(1) A New Beginning

Kanemaru Shinji awoke to the soft light filtering into his dorm room, his body feeling strangely foreign. The weight of his limbs and the sudden flood of memories overwhelmed him. He sat up slowly, staring blankly at the room around him. This isn't my body...

He reached for his face, his hands trembling. Slowly, the realization crept in, filling him with a mix of confusion and disbelief. I've been reborn... as Kanemaru Shinji. The name echoed in his mind. Memories—some his, some belonging to the character—flooded his consciousness. His heartbeat quickened. This wasn't a dream or a game. He was inside the world of Ace of Diamond.

He stumbled to the mirror, catching sight of the reflection. It wasn't his face.Blonde cropped hair, brown eyes, sharp features, lean and athletic—Kanemaru Shinji. The confusion slowly settled, giving way to a focused determination. If I'm here... I need to adapt.

He dressed quickly and grabbed his baseball gear. If this was the world of Ace of Diamond, he needed to be ready. Baseball wasn't just a game here—it was everything. Kanemaru's body remembered how to play, but he needed to get used to controlling it.

The quiet rhythm of practice helped ease his confusion. Each swing of the bat, each step in the dirt, brought a sense of familiarity. The body was Kanemaru's, but the muscle memory kicked in quickly. I can do this.

But his mind was still distracted. Should I follow the original path? Kanemaru wasn't one of the standout players like Sawamura or Furuya. He wasn't the star of the show. Yet now that he had a chance to live this life, he couldn't help but wonder—could I become more?

After a bit of practice, he found Hideaki Tojo leaning against the fence, his usual calm demeanor intact. Tojo, his close friend and teammate, stood silently, watching the field. Though Tojo wasn't overly talkative, he always knew what to say when it mattered.

"Shinji," Tojo greeted, his voice low but friendly. There wasn't much more to the greeting—it didn't need to be. Kanemaru joined him by the fence, the afternoon sun casting long shadows across the field.

For a while, neither of them said anything. The quiet between them was normal, comfortable. Tojo eventually broke the silence, his gaze still fixed on the field. "Been thinking about Seidou again."

Kanemaru nodded. They'd talked about Seidou High School before. It was one of the best baseball schools, known for producing top-tier players. Tojo had always been focused on Seidou, but Kanemaru still felt unsure.

"I've made up my mind," Tojo continued. "I'm going to Seidou. Their baseball program's good, and they're short on pitchers."

Kanemaru listened, memories flooding back. In the original story, this was the path Tojo had chosen. But now, standing in Kanemaru's shoes, things felt different. He didn't know if following the same path was the right choice. Did he have what it took to make a name for himself at Seidou?

"You're still thinking, huh?" Tojo said, glancing at him. His tone wasn't judgmental, just curious.

Kanemaru nodded, unsure of how to explain his hesitation. "Yeah... still thinking."

Tojo didn't push the topic. Instead, he turned back to the field. "Seidou's got a match this afternoon. Inashiro. Narumiya's pitching."

Kanemaru's heart skipped a beat. Narumiya Mei. The ace pitcher of Inashiro, known for his incredible talent. If this match was happening now, that meant Yuki Tetsuya, Seidou's captain, was about to step into the spotlight.

"We should watch," Tojo said simply.

Kanemaru didn't need any more convincing. He nodded, knowing that witnessing this match might help him make his decision.

The stadium was packed with fans as Seidou and Inashiro faced off. The atmosphere was thick with tension. Both teams had held each other off for several innings, the scoreboard showing a frustrating 0-0.

Kanemaru and Tojo sat in the stands, the energy of the crowd seeping into them. The game had been a battle of defenses, with Narumiya pitching flawlessly, shutting down Seidou's batters one after another. The frustration on Seidou's side was palpable, but they hadn't given up.

Kanemaru felt the tension building inside him. He hadn't expected this—watching the game as if it were any other. But now, seeing the pressure on Seidou, he could feel the weight of the situation. They need a breakthrough...

Tojo sat beside him, quiet but focused. His calm exterior didn't betray the fact that he, too, felt the intensity of the moment. "Narumiya's tough," he said softly, more to himself than to Kanemaru.

Kanemaru didn't respond. His attention was drawn to Yuki Tetsuya, who was now stepping up to the plate. Yuki, the next captain of Seidou, was about to face Narumiya in what would be a pivotal moment.

This is it, Kanemaru thought, his heart racing.

Narumiya wound up, his motion smooth and precise. The ball hurtled toward the plate with incredible speed. Yuki swung.

Crack!

The sound of the bat hitting the ball echoed through the stadium. Kanemaru's eyes widened as he watched the ball sail high, cutting through the air before landing in the stands. A home run. The crowd erupted into cheers, shaking the stands with their excitement.

Kanemaru sat frozen, his heart pounding. Yuki rounded the bases, his calm demeanor unchanged despite the massive play he had just made. In that moment, Kanemaru felt a deep respect for the captain. This is what it means to lead a team.

Beside him, Tojo nodded approvingly. "That's impressive."

Kanemaru's thoughts whirled. Yuki's home run wasn't just a powerful moment in the game—it was a sign. Watching Yuki, Kanemaru realized what he wanted. He didn't just want to be a part of Seidou. He wanted to stand where Yuki stood, commanding respect as Seidou's fourth batter.

He turned to Tojo, his voice steady. "I've made up my mind. I'm going to Seidou."

Tojo glanced at him, his usual calm still present. "Good. We'll do this together."

Kanemaru felt the weight of his decision lift slightly. This was it. His path was clear. Seidou High School was his future, and he was going to make it as their fourth batter.