(8) Building the Foundation

The coaches gathered near the dugout after the freshman test had concluded. They quietly observed the first-years as they headed back to the locker rooms, their performances fresh in the coaches' minds. The assistants began comparing notes, discussing the strengths and weaknesses they had seen during the drills.

"This year's freshman class is quite strong," one of the assistant coaches commented, flipping through his clipboard. "Their fielding and hitting skills are solid across the board, and some of the pitchers have real potential."

Another nodded in agreement. "There's definitely some promise, especially from the infielders. A couple of them really stood out."

Coach Kataoka remained silent for a moment, his arms crossed as he looked out over the field. His stern face didn't betray much emotion, but finally, he spoke. "In the end, they're still just freshmen," he said. "Potential means nothing without work. Let them focus on physical training first. We'll see how they handle the grind before making any decisions."

Kanemaru's POV: Cafeteria Troubles

Meanwhile, Kanemaru made his way to the cafeteria, his mind still swirling with thoughts about the test. He couldn't help but replay each moment in his head—how he fielded the grounders, how he missed that one breaking ball, and how fast his legs felt during the running drills. Was it enough? He wasn't sure, but there was no time to dwell on it. He had to keep moving forward.

Entering the cafeteria, he was immediately greeted by the bustling noise of other players, but one thing stood out—the massive portion sizes. He gulped as he stared down at his tray, which had not one, not two, but three bowls of rice. His stomach churned in anticipation, but this was part of Seidou's famous training regimen.

Three bowls of rice? He grimaced as he picked up his chopsticks. There's no way I can finish all this...

But he couldn't back down. He steeled himself and took a bite, determined to wolf it all down. The first bowl wasn't so bad. The second was tougher. By the time he reached the third, his pace slowed, and he started to doubt if he could actually finish.

Suddenly, a familiar voice broke through his concentration. "Hey, Shinji," Hideaki said, sitting down across from him, his tray looking just as intimidating. "How'd the test go for you?"

Kanemaru, cheeks stuffed with rice, managed a garbled, "It was... okay, I guess." He didn't stop to chew properly, instead pushing through the mound of rice like it was a challenge on par with the baseball test itself.

Hideaki nodded but remained quiet. Kanemaru paused his ravenous eating for a moment, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "How about you?" he asked, glancing at Hideaki. "How was the pitching test?"

For a moment, Hideaki didn't respond, his eyes focused on his own bowl of rice. Then, in his usual calm, quiet voice, he simply said, "It went... good."

Kanemaru raised an eyebrow, sensing there was more to the story, but Hideaki didn't offer any further explanation. Instead, they both focused on their rice, knowing that no matter how well or poorly the test went, their journey was just beginning.

Heading Back to the Dorm

After finishing their meal, Kanemaru and Hideaki parted ways as they cleaned up their trays. Kanemaru still felt the heaviness of the rice sitting in his stomach, but at least he'd managed to finish it. The cafeteria was buzzing with conversation, but the prospect of rest pulled at Kanemaru's mind. After all, the day had been long and full of pressure.

As he made his way back to the dormitory, the quiet halls welcomed him like an old friend. The dorms were starting to wind down, and the cool air that filtered through the windows helped ease some of the tension he still carried.

Once inside his room, Kanemaru dropped his gear by his bed, stretching out his tired muscles. Toyama, who was lounging on his bunk, raised an eyebrow when Kanemaru finally laid down, his expression a mix of exhaustion and relief.

"So, how'd it go?" Toyama asked, his voice casual but curious.

Kanemaru turned over, propping his head up with one hand. "Not too bad," he said, although he could feel the weight of uncertainty lingering in the back of his mind. "Fielding was solid, batting was... okay. Running? Well, let's just say I'll have to work on that."

Toyama chuckled. "Yeah, that sounds about right. But it's all part of the grind. We've all been there."

Kanemaru nodded, appreciating Toyama's relaxed attitude. He was about to close his eyes when, out of nowhere, Chris's calm voice broke the silence.

"You're freshmen," Chris said from his desk, where he'd been quietly working. "You'll probably spend a lot of time building your bodies through physical training. It won't hurt you in the future, so... do your best."

Kanemaru blinked, surprised by the unexpected encouragement. Chris hadn't said much since they'd moved in, and hearing something motivational from him caught Kanemaru off guard. Still, it hit the mark.

Kanemaru smiled to himself, the exhaustion from the day starting to fade as his determination grew. Physical training or not, I'll make sure I'm ready for whatever comes next.