Samurai of Seidou: The Otherworldly Ace Who Challenges Koshien - Episode 5

*Smack.* The mitt let out a dry sound. "Nice pitch, Kujou!" Miyuki's voice echoed through the bullpen. It felt like there was a little more heat in it than usual. Kujou Touya stared intently at his right hand as he caught the return throw from the mound. His fingertips were trembling faintly. He felt cold sweat trailing down his back. "...Not yet." He muttered it under his breath, too quiet for anyone to hear. Three days until the game. Ever since Tanba Kouichirou went down, the team's atmosphere had changed. The silences had grown longer. No one said it out loud, but everyone felt the size of the hole left by losing their ace. That weight was now pressing down on Touya's shoulders. "Hey, Kujou!" A boisterous voice suddenly burst into the bullpen. He turned to see Sawamura Eijun standing at the entrance. "[excited]So it's really you starting!" Sawamura's face was bright red as he closed in on Touya. His eyes held a mix of anger, frustration, and just a tiny bit of hope. "[cold]...Yeah." "[angry]Dammit! I want to pitch too, you know!" Sawamura slammed his fist against the wall. A heavy *thud* echoed through the bullpen. Touya sensed Miyuki let out a small sigh. "[serious]But, it's what the coach decided. I won't complain. But listen, if you start getting hit, I'll definitely back you up! I'll be waiting in the bullpen!" "...Yeah." "[excited]So don't you dare think you have to shut them down all by yourself from the start! Don't carry it all alone! We're a team, dammit!" Having said his piece in a rush, Sawamura bolted out of the bullpen with the same energy he'd entered with. Left behind, Touya stood rooted to the spot for a while. "He told you." Miyuki's voice had a hint of a laugh in it. "...Yeah." "But he meant it. He sees you as a rival. And that pitch just now wasn't bad. Your fastball's got more bite than last time." With that, Miyuki gave Touya a light pat on the shoulder and left the bullpen. Now alone, Touya gripped the ball once more. The hard sensation in his palm. The feeling of the seams digging into his fingers. It was a ball he'd gripped countless times in his past life. And yet, now it felt like something completely different. Heavy. A leaden weight. (*Can I really do this?*) A small voice whispered from deep within his heart. He'd ruined his elbow in the pros. He'd felt his limits even in the corporate leagues. In the end, he'd never been able to keep standing on the mound until the very last. And yet now, in a sixteen-year-old body, he was being entrusted with the starting role in a do-or-die game for Koshien. The pressure was about to crush him. "...Kujou-kun." A soft voice came from behind him. He turned to find Fujiwara Takako standing there. In her hand was the usual plastic bag with a gel pack. In the dim light of the bullpen, her short black hair swayed gently. "[cold]...You were still here?" "[gentle]Of course. There are only three days until the game. I have to take proper care of your elbow." So saying, Takako gently pressed the gel pack against Touya's right arm. The cool sensation was pleasant against his inflamed elbow. "[serious]...Hey, Fujiwara." "Yes?" "[serious]Do you think I'll be okay as the starter?" The weak words came out before he knew it, surprising even himself. It was a line the usual Touya would never have uttered. Takako's hands stopped for just a moment. Then, she spoke quietly. "[gentle]...I don't know." Touya found himself looking at her face. "[sad]Because you never know what will happen in a game. No matter how much you prepare, no matter how much you practice, no one knows what will happen when it counts." Takako's voice didn't waver. Her eyes seemed to be looking somewhere far away. "[gentle]But everything Kujou-kun has done up until now is real. Running more than anyone on the back hill, practicing more than anyone, pushing through the pain in your elbow without telling a soul. I know that better than anyone." She didn't take her hand off his elbow. "[serious]So, all that's left is to believe in yourself. You're not alone, Kujou-kun. Your teammates, Sawamura-kun, Miyuki-san, and... I'm here too." Her voice cracked slightly on the last words. Touya couldn't say anything. A sharp ache throbbed deep in his chest. Was this some kind of emotion? A warm, yet slightly painful feeling he'd never experienced in his past life. "[cold]...Let's go." "Huh?" "Practice. My forkball control still isn't stable." "[gentle]...Okay." Takako gave a small smile. * * * The day before the game. Touya was on the school rooftop. He'd borrowed the key from the PE teacher to get into this usually locked place. A special spot for Touya, where he could look up at the sky alone without being disturbed. The setting sun dyed the western sky a deep crimson. By this time tomorrow, the game would be over. Whether they'd won or lost. Whether he'd be rejoicing or crying. Right now, he didn't know which it would be. (*Koshien, huh.*) The sacred ground he'd stood on just once in his past life. The roar of the crowd back then. The spectators filling the stands. The brass band's performance. The feeling of the dirt under his feet. And the night he'd lost and cried, too. When he'd wrecked his elbow in the pros and been told he was out of the plans. When he'd decided to retire from corporate league baseball. It was all connected. Those setbacks were what made him who he was now. (*Tomorrow, I'll bet everything.*) He made that resolution in his heart. Just then, he heard the rooftop door creak. "[surprised]Kujou-kun?" He turned to see Takako standing there. "[surprised]...How did you know I was here?" "[gentle]I asked the PE teacher. He said you sometimes borrow the rooftop key." After a moment's hesitation, Takako came and stood beside him. The wind blew, rustling her black hair. "[gentle]Tomorrow's finally the day, isn't it." "...Yeah." "Are you scared?" It was a direct question. Touya thought for a moment before answering. "[serious]...I'm scared. