The Path Going Forward (1)

After having ice cream, the family did some more shopping. Klara, never one to miss out, found a few things for herself as well, making some playful comments about how Linus should've been more decisive when they passed by the sports stores, even knowing he had already gotten everything he needed. Linus rolled his eyes, knowing she was just trying to tease him again.

They eventually had dinner at a cozy restaurant, with Mats cracking jokes and Marie trying to keep them on a schedule so they wouldn't stay out too late. Klara, as usual, managed to lighten the mood even more, recounting funny stories from her time at university.

By the end of the evening, they parted ways with Klara, who had to head back to her apartment. Linus watched her go, feeling the usual mix of admiration and mild irritation that his older sister often left him with. She'd been good company during their family outing, and he found himself grateful for her presence, despite the teasing.

***

The next day, on Sunday, Linus had practice again. It was a quiet morning, and the weather was perfect for it. As he arrived at the field, he noticed that the atmosphere was lighter than usual. He overheard that the team had won their match the previous day, and while Linus hadn't been part of it—being too new and not yet good enough—he didn't feel particularly left out.

Several other players hadn't been included either, and they all seemed to accept it without much complaint. After all, the team was undefeated so far in the league, and that gave them a sense of pride, even if not everyone was getting playing time.

As Linus warmed up, he listened to the rest of the team talking excitedly about the match. Stories were exchanged about key moments in the game, great plays, and near-misses. Elias, who had been part of the action, was recounting a particularly tense inning where they almost lost their lead. His easygoing nature made it fun to listen to, even for those who hadn't played.

Linus silently followed along, trying to pick up more details about how the game was played and how his teammates approached it. He still had a lot to learn, so by hearing them talk he hoped it would give him a better understanding of the game's rhythm and strategy.

The team's undefeated streak was a big deal. But as Elias mentioned, they hadn't yet faced the other top team in the league, which was in the other group. That game was looming on the horizon, but they would only get to face them in the playoffs for the championship.

As practice continued, Linus found himself growing more comfortable around his teammates. Over the last week, he'd started to get to know more of them, even though they still weren't particularly close. However, Elias remained his closest friend on the team. It was mostly thanks to Elias's friendly nature and how he always made Linus feel included, even when he was still learning the basics.

With six games left until the playoffs, Linus felt a mix of pressure and hope. The playoffs wouldn't be held until September, and it was only July 28th, which gave him time to improve. He hoped that by then, he would be good enough to at least make the lineup. Even if he didn't get much playing time, just being part of the team for such important games would be a huge step forward.

After practice, Linus didn't forget the goal he had set for himself. He approached Chris Anderson, his coach, who was packing up the gear.

"Coach," Linus started, a little nervous, "I was wondering if I could ask you something."

Chris looked up, his usual laid-back demeanor in place as he gave Linus a friendly smile. "Sure, what's on your mind?"

"I've been thinking about how I can improve," Linus said, trying to find the right words. "I want to get better as fast as I can, you know, to help the team. What do you think I should focus on? Like, what's the most important thing I should work on right now?"

Chris paused for a moment, considering the question. He wiped some dirt off his hands and leaned against the dugout bench.

"Well, Linus, it's good that you're thinking about this," he began. "You've got a lot of potential, but if I had to pick one area for you to focus on right now, I'd say your fielding could use some sharpening. You're fast, and you've got good reactions, but your technique needs some work. Also, your throwing accuracy is something we should focus on."

Linus nodded, soaking in the advice. He knew that fielding and throwing were two areas where he often felt awkward. It made sense to work on those before anything else.

"Alright," Linus said, more confidently now. "Fielding and throwing. I'll focus on that."

After Chris told Linus he needed to improve his fielding and throwing, he added, "But remember, Linus, batting is the most valuable skill in baseball. If you can hit, you'll always be valuable."

Linus's eyes lit up. Batting had a certain allure—the idea of stepping up, the thrill of making contact with the ball. 

"But," Chris continued, his tone firm, "even if you're a great batter, if you're a liability on defense, I can't justify putting you in the lineup. Fielding matters. A bad fielder can lose games no matter how good they are at the plate."

Linus felt the weight of those words. It wasn't enough to just be good at one thing—he had to be solid all around.

"That being said," Chris added with a slight grin, "if you're really good at batting, people might excuse some subpar fielding. But don't rely on that. You want to be someone we can trust in all aspects of the game."

Linus smiled, feeling a renewed sense of determination. He had his work cut out for him, but he also had a goal in sight. Batting was the key, but he needed to make sure his defense wouldn't hold him back. Since batting was already his favorite part of baseball, he felt really validated hearing that from his coach.

He had made his choice—he was going to focus heavily on improving his batting. If batting was the most valuable skill, then he needed to master it, and put most of his extra hours into it. The systems level up upgrades would also be a huge help. 

"Alright," Linus said, his resolve firm. "I'll focus on getting my fielding up to par as well, but I really want to improve my batting too. Can you give me some drills I can do at home? Something I can practice by myself?"

Chris smiled, clearly pleased by Linus's initiative. "That's the attitude I like to see. Sure, I can give you some drills. You don't need much equipment either—a tee, a wiffle ball, or even just working on your swing mechanics can make a big difference. I'll write down a few routines for you."

Linus nodded, feeling excited to dive into the extra work. Batting was his way forward, but he wouldn't neglect the other parts of his game either. With the extra drills in mind, he knew he had a lot to work on—and he was ready for it.