Chương 4: Chapter 4: Rising Tensions

The early morning fog hung over Seidou High's baseball field as Eijun made his way to practice, the chill in the air doing little to dampen his excitement. His muscles were sore from the previous day's drills, but he felt more alive than he had in years. Every ache and bruise was a reminder that he was back in the game, that he had a second shot. And he was determined to make it count.

He wasn't the first one to arrive—many players were already out on the field, going through warm-ups and chatting in small groups. His eyes were drawn to Furuya, a fellow first-year pitcher who'd been the talk of the team ever since the new recruits arrived. Tall, stoic, and with a fastball that practically screamed power, Furuya was already garnering attention as a potential ace. Eijun watched as Furuya threw a pitch with ease, the ball zipping through the air and landing with a loud smack in the catcher's mitt.

Eijun's fingers tingled. It was clear that Furuya had raw talent, and Eijun couldn't deny the spark of competition flaring in his chest. He remembered what Miyuki had told him—Seidou didn't hand out the ace number easily. It was earned. And in this new life, that was his goal.

"Hey, Sawamura!" The assistant coach's voice cut through his thoughts. "You're up for bullpen practice. Let's see what you've got today."

Eijun snapped to attention, nodding. He jogged over to the bullpen, his mind already focused on his pitch. The mound felt like home, and he took a deep breath, feeling his nerves steady as he positioned himself.

"Morning, Sawamura." Miyuki's voice was calm, but his eyes held that familiar glint of expectation. He crouched down behind the plate, ready to receive. "Today's all about control. Let's work on that wild pitch of yours."

Eijun smirked. "Wild? You call that wild? Just watch!"

He adjusted his grip, the feel of the seams under his fingers grounding him. He wound up and released, the ball cutting through the air as he threw with the precision he'd honed over a lifetime. But as the pitch left his hand, he felt the slight, unsettling wobble that had plagued him since he'd become Sawamura. The ball sailed a bit higher than he intended, but Miyuki managed to catch it cleanly.

Miyuki sighed, raising an eyebrow as he stood up, casually walking to the mound. "You're overdoing it. Take it easy; control isn't about power. If you keep forcing it, you'll just make it worse."

Eijun clenched his fists, frustration bubbling inside him. "I know! It's just—" He paused, not sure how to explain the strange disconnect he felt between his mind and body. In his past life, his pitches had been sharp, calculated. Now, in this younger body, he felt almost like a rookie learning from scratch. He took a steadying breath, trying to push down his impatience.

"I get it," Miyuki said, almost as if he'd read Eijun's mind. "You've got natural power, but you need to understand this body's limits. The difference between good pitchers and great ones is knowing when to let up and when to push harder."

Eijun frowned but nodded, taking the advice to heart. He threw a few more pitches, focusing on control over power. By the third or fourth throw, he felt the improvement, the ball landing with satisfying accuracy in Miyuki's mitt.

"Not bad, Sawamura," Miyuki said, his smirk back in place. "Keep that up, and you might just be ready to take on Furuya."

At the mention of Furuya, Eijun's gaze flicked to where the other pitcher was practicing. Furuya threw another blistering fastball, and the catcher barely held onto it. The ease with which Furuya threw reminded Eijun of his own prime, and he felt that familiar competitiveness well up again.

"Don't worry, I'm not backing down," Eijun muttered, determination hardening his tone. He wanted that ace position. And he wasn't going to let anyone stand in his way.

As practice ended, Eijun lingered on the field, replaying the advice Miyuki had given him. It was clear that Seidou's standards were higher than anything he'd experienced, and he was up against some of the most talented players he'd ever seen.

"Thinking of how to catch up?" a voice asked, breaking his thoughts. He turned to see Haruichi, who had a warm, knowing smile.

"Maybe," Eijun admitted, scratching his head. "It's just… I thought I'd be further along by now."

Haruichi nodded, watching Furuya leave the field. "Everyone here is working for the same goal. Furuya has talent, but talent alone isn't everything. Consistency, improvement, the ability to adapt—those are what make the difference. Miyuki sees that in you."

Eijun felt a rush of gratitude for Haruichi's words. His determination solidified. His past life had taught him that success came from grit and resilience, and he was ready to prove that here.

The next morning, Eijun was the first to arrive at practice, and he threw himself into drills with renewed purpose. With each throw, each sprint, each practice play, he could feel his body beginning to adjust. He focused on finding the balance between power and control, Miyuki's advice echoing in his head.

As the weeks passed, his rivalry with Furuya grew sharper. Their competition pushed him to his limits, and even though Furuya's raw talent continued to shine, Eijun's consistency and determination earned him a steady place on the team.

One evening, after another intense practice, Miyuki approached him, a rare glint of approval in his eyes. "You've got guts, Sawamura. Keep this up, and who knows? Maybe you'll surprise us all."

Eijun met his gaze with a grin. This was his second chance, and he was ready to give it everything he had.