"You three come here!" - Coach Yamada called out to the team's three pitchers. The whole team was gathered on the school's baseball field, just waiting to board the bus that would take them to the stadium for the first-round game. Read latest stories on m_v-l'e|-novelhall.net
Shun, Jiro, and Sora quickly made their way to the coach as soon as they were called.
"As you know, this year's schedule is packed. We'll have some games with only one day of rest, and maybe even back-to-back games. Because of that, I've decided to rotate all of you as starting pitchers!" - Coach Yamada explained as the three boys nodded. None of them seemed to have any issue with the decision.
"For each game, we'll change the starting pitcher, and unless absolutely necessary, the selected pitcher will pitch the entire game. This way, the other pitchers can rest properly for the upcoming matches, and we'll prevent future opponents from gathering too much data on you." - Coach Yamada concluded, looking at his three pitchers.
As a coach, he couldn't ask for more, each of the three had become excellent pitchers. Thanks to Shun's guidance, the others had also stayed humble, always putting the team first.
Coach Yamada turned to Sora and spoke calmly:
"Sora, you're starting today!"
"Yes, Coach!" - Sora responded with determination, looking ready for the task.
"Hehe, we're counting on you, Sora!" - Shun chuckled lightly, giving the boy a pat on the back. Having discussed the pitchers extensively with Coach Yamada, Shun had anticipated this decision.
Shun boarded the bus and took a seat next to the young samurai, Ren, while his friend Kenta sat beside the team's assistant, the beautiful Mio Shimizu.
"That bastard..." - Shun heard his samurai friend grumble beside him. Even after a year, Ren still couldn't accept how unfair life seemed. Why did Kenta have a girlfriend while he didn't?
Shun rolled his eyes, suppressing a small smile. He found himself wondering about the kind of opponents they would face today. Ootori Middle School, an unfamiliar team that had never made it far in the Tokyo tournament.
Most people would feel more at ease knowing this, but Shun was different.
After last year's defeat he wanted to be prepared for any scenario, after all, Hokuto had also been an unknown team before their breakthrough last year. And, come to think of it, Shoto Junior High had also been a unknown team that had never made it far in the Tokyo tournament... At least, that's what their opponents must think.
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"Heads." - Kenta said calmly to the umpire.
The umpire tossed a coin into the air. Once the coin landed, he announced:
"Tails. Your choice, Ootori."
"We'll take the field first!" - Ootori's captain said confidently, nodding to Kenta before heading back to his dugout.
"Shoto Junior High... Weren't they destroyed by Hokuto last year?" - One of the Ootori players muttered from the dugout.
Throw out a runner(0) = 4 Stars per out
Make an out with a difficult catch(0) = 10 Stars per out
Rob a home run(0) = 50 Stars per home run robbed
Strike out a hitter(0) = 10 Stars per strikeout
Tournament Objectives:
Qualify for the Kanto Tournament = 300 Stars
Be the tournament MVP = 300 Stars
Lead your team in RBIs = 50 Stars
Lead the tournament in RBIs = 100 Stars
Lead your team in home runs = 50 Stars
Lead the tournament in home runs = 100 Stars
Lead your team in runs scored = 30 Stars
Lead the tournament in runs scored = 60 Stars
Lead your team in ERA = 50 Stars
Lead the tournament in ERA = 100 Stars]
"So, the system recognized the Tokyo tournament again. That's good..." - Shun murmured thoughtfully. Last year, the system only recognized the tournament after Hokuto's appearance, but since Hokuto wasn't participating this year, Shun had been a bit worried.
After all, with fewer missions to complete, the best way to earn valuable rewards was through the Star Store.
"Well, let's get this game started..." - Shun said with a smile, grabbing his bat and helmet as he climbed the dugout steps. With every step toward the batter's box, his anxiety and nervousness faded, replaced by the confidence built through his long and grueling training sessions.
The moment to prove to himself how much he had progressed had arrived. After a crushing defeat last year, after seeing his former captain give up on baseball, after crying and feeling useless. The time to show that all his grueling training hadn't been in vain was finally here.
The first round of the Tokyo tournament, Shoto Junior High School versus Ootori Middle School, was about to begin.