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't." "[gentle]...Good." "What is?" "[gentle]Because you were honest about how you feel. The usual Kujou-kun would never say something like that." Takako smiled mischievously. The sunset colored her cheeks red, and her expression left a strangely strong impression on him. "[gentle]I'll be in the dugout keeping score tomorrow. So I'll be watching you on the mound from the closest spot." "[cold]...Don't put pressure on me." "[laughing]Hehe, sorry." The two of them stood side-by-side for a while, watching the sunset. "[serious]...Hey, Fujiwara." "Yes?" "[serious]If we win tomorrow, I'll treat you to something." He didn't even know himself why he'd said that. Takako blinked a few times, then smiled happily. "[excited]Then, I'd like the Neapolitan spaghetti at the coffee shop 'Runner' by Kunitachi Station, please!" "...That's gonna cost me." "[gentle]But it's only if you win. I made that request because I believe Kujou-kun will win." Those words resonated strangely in his heart. (*Believe in you.*) How long had it been since someone had said that to him? * * * The day of the game. The stands at Jingu Second Stadium were overflowing with people even before the gates opened. The summer sun beat down on the artificial turf. In the heat exceeding thirty degrees, the dust on the field seemed to glitter. "Seidou, starting infield practice!" Coach Kataoka's voice rang out. Touya sat alone at the edge of the dugout, playing catch. With every throw, he checked the feeling in his elbow. No pain. He wanted to believe his preparation was perfect. "Kujou, how's your condition?" It was Miyuki who called out to him. "[cold]...Not bad." "[serious]Is that so. Watch out for Kitou today. Their number three, he's the type to swing for the fences from the first pitch. Until you've got him cornered, just show him the fastball." "...I know." "Alright. Then, I'm counting on you." Miyuki gave Touya a light pat on the shoulder and jogged out onto the field. * * * Play ball. The sound of the brass band and the cheering squad poured down from the stands. "Down the azure path, advance, Seidou—!" The chorus of the school song enveloped the stadium. Touya stood on the mound. The feeling of the dirt under his feet. The heat of the sun. The sweat clinging to his back. It was all real. (*Let's go.*) His heart was pounding in his ears. First inning, leadoff batter. Inashiro Industrial's number one hitter stepped into the left-handed batter's box. Miyuki flashed a sign. Fastball. Touya gave a small nod. He lifted his right leg and stepped forward with his left. Shifting his weight, he whipped his arm through. *Smack!!* The mitt let out a dry sound. "Strike!!" The umpire's voice echoed. No contact. The batter couldn't get his bat around. "Alright!" Miyuki reset his mitt. Second pitch. This time, a forkball. Using the same arm motion, he gripped the ball between his index and middle fingers, giving his wrist a slight twist at the moment of release. The ball dropped sharply right at the batter's hands. A swing and a miss. "Strike two!" The batter swung his bat in frustration. The fact that he'd swung meant it had looked like a fastball. The third pitch was a fastball on the outside corner. The batter couldn't get his bat around this time either. "Batter out!" Three up, three down. He finished the first inning in just twelve pitches. When he returned to the dugout, Sawamura pounced on him. "[excited]That's insane, Kujou! Three straight strikeouts!" "[cold]...It's only the first inning." "[serious]Yeah, but still! That's amazing! I can't afford to lose either!" Looking excited, Sawamura ran off towards the bullpen. It seemed he was going to start warming up for relief. Touya sat down in the dugout. His heart rate wouldn't settle. His fingertips were still trembling. (*Calm down. It's only just begun.*) He told himself. In the second and third innings, Touya piled up the easy outs. The spin rate on his fastball, the drop on his forkball. Both were weapons he'd honed specifically for this day. Miyuki's game-calling was perfect too, keeping the Inashiro Industrial lineup from locking in on him. However— Top of the fifth inning. Inashiro Industrial's offense started with their number three, Kitou. A giant of a man, nearly 190 centimeters tall. A unique stance, choking up on the bat. His eyes glinted sharply. (*This guy.*) Touya licked his lips on the mound. First pitch. A forkball inside. But Kitou didn't move a muscle. He watched the ball carefully and let it go by without a flinch. Second pitch. A fastball outside. He didn't swing at this one either. The count was two strikes. (*I've got him cornered.*) Miyuki flashed the sign for the third pitch. Forkball. Touya gave a small nod. He lifted his right leg. Whipped his arm through. The moment the ball left his fingertips— He felt a slight wrongness. (*It slipped.*) The forkball didn't drop. A fastball that floated, belt-high over the middle of the plate. Kitou's eyes widened. *Crack!!* The metal bat produced a sharp, satisfying sound. The ball shot sharply down the right-field line. The outfielder chased it desperately, but the ball rolled and rolled across the outfield, reaching the fence. A double. "Damn..." He gritted his back teeth. (*One pitch. Just one mistake.*) An unpleasant atmosphere began to creep over the mound. The cheering from the stands suddenly sounded far away. Only his own breathing echoed unnaturally loud in his ears. (*Calm down. They haven't scored yet.*) He told himself that, but the trembling in his fingertips wouldn't stop. The next batter showed bunt. Touya tried to steady his breathing. But his chest felt tight, as if clogged, making it hard to breathe. (*This is bad.*) For the first time, he felt a clear, distinct terror.

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Episode 5

Name: Samurai of Seidou: The Otherworldly Ace Who Challenges Koshien
Author: Novelia

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