

But a job is a job, and her manager said that it is good publicity for her. She may fail to capture the hearts of the people in Tokyo, but she should try to capture the hearts of the Iwate citizens. Try to make herself a sensation in her hometown before she goes to Tokyo once again with that momentum.

Though, it’s embarrassing!

As she danced and sang, she could see the questioning eyes that people gave her. And it’s not like a lot of people stopped to watch her! Most of them only gave her a barely there glance before they went on their merry ways to do their shopping. 

Sure, some people are recording her, but most of them are old people who don’t know who she is. They only record here to show their kids or grandkids and ask them if she is a celebrity!

So embarrassing!

But yeah, a job is a job. The disinterest of the audience and the embarrassment won’t prevent her from giving it her all during the performance. After all, this is her first performance in months. The first performance that she managed to do after her company announced her hiatus. There are no fans here, and no one to recognize her, but like hell, she will give them a half-assed performance.

 That’s why she sings to the best of her capabilities. Trying desperately to capture all of their attention with the flicker of her wrist, the small of her steps, and the heart-fluttering winks that she managed to craft. She’s trying her best to give them the performance of a lifetime despite the setting and obvious small-budget performance.

Y/n wants people to remember her. She wants to become the best artist out there. Someone whose name will go down in history. A singer that can conquer the world. If her story starts in this small mall in a small town, then who cares?

She will become the biggest star out there.

With a twirl of her skirt and the fluttering of her lashes, she finished her performance with a dazzling smile and a small round of applause near her. Y/n is out of breath, but the smile that’s plastered across her face is genuine, clearly showing her emotion after the short performance.

It’s no Tokyo Dome or arenas. It’s no devoted fans or loving audience. But today, this small audience, which mainly consisted of stall owners and the elderly, will be one of the things that she will remember vividly in the future.

“Thank you!” she said through the mic as she bowed before exiting the stage promptly. 

Her manager was there, clapping quietly as he gave her a small smile. “Good job out there,” said the man, he looks tired. “I know this is a small performance, but I just want you to know that the company is really proud of you.”

Y/n is the only artist in the company, but still, she laughed at that. “Thank you for arranging this, too, I really appreciate it.”

Because this is just a small impromptu performance, there’s no security at all around the stage. That’s why when her manager disappeared – taking a phone call – Y/n was able to walk out and explore the mall by herself. It was then – as she walked out of the small backstage area, still wearing her idol outfit – that a voice called out to her.

“L/n-san.”

She stopped at that. After all, it’s a familiar voice, a voice that she often heard in school. Turning around, her eyes landed on Ohtani-san, who was standing behind her with a sheepish smile on his face.

Y/n blinked. She had never seen Ohtani-san wearing anything besides their uniform or his baseball jersey. The teen that’s standing in front of her, though, is wearing a simple shirt and cargo pants. 

“Ohtani-san?” she asked, walking a bit closer. “What are you doing here? Don’t you live in the dormitory?” All of the baseball players live in the dormitory; she knows that. Y/n had heard that they do a full-day practice during the weekend.

That’s why seeing Ohtani-san here in casual clothes is a bit surprising.

“We have an off weekend this week, so I went home. I was uh…” he trailed off, eyes flickering towards his left as a smiling woman appeared from behind him. “I was accompanying my mum shopping.”

Abruptly, Y/n stands a bit straighter. This is the first time she’s meeting a friend – can she call Ohtani-san a friend? They sit together, after all – parents, after all. She can see a few similarities that he shares with the older woman, though maybe Ohtani-san looks more like his dad?

“Oh my!” said the woman, a bright smile on her face. She’s holding a bright pink reusable bag, and she also recognized that Ohtani-san is holding another reusable bag – also bright pink - with filler content. “I didn’t know that Shohei has such a beautiful friend!”

Y/n immediately flushed as Ohtani-san yelped, “Mom!”

“It’s nice to meet you, ma’am,” said y/n, gaining her bearing as she gave the older woman a bow. “I’m L/n Y/n. Me and Ohtani-san are, um… we sit at the same table.”

“I see!” answered the woman. “I saw your performance earlier, and I must say it was fantastic!”

This time, a large smile blooms across her face. “Thank you. It was rather abrupt, but I’m glad you like it!”

“Of course!” At this, the woman tilted her head a bit. “Now that I’m seeing you more clearly… I think I’ve seen you before?”

Well, that was a bit embarrassing. Y/n knows that she’s not some kind of big celebrity that appears on TV, so the chance for the woman to have seen her before is slim to none. She also didn’t have any advertisement deal yet, so that was also out of the question.

“You must be mistaken-“

“I know!” said the woman all of a sudden. “You’re the girl that Shohei was watching obsessively-!”

“MOM!” Yelled Ohtani-san, a bright flush appearing on his face.

Y/n can also feel the redness creeping across her cheeks. She knows that Ohtani-san had said that he had watched her performance before, alongside that time when she did the first pitch for one of the NPM teams. But did he watch it so often to the point that his mom knows? His mom that didn’t even live with him?

Despite all that, his mom merely let out a laugh at that. “What are you so embarrassed about? You even showed your sister!”

Ohtani-san looked a bit panicked at this as his eyes danced around from his mom to Y/n. “I mean- I was- My sister likes idols, L/n-san! I was showing her you- uh – Because you’re an amazing idol! Not because I’m a creep or anything-!”

“Why are you so embarrassed about it?” laughed the woman, though there was a glint of something in her eyes.

Oh, realized y/n. She’s teasing Ohtani-san.

The woman is teasing her child. However, it seems Ohtani-san didn’t catch that notion at all. He just sounds panicked as he starts to make a grand gesture as he lets his mouth ran off. The other teen only looked more and more flustered as he began rambling about how he’s not a creep and he’s only watching her because she’s amazing-

Cute, she thought, watching him. Incredibly cute.

Objectively, she knows that Ohtani-san is not ugly. He’s cute, handsome even. However, the teen had always looked so serious at all times.

This new side, though?

Cute.

Y/n really couldn’t help it as she let out a laugh at that, amusement rolling off of her as Ohtani-san stared at her as if she had betrayed him. His mother, though, also let out a laugh, clearly gaining a lot of satisfaction from teasing his child.

Ohtani-san merely looked a bit resigned as he let the two share a laugh.

“Well, that was fun,” said his mother after a while. “Shohei, do you want to talk with your friend for a bit? I still need to do some shopping for dinner.”

The teen glanced at her. “I don’t want to bother; I know that L/n can have something to do after this-“

“No,” cut off y/n with a smile. “Do you want to hang out for a bit, Ohtani-san?”

She received a wide-eyed look at that, though the other teen gave her a nod at her offer. Good. It would be embarrassing if he rejected her offer.

His mom merely looked at the two of them with a fond look in her eyes. “Well, I better get going then?”

“See you, Mom.”

“It’s nice meeting you, Ohtani-san!” said Y/n, giving the woman a small bow.

The older woman gave them a small wave as she walked away.

“Your mom is nice,” said y/n, watching the woman walk away.

Ohtani-san scratched the back of his head. “Yeah, she is.” He muttered. “But seriously, l/n-san, I’m not a creep-“

“I know,” said the girl, eyes crinkling as, once again, amusement crept into her. “Your mom was just teasing you, Ohtani-san,” she continued, “She seems very fond of you.”

The two of them began walking side to side. They probably look a bit silly at this point, as y/n is still in her idol costume – a white and pink dress with lots of bows and frills – but Ohtani-san didn’t seem to mind. Honestly, her costume matched the bright pink shopping bag that he was holding a bit.

What a pair they make.

Ohtani-san let out a sigh, “I’m the youngest in my family,” he answered. “My mom likes to tease me because my older siblings won’t follow along anymore.”

“Oh? You don’t give the youngest sibling energy, though?”

“What’s even the youngest sibling’s energy like?”

She chuckled at that. “I don’t know, I suppose,” she said, grinning. “I’m an only child.”

The teen squints his eyes, “You don’t give the only child energy.”

Y/n hits his arm playfully, “Now you’re just using my words against me,” she said before stopping. “Wait- you’re a pitcher, right? I shouldn’t hit your hand. Precious athlete hand and stuff.”

Dramatically, Ohtani-san began rubbing his arms as if y/n had just broken it. “Ouch, l/n san,” said the other teen. “You probably broke my arm or something.”

She rolled her eyes. “Now you’re just being dramatic,” she huffed out. “Anyway, let’s go there, my manager said that it’s a good café to hang out!”

They both entered the café. It’s a small café, and there’s not a lot of people there. Perfect for hangout, she thought, as she immediately went to order with Ohtani-san following closely behind her. The cashier gave her a weird look, clearly staring at her clothes, before giving her a polite smile.

“What do you want?” asked the girl as she looked over the menu.

“Matcha Frappuccino with chocolate ice cream,” said Ohtani-san. “And caramel sauce.”

Y/n stared at him, a bit disgusted at the sweet concoction that he just uttered. “Americano for me,” she said.

As the both of them took their seat and the drinks came, she could only stare at the horrifying drink in front of her. It just looks so… sweet. How much sugar and calories are in there?

“Aren’t you an athlete?” she asked, sipping on her Americano. It’s bitter, but whatever. “Don’t you have to watch out what you’re eating?”

Ohtani-san merely shrugged. “I’ll just burn it off during practice,” he said. “And sugar is good for your body. It gives you energy.”

“Yeah, but not that much sugar,” she said pointedly as she stared at the drink. Consuming that much sugar in one drink can’t be healthy. “Ever heard of diabetes?”

“I’m an athlete,” he replied, as if it answered her question. As if being an athlete can stop the looming threat of diabetes. 

“You’re a sweet tooth then?” asked y/n instead. 

The teen tilted his head at that, before he gave a nod. “You’re a sweet tooth too, right, l/n-san?” he asked. “I saw you eating a lot of cakes in class.”

She flushed at that. Y/n is a sweet tooth; she knows that. She loves eating desserts and just indulging herself with that sugary goodness. But at the same time, she doesn’t have a high metabolism. Drinking a glass of water can affect her weight. That’s why she’s trying to control what she’s eating lately, in fear that her weight will increase dramatically.

“I am,” said y/n. “But I’m trying to lose weight, so I’m decreasing my sugar consumption. I’m counting my calories right now.”

Ohtani-san furrowed his eyebrow at that. “What for?” he asked. “You’re already really thin.”

Playboy, she thought.

She knows she’s thin enough, but what can she do? Japanese beauty standard practically demands her to be thin. Thinner. She needs to look petite and small. She needs to look cute and pretty. Extra fat and weight will not help her case.

To be an idol in Japan, she needs to lose more weight. She needs to be thinner.

“I need to be thinner, you know,” said the girl, sighing as she slumped back in her chair. “My manager wants me to lose 3kg more.”

“… That can’t be healthy.”

“Well no, but I will look pretty,” she replied.

“You’re already pretty, though.”

As if to betray her, her cheeks grow red as she throws him a glare. “You know, you’re really good with words, Ohtani-san,” she said. 

“Huh?” said the boy, as if he was confused. “I was just saying facts?”

Ugh, and it sounds so genuine, too, she thought. Definitely a playboy. 

“And you eat so little too, l/n-san,” he said before he motioned something with his finger, something small. “You only eat this amount of rice every day.”

Y/n pouted. “Now you’re just making some things up, Ohtani-san!” she said. “I eat like normal people. I’ll probably die of starvation if I only eat that amount of rice every day.”

“I mean, you’re so thin!”

“Flatterer,” she said, embarrassed. “Anyway, Ohtani-san, you should give me some tips, considering you eat all of that sugar on a daily basis.”

He hummed. “Exercise?” answered the boy. “I train a lot, so it’s all gone by the end of the day. Do you exercise l/n san?”

The thing is, y/n hates exercising. To be precise, she hates things that can hurt her body. Exercising, in fact, in her opinion, hurts. “… I prefer eating less than exercising,” she answered after a moment of silence. “I don’t like sweating.”

Ohtani-san, the star athlete, gasped. As if, y/n just said something out of this world. “That’s not good!” he exclaimed, so loudly to the point that the cashier even gave her a glance full of questions. “L/n-san, you eat so little and don’t exercise? It’s not good for your body!”

“I feel just fine!”

“That’s exactly what a sick person would say!”

“No, it’s not!” exclaimed y/n. “Also I don’t think I can keep up an exercise routine! I hate to do things alone.”

Ohtani-san continued to stare at her before he slumped down. “Well,” he said. “I’ll help you out then.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll help you out.”

“Seriously?” said y/n, staring at the boy as if he were crazy. “You live in the dormitory.”

The other teen shook his head. “No, seriously, I just think of something brilliant,” he said. “Let’s start with something easy, like jogging to school!”

“Ohtani-san, you live in the dormitory.”

“I know,” he said. “School starts at 8.30, morning practice is at 7, I’ll pick you up at 6 to jog to school. With that, I’ll have enough time to prepare for morning practice and you to school!”

Her brain halted. “6!?” she exclaimed. “That’s too early!”

“Early bird gets the worm, l/n-san,” replied Ohtani-san.

“I, for one, is not a bird.”

“I know, you’re too pretty to be one.”

She glared at him at that, cheeks flushing. He merely threw her a cheeky grin as if he hadn’t just thrown the most absurd exercise plan for her. 

“… You won’t change your mind, won’t you?”

“No,” said the teen, grinning. “I’ll pick you up at your house at 6.”

Y/n stared at him. “There’s nothing to change your mind?”

He continues to grin. “No.”

At 6 AM, she found Ohtani-san already standing in front of her house.

“L/n-san!” he said. “Good morning!”

Maybe giving him her address and her permission to start this exercise is a mistake. Maybe this whole thing is a mistake. 

“You know the sun is barely up,” she said, exiting her apartment, her bag slung over her shoulder. It’s heavier than normal as she needs to bring her uniform and other things to freshen up in school. Currently, she’s wearing an oversized shirt and exercise shorts. “And you’re already so cheery.”

He throws her a grin. “I’m a morning person,” said the boy. “Are you excited to start jogging?”

“No,” she said. “But I am excited to lose weight.”

“Hmm, dubious motivation, but whatever,” he said before he outstretched his arm toward her.

She stared at it, confused.

“Your bag,” clarified Ohtani-san. “I can hold your bag during the jog.”

Y/n quirked her eyebrow. She’s not complaining, though, considering she knows how weak she is, and jogging with a heavier bag than usual will not help at all. However, she still lets her amusement slip past her lips. “Oh, aren’t you a gentleman, Ohtani-san.”

He shrugged. “I am stronger than you,” pointed out the boy.

“Fine then, here,” she said, giving the boy her bag. He slung it over his shoulder as if its weight was nothing.

The jog is surprisingly pleasant. She’s not as sticky as expected, maybe it’s the morning air? Ohtani-san is also really nice, as he intentionally decreases his pace so that she won’t be left out. They also talk a lot during the jog. They talk more than what they usually do during class.

Ohtani-san talked a lot about the baseball club and their preparation for the upcoming summer tournament. 

“You’re a pitcher, right?” asked y/n. “Are you the ace?”

He shook his head. “I’m just a first-year,” he answered. “There’s a third-year ace in the team.”

She also talked a lot about her time in Tokyo and how she tried to become an idol there.

“It just… I don’t think it’s working?” she said. “Too many prettier idols out there.”

“But I genuinely believe you can make it, l/n-san!”

It’s fun, and y/n is a bit surprised when she realizes that she won’t mind doing this again.

Their conversation is light and full of banter. Ohtani-san is not as serious as she had expected and is actually a pretty playful person. Their jog is full of jokes and lighthearted banter. 

When the school is in sight, y/n actually feels a bit disappointed.

“See you in class then?” asked Ohtani-san as she glanced at the clock on her phone. 06.43, plenty of time before class.

“Yeah,” she said, smiling. “See you in class.”

There’s a lull of silence between the two of them as Ohtani-san opens his mouth before closing it again, as if he wants to say something but decided against it. Y/n raised an eyebrow at that, but didn’t probe further. As she was about to leave, Ohtani-san finally spoke up.

“This… Exercise, do you want to do it again tomorrow?”

Y/n stared at him.

She knows that exercising is something that’s not high on things that she likes. She knows that there are other ways to lose weight. She knows, that for all her life, she hates exercising.

But really, just the thought of stopping this is… disappointing.

“Sure,” she replied, instead. “Let’s make it a routine, Ohtani-san.”

