Rebirth of Toujou Hideaki

The score was tied 2-2, and Hikari Gakuen had a golden opportunity to take the lead.

Kazuki led off with a double.

The Seishin defense tightened up, knowing one run could decide the game.

Ryota stepped into the batter's box. He received the bunt sign and dropped one perfectly down the first-base line, allowing Kazuki to advance to third.

One out. Winning run on third.

Coach Ichiro signaled for the next batter.

Toujou Hideaki stepped up.

There was a murmur from the crowd. Up until now, Toujou had been dominant on the mound, but he hadn't made much of an impact with the bat.

Riku Nakamura, Seishin's catcher, narrowed his eyes.

"So, let's see what you can do with the bat, Toujou."

The Seishin outfield shifted slightly forward, expecting a weaker hit.

First pitch—fastball, outside corner.

Toujou let it pass. Ball one.

Second pitch—breaking ball, inside.

Toujou tracked the ball well but held back. Ball two.

Shunji Hasegawa, the Seishin pitcher, frowned.

"He's reading my pitches well. If I leave one in the zone, he'll swing."

Third pitch—fastball, middle-in.

Toujou's grip tightened.

"Now!"

He swung hard—CRACK!

The ball shot off his bat, rising high into the center field!

The crowd held its breath as the ball soared—

…but it wasn't deep enough.

The Seishin center fielder sprinted backward, tracked it down, and made the catch.

Two outs.

Kazuki remained stranded at third.

Toujou exhaled, disappointed.

"Damn… I got the contact I wanted, but my strength isn't enough yet."

As he returned to the dugout, Coach Ichiro gave him a pat on the back.

"That was a good swing, Toujou. You're seeing the ball well. Just need more power behind it."

Toujou nodded. "I'll work on it."

Ryoma was up next. With two outs and the game on the line, he stepped up, locked in.

First pitch—fastball, middle-in.

CRACK!

The ball zipped past the shortstop into left field!

Kazuki sprinted home—SAFE!

Hikari Gakuen wins, 3-2!

The team exploded in cheers as Kazuki was mobbed by his teammates.

Seishin's players stood still for a moment, taking in the loss of the practice game.

---

As the teams lined up, Riku walked directly to Toujou.

"You got a good swing in that last at-bat," Riku commented. "If you had just a little more power, that could've been the game-winner."

Toujou sighed but smirked. "I know. It felt good coming off the bat, but I still have a long way to go."

Riku nodded. "If you develop your batting to match your pitching, you'll be dangerous. But don't think I'll let you beat me so easily next time."

Toujou grinned. "Then I'll just have to keep improving."

Riku extended his hand. "Until next time."

Toujou shook it. "Yeah. Until next time."

---

As the teams shook hands and Seishin walked off the field in defeat, a man in a dark polo and cap remained seated in the stands. Unlike the cheering spectators, his eyes weren't on the scoreboard.

He was Takeshi Hayato, a scout from the Tokyo Baseball Federation, responsible for identifying young talents for regional and national-level competitions.

He tapped his pen against his notepad, reviewing his observations.

His eyes flicked back and forth between the young players, noting their form, their technique, their potential. As the game progressed, his focus shifted to Toujou despite his unstable start. He could see something special in the boy—a calmness under pressure, a mental edge that not many young players had.

He jotted down some notes on his clipboard, his expression thoughtful. 55mph, he wrote, his pen scratching the paper. Impressive for an elementary school pitcher. His eyes lingered on Toujou's control—despite the slightly slower speed, the pitches were on the mark, and the boy seemed to know how to work the batter's weaknesses.

The scout's thoughts turned to another young pitcher he had been keeping an eye on—Mei Narumiya of Shirokane Elementary. Narumiya was a prodigy, known for his raw power, and it seemed that he and Toujou were in a similar stage of development.

The scout made a note to keep track of both pitchers. It'll be interesting to see how they fare against each other in the upcoming Inter-District Friendly Match.

---

The sun had already dipped below the horizon as the Hikari Gakuen baseball team boarded the bus to head back home.

The air was thick with the excitement of their hard-earned victory, but Toujou Hideaki sat quietly by the window, his thoughts far from the game.

