Chapter Text
That night, the sky over Nagano Prefecture was covered in dark, heavy clouds. A cold wind swept across the Sawamura family’s yard, and the calm that had once filled the house was suddenly replaced by chaos.
“Aaah… Hiroshi…!” Haruko clutched her stomach tightly, enduring wave after wave of pain. Her breathing grew faster with every contraction.
“H-Haruko! Just wait a moment! I’ll get the bag!” Hiroshi rushed back and forth inside the house, his face pale with panic. The overnight bag nearly slipped from his hands before he quickly caught it again.
“Calm down!” Sawamura Eitoku shouted, already grabbing the car keys.
“Instead of running around like a headless chicken, hurry up and get Haruko to the hospital!”
“Y-Yes!”
Eitoku’s wife gently supported Haruko as she walked slowly out of the house, carefully guiding her into the back seat of the car.
The moment the engine started, Eitoku immediately drove toward Nagano Hospital. Inside the car, Hiroshi sat beside Haruko, holding her hand tightly. His voice was low and steady as he tried to calm her.
“It’s okay… we’re almost there… just hold on a little longer, Haruko.”
During the journey, Eitoku’s wife quickly called both of Haruko’s parents.
“Hello? Haruko has gone into labor. We’re on our way to the hospital now.”
“We’re coming right away!” The call ended.
In that moment, both families shared one silent hope—that both mother and child would make it through safely.
Upon arriving at Nagano Hospital, several nurses immediately rushed toward Haruko with a wheelchair.
Without wasting any time, they helped her sit down before swiftly pushing her toward the delivery room, carrying all the necessary documents with them.
Hiroshi could only watch as his wife was taken away. The moment the delivery room door closed, he let out a long breath.
“We’ll wait outside,” Sawamura Eitoku said, patting his son’s shoulder.
They all moved to the designated waiting area. Several other men were already there, sitting in silence, each wearing expressions filled with anxiety and anticipation, all waiting for news from the delivery room.
Not long after, both of Haruko’s parents arrived from Omachi, their footsteps hurried and heavy.
“Sawamura-san!” they called out as soon as they entered the waiting area.Everyone turned toward them.
“How is Haruko doing?” her father asked anxiously.
“We’re not sure,” Mrs. Sawamura replied softly. “The nurses took her straight into the delivery room as soon as we arrived.”
The waiting area fell silent once again. Only the sound of doctors and nurses moving in and out of the delivery room echoed through the hospital corridor. The clock on the wall ticked on, as if deliberately slowing time for those waiting.
Hiroshi, meanwhile, kept staring at the delivery room door. His expression looked even more anxious than on the day of his wedding.
A few minutes later… “Waa…! Waa…!”
The cry of a newborn baby finally echoed in the hospital corridor.
Soon, a female doctor, accompanied by two nurses, walked towards the waiting room.
“Excuse me, who is Mrs. Sawamura’s family?” the doctor asked.
As soon as he heard her family name, Hiroshi immediately stood up. “I… I’m her husband,” he said, his voice trembling slightly. “How are my wife and child, doctor?”
The doctor smiled gently. “Don’t worry. Both your wife and child are in stable and healthy condition. You can come in and see them now.”
He paused for a moment before adding with a warm smile. “And… congratulations. You have been blessed with a very healthy and cute baby boy.”
Hiroshi’s face immediately lit up with joy. "Thank you, doctor!”
He quickly turned to his family. “Oto-san! Oka-san! I… I have a son! Did you hear? I have a son!”
“Calm down,” Eitoku said, shaking his head. “You’ll disturb the other patients.”
“Go ahead. Didn’t the doctor give you permission?”
“Yes!” Hiroshi quickly ran towards the delivery room.
As soon as he stepped inside, he saw Haruko lying on the bed, her face pale from exhaustion. But a soft and happy smile still spread across her lips.
In her arms, a baby boy was calmly nursing. Occasionally, the baby lifted his face, revealing a pair of golden-yellow eyes that stared directly at Hiroshi.
“So cute…” Hiroshi whispered as he gently touched the baby’s cheek. Then he looked at his wife.
“Are you okay?”Haruko nodded slowly. “I’m okay… just a little tired. Look at him… he’s so cute, right? His eyes are big and beautiful too.”
“Yeah… he really is cute.”Hiroshi gently held his wife’s hand.
“Thank you… for bringing our child into this world.”
Haruko only smiled softly in response.
