“I’m fine…”
His voice was a little shaky, but Daichi tried to hide his hand behind his back, away from the 3rd base coach’s vision. Unfortunately, it didn’t escape the umpire’s eyes.
The man sucked in harshly as he saw the limp wrist dangling behind Daichi’s back. His expression shifted and a look of remorse crept onto his face, lamenting what he would have to do next.
The umpire placed his hand upon Daichi’s shoulder and shook his head. “I need you to leave the field, Daichi. You understand why right?”
Daichi’s body flinched at these words and his head lowered, his frustration and disappointment evident. It was as if he’d been punched in the gut.
He nodded before turning and heading back towards the dugout. Daichi could feel his brother’s inquisitive gaze from the batters box, but he was far too ashamed to look at him.
Hot tears leaked from his eyes and he felt a lump in his throat as he made the walk of shame off the field.
“Daichi, what happened?” Ken ran over and intercepted him, his expression filled with confusion. Upon seeing that his brother was crying, he was instantly taken aback.
His eyes flashed to Daichi’s right hand and saw it was hanging limply at his side, looking unnatural. It was at this moment that his whole world stopped in place.
“Gomen nasai aniki…”1
Hearing the emotion within his voice, Ken realized that the injury was not light.
“Everything is going to be okay little bro…” Ken said, placing a hand upon his shoulder. He walked Daichi over to his Grandfather who looked worried as he watched them approach.
“What is it? What’s happened?” He asked frantically.
Ken grabbed Mark’s arm and gently brought him closer to them both, shocking his brother and Grandfather. They both looked at him, as if to question what he was doing.
“Grandpa, do not get any tests done on Daichi’s injury… I need you to promise me.” He said seriously.
“Huh? What are you talking about? Of course we need to get tests, if its broken we’ll need to make sure it sets properly otherwise it could affect his whole career, not to mention his day to day life.” Mark replied wearing a frown.
Daichi too looked perplexed. Why was his brother saying such things all of a sudden?
“I have a way to heal him overnight, but it would draw too much attention if you get scans and tests done.” Ken explained.
At this, both Daichi and Mark frowned.
“Ken… This is a professional sports club, we use western medicine since its backed by science. If we use alternative medicine and something goes wrong, not to mention ethical implications, we might even be facing legal repercussions along the lines of negligence.” Mark explained.
Ken’s gaze snapped to his grandfather, his expression as serious as ever.
“This is the same medicine that cured your stage 4 lung cancer.” Ken said, his eyes never wavering.
Mark’s face froze as he looked at Ken with complete and utter confusion. He had not told Ken what type of cancer he had, only that it was terminal. Yet the kid had claimed that he was the one to rid him of it?
He didn’t know what to say. The claims went against everything that he ever knew, not to mention they sounded like the ramblings of a mad man.
Yet this was not a mad man, this was his grandson, his own flesh and blood. There was no way that he would joke about such a thing, not when his brother was injured beside him.
Just as he was about to give a lukewarm response, Ken’s next words sent a shock through his body.
“Do you remember that night at the restaurant? I got you a diet coke and you drank it all in one go before leaving. There’s a good chance you went straight to the hotel to sleep and when you woke up, the cancer was gone.” Ken said, his words drilling into not only Mark, but also Daichi beside him.
Daichi had been present with Ken and his family on that night, he even vividly remembered the scene from back then.
Both Mark and Daichi didn’t respond right away, so Ken continued.
“I’ll explain the rest to you later, but can you promise me to at least hold off on the tests until tomorrow?” Ken pleaded, his eyes never leaving Mark’s.
“Okay… But it’s going to be tough to break the news to the front office.” Mark replied, letting out a sigh. He could already hear Geoff and the others nagging him for results.
“As soon as the game finishes, I’ll go and prepare the medicine. Until then, I’m leaving Daichi in your care.” Ken said, patting his grandfathers arm.
“Daichi… Just hang in there for a while, I’ll get you back to full health in no time.” Ken said, giving his brother a reassuring smile.
Daichi wiped away the streaks left on his cheek with his left sleeve and nodded, “Good luck out there… I’ll be watching for now.”
“You bet.” Ken said, sending him a wink.
By now, the umpire had approached and began to talk to Mark. He was forced to substitute Daichi out of the game and bring in a pinch runner to stand on 3rd base for him.
The game took a little time before the umpire called play ball again.
Ryan had watched the proceedings with some remorse. Seeing Daichi leave the field with an injury was not what he wanted to see, even if that meant this series would be much easier.
He turned to face Ken whose whole demeanor had changed.
The guy was like a tall mountain as he stood in the batters box. It felt like wherever Ryan pitched, there was no way it would get through.
He frowned, only to shake the scene out of his head.
Ryan saw the lead from his catcher and a small smile crept onto his face. It seemed that he and Nigel were on the same wavelength.
The pitch came, a roaring fastball which began to rise as it reached the plate.
Ryan expected Ken to load up heavily and swing under the ball, but upon seeing the guy’s actions, his jaw couldn’t help but drop.
Ken’s bat was held out horizontal over the plate, poised to strike.
‘Bunt!?’
I’m sorry, big bro…