Baseball Bat

"It's alright, Aubrey... I promise from now on, I'll always be there for you!"

- Kel reassuring Aubrey.

Baseball Bat is the het ship between Kel and Aubrey from the Omori fandom.

Canon
When both were younger, Kel and Aubrey often fought and argued over pointless details. These predicaments often followed them in their Headspace versions. Nonetheless, they still cared about each other and remained friends throughout their childhood. Hero has expressed that though they fight, it does not mean they have a bad or negative relationship. Hero was the one to always resolve their fights and bickering. After Mari's death, they quickly grew apart and stopped communicating with each other. Aubrey became more hostile towards Kel and those around her, and in four years Aubrey had made a reputation of being a town bully.

During the game, Kel discovers their childhood friend Basil is being bullied by Aubrey and her new group, the Hooligans. Once learning she stole Basil's photo album, Kel, alongside the protagonist Sunny, spends the majority of the real world sections fighting Aubrey. In Three Days Left, after learning she stole the photo album, Kel and Sunny spend the day fighting The Hooligans for Aubrey's location. Eventually, the two confront Aubrey who is at church. Aubrey becomes upset that Kel suddenly jumped back into her life after four years, explaining he had moved on too quickly from Mari's death, while she still struggles to find peace. When Kel apologizes for not being there for her, Aubrey rejects him and tries to leave. Kel calls her a thief and intercepts, which breaks out into a fight. After hearing enough malicious gossip from churchgoers, Aubrey runs away crying. Kel admits he knows she has been "messed up" lately and he feels sorry for her. Shortly after, Kel and Sunny see her throw the photo album in her garbage bin, and the two retrieve it.

The day later, Basil goes missing. Kel and Sunny find him at the secret lake, where Aubrey and the Hooligans crowd around Basil. Kel accuses Aubrey of bullying again, and for her to "drop the tough guy act," claiming she still cares about Kel and her old friends since she brought the Hooligans to the lake, their childhood hangout spot. Aubrey has a meltdown and, in a fit of rage, pushes Basil into the lake. Kel asks Sunny to save Basil while he deals with Aubrey. Instead, Kel's brother Hero helps and urges the two boys to get Basil home, leaving an emotional Aubrey behind.

Aubrey refuses to leave her house the next day. Her best friend Kim goes to Kel’s house and claims it is somehow his fault. While Kel is reluctant to do so, he and Sunny follow Hero to try to talk to Aubrey. Kel and Aubrey break out into another argument but Hero steps in, assuring the two can reconcile because all of this was just a “typical Kel and Aubrey fight.” After looking at the photo album together and reminiscing their fun childhood, the two sincerely apologize to each other. They visit their childhood treehouse, where Aubrey admits how angry she felt that her friends moved on from Mari’s death, and how it felt like they had abandoned her. Kel apologizes again for being a “crappy” friend, promising to always be there for her. With Hero, he initiates a group hug with her.

Headspace

 * In the Neighbor’s Room, Aubrey complains about how Kel hid her stuffed toy, Mr. Plantegg, and doesn’t understand he picks on her. Once Omori retrieves the toy, Kel reveals he stole it because Aubrey teased him about a mole somewhere on his body.
 * Kel tells Aubrey he doesn’t like her crying when she worries about Basil going missing. He successfully comforts her, but gets embarrassed and calls her creepy when she smiles at him.
 * Kel becomes annoyed as Aubrey teasingly asks Omori if he will protect her.
 * As Aubrey stresses over secretarial work at the Last Resort, Kel calms her down by doing breathing exercises. Though she snaps out of it with Kel’s help, she credits Omori for saving her which prompts Kel to ask, “what about me!?”
 * When Aubrey stands in the Last Resort cardboard cutout, Kel calls Aubrey dreamy.
 * When Kel stands in the Last Resort cardboard cutout, he exclaims he will get all the girls with his big muscles. Aubrey becomes annoyed and retorts with, “not like that, you won’t.”
 * Inside the Deep Well, the party worries about their fuzzy memories of Basil. Aubrey and Kel agree to give Basil a hug once they are reunited with him. Hero points out it is nice to see the two get along for a change, to which both of them turn away from each other flustered.

Faraway

 * When Basil’s caretaker Polly expresses how happy she is that Basil has friends who care so much, Kel comments that friends are supposed to be there for each other. He sheepishly adds, “right, Aubrey?” to which she quietly agrees.
 * At the picnic by the secret lake, Kel contemplates how weird he and Aubrey are still friends despite fighting often. The two are confused as to why, but Hero explains their candidness means they are comfortable with each other, and admires how “special” their relationship is. Kel calls their dynamic annoying instead, angering Aubrey who calls him an idiot.
 * At the south side of the crossroads, Kel recalls everyone’s first meeting with Aubrey where the pink pinwheel is located. He fondly remembers “cute little Aubrey with her little pink bow” like “it was yesterday.” Aubrey asks if her cuteness was why he used to pick on her, to which Kel denies ever doing so. Aubrey is skeptical of his answer.
 * After everyone decides to stay over at Basil’s for the night, Aubrey asks why Kel gets the couch. He tells her because he called it first and Aubrey wordlessly punches him. The next scene shows only Aubrey on the couch, implying Kel gives her the couch.
 * Kel calls her a softie at their sleepover, flustering Aubrey. Later, when Kel mumbles for everyone to go to sleep, Aubrey giggles and tells everyone a good night.
 * In the beach flashback during Memory Lane, Aubrey and Kel spit watermelon seeds at each other’s faces. When Hero tries to stop them, Mari assures the two are teasing each other just how she and Hero acted when they were younger, implying Aubrey and Kel have a potentially romantic relationship like Mari and Hero.

