End Of 1st Round

[Score:

 Hachiya Oji: 10-6-7

 Maimon West: 0-0-0]

The referee raised his arms, signaling the end of the match. The cheers of the Hachiya Oji fans echoed throughout the stadium, while the Maimon West players bowed their heads, overwhelmed by defeat. The referee asked the teams to line up for the post-match greetings, a tradition of mutual respect.

The Hachiya Oji players, proud of their victory, gathered in a line. Their uniforms, stained with dirt and sweat, were a testament to their intense effort. On the other side, the Maimon West players lined up, some with tears in their eyes. The disappointment was palpable in their ranks, but they knew they had to show dignity and respect for their opponents.

"Line up!" shouted the Maimon West coach, trying to rally his players. They complied, shoulders slumped, and stepped forward to shake hands with Hachiya Oji's team.

Sousuke noticed a player from Maimon West, visibly affected, trying to hold back tears. This player is the starting pitcher in the game named Mamoru, he had given everything he had, but it had not been enough. When Mamoru stepped forward to shake Sousuke's hand, his emotions overflowed and tears flowed freely down his cheeks.

Sousuke squeezed Mamoru's hand firmly and gave him a comforting smile. "You have nothing to be ashamed of," he said softly, but loud enough for Tanaka to hear over the surrounding hubbub. "Today, you gave your best. You were beaten by what will become the best team in Japan. Use this experience to become stronger."

Mamoru, though overcome with emotion, nodded in gratitude. "Thank you," he murmured, his voice trembling slightly. "Good luck in the rest of the tournament."

The other Maimon West players also passed by, some with determined looks, others with silent tears, all shaking their opponents' hands respectfully. The Hachiya Oji players congratulated them on their fighting spirit, showing them that even in defeat, they had earned their respect.

After the greetings, the two teams headed to their respective pens. The Hachiya Oji players congratulated each other, smiles on their faces, satisfied with their performance. The Hachiya Oji coach, his eyes shining with pride, gathered them for a final word before leaving the field.

"You all did exceptionally well today," he said, his voice full of conviction. "But this is just the beginning. We still have a long way to go to reach our goal. Stay focused, keep working hard, and we will reach Koshien."

The players nodded, their faces marked with renewed determination. They knew that every match would be a new challenge, but they were ready to give their all to achieve their dream.

In the Maimon West bullpen, the mood was more somber. The coach gathered his players, searching for the right words to comfort and motivate them. "You did your best today," he said. "Take this loss as a lesson. We will come back stronger next year."

The Maimon West players, though disappointed, understood their coach's message. They knew the road would be difficult, but they were determined to improve and come back stronger.

As the teams left the field, the cheers of the fans still rang through the air, a mark of respect for both teams who had given their all. The tournament had only just begun, and the excitement was only building. Hachiya Oji was striding forward with confidence, while Maimon West was preparing to work even harder for next year.

After greeting and exchanging respectful exchanges with Maimon West, Hachiya Oji's team returned to the locker room, the deafening sound of applause slowly fading away. The excitement of victory was still palpable in the air, but the players were beginning to realize that this first milestone was only a prelude to what was to come.

Sousuke, still calm despite the wave of congratulations surrounding him, plopped down on the bench in the locker room. The laughter and excited chatter of his teammates echoed around him, but he could still feel the pressure of the game in his tense shoulders. Still, he couldn't help but smile as he thought back to his conversation with Mamoru. Even as the winner, he knew how tough the road to glory could be, and this victory over Maimon West only strengthened his resolve.

Izui, the team captain, approached Sousuke and gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. "Good job, Sousuke-kun. We're going to need that mindset for the future."

Sousuke nodded, taking a deep breath. "I know. It's just… a start."

The bus taking the team back to their campus was already waiting for them outside the stadium. The cool evening air greeted the players as they boarded the vehicle one by one, still invigorated by their triumph. Sousuke took a seat in the back, preferring to watch the nightscape pass by through the window. The laughter and chatter of his teammates was slowly fading, a sign that fatigue was starting to catch up with them. But there was a general feeling of satisfaction in the air, as if this victory had allowed them to touch their collective dream.

Sousuke glanced over at Ryu, who was watching him with a smirk. The latter couldn't help but tease his friend, a smile tugging at his lips as he shook his head in amusement.

"Well, Mr. Serious," Ryu said, crossing his arms, "you could at least smile a little. It's not every day that you demolish a team. Do you really want us to wait until Koshien to celebrate anything?"

Sousuke shrugged, his expression remaining stoic. "Matches like today are just a stepping stone. If we start slacking off now, that's when we'll get eliminated. You should understand that, Ryu."