A little while later, a nurse entered the room. “Mr. Sawamura, we will be transferring your wife and child to a regular ward. You may wait for them in Ward B.”
“Alright. Thank you.” Hiroshi stepped out to inform the rest of the family.
“Haruko and the baby have been moved to Ward B. Let’s go.” Without hesitation, both families made their way to the ward.
The moment the door opened, all eyes turned toward the baby boy lying peacefully beside his mother.
The newborn, who should have been asleep, slowly opened his eyes. With a pair of golden-yellow irises, he looked around at every family member one by one.
“How cute…” Haruko’s mother said with a warm smile.“Have you two decided on a name for him yet?”
Hiroshi and Haruko exchanged glances, then smiled.“Yes. We’ve already agreed. His name is… Sawamura Eijun.”
“Eijun…” her mother repeated softly. “What a beautiful name.”
She gently stroked the baby’s head. “Hello, Eijun… welcome to the world.”
Hai, Oba-san… we meet again.
The morning was quiet and peaceful. Warm sunlight spread across the earth while birds chirped softly in the distance, breaking the silence of dawn. Roosters crowed from afar, signaling the beginning of a new day.
A cool morning breeze drifted through the village, carrying fresh air that filled every corner of the countryside. Everything felt calm almost as if the world itself was celebrating the birth of new life.
The same peaceful morning light slipped through the windows of the Sawamura family’s traditional home. Inside the room, a baby boy barely a week old stirred awake after finishing his feeding. His round golden eyes slowly opened, scanning his surroundings with quiet curiosity.
A moment later, the sliding door opened gently. Mrs. Sawamura stepped inside, carrying a tray of breakfast for her daughter-in-law. A soft smile always rested on her face.
“Is Ei-chan awake?” she asked, looking at her grandson.
“Yes, Oka-san,” Haruko replied with a smile. “He woke up after feeding and didn’t want to sleep again.”
Her gaze never left her son’s face. Eijun’s big eyes and long eyelashes made her smile to herself. 'If it weren’t for the fact that he’s a boy… people might think I gave birth to a girl' she thought quietly.
“It’s fine. You should eat while the food is still warm,” Mrs. Sawamura said.
“I’ll take Ei-chan to the living room. It’s good for him to get some morning sunlight. Old folks say morning sun brings blessings for growing babies.” Carefully, she lifted Eijun and carried him out of the room.
“Alright, Oka-san. I’ll take a shower after eating.”
“Be careful. Ka-san has already prepared your bath.”
“Okay.”
In the living room of the Sawamura family’s traditional house, the sliding doors were fully opened. Morning sunlight filled the neatly laid tatami mats.
Mrs. Sawamura placed Eijun gently on a prepared baby cushion. A soft morning breeze drifted through the room, making the atmosphere even more peaceful.
Since the room was quiet, she reached for the remote control and turned on the television.
Coincidentally, a live broadcast of the Summer Baseball Tournament was airing.
Without realizing it, Eijun’s attention was immediately drawn to the screen.
“Seidou…”
On the screen, Seidou High School was facing Ichidaisan in a tense, high-stakes match.But the Eijun’s golden eyes widened slightly.
“…Huh?” The person standing in Seidou’s dugout was not Coach Kataoka, as Eijun remembered.
Instead Coach Sakaki stood firmly in front of the Seidou players, giving instructions before the game resumed.
Seeing that, Eijun’s expression slowly changed. “What is happening?”
“…Ah.” Only then did Eijun remember. The age gap between him and Kataoka at this point was nearly eighteen years. It was entirely possible that the coach was still pursuing his university studies. If his memory was correct, Yuki Tetsuya had also once studied at the same university before later joining Seidou’s coaching staff.
His gaze returned to the television. Even though Seidou was now being led by Sakaki instead of Kataoka, Eijun could clearly see the difference in their leadership styles.
Sakaki gave direct, immediate instructions to the players, while Kataoka preferred to guide them through trust and in-game experience. However, both shared the same goal—to bring Seidou to Koshien and restore its status as one of Japan’s high school baseball powerhouses.
The game had now entered the eighth inning.
A batter from Ichidaisan stepped into the right-handed batter’s box, locking his eyes onto Seidou’s pitcher.
“Let him hit it!”
“Stay calm and pitch!”
The cheers of the crowd echoed from every corner of the stadium.
The young pitcher took a deep breath. Although his expression looked calm, Eijun could see the weight he was carrying behind those eyes.
