Morning runs, morning pitching mechanics practice, bullpen sessions, afternoon fielding and batting practice, followed by another run at night.
This was the training plan that Sawamura Eijun had set for himself.
Naturally, his friends often came by during his training sessions.
Seeing how hard Sawamura was working, they were all happy for him, and sometimes they would even join him in practice.
Of course, among the friends who visited him, there was one person he couldn’t avoid.
Wakana.
His childhood friend.
The girl who, in his previous life, had become his wife and given birth to their two children.
Because of that, whenever Wakana came to see him, Sawamura Eijun would always find an excuse to avoid her.
He didn’t know why, but whenever Wakana stood nearby watching him practice, he simply couldn’t concentrate.
Especially when their eyes accidentally met.
Whenever that happened, Sawamura would uncharacteristically throw a wild pitch or two.
Although Wakana felt that Sawamura had been acting strangely lately, she assumed it was because of his upcoming move to Seido High School in Tokyo.
After seeing a higher level of baseball, his heart was probably unsettled.
Thinking about it that way, Wakana couldn’t help feeling a little uneasy.
Girls generally matured earlier than boys, and she had long since become vaguely aware of her feelings toward Sawamura Eijun.
She wholeheartedly supported his dream of attending Seido High School and playing baseball.
Originally, she had even planned to help him study harder so they could attend the same high school together.
But now that Eijun was heading to Tokyo, he would surely become even more outstanding.
Would someone like him still notice a girl like her in the future?
Unfortunately, Sawamura Eijun remained completely oblivious to the thoughts of a young girl’s heart.
Every day, he faithfully followed the training plan he had created for himself.
From practicing pitches down the middle…
To inside and outside pitches…
Then high-inside, low-inside, high-outside, and low-outside locations…
And finally progressing to his Four-Seam Fastball, Cutter, Two-Seam Fastball, and Changeup.
Day after day, he steadily improved.
Before he knew it, the day finally arrived for him to leave for Tokyo and report to Seido High School.
At the train station, Sawamura’s grandfather was enthusiastically teaching Takashima Rei the proper way to discipline Sawamura.
Listening from the side, Sawamura couldn’t help feeling a chill run down his spine.
Even so, he cheerfully said his goodbyes to his teachers and friends.
After boldly promising everyone that he would definitely become Seido High School’s Ace, Sawamura boarded the train to Tokyo together with Takashima Rei.
“Eijun…
I’m sorry.”
One of the boys standing among the crowd looked at him with tears in his eyes.
“When we first started playing baseball, I even ran to third base instead of first.
Sometimes I wondered if I was holding everyone back.”
“Idiot.
I was the one who held the bat backwards.”
The moment those words were spoken, laughter mixed with tears spread through the group.
“Even so, Eijun…”
The boy wiped his eyes.
“You never got angry at us.”
“When we made ridiculous mistakes, you were always the one encouraging us from the mound.”
“Even though you were the person under the most pressure.”
“Compared to Ichiro or Matsui…”
The boy’s voice trembled.
“Eijun, you’re more like a hero to us.”
At that moment, the station announcement sounded.
The train bound for Tokyo was about to depart.
“I’m sorry…”
“We really didn’t do much to help you.”
“But honestly…”
“We really wanted to keep playing baseball with you.”
As the train doors slowly closed, Sawamura Eijun felt his chest tighten.
Even though he had prepared himself for this moment, hearing those words still struck him deeply.
Tears instantly filled his eyes.
The train slowly began moving forward.
“Eijun, do your best!”
“Eijun!”
“Don’t lose!”
“We’ll be cheering for you!”
The voices of his friends echoed across the station.
Sawamura watched as they ran alongside the train, chasing after his carriage.
Gradually, their figures became smaller and smaller.
Until eventually they were nothing more than distant dots.
Pressing both hands against the window, tears streamed uncontrollably down Sawamura’s face.
You idiots…
Don’t worry.
I won’t let any of you down.
As your representative, I will definitely reach Koshien.
No matter what.
“Come on.”
Takashima Rei gently patted his shoulder.
“Let’s go back to our seats.”
In the evening, Sawamura Eijun and Takashima Rei got off the train and made their way to Seido High School.
After completing the necessary enrollment procedures, Takashima Rei briefly guided him through the school’s facilities and grounds before bringing him to the front of the dormitory.
“Sawamura-kun, go back to the dorm, organize your luggage, and get some rest today.
Training at Seido during spring break is very intense.”
Sawamura already knew how brutal Seido’s training was.
He replied to Takashima Rei with his usual confidence.
“I’ve already prepared myself mentally.”
“Is that so?
Then my job as a scout ends here.
You might feel a bit uneasy at first, but I trust my judgment.
Do your best… future Ace.”
“Ace, huh?” Sawamura grinned, eyes burning with fighting spirit.
“I’ll become the Ace here.”
“Good.” Takashima Rei adjusted her reflective glasses.
“From now on, we’re in a teacher–student relationship.
If you’re disrespectful to me, I’ll beat you up.”
A chill ran down Sawamura’s spine.
“Yes, ma’am!”
In front of Room 5 of the Seishin Dormitory, Sawamura patted his cheeks and stared at the doorplate:
“Sawamura Eijun, Kuramochi Yoichi, Senior Masuko.”
He took a deep breath to steady himself.
He knew all too well about Room 5’s infamous tradition—after all, in his previous life, Kuramochi had nearly scared him to death on his first day.
Gripping the doorknob with his left hand, he slowly turned it.
He subconsciously closed his eyes, bracing himself for the familiar “Ya-ha!”
But… nothing.
That’s strange.
In his previous life, Kuramochi-senpai would always jump out the moment the door opened.
Why is it so quiet?
Sawamura slowly opened his eyes.
Darkness.
The room was completely still.
Empty.
No one?
Just as he froze in confusion, a hand suddenly tapped his shoulder.
He turned his head—
A pale face was right in front of him.
Sawamura’s expression instantly froze.
“G-Ghost!!
AAAAAHHHHHH!!!”
His scream echoed through the dormitory area.
Yet no upperclassmen came out to complain—apparently, they were already used to this every year during freshman arrivals.
This year’s scream, however, was unusually loud.
“Ya-ha!
I’m Kuramochi Yoichi, second year, and this is Senior Masuko from third year.”
Kuramochi grinned as he introduced himself, casually reaching out to pull Sawamura up.
“You’re the kid who got homered by Azuma-senpai, right?
Hah!
From now on, we’re roommates.
Take care of me, Sawamura.”
Sawamura sat there, still shaken and deeply embarrassed.
On the outside, he was a teenager—but mentally, he was anything but.
And yet, the more time passed, the more he felt it: the body he now lived in was slowly dragging his mindset back to youth.
While Sawamura was still recovering, Kuramochi had already pushed him into the room and pointed at an upper bunk.
“You’ll sleep there.
It’s still early—wanna play a few rounds?
This game’s pretty fun.”
“I’m not playing.
I’m going to sleep.”
Sawamura glanced at Kuramochi’s satisfied grin, then at Masuko-senpai sitting on the floor—pudding in one hand and a sign that read ‘Sawamura-chan, come play~’ in the other.
Black lines filled his face.