The gates of Ichibu High loomed ahead as Kaito adjusted the strap of his bag and stepped onto campus. Students bustled around him, some chatting excitedly, others nervously looking at maps to find their classrooms. Kaito let out a quiet sigh.
"Yo! Kaito!"
He turned toward the familiar voice and spotted Ken Hashimoto jogging toward him, waving energetically. Kaito couldn't help but smile.
"Ken! You're here too?" Kaito said, giving him a quick fist bump.
"Of course I did! Can you believe this place? It's massive!" Ken exclaimed, looking around with wide eyes.
"Yeah, it's definitely bigger than Tonoko," Kaito replied.
They walked together toward the bulletin board to check the class assignments. Ken squinted at the lists, his finger running down the names.
"Class 1-B," Kaito said when he spotted his name.
"1-C for me," Ken said, pouting exaggeratedly. "Man, I was hoping we'd end up in the same class."
"Well, it's not like we can't see each other," Kaito said with a shrug.
Ken brightened up immediately. "Right! Let's meet up at lunch, okay? You better not ditch me!"
"Sure thing," Kaito said with a small grin as they parted ways.
Kaito entered his classroom and immediately noticed the buzz of energy. Students were mingling, introducing themselves, and claiming desks. He picked a seat by the window, setting his bag down.
Before he could settle in, a large figure appeared beside him. "This seat taken?"
Kaito looked up to see a bulky boy with short-cropped hair and a face that looked like it had been carved out of stone. He had a serious expression and stood with his arms crossed, waiting for an answer.
"Uh, no. Go ahead," Kaito said, moving his bag aside.
The boy nodded and sat down. "Inakawa Shun. You?"
"Kaito Suzuki."
"Hmm," Inakawa grunted, as if filing the name away. He didn't say much else, and Kaito wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
As more students trickled in, the classroom grew livelier. Conversations started up about clubs and sports, with people shouting across the room.
"I'm joining the basketball team!" one boy declared.
"Track for me," another girl chimed in.
The focus eventually turned to Kaito. "Hey, Kaito, you into any clubs? Planning to join anything?"
Kaito shook his head quickly. "No, I'm just here to focus on my studies."
His response earned a mix of reactions. Some nodded approvingly, while others looked disappointed. Inakawa gave him a sidelong glance but didn't comment.
The lunch bell rang, and Kaito made his way to the courtyard. Ken was already there, waving him over to a bench under a tree. He had an open bento box in front of him, and his grin was as bright as ever.
"Kaito! Man, you wouldn't believe the stuff I've been hearing," Ken said, practically bouncing in his seat.
Kaito sat down across from him. "What's got you so hyped?"
"Baseball!" Ken said, leaning forward. "This school is insane, Kaito. Did you know their team's one of the Four Kings of Nagano? They're Koshien regulars! If we're talking about making it big, this is the place to be. The baseball facilities are top-notch. Did you know they've got an indoor training area? And the fields—man, they're like something out of a dream!" Ken's eyes sparkled with excitement."
Kaito smiled faintly. "Sounds like you've already made up your mind."
"Of course! This is my shot, Kaito," Ken said, his excitement almost palpable. "I was worried I'd be the only one from Tonoko here, but seeing you… It's like fate or something!"
Kaito nodded. "You've got the skills for it. You were the best hitter in Tonoko. Honestly, if anyone's got a shot at going pro, it's you."
Ken's grin faltered slightly, and he scratched the back of his head. "Thanks, Kaito, but… it's not as simple as that."
Kaito tilted his head. "What do you mean?"
Ken hesitated for a moment before sighing. "I wasn't scouted by Ichibu. I didn't get an invitation like some of the others here. I got in through the entrance exam. Anyway now that were here, we can train and lead Ichibu to Koshien."
Kaito chuckled. "You're putting a lot of pressure on me, you know."
Ken grinned. "Well, it's true. You're one of the best pitchers I've ever played with. You've got the mentality to handle tough games. That's not something everyone has."
Kaito looked down at his hands, feeling a mix of pride and unease. "Thanks, but… I'm not here for baseball, Ken."
Ken froze mid-bite, staring at Kaito in disbelief. "Wait, what? What do you mean?"
"Ichibu's academics are top-notch," Kaito explained. "I want to focus on my studies. Baseball's… not really part of the plan anymore."
Ken put his chopsticks down and frowned. "But you're good, Kaito. Like, really good. Why would you just stop?"
"I don't have the talent to go pro," Kaito said, his tone flat. "It's better to quit now than waste time chasing something impossible."
Ken leaned back, clearly not satisfied with the answer, but he didn't push further. "Well, whatever you decide, I'll support you. But man, it'd be a shame if you gave it up completely."
After lunch, Kaito walked back to class, his mind wandering. Ken's words had struck a chord. Seeing his old teammate so fired up about baseball made him feel like an outsider—like he was leaving something important behind.
As he passed by the baseball field, he slowed down. The sharp crack of bats meeting balls and the chatter of players filled the air. A coach was barking orders, and the players moved with precision and intensity.
For a moment, Kaito found himself imagining what it would be like to step onto that field. But he quickly shook the thought away and kept walking.
"It's over," he muttered to himself, gripping the strap of his bag tighter.
Even as he tried to move forward, a small part of him couldn't help but linger.