It was a bright Monday morning, the sun casting a warm, golden glow over the baseball field of Nehimon Seimei High School. The air buzzed with the faint excitement of the approaching match against Suma Tomogaoka, one of their biggest rivals. Players jogged across the field, some warming up, others already deep into their drills, while the coaching staff watched carefully from the sidelines.
Kenji Tadeka, the team captain and center fielder, walked alongside Haruto Suzuki and Shunichi Watanabe, the second baseman and first baseman respectively, as they headed toward the practice field. The three of them, all second-years, had been discussing the upcoming game and what their responsibilities as upperclassmen would be.
"Hey, Kenji," Haruto started, nudging his captain lightly, "we need to hold a second-year meeting. It's about time we start taking more responsibility."
Kenji nodded in agreement. "Yeah, with the Suma match coming up, we'll need everyone at their best."
Shunichi, added with a grin, "It's not just the game, though. We've got the first-years looking up to us. We need to set the tone for the rest of the season."
As they approached the field, they spotted Ryoichi, the ace pitcher, leaning against the fence, watching the team warm up. His eyes were always focused, even during casual moments, as if he was constantly calculating something in his mind.
"Ryoichi!" Kenji called out, waving him over. "We're organizing a second-year meeting later. We need to talk about the game against Suma."
Ryoichi turned toward them, his face betraying mild curiosity. "A meeting?" he asked, his voice calm but laced with interest. "What's the plan? Are we going to analyze the data on Suma's players?"
Haruto nodded quickly, his excitement bubbling over. "Yeah, exactly! Their lineup is strong, especially with how their middle order plays. We've got to prepare if we're going to beat them."
Ryoichi raised an eyebrow. "Huh but why just second-years?
Before anyone could answer, they were interrupted by a loud ping that echoed across the field. All heads turned toward the source of the sound—Shinjiro Takumi, who was taking batting practice against the first-year pitcher, Kai.
Shinjiro had just blasted another fastball deep into the outfield. His swing was sharp, powerful, and effortless, as if the time he'd spent off the field hadn't affected him at all. The ball soared through the air, a near-perfect hit.
Reporters, who had gathered to cover the team's practice, immediately started chattering excitedly, their cameras clicking away.
"The monster rookie is back!" one reporter exclaimed, watching Shinjiro with wide eyes.
"Was he injured? He's been out for a week!" another reporter chimed in, scribbling notes furiously in his notepad.
"I wonder how they'll line up against Suma," said a third reporter, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Will the coach stick with Shota, or will he put Shinjiro right back into the starting lineup?"
On the mound, Kai, the first-year pitcher, let out an exaggerated sigh, wiping sweat from his forehead. He muttered to himself, "This guy….he's been off all week, and now he's hitting my pitches like it's nothing."
Daiki, who was up to bat next told Shinjiro. "Take it easy, man. I know you're trying to prove yourself, but you're way too tense."
Shinjiro clenched his jaw, shaking his head. "Yeah i know, I want to take back my spot from Shota."
Daiki laughed, patting Shinjiro on the shoulder. "Chill out. We're all in this together. No need to get worked up."
Shinjiro, then grinned, "Cut me some slack, senpai," he said, as he twirled the bat in his hands. "I've been itching to get back on the field."
Daiki, with his bat on his shoulder, shook his head. "Yeah, yeah. Maybe go easy on Kai before he collapses from frustration. You're making him look bad."
From a short distance away, Yamato, the assistant coach, stood next to Coach Nakamura, observing the entire practice session. Yamato had a bemused smile on his face, clearly enjoying the lighthearted nature of the morning.
"It looks like we were worried for nothing," Yamato chuckled, crossing his arms as he watched Shinjiro swing the bat effortlessly again. "Shinjiro's swinging like he never missed a day."
Nakamura gave a slow, measured nod, his eyes sharp and focused as they tracked the players' movements on the field. "It's good to see him back, but we shouldn't rush anything. The week is still long. We'll see how he holds up before deciding on the lineup for the Suma game."
"Still," Yamato replied, scratching his chin, "it's tempting, isn't it? Putting him back on the starting lineup right away."
Nakamura didn't answer immediately, his eyes narrowing as he watched Kai throw another pitch. "It is tempting," he admitted. "But let's wait and see."
---
On the field, the rest of the team continued their drills. Kaito Nakashima, the second-year shortstop, was working on his infield throws with Koji Nakamura, a first-year third baseman. The two of them were locked in an intense rhythm, fielding ground balls and firing them across the diamond with precision.
"I heard Suma's infield is really tight," Koji said, tossing the ball to Kaito as they moved through their drill. "We can't afford any errors."
"Exactly," Kaito replied, catching the ball cleanly and firing it back to Koji. "We need to be perfect out there. No excuses."
A few yards away, Shota Iwata, the second-year outfielder, was taking some extra swings in the batting cage, his mind clearly focused on maintaining his spot in the lineup. He had been the starting left fielder while Shinjiro was out, and with the rookie back, the competition for starting positions was fiercer than ever.
"I've got to stay sharp," Shota muttered to himself, adjusting his grip on the bat.
---
By the end of the practice, most of the players were drenched in sweat, but the mood remained upbeat.
As the players gathered their gear and prepared to head to the locker room, Kenji called out to the second-years. "Meeting after practice!"
As the group headed toward the locker room, the field began to clear. The reporters packed up their equipment, still buzzing about Shinjiro's return and the team's chances against Suma. The anticipation was building, and even though the week had only just begun, everyone could feel that something big was coming.
Back in the dugout, Coach Nakamura stood quietly, watching the players filter off the field. He turned to Yamato, his voice low and serious. "The team's looking sharp, but this week will be key. We'll know by Friday who's ready and who isn't."
Yamato gave a short nod, but his grin remained. "Not like you'll change anything else except for the left field postion."
As the sun continued its slow crawl across the sky, the field quieted down, but the energy still lingered in the air. The Suma match loomed large, and while the team was ready to take on the challenge, there was still work to be done.