The gate clicked softly shut behind them, its familiar sound echoing in the quiet morning. Alex and Kenta stepped out into the street, sunlight spilling gently over the rooftops. A cool breeze teased their hair, carrying the faint scent of dew and early spring.
Their footsteps fell in rhythm as they walked side by side.
Kenta had yet another lollipop stuck in his mouth—grape flavored this time, judging by the purple hue. He munched on it happily, eyes half-lidded with lazy satisfaction.
"So, Alex," he said around the candy, "did you check out the CDs?"
Alex gave a small nod. "Yeah, I went through them last night. Took notes too."
Kenta blinked, genuinely surprised. "Already? That's fast! That's my bestie!" he grinned, throwing an arm around Alex's shoulder like a proud dad.
Alex squinted at him, deadpan.
'Why does he always act like a cartoon character…?'
Still, he didn't pull away.
Their walk continued into the older part of town. The buildings here wore the weight of time—weathered signs, rusting shutters, and narrow alleyways between shops that hadn't changed in years.
Kenta's pace suddenly quickened.
"There it is!" he pointed dramatically, bouncing on his feet. "That's the shop!"
Before Alex could say anything, Kenta bolted ahead like a puppy spotting its leash.
"Oi—wait up, you idiot," Alex muttered, jogging after him.
The store stood quietly on the corner, sandwiched between a laundromat and a bakery. Its wooden sliding door was worn smooth, and a tiny silver bell hung just above it, swaying gently.
Kenta threw the door open with a dramatic flourish. The bell rang out,
ting-a-ling!
"Welcome," came a calm, deep voice from inside.
An older man stood behind the counter. He was tall and broad-shouldered, wearing a white apron with faint smudges near the hem. His neatly combed hair was peppered with gray.
As soon as his eyes landed on the visitor, his face shifted.
"Oh, Kenta-kun! Long time no see," he said with a warm smile.
Then, noticing the boy behind him, the man paused.
Alex stepped in quietly, the bell jingling again as the door shut behind him. Sunlight filtered through the window, casting soft streaks across the dusty floor.
The man's eyes locked onto Alex.
'Foreigner?' he thought.
He straightened slightly, clearing his throat and shifting into halting English.
"Wel… come…"
Before he could finish, Kenta waved both hands like a flustered windmill.
"Yuichi-ojisan, wait! He's my friend—Alex-kun! He transferred to our school recently!"
Alex gave a small, polite bow. "Nice to meet you, Yuichi-san."
Yuichi blinked, stunned.
"…His Japanese… sounds native," he muttered.
A second passed before Yuichi's warm smile returned. "Well then! Kenta-kun, Alex-kun—what brings you here today?"
Kenta stepped forward, eyes gleaming with childlike excitement. "We're looking for bats"
As soon as Kenta said they were looking for bats, Yuichi gave a firm nod. "Got it. Follow me."
The store wasn't large, but it was clean and packed neatly with gear. The scent of leather and polished wood filled the air. On the left wall, rows of baseball gloves were displayed, some still fresh in plastic wraps. On the right stood racks of bats, their polished surfaces catching the morning light that spilled through the front windows. In the middle, helmets, cleats, bags, and other gear stood like soldiers ready for battle.
Alex trailed behind Yuichi, eyes sweeping across the store with quiet curiosity.
Yuichi led them straight to the aluminum bats first. He turned around while reaching for one. "So, who's the bat for?"
Alex raised his hand slightly. "That would be me."
Yuichi smiled and handed him a silver bat with a smooth grip. "This one's the Mizuno Prime Elite. Aluminum alloy. Length: around 82 to 83 centimeters. Weight: 650 grams. Light and balanced for speed and control."
Alex took it carefully, gripping the handle with both hands. The bat felt… hollow. Clean, but unfamiliar. He gave it a few test swings.
Fwip… Fwip…
"It's lighter than the one I used during the tryouts," he said quietly, noting how his follow-through almost overextended.
"That's because this one's made for easier handling," Yuichi explained.
Alex gave a nod and gently handed the bat back. "Do you have wooden bats too?"
Yuichi tilted his head slightly. "Oh? Going for the traditional feel?"