Quotes

 * Kel – “Aww... Aubrey, come on! I don't like it when you cry! Cheer up! On the outside, Basil may seem really soft, but he's actually pretty strong on the inside. Basil can take care of himself! You should believe in him a little more!”
 * Aubrey – “Sniff... Well, when you put it that way... ... Okay, I'll try to believe in Basil... Thanks, Kel. Hehe...”
 * Kel – “Ahh! Don't smile at me! It's creepy!"
 * Aubrey – “You're creepy! Hmph!"
 * — Kel attempting to cheer Aubrey up, at the picnic near Basil's house in Headspace.


 * Hero – “Aww... It's nice to see you two getting along so well for a change. I could hug the both of you right now!”
 * Aubrey – “H-Huh!? Me and Kel... G-Get along?”
 * Kel – “W-What are you talking about, Hero? Stop being weird!"
 * Hero – “Haha... Relax you two. I'm just playing around."
 * — Hero teasing Aubrey and Kel in the Deep Well.

"It's alright, Aubrey... I promise from now on, I'll always be there for you!"

- Kel making up to Aubrey, One Day Left.


 * Kel – “I've been thinking... We get into fights all the time, huh?"
 * Aubrey – “Yeah, we do..."
 * Kel – “But even after everything, we're still friends, right?"
 * Aubrey – “Yeah... I guess we are..."
 * Kel – “Huh... Isn't that weird?"
 * Aubrey – “Maybe... I don't know..."
 * Hero – “Heh heh... Oh, you two... That just means that you two are really comfortable around each other. I'm a little jealous you two can be so candid even after all this time. I think that's something really special."
 * Kel – “Really? I was just about to say that I find it kind of annoying..."
 * Aubrey – “... Ugh... you're such an idiot."
 * — Picnic at the secret lake, One Day Left.


 * Kel – “Awww... Cute little Aubrey with her little pink bow! I remember her just like it was yesterday..."
 * Aubrey – “Hmph! You thought I was cute, huh? Is that why you were always picking on me?"
 * Kel – “H-Huh? Where'd you get that idea? I never picked on you when we were kids!"
 * Aubrey – “Uh huh... Sure, Kel."
 * — Kel reminiscing young Aubrey at the pink pinwheel, One Day Left.


 * Kel – “Heh, heh... Hero's always been such a big softie... Just like you, Aubrey.”
 * Aubrey – “W-WHAT DID YOU SAY!?”
 * Hero – “Haha... It's nice to hang out like this again. I've been so busy with school and studying. I don't really have time to make friends anymore."
 * Aubrey – “... Well... You'll always have us... I guess."
 * Kel – “See... I was right! Look who's the softie now!"
 * Aubrey – “Hmph..."
 * — During the sleepover at Basil's, One Day Left.

"Let them play, Hero. They're just teasing each other. Remember how we were when we were younger? I used to hide bugs in your desk all the time just to see your reaction! You were always so funny."

- Mari comparing Kel and Aubrey's relationship to her and Hero's, Memory Lane at the beach.

Fanon
Fans of Baseball Bat see the romantic nature between Kel and Aubrey from their bickering. Kel's tendencies to annoy Aubrey is similar to the stereotype of a boy picking on his crush, although Aubrey has her fair share of teasing Kel back, which shows hints of mutual attraction. Another aspect is their hot-and-cold relationship: fans find the two’s misunderstandings, whether as friends or enemies, appealing. Their petty fights can be interpreted as sexual tension, especially once they are friends again, and it raises questions among fans about their true feelings for each other.

However, Baseball Bat is overall divisive in the OMORI fandom. Many fans dislike the ship or view it as only platonic. Opponents of the ship see Kel and Aubrey as incompatible, citing their constant fights and Aubrey’s violence towards Kel. Furthermore, popular ships like Sunburn, Suntan and Kimbrey have overshadowed Baseball Bat. Popular headcanons undermine the ship, such as Kel being gay, aromantic and/or asexual, and Aubrey’s preference for Sunny or Kim. While Baseball Bat isn’t widely popular in the fandom, it tends to be supported by Sunflower shippers.

The ship name Baseball Bat derives from Aubrey’s weapon, a baseball bat, and Kel’s inclination for ball sports. Other names like Homerun refer to Aubrey’s baseball bat and Kel’s speed, while Kelbrey is simply a combination of their first names. Uncommon names like FireBall or Tanburn, FireBall comes from Aubrey's fire theme in the fandom and ball comes from Kel's love of sports, for Tanburn it comes from "Suntan" and "Sunburn".

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Trivia

 * Kel is one of the few people who regularly comforts Aubrey when she’s down, along with Mari and Hero.
 * Aubrey and Kel have matching Captain Spaceboy posters in their rooms.
 * The two used to visit Hobbeez together, as seen in Sunny's hallucination of them at Hobbeez on Two Days Left.

Variations

 * Eclipse refers to the ship between the two and Basil
 * Secret Hangout refers to the ship between the two, Basil, Hero, Mari and Sunny
 * Sunscreen refers to the ship between the two and Sunny
 * Sunshine refers to the ship between the two, Sunny and Basil
 * Orange Jawbreaker refers to the ship between the two, Sunny and Kim