Chapter 18: The Weight of Expectations

Eijun lay awake in bed that night, staring up at the ceiling of the dorm room. The noise from the day's victory had finally died down, and the weight of exhaustion from the game settled into his bones. He'd pitched well, but the home run he gave up gnawed at him, like an itch he couldn't scratch.

His body ached, but his mind was restless.

I won, but it wasn't enough.

Seidou had scraped by in the first two games of the tournament, and their performance was far from perfect. They were still in the running, but the competition was only going to get tougher. Eijun knew he couldn't let his guard down, not even for a second. If he wanted to keep his place in the rotation—and eventually claim the ace number—he had to be flawless. No more mistakes. No more hesitation.

Furuya had been quiet since his rough performance in the opening game, and Eijun couldn't help but feel a sense of rivalry simmering between them. He respected Furuya's raw talent and power, but Eijun had something Furuya didn't: the drive to get better, no matter the odds.

Eijun clenched his fists, feeling a wave of determination wash over him. I can't stop here. I have to keep pushing forward. For the team… and for myself.

The next morning, Eijun was up early, as usual. The team had a day off from games, but no one was taking it easy. Training continued, and the players were focused. With each step deeper into the tournament, the tension grew. Mistakes now could mean the difference between victory and elimination.

During practice, Coach Katoka kept a close eye on Eijun as he went through his drills. The older man had given Eijun the chance to start, but Eijun knew that Coach expected more. He needed to prove that he was more than just a fill-in starter—that he could carry the weight of the team on his shoulders when it mattered most.

"Keep your focus, Sawamura!" Coach shouted, his voice sharp. "Your breaking ball needs more control. You're relying on your fastball too much again."

Eijun gritted his teeth as he threw another pitch, trying to focus on what Coach was telling him. His body was tired, but his mind was clear. Every pitch was a test. Every throw mattered. He couldn't afford to make the same mistakes again.

Miyuki, crouched behind the plate, caught the ball with a soft grunt. "Coach is right, you know. You've got to mix it up more. Your fastball might get you through some tough spots, but against stronger teams, it'll get you in trouble."

"I know, Miyuki-senpai," Eijun replied, wiping sweat from his forehead. "I'll get it under control."

"You'd better. The next round isn't going to be a walk in the park."

Eijun knew Miyuki was right. Their next opponent was a powerhouse team with experienced players and heavy hitters. Eijun had watched them during the last game. They had depth in their lineup and knew how to put pressure on pitchers. It wouldn't be like the games they had just played. This one would be a fight from the first pitch.

The day of the game arrived sooner than Eijun expected. As the team rode the bus to the stadium, the usual pre-game chatter was absent. Everyone was focused, nerves taut as they prepared for one of the biggest challenges they had faced all season.

Eijun sat with his headphones on, trying to calm his racing heart. Music helped block out the nerves, but nothing could completely silence the weight of expectation pressing down on him.

This is it, he thought. Another chance to prove myself. I can't mess this up.

As they arrived at the stadium, the familiar smell of the field filled his senses. Eijun loved that smell. The fresh cut grass, the sound of spikes hitting the dirt—it was the kind of place where anything could happen. And today, he was determined to make something great happen.

Coach Katoka had decided to start Furuya for the first few innings, but Eijun was ready in the bullpen. He'd be the one to come in if Furuya faltered—or if the game was too close to call later on. The plan was to save Eijun's arm for the crucial middle innings, where he could have the biggest impact.

The game started with a bang. Furuya's fastballs were sharp, but the opposing team wasn't intimidated. They had studied him well and managed to foul off his high-velocity pitches, forcing him to work harder than usual. By the third inning, the strain was starting to show, and the score was tied 1-1.

In the fifth inning, disaster struck.

Furuya, trying to overpower a batter with a runner on base, left a fastball too high in the zone. The crack of the bat echoed through the stadium, and Eijun's heart sank as he watched the ball sail over the outfield fence.

A two-run homer.

Seidou was suddenly down 3-1, and the tension in the dugout was thick. Coach Katoka signaled for Eijun to get ready, and without hesitation, Eijun jogged to the mound.

Eijun's heartbeat thundered in his ears as he stared down the next batter. The situation was dire. They were down two runs, and the pressure was on him to keep the game from slipping out of reach. The crowd roared around him, but he focused on Miyuki's glove, blocking out everything else.

Miyuki signaled for a fastball, low and away. Eijun nodded, winding up and releasing the pitch with everything he had.

Thunk!

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

The adrenaline surged through Eijun's veins, and he quickly got into his rhythm. The batter was caught off guard by Eijun's aggressive pace, fouling off pitch after pitch before eventually striking out on a perfectly placed curveball.

One down.

Eijun didn't waste time. The next batter stepped up, but Eijun was in full control now. He mixed his pitches, keeping the batter guessing, and with a wicked slider on the outside corner, he earned another strikeout.

Two down.

The third batter was more cautious, trying to wait Eijun out, but Eijun didn't falter. He threw a high inside fastball, forcing the hitter to swing defensively. The ball popped up into the infield, and Eijun grinned as he watched it drop into his teammate's glove for the final out of the inning.

The dugout erupted in cheers as Eijun walked off the mound, but he didn't let himself get carried away. He knew the game was far from over.

The game dragged into the late innings, and Seidou was still trailing 3-1. Eijun held the other team scoreless, but Seidou's batters couldn't get the hits they needed to close the gap.

In the bottom of the eighth, Seidou's luck finally changed. Their cleanup hitter launched a towering home run, cutting the deficit to 3-2. The momentum shifted, and Eijun could feel the energy in the dugout shift with it. Everyone was on edge, knowing that one more run could tie the game.

As Eijun prepared to take the mound for the top of the ninth, Coach Katoka approached him.

"Sawamura," Coach said, his voice steady but firm, "this is your moment. Hold them down, and we'll have a chance to win this in the bottom half."

Eijun nodded, his determination unwavering. "I'll keep them scoreless, Coach. I promise."

The ninth inning was a blur of fastballs, breaking balls, and tense moments, but Eijun's control was razor-sharp. He struck out the first two batters, then forced a weak grounder to end the inning.

Seidou had one more chance.

The bottom of the ninth was intense. Seidou's leadoff hitter managed to reach base with a bloop single, and the crowd went wild. The tying run was on base, and the winning run was at the plate.

Eijun stood in the dugout, his heart pounding as he watched the drama unfold. His fate was no longer in his hands—it was up to his teammates now.

With two outs and the crowd holding their breath, Seidou's number five hitter stepped up to the plate. The pitcher threw a high fastball, and with a mighty swing, the batter connected.

The ball soared toward the outfield fence, the crowd roaring in anticipation.

Eijun held his breath, his hands clenched into fists.

The ball hit the top of the fence and bounced over for a walk-off home run.

Seidou had won.

The dugout erupted in celebration as Eijun was mobbed by his teammates. He had done his job—kept the game within reach—and now, they were moving on to the next round.

But as the cheers echoed around him, Eijun knew the pressure would only increase from here. The road to becoming Seidou's ace was still long, but with each game, he was getting closer.