The smile that he let lets out made her heart hammer uncontrollably.

“Seriously, I thought I was going to die.”

“Now you’re just being dramatic, l/n-san, it was just a small jog.”

“Good morning, l/n-chan!”

“Ohtani-kun, did you do the math homework?”

“… There’s a math homework?”

“Don’t you think the cloud looks like cotton candy?”

“You’re doing that intentionally to make me hungry, right, Ohtani-kun?”

“It’s because I know you skipped breakfast again!”

“You should call me Shohei”

“Huh?”

“… I like to think we’re best friends?”

She laughed at that.

“You should call me y/n then!”

Y/n soon found out that Ohtani-kun – Shohei, simply Shohei – is not a quiet and serious person at all.

He may look like the brooding sort, someone who always thrived in silence. It seems that kind of persona was only reserved for someone that he doesn’t know. Once you managed to get past that and became what Shohei likes to call friends, he became way more talkative.

And a bit of a prankster.

“Hey!” she yelled out, hand reaching out towards the magazine that the taller teen was holding. “Give it back!”

Shohei let out a bright laugh at that, fully taking advantage of his superior height to hold the magazine out of her reach.

“Why are you so invested in this?” asked the male, grinning. “I was talking to a statue.”

Y/n pouted at that. “It’s not my fault that the magazine is more interesting than you,” she complained, long nails clawing at his clothed shoulder in an attempt to lower his hand. “Give it back!”

“Nah,” he answered, still grinning. “I want to read it.”

“You don’t like fashion!”

“I guess I’ll like it starting from today?”

The girl let out a frustrated huff at that, eyes narrowing. “Don’t break it,” she hissed out, craning her neck closer to see which page he opened. “And tell me if there’s an announcement for an audition!”

“Like modeling?” he asked, brows furrowed.

“Yes,” she replied. “I can’t get in contact with my agent I need to book a gig soon.”

Shohei tilted his head at that. “I think anyone who can work with you will be lucky.”

“Say that to the countless auditions that I’ve applied this past month,” she said with a sigh. “Ugh, I know being a celebrity is hard, but it’s so frustrating!”

The other teen hummed at that as he continued browsing the magazine. Y/n’s not sure if he’s actually reading any of it or if he’s just staring at the pictures, but he does look pretty serious about doing it.

“So?” she asked, leaning closer. “Do you find anything interesting?”

“No,” he replied.

Y/n slumped down. “I knew it,” she groaned out, burrowing her face towards her folded hands on top of the desk. “Nothing seems to be working with my career.”

Putting down the magazine, Shohei ruffled the top of her head. “Don’t say something like that; every star has their own unknown phase, you know?”

“Says the future baseball star.”

He actually laughed at that, “Says the future star.”

“Star?” she asked, looking up. “Just star?”

“Just star,” he shrugged easily.

“Not singing star or idol star?”

“Well,” he said, smiling down at her. “I think you’ll shine in whatever career path you choose. Like a star. The brightest one out there.”

She will never admit the flush that’s rushing towards her cheeks. She should’ve gotten used to this. After all, Shohei gave compliments like candy – without reservation. He always finds things to compliment about her. From small things to bigger things – like his utter conviction that she will thrive in the future. 

She should’ve gotten used to this because Shohei is her best friend.

But seriously, she really can’t stop the loud beating of her heart and her red cheeks.

“Cheesy,” answers y/n instead, hiding her face back in her arms. 

“I’m not,” he replied. She can’t see his face, but she knows there’s an annoying grin on his face right now.

Smug prick, thought y/n. Though, she really can't be mad about it.

Considering how much she likes it.

Their interactions started from easy conversations at their desk and their morning jog to spending each of their free time together.

Which is, admittedly, not a lot. Y/n is still desperately chasing her dreams – running around the town attending casting calls – and Shohei, too, is busy with his baseball practice. There is not a lot of time to spare between the two of them, but when they do, they will spend it together.

During the short period of lunch breaks, during their morning jog, when Shohei had just finished his morning practice, to the small moments in between classes that they always spent laughing at each other, making jokes that no one else but the both of them understood. 

It was during those small moments that their bond began to develop. 

She learned so many things about baseball. It's mostly against her will because it seems Shohei simply can’t fathom a world without baseball. Y/n was never fond of baseball to start with, a fact that stemmed from her apparent daddy issue and fatherless life. But still, every time she saw that wide smile on Shohei’s face, or how his eyes would sparkle as he rambled on and on about baseball-

Y/n really can’t gather the courage to stop it. She doesn’t have the heart to do it.

After all, seeing someone so passionate about something is nice. It’s rare to see someone who loves something so much to the point they’re ready to dedicate their entire life to it. To see Shohei rambling about baseball with so much fondness and love is something that she loves to see.

It’s not like y/n didn’t bother Shohei with her rambling after all. From the latest fashion trend to the pop culture moments, y/n seems to ramble about it nonstop.

“Seriously,” said Ami Nishikawa, a friend of y/n. “I don’t understand how the two of you got along so well.”

Both Shohei and y/n blinked.

“How so?” asked y/n, closing her flip phone to stare at the girl in front of her. “I think you’re just jealous ‘cause I found a new best friend.”

Shohei laughed at that, nudging her shoulder in the process. Ami merely stared at her, brows furrowing. “Well, starting from the fact that you two got nothing in common?” said the girl, waving her finger in front of them. “Like we all know, Shohei is a baseball freak-“

“Hey!” protested Shohei.

“And you have nothing in your head besides celebrities and the latest trend,” said Ami, stopping a bit, “Well, I’m also like that, but still, it’s kind of weird to see the both of you get along so well.”

“Opposites attract?” said Shohei with a tilt of his head. 

“I call bullshit,” said Ami. “And it’s not like the both of you have much spare time! You trained for baseball, like, three times in one day!”

“It’s only twice-“

“Still!” interrupted Ami, and Shohei shut his mouth. “I don’t get it!”

Both Shohei and y/n exchanged a glance at that.

She, too, doesn’t really understand how they can get along so well. It’s not like Shohei is a big fan of pop culture, and y/n hates baseball. It just doesn’t make sense that the both of them got along as well as they do.

But they still got along exceptionally well. They talked a lot, they texted a lot, and they even often called each other.

Considering how well they’re getting along, y/n should’ve known that sooner or later, the time would’ve come.

“I’m starting this weekend,” said Shohei as the both of them ate their lunch. “It’s the quarterfinals of the Summer tournament.”

Y/n stopped at that. She knew that the summer tournament had been happening for some time, but she never really caught up to it. 

“Do you want to come?” asked Shohei instead, with a smile. “I’ll be happy if you come to cheer me on.”

And well-

Y/n never watched a baseball game after that fateful moment all those years ago when she realized the reason why her dad never came home. She never watched any games – live or broadcasted – after that fateful moment when she realized that she was a child out of wedlock. That her father is an irresponsible bastard.

Baseball is a complicated thing in her life.

She knows that her mother still watched a lot of MLB games, despite her father’s retirement a couple of years ago. Her mother still bought a lot of MLB merchandise – despite its high price – to support her father. She knows that her mother still loves her father as well as baseball with all of her heart.

Y/n though?

At some point, she detested baseball. She truly hates it to the point that she doesn’t want to think about it. After all, baseball reminded her of her father. It reminded her of the bastard that left her mistress pregnant and alone. It reminded her of the asshole that won’t even support her mistress financially while she’s juggling multiple jobs just to raise their illegitimate child.

It reminded her that she was an unwanted child of her father.

That she was born into this life without the love of a father. That her father left Japan fully knowing that his mistress had gotten pregnant, and still choosing to leave her alone. That she was born into this life just to become a burden to her mother.

That her previously beautiful mother had become older and wearier as the years passed. That her beautiful mother had sacrificed everything just for her to grow up.

Baseball, is a complicated thing for her.

From the bottom of her heart, she wants to say no. She wants to say that she hates baseball. That she disliked the sport so much. She wants to say that she will wish him luck, but she will never attend a baseball match. 

She wants to reject that offer.

But well… She can’t.

Because sitting in front of her is her best friend, sitting in front of her is the boy that she had spent so much time with. Because it’s Shohei Ohtani that’s sitting in front of her with a shy smile and awkward glance.

She wants to say no.

Y/n is a weak girl.

“Sure,” she said instead. “I’ll come.”

It was at that moment she found herself engulfed in a warm hug.

Maybe… maybe this is the moment that she can fix her relationship with baseball.

this is my way to cope the fact that shohei got hurt during the world series like bffr @/baseball gods

Taglist!

@mindless-rock @lovewithmary

[serhum]

[Part 3] Birthday Game - Reader x Shohei Ohtani x Yuki Ishikawa AU - NSFW

Disclaimer: This is a 18+ writing so if you’re not comfortable reading this, please skip it! There will be a lot of smut & mentions of sex in this work so beware. ;)

🖤🖤🖤🖤

What I thought to be a short 5-minute nap went into a deep slumber. The clock shows it’s 5am already and I heard both of the men on my sides snore. “They looked really cute.” I mumble to myself. It’s really kind of them for not waking me up, although I promised Shohei another ‘session’ in the bathroom. I slowly get up from the bed as I’m still naked underneath the blanket. I tried to wiggle my way out carefully so that they don’t wake up. I collected my undergarments and slide into them. Then, I tip toed towards the bathroom after grabbing my phone and closed the door slowly, not bothered to lock it. 

I take a look into the mirror and saw several kiss marks on my body especially on my neck and chest areas. The thought of me making love with Yuki and Shohei still makes me feel giddy. Then, I open my phone to see several messages I receive from my friends who wishes me happy birthday.

“Are you awake already?” I was taken aback when I heard Shohei’s voice. He’s standing by the door shirtless, leaving him with his brief. His hair is messy but he looks too good to be true. “Ohh, I didn’t realize I was sleeping through the night. How about you? You should take a rest.” I reply and he shut the door. Shohei walks towards me and I turned my body to him. He closed the gap between ours and placed his hands on my hips and lifted me to the countertop. My breath suddenly got hard. 

“I think I haven’t tell you some of the things I really admired about you.” I suddenly said while having a staring contest with him. His face was a few inches away from me and when he heard me, he pulled away. “Really? What about it?” he grins. “Before that, I want you to pull the stool chair. This is gonna be a long talk.” I said to him while tracing his chest and abs. “Sure.” After he sits on the chair in front of me, I started to tell him the reason why I like him - not in a romantic way, more to as a fangirl. 

“I first heard your name during your time in Angels. You caught my eyes instantly,” I paused and took his hand so that our fingers interlock each other. “Since then, I found a lot of interesting facts about you online. I watched you play too even with Yuki. I like how determined you are to be a two-way player, how you tryna keep a lowkey personality in the midst of your popularity, and how you keep your body healthy.” I felt his thumb caressing my hands as well and he was so into my story. “You are such an inspiration to many, Sho. And I want you to keep being that way.” I smile to him.

“That’s very nice to hear. Thank you.” He simply replied with his husky voice and showing his eye smile. Very typical of him who doesn’t talk a lot but more into actions. “Not to forget that you’re able to challenge yourself in a completely different country and look at your fanbase. So big, just like these muscles, haha” I joked while grabbing his broad shoulders and biceps. I heard him chuckles as well. 

“If I had known you before Yuki, I’ll definitely date you, y/n.” My heart beats so fast when he muttered that sentence. That sounds like a confession to me. I look at him in the eyes and automatically my fingers reached to his eyebrows, eyelashes, and finally his lips. “You don’t realize how handsome you are, Sho. If you already have a girlfriend back in the States, she’d be really lucky to have you.” his dimples appeared.  

“You make me blush. Don’t you think Yuki will get jealous if he heard you complimented me?” he asks. I shake my head, “He already know that you’re my idol. Actually he left me dumbfounded when he said that you agreed to have threesome with me as a gift for my birthday. I was so embarrassed!” I jokingly punch his chest and he stopped me by holding my hands. “Don’t be. It’s my pleasure to make you feel special on your birthday, I should thank Yuki for this moment. I get to know you better,” he paused and I feel his face getting closer to mine. Our noses touched and there’s this electric sensation I get from him.

“I like how you hold me in your arms earlier. I like how our bodies move in sync. I like it when you play your tongue with me. I like everything about you but it’s impossible for us to be together. So I am grateful for this moment with you.” I might be carried away with the situation where we share our intimacy without Yuki eyeing us. I felt that I need to confess that to Shohei so that he knows what I feels. I feel his arms linger my body, giving me a bear hug. His manly cologne is still there although he was sweating all night. I’m actually afraid that it’s me who crossed the line? I sound like a cheating girlfriend right now but I will regret it my whole life if I don’t say those things to Shohei. Because he deserves to know how he made me feel.

He then kissed me slow but passionate, “Should we keep this as a secret from Yuki?” he asked in a lower voice. Thinking about what I said earlier, I realize that Yuki might be jealous even mad of our conversation. So I nod to him. “I’ll definitely miss you when I return home. We should spend time together again.” he said calmly while staring at me. His hands are now resting on my shoulders. “While you’re in Italy, we still have some time.” I said mumbling in his chest. Oh god, I like this man. It’s Yuki’s fault that he put me in this odd position with his best friend! 

“Shall we have a cold shower? You said you like being taken care of after sex, c’mon” Shohei said but I stopped him from walking to the shower. “Wait. I like that we have this kind of intimacy. Are you okay if I take a photo of us?” I nervously asked while grabbing my phone on my side. “I’m totally fine. It’s not that you’ll share it publicly.” I smiled at his statement. 

I activated the back camera and take candid photos of him. “Don’t be shy. Show me your sexy pose haha” I told him to pose and he acted really cool which is why the photos came out so good. “Can we also have photos together? Here, stand in front of me.” He gladly put me down from the countertop and we are now facing the mirror. “Can you wrap your arms around my neck? That’d be a good pic.” he does what I tell him. “You look so petite, so cute.” Shohei said at our reflections and I laugh. “Compared to you and Yuki, I’m just like a teenage girl.” I went along with him. 

After several photos later, Shohei spun my body to face him. “Are you done, sweetie?” asked him. I put my phone down, “Is someone being impatient for the next round? Hm?” I continue by grabbing the strap of his briefs. Teasing him a bit. “I can’t wait to touch you and feel you squirm under my touch.” He sounded so sexy right now. “I need a little bit more of you, Shohei.” I whispered and with that he lifted me and walked to the shower.

My lips reach him and my tongue is trying to find its way to his mouth. He let me explore him and reply my kiss right away. My back is glued to the wall while he’s steadying me with his huge figure. “Mmh— you- taste so good- Hhh” he murmurs in between our kisses. 

With our bodies pressing against each other, I can feel his manhood on my lower body. I grab and rub it with my hands in the same tempo with our kisses. “You have no idea how sexy you are, Sho” I stopped the kiss and state what I feel. He smirked and suddenly the cold water flows on our bodies. “Oh my god!” We both chirped at the same time and laugh. “Oops, I didn’t mean to turn it on.” He said. Shohei’s figure is big enough to nudge the shower mixer without him knowing. “It’s alright. I’m the one who’s turned on by you.” I continue kissing him after those words came out of my mouth. I feel him smirking in the middle of our kisses. “Mmh—“ he let out a sexy whimper.

I feel butterflies in my stomach when he traces my body with his lips. He leaves his saliva here and there which triggers me to stroke his damp wet hair slowly. “I love that you’re the opposite of Yuki.” I said. He stopped right between my legs now, both hands still holding my thighs so I don’t fall. He looked up to see me and said, “Tell me.” “You’re more patient when we make love.” My response successfully made him grins.

Without wasting his time, he licks my clothed pussy that’s wet already. “Uhh—“ my natural responses were closing my eyes and playing with my harden nipples. My back arched more on the walls when he slid his tongue skillfully inside my vagina, making sure my thin underwear was moved out his way. His quick movements resulted in high pitched moan from me.

“Keep going.. Shohei,” I encourage him while squirming. The vibrations he gave me down there is out of this world. I feel it coming and he licked the wetness just for him to kiss me afterwards, letting me taste myself through him. “I like you, very much” I was surprised when listening to his sudden confession. 