'I understand that feeling… Eijun thought quietly. I’ve also stood on the mound with thousands of eyes staring at me.'
The pitcher nodded after receiving the catcher’s sign. He inhaled slowly, then exhaled, focusing entirely on the catcher’s mitt, then.
Whoosh!
The ball shot forward.
'BAMM' The catcher cleanly received it.
“Strike one!”
The pitcher let out a quiet breath of relief. At least he had secured the first strike.
The catcher gave another sign. This time, the target was low and inside the strike zone.
The pitcher nodded again without hesitation. He wound up and released.
Whoosh!
Clang!
The batter made contact—but the ball flew foul, landing outside the baseline.
“Foul ball!”
Now the batter was down to his final chance.
The catcher gave one last sign. The pitcher took a deep breath and delivered with full confidence.
The pitch looked like a fastball at first—but just a few meters before reaching the batter, it suddenly dropped sharply.
A forkball…
Eijun’s eyes widened slightly.
The batter swung but missed completely.
“Strike three! Batter out!”
The umpire’s voice echoed across the stadium.
All three fielders quickly returned to the dugout as Seidou prepared for their turn at bat.
The first batter of Seidou stepped into the box, bowing slightly toward the umpire and catcher before taking his stance.
Just as Eijun was about to see how his former senpai would face Ichidaisan’s pitcher, his focus was suddenly broken by the sound of footsteps returning from the fields.
Hiroshi had come back from the farm with Eitoku and the others. Without realizing that Eijun was watching television, Hiroshi walked straight into the living room and changed the channel.
“Waaah…! Waaah!” Eijun’s cry immediately filled the house.
Haruko, who had been resting in the bedroom, quickly came out. “Ei-chan, what’s wrong?” She tried to carry him, soothe him, even nurse him again but his crying did not stop.
Seeing this, Mrs. Sawamura, who had just come out from the kitchen, furrowed her brows and reached for the remote control.
“You know… your child was watching TV, and you went and changed the channel.”With a small shake of her head, she switched the television back to the live baseball broadcast.
Almost magically, the moment the broadcast returned, Eijun’s crying slowly subsided until it finally stopped completely.
The living room fell into silence. Hiroshi stared at his son in disbelief. “Seriously? He’s only a week old, and he already likes baseball?”
His grandfather, Sawamura Eitoku, let out a soft chuckle as he looked at his grandson.“If baseball truly becomes his path in life, Ojiisan will always support him.”
Haruko gently stroked Eijun’s head, who had already calmed down.“Kaa-san will too. As long as Ei-chan is happy, we’ll always be behind him.”
Eijun simply stared at the television quietly.
'Thank you… at least I didn’t miss the continuation of the match.'He smiled inwardly.
He knew his family would always support whatever he chose to love. No matter how far the road ahead might be, they would always stand behind him.
From that day onward, Sawamura Hiroshi began buying baseball-themed toys for Eijun. By the time he reached one month old, a soft baby-safe baseball was always placed beside him.
At first, Eijun could only stare at it. Even though he desperately wanted to hold it, his tiny hands were still too small. All he could do was wait for his body to grow a little more.
A few weeks later, as his grip strength improved, Eijun finally managed to hold the ball for the first time.
“Eh?” Haruko blinked in surprise. “Hiroshi, look… he’s holding it with his left hand.”
Hiroshi observed his son before smiling. “Looks like Ei-chan is left-handed.”
They weren’t particularly knowledgeable about sports, but they knew that left-handed athletes often had advantages in sports like badminton, tennis, football, volleyball, and baseball.
“To me, it doesn’t matter whether he uses his right or left hand,” Hiroshi said gently, patting his child’s head. “As long as Ei-chan grows up healthy.”
Haruko nodded with a soft smile. For her, seeing Eijun grow up happily was more than enough.
When Eijun reached five months old and began learning to roll over, Nobu’s mother and Wakana’s mother came to visit, bringing their babies along.
Wakana had thick hair tied into two cute pigtails, decorated with small accessories, while Nobu was held in his mother’s arms, looking around curiously.
“Let’s place all three of them together,” Mrs. Sawamura suggested with a gentle smile.
Following her idea, Wakana and Nobu were placed on the same mat as Eijun so they could play together.
Seeing both babies in front of him, Eijun immediately reached out his left hand toward Wakana. Driven by a baby’s natural curiosity, he gently tugged at one of her colorful hair ties decorated with accessories.
