"No proper training. No real strategy. Just a handful of kids… and one dream."
The sun beat down harshly on the dusty school field. Their opponents—Yamashita Middle's second-string team—were already doing warm-up drills like pros.
Haruto wiped his hands on his pants. His heart thudded in his chest like a war drum.
They stood in a line—him, Sōta, Reina with the first aid kit, Jun gripping his bat like a sword, Takeshi spinning a rock with his foot, and a couple of backup players chewing nervously.
Coach Inoue wasn't coming.
At least not officially.
---
Top of the First Inning – Their Turn to Bat
Jun stepped up as leadoff.
Pitch.
Strike.
Another.
Third.
Out.
Sōta's turn. He barely connected—ground ball. Out.
Then Haruto stepped into the batter's box. Silence fell, even from the opposing bench.
The Yamashita pitcher smirked. He was older, taller, clearly confident.
First pitch. Fast.
> Whoosh!
Haruto didn't swing.
Strike one.
Second pitch.
He swung.
Crack.
The ball soared into center field. A double.
The team cheered like they'd won the championship.
---
Bottom of the First – Haruto Takes the Mound
With no catcher's signs, no signals, and barely any practiced rhythm, Haruto threw his first pitch with all his strength.
Fastball. High.
Ball one.
Second pitch. He twisted the grip just like he practiced on his own with Sōta.
Curveball.
The batter swung too early.
Strike.
> "Nice one!" Reina shouted from the sideline.
Third pitch—another fastball, inside corner. The batter connected—weakly.
Groundout.
The team exhaled.
---
Later Innings – Sloppy but Fiery
Takeshi misjudged a fly ball.
Jun tripped during a steal attempt.
Sōta's glove broke during a tag, letting in a run.
Yet somehow, they held on.
By the sixth inning, it was 3-2. They were down, but not broken.
Then Reina stood up and shouted something that echoed across the field:
> "It doesn't matter if we win. Just don't quit. You guys owe that to each other."
Even Yamashita's bench fell silent for a moment.
---
Final Inning – Haruto's Miracle Pitch
One out.
Two runners on base.
One mistake would end it.
Haruto locked eyes with Sōta behind the plate.
Sōta gave no signs. Just nodded once.
Haruto took a deep breath. Remembered every morning he practiced alone. Every rock he threw at a bottle. Every night Reina stood watching silently as he tried again.
He threw a sidearm curve, spinning like a tornado, unnatural for his age.
The batter swung—
Missed.
Strikeout.
> "That's our ace!" Jun yelled.
---
The Scoreboard
3–3.
They didn't win.
But they didn't lose either.
> "A draw… but it felt like a beginning."
---
Postgame Scene
Haruto sat on the bench, panting, smiling softly.
Sōta tossed him a towel.
"You know we're not supposed to survive that game, right?"
Haruto nodded. "I know."
"But we did."
---
End Line:
"No one remembers the first time you tied. But you will—because that's when you stopped being a dreamer… and started becoming a team."