“Can I go inside you now?” he added. “Yes. I need you inside me.” With that, he inserts his manhood deep inside me. This time I no longer feel hurt, instead I feel pleasure all over my body. “Sweet Jesus!” I mumble in the crook of his neck and reach for his muscular arms. He doesn’t go fast this time, meanwhile he increases his pace slowly. “Do you know how fucking tight you are?” he whispered. “U-huh.. and you’re so big.” I replied. We are now staring at each other intensely. When he accurately hits my g-spot with his slow tempo, I let out a whine. 

“Yeah you’re so fucking good. Come to me- come inside me—“ I chanted to him in a teasing way. I can feel him close to his climax when his body got more intense and he closed his eyes, with mouth opens. “Aahh- fuck” he sounded so manly in my ears. “But I’m not done yet.” I told him and I swiftly change our position where I pushed him to sit on the shower seat. 

I happily took control and now I positioned myself on his lap with my back facing him. “Do you like that?” is what comes out of my mouth when I took his whole length inside my vagina and sliding it up and down. His hands are now cupping my boobs from behind. “I like it when you take control, sweetheart” he responded. I turn my head to kiss his lips. “And I can’t stop riding you, Sho.” I keep circling my hips around him and feel so much pleasure. 

Minutes go by quickly that this shower has witnessed our numerous positions from the standing doggy to leg-up. We were enjoying our intimacy too much that I started to realize that Yuki is still in the bedroom next to us! Both Shohei and I have finally stopped our session and moved on to washing each other’s body in the shower. We took shower together where he rubs the liquid soap all over my body and on the other hand, I tried to wash his thick black hair. I tip toed to reach his height but he was kind enough to lower himself. It’s so fun with him around. He’s so playful but sexy at the same time. Shit, I can’t keep him out of my mind now.

“Are you done, princess?” Shohei asked me while drying his hair with a towel. I nodded. “I’m done, just a moment.” I tried to wear my undergarments and the last thing I found was Yuki’s oversized shirt so I decided to wear that. “Thank you for everything. I really enjoy our time together.” I confessed to him and gave him a peck on his lips. Before he responds anything, I walked out of the bathroom, leaving Shohei behind. 

🖤🖤🖤🖤

To be continued

[thefreakandthehair]

truly can’t believe that I wrote rounding third, sliding home in which Steve is the star player on the Dodgers who has to rehab a UCL injury, just for Shohei Ohtani who I loosely based Steve on to be traded to the Dodgers after rehabbing the same injury I gave Steve. and now that player is on the Dodgers going to the fucking World Series.

really created a rift in the fanfiction/reality continuum with that one. you’re welcome, Dodgers fans.

[forbidden-sin-bin]

Hey Jays fans… or baseball fans in general as well.

It’s almost the end of the season, so no baseball till next spring, it’s gonna be a loooooonnngg break, I know. I know that feeling considering I also watch hockey. And lemme tell you… I know that pain.

(*side-eyes the Leafs and every time they lose round one of the playoffs*)

So… anyone wanna take one for the team and start making some fanworks while we wait? Art, fanfiction… this whole place is barren of anything fan made and that’s a tragedy.

NOW HEAR ME OUT.

We got Hockey fanworks, we got Soccer fanworks, we got Formula 1/Racing fanworks…. But not a ton of Baseball fanworks!

(Granted I see a rise in Shohei Ohtani fanfics which is awesome and it’s a great start)

I’d usually would love to if I had the work-ethic and creativity, but I’m also busy workin on a fanfic series completely unrelated to baseball, so I’m sending out a rallying call for anyone to step up to the plate and show off their works!

Anyways don’t mind me imma just crawl back to where I was hiding-

[ficthots]

I’ll Play Nurse-Shohei Ohtani

Request: Shohei got injured and I was wondering if you can write something inspired by that & Do u think u could write a smut abt shohei dealing with his recent injury during a pitch?

A/N: Okay everyone this is my first time dabbling in smut. It is not super long because it is a request and if you are under 18 you CANNOT read this. I’m going to include warnings for it, but I repeat if you are under 18 you CANNOT read any further. I combined two asks for this request because they were in the same ideas. As always I hope you like it and enjoy! Requests are open.

Warnings: Smut, 18+ content

Word Count: 1.2k+

You stood on edge in the living room. He was clutching his wrist and hunched over in pain. You were holding your breath as Ippei ran over to help translate for the trainer looking over his wrist. You hadn’t seen Shohei in pain like this before and you were nervous. If he was injured he would be so upset.

It couldn’t have been too bad because luckily he was back later in the game. You were still nervous because you knew he would hide how much pain he was in to continue to play. The game had ended over an hour ago and you heard the front door open. Shohei walked in, wrist bandaged with ice resting on it.

You jumped up from your spot on the couch and ran over to him. “Hi, baby. How are you feeling? How bad’s the wrist?” You started checking him over while he shrugged, using his free hand to tilt your chin up to him, connecting your lips in a kiss a beat longer than normal.

“I’m not gonna lie. It hurts. They said I’ll be fine, but it hit right on the bone,” you pouted your lip out to him, kissing him again as you pulled him towards your room. “Well then you need to rest. You go lay down and I’ll play nurse tonight for you.”

He smiled and laid down on the bed as you went out to the living room, grabbing couch pillows to elevate his arm and a new ice pack to swap out the old one. You grabbed ibuprofen and headed back inside to see him propped up on the bed. You smacked his good hand away as he tried to help you get things set up.

“Just relax. I can do this,” you went to grab his hand to prop it up, but you couldn’t get a good enough angle. You climbed onto the bed, straddling his waist as you did so. You could feel his gaze on you as you propped his arm up, switched out the ice pack, and handed him the pills.

“Take these,” he nodded his head, following orders. As you tried to move off his lap, his free hand grabbed your waist. “Nurse. I’m gonna need you to stick around since I can’t use this hand. And my pain is still pretty bad,” you hummed as you leaned forward, kissing him, lightly grinding against his hardening length.

“Well then I think you’re going to need to get more comfortable. Let’s get these off,” you moved off his waist, moving down towards the edge of the bed while you pulled his trainers off, leaving him only in his boxers and shirt.

His breathing was heavy watching your every move. When you finished getting his pants off you moved back up, staying on your knees between his legs. “I think I know what will help get your mind off the pain,” his eyebrows raised as you watched his chest move quickly.

“Oh yeah and what’s that?” You moved your hand up his thigh, never breaking eye contact as your hand brushed over his bulge. His breath caught in his throat, eyes closing as you reached into his boxers, freeing his member.

You wasted no time, giving a quick pump before placing a gentle kiss on the tip, tasting the precum already leaking out. His eyes opened, tongue darting out and wetting his lips. You opened your mouth taking half of him, letting your tongue swipe along the underside, hearing a groan escape his lips.

You slowly let yourself take more of him in your mouth, your hand wrapped around the base as you moved your head up and down, spit mixing with precum as you felt his free hand tangle into your hair, starting to push you down further when you pulled away.

His eyes opened again as you shook your head, hand continuing to work him. “No hands. Keep your hands to yourself,” he groaned, letting his hand fall back down to his side as you went back to your position. You took all of him, hearing his breathing become faster and moans fall from his plump and parted lips.

As you bobbed your head on him, hand pumping what your mouth couldn’t reach, you pulled off with a pop. You knew he was getting close and you stood up, slipping your jeans and panties off before climbing back on him, straddling him once again.

His eyes stared into yours as you spit into your hand and moved it down to rub against your already soaking core. Your hand grabbed his cock and let the tip poke into you as a gasp punched out of your chest. He moaned, head falling back against the pillow as his good hand went to palm your ass.

You pulled his dick out of you and shoved his arm away. “I said no hands,” his lip pouted out as he put his arm back to his side. “Please, baby I need to feel you,” you shook your head, slowly sinking down onto him again. You could hardly speak as your eyes slipped shut. “No. You can feel me like this.”

Your eyes opened as you looked down to see him bottom out in you. You couldn’t believe how easily he fit in and you sat for a split second trying to adjust to him before you started moving on him. One hand grabbed the headboard above you, the other went to his jaw, pulling his head back towards you.

“Keep your eyes open. Look at how my pussy takes you so easy. God, you feel so good fucking me like this,” his eyes opened, immediately looking down at your pussy enveloping his cock. The sound of skin hitting skin was echoing around the room, mixing with both of your moans bouncing off the walls.

He couldn’t hold back any more and started thrusting his hips to meet your own movements. His dick hit a spot inside you that had you collapsing on his chest as you neared your peak. You knew he was close too as his movements became more sporadic and his breathing was uneven.

Your hand went down to your clit, rubbing fast circles on the nub. “Oh god, I’m close,”  he moaned, lips attacking your neck, licking over the spots he bit at to soothe the skin. You turned to connect your lips again as he mumbled against you. “Come on, baby. Cum for me. That’s it, such a good girl. I know you’re right there.”

Within seconds you came undone on top of him, legs trembling with your own orgasm as you felt his spasm inside you, releasing his cum into you. He gave a few more thrusts, pushing his cum further inside you before he stopped. His lips rested on your forehead as you laid on his chest, a sweaty mess.

You smiled, breathless before speaking again. “How’s your wrist feeling now?” He chuckled, using his hand to push your hair back from your forehead. “Oh, I completely forgot about that. If this is the treatment I get when I’m injured I might try that more often,” you laughed, sitting up, kissing him and mumbling against his lips. “I don’t mind playing nurse more often. Don’t get injured again though. You had me worried sick.”

He laughed as you got off him before heading to the bathroom, Shohei in tow as you got the shower running. “Nurse, I think I’m ready for my spongebath,” You felt his lips on your neck again as you stepped into the shower, laughing as he followed you in.

[zackcollins]

wanted || shohei ohtani

masterlist

Author’s Note: Heya, everyone! I’m back with another fic! This one was actually an anonymous request someone sent me, so I hope I did it justice for whoever sent it in. This is also my first time writing for Ohtani so I did the best I could so please be gentle. I have 3 more requests lined up to be written--one more for Ohtani and 2 for Bo Bichette. So, look out for those in the next few days! Anyways! GIF credit to youmustlovehim!

Warnings: I don’t think there’s any. But, as always, feel free to let me know if you disagree and I’ll add a warning for anything anyone feels needs one!

Word Count: 1.7k+

Title: Wanted by Hunter Hayes

Additional: The reader is gender-neutral this time! I can’t exactly remember if the request specified what gender the reader should be because my memory is awful. I also couldn’t seem to find the darn thing on my blog while I was in the process of writing this, so I just went for gender-neutral to be on the safe side. I hope that’s okay for whoever sent in the request! For whoever sent this in: I can always write a feminine or masculine fic if that’s what you actually wanted. Just let me know and I’ll get on that for you as soon as I’ve finished with my other requests, okay? Anyways! I hope all of you who read this enjoy it! As always, feedback is appreciated. I love knowing what everyone thinks of how I did.

Christmas was right around the corner and you were insanely excited for it. It had been your favourite holiday since you were a small child. Seeing all the light displays, getting to eat all of the delicious treats, spending time with family, and opening all of the presents had always appealed to you. All of it sparked an immense joy within in you that nothing had been able to match.

Nothing until you met your boyfriend, Shohei. You met him when you were on vacation to Disneyland in Anaheim. You had been stuck together on one of the rides because both of you had been in line alone. Riding with Shohei had been so much fun that you had exchanged numbers and even agreed to met each other for lunch later that day.

That had been around the first week in January. From that moment, you had struck up a friendship that turned into a romantic relationship right around the end of February, beginning of March time frame. You wouldn’t have it any other way because Shohei brought you so much happiness and joy; you loved him a lot and you were grateful to have him.

Now that your first Christmas together was approaching, you knew you had to get Shohei the perfect gift. There were a few things that you could think of—they mostly consisted of things related to baseball or Japanese trinkets so he could feel closer to home—but nothing concrete was sticking in your mind. Buying the first Christmas gift for your boyfriend was going to be an ordeal. You knew it would be worth it in the end because you loved Shohei and he loved you; he would no doubt love anything you gave him. That didn’t stop you from still wanting to get him the perfect gift. You figured the best way to accomplish that would be to do your best to ask him what he wanted without making it obvious that you were asking him what he wanted. It was a genius plan. So long as Shohei didn’t catch on to what you were doing. And you were pretty sure he wouldn’t. He had told you that around Christmas and New Years was when he started getting back into the baseball mindset. Meaning, he would most likely be too distracted to fully catch onto what you were doing. It was perfect.

With about a week and a half to go until Christmas, you approached your boyfriend. You had a plan in mind that you were going to strike up a conversation with him. You were still in Los Angeles because Shohei had asked you not to go back to your home in New York after the season had ended. You had agreed but now you were getting homesick. The purpose of this conversation was to see if he would be willing to come home with you to spend Christmas with you with your family. You thought it was about time for him to meet them anyways. You were starting realize that you felt serious about him—more serious than you’d felt about any of your past boyfriends. Your parents were also eager to meet the man you had gushed to them about for the last two months you had been in California.

“Hey, Shohei?” You had been sitting on the couch, watching what was essentially the Japanese version of Law and Order when you tried to grab his attention. Shohei looked over at you briefly but his focus went right back to the television where one of the detectives was talking to the prosecutor about the evidence she had collected on the defendant. “What would you say about coming back to New York with me? I want you to meet my parents.”

Shohei sighed, though he nodded as he wrapped his arm around you and pulled you closer to him. “I can do that. It would be nice to see where you live since you have seen where I live.”

You hummed in satisfaction before you kissed Shohei’s cheek. Shohei smiled as he squeezed you even closer to him, running his hand comfortingly along your upper arm in the process. He looked back over at you long enough to press a soft kiss on your temple before he focused back on what was happening on the television.

“I’m glad you said yes,” you chuckled as you slid away from your boyfriend. You reached into the pocket of your pants and pulled out two pieces of paper, handing one to Shohei. “I already booked the plane tickets from LAX to Laguardia. We’re on a red eye flight two days from now.”

Shohei huffed a bemused breath, placing the plane ticket on the end table beside the couch. “What would you have done if I said no?”

“I would’ve asked one of your teammates. Maybe Max Stassi? I’m sure him or one of the other guys would’ve been willing to spend Christmas with me in New York City. Rockefeller Square is a big thing after all.”

Shohei looked away from the television and over at you. He had a look in his eyes that you could only describe as something halfway between jealousy and anger. The longer he looked at you, the more intense the look became. You swallowed thickly after a few moments and started to fidget under the intense scrutiny of the gaze.

“Why would you ask my teammates?” Shohei asked. His voice sounded eerily calm but his face, still staring at you with that intense look, gave away that he was unimpressed with you. “They are not dating you. I am. It is my job to spend Christmas with you.”

You nodded, swallowing again. “Yuh—yes. You’re right. I just thought you might say no because you’d want to go home to Japan to be with your family. So, I’d just want someone with me. I already told my family I’d be bringing someone; I also told them it might not be my boyfriend because he might be heading back to Japan to visit his own family.”

Shohei’s expression softened and he grabbed your hand, running his thumb along your knuckles. “I am sorry for overreacting.” He sighed before he brought your hand up and pressed a soft kiss to the back of your hand. When he dropped it, he looked longingly into your eyes as he continued to speak. “Maybe I am a little homesick and wish to visit my own family. It is just so far away that I think the better option would be to visit your family instead.”

You leaned forward and wrapped Shohei in a hug, patting him on the back a couple of times in hopes that that would calm his nerves. Shohei relaxed into your embrace, dropping his head against your shoulder. He placed a couple of kisses against your shoulder blade before you pulled back and looked at him. You motioned to the plane ticket he placed on the coffee table.

“Why don’t you look at the ticket again.” You smiled awkwardly as you folded your hands in your lap and started fidgeting with your thumbs.

Shohei raised a questioning eyebrow but leaned forward and scooped the ticket off of the table. He examined it for a moment before you saw his facial expression shift from neutral to shock. He dropped the ticket in his lap as he leaned forward and wrapped you in a tight hug. He dropped his head in the crook of your neck, sniffling a few times as you could tell that he was trying to hold back some tears. You took one of your hands and carded your fingers gently through his hair, stopping briefly to scrape your fingernails against his scalp. Shohei hummed against your skin, his warm breath sending a chill down your back.

After a few moments of silence, filled only with the occasional sniffle from Shohei, he pulled back from your embrace and looked up at you. His eyes were slightly wet, though his cheeks were dry; that told you that he had managed to fight off the tears. You took your thumbs and wiped away the tears that had accumulated, smiling softly when Shohei leaned into the touch. You pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead, brushing some hair behind his ear before you grabbed his hand and started running your thumb along the pulse point on his wrist. You smiled again when you felt him shiver at the action, leaning once again into your touch.