He hadn't felt completely satisfied with his performance especially from the beginning of the game, and he wasn't sure how to explain it to Coach Ichiro Tachibana.

As the bus rumbled along the road, Coach Ichiro, who had been watching the players carefully, sat down beside him. His expression was calm, but there was a sense of seriousness in his eyes.

"Hideaki," Coach Ichiro began, his voice soft but firm, "you led the team well today, and your control was much better. But tell me, how do you think you did?"

Toujou hesitated. His mind wandered back to the first innings of the game—the moments when he felt the weight of expectations pressing down on him. Despite the win, something hadn't clicked.

He swallowed hard, trying to find the words. "I… I don't know, Coach," he admitted quietly. "It wasn't my best. I didn't pitch like I should have. I think there was something holding me back."

Coach Ichiro watched him for a moment, his eyes narrowing as if studying the younger pitcher. "You're right. You weren't at your best today, but you still performed well under pressure. You pitched with leadership, and that's important. But there's something else, something in your mechanics that you need to work on. Tell me—how do you feel?"

Toujou's mind flashed back to the scrimmage game where he had given up 12 runs in his first year of high school. The nightmare felt like a weight on his chest, tightening with every passing second. It was as if that moment still haunted him, and the fear of repeating it lingered like an unshakable shadow.

---

Flashback – The First Inning: Coach Ichiro's Perspective

As the game began, Coach Ichiro sat quietly in the dugout, his eyes never leaving Toujou on the mound. He watched carefully, observing every movement, every pitch. Despite the strong start, something felt off.

His watch beeped, and he glanced at the screen—50-55mph. His eyebrows furrowed as the question echoed in his mind: What was holding you back, Hideaki?

The young pitcher moved with confidence, his body mechanics sharp, but his fastball seemed to lack its usual zip. Coach Ichiro could tell that Toujou wasn't giving it his all. There was something holding him back, an invisible shackle preventing him from reaching his full potential. This is not the pitch speed I've seen from you, Ichiro thought, If this were a middle school game, these pitches would be hit out of the park.

But then, something changed. Toujou settled into a rhythm. His ball control tightened, his delivery became more fluid, and though his ball speed stayed at 55mph, his confidence grew. Coach Ichiro knew that Toujou's potential was much greater, but the fear of failure had been a weight he couldn't shake off.

Ichiro exhaled quietly. This is just the beginning. He'll need to overcome this mental barrier if he's to truly shine.

---

Reflection on the Friendly Match

Later that night, Coach Ichiro gave Toujou some space to reflect on his performance. The young pitcher sat in his room, the lights dimmed, and his notebook open in front of him. His pen hovered above the paper for a long time, unsure of what to write.

I wasn't at my best today. I pitched well, but it wasn't enough. I could've done better. But what was missing?

Toujou scribbled in his notebook, the words flowing out as he processed the game. He made a note about his ball speed and control, comparing it to his usual pace. He knew that his fastball wasn't at the 60mph mark where it needed to be. But the control had been solid. The question was: why had his confidence faltered?

As he reflected on the day's events, Toujou's mind shifted to his family. He remembered the conversation he'd had with his mother over dinner, their gentle laughter filling the room.

She had noticed his change in attitude—he was more focused, more driven, but there was also a quiet sadness in his eyes that she couldn't ignore.

"Are you sure you're okay?" his mother had asked, her tone soft but concerned.

Toujou had forced a smile. "I'm fine, Mom. Just thinking about the game. I'll get better."

But deep down, he knew it wasn't just the game that haunted him—it was the fear of repeating his past mistakes. The fear of failure. The nightmare he couldn't escape.

---

The very next day, as Coach Ichiro was going over some of the practice footage with the team, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and his eyes widened. The invitation to the Inter-District Friendly Tournament had arrived. It was official—Hikari Gakuen had been selected to compete, and they would be facing off against top-tier teams from across the district.

Coach Ichiro looked at Toujou, who had been watching him closely. "Hideaki," he said, a grin spreading across his face, "Looks like your performance yesterday caught the eye of someone important."

Toujou's eyes widened in surprise. "You mean… we're in?"

Coach Ichiro nodded. "That's right. This is your chance to really show what you're made of."

Toujou's heart raced. This was it—the opportunity he had been waiting for. The road to proving himself had just begun.