I have a few questions today, just out of curiosity.

1. Do you listen to the opening songs after watching an anime? (For example: I am listening to Fairy Tail's third OP while writing this)

2. Lots of people create debates for this, but Dubbed or Subbed? Quite a simple question really, if you want to explain why then feel free. Personally I prefer dubbed. I can handle the few annoying voices every so often because I understand that everyone is unique and no one should be insulted based on their voice, so it shouldn't matter if their voice is a little annoying or high pitched etc. Subs are good as I don't mind reading the bottom of the screen while watching the anime. Also, it is interesting to see the change from subbed to dubbed as dubs are not direct translations like subs, meaning the script is a little different and things may be emphasised in different ways.

3. How is the story so far? I know it is a little different, well it is in my opinion but I want YOUR opinion. Even if you just read the chapter, please don't keep your thoughts to yourself just this once, I would like your thoughts so far. Criticism is always welcome, even in the harshest of forms.

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(Serena)

A few days after our little encounter with Lumiose High, Drew went back and proposed that we have a baseball game, today, Saturday. I woke up early just to make sure I wasn't late. All of the boys had their minds set on winning and I was pretty sure that the one Ash calls 'The Batter' is actually in the baseball team for his school, so we had some competition.

"Come on Serena!" I heard Ash from downstairs, making my heart beat fast. What was he doing here? I awkwardly stepped onto the top of the stairs, still in my pyjamas.

"Oh, Hi Ash" I said, surprised.

"I took the liberty of letting him in" My Mom appeared in the doorway with a smile "Now come on, breakfast is getting cold"

I rushed into the kitchen, not wanting my breakfast to go cold. I picked up my plate and ate faster than Ash on a normal day.

"You're so greedy" Ash said as he watched me eat. I stopped for a moment and looked at him with one raised eyebrow.

"Hypocrite, much?" I retorted. Ash stepped back and then smiled.

"I know, I know" He gave a little laugh and scratched the back of his head. I had figured out now that he done that when he was nervous. It made me smile knowing he was still the same as when we first met.

I finished my breakfast and rushed into my gym kit. I checked the time and it was only 10:00am, so we had an hour still.

"Ok, lets go!" Ash pumped his fist with excitement and then his hand trailed back down, intertwining with mine. We locked fingers and he held my hand firmly as we walked down to the baseball field.

"The start of this year hasn't been that bad has it?" Ash suddenly spoke out as we turned a corner and past the park.

"I suppose so. Why are you suddenly saying this?" I wondered out loud, making Ash's eyebrows furrow.

"I-I...I don't know. I guess last year kind of sucked" Ash looked a little guilty. We did have a rocky relationship at that point. I stopped walking and squeezed his hand. Ash turned to me and a smile flickered over his face. He suddenly pulled me closer, keeping his hands around my waste. I hung my arms around his shoulders, locking them around his neck. We both drew in closer, our lips meeting. It was the first time I felt different. I felt like there was an extra meaning to this kiss, a sort of extra confidence about Ash. We both slowly parted.

"Now lets go win this baseball game, right?" Ash put his thumb up and grinned. I winked and threw my thumb up too.

"Right!" I spoke in confidence.

We stepped onto the field and I noticed that everyone was waiting for us. There was no sign of the Lumiose seniors, though.

(Ash)

"Hey guys!" I said, feeling happy to see everyone.

"So, Ash" Cilan kept on pointing to my left hand "How do you plan on playing?"

"I can give it a go one handed" I scratched my cheek, wondering about that myself. My fingers hadn't really hurt recently, so I almost forgot "Besides, if I don't play, it is uneven teams. I'll take it easy"

"As long as you are sure, we are" Drew rested his baseball bat on his shoulder and gave me a supporting smile.

"I will be fine" I reassured the group and sat down with Serena.

"Well. If we want to settle this with a win, we need to go for the home runs and then bet on getting their best batters out. The first time round won't be easy, but it is good for studying their tactics"

"I am very good at analysing people" Iris poked her head over Drew "I mean, you guys are always getting a few comments from me"

"Yeah. Ash as been getting accustomed to that too" Drew folded his arms and stared at me.

"I am only growing up, Drew. We are not kids anymore" I spoke in my defence.

"Who said we can't act like kids?" Drew kept going.

"Stop being so stubborn and focus on our tactics" Iris gave Drew a tiny slap on the head. I raised my eyebrows and gestured to Iris.

"Analytical"

Drew shook his head and Serean giggled a little. The others had started up their own conversations, waiting for the other school to arrive. After about ten more minutes of sitting around, they showed up.

"So, are we going to play or what?" The Batter twirled his bat around and looked at us all with a cocky smirk.

"Says the one who is five minutes late, nice" Cilan commented after checking his phone. He dropped it into his bag and we all stood up. Cilan then took out a coin and stepped infront of The Batter.

"Heads, you pitch, tails, we pitch" He said simply, before tossing the coin up. It landed in his palm on heads, so we was getting the chance to bat first.

"This will be fun. You have the most mismatched team and we have half of our baseball team, there ain't no way you will win" The Batter spoke with absolute confidence.

"We will see about that" Calem retorted, his hand shaking as if he wanted to lash out.

"Who is stepping up to the plate first?" The Batter's friend, who was pitching threw the baseball in the air and caught it.