“The ticket is for a red eye from LAX to a Japanese airport.” Shohei finally spoke after what felt like an eternity of silence. You nodded, bringing his hand up and pressing a gentle kiss to his knuckles. When you dropped his hand, he smiled weakly at you. “Do your parents know you are not coming home?”

You nodded again, running your thumb along Shohei’s wrist. “We’re going to celebrate with them when we get back Stateside. The return flight is from the Japanese airport to Laguardia.”

Shohei placed his free hand on your knee and rubbed it a couple of times. You looked down at his hand and then back up at him. He was smiling weakly and his eyes were fonder than you had ever seen them. You brought his hand up and kissed his knuckles again, revelling in the fact that you felt him shiver again. When you dropped his hand, you ran your thumb along his knuckles a couple of times. Shohei smiled more confidently at you as he ran his thumb a long your knee.

“You know?” He looked at you with caring eyes. “I can honestly say that you are the best early Christmas present I have ever received. I love you.”

You smiled as you returned Shohei’s caring look, bringing his wrist up and pressing a kiss to his pulse point. He shivered a little which made you smile weakly. You reached up and brushed a piece of hair out of his face. Shohei grabbed your hand and directed it to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to your knuckles. You smiled a little brighter, running your thumb along his knuckles again.

You leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Shohei’s lips which he reciprocated. You kissed for a moment before you pulled back and looked him in the eyes again, the same caring expression on both of your faces.

Then, with a fond smile on your face, you replied to your boyfriend’s question in the only way you knew how.

“I love you too because you’re the best thing I’ve ever received full stop.”

[kcake555]

Shohei Ohtani cake 🍰

athlete

[kcake555]

Shohei Ohtani cake 🍰

athlete

[leclucklerc]

Against the World SO17 - 00. Prologue

Pairings: Shohei Ohtani x Reader

Summary: Y/n and Shohei's journey started in high school. A place where the both of them found themselves thrusted into the spotlight without warning.

Word count: 2.8k

Masterlist Next

Her friends told her that their relationship work was because how busy they are.

It’s because the both of them are really successful in their own respectful field. That the both of them are both really dedicated to their own craft and realized that time and effort is essential to keep improving themselves. That both love their works so much, making them both really busy and in the end-

Their relationship works because of that.

They met in high school.

Y/n likes to think that it’s fate, their meeting that is.

L/n Y/n was born from a Japanese mother and an American father. She doesn’t know much of her dad, considering he left her mom when he realized she was pregnant with his child. Y/n doesn’t really care. It’s not hard to forget a man that had never been in your life to begin with.

The same thing couldn’t be said to her mother.

After all, the woman had been heartbroken. She had given her heart, her young adult years, her dedication, for a man that decided that she’s not worth it. She had given him everything, only to be left with a child that he doesn’t want.

Maybe that’s the start of her resentment towards the man that had never been there. To see the woman that had raised and loved her staring longingly at the only picture that she has of the man. To see the woman closed her heart tightly. Never letting anyone to enter anymore.

To see the woman who had been so strong to raised her as a single mother in the midst of the Japanese society that had never looked her situation favorably.

Born and raised in Iwate, Japan, Y/n thought that she will grew up in this small city forever. She never really has an ambitious or big dreams to chase. From the start, she’s content with her life. A loving mother, a comfortable house, and friends to play with.

That is, until she was scouted as an idol during her first year of middle school.

If she must be honest, she had never really had an interest to become an idol. Nor had she put much thought when she said yes to the guy that scout her. It was a spur of a moment thing, where Y/n doesn’t really have much going on about her life.

The idol industry in Japan started young after all. Much younger than any other idol industries all around the world. She figured there’s no harm in trying and if in the end she doesn’t really like it, she can just quit considering that she still have her whole life before her.

She really didn’t expect the world of glitz and glamour. The kind of world that she’s not familiar with where she’s nothing more than an object to be idolized by someone. Where she has to put up a smile 24/7 on her face as she dance and sing in front of a crowd of people that really should be doing something better than obsessing a 13 year old girl.

Though alas, Y/n fell in love with the stage.

The bright light, the light that shone upon her, and the screams of adoring fans. The way her voice resonated across the air as she captured every pair of eyes, all of them focusing on her. All of them, putting all their attention to her.

For a girl that always craved love and validation all her life – an absentee father and a mother that is too busy - It really doesn’t take her long before she starts to love all of those. To start loving that aspect of being an idol and her life.

The stage is her first love. It’s something that will never fail to bring out a smile across her face. Something, that she could see doing years onwards.

But of course, life is not that perfect. What with her debuting under a small company amidst the already packed idol scene in Japan, it doesn’t take long for the company to put her into a hiatus. A hiatus is the fancy term, considering the company is basically trying to find an investor that’s crazy enough to invest their money on the not famous idol Y/n . 

And well, no one wants to.

Her latest album sales are less than 1000. The same thing could be said to her most recent fan meeting where almost no one showed up. Her company too realized the failing potential of her idol career, that’s why they’re putting her in the so-called hiatus. 

Her dorm room was taken too, considering how tight money is. Not wanting her to live on the company practice room or even the streets, Y/n was sent home back to Iwate.

Compared to Tokyo, Iwate is a quiet town. It’s the town where she was born and spent her childhood in and yet, it feels almost unfamiliar. She’s not used to the dark streets without the colorful billboards and various advertisements. She’s not used to the mountain scenery without any tall building disrupting her sight.

She’s not used to this. 

This uncertain future of hers. These signs that keep on showing. Showing her that it's time for her to give up on her hopeless dream. That there's no way she can succeed as a celebrity and capture the heart of many.

"I don't want to go to school," she had said to her mother, finger playing with the food in front of her. "So many people knows that I left Iwate for Tokyo to become an idol... if I went back now people will laugh at me."

"And what?" asked her mother, voice a bit firm. "Leave your education?"

Y/n went quiet at that.

She knows that her already doomed future will become more doomed if she choose to leave her higher education without a good reason. A university graduate could hardly get a decent job after all. What can a high school drop out do?

"You finish your school," said her mother again. "Finish high school at least. We can talk about university later."

The start of her high school life is bleaker than ever.

Her earliest memory is of her and her mother watching a baseball game late at night.

She remembered being excited, considering for the first time ever her mother had let her to stay up way passed her bedtime. Her mother had told her earlier, with a pretty and yet secretive smile, that she has something to show her.

Y/n is excited. Practically bouncing at her feet as she stared at the bright television screen in front of her. There’s a baseball game in front of her. Of the cheering crowds and the colors of the teams splattered across the screen.

“Y/n-chan,” breathed out her mother, also entranced as her arm wrapped around the younger’s smaller girl. “Baby, look,” she said as she pointed towards one of the man who was walking to the field, bat in hand. “That’s your dad.”

Dad, is a foreign concept for the young girl.

She had never met her dad before, and yet, her mother had told her countless of stories about the man. Y/n practically knows almost nothing about the man and yet at the same time, she knows everything to know about regarding the man.

The man on the screen has a small frown on his face as he went into his batting position. His mother let out an entranced gasp as the crowd started to grow wild when the pitcher too, went on about his pitching motion. And without further ado, the crowd went absolutely wild when the man hit off a homerun almost immediatelt.

“Oh my god!” yelled the older woman, practically hugging Y/n. “Oh my god!”

Y/n blinked. “What’s going on?” asked the girl, turning her head towards the older woman. “Is it a good thing?”

“It is baby!” exclaimed the woman as she smothered plenty of kisses on y/n’s face. “Your father had just won the world series!”

That was the first time she ever heard about the world series and her early introduction to baseball. At first, she was excited. After all, who won’t be after discovering that your father is a world famous baseball player? That your father is just someone so cool?

And then she realized why she never see her father.

Y/n was nine when she watched an interview that her father did. An interview that he did with his family. His family that’s not y/n and her mom.

She watched as the little girl around her age sat on her father’s lap, smiling widely with a pretty dress that y/n wished she could own. She watched as the woman besides her father laughed, hand looped around the man arm as the woman who’s definitely not her mom gave her father a small peck on his cheek.

She watched this picture perfect little family laughed and joke inside her screen.

It made her felt a bit empty. She had asked her mother countless of time why they never sees her father. Something that the older woman had never answered directly. It was always a “we’ll see him soon,” or “he’s a really busy man.”

Well, now she knows why she never sees her dad.

Her relationship with baseball grows a bit complicated at that.

To be precise, she really doesn’t have any personal vendetta towards the sport. Though, being reminded about your absent father every time she see the sport is an unpleasant feeling. To know that your father doesn’t care about you or your mom every time she sees someone playing baseball is something that she hates.

Growing up trying to avoid baseball in a country like Japan is a hard thing. Baseball is a national sport here so encountering the sport on a daily basis is not something uncommon.

Y/n hates it. She hates the fact that her father made her hates baseball. She hates the fact that her father cheats on his own wife. She hates the fact that her father doesn’t care about her or her mom. She hates the fact that baseball reminds her of her useless existence. That y/n is an unwanted child born out of wedlock.

She hates it so so much.

Though, as she stared at her new high school, she started to question many things.

“Why did I choose this school…” she muttered as she saw the large banner being displayed in front of the school building. A banner that’s congratulating the school baseball team on entering Koshien.

Turns out, her new high school, the Hanamaki Higashi High School, is a school famous for their baseball team.

Y/n really does have a rotten luck.

"Didn't you go to Tokyo to become famous?" asked the girl in front of her.

Y/n let out an awkward laugh. "I'm on a hiatus," she said. "I want to pursue my education first before continuing my career," continue the girl, lying boldly.

The girl laughed at that. "Well it's great to have you back!" she said. "Can't believe we have a celebrity on our midst!"

Said girl let out an awkward laugh at that. The opening ceremony had just began and there's countless of eyes on her. She should've been used to this, all the prodding and curious stare that's being directed towards her way.

And yet, she can't help but hate the feeling.

She could almost feel all the judging look and the raised eyebrow. She doesn't know how many of them would belief her lie of deciding to pursue her education over her career but she hates it nonetheless.

Y/n wants to hide.

She first met him as they were assigned to sit together.

Before then, she had known who Shohei Ohtani is, considering his hulking height. The teen had stood out like a sore thumb during the new student orientation, towering every single student. Ema, who is considered tall in a Japanese standard, had to crane her head up to see his face.

Besides that, Y/n too, had heard the whispers about him.

Apparently, Ohtani-san is a really good baseball player. Like, really good. During his middle school days, it seems that he had set some kind of record that made many famous baseballs school wants to recruit him. The reason why Ohtani-san chose their school? Who knows. All they know is that the baseball club head coach had jumped in joy when he realized the potential that Ohtani-san has. While of course their school too boast an amazing baseball program, it can’t be compared to those from a big city like Tokyo or Hokkaido. 

All in all, Y/n impression on his is that Ohtani-san is a really quiet guy.

While Ema is all about cheerful greetings and wide smile, Ohtani-san is all about prolonged silence and deep gaze. If the both of them are colors, Y/n would be a bright yellow while Ohtani-san will be a drab grey. Not too bright, and yet, he’s not that closed off from those around him.

Admittedly, they didn’t talk much. Y/n had tried to talk to him, several times in fact, but the answer had always been short and clipped. During class too, he had only ever passively followed along the lesson. Never tried to answer an open question or be the one to come in front to answer a problem.

The only time she had ever see him alive is when he’s playing baseball.

When the bell rings, Ohtani-san would be brightened considerably as he almost immediately shot past the door with his bag. Once, she had asked one of the baseball club members about it.

“He’s always been the first one on the field,” answer one of them. “And the last one to leave.”

Y/n hummed at that answer.

She had thought their relationship will always be like that. The amicable seatmates that don’t really talk much with each other but didn’t bother each other as well. That is, until the next seat rotation at the end of the semester. 

“Oh,” said Y/n, arriving at her designated seat. “Ohtani-san, we’re together again,” she said with a smile.

Ohtani-san looked up from his phone screen before he’s scrambling to hide it from her point of view. He looked a bit embarrassed at that. “L/n-san,” he answered after managing to gather his bearings for a bit. “Yes, um…”

He trailed off at that, seemingly unsure on what to response. Y/n doesn’t really mind as she took her seat. The girl gave the male a polite smile before she reached out for her bag, taking a fashion magazine that she had brought today.

There’s a casting for this clothing brand model… Maybe Y/n could try that?

“-San,”

Or maybe should she audition as a voice actor? But she thinks it will be hard to transition back to a singer if she does that.

“-n-san,”

She really doesn’t want to give up her dream to become a celebrity though. Should she try online auditions? Like in South Korea or-

“L/n-san,” called out Ohtani-san, catching her attention. They had been sitting silently for almost 10 minutes at this point, waiting for the morning bell to ring. Y/n never thought that the baseball player will strike up a conversation with her.

“Hm?” she answered with a smile on her face, a bit distracted, looking away from the magazine in front of her. “What’s up?”

He looks hesitant at first, opening and closing his mouth afterwards before he thrusted his phone towards her. It’s a recording of a baseball game.

“I… I was watching a game last night,” he started before pressing the video to play. In it, someone is doing the first pitch. “I was wondering if this was… really you?”

She stared at the phone screen in front of her. Dark eyes staring at the girl who’s doing the ceremonial first pitch with her long dark hair half hidden with the team’s cap.

It’s her. Y/n knows it’s her.

After all, that instance had been one of the highest peaks of her career. One of the baseball teams, the tigers, had asked her to throw the first pitch on one of their home games. Truthfully, considering her popularity, the only reason that she had gotten that gig was because the general manager of the team is her company’s ceo cousin. Back then, when it was her that’s going to throw the first pitch, no one knows who Suzuki Y/n was.

The cheers were minimal, but Y/n doesn’t really care. After all, it’s an honor for her to do that. 

No matter how her feeling is towards baseball – or, like, MLB – baseball is, the number one sport in Japan. For a failed celebrity like Y/n, to be able to throw the first pitch in one of the first-class team league in Japan is a sign of success.

Considering how much of a baseball geek Ohtani-san is, she really should’ve expected him to realize her job.

Answering him, she let out a large grin. “Yeah, it’s me,” she answered, leaning forward towards the desk. “Really cool right?”

Ohtani-san flushed before he nodded his head. “… Yeah,” he let out. “I didn’t know you’re… famous.”

“Not many knows that” she let out a chuckle. “I’m a bit of a failed idol, you know.”

The other teen furrowed his brows. “That can’t be it,” he said, tilting his head. “You did the first pitch for the Tigers.”

“Eh, it’s all about nepotism, Ohtani-san.”

He still doesn’t look unconvinced. 

“… I searched for your videos,” said the baseball player after a while. “Last night, to make sure that it’s really you.”

Y/n raised an eyebrow at that. “You did?”

Ohtani-san nodded his head. “Yeah,” he let out before showing his phone screen towards her. It was one of her music video. The most recent one actually. “And, um… you were amazing. I really thought that you’re a famous star when I watched you perform.”

That- that warms here. Unexpectedly.

"You do?" she asked.

"Yes," replied the male without missing a beat. "I thought that it's amazing that you can perform like that despite so many eyes staring at you! I- um, I'm a nervous person naturally... so I really won't know what I should do if I were on your position."

She had heard people praises her performance many times. That if only she didn’t debut under such a small company, she would’ve been a star in the industry. Usually, she would’ve responded those praises with her automatic smile. Thanking them for the praise before humbling herself down.

Usually, such praise won’t make her heart skipped a beat.

Maybe it’s the sincere look on his eyes, or how he sounds as If he’s utterly convinced at that statement. She doesn’t really know. All she knows that simple praise opens up the gate of friendship between the two of them.

“Thank you,” she said, letting out a huge smile. “That really means a lot.”

Ohtani-san let out a smile at that too.

"Though, don't you have many people watching your baseball games?" asked the girl.

The male's cheeks warmed a bit at that. "Uh- um... if it's during games I would be too focused at the game itself so I won't notice anything besides it."

"I see," said the female. “So, who’s your favorite player at the tigers cause I got a lot of autographs from them-“

After that, Ohtani-san became Ohtani-kun. And Ohtani-kun, became simply Shohei.