Kenta didn't react with surprise—he already knew this was coming—but he smirked, folding his arms. "He's got a thing for wooden bats."
Alex offered only a small shrug. "Just curious," he repeated, but his eyes were already scanning the racks further in.
Yuichi chuckled and motioned for them to follow. "Come on then, let's head to the good stuff."
They moved deeper into the store where the lighting grew a little dimmer, the air cooler. Here, the bats were lined up like fine swords. Each one had its own character.
Yuichi picked up a dark brown bat. "Mizuno 1CJWM. Maple wood. Strong and crisp."
He turned and grabbed another. "This one's 1CJWB, made from bamboo. Heavier, but durable. Good for building swing strength."
But Alex wasn't listening anymore.
His gaze had locked onto something—something just barely sticking out at the edge of the rack. His body moved on its own.
"Excuse me," he said under his breath as he stepped away from the two.
He reached for the bat gently, almost reverently, as if not to disturb it.
It was white.
A misty, pale white, smooth as bone, with sleek black letters printed near the handle.
ZETT Prostatus BWT14584
Yuichi raised his brows slightly as he saw which bat Alex picked.
"Ah… that one's made from hard maple. 84 centimeters. About 900 grams," he said. "Heavier than your usual metal bat. But solid. Really solid."
Alex ran his fingers along the grain of the bat, then stepped back with slow, deliberate movements. Without a word, he took a stance—his stance.
Not the squared-up baseball kind.
It was different.
Low.
Balanced on the front foot.
Elbows tucked. The bat angled behind like a sword ready to strike.
Yuichi narrowed his eyes. What kind of stance is that…?
Alex inhaled deeply and exhaled. Then, with one smooth motion—
Whoosh!
The swing tore through the air like a gust of wind slicing across still water.
Even Kenta blinked in surprise. The sound was loud. Sharp. Precise.
Yuichi let out a quiet whistle under his breath. "You've got power. And control."
Alex lowered the bat, his face calm but heart pounding.
"This is the one," he said firmly. "Yuichi-san, I'll take this bat."
Yuichi nodded with a proud grin. "You've got good taste. It's 17,000 yen after discount."
Alex gave a small nod. "Alright. I'll take it."
While Alex ran a hand along the handle one more time, Kenta leaned over, eyes sparkling.
"Okay, now can we look at gloves?" he asked, barely holding back his excitement.
Yuichi laughed. "Of course. Let's check out the batting gloves next."
Alex scanned the shelf of gloves, his eyes lingering on a clean white pair near the middle. He reached out, fingers brushing the smooth material.
"Yuichi-san, I'll take these batting gloves too."
Yuichi glanced at them and gave a nod of approval. "ZETT Prostatus BG355. Good pick—comfortable and durable. They're 3,500 yen after discount."
Alex added them to the counter without a word.
A few steps over, a black glove caught his attention—larger, rounder, heavier. He picked it up carefully, feeling the solid structure in his hand.
Yuichi's eyes lit up. "Ah, that one's Mizuno MVP Prime GXC50PB4. Catcher's glove—real popular with junior players. Strong leather, easy break-in. 17,000 yen with the discount."
Alex turned the glove in his hand, slipping it on. It felt snug, firm around his fingers.
"I'll take it," he said, without hesitation.
Then he made his way to a nearby basket filled with pristine baseballs, nestled in mesh bags. He crouched and picked up three, testing their firmness.
"Mizuno official game balls," Yuichi offered from behind. "850 yen apiece."
Alex nodded slightly. "These too."
The counter now had a small pile: the sleek white bat, a pair of gloves, a catcher's mitt, and three baseballs. Yuichi packed everything carefully—glove and balls in one bag, the bat in its own.
"That'll be 40,050 yen altogether."
Alex paid without much fuss. Yuichi gave a bright smile as he handed over the bags.
"Thanks for your purchase! Come again!"
"See you, Yuichi-san!" Kenta chimed in.
Alex gave a polite bow. "Thanks for all the help."
They stepped out into the early afternoon sun. The cicadas had quieted a bit, but the heat still clung to the air. A breeze passed by, ruffling their shirts.
KRRRRRRGGH~
Both boys' stomachs growled at once.
"…You heard that too, right?" Kenta said, grinning.
