Goro felt a strange mix of thrill and nervousness as he stood in front of the old, familiar little league baseball field. This was where he'd first fallen in love with baseball, where he'd learned to throw his first pitches. Now, with the system's stats hovering faintly in the corner of his vision, he was more determined than ever to take his training seriously.
A sudden ding sounded in his mind, and another notification popped up.
[Quest: Begin Your Training] Objective: Increase your Stamina, Speed, and Pitching Skill by 5 points. Reward: Unlock new training exercises.
"Alright, let's see what this 'system' can do." Goro smiled to himself, rolling his shoulders. He figured he'd start with stamina. After all, a good pitcher needed the endurance to keep throwing even in the most intense games.
He took a deep breath and started running laps around the field. At first, it felt easy—his young body was much lighter and had energy to spare. But after the first few laps, the familiar burn of fatigue started creeping in. It was strange to feel himself tiring so quickly, given how hard he'd trained as an adult, but it only fueled his resolve to push forward.
"Come on, Goro, you've got this…" he muttered to himself. With each lap, his legs felt heavier, his breaths growing shallower, but he kept going, pushing himself to the limit.
Finally, he stumbled to a stop, collapsing onto the grass and panting heavily. Just as he caught his breath, another notification appeared.
[Stamina +1]
He grinned, feeling a surge of satisfaction. "So I really do get stronger if I push myself… amazing."
After a short rest, Goro began practicing his pitches. His throws felt awkward at first, weaker than he remembered, but he kept at it. The system kept track of his progress, giving him subtle nudges on his form and timing. Each pitch, no matter how rough, brought a thrill. He knew he had a long way to go, but it didn't matter. This was the start of something big.
Hours passed as he practiced, his young body gradually adjusting to the strain. He worked through lunch, pushing himself to hit each target the system suggested. His muscles ached, but it was worth every second.
Finally, another ding sounded.
[Pitching Skill +1]
"Alright!" Goro punched the air triumphantly, feeling that familiar spark of satisfaction he hadn't felt in years.
Just as he was about to wind up for another pitch, he heard a voice call out.
"Hey, Goro! You're practicing alone? Need a catcher?"
Goro turned to see his childhood friend, Toshiya, grinning at him from the edge of the field. Toshiya looked just as he remembered—a little shorter, with a mischievous glint in his eye and the same eagerness to play ball. The sight of his friend brought a strange wave of nostalgia over him.
"Yeah! I'd appreciate the help," Goro said, flashing a grin. The two boys spent the next hour working together, Goro pitching and Toshiya catching every throw with ease. They laughed and joked like old times, pushing each other to do their best.
As the sun began to set, Goro glanced at his stats, noting the slight improvements. This system was going to make him a monster on the field—he could feel it.
"See you tomorrow?" Toshiya asked, grinning as he tossed Goro the ball one last time.
"You bet!" Goro replied, his heart racing with excitement for the next day. He was just getting started.
As he walked home, he reviewed his stats one last time. The system had been tracking every move, every swing, every breath, rewarding him with small but noticeable gains. And deep down, Goro knew he'd keep pushing until he reached the top—this time, stronger than ever.