At the same time, Nobu, who was sitting beside him, grabbed Eijun’s hand and instinctively put it into his mouth just as babies often do when exploring the world around them.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks slowly into months. Every day, Eijun was spoiled by his grandmother. He himself acknowledged how much he loved her. Every word and piece of advice she gave him was carefully stored in his heart, as if he feared he might forget them one day.
From a very young age, Eijun was often accompanied by his father, Sawamura Hiroshi, or his grandfather, Sawamura Eitoku, when playing catch in the yard. Between the ages of two and three, they never allowed him to play without adult supervision.
As he approached the age of four, his development became increasingly noticeable.
While playing catch with his father and grandfather, almost every throw he made landed precisely against their chests. Even though his child’s strength was still limited, the accuracy of his throws was impressive.
“His throws are really accurate,” Hiroshi said with a smile.
Eitoku nodded slowly. “This boy… he really seems to have talent.”
After discussing it together, the Sawamura family eventually decided to enroll Eijun in a local children’s baseball club once he was old enough.
At the age of four, Eijun officially joined the baseball club. During the first two weeks, he was taught the basics of batting using a tee before being allowed to join group training with other children. Slowly but surely, he learned how to catch, hit, run, and understand the fundamentals of baseball.
Within just five months, his progress far exceeded the coach’s expectations. Seeing his natural ability, the coach smiled and asked, “Sawamura-kun, if you could choose, what position would you like to play?”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Eijun’s eyes lit up. “Pitcher!” The answer came out instantly, without a trace of doubt. Deep in his heart, there had only ever been one position he wanted.
The pitcher’s mound.
Knowing that Eijun was interested in becoming a pitcher, the coach asked him to step onto the mound for the first time.
The moment he began his pitching motion, all eyes were drawn to him. His right leg rose high into the air, yet his small body remained perfectly balanced without the slightest hint of losing control. His left hand stayed hidden behind his body before swinging forward in one smooth, fluid motion.
Whoosh!
BAMM!
The ball shot straight into the catcher's mitt without the catcher needing to move his glove even an inch.
The entire field fell silent. The coach stared at Eijun for a long moment before a smile slowly spread across his face.
"This kid... he's a natural pitcher."From that day on, Eijun was given more opportunities to pitch during practices and friendly games. Although he was still very young, the talent he possessed was impossible to ignore.
Outside the baseball field, however, Eijun was just an ordinary child. He spent his days playing with Wakana, Nobu, and the other children in the village. They caught rhinoceros beetles in the forest, fished in the river, climbed trees, and ran around until the sun began to set.
Whenever he returned home, he always brought back a little "treasure" to show his grandmother a rhinoceros beetle, a small fish, or wild fruits he had found in the mountains.Eijun also loved helping his grandmother and the people in the village.
Whenever he saw someone struggling to carry heavy baskets of crops, he would immediately offer to help. If a neighbor needed a hand, he was always one of the first to show up. He never expected anything in return.
To him, simply being able to help someone was more than enough.
His cheerful personality, hardworking nature, and genuine kindness made him well known throughout the village. No matter where he went, someone would always greet him with a warm smile.
“Ei-chan! Thank you!” As always, Eijun simply flashed his trademark grin before running off to enjoy another carefree day.
Mrs. Sawamura's passing left a profound mark on Eijun's life. Although he had spent a long time preparing himself mentally, nothing could truly prepare him for the day it finally happened. When she was gone, an emptiness settled deep within his heart.
Ever since he was little, Mrs. Sawamura had been the one who spoiled him the most. Every piece of advice she had ever given him remained carefully treasured in his heart.
Even so, Eijun refused to let himself be consumed by grief.Slowly, he lifted his head and gazed up at the vast blue sky. 'Obaa-san I believe Otou-san, Okaa-san, and Ojiisan will continue taking good care of our family. So you don't have to worry about us anymore. And I believe you're still watching over me from above.Thank you for always loving me.'
With renewed determination, Eijun devoted himself to baseball once again. Several years later, his team's hard work finally paid off when they won the Under-12 League Championship.That victory secured their place in the next tournament, which would be held in Tokyo.
Before the Junior League game began, a Senior League match was taking place at the same stadium. While waiting for his turn, Eijun couldn't take his eyes off the field.
His heart began to beat a little faster. Behind home plate, a catcher crouched calmly, receiving every pitch from his pitcher with flawless precision. Eijun's eyes widened slightly.