[leclucklerc]

Against the World Masterlist

Summary: A romance between a world class pop star and a world class baseball player that spans ever since their high school days.

Pairings: Shohei Ohtani x Reader

Table of contents

Hanamaki Higashi

00. Prologue

01. Friends

02. Summer Tournament

03. Music Video

.

Nippon Ham Fighters

.

Los Angeles Angels

.

Los Angeles Dodgers

[leclucklerc]

Against the World SO17 - 02. Summer Tournament

Pairings: Shohei Ohtani x reader

Summary: It's the summer tournament. Y/n is trying to tackle her own fears in order to support her best friend

Word Count: 6.1 k

Previous Masterlist Next

The summer heat slowly began to creep in as time passed. It’s nearing summer already; spring has long been forgotten. Their uniforms had been replaced with shorter versions, as everyone was already preparing for the summer season.

For the past few weeks, the sun had been hotter than ever. It persistently shone up in the sky, giving them its warm embrace without fail.

Summer means a lot of things. It means the golden week will be coming very soon – as well as its tons and tons of homework. It means going to the pool and the beaches. It means summer festival and fireworks. It means what a time to be alive, especially for teenagers like them. Teenagers who are still searching for more adventure in their life.

But so some, summer, means some other things.

Y/n knows, that to Shohei, Summer means Koshien.

“Are you nervous for this weekend?”

Sipping on a bottle of orange juice, Shohei shook his head. Typical, thought y/n with a raised eyebrow. The other teen had always been hardly fazed by anything.

The two of them are sitting on the rooftop, watching the soccer match that’s happening down the field. It was lunchtime, and the two of them decided to eat their lunch while basking in the summer heat. Truthfully, y/n hates getting under the sun without any good reason, but Shohei’s good at pleading.

And the heaps of sunscreen that she had plastered across her face and arm definitely helped.

“Well, aren’t you a confident person?” she mumbled as a response.

Shohei had always been a confident person, after all. He is so sure of himself and his skill that he becomes hardly unfazed by anything.

“I’m more excited than nervous,” answered the boy, a grin already forming on his face. No doubt, he’s already imagining the upcoming match this weekend. “I mean, I’ve been waiting for it for so long.”

He must’ve been waiting for the opportunity for so long. She knows that he has practiced day and night, every day, after all.

“I’m excited to go to Koshien,” he continued. “I can’t wait already.”

Y/n raised an eyebrow at that. “You’re sure that the team will be going to Koshien?”

Shohei let out a laugh at that as if she had just said something funny. Sue her for having a bit of doubt. Even if you don’t follow baseball, as long as you live in Japan, you will know that Koshien is the pinnacle of high school baseball. It’s the highest stage that you can achieve before going pro. It’s the stage where major baseball stars have been scouted in the past.

“I am,” he replied. “I’ve never been surer in anything.”

It must be nice to be that confident.

Letting out a nod, she gave his shoulder a soft nudge. “Koshien or no, I think you will do great during the tournament.”

“I know I will be great.”

At this, she hits his back softly. “And here I am trying to be a good friend,” grumbled the girl. “I’m not going to wish you any more good luck in the future.”

A bark of laughter escaped Shohei at that as he tipped his head back. He sounds so amused that it irks her a bit. “I’m just joking,” he said, tears already forming in his eyes due to the sudden laughter. “I know I will be great, but your good luck wish will make my performance greater,” he stopped at this. “I think.”

“You think!?”

He merely let out an even louder laugh.

Biting on her chocolate bread, y/n kept listening to the other teen ramble about the upcoming match. Chocolate bread had not been her first choice for lunch, but the moment Shohei had seen her salad with a meager portion, he had insisted that she eats the bread that he had brought for snacking.

“-And you’re really coming right to the match?”

It took her a moment to respond. Y/n remembers the smile that Shohei shot her a few days ago when he had asked her to come. How the sun draped across his features as he uttered words that she didn’t think she would ever hear again in her lifetime.

She is coming to a baseball game. 

What a joke.

Past her probably would’ve laughed at her face.

After so many years of hating baseball, now she decided that she’s going to finally watch a match? And it’s not even a professional match. It’s a high school baseball match played by students. The level of skill should be different from that of pro players.

It doesn’t make sense. Everything doesn’t make sense.

“Yeah,” she said. “I’ll be coming,” she finally answered, throat bobbled uncomfortably for a bit. There’s an uncomfortable feeling that’s looming inside her gut. Something persistent. Something dreadful.

And yet, why is she agreeing on this?

“That’s nice,” he replied with a large smile, it made her almost forget the unpleasant feeling that she was having right now. Almost. It’s something that his smile managed to consistently do. Always made her feel better. “My parents will also be coming to that match, considering it’s my debut and all.”

“Debut?” she laughed, desperately squashing her nervousness and dread. “I thought I’m the idol between the two of us?”

“Baseball debut,” he replied with a huff. 

“But yeah, I will be coming,” continued y/n. “I do have some auditions to attend during this weekend, though, so I’ll probably go to Tokyo straight after the games. How long do you think the game will take?”

“Straight to Tokyo?” echoed Shohei. “Are you not tired? And it’s usually 2 to 3 hours by train.”

“I am tired,” grumbled out y/n as she leaned back on her chair. “But what can I do? Most of the auditions happen in Tokyo.”

Shohei hummed at that, finally finishing his orange juice. Crumbling the box with his hand, he tossed it to the trash bin near them. He did it with almost perfect accuracy. Athletes. 

“Do you have the time to chat after the game?” he said after a while. “Just for a bit?”

Her mind went to her booked train ticket. It really depends on how long the game will last. If it’s a long game, well, she won’t have the time to do it. But if it’s a short one, she will be able to squeeze in a chat with Shohei for a while.

“Depends,” she answered. “Are you going to strike out the batters quickly?”

The boy hummed at that.

“With the right motivation, I probably can.”

When he was five, Shohei decided that he was going to be a baseball player.

Despite his young age, it was not a decision that he made on a whim. He made the decision when he realized how fun baseball is that the sport had become an integral part of his young age. That there will always be a proud gleam in his father’s eyes whenever he sees Shohei playing baseball.

Ever since then, he had always followed the expected path of a budding baseball talent.

He joins the little league team that his father coached. He follows his father’s guidance, concentrating on how to become the best player out there. He joined all the expected tournaments and won and broke records – as expected of him.

Entering Hanamaki Higashi for high school, too, had always been something expected of him. After all, it’s the best baseball school in Iwate. It’s the school that produced Yusei Kikuchi. It’s the high school that managed to go to Koshien before. 

For someone who lives and breathes baseball, entering Hanamaki Higashi is expected.

Expected, expected, expected. It’s the path that had been laid out in front of him. Just like the piece of paper that the coach had asked him to fill during his first day in the team. A piece of paper full of his dreams and expectations of the future. A carefully made plan that he had planned with his father for years. 

But still-

Friendship with y/n is something unexpected to him.

The first time he had seen her was during the first day when the class quieted down as she entered the room, and everyone stared at her with something akin to reverence.

Y/n looks as if she’s an angel that was dropped down from the sky.

Glittering hair under the sunlight and a healthy flush across her face. She walks with so much grace that it automatically makes people’s eyes to follow her. Every time she smiles, someone seems to hold their breath, just watching the girl brighten up the room with a simple quirk on her lips.

He knows that the girl is beautiful. He thinks that everyone in the school knows that. The excited chatters of his team as they talked about the prettiest girl in school. The hushed whispers about her already debuting as an idol back in Tokyo, as well as her half-foreign blood, make her the school idol in no time.

Frankly, back then, he couldn’t see him being friends with y/n.

After all, they lived in a different world. Her, under the glitz and glamor of the entertainment industry, and him, under the scorching sun and dirt as he played baseball. If he had looked at it objectively, the friendship between people with such different interests is almost hard to do.

When they got put to sit together, he really couldn’t find any topic to talk about with the girl. He doesn’t recognize anything that she talks about with her friends, and y/n looks disinterested in baseball. For some time, their conversations are only limited to school subjects and their homework.

But then, as he watched an NPB match, he accidentally saw a familiar figure.

Glittering hair under the stadium lights and a healthy flush across her face. A smile so bright that it made the stadium watch this unknown girl who was doing the first pitch.

Y/n-san, he had thought, eyes widening as he watched the girl moving on the screen.

Thoughts about the match almost went forgotten as he watched the first pitch ceremony. The stadium itself was not full, which is understandable, considering it’s not time for the game to start yet. But still, as someone who lives and breathes baseball, to see someone that he knows throwing the first pitch of an NPB team had been an interesting experience.

After that, he fell into a rabbit hole. He recalled the conversation from the locker room, how she was an idol from Tokyo. Shohei immediately looked it up, mostly because of the curiosity that was gnawing inside of his mind. One video turns into another, and before he knew it, he had watched more than a dozen videos of the small-time idol called y/n l/n.

Their meeting in the mall that led to their daily jog together, their growing conversations in class, and the way they spent almost every second of their time together.

Months ago, if you asked Shohei if he thinks he will befriend the girl who’s sitting at the desk next to him, he would’ve said no.

But alas, here he is, waving at the girl who had come to watch the baseball club practice.

Now, a few months after their initial first meeting, he’s confident to say that y/n is his best friend. His closest confidante. The one that he told everything about.

Noticing his small wave almost immediately, y/n waved back, a cheeky grin on her face as she sat there with a friend of hers – Nishikawa-san. The both of them are sitting in a seat just outside of the tall fence that separates the baseball field and the school grounds. Around them, are other students and teachers that sometimes also watch the baseball team’s practice.

Nishikawa-san said something to Y/n’s ear, making her laugh, and for a second, Shohei had a hard time averting his gaze. He thinks anyone in the world will have a hard time looking away when they see that laugh.

“Dude,” whispered one of the baseball club members, yanking him by the shoulder. “Did l/n-san just wave at you!?”

Shohei blinked. “We’re friends,” he said simply, finally turning his gaze towards his teammate. 

“With the prettiest girl in school!” answered the other a bit aggressively. “I’m so jealous!”

He knows that y/n is popular. She’s always in the conversation when they’re talking about the prettiest girls in school. He also had seen a couple of letters being shoved into her shoe locker, but most of them remained unopened as y/n decided to ignore them often. However, knowing her popularity and seeing it firsthand is a bit different.

“We sit together,” he replied, slinging an arm around his teammate’s shoulder. “Let’s go, the coach is calling for us.”

As they jog towards the rest of the team, his mind still wanders towards the girl. It’s a bit hard not to think about her, as she always commands the majority of the attention inside of a room. Even now, he could see several glances directed towards her or plain staring from the people around them. 

But Shohei needs to focus. Summer is approaching, and they have a goal to achieve this year.

Koshien, he thought. The field of dreams for every high school baseball player. The tournament that will change the life of every high school baseball player.

So many stars are born through Koshien. So many scouts came for Koshien, searching for the next big thing through their keen eyes. Shohei himself is determined to become a professional baseball player. He has no career option besides professional baseball players. His future is basically that or a bust. That or nothing.

This weekend, Shohei will start for his school for the first time. It’s the summer tournament, the very tournament that will decide their Koshien ambition. It will be a lie to say that he’s not nervous. After all, he’s so nervous that he can’t sleep at night. There are more than a thousand things that could go wrong. More than a million things that could go wrong because of him, ending their Koshien journey this year.

Maybe that’s why he had asked y/n to come and attend the game. He thinks, that if he sees the girl on the stand, it can relieve some of his nervousness. 

To see her cheering for him will be an energizer that he needs for his first start in his high school career. This is a pivotal moment for his future. Whether the coach thinks that he has the potential or not for the big stage will be decided this weekend.

He thinks that the girl is not interested in baseball, but that’s okay. Shohei thinks that he can change her mind after the game. 

After all, baseball is the best.

What is she doing here? Thought y/n as she stands in front of the stadium.

Y/n could feel the dread that was slowly climbing into her throat. It’s a bit suffocating. A bit alarming.

It’s been years since she watched a baseball game. An amazing feat considering how baseball-obsessed Japan as a country is. She had avoided the sport for so long and had been so successful in doing it, too.

So why is she here?

Will she abandon all of her efforts just for a boy?

But it’s not just a boy, a voice whispered inside his mind. It’s her best friend. The boy with a bright smile and such a big love for baseball. Shohei always looks so bright and happy every time he talks about baseball. She knows that the sport is everything to him. That his asking her to be here and watch his first baseball game is an important request for him.

That her presence her matters. That he will be looking at her through the crowd.

The dread is still there, though. It’s still clawing at her throat insistently. It still reminds her why she hates the sport. Why, for her future sake, she should avoid it altogether.

She shouldn’t be here.

She hates baseball! Why is she even here-

“Hey,” said Ami, hitting her shoulder lightly. “What are you staring at? The game is starting soon!”

Ami decided to tag along. Y/n thinks she did this because she realized how pale she had become when she accepted Shohei’s request. The girl had always had a keen eye, after all, which is one reason why they got along so well.

“I- “started y/n. “I don’t think I can do this-“

“What are you talking about!” exclaimed Ami as she practically dragged the other girl into their seat. “We’re already here!”

“No-“ she started, stopping the both of them on their track. “I don’t- Seriously, I don’t think I can- I- I-“

“Hey,” Ami’s voice stopped her sentence. There’s a grounding hand on her shoulder, effectively clearing her mind for a bit. Beneath her lashes, y/n could see the concerned look that the other girl was wearing now. “Y/n-chan, are you okay?”

Are you okay?

Is she okay?

Is she okay standing here in the middle of a baseball stadium?

No- no. No, she’s not okay.

“No,” she rasped out. “I- I don’t think I’m okay.”

Ami shifted her gaze towards the clock near them. There’s still plenty of time before the game starts. Deciding in an instant, Ami immediately grabbed y/n’s hand before guiding her elsewhere. A more secluded spot where not many people will be around.

Sitting on one of the benches, she touched y/n’s cheek gently, forcing her to stare at her eyes.

“Hey,” she said. “What happened?”

“I-“ started y/n, but she stopped. She could tell her. She could tell the girl in front of her the reason why she hated baseball so much, why she didn’t want to be here. Why her being in this stadium just to watch a high school baseball game is a mistake?

But by doing so, it means that she will have to bear all of her heart to see.

Y/n likes to think that she’s a simple person.

She’s someone closed off. Someone cheery and happy in front and broody and solemn behind everyone’s back. It’s part of her idol mask. A demand that she should always keep this extroverted mask for all to see.

For Ami to understand why she hates being here, she will have to tell her everything. Everything about the mistake of her birth.

She hates it.

She hates being vulnerable.

Ami still sat there, right in front of her, watching her silently. Forever seems to pass between the two of them as y/n’s throat bobbles uncomfortably. She’s at a loss for what she should do.

“Hey,” started the other girl. “If you don’t want to tell me, it’s okay. I won’t prod anymore.”

Y/n is still silent at that, peering at Ami through her lashes.

Ami let out a sigh, the grounding hand on her shoulder was still there. Rubbing small circles. 

“I’” started y/n. “My father left me and my mom before I was born.”

“… Ah,” said Ami after a long silence.

“He was a baseball player.”

“… Ah.”

Silence descends between the two of them again.

“My mom also left me when I was 10,” said Ami finally. “She was an asshole.”

“… at least you have a father?”

The other girl let out a small snort at that. “I could say the same thing about your mom.”

Another silence descends between the two of them.

Distantly, she could see the people that were passing in front of them. All of them are enraptured in their own world. Barely paying any attention to a girl with puffy eyes and uneven breathing.

It feels oddly calming. That despite everything, a lot of people won’t notice her vulnerability.

The silence was broken by Ami’s question. “Do you still want to watch the match?”

Her first instinct is to say no.

But Shohei’s bright grin and the promise that they had made on the school rooftop echoed inside her mind.

It played inside of her head over and over again. Repeating itself as if y/n would ever forget. As if she will ever forget the way Shohei’s face brightened at the healthy tan that decorated his skin – a sign of his dedication to the craft of baseball.

She closed her eyes, trying to tame her mind.

This is different, she thought. This match is different.

It’s not her father who is playing down the field. It’s Shohei. Her best friend. The boy that’s sitting next to her.

Down there, it’s not her American father who left her mom when she was heavily pregnant with her mom. It’s not her father who never bothered to call back despite all of the desperate voice notes that her mom had sent. It’s not her father who had never taken any responsibility towards her, resulting in her mom having three different jobs just to make sure that they’ll stay afloat.

