Shattering Humanity-Chapter 312: A Takamagahara Instant Classic: Zoram’s At Bat

Chapter 312: A Takamagahara Instant Classic: Zoram’s At Bat

"Allah(God) does not place two hearts in any person’s chest. Nor does He regard your wives as unlawful for you like your real mothers, even if you say they are.1 Nor does He regard your adopted children as your real children. These are only your baseless assertions. But Allah declares the truth, and He alone guides to the Right Way.

Let your adopted children keep their family names. That is more just in the sight of Allah. But if you do not know their fathers, then they are simply your fellow believers and close associates. There is no blame on you for what you do by mistake, but only for what you do intentionally. And Allah(God) is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful." -Surah Al Ahzab 33:4-5

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[Quick Recap]

Only 6 soldiers in the platoon left alive.

Katsu’s dad looks at the only available window to the building, the cement part of the building.

About 50 yards away.

The father of a child with exceptional quarterbacking abilities, grabs his hand grenade from his pouch.

Daisuki: "What the hell are you doing? There’s no way you’ll-"

Yuzai: "D1 Center-fielder and I ain’t a bad QB either. Hey, relax, this is life. When there’s a problem, try thinking outside the box and take chances at trying shit. Hopefully the things you took a chance on will set those little dopamine receptors of yours go off, soldier."

Katsu’s father gives two soft playfully slaps with his gloved hand to the younger leader’s face and a smile that would one day become commonly seen for the young lieutenant.

Yuzai leaves the protection of the vehicle, immediately ducks back to cover, and the *BANG* of the Beretta goes off from his target window.

The athletic soldier then pulls the pin, leaves the side protective military jeep and does a hopping "Crow Step", like a professional center-fielder, releasing the explosive towards the open window. It soars through the air at such a perfect angle, that anybody watching would know by its apex that the grenade was going to hit the target. Yuzai quickly jumps over the hood of the Humvee and goes back to safety.

As soon as the grenade flies perfectly through the window, the muzzle retracts but it’s too late for the assailant. An explosion from within the weak cement room makes it collapse in on itself. There are no longer any enemy shots coming from the bullet torn building.

{Present Day}

[Faithful Friends Firehouse Field]

Katsu: "Okay Princess, since I know how scary and hard it is the hit the ball, how about you pinch run for the first batter who gets on base each inning...okay?"

Princess Rebekah: "Pinch...Run?

Wah-?"

In the little girl’s head she imagines running away while everyone tries to pinch her skin.

The cute Princess shivers.

Princess Rebekah: "That sounds like it hurts..."

Katsu takes a moment to realize Princess Rebekah’s misunderstanding. He laughs out loud, making everyone look at him weirdly (except for Laban, who is silently trying to hide her own laugh).

Katsu manages to wipe a laughing tear away before putting his hand softly on her shoulder.

Katsu: "Haha! Nobody’s going to hurt you, I just need you to run around the bases for us.

Just stand on the base, and when I shout ’Go’ you run to the base your Mama is standing next to, okay?"

The little girl looks over as her 3rd base playing Mama deactivates her alien symbiote and waves over the the little girl.

Laban DaeMon(to herself): "What are you playing at, trying to manipulate my daughter, Vessel of Yang?"

In the dugout, Princess Rebekah smiles while blushing and pumps both her fists in front of her chest.

Princess Rebekah: "I promise, I’ll try my best!"

With closed eyes, the smiling captain gives the princess two soft taps on her protective headgear.

Katsu: "That’s all I can ask for."

He holds out his fist and the blushing little girl softly connects her fist with his.

Able to hear the coach to player chat, through the face mask, Saku gets an disgruntled look.

Saku(thinking): *Katsu... You have the ability and potential to be an awesome coach and a faultless leader..so why are you such an secretive asshole?*

Scylia runs back into the dugout as Princess Rebekah runs to 2nd base.

Scylia: "How was my first at bat ’Coach’?"

Katsu holds out a fist for her and she too connects with a little harder of a connection.

Katsu: "You did perfect Big Sis!

Sorry I took you out of the game, after you worked so hard to get on base for us.

I figured, to let Princess Rebekah play, I’d let her be the runner for the first one on base."

Hearing his thoughts process, Shelly blushes and smiles behind her hand.

Shelly: *This...This is why...*

Scylia tussles Katsu’s hair.

Scylia: "As chivalrous as ever."

She looks over at the "Little Sister", Shelly.

Scylia: "I can see how you can easily catch the hearts of some."

The red haired woman walks back in the bunker like dugout.

