Chapter 17: The Test Begins

The tournament was finally here.

The excitement around Seidou's campus was palpable. Students filled the stands as the team prepared for their first game, banners waving, and voices raised in support. Eijun could feel the energy in the air as he stood in the dugout, watching the field being prepped for the match. It was an atmosphere he thrived in—the pressure, the expectation, the thrill of competition.

But this time, there was something different. This wasn't just another game. For Eijun, it was a critical moment. Coach Katoka had put him in the starting rotation for this tournament, and he was set to start the second game if Seidou made it through the first. The thought of it filled him with both excitement and nerves.

In today's game, Furuya would be starting. All eyes were on him as the team took the field for warm-ups. Eijun watched closely, as always, analyzing Furuya's pitching mechanics, his body language, and his control. He knew Furuya had struggled in recent games, but the pressure of the tournament could push anyone to their limits.

"Focus, Eijun," Miyuki said, nudging him in the side. "You'll get your chance soon. Don't overthink it."

Eijun grinned, trying to ease the tension building in his chest. "I'm just getting fired up, Miyuki-senpai! I'll be ready when it's my turn."

Miyuki smirked. "Good. Keep that fire going."

As the first pitch was thrown, the game began in earnest. Furuya's fastball still had the same velocity, but his control wavered early on. Seidou took an early lead thanks to their strong batting lineup, but by the fourth inning, Furuya had given up two runs. It was clear he was struggling, and the opposing team was starting to catch onto his tendencies.

By the fifth inning, Coach Katoka was already glancing toward the bullpen. Eijun could see it—the indecision on the coach's face. Should he pull Furuya? Should he let him ride it out? These were the moments that determined the course of a game, and Eijun knew that if things got worse, he might be called upon to step in as a reliever, even though he wasn't scheduled to pitch today.

But Furuya managed to hold on. Barely.

The game ended with Seidou scraping by with a narrow 4-3 victory, but Furuya's performance had left everyone on edge. Eijun could see it in the faces of his teammates. They were happy with the win but worried about what would happen in the next round. If Furuya couldn't regain his form, Seidou would be in serious trouble.

As the team gathered in the locker room after the game, Coach Katoka addressed them, his voice stern. "Good job out there, but this isn't over. We've got a long road ahead of us, and I expect more focus, more discipline in the next game. Sawamura, you're starting tomorrow."

Eijun's heart skipped a beat. It was official. His moment had arrived.

He swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded, determination burning in his eyes. "Yes, Coach! I won't let you down!"

Furuya sat silently on the bench, staring at the floor. Eijun felt a pang of sympathy for him—he knew Furuya was struggling with his own expectations. But there was no time to dwell on that now. Tomorrow, the responsibility would fall on Eijun's shoulders.

That night, Eijun lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind raced as he thought about the game. He couldn't afford to make any mistakes. Tomorrow, he would be facing a tough lineup—one that had already proven itself capable of mounting comebacks and putting pressure on pitchers.

As he turned over, trying to find sleep, Miyuki's words from earlier replayed in his head. "Keep that fire going."

That's what he needed to do. The fire that burned inside him, the passion that had driven him to this point—it couldn't waver now. Tomorrow would be the culmination of everything he had worked for. The chance to prove that he was more than just a bullpen reliever. He was a starter. A future ace.

But there was still one nagging thought that wouldn't leave his mind.

What if I fail?

The fear of failure had been creeping in ever since Coach announced that he'd be starting. Eijun's fists clenched as he turned over again, the weight of responsibility pressing down on him. He knew how important this game was for Seidou's tournament run. A single mistake could cost them everything.

The next morning arrived faster than Eijun expected. His nerves were raw, but he was determined to stay focused. As the team gathered for their pre-game meeting, Coach Katoka went over the opposing team's lineup, their strengths, and their tendencies.

"They've got a couple of power hitters in the middle of the order," Coach explained, his tone serious. "Sawamura, you need to keep the ball low and mix up your pitches. If they get a hold of one of your fastballs, it could go over the fence."

Eijun nodded, absorbing every word. He glanced at Miyuki, who gave him a small nod of reassurance. They had worked on pitch selection in practice, and Miyuki would guide him through the game. But on the mound, it was up to Eijun to execute.

The game started, and Eijun took the mound in the top of the first inning. His heart pounded as he stared down the first batter, his mind racing with all the advice and strategies he had learned. This was it. The moment he had been waiting for.

Miyuki signaled for a fastball, low and outside. Eijun nodded, going into his windup. His body moved automatically, muscle memory taking over as the ball left his hand.

Thunk!

The ball snapped into Miyuki's glove, and the umpire called, "Strike one!"

A wave of relief washed over Eijun. The first pitch was always the hardest, and now that it was behind him, he could focus on the rest of the game. He quickly settled into a rhythm, mixing his fastballs with breaking pitches, keeping the opposing team off balance.

The first three innings flew by in a blur, with Eijun holding the other team scoreless. His control was sharp, his confidence building with each pitch. The adrenaline coursing through his veins kept him laser-focused.

But in the fourth inning, trouble started brewing.

The cleanup hitter from the opposing team stepped up to the plate, a menacing look in his eyes. He had been quiet in the first at-bat, but now he looked like a predator sizing up his prey. Miyuki called for a breaking ball, low and inside, but Eijun hesitated for a split second. His fastball had been working well—should he stick with it?

In that moment of indecision, Eijun released the pitch, but it didn't break as sharply as it should have. The batter's eyes lit up, and with a powerful swing, he sent the ball soaring deep into the outfield.

Eijun's heart sank as he watched the ball clear the fence.

"Home run!" the announcer's voice rang out, and the crowd erupted in cheers.

Eijun gritted his teeth, frustration boiling inside him. One mistake. One lapse in concentration, and the other team was back in the game.

Miyuki jogged out to the mound, his expression calm despite the situation. "Don't let it get to you, Sawamura. It was a bad pitch, but we're still in control. Focus on the next batter."

Eijun nodded, taking a deep breath to steady himself. He couldn't afford to let this affect him. He had to keep going. The game wasn't over yet.

As the game progressed, Eijun managed to regain his composure, keeping the opposing team from doing any more damage. By the seventh inning, Seidou still held a narrow lead, but the tension in the air was thick. Every pitch felt like it could determine the outcome of the game.

With two outs and a runner on second, the next batter stepped up. Eijun knew this was a critical moment. One mistake here, and the lead could slip away. He glanced at Miyuki, who signaled for a fastball, high and outside.

Eijun nodded, his grip tightening on the ball.

This was it.

He went into his windup, releasing the pitch with everything he had.

The batter swung—and missed.

"Strike three!"

The crowd roared as Eijun pumped his fist, relief flooding through him. He had escaped the inning unscathed.

Seidou held on to win the game, and as Eijun walked off the field, his teammates surrounded him, congratulating him on a job well done. But in the back of his mind, he couldn't shake the feeling that he still had more to prove. The home run he had given up was a reminder that he wasn't perfect yet. He still had a long way to go before he could truly claim the ace number.

But for now, he had taken a step forward.

And that was enough.