It’s not her father who parades around his American dream family to everyone on national television.

Down there, the one who will be playing is Ohtani Shohei.

The boy who had dragged her for an early jog every morning. The boy with a sweet tooth and an even sweeter smile. The boy who had told her that she will become a star with such an utter conviction that she started to believe in herself despite all of her previous failures and setbacks. 

It’s Shohei who will be playing.

Not her father.

The color that will be flying today is the familiar grey and purple of Hanamaki Higashi. Not the familiar and yet distant white and blue.

Letting out a deep breath, y/n lets out a nod. “Yeah,” she replied after a long while. “Let’s go inside.”

Ami stared at her, unblinking. 

“You know,” she started. “If we go home right now, I won’t complain,” said the other girl. “Are you really sure that you’re okay with it?”

You have a heavy trauma with baseball; after all, it was left unsaid. Y/n appreciates it. Currently, she’s not in the mood to tackle it head-on. 

“Yeah,” answered y/n. “I just needed some time to think.”

With a nod, Ami stood up, arm reaching for her. They walked inside the stadium like that, with their arm linked together.

“If it’s ever too much,” murmured Ami, “Just let me know, okay?”

Y/n gave her a grateful nod as she squeezed the girl’s hand.

As they enter, for the first time in years, y/n gets her first glimpse of a baseball match.

She could see the green grass stretching across the field as well as rows and rows of spectators. The air around them was buzzing, as she could hear horns and yells of celebrations being thrown left and right by the people around them. The announcers could be heard through the air, hyping the crowd for today’s match.

Y/n had expected a big crowd. After all, this is the quarterfinals of the summer tournament.

But still, she could feel the shiver running down her spine as she took up the atmosphere around them.

Even when she threw the first pitch for the Tigers all those months ago, the atmosphere back then can’t be compared to what she’s seeing right now. The height of everyone’s excitement could be seen across everyone’s faces, a far cry from the half-empty stadium that she saw during her first pitch ceremony.

Ami immediately dragged her toward their designated seat.

She watched at the rows and rows of purple and purple near them. The cheering squad of their baseball team is highly spirited, already hollering and cheering for the team despite the first pitch not being thrown yet. There are rows of baseball team members, as well as cheerleaders, already prepared to cheer for the team with all their might.

Merchandises with purple and grey themes could be seen, such as small flags or trumpets. Even the cheerleaders are wearing forms with that color format.

Looking down at her purple top, y/n felt a bit unprepared as she didn’t bring anything to cheer for the team. Ami, too, stared at the cheering squad with amazement clear on her face.

“They really come prepared,” said the girl as the both of them took their seat. They’re sitting really closely with the cheering squad.

Nodding, she lets out a sheepish laugh. “And we brought nothing.”

Their conversation caught one of the cheering squad member’s attention, and he widened his eyes at the sight of them.

“Oh!,” he said, gaining both of their attention. “You guys are students at our school, right?”

Sharing a glance with Ami, y/n gave him a bright smile, trying to look a tad more friendly despite the red rimming his eyes. “Yeah,” she replied. “We’re cheering for the team.”

“We’re friends with Ohtani-san,” added Ami, as if to add some kind of credibility to their claim.

“Ohtani-kun?” said the member. “Do you guys want some flags or something to cheer the team? We brought extras.”

Nodding gratefully, both y/n and Ami received the flag from the other boy.

“I didn’t expect Ohtani-kun to have friends coming over,” said the boy as they were making a conversation. “He seems really devoted to baseball.”

“He is really devoted to baseball,” replied y/n as she waved the small Hanamaki Higashi flag playfully. “You’re close with him?”

“Ah, no, not really,” answered the other boy. “Ohtani-kun is just famous in the club. He’s the only first year that managed to get into the main team, you know?”

Ami let out a whistle at that. “That’s amazing,” she said. “So, the rest of the cheering squad here are first and second years?” 

“Yeah, but we do have some third years, not a lot.”

The game started soon after that. Y/n could feel Ami’s gaze on her as she watched Shohei take up the mound at the top of the first inning. She had seen Shohei in his baseball uniform as she had watched some of the baseball team practice, but still, seeing him like this-

It was as if the one who was standing on the mound was a different person than the bright boy who was sitting next to her during class.

There’s some kind of aura on him as well as a cold look on his face – something that she rarely sees these days. Shohei is a cheery and goofy person. Someone with smiles and laughs can brighten up the room.

The one who is standing down there is Ohtani Shohei, the baseball player.

“He looks good, isn’t he?” asked Ami, a teasing tilt in her tone.

Y/n decided to ignore the teasing. “Yeah,” she said. “He is.”

To say that Shohei did amazing during his first start would be an understatement.

After all, he was dominant. He pitched for seven innings, not letting any run go past him. The batters barely got hits and those who did barely got any good ones. Shohei contributed so much to the team’s defense this game that some people started to whisper his name in awe.

Ohtani this, Ohtani that.

Through it all, y/n watched.

Oh, thought the girl, amidst the loud cheers and celebration around her as the last out was recorded. He is going to be a baseball star, isn’t he?

She watched Shohei impressing everyone in the stadium. She sees how he pitched, how he basically owns all the batters that he faced.

She watched Hanamaki Higashi winning the game, as well as the bright smile on Shohei’s face. It’s the face that she’s familiar with. It's not the cold front that he puts during pitching.

Y/n sees it all, and with that, the first baseball game that she has watched in years ends.

They’re standing just behind the stadium, the hustle and bustle of the crowd around them.

“Do you like the game?” he asked, mouth grinning.

Y/n stared at him. Stared at this tall teen in front of her who was smiling at her like the sun. She stared at this teen who managed to drag her into a baseball game. At the teen who forced her to watch a baseball game despite all of her reservations towards the game.

She was afraid.

Afraid that she will only see her father during the game. Afraid that she would remember the tears that fell onto her mom’s face as she watched the celebration when her dad clinched the World Series. The celebration is where her dad proudly says that his oldest child – a son younger than her – is playing baseball on his little league team.

She watched the older woman grip the necklace around her neck. The only gift that her father had ever given her. She watched and watched. Heart growing cold and gaze going dead as she, too, gazed at the man who had contributed to her birth in this world celebrate the best moment of his life with his little family. A family that does not consist of y/n and her mother.

Today, too, she watched. She watched the baseball game in front of her. She watched Shohei take up the mound with the familiar purple and white uniform of Hanamaki Higashi. She watched as the teen managed to go through seven scoreless innings before being replaced by the closer. She watched and watched, the sun beating down on her face, and yet, it was not the only warmth that she felt during the game.

It was almost a miracle that she didn’t even remember her father throughout the game. It was a miracle that she didn’t even think about him for a second.

All she remembers thinking throughout the game is Shohei and Shohei. How her best friend is taking the mound, how her best friend is finally playing his first big game in his high school baseball career.

It’s Shohei and Shohei inside her head. Only him.

She likes it.

“I like it,” she managed to say, throat bobbing, “I like to see you win.”

I like to see more left unsaid. I like to see you, left unsaid.

Shohei let out a laugh at that, cheeks blooming in happiness. “I like it when I win, too,” he replied. She thinks that it’s a trick of the light, but she swears that the world has become clearer for a bit.

“Of course you do,” she laughed, nudging his arm gently. “You have a competitive streak a mile wide.”

“Like you don’t,” he teased back. “You’re going to Tokyo after this, yeah? For that magazine photoshoot?”

Y/n lets out a hum, eyes drifting towards one of the digital clocks that littered the stadium. “Yeah, my train is leaving in an hour,” she said. “I have to go to the station right after this.”

“And you’re going back tomorrow?” asked Shohei, head tilted a bit. It’s a habit that she finds cute. 

“I’ll arrive back here tomorrow night,” she shrugged. “I still have a music video audition tomorrow morning.”

Shohei seems to be thinking about something, brows furrowing together. “Do you want me to pick you up?” he asked. “It’s dangerous for a girl to go home alone.”

Laughing a bit, she shook her head. “I’ll have my manager bring me home, don’t worry about my safety. He’s a big guy.”

“But still-“

“You don’t have to worry, you know, you’re in the middle of the tournament, right?” said y/n, reminding the other teen about the looming tournament. She may not follow baseball so intently, but she knows how important the summer tournament is. After all, it’s the key that will bring them to Koshien. The dream stage for the team. “Focus on that, don’t want my best friend to fail in becoming a baseball superstar.”

Letting out a sigh, he seems resigned before letting out a small smile. “And I don’t want my best friend to fail in becoming a star too.”

“A star? Just a star?” she teased.

“Yeah,” he said, smile blinding. “A star.”

A star, she thinks. 

Y/n likes the sound of that.

The magazine photoshoot went well.

Her manager told her that the brand and the magazine really liked her and wanted to use her again for their next collection. The photographer and the makeup artist praised her endlessly. Saying that she has the type of face that will catch a lot of attention.

Y/n thinks that it’s their own way, saying that her half-foreign look is distracting.

Stepping out of her dingy agency, she could feel her phone buzzing. Glancing at it, she sees Shohei’s contact appearing on her home screen.

“Boyfriend?” asked her manager, walking next to her.

“No,” she replied, though the girl couldn’t contain the smile that was threatening to break out of her face. “A friend.”

Typing down a response, she glanced back towards her manager, who was staring at her with a raised eyebrow.

“Doesn’t seem like a friend to me,” replied the man as they climbed into the car together, ready to head out to her music video audition.

“You’re right, it’s not a friend, it’s my best friend,” she huffed out. “Anyway, you said that this was for a music video?” 

“It is, for a boyband, you may have heard of them,” answered the man as he gave her the name. She had heard it before, they were pretty famous in her year, after all.

Reading through the script, y/n tried to understand the concept of the music video. It’s a typical boyband music video, a reverse harem trope. The girl will basically be stuck in a love maze between all the members in a high school setting. The members of the boyband will be older than normal high school students, but the fans seem to like them wearing a uniform. That’s why they’re searching for a model that will fit the school setting down to the t.

“I think you will get the role,” said her manager after a moment of silence.

Raising an eyebrow, she asked, “Why? My idol debut is a flop, you know.”

Sighing, the man continues to drive. “You, for one, in my opinion, are one of the most talented artists that I’ve ever seen in my life,” started the man.

She lets out a laugh at that. “Of course, you’re saying that,” she said, a bit teasing. “You’re my manager. You have to say something like that to encourage me despite everything.”

There was a hesitant silence between the two of them after that. “I think your failure came mostly from our part,” he said after a while. He sounds a bit reluctant. “If you were in any other company – bigger ones or more established ones – I think you would already be thriving.”

“I like our company,” she defends, sinking back in her chair.

Y/n knows that her company is far too small for her to make it big in the industry. She knows that, realistically, she should’ve aimed for bigger names in the industry.

And it’s not like she doesn’t have the chance to do so. She has been offered – many times – to audition or even to join other bigger companies. Scouts had been coming to her to take her back to their own companies multiple times. If she wants to, y/n won’t even glance at her current company, considering all the other offers that she received back then.

But still, she thought, a bit sullen.

Her current company is the only company that doesn’t require her to do gravure shoots.

She knows that it’s a bit ridiculous for her to reject gravure shoots because it’s basically a rite of passage for young girls in the Japanese entertainment company. She knows that so many big celebrities out there have to do gravure shoots during their earlier years to make it in the industry. Countless female celebrities did it to put their name out there.

But y/n can’t do it. She will never do it.

She remembers the text messages or envelopes that her mother received. Countless letters and messages from her father’s lawful wife.

Whore.

Bitch.

Slut.

It’s always those words. Those accusing words that accused her mother of being someone that’s selling her body to everyone.

She’s afraid that the moment she does gravure shoot, it will only prove that the accusation is being directed at her mother. That a whore like her mother will raise a whore of a daughter like her.

That if she does it, that bitch’s word will become the actual truth.

Even in death, y/n will never let that happen. She will never give her mother another thing to grieve upon, and she will never give that woman any kind of satisfaction.

She will thrive in this industry in one way or another. She will survive here.

She will become a star.

“We’re here,” announced her manager.

With that, they arrived at the audition place.

the dojahs won the World Series!

taglist!

@mindless-rock @lovewithmary @seijaelee @kikookii

[leclucklerc]

Against the World SO17 - 03. Music Video

Pairings: Shohei Ohtani x reader

Summary: Y/n is starring in a music video, but a trouble seems to be brewing?

Word Count: 4.4 k

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That morning, Shohei is already waiting in front of her house with a plastic bag on his arm. The content is so full that it’s practically spilling out of it.

Y/n can’t help the laugh that bubbles out of her as she walks out, keeping her gaze towards the other teen, who is giving her a sheepish grin. It’s a nice sight to see so early in the morning. Of her best friend already standing there, grinning and ready for their daily routine. He’s wearing a shirt with the baseball team logo plastered across his chest and running shorts.

“Have you been waiting long?” she asked, amusement evident in her tone as she stepped out of the gates of her house.

Shohei shook his head, already reaching for her bag as he thrust the plastic bag towards her. “I just got here, and this is for you.”

“Thank you,” she said, taking the plastic bag. As expected, it’s full of chocolate bread. “Not that I’m ungrateful or anything, but this is for?”

“For attending my game,” he answered, already ushering her forward so that they could start their morning jog. “I really like it.”

And well, isn’t that flattering?

All her life, she had not been someone whose presence was wanted by many.

She knows that her mom loves her. That the older woman will absolutely do everything for her sake. But at the same time, she also knows that her presence is ultimately the catalyst of the train of misfortune that befalls her mom’s life. She was the reason why her father left. She was the reason why her mom had to drop out of high school. She was the reason why her mom could barely make it in the job market.

Sometimes, during her frail moments, she likes to think about what her mom would be like if she never fell pregnant with her and how the woman would absolutely thrive in everything that she does. How the tired smile that she always wears in front of y/n will be replaced with a dazzling one, a smile that shows the world her happiness.

It’s a life that is so far away from reality. A faraway life that is full of what-ifs and made-up scenarios.

Her presence is the start of her mom’s downfall. Her presence is so hated by her father to the point the man never even showed up in her life for a full second.

Even as an idol, her presence is not wanted by many. Her fanbase is small and not enthusiastic at all. There were too many broadcasting executives who scoffed at her, chiding her for being a small-time idol with a too-big grin. Even when she danced and sang her out, people stared at her as if she was not there.

To know that there’s someone who’s looking forward to her presence is flattering.

“Maybe,” she said, without even thinking much. Maybe without thinking at all. Lately, if it’s about things related to Shohei, her mind has become a bit muddled. Making her say things that came from her heart, not her brain. “Maybe I can go to more of your baseball games.”

“Really?” asked Shohei, eyes bright – even brighter than the rising sun on the horizon beyond them. Immediately, she could hear the increase in his tone. He’s pleased with the idea. Happy even. “I will really like it if I can see you on the stands.”

Happy, she thought.

He sounds really happy about it. 

A horrible feeling settled in her guts, but she still let out a smile. “Yeah,” answered y/n. “If I have the time, I’ll try to attend more of your baseball games.”

Shohei stopped at that, eyes wide. “Promise?” he asked, giving her his pinkie finger.

She stared at it for a few seconds. Thousands of things raced through her mind. Of the baseball game that she attended a few days ago. Of her father playing in the World Series. Of her happiness watching Shohei standing on the mound. Of her sadness and agony at realizing the reality between her and her father.

It’s a loaded promise. Y/n knows. She shouldn’t do it.

And yet, here she is, intertwining her pinkie together with Shohei’s.

“Promise,” she declared. “I’ll attend your games as many times as you want.”

To her, it sounds almost like an empty promise. Something that she’s dreading to fulfill in the future. But at the same time, the sheer happiness that appeared on her best friend’s face almost crushed all of those feelings together.

Y/n knows that Shohei is someone who wears his heart on his sleeves. It’s easy to see what he’s feeling right now, and he had never been someone who suppressed all of those feelings. But to see him like this, eyes crinkling and a large smile spreading across his tanned face, almost made the horrible in her gut vanish.

It’s a silly feeling. Something that she will maybe laugh at in the future.

Oh, she thought. I think I like him more than I thought.

What a realization.

Her manager told her that she was being cast in the boyband music video when y/n was changing for her gym class.

“Seriously?’ she asked in a hushed whisper, adrenaline thrumming down her skin. “Seriously!?”