"Chris-senpai..."
Even from a distance, he recognized the catcher instantly. A small smile appeared on his lips.
'Chris-senpai... I've finally met you again.'His gaze never left the catcher. Deep inside his heart, a familiar determination began to burn once more. 'Wait for me, Chris-senpai. This time i'll become a pitcher strong enough to stand on the mound with you again.' After the game ended, Eijun immediately ran out of the stadium in search of the catcher who had occupied his thoughts the entire time.
His breathing became ragged from sprinting such a long distance, yet he never slowed down. A moment later, he spotted a light blond-haired teenager walking away with his equipment bag slung over his shoulder.
"Takigawa-san!" Eijun's shout made the teenager stop in his tracks before turning around. A pair of hazel eyes met a pair of bright golden eyes filled with excitement.
Chris looked at the young boy standing before him with a puzzled expression.
Eijun took several deep breaths before he finally managed to speak. "I'm... sorry for calling out to you so suddenly." He gave a small bow out of respect before continuing. "I watched your game earlier" A bright smile spread across his face. "You were amazing."
Chris remained silent for a moment.
Eijun continued speaking without giving Chris a chance to interrupt. "The way you caught every pitch... the sound the ball made every time it landed in your mitt it was all incredible." His golden eyes sparkled with admiration. "I'm not very good at putting it into words, but while I was watching you... I could only think of one thing." He clenched both of his fists tightly. "Someday I want to pitch to you. Whether it's in an official game or just during practice, I hope that one day we'll become a battery." His smile grew even brighter. "So... please wait for me."
Chris fell silent. For the first time in his life, he had no idea how to respond to the words of a boy he had only just met. What puzzled him even more was the look in the child's eyes. There wasn't the slightest trace of doubt. Only unwavering determination and complete sincerity. Before he realized it, warmth had spread across his cheeks.
Embarrassed, Chris scratched the side of his face, which had begun to turn slightly red, before letting out a small smile."Thank you." After a brief pause, he asked, "You're a pitcher?"
Eijun nodded enthusiastically. "Yes!"
"And how old are you?"
"I'm eleven."
Chris nodded slowly. "I see." A gentle smile appeared on his face. "So you're here to play in this tournament too?"
"That's right!" Just then, Eijun suddenly remembered something.
"Oh, right! I have to go. Thanks for reminding me."He gave Chris a small bow before smiling once more.
"I should get back now." He paused for a moment before speaking with quiet confidence. "But before I go, Takigawa-san, I meant every word I said." His smile widened. "One day, I want us to become a battery. And when that day comes. I hope you'll be the one catching my pitches."He gave Chris one last cheerful wave. "See you!"
Without waiting for a reply, Eijun turned and ran back toward the stadium. Chris remained standing where he was. Without realizing it, his hand tightened around the strap of his equipment bag. "What was that?"
It was the first time he had ever met someone so honest Someone who spoke so openly about his dream. And strangely enough, not a single word had sounded like an empty promise.
Fortunately, the coach had given the Senior League players permission to stay and watch the Junior League game that would begin afterward.
Chris was one of those who chose to remain. He wanted to see that boy pitch with his own eyes f,rom the spectator stands, he soon spotted Eijun on the field once again.
However, the energetic boy from earlier now stood with his head lowered, as though he had just been scolded. His cheeks were puffed out slightly, giving him the unmistakable look of a guilty little puppy.
Even from the stands, Chris couldn't help but smile. Eijun's bright golden eyes looked slightly watery, as though he were on the verge of tears, it was the kind of expression that seemed straight out of an anime tiny, exaggerated and unexpectedly adorable.
Chris remained silent for a moment. "This kid..." A few seconds later, several of the boy's teammates gathered around him, patting his head and offering words of encouragement.
Even so, Chris's eyes never left the field, the boy who had spoken with such unwavering confidence only moments ago now stood there with emotions that were raw, innocent, and impossible to hide.
When the game finally began, Eijun cheered enthusiastically for his teammates before turning toward his coach.
Watching from the stands, Chris noticed the change almost immediately. The boy looked as though he had just been given candy, smiling from ear to ear as he ran toward the bullpen.
Yet the moment he started moving, the tense atmosphere surrounding the Nagano Little League team began to fade. It was as if his presence alone was enough to ease everyone's nerves.
