Goro quickly settled into a routine. Every morning, he'd wake up at dawn, slipping out of bed quietly to avoid waking his family. His younger self's body felt fresh, his bones light, but he knew that if he wanted to transform himself, he'd have to stick to his new training plan religiously.
The small neighborhood park became his makeshift training ground. He started each day with laps, his sneakers pounding the earth as he gradually worked up his stamina. The system rewarded him with the occasional Stamina +1, a small but satisfying reminder that he was getting stronger, bit by bit. He could see his progress in the stats screen, and each small improvement fueled him.
But with each gain came a reminder of how far he had to go.
One particular morning, as Goro was doing his routine pitching practice, he noticed his arm tiring faster than usual. His pitches started wobbling, missing his makeshift strike zone by inches. Frustrated, he stopped to catch his breath, glancing at his stats.
[Pitching Skill +2]
Despite the improvement, the fatigue was setting in. It was a reminder that his current self, though full of energy, lacked the endurance and skill he'd worked so hard to build as an adult.
Just as he was about to call it a day, he heard footsteps approaching. He turned to see his father, Shigeharu Honda, walking over with his usual calm demeanor and a warm smile. The sight of his father struck him with a pang of emotion. This was a rare gift, a chance to spend more time with the man who had been his hero.
"Hey, Goro," his father said, ruffling his hair. "I've noticed you've been working hard lately. What's gotten into you?"
Goro hesitated, not sure how to explain his sudden surge of motivation. "I just… want to be strong, Dad. I want to be the best."
Shigeharu chuckled, crossing his arms and looking down at Goro with pride in his eyes. "That's the spirit! But don't push yourself too hard. It's not just about training your body—you've got to sharpen your mind too. A good pitcher knows how to use strategy as well as strength."
Goro nodded, the words sinking in deeply. His father was right. In his previous life, he had often relied on his raw power to win games, but maybe this time he could approach things differently, using his knowledge of the game to become a more well-rounded player.
"Thanks, Dad," Goro replied, feeling a renewed sense of purpose.
After Shigeharu left, Goro decided to experiment with his training. He spent the next hour pitching with precision, focusing less on strength and more on accuracy. Slowly, his pitches began hitting his target with a clean, consistent rhythm. It wasn't as thrilling as throwing with raw power, but it was progress. And with each successful throw, he felt his confidence growing.
The system chimed again:
[Pitching Skill +1]
He clenched his fist, feeling a surge of pride. His stats were still low, but he was making steady progress. He could feel the changes in himself, both in body and mindset.
Later that day, he met up with Toshiya at the field. As they practiced, other kids from the neighborhood began to gather, watching with curious eyes. Word had started to spread about Goro's intense training routine, and he could feel a mixture of admiration and envy from the crowd.
One kid stepped forward, a boy named Hiroto, known for being one of the more confident players in the little league. "Hey, Goro! I heard you're training to be a pitcher. Why don't you show us what you've got?" Hiroto taunted, holding a bat and grinning challengingly.
Goro's competitive spirit flared. He hadn't planned on testing his skills against someone else yet, but maybe this was the kind of challenge he needed.
"Alright, Hiroto," Goro said, taking his stance on the makeshift mound. "Let's see if you can hit my pitch!"
He focused, feeling the weight of the ball in his hand. With a deep breath, he wound up and released a fastball. The ball flew towards Hiroto with more speed than he expected, surprising both him and the other kids watching.
Hiroto swung, but the ball whizzed past him and into Toshiya's glove. Cheers erupted from the kids around them, and Hiroto blinked in disbelief.
"You got lucky," Hiroto muttered, but Goro could see the spark of respect in his eyes. The other kids came over to clap him on the back, and for the first time in his journey, Goro felt a sense of belonging among them. This was more than just training—it was a new beginning.
As he walked home that night, Goro checked his stats again, feeling a surge of excitement. The system displayed his latest gains, and he knew this was just the start. Tomorrow would be another day, another chance to improve.