Chapter 5 Injuries

The sun was high over Nehimon Seimei's baseball field, casting long shadows as the school's team took the field for their scrimmage. It was supposed to be a warm-up game, but the team had already faced a brutal start to the season. Injuries had taken out three of their best starters, and tension ran high on the field.

On the mound stood , Yuto Fujimoto a first-year pitcher with a wiry frame and a calm expression, though inside, his nerves buzzed. Yutoi was known for his control, but this was his first real test this year. He wound up for his second pitch of the inning, trying to shake off the previous ball.

"Alright, just focus," he muttered to himself, eyes narrowing on the batter.

The ball left his hand with a little more force than intended, and the next thing he knew, it slammed into the batter's ribs with a sickening thud.

"Damn it! Yuto cursed under his breath as the batter, Hiroshi Tanaka, stumbled back, clutching his side.

Hiroshi, another third-year, had been through worse. This was his last season to play, and he wasn't going to let a bruise stop him. Grimacing, Hiroshi waved off the approaching teammates as they rushed toward him.

"I'm fine, I'm fine," Hiroshi grunted, straightening up and managing a grin through the pain. "I've been hit worse by my little sister. Let's get on with it."

The other players relaxed, and Hiroshi trotted to first base, though a few of them still exchanged concerned glances. He was their steady rock, and the team couldn't afford to lose anyone else.

In the dugout, Kenji stood watching the scene unfold. He leaned back against the fence, his bat resting on his shoulder. His messy hair and laid-back attitude contrasted sharply with the intense atmosphere on the field.

"Man, this team's cursed!" Kenji said, laughing as if the whole situation was just one big joke. "First, we lose three starters, now Takashi's out here aiming for our own guys."

Ryoichi, who prided himself as the team's ace, crossed his arms. He ran a hand through his slicked-back hair, his confidence practically radiating off him. "Cursed or not, we're still going to Koshien," he said, his voice dripping with self-assurance. "Because I'll be on the mound."

Kenji rolled his eyes, nudging Ryoichi with his elbow. "Pfft, sure, Mr. 'Ace.' With my swing, I'm basically carrying this whole team to Koshien. You just try to keep them off base, alright?"

Ryoichi scoffed, but couldn't suppress a chuckle. "Your swing? I'm the only reason we have a chance."

They both watched as Hiroshi took his place at first base, still rubbing his ribs but grinning through the pain. Takashi, looking a little sheepish after the hit-by-pitch, gave him an apologetic nod.

As Hiroshi Tanaka stood on first base, still feeling the dull throb in his ribs from Takashi's wild pitch, his thoughts wandered to the two players in the dugout—Kenji and Ryoichi. Both of them were just second-years, yet, they had become the heart and soul of the team, with Kenji as the captain and Ryoichi as the ace. It was an unusual dynamic for a school like Nehimon Seimei, but no one could deny that these two had earned their places.

Hiroshi adjusted his grip on his helmet, staring across the field as Kenji and Ryoichi exchanged their usual banter. They seemed carefree—Kenji, with his confidence and big swings, and Ryoichi, always cold and composed, like nothing could shake him. But Hiroshi knew better than to think it was all talk.

They'd been stars since they were kids. From little league to middle school, their names had always been in the spotlight. Everyone talked about their legendary plays, their unbreakable bond on the field. Even as first-years, they had taken Nehimon Seimei to Koshien, the holy grail of high school baseball. It wasn't just talent. It was something deeper, something that pushed them to always rise to the occasion, no matter the pressure.

But that was the problem, wasn't it? The team was relying on them too much.

Hiroshi grimaced as he shifted his weight, feeling the ache in his body. Injuries had plagued the team this year. Three of their best seniors were out, and the cracks in the lineup were showing. Yet, every time people started to doubt them, it was always Kenji's bat or Ryoichi's arm that seemed to pull them through. It couldn't last forever, though. The seniors—himself included—would need to step up. They couldn't just leave it all to a couple of second-years, no matter how good they were.

"I've only got this one chance left," Hiroshi thought to himself, a determined look crossing his face. "We all need to do our part, especially now. Kenji and Ryoichi may be the stars, but this season's going to take more than just two players. If we're going back to Koshien, it's going to be on all of us."

As he took a deep breath and prepared to focus on the next pitch, Hiroshi glanced back at the dugout one more time, watching as Kenji and Ryoichi's playful argument continued. They might joke around, but Hiroshi could see the fire in their eyes—the same drive that had carried them this far.

"Yeah, they're good. Real good," Hiroshi muttered to himself. "But it's time for us seniors to step up and carry our weight too."

He cracked his knuckles, the pain in his ribs now just a dull reminder that this season was going to be tough. But that was fine with him. Hiroshi had never been one to shy away from a challenge, and neither had this team.

Here are the updated positions and the team managers for Nehimon Seimei:

Starters:

1. Kenji Tadeka - Center Fielder (Captain, 2nd Year)

2. Ryoichi Kuroda - Starting Pitcher (Ace, 2nd Year)

3. Hiroshi Tanaka - First Baseman (3rd Year)

4. Takashi Sato - Left Fielder (3rd Year)

5. Daiki Matsumoto - Shortstop (3rd Year)

6. Kazuki Yamashita - Right Fielder (2nd Year)

7. Shunichi Watanabe - Second Baseman (2nd Year)

8. Koji Nakamura - Third Baseman (1st Year)

9. Toru Suzuki - Catcher (2nd Year)

Pitchers:

1. Ryoichi Kuroda - Starting Pitcher (Ace, 2nd Year)

2. Takumi Ishikawa - Relief Pitcher (3rd Year)

3. Kohei Yoshida - Closer (1s Year)

Coach:

Masaru Nakamura - Head Coach

Managers:

1. Yuki Sakamoto - Team Manager (3rd Year)

2. Aoi Takahashi - Assistant Manager (2nd Year)

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