00:01Empty diamond seventh inning stretch. I still see you in the stands.
00:20Bottom of the ninth. We're up by one. One more out and the championship is ours.
00:25That's the ace they keep talking about.
00:36Clean mechanics. Heavy presence. He doesn't just throw. He owns the entire diamond the moment he steps on it.
00:55Most pitchers celebrate a strike. He barely reacts. Like he expected it.
01:01You're not untouchable forever.
01:09This is the only, only future I ever planned. The only crown I ever wanted.
01:13Open! Open! Open!
01:18Strike two!
01:25He never panics. Even when the ball's in the air, he already knows the outcome.
01:46Championship! Championship!
01:49You're on the ship!
02:04You're at batting my face.
02:09For a moment, it felt like he saw me.
02:15See you on the field, captain.
02:22My life was perfectly script.
02:27Money, popularity, the perfect future.
02:32I was the undisputed king of this diamond.
02:46But the moment he stepped into the batter's box, the script burned.
02:51Everyone, gather up. We have a new transfer joining us today.
02:54Noah, introduce yourself.
02:57The moment our eyes met, everything went quiet.
03:00He didn't look impressed.
03:01He didn't look nervous.
03:03He just looked at me like he already knew exactly who he was.
03:06Noah, catcher.
03:08I transferred mid-season.
03:09I'm here to play.
03:10He'll be our primary catcher from now on.
03:13Oliver, you'll be working with him closely for the upcoming tournament.
03:18Welcome to the team, Noah.
03:20Hope you can keep up with our captain.
03:21He's a bit of a perfectionist.
03:23More like obsessed with winning.
03:25You'll get used to him.
03:26I couldn't look away.
03:28He was quieter than anyone I'd ever met on this field.
03:31And somehow, that silence was louder than every cheer I'd ever received.
03:36Don't get comfortable in my stadium, new boy.
03:39My fastballs tend to break rookies.
03:42Just throw the ball, Oliver.
03:44Let's see if you can actually hit the strike zone.
03:51Battery work first.
03:53Oliver, Noah, start with fastballs.
03:55Let's see how you two sync.
04:06That catch.
04:08It wasn't just clean.
04:09It was effortless.
04:10Like he'd been reading my arm for years.
04:12I threw my best pitch.
04:14And he made it look ordinary.
04:22Good. Keep that tempo.
04:24Noah, your framing is elite.
04:25Yes, coach.
04:27Look at the captain.
04:28He'd been staring at the new catcher for five straight pitches.
04:32I've never seen Oliver this quiet during practice.
04:34Usually, he talks non-stop.
04:37Captain, you good?
04:38You've been looking at Noah like you just stole your favorite bat.
04:41I'm just evaluating the new transfer.
04:42That's all.
04:43Evaluating?
04:44You've been speechless for the last 10 minutes.
04:46If you're done evaluating me, captain, we still have more pitches to throw.
04:54Yeah.
04:55Let's keep going.
04:57I didn't know it yet.
04:59But the moment he stepped onto my field, the entire script of my life started writing itself.
05:04And for the first time, I didn't mind.
05:21Cold.
05:22Is this how the varsity captain greet everyone, or am I special?
05:28Only the ones who look about to take everything too seriously.
05:35You looked way serious, countryside.
05:37Consider it a welcome gift.
05:41You're weird, Oliver.
05:44I'm charming. Get it right.
05:48Charming people usually don't assault their teammates with ice-cold bottles.
05:52Maybe I just wanted an excuse to get closer.
05:57You're not easy to read, you know that?
06:00You're trying too hard too.
06:03Maybe I like a challenge.
06:05Then you're going to be disappointed.
06:06I don't play games.
06:08We'll see.
06:18He's louder than anyone I've met, and somehow still hard to ignore.
06:29I couldn't stop watching him.
06:31It stayed in my head longer than it should have.
06:36Captain, you good?
06:37You've been quiet since the new catcher showed up.
06:40I'm fine.
06:42Just thinking about the tournament.
06:51Why does he move like that?
06:54Like nothing in this room can touch him.
06:56Like I'm the only one who can't look away.
07:01Noah.
07:06Why do you keep looking at me like you already know me?
07:10Why do you look so calm when you're one who's been ruining my focus since the day you arrived?
07:14I'm just standing here, Captain.
07:16If your focus breaks that easily because of me, maybe you're not as untouchable as everyone thinks.
07:25You talk like nothing gets to you.
07:27Like you don't feel any of this.
07:33I feel it.
07:35I just don't let it control me the way you do.
07:37There's a difference.
07:41Then tell me why I can't stop thinking about doing this.
07:47If you're going to do something, Captain, then do it.
07:52Or step back.
07:57Coach is calling for a quick meeting outside.
07:59Look scared.
08:01He looked like he was waiting to see if I had the courage.
08:08Don't start something you can't finish, Oliver.
08:11He walked away like nothing happened, but I could still feel the heat of him against that locker.
08:16And I knew I was already in too deep.
08:21I preferred walking alone.
08:25Slate, it was quiet that way.
08:29Less noise.
08:30Less people trying to figure me out.
08:41Of course.
08:46There he was again, looking completely unbothered by the mess around him, while I felt my pulse jump for no
08:52good reason.
08:55Don't move.
08:56I've got it.
09:00I can handle my own weight, Captain.
09:02You don't need to rescue me every time something falls.
09:04I'm not rescuing you, I'm just...
09:06Here.
09:06Is that so hard to accept?
09:08It's not hard.
09:09It's just unexpected.
09:11Oliver.
09:12Let go.
09:13People are starting to stare at us.
09:15Let them stare.
09:16You're a beast with a bat, Noah.
09:18But a complete clite the second you step off the field.
09:20Need me to carry the rest of your bag?
09:22You look like you're balancing half a library.
09:23No, I'm perfectly capable, but...
09:26You always say thank you like you're surprised anyone would help you.
09:29Maybe I am.
09:30I told myself I was just being a good captain.
09:33Helping a teammate.
09:35But the way my chest felt when he looked at me...
09:37That wasn't leadership.
09:39That was something else entirely.
09:44Training with Caleb always felt easy.
09:46No tension.
09:47No hidden meanings.
09:49Just work.
09:52Three more.
09:53Keep your elbows tight.
09:54You're looking strong today.
09:57There he was again.
09:59And someone else's hands were on him.
10:06I've got him, Caleb.
10:08Go worry about your own sets.
10:10Alright, captain.
10:11Didn't realize it was a private session.
10:13I've got you.
10:16I was fine with Caleb spotting me.
10:18Caleb was doing a fine job, Oliver.
10:20Stop using your captain title to throw tantrums in the gym.
10:23It's childish.
10:26I just don't like him touching you.
10:29Then don't look.
10:30He didn't raise his voice.
10:32He didn't push me away.
10:33He just looked it like he already knew exactly what I was feeling.
10:36And refused to make it easier for me.
10:38If you're gonna stay, spot properly.
10:40Don't just stand there trying to claim territory.
10:43He wasn't mine to claim.
10:45Not yet.
10:46But every time someone else got close to him.
10:49It felt like something was taken from me that I hadn't even earned the right to keep.
10:53Through the long and lonely nights.
10:56This is our home run.
10:58Can you feel it now?
11:00Every heartbeat, a roaring crowd.
11:04Round the bases, take a final bow.
11:08And bring this moment home somehow.
Comments