Bab 10: Chapter 10: The Road to Ace
The victory from the last game had ignited a renewed sense of confidence in Seidou, and Eijun was still riding the high from his solid performance. However, as the team continued their training, he knew the path ahead was still long and arduous. Even though he had proven himself in that critical moment, Furuya remained the starting pitcher, and Eijun understood that he needed to keep pushing himself beyond his limits if he wanted to reach the top.
Eijun woke up before dawn the next day, his body still sore from the game but his mind buzzing with thoughts of improvement. He couldn't let up, not now. Every moment counted if he was serious about becoming Seidou's ace.
As he made his way to the field, he found it deserted except for one figure. Miyuki was already there, crouched by home plate, adjusting his catcher's gear. Eijun wasn't surprised. Miyuki always seemed to be one step ahead of everyone, preparing for the next challenge.
"Can't sleep either, huh?" Miyuki called out, a smirk playing on his lips.
Eijun jogged over, determination burning in his eyes. "I need to get better, Miyuki. I can't just sit around while Furuya keeps starting. I want to be the ace."
Miyuki stood up, his expression turning serious for a moment. "I figured as much. You've made a lot of progress, Sawamura, but being the ace isn't just about winning games. It's about leading the team, shouldering the pressure every time you step on the mound."
"I know that!" Eijun said, his fists clenched. "And I'm ready. I'll keep practicing as hard as I need to. I'll work until I'm better than anyone else."
Miyuki raised an eyebrow, his smirk returning. "You've got the spirit, that's for sure. But there's more to pitching than just raw effort. You've got to be smart about it too."
Eijun blinked, a little confused. "What do you mean?"
"Furuya's got power, and you've got guts. But you need to start thinking about how to outsmart the batters, not just overpower them. You can't rely on one or two pitches forever, you know. You've got to develop your repertoire."
Eijun paused, processing Miyuki's words. He knew his fastball and slider had gotten him far, but deep down, he understood that wasn't enough to compete at the highest level. He needed something more—a pitch that could take him to the next level.
"So, what do I do?" Eijun asked, his voice steady with resolve.
Miyuki's eyes glinted with mischief. "We work on a new weapon, something that'll throw the batters off completely. I've got a few ideas in mind, but it's going to take time. You up for it?"
Eijun's face lit up with excitement. "Of course! Let's do it!"
The next few weeks were some of the most intense in Eijun's training so far. Every day, Miyuki pushed him to refine his existing pitches while working on a new breaking ball. It wasn't easy—Eijun struggled to control the movement at first, and his arm was often sore from the extra effort. But he refused to give up.
"Miyuki!" Eijun shouted after one particularly frustrating session where the ball had slipped out of his hand, sailing far off the mark. "This is impossible! What kind of pitch even moves like that?"
Miyuki laughed from behind the plate. "It's supposed to be hard, Sawamura. If it were easy, everyone would be doing it. But if you can master this, it'll be a game-changer."
Eijun took a deep breath, wiping the sweat from his brow. He could feel the pressure building in his chest, but instead of letting it overwhelm him, he channeled it into his next pitch. He wound up and released the ball, focusing on keeping his form steady.
The ball curved sharply, exactly the way Miyuki had instructed. It wasn't perfect, but it was a start.
Miyuki caught the pitch and nodded approvingly. "Now you're getting it. Keep that up, and you'll have something that'll drive batters crazy."
As the weeks passed, Eijun's progress became noticeable. His control over the new pitch improved with each practice, and his stamina was increasing as well. But even more importantly, Eijun began to understand the mental game of pitching. With Miyuki's guidance, he learned how to read batters, anticipate their swings, and adjust his strategy on the fly.
One afternoon, after a grueling practice session, Eijun found himself sitting on the bench, staring out at the empty field. His body was exhausted, but his mind was clearer than ever. He was finally starting to grasp what it meant to be a pitcher—not just someone who threw the ball, but someone who could outthink and outlast the competition.
Furuya walked by, stopping for a moment to look at Eijun. "You're working hard," Furuya said quietly.
Eijun looked up, a fire still burning in his eyes. "I have to. I'm not going to stop until I become the ace."
Furuya nodded, his expression unreadable. "Good. I don't want to be the ace just because no one else is good enough."
Eijun grinned, feeling a surge of excitement. This rivalry was exactly what he needed. Furuya wasn't just a wall to overcome—he was someone who pushed Eijun to be better every day.
"Don't worry," Eijun said, standing up and facing Furuya with a confident smile. "I'm going to catch up to you soon. Just you wait."
Furuya gave a small nod before walking off, and Eijun watched him go with a renewed sense of purpose. There was still so much to learn, so much to improve, but Eijun wasn't afraid of the challenge. If anything, it excited him.
The next game arrived faster than expected, and this time, Coach gave Eijun the starting position. It wasn't a major tournament game, but it was a significant step forward. Standing on the mound as Seidou's lead pitcher, Eijun felt the weight of responsibility settle on his shoulders.
The opposing team wasn't weak, but Eijun wasn't the same pitcher he had been at the start of the season. With his new pitch in his arsenal and Miyuki guiding him from behind the plate, Eijun faced the batters with a newfound sense of confidence.
The first batter stepped up, and the crowd went silent in anticipation. Eijun wound up, his mind clear, his body steady. He released the ball with precision, watching as it curved sharply just before reaching the plate.
The batter swung—and missed.
"Strike one!"
Eijun grinned, feeling the rush of adrenaline flood his system. This was it. This was what he had been training for.
As the game progressed, Eijun's performance only improved. He mixed his pitches, kept the batters guessing, and stayed calm under pressure. By the end of the game, Seidou had secured a decisive victory, and Eijun had pitched the entire game without giving up a single run.
The cheers of his teammates rang in his ears as he walked off the mound, but Eijun's focus was elsewhere. He glanced over at Furuya, who stood at the edge of the dugout, watching him with that same unreadable expression.
Eijun knew that this was just the beginning. There were still many games to come, and the competition for the ace position was far from over. But for the first time, he felt like he was truly on equal footing with Furuya.
As he stood there, surrounded by his cheering teammates, Eijun made a silent promise to himself: He wouldn't stop until he became Seidou's ace. And with each game, each pitch, he was getting closer to that dream.
The road to becoming the ace was long, but Eijun was ready for the journey ahead.
PERTIMBANGAN PENCIPTA 
Badd_eee
Badd_eee Like it ? Add to library！
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone