Spencer didn't know a thing about baseball.

She didn't understand sports in general as someone who didn't find them that interesting and didn't regularly partake in physical activities herself, therefore found it exhausting to watch. The only sport she occasionally watched was F1, and that only happened when she woke up in the middle of the night to find her sister curled up in front of the TV for a race happening halfway around the world. Spencer waited up with her for solidarity but always fell asleep before the chequered flag.

When Sakura surprised her that morning with tickets to see the Giants' opening game of the 2025 season, she was surprised by the genuine joy that rushed over her. If she had to be convinced to attend a sporting event, she preferred the idea of a baseball game over something like football. She imagined baseball fans to be slightly less... frightening.

"My friend and I went to the last Athletics game at the Coliseum last September," Sakura said while rummaging through her closet in search of Giants-appropriate attire. If Spencer had known they were going, she could have packed the singular orange t-shirt she owned. "It was so sad. You could tell how devastated everyone was. End of an era."

She leaned back for a moment, pointing at the pinboard hanging on the wall beside her. Spencer stood and walked over to see the FINAL GAME home plate pin sitting front and center, surrounded by various other pins. Elphaba and Glinda, pride flags, cable cars and Golden Gate Bridges, the Radish Spirit, Moana (many times), Stitch (many more times), and the Fellowship's Eleven leaf brooches, among many others.

The area around the board was where she tacked up a bunch of postcards. Not only one style or subject matter, but a true collage of all the interests that kept Sakura's heart beating. Spencer knew this would be something she missed most when she returned home, being able to wake up every morning, stop by this wall, and let something new catch her eye.

"Who are we playing today?" Spencer asked. As if she were part of San Francisco and not the mere guest she was.

"Seattle."

"... Seahawks?"

"Mariners." Sakura laughed.

"Close enough."

Sakura directed her to stand closer, and she alternated between two different options. Both were Giants-licensed merchandise. Both were perfectly acceptable, nondescript options that didn't require that kind of lingering consideration, yet Spencer stood there with Sakura deciding on which would look best, and she felt light and fluttery during every second of it.

"I've never been to Seattle," Spencer said after clearing her throat.

"You've never been to a lot of places," Sakura teased. She tossed the rejected shirt into a pile on the floor of her closet. "We should go some time. You'd love it. Beautifully green, freshest air. The Pacific Northwest is to die for. So many Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders live there."

Spencer almost stopped herself from indulging in the idea that there isn't five years' worth of baggage between them but ultimately decided against it. If she wanted to pretend like this kind of spontaneous trip was a regular occurrence just to make it through whatever awaits her, she'll do it, and it'll feel good.

"I could probably do September," she said with a shrug.

"And I'll hold you to it."

Spencer spun around as quickly as she could move when Sakura started lifting her pajama shirt over her head without warning. She wore a bra underneath and it wasn't like they hadn't changed in front of each other before, having known each other for most of their lives, but she still kept her back to her. Spencer counted for three seconds, allowing her brain to stop running on overdrive, before following suit.

They turned back around once their baseball outfits were in place. Spencer looked like she was wearing a costume, while casually cool Sakura looked immaculate. Spencer didn't voice any of that thought because she knew Sakura would have scolded her for the unnecessary comparison. The picture-taking was her progress for the week. Spencer didn't want to push it.

"Ready to go?" Sakura clipped her carabiner hooked to her keys onto her left belt loop.

Ignoring the weight of this being the penultimate day of her San Francisco trip, Spencer nodded. The shirt smelled like Sakura, so Spencer smelled like Sakura.

"Ready," she confirmed.

Sakura stopped Spencer by the front door to adjust the clip holding her bangs back. She returned the favor as they were matching.

She couldn't remember who smiled first, but soon they were holding hands and walking out the door together. Like old times, except not.

"I went to one UH baseball game and it was so hot, I thought I was gonna get eaten by vultures."

Sakura stared at her, biting her lip.

"They were regular birds, obviously—"

"Whatever regular birds means."

"—and I also wasn't a decaying carcass. But you couldn't convince me that they weren't circling above, just waiting for me to die."

They stood in a long line stretched all the way back at a gate overlooking the water. Thankfully, neither of them brought bags so they didn't have to worry about checking them in for the duration of the game. People huddled together in their groups, awaiting entrance to their nighttime festivities. Despite not being a sports person, Spencer was excited to see the Giants play. Sakura seemed mildly interested enough, both due to her ownership of their Giants gear and the way her eyes kept bouncing around, taking everything in.

"When did you get into baseball?" Spencer asked.

"I'm bisexual, babe."

She shoved her. "You're a bisexual who played the trumpet and did color guard during marching band season because you were scared you'd trip and somehow choke on your mouthpiece."

Sakura hid behind her smile rather poorly. "A rational fear, I think."

"As rational as being scared of vultures feasting on me in Hawai'i. You're not a baseball bisexual," Spencer said matter-of-factly.

Sakura stepped forward as the line began to move; the gates had opened. "I could be. Maybe I already am."

This time, Spencer stopped and stared.

"Fine." Sakura huffed. "If you must know... I was dating this girl who liked baseball."

"Oh? And where is she now?"

Sakura hooked her arm with Spencer's. "Quit her too. Started a new routine."

"That's too bad."

"Not really." Sakura shrugged. "She sucked. I still get great tickets. Win, win."

Spencer searched her brain for something to say but came up empty. Was she supposed to console her? Say sorry? She made no indication of how recent this failed relationship was, or whether she was also currently nursing a broken heart because of it. Maybe she needed to be better about asking questions herself instead of wallowing in her misery.

An ugly cartoon crab stared down at her from one of the food stalls on the upper level.

Spencer rolled her eyes at it. Crazy Crab.

Once inside, the line dispersed enough to see more than a few inches in front of them. They had more than enough time to explore the ballpark at their own pace. The first order of business was taking pictures in front of the Giants logo not far from the entrance. Someone had even offered to take one of them together, sun shining right in their eyes and their arms wrapped around each other's shoulders. The pictures came out nice; how happy they made Spencer was even better.

Compared to the Aloha Stadium back home, which had been condemned around the time Sakura moved away and was slated to be demolished later that year, Oracle Park looked like Disney World. It had different areas to play games and breathtaking views over the water. It even had a cable car that patrons were allowed to hop on, which let Spencer take even more pictures.

On the way to their seats, they made a pit stop for hot dogs. Because a major league baseball game was not complete with the classic hot dog experience.

"Can I swap out for garlic fries too, please," Spencer said at the counter.

Sakura pulled out her wallet. "And she'll take the souvenir cup as well. Thank you."

"Oh, you don't have to—"

Spencer reached for her purse, but Sakura swatted her hand away. The cashier looked on at them, unamused, and stuck their hand out after repeating an astronomical total for the amount of food they had ordered.

"On me tonight," she said.

"But you bought the tickets," Spencer whined.

"How about... you buy me a drink later then, huh?" Sakura smiled.

Well, when she put it that way. That smile and a drink. Spencer couldn't say no to that.