By the middle of the fifth inning, with a two-ball, one-strike count and runners on first and third, Nagano announced a pitching change. Chris glanced at the scoreboard.
"Sawamura." The name appeared as the new pitcher.At the same time, he was listed as the fifth batter in the lineup.
Despite entering the game in such a high-pressure situation, Eijun casually laughed and chatted with the previous pitcher as they exchanged places, as though inheriting two baserunners didn't bother him in the slightest. "This kid..." Standing atop the mound, Eijun began his warm-up pitches.
BAMM!
BAMM!
Each throw exploded into the catcher's mitt with a sharp, powerful sound that echoed throughout the stadium. What surprised Chris even more was that the catcher never had to move his glove. Every single pitch hit the target perfectly.
Chris could feel his heartbeat beginning to quicken. After the warm-up was over, the catcher jogged over to the mound, covering his mouth with his mitt as he discussed the game plan.
Eijun nodded several times, clearly understanding every instruction. Then he turned toward his teammates spread across the field. Without the slightest hint of fear, he raised one hand and flashed a bright smile. "The ball's coming your way, everyone!" He grinned even wider. "So I'm counting on you guys to catch it!" Almost instantly, voices echoed across the diamond.
"BRING THEM ON!"
"DO YOUR BEST, EIJUN!"
"DON'T WORRY! WE'VE GOT YOUR BACK!"
"ONE OUT AT A TIME!"
Eijun smiled softly before nodding toward his teammates.
The sight before him left Chris speechless there were runners on first and third, one clean hit could tie the game. Yet the tension surrounding the Nagano team had completely disappeared the moment the eleven year old pitcher stepped onto the mound.
It was as though his presence alone inspired absolute confidence in everyone behind him.
The catcher called for a low outside fastball. Eijun gave a small nod.
BAMM!
"STRIKE ONE!"
The crack of the ball slamming into the catcher's mitt echoed throughout the stadium.
Silence followed.
Not because everyone expected Nagano to lose,but because they had all felt the extraordinary presence radiating from the young pitcher.
The batter adjusted his stance and fixed his eyes on Eijun.
Eijun calmly returned the stare, beneath the afternoon sun, his golden eyes seemed to gleam with quiet confidence as though the batter standing before him was nothing more than prey waiting to be brought down.
A moment later, he looked back toward the catcher and nodded once more.
BAM!
"STRIKE TWO!"
Without hesitation, the catcher gave another sign.
BAM!
"STRIKE THREE! BATTER OUT!"
Two pitches on the outside corner one on the inside
Every single one struck the catcher's target without his glove moving even an inch.
"Who is that kid? At first, I thought he was just an overconfident pitcher"
Chris briefly turned toward the spectators who had spoken before shifting his gaze back to the mound, they were right. Every pitch thrown by Sawamura landed exactly where the catcher had ask for a pitcher his age, that level of command was exceptionally rare.So far, Eijun had relied on nothing but his fastball.
Yet ever since he had taken the mound, not a single opposing batter had managed to make solid contact with the ball, the longer Chris watched, the more excited he became.
Eijun placed absolute trust in his catcher. He accepted every sign without hesitation, and every pitch went exactly where it had been called.
Pitchers like that were incredibly rare. Most pitchers saw their catcher as nothing more than a target. Very few truly understood that a catcher was their partner the other half of the battery. But Eijun was different. Inside or outside,high or low every pitch was delivered exactly as requested without realizing it, Chris tightened his grip on the strap of his equipment bag
'I want to catch that pitcher's pitches.'
Not long afterward, it was Sawamura's turn to bat standing in the left-handed batter's box, Eijun gripped his metal bat firmly, his sharp golden eyes locked onto the opposing pitcher. He studied every tiny movement
the way the pitcher held the ball the lift of his front leg the timing of his arm every detail. He's reading the pitcher
Chris realized. The pitcher finally released the ball. For the first time since the game had begun, Chris's attention was no longer fixed on a pitcher. Instead, He found himself watching a batter named Sawamura Eijun.
BAM!
"BALL!"
Eijun never flinched. He calmly watched the first pitch pass by without even looking at the catcher behind the plate, he could already sense that the opposing pitcher was under pressure.Stepping back into the batter's box, Eijun narrowed his left eye slightly while slowly rolling the metal bat in his hands the opposing pitcher took a deep breath before delivering the second pitch.
CLANG!
The sharp crack of metal against the ball echoed throughout the stadium, Eijun exploded toward first base the instant the bat made contact. But after only a few strides "FOUL BALL!"
