The sharp ring of Kanemaru's alarm jolted him awake. It was 5 AM, still dark outside, but the first day of Seidou practice had officially begun. He blinked a few times, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he sat up in bed. The room was quiet, but as he glanced over at Chris's desk, he wasn't surprised to see the third-year already awake, his expression as calm as ever.
Kanemaru stretched, his muscles still tight from the day before, and slipped out of bed to get ready. As he moved around the room, Toyama stirred on the top bunk, groaning slightly as he woke up.
"You're up early," Toyama muttered, rubbing his eyes and stretching.
"First day of practice," Kanemaru replied, trying to hide his nervous energy. He quickly threw on his practice clothes, making sure he was ready on time.
Chris, as usual, didn't say much. He was already dressed and had been going over notes or some form of preparation. He simply stood up, gave Kanemaru and Toyama a quick glance, and gestured toward the door.
"Let's go," Chris said calmly, leading the way out.
The three of them walked together in the dim morning light, their footsteps echoing through the quiet halls of the dormitory. Kanemaru could feel his heart racing, but it wasn't fear—it was excitement. This was it. The real work was starting, and he was ready for it.
At the Field
As they reached the field, the early morning mist still clung to the grass. The field, which Kanemaru had only seen in daylight, looked almost surreal in the quiet dawn. The players were already gathering, some stretching, others chatting quietly, but the atmosphere was calm and focused.
"First years, line up in front," a coach's assistant called out, and Kanemaru exchanged a quick glance with Toyama and Chris before they all separated. The older students—second and third years—stood behind the coach, while the first years, including Kanemaru, were ushered to the front.
Kanemaru found his place among the other first years and, to his relief, spotted a familiar face—Tojo Hideaki.
"Hideaki!" Kanemaru called quietly as he moved over to join him.
Hideaki turned and gave a small nod in greeting. "Shinji, how's it going?"
Kanemaru let out a breath, glancing back briefly at where Chris and Toyama stood. "It's... interesting. My roommate is Chris Takigawa."
Hideaki raised an eyebrow. "The catcher? Sounds like you've got some real pressure in your room."
Kanemaru chuckled nervously. "Yeah, Chris doesn't say much, but I already know that I've got a lot to prove if I want to get anything out of him. Toyama's pretty chill though, keeps things balanced."
Hideaki nodded thoughtfully. "I've got a pretty quiet room myself, nothing like Chris. But hey, that might work out in your favor. He's got knowledge no one else does."
Kanemaru smiled, feeling a bit more at ease talking with Hideaki. Even though they were in different rooms, it was nice to have someone to relate to about the first-day jitters.
Before they could continue their conversation, Coach Kataoka appeared on the field, cutting through the soft morning air like a blade. His strong presence silenced the murmurs and idle chatter of the group. With his hands on his hips, he surveyed the new recruits and then glanced over at one of his assistants.
"Is this all of them?" Kataoka's voice was firm. "About forty, right?"
The assistant gave a quick nod. "Yes, sir."
Kataoka's gaze swept over the first years. "Alright, let's start with introductions."
The first years lined up nervously as each player stepped forward to introduce themselves. Kanemaru's heart was pounding in his chest as he took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself.
He stepped forward confidently when it was his turn. "I'm Kanemaru Shinji from Matsutaka Middle School. I'm a third baseman and—"
Suddenly, from the back of the field, there was a figure sneaking onto the grass. Kanemaru froze as the entire group turned to look. Sawamura Eijun, wild and full of energy, was trying to slip into the lineup unnoticed. He tiptoed across the field, clearly thinking he could get away with it, and Miyuki Kazuya, Sawamura's future catcher and roommate, saw the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the chaos.
Coach Kataoka's sharp eyes immediately locked onto Sawamura, and the rest of the group fell silent. His tone was stern as he addressed the late arrival. "Freshman who just sneaked in—step forward."
Sawamura's face faltered as he realized there was no hiding. He took a deep breath and stepped into the spotlight. "I'm Sawamura Eijun from Akagi Junior High!"
But Kataoka wasn't done. His gaze shifted to Miyuki, who wore his usual smirk, having successfully blended into the chaos. "And the senior who took advantage of the situation... Miyuki, step forward."
Miyuki's smirk faded slightly as he stepped forward with no objection. But the punishment didn't end there.
"The roommates of the freshman... Kuramochi and Masuko," Kataoka called.
Kuramochi and Masuko exchanged resigned looks before stepping forward.
"You all can run laps as punishment," Kataoka declared, his voice firm but unyielding.
With no room for argument, the four of them jogged off to begin their laps, and the rest of the first-years watched in silence. Sawamura grumbled under his breath as they took off, but the message was clear—no one was above the rules.
Once they were off running, Kataoka turned back to the remaining first-years, his eyes sharp as he addressed them.
"Now," he said, "You've all introduced yourselves. You're here because you've got potential, but that alone won't cut it. From here on, you'll be tested. This is where you prove you belong at Seidou."
Kanemaru felt his heart racing again, but this time it wasn't from nerves—it was from determination. This is it. This is my chance to show them what I've got.
"First years," Kataoka continued, "You'll begin with a baseball test. You'll be evaluated based on the position you're interested in. Line up accordingly."
The first years exchanged glances, nerves bubbling up once more, but there was no time to hesitate. Kanemaru knew exactly where he needed to be—third base. He took a deep breath and stepped forward.