Ryu rolled his eyes, feigning exasperation. "Oh my, always so humble. It's cute, really. But seriously, man, you could at least give yourself a little 'well done'. Your pitching today was incredible, Maimon's batters looked like they were seeing a ghost every time you hit a ball 150 km/h."

Sousuke let out a small sigh, averting his gaze to the window. "I'm just doing what's expected of me. It's still not enough."

"Not enough?!" Ryu exclaimed, startling a few teammates at the front of the bus who briefly turned their heads in their direction. "Sousuke, can you hear yourself talking? If pitching balls resembling cannonballs and not giving up a single point to a team like Maimon West is 'not enough', I wonder what it takes for you to be satisfied."

Sousuke, in spite of himself, gave a smirk, albeit a slight one. "I told you, I'll be satisfied when we get to Koshien."

Ryu narrowed his eyes, his gaze playful. "You know what? I'm starting to think you're a robot. Seriously, man, you should relax a little. You'll end up rusting if you don't take a break."

Sousuke couldn't help but let out a small chuckle at that remark. "A robot, huh?"

"Yeah, a highly advanced robot designed to pitch and never have fun!" Ryu retorted with a big smile. "Come on, admit it, one day I'll see you smile after a match. Not just a smirk like now, but a real, big smile."

Sousuke rolled his eyes. "Maybe. If you stop thinking you're the king of jokes, it might happen sooner than you think."

Ryu burst out laughing, the sound echoing through the bus, contagious. "The king of jokes, huh? That's fine by me. But seriously, Sousuke, you carry all this weight on your shoulders, it's admirable. But you should also know that we're here with you. You don't have to handle everything by yourself. We're a team. And I'm here to remind you to smile, whether you like it or not!"

Sousuke looked at him, this time with a slightly more genuine smile. "I know, Ryu. Thanks."

Ryu gave him a friendly pat on the back. "You're welcome, buddy. After all, it's my job to make sure our Ace doesn't go completely stern before we even get to Koshien. But seriously, relax a little. After all, we're still here for a while and you're going to have plenty of opportunities to show that you're the best pitcher in Japan."

Sousuke nodded, the weight of his responsibilities still present, but slightly lightened by Ryu's words. "You're right. I'll try."

"Try a little harder," Ryu added with a wink, before getting up to go bother some other teammates at the front of the bus.

The ride back to campus was relatively silent, everyone lost in thought or dozing. The bus passed through the brightly lit streets of Tokyo, passing from quiet residential areas to the crowded thoroughfares of the capital. The buildings seemed to rise like sleeping giants under the starry sky, while the lights of the neon lights floated above the busy streets.

As they reached the campus, fatigue set in for good. The players stepped off the bus with a mixture of satisfaction and weariness. Their footsteps echoed in the cool evening air as they passed through the school gates, leaving behind the hustle and bustle of the stadium and the shouts of the fans.

"Well, tomorrow, we start the game analysis and then resume training," their coach said, while getting off the bus with a satisfied smile. "But tonight, rest well. You've earned it."

The players nodded silently. The adrenaline of the match was wearing off, giving way to physical exhaustion. Sousuke, Ichiya, and the rest of the team headed to their dorms, the excitement of the day now weighing on their eyelids. Once in his room, Sousuke flopped down on his bed, closing his eyes for the first time in hours.

But even in this state of extreme fatigue, his mind did not stop. He replayed certain key moments of the match over and over again: his precise throws, the shouts of encouragement from his teammates, the look on Mamoru's face after the defeat. He wondered how he himself would have reacted if he had been in the place of Maimon West's pitcher.

"I have to stay focused," he muttered to himself. "It was just a victory. The real battle begins now. »

Across the hall, Izui, as captain, took a few minutes to talk to his teammates in the neighboring rooms. He made sure everyone was ready for the rest of the tournament, reminding them that this victory should not make them complacent. Ichiya knew well the pressure that awaited them. They had just taken a big step, but the path to Koshien would become increasingly difficult as the rounds progressed.

The campus, usually noisy and lively, was eerily quiet that night. Perhaps even the buildings felt the weight of the stakes and prepared for what was to come. For Hachiya Oji's team, the road to Koshien was no longer a distant dream, but a reality that grew closer with each step, each match.

In the middle of the night, Sousuke, still awake, got up to glance out the window. The moon shone high in the sky, bathing the campus in a pale, soft light. He could almost hear the echoes of the stadium resonating in the night silence, like a constant reminder of why he was here, why they were all here. One goal in mind: the Koshien.