“Yes,” answered her manager, a bit breathless. She can hear the sound of a keyboard ticking, no doubt already drafting some kind of news coverage or press release from her agency. “I just got the news a few minutes ago, I called you immediately.”

“This is a great news,” she said. “No, this is an amazing news! You said that they have a pretty large fanbase, right? Imagine the exposure-“

“And you will definitely get your name out there,” said her manager. Y/n couldn’t see his face, but she was sure that he was smiling so large right now. “This- this is a good stepping stone, y/n. After your appearance in the music video, I’ll see what commercials or advertisements reached out. “

Y/n gasped at that. “Commercials?” she said, tone excited. “Do you think that it will reach to that point?”

“Yes,” answered the man easily. “I have no doubt that commercials and other similar opportunities will come knocking on our door. Y/n, this is a good opportunity!”

“I know!” she said. “Just- just tell me what to do, yeah? Text me my train tickets to Tokyo and stuff so I can do enough preparation.

“Of course,” said her manager. “I’ll contact you with further details.”

Ending the phone call, y/n really can’t control the face-splitting grin that’s threatening to come out. After all, this is an amazing news. It was her very first serious gig after her hiatus announcement. Appearing in a music video is a huge deal for an unknown idol like her – especially the music video of an already-established boyband.

She knows that there will be some repercussions, considering that the majority of a boyband fanbase hates to see their idols interacting with girls. But still, it will make them talk about y/n. It will make them know her name.

Exposure is exposure, after all, even if it’s a bad one.

Suppressing the giddy feeling, she stepped outside of the bathroom, immediately heading towards the auditorium where the rest of her class was. Ami is the first one to notice her arrival, as the other girl is giving her an enthusiastic wave.

“You were gone for a pretty long time,” she comments as she immediately looped their arm together.

Y/n let out a hum, “My manager just called me.”

“Oh?” said Ami with a raised of her brow. “Is it good news? You look pretty cheery.”

“It’s an amazing news,” she replied with a grin. Y/n mentioned the name of the boyband. “Do you know them?”

With a nod, Ami replied. “Obviously,” she said. “Some of the girls in our class are obsessed with them. I tried to get to know them, but their music doesn’t fit my taste. Their members are good-looking, though.”

Pride surged into her. “I got cast,” she said, voice a bit low so that the only one who could hear her was Ami. “For their next music video.”

Ami let out a huge gasp, so loud that some people near them threw them a couple of glances. 

“Really!?” whisper-scream Ami. It’s clear that the girl is excited but, at the same time, trying to lower her voice. “Y/n seriously!?”

“Seriously,” she said, giving her a small thumbs up. “That’s why I was gone for so long. My manager just called me to give me the news.”

“Y/n-chan, that’s amazing!”

The sound of Ami’s outburst managed to gain the attention of the people around them. The two girls can only give them a sheepish smile, silently apologizing, before continuing the conversation in a more hushed tone.

“So?” asked the other girl. “Are you going to Tokyo this weekend?”

“Yeah,” she replied, glancing at her phone. Her manager just texted her that he had booked her a train ticket for Friday evening. “I will have to attend the briefing Friday night before going straight to shooting during the weekend.”

Ami went quiet at that. “So… you’re not attending Ohtani-kun’s match this week?”

Ah, she thought. 

Y/n almost forgot about the upcoming baseball match this weekend. The school had been buzzing about it for the past few weeks. After all, the baseball team is the pride and joy of Hanamaki Higashi. All of the team’s achievements are being broadcast to the rest of the student body.

“I don’t think I can do it,” answered y/n. “The match is on… Saturday?”

“Saturday,” confirmed Ami. “If you’re not going, some upperclassmen from the cooking club are going to watch, so I’ll probably tag around them.”

Honestly, she feels guilty. After all, it was only last week that she promised Shohei that she was going to attend his matches. 

But it’s not like y/n able to reject this opportunity. After all, this is huge. The biggest one in her career. She doesn’t want to miss this, and even if she wants to, her manager probably will punch her face or something.

Ami, noticing her complex feeling, nudged her shoulder. “You know, you should tell him,” said the girl. “This is the finals of the summer tournament, after all, an important match for the baseball team. I think he will be looking forward to your presence.”

Yes, she thought. She should tell Shohei.

At this, she finally cast her gaze towards the gym. The boys are playing handball with each other. It’s easy to spot Shohei, considering his height and his loud laugh.

It was at that moment, too, that their gaze met.

Shohei immediately waved at her, a bright grin already on his face. Also, smiling at him, she waved back.

It’s better to tell him soon, she thought silently.

The opportunity to tell Shohei that she will not be attending his game comes sooner than expected.

“You’re coming to the game this weekend, right?” asked the boy during lunch the next day.

Y/n stopped eating, and her salad was still mid-chew. Just like usual, they are having their lunch on the school rooftop. She could hear the faint sound of other students playing soccer on the field just beyond them.

It was the relaxing atmosphere that enveloped the both of them that made her let her guard down. That’s why she was a bit startled at the sudden question that Shohei posed to her.

Shohei also seems to notice the slightest twitch of her expression at the mention of the upcoming game this weekend. “It’s the finals of the summer tournament,” he continued as if he didn’t notice the awkward look on her face. “If we win this, the team will be going to Koshien.”

Koshien, she thought. The land of his dreams.

She knows. She knows because the game is probably Shohei’s biggest one yet.

The absolute dream for all high school baseball players, the ultimate dream for every teenager playing baseball, and the initial road to success for every budding baseball star.

Stars are made during Koshien. Legends are made during Koshien.

Her best friend had been babbling about Koshien ever since they became close months ago. She knows that Shohei had always wanted to reach that stage – to achieve his childhood dream of winning the tournament. Y/n knows how important the upcoming matchup is for Shohei.

It’s a bit laughable that she will break their promise so soon after making it.

“Hey,” started y/n, eyes flickering towards her salad. She doesn’t dare to look at him. “Um… I don’t think I can make it.”

There’s silence between the two of them.

Finally, snapping her gaze back towards the boy in front of her, she can see his expression. There’s a frown etching across his face, something that she wants to desperately tug up, replacing it with his sunny smile. His eyebrows are furrowed as he stares at her as if he’s thinking about something.

“Why?” he asked, head tilted. “Are you going to Tokyo?”

“Yes,” she replied. “I have… I have a job there this weekend.”

“A job?”

“I got cast in a music video,” said y/n, a bit rushed, as if she was desperate to explain to him that she had a good reason to miss one of his games. It sounds pathetic – she’s so sure of it. But she’s desperate. “I just got the news yesterday, so I didn’t have the time to tell you yet,” she added for good measure.

Shohei’s eyes widened at that as silence descended upon them for a couple of seconds. “In a music video?” he finally asked, voice a bit breathless and something akin to wonder hinted in his tone. “Like, official music video?”

“Yeah, a boyband,” she said, then she told him the boyband’s name. “Maybe you know them?”

“I know them!” said Shohei all of a sudden, excitement evident in his tone. He even stood up abruptly – almost spilling his lunch during the process - as if he was really surprised. With the way his eyes had widened and the flush spreading across his cheek, it seemed the boy was happy at the news. “And you’re going to star in their music video?”

With a nod, y/n gave him her confirmation. “I am,” she said. “The shooting starts this Friday.”

“I see why you can’t come to the game then,” answered Shohei, finally sitting back in his seat. “That’s so cool; you’re seriously like a celebrity right now!”

She blinked at that, still staring at the teen in front of her.

Shohei continues to talk. “They’re pretty popular, right? I think I heard some of their songs in the locker room! Hey, can I tell my teammates? They won’t believe it!”

It was… odd. He does seem genuinely excited for her, as if y/n didn’t just break their promise.

“Well, I hope the shoot went amazingly!”

Y/n blinked at that once again, still staring at the boy in front of her.

“You’re not mad?”

Shohei cocked an eyebrow at that. “Why should I?” he answered. “I mean, I will never be mad when you’re chasing your dream. The tournament is my way to chase my dream, but if starring in the music video is your way to chase your dream, it will be very ironic for me if I get mad, right?”

And huh, he’s speaking the truth.

For the longest time, y/n had always thought that a relationship was a mutual symbiotic thing. You have to give back when you’re given something.

For the longest time, her relationships had always been like this. In order to have devout fans, she has to maintain the picture-perfect idol image. To maintain her friends – the few that she has – she has to treat them well – too well – in order to repay their time.

The only relationship that she has ever had that is not mutual is her relationship with her mom.

Her mom always gives, gives, and gives. Y/n always tries to desperately give back but seems to always fail.

This relationship between her and Shohei is where there is an easy acceptance between the two of them. Y/n didn’t have to try to please Shohei. She didn’t have to try to become anything else besides herself. She didn’t have to prioritize him or their relationship.

He lets her be her.

He lets her to be y/n l/n. The girl is also chasing her dream, just like him. Just a girl who’s trying to break through the entertainment industry with everything that she has.

Thump

Thump

Thumpthumpthump-

A laugh broke out.

Shohei is staring at her with wide eyes, just staring at the girl as she lets out a loud laugh, something that’s echoing throughout the rooftop. This is maybe the most genuine laugh that she has ever let out in years. 

This is maybe the most carefree that she had ever felt in years.

“Shohei,” she finally said, mouth grinning so hard it’s hurting a bit. Y/n reached out, holding their hands together and intertwining them together. She could feel the rough texture of his skin and the callouses. A clear evident that he had been practicing hard to reach for his dream. 

It’s clear that the boy is a bit surprised at the gesture – y/n had never been someone big on physical contact, after all. “Thank you for your support. I really mean it.”

“Uh- yeah? Sure?” he replied, stammering a bit.

“I’m sorry I can’t come to your game, but you know I will always be thinking about you, right? Wishing you good luck for the game?”

“…” Shohei is staring at her before a squeak escapes his lips. “Of course!” he exclaimed, with the tip of his ears reddening a bit. “I mean- I know you will always support me and stuff!”

It’s cute, she thinks. It’s very cute seeing him this flustered when, usually, it’s her who is being flustered by him.

“Do you want anything from Tokyo?” asked y/n. “As compensation for me not attending your game.”

A thoughtful look passed by on his face.

“… I really can’t think of anything, but-“ he stopped a bit before a shy smile appeared on his lips. “Can I call you when we win the game?”

When.

Not if.

Thump

Thump

Thumpthumpthump-

Confident guy, she thought, as a chuckle escaped her lips. Her heart is still erratically beating inside of her, almost making her a bit dizzy with all the blood rushing into her head.

“Of course,” she replied, eyes tender. “I will be waiting for it.”

The music video shooting went amazingly.

Y/n didn’t know what she had expected. Considering that this is a pretty big production for a popular boyband, she thought that the atmosphere would be more tense. More pressure in the air.

In reality, though, the past few days had been really lax. The director had greeted her with a large smile on his face. Even during the shooting, and there were some mistakes or NGs, the director merely laughed it off before continuing the shot. It’s a bit peculiar, but y/n is really grateful – considering how nervous she is during the shooting process.

She has been given a really simple script, and there’s no outrageous demand from the production team. Even the costume that was given to her – a simple uniform look with a dark blazer – is not something that she hates to wear.

Both her manager and the director had praised her performance, and she had taken it like a sponge with water. Overall, her mood had been pretty great during the past few days.

Despite all that, there’s only one thing that’s bothering her throughout the shoot.

“Y/n-chan,” greeted the smiling face of Takahashi Ren, one of the members of the boyband.

She can feel her face twitched at that. Y/n didn’t give him any permission to use her first name. Hell, she’s sure that they shouldn’t drop the formality between them, considering they’re just coworkers.

But this man is persistent.

Ever since she first arrived at the site Friday night, he had been bothering her nonstop.

It started during the script reading. She had introduced herself formally to every member of the crew, and Takahashi-san had piped up, asking if she was half foreign. The nonstop questions started from that. From then on, he keeps asking her things that she’s a bit uncomfortable with, such as if she is single or if she has ever drunk alcohol before.

Besides that, he also requested the director to add some additional scenes with her. It’s highly uncomfortable as he always lingers every time they touch during the scenes. With the director’s lax attitude – or maybe he just doesn’t care all that much – he didn’t even give Takahashi-san a reprimand.

Y/n had tried to be polite – she really does – but still, this man was persistent.

“Takahashi-san,” she replied politely.

The older man let out a laugh at that. “I told you that you can call me Ren, you know!” he said. “Say, where are you going after this?”

At this, y/n throws a discreet glance at her manager. Her manager is also staring at Takahashi-san with some kind of intensity in his eyes. 

“I’m going back home to Iwate,” she replied. “I have school tomorrow.”

“Ah yes, school,” said the man. “I forgot that you’re still in high school,” at this, he’s rummaging his pocket for something. “You wanna go out with me after this? We’re going to this bar in Roppongi. My treat.”

This time, her manager interjected. “I’m sorry, Takahashi-san, but we already booked the train ticket. If we miss it, l/n-chan will be late for school tomorrow.”

“You’re a bit funny,” said Takahashi-san. “An idol who cares for school? Hah!” he chuckled. “You know what y/n-chan, here, take my number.”

Y/n stared at the outstretched hand in front of her. It’s holding a piece of paper with a phone number scribbled on top of it.

“It’s my personal number,” added the older man with a wink, she internally blanched. “Call me?”

Fuck.

She really wants to reject it. She really wants to say that she’s not interested. That he’s not my type.

But at the same time, y/n knows that she’s the one with the disadvantage here.

An unpopular idol that’s desperately trying to get more gigs versus an established popular boyband member? She knows that if she rejects him now, it will practically be the end of her career. Her manager, too, seemed to share the same thought as she realized a small twitch on the man’s eyebrow. Clearly agitated.

Despite all, y/n put her best smile, practically beaming towards Takahashi-san. “Thank you, Takahashi-san!” she said, receiving the number. “It will be nice to have a senior to help me from time to time!”

Takahashi-san let out a laugh at that. “Of course, of course,” he replied, slinging an arm around her shoulder.” It’s a shame that we can’t hang out today, but give me a call next time you’re in Tokyo, hm?” continued the older. “Ah, no, give me a call when you arrive back at your house?”

What are we? A couple? She internally scoffed.

“Of course, Takahashi-san!” said y/n cheerily. “Ah, I think my train will leave in…?”

“In an hour,” replied her manager. “We need to go now if we want to catch it.”

She, in fact, knows that her train will be leaving in three hours, but she immediately put a disappointed expression on her face. “Ah, that’s a shame, it would be nice to talk more with Takahashi-san!” she lamented before giving the older man a bow. “Then I’ll take my leave, Senpai!”

“Of course, take care on your way home, y/n-chan!”

Waving back, she let the smile plastered across her face as she walked out. The smile was still there until she entered her car, where she immediately let out a huge sigh.

“Ah,” she sighed. “This is exhausting.”

“You’re not actually going to call him, aren’t you?” asked her manager as he started the car.

Scoffing, she rolled her eyes. “What am I? An idiot? Of course, I won’t!” the girl huffed out. “He’s practically oozing Playboy vibes! And he’s so much older than me!”

“You are right on that,” said her manager as they began driving towards the train station. “Takahashi Ren is a known womanizer in the industry. You’re also right that he’s way too old than you. He’s 20, 21 by the end of the year.”

“Ugh,” groaned out y/n, disgusted. “What is his problem, seriously?”

“A lot apparently.”

Just imagining the sleazy smile and the winks that he kept giving her throughout the shoot made her shudder. She knows she’s pretty. She won’t be an idol if she’s not objectively pretty. But seriously! She expected the man to have more tact! To practically flirting with a minor is disgusting by itself! Not to mention offering them for a drink? While underage?

He’s not her type anyway. Way too pretty boy. Way too lanky. Way too pale. 

Though, that train of thought made her stop.

What’s her type anyway? She never dated anyone before, so she guess her type is-

Tall, with tanned skin. Broad shoulder and a sweet smile. Hair cropped short, often hidden under a cap. Someone that looks just like-

No.

No, let’s stop that train of thought, she thought, closing her eyes. It had veered into a dangerous territory after all. It had reached a part of her heart that she doesn’t want to probe this late at night, lest she won’t get any sleep for school tomorrow.

“L/n-chan,” called out her manager, breaking her thought.

“Hm?”

