andy

mostly sfw but we’ll see.

Shohei is the one to get frustrated with himself when he’s not performing well.

And Yoshinobu tends to blame it on himself when he’s not in control.

Both of them are hard in themselves, but with each other, they seem to relax.

Everytime Yoshinobu is not feeling good about his command, Shohei is the first one to console him and stay by his side for the entire game. In between innings, in the dugout, in the quiet walk to the locker room and even with just a glance across the clubhouse: i’m here. like he’s silently anchoring him to the earth.

On the other side, Shohei is good at hiding his frustration and feelings in general. He’s always joking around and moving through the dugout. The team has never really seen him show negative emotions in these past years. But Yoshinobu knows. He knows when Shohei is upset. He knows when he’s not feeling himself even if the seems happy. He knows his façade.

Yoshinobu is all about words and talking when it’s about Shohei. He will likely wait until he’s alone in the dugout or when no one is paying attention to them and say “You are doing good, don’t be so hard on yourself” as he hands him a cup of water like it’s nothing. But it’s everything.

No one understands him as well as Yoshinobu does. Nobody understands the pressure of being THE Shohei Ohtani. But he knows Yoshinobu can tell just by looking at him what he is feeling, he looks right through him. Shohei can’t afford to be vulnerable in front of millions and millions of people, but when he’s with Yoshinobu, he can.

When he looks into the younger’s eyes, all he sees is honesty. Yoshinobu doesn’t see him as THE Ohtani, the best player in baseball, the founder of the 50/50 club, the most popular player in the world… Yoshinobu just sees him as Shohei, the guy he met playing the sport he loves, the guy who loves his dog and nerdy manga, the guy who likes to have fun with his teammates, the guy who gives more than he gets and keeps giving.

Shohei is glad that Yoshinobu is the one to know him that well. He’s glad he’s the only person he can be vulnerable with.

And Yoshinobu is glad is Shohei, of all people, is him.

everything is loud noise in shohei’s life, but yoshinobu helps numb it all out when he’s with him.