"I'll go" Drew swung his bat up and held it firmly in two hands, before stepping up "Better keep your eyes on the sky" He said, lifting his bat into the air"

"Calling a home run is pretty cocky, you know" The Pitcher grinned and waited for the game to be started. The game was kicked off with a whistle and then The Pitcher lifted his left leg up, before stepping forward and launching the ball at Drew. Drew took a deep breath and I noticed his grip tighten as he swung the bat in a downward arc. The bat connected with the ball, sending it flying into the air. The ball went over the whole opposition and Drew slowly jogged round for a home run. The Pitcher looked frustrated and his eyes narrowed.

"I'll go" I said, standing up with the bat in my right hand.

"Be careful, Ash" Serena sounded worried. I turned my head and gave her a smile.

"Don't worry about me" I said, before walking off to bat.

"Oh" The Pitcher looked surprised "I have to pitch against someone with a handicap?"

"You sure do, but I wouldn't bet on it being easy for you" I knew I had the advantage of speed, so I could try and make a soft hit and run. No. I am going for the biggest hit possible.

"Heh. I guess I will give you my fastest pitch" The Pitcher stepped forward and hurled the ball at a rapid speed. I swung the bat forward and at the last second, pushed my left palm into the handle for extra force, so I didn't use my fingers. I thrust the bat into the ball with as much power as possible. The ball flew over into the oppositions territory and one of them picked up the ball. I sprinted to the first base, the bat bouncing off the floor as I dropped it. I stopped at first to give myself a minute, my fingers stinging a little bit from the hit.

"Nice one Ash!" Serena shouted, her hands cupped round her mouth. I raised my thumb and smiled.

We spent the next half hour batting. We had a few outs here and there but most of us got points, so we did good. Their half was very good. They had half the baseball team on their side, possible future professionals who could bat with their eyes closed with Gary pitching. They made easy work out of us and then got the first turn in the next half, gaining even more points. I was worried about there being a call for the mercy rule, but nothing happened.

"Well I have bad news..." Cilan said as we took a little break "I done some calculating and, with this being our last round, we all need to score a home run without fail in order to win"

"A one point margin.." Dawn murmured.

"Why does it have to be so dramatic?" Misty complained, sitting down on the bench.

"Well, we give it our all then" I said in an attempt to raise everyone's spirits "We may not win now, but we gave it our all. Besides, after this, they will leave us alone and we leave them alone, so lets get it over with already, ok?"

"Ok!" Everyone replied in unison, seeming a little happier. Glad that was sorted quickly. Drew stepped up and got a homerun.

"I expected no less from you" I said as he walked over.

"Isn't it your turn Ash?" Drew said with worry. It was almost impossible for me to get a homerun.

"I need to rest my hand. If you guys can all get homeruns, I can give it my all with the last bat" I cracked my knuckles and stayed in my seat.

"Guess I'll go then" Calem stood up and walked out with his bat. Homerun.

Iris. Homerun.

Serena. Homerun.

Misty. The ball was out of the park. Homerun.

Dawn scraped a homerun, making the game feel really tense. Was this actually going to happen? The comeback was on.

Everyone had got a homerun and the other team were in disbelief. The Pitcher saw me stepping up to the plate and a large grin swept over his face.

"There is no way you can get a homerun. This is over" He smirked and pitched the ball before I could react. It was his fastest pitch and the catcher behind me took it into his glove.

"Strike!"

Sweat beads began to form on my head. I felt panicked and then-

"Strike two!"

I looked around in worry, wondering how I was supposed to win.

"You can do it Ash!" Serena yelled at the top of her lungs. I looked over at her in surprise and then focused my attention on the pitcher.

"This one is for Serena" I threw the bat into the air, indicating a homerun.

"She will be disappointed" The Pitcher prepared his pitch, throwing the ball forward at me with a great amount of force. I gripped onto the bat with both hands, my two fractured fingers trailing away and not holding the bat, to try and avoid getting hurt. I swung forward with all my strength, yelling out as the ball hit the top of the bat. The bat shook and my left hand was released from the bat as it trailed over my shoulder. I instantly dropped it and sprinted away, going to the first base. The ball landed and it was picked up, but before anyone could react, I was right infront of the fourth base. I heard someone grunt as they threw the ball, so I dived forward, flying through the air. I landed over the line just before the ball was caught, securing another homerun. It felt like winning a professional cup, the comeback of the century. Everyone ran on and began cheering, the other team looking disheartened. I turned onto my back to see The Batter senior with his hand out. I grabbed it and he helped me onto my feet.

"That took a serious amount of guts, going for all those homeruns. I guess we can let this little rivalry slide" He held his hand out and I shook it firmly, with a smile.

"It was a great game. Maybe in a few years we will see you on the MLB draft, huh?"

"Maybe, just maybe" The batter replied with a grin. He turned and waved off his friends "Lets go, it's getting late"

"He is right, we all better get going" I grabbed Serena's hand and took a deep breath. I was glad to finally have got rid of the trouble and it was good to have a game of baseball. My fingers hurt like crazy and would probably now take an extra week to fully heal, but I didn't mind.

We just had a great game and defied all the odds. Maybe this year was my lucky year. Maybe it could be the perfect highschool year, just maybe.

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#ThePerfectYear

^ It will never disappear until this book is over