There’s a bit of a silence between the two of them before the man opened his mouth. “You know that the company will try our best to support you, yeah?” he started. “We may not have a big influence, but it’s still our duty to protect our artist, so if there’s anything – or anyone – that made you uncomfortable or forces you to do something that you don’t like, please tell us okay?”

Y/n blinked, staring at her manager side profile.

Currently, she’s the only artist in their company. Their only active artist. So it makes sense if the company wants to protect their only money maker. It’s normal, for them to protect an artist that’s their only source of income. It shouldn’t be anything special.

But still, knowing that there’s someone that’s supporting her like this- it’s nice.

It’s nice that she’s not alone in this. 

“Of course,” she replied with a grin. “I’ll be counting on you guys in the future, okay?”

Letting out a smile, her manager nodded. “Of course l/n-chan, the pleasure is ours.”

taglist!

@mindless-rock @lovewithmary @seijaelee @kikookii

[ficthots]

Burn Out-Shohei Ohtani

Requests: I’m dying for more dad shohei!!!!!! Please more dad shohei; Can you write about arguments with Shohei maybe due to cultural differences or anything in general. But can there be a happy ending?; imagine dad shohei angry!! Like maybe you were looking and your child got injured. Or maybe someone said something to or about your child! He would be SO DEFENSIVE

A/N: Hi everyone, I'm back! I'm sorry for my prolonged absence, but school is insane. I'm working on getting caught up on requests and I combined these three together for this one. It's so cute and I hope you guys enjoy. I'll open requests back up as soon as I'm able. Thanks guys!!

Word Count: 1.6k+

Being a parent was not an easy job. You never thought it was, but there were certain times where it was more difficult than it needed to be. You loved being a mom, it came to you like second nature at this point, but you and your husband, Shohei, had different ideas about raising your kids every once in a while. That was especially true when it came to sports.

You and Shohei had two beautiful children together and as they grew older and started to take on more, you were worried about putting too much pressure on them to overperform. Shohei had been coaching your son in baseball since before he could even walk and your son loved it, but he was also extremely bright and was in almost all AP courses at his school.

Your daughter had been in softball most of her life too, but given she was only in middle school you were worried about her getting burnt out too quickly like you could see happening with your son.

It was late one night and you and Shohei worked on cleaning the kitchen after a quick dinner before rushing the kids off to practice, getting them home and getting them another snack, having them finish their homework, and get off to bed at nearly midnight.

“I meant to tell you that Daphne’s coach came up to me at practice tonight,” Shohei said as he put the tupperware with leftovers into the fridge. “Oh yeah. About what?” You sighed as you loaded the dishwasher.

“He thinks that she’s gonna make varsity if she continues on this route. She’s performing two years above her age group. She’s doing so good. If we up her practice another day a week she’ll be golden. Colleges will be looking at her when she’s a freshman,” you could hear the excitement in his voice as he continued to go on about what needed to be done.

You cut him off, turning around and leaning on the counter as you spoke. “Babe. I think we need to take a second here and listen to what you’re saying,” you chuckled as he stopped wiping the counters down, facing you, brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

You crossed your arms over your chest. “Daphne is already practicing three times a week and doing conditioning another two days. That’s only giving her two days off a week, honey. If we up her practice another day she’ll have one day off a week,” he rolled his eyes, continuing back with his task as he stuffed a roll in his mouth before talking again.

“Kenzo is going six days a week and he’s fine,” your eyes bugged out at Shohei’s words. “What? What do you mean he’s going six days a week?” Shohei swore under his breath at the admission he just gave out. You crossed the kitchen towards him, standing directly in front of him.

“Shohei! Our kids are not machines! They need to rest. Kenzo is in five advanced courses and in a club at school and playing baseball every spare second he has. Have you seen how tired he’s been lately? I’m worried about him and I find out you’ve upped his play and training time to six days a week? What the hell are you thinking?” You didn’t realize that as you continued talking that your voice was rising and you were progressively getting angrier.

“So what are you saying? That I’m a horrible dad for having him do this? If he wants to go far with baseball like he says then this is what he has to do. This is what I did!” You rolled your eyes, looking up at your husband's towering figure. “Now you’re putting words in my mouth. I never said you were a bad parent. I understand that this is what you did, but our kids are not you and I will not put this much pressure on them. You need to take a step back and look at how your kids are handling this. Have you seen Daphne’s grades lately?”

He took a step back from you, running a hand through his hair, shaking his head at your question. “No,” was all he muttered out as you continued your speech. “She’s almost failing two courses. She has missing assignments in every single class. I watch her do her homework every night and she’s playing catch up in every class. We cannot up her another day. I wanted to talk to you and her about sitting out this next season to get her grades back up.”

His eyes went wide and he shook his head, arms crossed over his chest. “She is not skipping a season. Do you know what that’ll do to her game? I’ll talk to her about her school work. Her skipping is not an option. She loves the game,” before Shohei could continue you went to cut him off, but he held his hand up, stopping you.

“Okay, so I’ll be the bad guy in all this. I’m just the bad dad that doesn’t care about our kids,” you groaned, putting your head in your hands, but before you could respond Shohei went upstairs and closed the door to the guest room.

You two had hardly spoken to each other in a week. You moved around each other in silence and the kids could sense something was going on. You caught the glances they would throw at one another, asking if either of them knew what was going on, to which the other would shrug.

Neither you nor Shohei made an effort to speak to the other and when you got a call from Kenzo’s guidance counselor wanting to speak to you two, you knew it wasn’t going to be good. The drive to the school was silent and when you sat down in her office, she smiled making small talk before bringing up the topic.

“Has everything been okay at home with Kenzo? I know he has a lot on his plate right now with all his AP’s and baseball. Is he resting enough? Eating enough?” You sighed at the questions, Shohei growing irritated at the topic.

“He’s been staying up very late to get his homework done. He’s at practice from almost right after school to seven. We make sure he’s eating, but he’s constantly growing. Why? Is everything okay?” She nodded her head, listening to you before continuing.

“He’s been falling asleep in a couple of his classes. I don’t think he’s sleeping enough. I think maybe he should cut back on baseball one or two days a week. I know he goes to the optional practices and maybe he can sit one of those out a week,” you agreed, glancing over at your husband to see how upset he looked.

You thanked her on your way out, Shohei lacing his hand with yours on the way to the car, opening the door for you. When he stepped in, he covered his face with his hands and spoke to you for the first time in a week. “I’ve pushed him too much. He’s sleeping at school. What the hell’s wrong with me?”

You rubbed his back, taking one of his hands and kissing it. “No, baby. You want what’s best for them. Do you have any idea how much the kids love you? So many kids wish they had a dad like you. We just need to ease up on Kenzo a bit,” he sighed, taking your hands in his, bringing them to his lips.

“Daphne needs to skip this next season. Her grades need to come first,” he mumbled against your knuckles. You nodded your head and smiled at him. “We’ll talk to them tonight, okay?” He smiled, bringing you to him to kiss you.

After cutting Kenzo back to only four days a week he was feeling immensely better. Daphne understood why she needed to skip out on a season, she wasn’t happy about it, but agreed that once she got her grades up that she could play again.

You sat in the bleachers, Daphne leaning against you, Shohei on your other side, hands laced together, watching another game for Kenzo. At this school there weren't separate bleachers for the home and away teams so you sat mixed in with all the parents from both schools.

An idiot further up on the bleachers wouldn’t keep his mouth shut about his son and how he was playing every single day of the week. When your son's team would come up to bat, he was the first to start yelling bad things. Shohei was growing more and more irritated with the guy, talking with the other dads about their son’s when he said something about Kenzo.

“Look at this dope! Do you even play ball kid? I feel bad for the dad that has to watch their son play like this,” he started laughing, but before he could say anything else, Shohei stood up, walking up the bleachers to where the other dad sat.

He crouched down, getting to the man's level, speaking under his breath. You watched as his smile slowly fell as Shohei smiled at him, patting his knee and walking back to where you were sitting.

“What’d you say to him?” You eyed the man as he leaned back against the top of the bleachers, not uttering another peep for the remainder of the game. Shohei kissed your temple, shrugging as he turned his attention back to the game.

“No one says shit about my kids and gets away with it. We won’t be hearing from him for a while,” you smiled as Shohei winked at you, hand resting on your knee and Daphne laughed. You loved your family and you couldn’t believe how lucky you were to have Shohei by your side.

[ficthots]

Green Monster-Shohei Ohtani

Request: Can I request a Shohei imagine where you guys are pre-dating/early talking stages and he’s jealous but can’t be because you guys aren’t official

A/N: Here’s another cute Shohei request. I hope you enjoy it and requests are open! 

Word Count: 1.2k+

This was the worst part of dates. Standing awkwardly outside your front door because you didn’t want to invite the guy inside and that’s exactly what he was expecting. You cleared your throat, a tight lipped smile across your face as you tried to think of what to say to get him to get the clue that he wasn’t staying the night.

Luckily to your rescue was the neighbor right across the hall and someone who you thought was a great friend and who you admittedly had a bit of a crush on. Shohei was getting home from another game, a smirk across his face as you eyed him, praying that he would help you.

“Hi, I’m Shohei. Who are you?” The guy stood baffled as he wrapped his arm around your shoulder, your face burning at the contact. “Uh, I’m Jason. I was on a date with y/n tonight.” Shohei nodded his head and looked down at you, nodding towards his apartment.

“Do you want to watch a movie? I saw Disney plus has Luca.” You bit your laugh back and nodded your head. “Oh yeah, I’ve been dying to see that. Thanks for a fun night, Jack!” You tried to say it as enthusiastically as possible and he rolled his eyes, turning on his heel and heading for the elevator.

You and Shohei snickered as he unlocked his door, letting you go in first. “Another bad date?” You groaned, kicking your shoes off at the door and setting your jacket and purse on the entry table. “It’s like they’re the only ones interested in me. I haven’t been out on a good date in months.”

Shohei set his bag down in the hall closet and shrugged. “Let me take you out. It’ll be fun and I can show you what a fun date is supposed to be.” Your stomach flipped and butterflies erupted in you. “You want to take me out?” He smiled, opening his fridge and grabbing a protein shake.

“It’ll be fun. I promise.” You smiled and nodded your head. “Alright, deal.”

***

Shohei kept his promise and the next week he took you out. You had never been on a mini golf and arcade game date, but it was the most fun you had in a long time. Your sides ached from laughing as much as you had.

He wasn’t a small man by any means and watching him try to play mini golf was hilarious and yet he still kicked your ass at it. You two went out to dinner after at a small bar and had the best meal ever.

You sipped from your beer as you settled down from a story Shohei told you about his school days in Japan when he grabbed your hand that was resting on the table. Your face burned at the contact, but you let him do it.

When you got back to your apartments he stood outside the door with you and for the first time you didn’t feel awkward. “So, did I meet your expectations of a great date?” You nodded your head, grabbing your keys to unlock your door.

“I have to say Mr. Ohtani I am quite impressed at how much fun that was.” His smile grew and he kissed your forehead before he opened his door. “I’m glad. Have a good night.” He winked at you as he watched you step into your apartment, waiting for the door to close before he went into his own place.

You couldn’t stop smiling. That was one of the best dates you had in a long time and your feelings for Shohei only grew. But unfortunately, that excitement was short-lived. You waited two more weeks for Shohei to ask you out again and he never did.

You two didn’t stop flirting in the hall, but he never made another move. Your best friend continued to pressure you to go out with another guy she thought was perfect for you and after giving Shohei another week to ask you out again and he didn’t, you reluctantly agreed.

Maybe you misread the flirting for him just being friendly. He was the nicest and most polite man you had ever met and you might have interpreted the “date” wrong. He probably thought you two were just hanging out. How could you misread that? Of course that’s what he thought it was.

As another shitty date wrapped up and you stood awkwardly outside your door, waiting for the man to leave you saw your saving grace make his way down the hall. His smile never appeared though and he scooted past the two of you, quietly making his way to his door.

“Hi, Shohei!” You tried to call out to him, but he gave a silent head nod and made his way inside, closing the door behind him. You smiled nervously at the man who’s name you honestly couldn’t even remember before finding an excuse.

“I’m sorry, but he’s like my best friend and I think something’s wrong. I should probably check on him.” He smiled and offered you a good night before you turned on your heel and walked through Shohei’s door.

“What the hell was that? You always save me from that moment! What’s going on with you?” His back was still turned to you and he didn’t respond until you approached him. You grabbed his arm, turning him towards you. You had never seen happy go lucky Shohei in such a bad mood.

He narrowed his eyes at you as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Why did you go out on another date?” You furrowed your brows confused at his question. “What?” He rolled his eyes and tried to walk past you, but you stopped him. “I thought we had a great time on our date and yet here you are with another guy.”

You couldn’t hold back your smile. “You’re jealous.” He nodded his head, placing his hands on the counter behind him. “Of course I am. I don’t want to see you go out with other guys.” You leaned back against the counter, eyeing him.

“Then why didn’t you ask me out again? I waited three weeks.” He groaned and ran his hand through his hair before laughing. “I should have, I’m sorry. We were gone on a road trip for over a week and then we got back and you didn’t seem interested anymore.”

You laughed, closing the distance between you two. “We should probably communicate better. Especially now since I know you have a green monster.” His brows furrowed. “Green monster? Like the one from Sesame Street?”

Your laughter boomed in his kitchen. “No, that’s Oscar the grouch. A green monster is another way to say someone is jealous.” He smiled and nodded his head. “I like that. I’m gonna use that.” He wrapped his arms around you, resting his forehead against your own.

“I really did have fun on our date and I want to know if you’d like to go out on another one tomorrow.” You shrugged, pulling away from him. “I’m not sure. I need to think about it.” You saw his face fall and immediately giggled at his reaction.

“I’m kidding! Of course we can go out again.” He grabbed your hand, pulling you back to him, before kissing you for the very first time, sending sparks shooting through your body.

[ficthots]

Tournament-Shohei Ohtani

Request: Something about Shohei, kids, pregnancy or dad Shohei.

A/N: Here’s another Shohei request! It’s a short little piece offering a little insight into parenthood with Shohei. I hope you enjoy! As always let me know what you think and requests are open! 

Word Count: 500+

If there was one thing you never expected to see yourself doing, it was sitting at a little league tournament on a Saturday morning watching your son play and your daughter strapped to your husband's chest.

This had become the norm in the Ohtani household on the weekends. You and Shohei had been together for nearly seven years with two kids to show for it. You loved him more than anything in the world and early on in your relationship you had both discussed the possibility of children way down the line. Nearly two years into your relationship you found out you were pregnant.

At the time you had just become engaged and knew you wanted to spend the rest of your life with Shohei, but to say you were scared about raising a child was an understatement. You felt frustrated when you saw your husband become a natural at being a father so early on in your pregnancy during parenting classes and when your son was finally born it seemed like he was born to be a dad. It took you a while longer than him to find the groove of parenting, but as soon as you figured it out it was like a part of you was missing this whole time.

Your son, Kenji, was a spitting image of his dad. He took to baseball faster than walking and as soon as he was able to enter into a little league, Shohei had him signed up. Now you find yourself sitting on the most uncomfortable bleachers known to man every weekend for tournaments.

Your son was now five and your daughter, Rei, was nearing her seven month mark. Shohei could never sit down during the games and you always found him pressed against the chain link fence. You always suggested coaching, but he didn’t want to put too much pressure on Ken even though he looked up to his dad and was always asking him for tips to improve his game.

Shohei stood in a small group of the other dads, chatting away about their sons and Shohei’s upcoming season, Rei babbling nonsense away from her holder on his chest. You had befriended a few of the moms and when you saw Ken approach the plate you got Shohei’s attention.

As politely as he could he stepped back from the group and closer to the fence, Rei reaching out to get her chubby hands wrapped around it. You clapped your hands, Shohei calling out support for your son.

Ken was playing in a group slightly above his age due to his size and skill so at this point the kids were starting to practice pitching. A pitch came his way and Ken wasted no time, slapping the ball out to right field and taking off for first base. Cheers erupted from the crowd at what turned out to be a double-play.

As the game came to an end and Ken’s team walked out victorious meaning you’d be back again tomorrow to do it all again, Shohei and Ken talked away about his game. You ruffled his hair and laughed at his excitement when you offered to go for ice cream and he enthusiastically agreed. Shohei strapped Rei into her seat before coming around to your side of the car to open your door.

With both kids in bed later that night, you curled up with him in the living room, you had never felt more content.