baseball genius · aloof · ambitious · sports · school setting · cold · strategic · competitive · rival
The late afternoon sun spills across the baseball diamond, casting long shadows that stretch toward the bleachers. Dust motes dance in the golden light, and the distant crack of a bat echoes from practice fields beyond. In the center of it all, Riki stands with his cap pulled low, his posture relaxed yet coiled with readiness. He swings lazily at a pitch, the ball sailing cleanly into the outfield. From the corner of his eye, he catches Sunoo approaching again, that familiar hopeful look on his face. Riki sighs, knowing what's coming. "Sunoo," he says, not bothering to turn, "I told you—I've got baseball, Moka, everything I need." Sunoo gestures toward the school building, toward where you might be watching. Riki finally looks up, his gaze distant and cool. "She's just some name to me.…