Lucas nodded faintly as he walked around the bases.
'As expected, it wasn't a powerful pitch,' he thought. He watched the game closely, particularly the opposing pitcher.
Being a second-team pitcher, his fastball in the early 130 km/h range lacked both great speed and control.
Despite hitting a grand slam, Lucas's expression remained unchanged. He wanted to gauge the skills of the first team.
When Lucas rounded third base and arrived home, he received congratulations from teammates he barely knew. They became one, pounding on Lucas's helmet.
"Wow! A grand slam!"
"It's a comeback! A reversal!"
"You really are good!"
The complaints and grievances directed at Lucas a little while ago had vanished.
Just as the score had been overturned by the home run, their reactions also changed.
Lucas couldn't respond to the numerous hands flying towards his head, so he had no choice but to allow their celebratory beatings.
"How long has it been?" he wondered, being surrounded and congratulated by someone.
Yet, not even a smile could be found on Lucas's face.
"Nice home run," Coach Donald said, holding out his closed fist towards Lucas.
Lucas also clenched his fist and tapped it against Donald's, but maintained an expressionless demeanor.
"Aren't you happy even though you turned the score around with a grand slam?"
Lucas did not answer.
His long-forgotten competitive spirit had been rekindled. It was a grand slam, a home run, and the game wasn't even over yet.
How could he be happy when the inning could end and they might lose the game immediately?
Since he was playing baseball again, he hoped that his team would reach higher levels. He thought that would make it easier to get his parents' permission.
However, Lucas felt that the future of the FS baseball team was not bright.
"It's just a practice match. I think it's okay to enjoy yourself on a day like today," Donald said, reading Lucas's expression.
He couldn't say he completely understood his feelings, but he knew how Lucas felt about playing baseball.
That's why he gave him a chance with the bases loaded, and Lucas made the most of it. But at least Donald expected a big smile when Lucas hit home and celebrated.
There was still no change in Lucas's expression.
"I guess the threads are all tangled up. I want to make baseball a little more enjoyable," Donald thought.
* * *
As with any sport, the atmosphere is very important in baseball. When a team is losing and then turns the tables, players play harder to protect their lead.
The current situation was exactly like that.
An unknown Asian player turned the game around with a grand slam, so the FS players showed their fighting spirit to protect the score.
Since it was a practice game, there was less pressure, but each player gritted their teeth and went into the game determined to win.
Lucas also sighed. "But I guess they didn't come out to have fun."
Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the Santa Monica dugout remained unchanged.
They had sent out their second team, so there was no harm in losing this game.
They had heard that FS High School's baseball team recruited various players to make a leap forward, so this practice match was just a light game to get a feel for their skills.
As the game progressed, the tension in the Santa Monica dugout began to drop.
The first team losing to the second team made them think that FS was not a competitor this season and could be dismissed.
The game was turned around with a single home run by an Asian player.
"Coach, I guess they're not as weak as I thought," said a white male with a towel over his head in the Santa Monica dugout.
His gaze was focused on Lucas. The Santa Monica coach also agreed with him.
"That student is definitely different. His swing was perfect."
"That Asian player's FS team is probably something to be wary of. It's just the way it is," the coach said.
Baseball is not a game played alone, but high school baseball often hinged on one superstar.
Just one superstar could change the mood of the game.
Schools competed to get that one superstar, and this fact was still evident.
That Asian player's home run turned the game around and elevated the level of the other players.
Yet, ultimately, baseball is about pitching. As a single hitter, there are limits. That's why the coach added, "it depends."
"There is a huge lack of outstanding pitchers who can support that Asian player," the man covered in a towel muttered softly.
But then, the white man threw away the towel he was holding and furrowed his brow.
"What?"
This was because the Asian player he had been watching left the dugout and headed toward the bullpen.