Linus struggled as he pushed through the baserunning drills. His legs burned with every step, and his breath came in shallow gasps. Though he had started off strong, the constant sprinting quickly wore him down. Elias, a bit more experienced, managed better, but even he wasn't having an easy time. Linus kept pushing himself, trying to match Elias's pace, but his body was already protesting.
His exhaustion was becoming too much to hide when Chris jogged over to him.
"Hey, Linus," Chris said with a smile, noticing his labored breathing. "You can ease up a bit. You're just here to try out, and I know this kind of training takes time to adjust to. No need to push yourself too hard."
Linus gave a weak nod, more relieved than he cared to admit. "Thanks."
Stepping to the sidelines, he stood with his hands on his knees, catching his breath. He watched the rest of the team push through the sprints, feeling a tinge of guilt for sitting out but also knowing that he really needed the break. The whole experience had been both intense and exciting, more so than he'd expected when he decided to give baseball a try.
Standing on the sidelines, he thought about the day. Baseball had been a surprise. He had enjoyed it a lot more than he expected to, it was strange, but maybe there was something to this. Maybe baseball could be something he was good at — or at least something he'd want to get better at. Chris and Elias had also made him feel welcome from the moment he arrived.
And then, there was the system.
[Linus Edberg]: Level 1
[Exp]: 0/100
[Mission Progress]:
-Mission: Join a Baseball Team
He blinked, focusing on the faint outline of the system's display hovering before his eyes. The first mission had been simple enough — join a team — but Linus hadn't expected to feel invested at all, except for figuring out what the deal was with the system.
It was hard to admit, but the system's subtle influence was pushing him in this direction. Maybe he wouldn't have taken the idea of playing baseball seriously without it, but now... now he was actually thinking about joining the team for real.
As the rest of the team wrapped up their sprints, Chris gathered everyone together. Linus stood nearby, still mulling over his thoughts. When Chris dismissed the team, he walked over to Linus, curiosity in his eyes.
"So, what do you think?" Chris asked, crossing his arms with a friendly smile. "How'd you like baseball today?"
Linus smiled, still catching his breath. "I liked it. A lot, actually. I think... I think I want to join the team. I just need to talk to my parents first."
Chris grinned widely, clapping him on the back. "That's great to hear! Take your time, no rush. But we'd be happy to have you."
Linus felt a surge of warmth at Chris' words. "Thanks, Coach. Also, I really appreciate you going easy on me today."
"No problem at all," Chris said. "I remember my first few practices. It gets easier the more you do it, trust me."
As Linus started packing up his things, he spotted Elias heading towards his bike. He quickly jogged over, feeling the tiredness still lingering in his legs.
"Hey, Elias," Linus called out.
Elias turned around, his baseball bag slung over one shoulder. "Yeah?"
"Thanks for helping me out today. It made a big difference," Linus said earnestly.
Elias waved it off with a smile. "Don't worry about it. So, you think you'll join the team?"
Linus nodded, feeling more sure of his decision now. "Yeah, I think so."
Elias grinned. "Awesome. Looking forward to playing with you then."
With a quick fist bump, Elias headed off, leaving Linus to grab his bike and start the ride home. He didn't really want to bike back after all the running, but leaving his bike at the field wasn't an option.
The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows over the streets as Linus pedaled his way through the town. His body was tired, his legs almost like jelly from the workout, but his mind was thinking how to tell his parents about playing baseball. By the time he made it home, it was around 8 PM.
Walking into the house, he could hear the low murmur of the TV from the living room. His parents were sitting on the couch, watching something together.
His dad, Mats, glanced over as Linus walked in. "There's dinner on the stove for you. Just heat it up."
"Thanks," Linus said, making his way to the kitchen. His stomach growled as he smelled the leftover food. As he prepared his plate, he couldn't help but think back on the practice. He smiled to himself, maybe this baseball thing was going to be bigger than he thought.
***
After dinner, Linus made his way to the living room, where his parents were still watching TV. He sat down on the couch, feeling a bit nervous but also excited about what he was about to say.
"Hey, Mom, Dad," he began, "I played baseball today... for real, I mean. And I've been thinking about it, and I've decided I want to join the team."
His mom, Marie, looked up with surprise, while his dad's eyes lit up with interest. "That's great!" Mats said, sitting up straighter. "I think that sounds like a fun opportunity."
Marie smiled warmly. "I'm glad to hear that, Linus. It's good to see you getting involved in something. We'll support you however we can."
"Thanks," Linus said, smiling at them. "I'll let them know."
Mats furrowed his brow, feeling a little curious and confused. "Wait, How did you even play baseball? Do we even have teams for that here?"
Linus scratched the back of his head, feeling a little sheepish. "Yeah, it's not common, but there are teams. I found one nearby called the Salem Witches. I went to their practice today to try it out."
His dad raised an eyebrow, still looking a bit surprised. "The Salem Witches? I didn't even know there were baseball teams in Sweden."
"Me neither, to be honest," Linus replied with a chuckle. "But they seem really welcoming. Chris, the coach, was really nice, and I've already met some of the other players."
Mats leaned back, still processing the news. "Well, that's interesting. If you're excited about it, then I'm all for it."
Linus smiled. "Yeah, I think I want to see where this goes."
As he walked back to his room later that night, Linus saw the system pop up.
[*Mission Complete!*]
- Reward: 50 Exp
- Hidden Reward: Gain access to [Daily Mission]