The ball soared high before crashing into the protective net behind home plate,Eijun slowed to a stop and walked back toward the batter's box."Tch... That was close."
He smiled to himself as he casually spun the bat in one hand.Watching from the stands, Chris let out a quiet breath. Even though it was only a foul the sound off his bat was completely different, he doesn't just know how to pitch, he knows how to play baseball.
Eijun narrowed his eyes once more, his piercing gaze remained fixed on the opposing pitcher. Without realizing it, the pressure radiating from the eleven year old made the opposing pitcher tremble ever so slightly.
Uneasiness.Nervousness. Fear. All of those emotions blended together and it wasn't just the pitcher who felt them.
The catcher crouching behind home plate,even the umpire standing behind him all of them sensed the same overwhelming presence, this kid is dangerous.
The same thought crossed all three of their minds.
Should we intentionally walk him or challenge him? The opposing catcher glanced toward the dugout, silently asking for instructions.
The coach simply shook his head. 'No intentional walk face him'
Taking a deep breath, the catcher gave the final sign,the pitcher nodded, keeping his eyes locked on the target, he began his delivery.
Whoosh!
The instant the ball left his fingertips Eijun's eyes lit up.
CLANG!
The explosive sound of solid contact rang throughout the stadium.
The ball screamed over the left fielder's head and carried deep into the outfield.
All three outfielders could do was turn around and watch, a few moments later the ball cleared the outfield fence and disappeared into the spectator stands.
"HOME RUN!"
The entire stadium fell silent, no one had expected an eleven-year-old to hit the ball that far. Chris found himself standing before he even realized it his eyes remained fixed on the boy rounding the bases. 'Sawamura Eijun, Someday I will be the one catching your pitches.'
As he stepped on home plate, Eijun scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed smile. "Wow... I didn't think I'd actually hit a home run."
"Nice home run!" one of his teammates said, giving him a light pat on the shoulder before taking the bat.
"Thanks... I wasn't expecting that either."
"Yeah, we all saw the look on your face," another teammate replied with a laugh.
Eijun chuckled. "Well, now it's your turn." With that, he headed back toward the dugout.
That single home run completely changed the flow of the game, the opposing pitchers gradually lost their rhythm, their command fell apart.
Pitch after pitch missed the strike zone, leading to walks, foul balls, and mounting pressure as Nagano continued to seize the momentum.The sixth, seventh, and eighth batters failed to generate the same offensive pressure as before.
With the bases loaded, Nagano wasted no time taking advantage of the opportunity one runner after another crossed home plate.
Watching from the stands, Chris remained silent. The rally had begun with a single hit and ended with pressure the opposing team could no longer contain.
Sawamura wasn't dangerous only when he stood on the mound as a pitcher.He was just as threatening when he stepped into the batter's box.
At such a young age, he already understood something that many players much older than him had yet to grasp.
Baseball wasn't simply about pitching or hitting It was about controlling the flow of the game.
After the game ended, Chris had no choice but to leave. His team needed to return to their club for practice.
Although he wanted to meet Sawamura one more time, he could only suppress that feeling and follow his teammates.
Without either of them realizing it that game would become Sawamura's final appearance in the Under-12 League.
After graduating from the Under-12 League, Eijun made the difficult decision to leave his old club, It hadn't been an easy choice.
But he wanted a fresh start.Together with his friends, he dreamed of building a baseball team of their own at Akagi Junior High School.
Recognizing their determination, the head coach of their former club assigned two assistant coaches to help guide the newly formed team. Little by little, the Akagi Junior High baseball team began to take shape.
With the coaches' support, they successfully recruited nineteen players, seven of them were Eijun's close friends, while the rest came from different classes within the school.
Wakana chose not to join the team as a player. Instead, she became one of the team's managers alongside two other girls.
It was a role she accepted willingly, much like the one she had once played in Eijun's previous life.
At Eijun's suggestion, Sano-sensei was appointed as the club's faculty advisor, with the school's approval, he gladly accepted the responsibility during the club's early days, training was anything but easy.
They built their physical strength from the ground up. Discipline was instilled from the very first day every player followed the training program prepared by the coaches without exception.
But for Eijun that was never enough.He created additional training routines for himself and completed them after the team's regular practice had ended watching him push himself day after day, the coaches could only exchange helpless smiles. "This kid... he'll never be satisfied."