Alex chuckled. "Can't ignore it."
"There's a ramen place down the street! I go there all the time."
"Lead the way," Alex said, smiling.
They walked side by side, bags swinging lightly at their sides. The shop was tucked between an old stationery store and a closed-down photo studio. A faded noren curtain swayed above the door.
"Welcome!" the shop owner called as the bell above the door jingled.
Kenta plopped down at the counter without hesitation. "Miso ramen, extra pork!"
Alex slid onto the stool beside him, glancing over the menu. "Tonkotsu ramen, please."
The steam hit them first—rich, salty, and comforting. The bowls came out quick, full and piping hot. Kenta dove in without ceremony, slurping loudly.
"Fuuuuhhh—hot, hot—but good!!"
Alex smiled softly and picked up his chopsticks. He didn't speak much, but his bowl emptied nearly as fast as Kenta's.
"That hit the spot," Alex said, setting down his chopsticks.
"Right? Told you this place was great."
After lunch, they took the long way back—through narrow streets lined with tiled-roof houses and little stone temples. Wind chimes clinked faintly on balconies, and a few cats lounged on sun-warmed ledges, flicking their tails lazily.
It was quiet. Peaceful.
Kenta yawned mid-step. "Man, I could nap right now."
"We still have manga to sort," Alex reminded him with a smirk.
"Right. Back to work."
They reached Alex's house. The familiar scent of fresh-cut grass and curry faintly lingered near the door.
"I'm home," Alex called as he stepped in.
"Pardon for intrusion!" Kenta shouted behind him, like always.
Up in Alex's room, the two placed their bags down with a soft thud. The sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the wooden floor.
Kenta's eyes drifted to the neat shelf beside the window—the one he'd only glanced at before. He knew what was coming.
Alex walked over and crouched down, carefully reaching into the middle section. "I promised I'd show you properly," he said, his tone quieter now.
He gently turned one of the trophies, straightening it. A cricket bat with faded grip tape leaned upright beside it. Medals lined the edge in perfect rows, their ribbons untangled, resting flat.
Kenta crouched beside him, eyes wide with curiosity. "Man… you really weren't kidding. You've got a lot."
"Middle school tournaments. Some inter-district ones back home."
There was no trace of arrogance in Alex's voice. Just… calm. Matter-of-fact. Like it was just part of a story he wasn't used to telling out loud.
Kenta picked up a medal and flipped it over. "This one's got your name engraved on it. That's so cool."
Alex nodded, then glanced at the empty shelf on the opposite side of the room.
"You're gonna fill that one with manga?" Kenta asked, already knowing the answer.
"That's the plan," Alex said with a small smile. "We'll sort it out now."
Together, they knelt by the shelf and began stacking volumes. Capeta first, then Ippo. The quiet was filled with the rustle of pages, the soft thunk of books against wood, and the occasional whisper of plastic wrapping being removed.
Kenta peeked at the spines. "You really went all in, huh."
"I like the art," Alex said, adjusting a volume so the cover faced forward.
After a few minutes, the shelf looked fuller. Still plenty of space, but now it felt like something lived-in. Something theirs.
Then Kenta flopped onto the floor dramatically. "Alright! Time to digest all that ramen."
Alex leaned back against the bed frame, his eyes half-lidded in the afternoon light. "We can go outside if you want."
Kenta sat up like a rocket. "Yard time?!"
Alex raised an eyebrow. "Only if you don't break anything."
"No promises," Kenta said with a grin, already hopping to his feet.
Alex shook his head, smiling to himself as he followed. His cricket glove rested in the corner. The white bat leaned by the desk.
To be continued…
Author's Note:
Thanks for reading this chapter! I know the story hasn't focused much on the baseball side lately—even though this is a Diamond no Ace fic—but that's intentional. I really wanted to take time to explore Alex's world: what he enjoys, his family, his friendships… everything that makes him him.
This fic isn't just about baseball—it's about Alex's life, his growth, and all the moments in between. I hope you're enjoying the ride so far.
If you've made it this far, please consider leaving a comment! Even just a short one means a lot. Writing can feel a bit lonely sometimes, and knowing someone out there is reading and enjoying the story really keeps me going. Your support seriously means everything. 💙