There Zoram is sitting on the edge of the bench alone and Katsu looks at her as he presents the bat in both hands.

Katsu: "You’re up Ms. Zoram!"

Surprised and wide eyed, the elegant woman puts a hand to her flush cheek and shakes her head.

Zoram: "Oh I can’t.

I’ve never played sports in my life."

Katsu: "Don’t worry Ms. Zoram, as long as you give it a chance, even just one try, I’m sure your daughter would be really inspired."

Zoram looks over at Princess Rebekah standing on 2nd base. The princess is wearing her play clothes, with the oversized helmet on her head, waving over at her other Mama at 3rd base.

From home plate, Saku is heard quickly forcing a decision.

Saku: "Aye let’s go!

We ain’t got all day!"

He flicks his helmet back down and stretches out his legs.

Saku(to himself): "Typical Katsu.

Has time to coordinate a showboating signal but not a line up."

Back in the dugout, Zoram gets up and grabs the bat while wearing her SeiõrSilkSleeves.

Zoram: "Thank you, Yang Vessel.

I’ll certainly try to exert as much energy as I can to your cause."

The captain/coach holds out a fist for her as well.

Katsu: "Our cause "

Zoram chuckles and with her white gloved fist, connects the fist bump.

Wearing flats on her feet, the Middle Eastern Völva struts to the plate to bat right handed.

She looks at Saku.

Zoram: "Is right here okay, Vessel of Yin?"

The catcher squats down and nods.

Saku: "Yea, and I’ve already told you a week ago, you don’t have to call me ’Vessel of Yin’.

You can call me by my actual name."

Zoram smiles and raises the bat, preparing for the pitch.

At the mound, Itsuka slowly does her wind-up. Raising her leg allll the way with her foot pointing to the sky, and then she brings it down to the dirt.

Her arm slings by her ear and a white blur leaves the athletic woman’s hand.

It zips to home plate where the wooden bat and ball *knock* together. The baseball is redirected and skips over Saku’s glove right into his facemask with a *CLANK*.

Zoram skips backwards and puts a hand over her mouth.

Zoram: "My heavens!

Are you okay, Yin V-?

S-Saku...?"

The young catcher gets up from his squat and picks the ball up a few feet away.

Saku: "Yea, obviously."

The resilient sports enthusiast uses the ball to hit himself in the helmet a few times before tossing it back in to his concerned pitcher.

Itsuka: "Saku don’t do that!

You’ll give yourself brain damage."

Behind her, Laban rolls her eyes while lighting up another blunt.

Saku squats behind home plate while convincing the batter he’s fine.

Saku: "There’s a reason I wear all this protective gear."

The catcher shivers remembering one minute detail.

Saku(to himself): "Please God don’t let her hit it in the dirt."

He looks around the field and holds one finger up.

Saku: "Count is 0-1!

One down!

Plays at first!"

At the mound, Itsuka winds-up and delivers the next pitch.

Again, Zoram responds with a decent swing but once more the ball makes a *knock* as it ricochets to her right and rolls to the dugout right at Katsu.

The baseball stops at his feet, he picks it up and looks over at Saku with a smile.

The young man who is a "five star quarterback", with a D1 center field playing father, looks at Itsuka and almost with no effort at all, slides the ball perfectly through the air. It flies towards the side of Itsuka’s head, which she catches.

Even Shelly and Saku are both amazed at the way the ball never arced, only a straight line from his hand to the glove.

Katsu claps to try and support his teammate behind on the count.

Katsu: "0-2!

Come on Ms. Zoram!"

Saku takes his spot behind home plate and flashes his glove at Itsuka.

The long legged woman shows off her flexibility and throws another speeding pitch at the glove.

For the third straight time, Zoram’s bat makes a *knock* of contact but this time it lands a few feet in front of her and rolls.

Katsu: "GO!"

Both Zoram and Princess Rebekah perk up and run to their base.

Zoram begins running as fast as she can towards first.

Saku shoots up from his spot and chases the ball down sliding on one knee to grab it.

From one knee, the skilled catcher tosses the ball right at TayTay’s gut. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Comedically, the ball goes deep into the gut of the eating first baseman without him knowing.

Saku: "Out!"

Zoram halfway down the first base line looks discouraged but Katsu runs up with a smile.

Katsu: "Good job Ms. Zoram!"

He points towards 3rd base and during the time out, Laban has picked up the giggling Princess and is spinning around with her while congratulating her daughter.

Katsu: "Now all I have to do is get a base hit and we’ll be up 2-0!"

Zoram smiles realizing her sacrificial bunt could possibly mean her child’s happiness and success.