Chapter 4

As they walked towards the dorms, Sawamura's heart was still pounding, but this time it was with excitement and determination. He felt the energy vibrating around him, a palpable anticipation for the next day's crucial match.

Tetsu thanked him with a warm smile. "Thank you, Sawamura. Remember, tomorrow is a team effort. Each of us must give our best."

Sawamura nodded vigorously. "Yes, I know that. I will do my best not to disappoint you."

Jun, smirking, added: "And make sure you sleep well tonight. We don't want to see you collapse on the mound from fatigue."

Sawamura laughed lightly, feeling a comforting camaraderie among his teammates. "I promise, I'll sleep well. We'll win this game together."

The evening continued with everyone finding their own way to prepare. Some remained on the ground, tirelessly repeating their movements. Others were relaxing, listening to music or discussing strategies. The anticipation was palpable, but there was also a collective confidence, a certainty that together they could overcome any obstacle.

As the sun set, casting a golden glow over the field, Sawamura took a moment to himself. He looked up at the sky, promising himself once again to seize this new life and give everything for his team. Tomorrow would be the day he proved his worth, not only to his teammates, but to himself.

Later that night, in a room near the training ground, Coach Kataoka sat in the dark, smoking a cigarette. The only lights in the room came from outside, filtering through the shutters and casting delicate patterns on the walls. The atmosphere was thick with thoughts and memories, as Kataoka recalled past events and contemplated the match to come.

The room was simple, with chairs lined up against the walls and a large table in the center, littered with documents, strategies, and statistics on opposing teams. The silence was almost complete, broken only by the occasional sound of the cigarette slowly burning between the coach's fingers.

Suddenly, the door opened slowly, and the two managers, Takashima Rei and Ota Kazuyoshi, entered, bringing with them a breath of fresh air. They had come to discuss final preparations and strategies for tomorrow's crucial match.

Rei, with her usual smile but a glint of determination in her eyes, spoke first. "Coach Kataoka, you seem thoughtful tonight. Is there anything particularly bothering you?"

Kataoka looked up, slowly putting out his cigarette in an ashtray. "It's nothing, Takashima. I was just thinking about our chances for tomorrow. Inashiro is a formidable team, and we need to be at our best."

Kuramochi, always energetic and ready to encourage, added: "The guys are ready, coach. They've been working hard all season for this moment. All the pitchers are sharp. And the hitters are focused like never before."

Rei nodded, agreeing with Kuramochi's words. "I agree. The players are fit and motivated. But we also need to be mentally prepared. Every detail counts."

Miyuki walked beside him, looking thoughtful. "Sawamura, what you showed earlier was impressive. But don't forget that you still have a lot to learn. Keep working hard, especially on the accuracy of your throws."

Sawamura nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, Miyuki-senpai. I'm going to train even harder."

Miyuki gave him an amused smile. "And don't forget to get drinks for the senpais. They're counting on you, you know."

Sawamura jumped, suddenly remembering this task. "Oh, that's right! I'll go right away." He rushed towards the room where the drinks were stored, leaving Miyuki shaking her head with a smirk.

The general mood in the team camp was a mix of nervousness and determination. Some players were still on the field, perfecting their throws and strikes, refusing to let a single mistake go unnoticed. Others sat in the shade, chatting calmly and mentally visualizing tomorrow's match.

The third years played their role as leaders, offering advice and encouragement to the younger ones. They knew this match was crucial not only to their progression in the tournament, but also to their legacy as a team. The final of the 89th Tokyo West Summer Tournament against Inashiro Industrial was an opportunity to prove their worth.

Sawamura and Furuya who were both at the drinks place started to select each person's drinks.

"Hey Furuya, what is Isashiki-senpai having tonight?" Said Sawamura with a curious tone.

"Well today, Isashiki-senpai doesn't want cola. He wants grape juice." Furuya said in a normal tone.

"Luckily you told me, I would have been wrong otherwise. Ahaha." He said with a smile.

They quickly returned with the drinks to Sawamura, Kuramochi and Masuko's room. There were quite a few people in the room who were all gathered around Sawamura's phone.

"What are you doing with my phone again? I already told you that Wakana is not my girlfriend." Said with a mocking look.

Kuramochi, seeing that Sawamura's reaction was not what he expected, continued to tease her. "YAAHAA yes, yes you already told us that. Yet why does it make you blush when you think of her?"

"Agh, she'll be here tomorrow anyway so you can ask her yourself." He said bored.

Sawamura looking at them smiled and distributed the bottles to the senpais with a smile. "Here, senpai. Sorry for the wait."

Kataoka sat up slightly, his face relaxing a little. "You're right. We have a talented team, but we have to stay vigilant. Sawamura showed something impressive earlier, so far only Miyuki and I know about it but I think he will surprise us tomorrow."

Hearing this from the coach they were all quite surprised and at the same time curious to know what Sawamura had shown.

Coach Kataoka was thoughtful again and spoke. "Am I underestimating our opponent if I think we have a 50% chance of winning?"

Rei began to think as well before saying, "To be honest, I think we have a 40% chance of winning. But it will be difficult for our lineup to get points from Narumiya-kun. As expected, the key to victory is our rotation. And how will we ensure that Inashiro's lineup doesn't score…"

Ota spoke directly. "I think the best possible plan is for Furuya to pitch until the fifth inning and for Tanba to take over to finish. However, will everything go well?"

"Many questions for very few answers. All that remains is to hope that the goddess of victory will smile upon us. Even if it's a lucky win or a tough win I'll be fine with it. I really want to take these kids to Koshien." Said Kataoka looking at the sky.

The night passed and the sun rose, today was the day of the final and the first future change that the new Sawamura planned to make. Of course he planned to win the tournament and go to Koshien with his team.

Sawamura, sitting on his bed, was in total thought.

I spent the whole night remembering every detail of the final match. With all my memories, I think winning is doable. In any case, I will make sure to change things so that their efforts are not in vain.