Chapter 41: For Ourselves

"What's the score?"

"7:5!"

Inashiro's players were shocked.

'No team in high school could score five runs off Sawamura Eijun!'

Narumiya and his team knew this well from their past encounters with Seidou.

"Was the pitcher Sawamura?"

Coach Kunitomo, appearing serious, questioned.

Sawamura's performance at Koshien was widely known, making such a feat seem impossible for an unknown team. If it had happened, it would be major news.

The teammate nodded and then shook his head, leaving the Inashiro team bewildered.

"What does that mean?"

The teammate, usually a backup, felt uneasy under everyone's gaze.

After a moment, he explained what he had learned.

"Ugumori High School was quite competent!"

The Inashiro team, now calm, could imagine the exciting match from the other stadium.

"Not only Eijun, but Seidou's other players have also improved significantly. Those who have been on the big stage see the world differently. Seidou is likely even stronger now!"

Narumiya said, filled with determination despite his discontent.

Some Inashiro members, like Narumiya, genuinely hoped to face Seidou.

He had prayed to avoid Seidou's downfall to have a chance to get his revenge properly.

His wish was fulfilled. In this Fall Tournament, he got an opportunity for revenge.

He now aimed to defeat Seidou, Kazuya, and Eijun decisively.

The Tokyo Prince from the summer was gone. Now, only the Tokyo King remained.

Narumiya hoped after this match, people would remember him not as the Tokyo Prince but as the King of Tokyo.

***

After the game, Seidou's team returned to school by bus.

As usual, no additional practice was scheduled post-match, though individual practice was allowed.

Only Sawamura and Furuya, along with Kawakami, chose to practice.

"Don't you have to rest for tomorrow's game?"

Furuya asked Eijun while running.

"I only played one inning today. My body isn't warmed up yet. Some exercise helps me stay focused for tomorrow. You pitched seven innings and nearly 130 pitches today. You don't need extra practice."

Furuya turned his head away, ignoring Eijun.

Kawakami was also in a competitive spirit and kept pace with them, but his thoughts were unclear.

Sawamura wasn't sure what to say, believing time would resolve everything.

In the Seidou High School baseball club's Coach's office, through the window, three figures were seen running.

A well-dressed middle-aged man, looking satisfied, nodded.

"Exceptional talent, with high self-expectations. If nothing goes wrong, Sawamura's future is bright."

Next to him, Coach Kataoka, wearing sunglasses, showed respect mixed with pride.

"Sawamura was already strong before joining the school. After familiarizing with high school baseball and our guidance, his skills are now very mature."

The middle-aged man nodded, "I don't doubt that. This is precisely why I'm here."

"Hm?"

The middle-aged man's words surprised Coach Kataoka.

Without hesitation, the man handed Coach Kataoka a business card.

"As you know, I am now retired from playing, and officially a scout for the SF Giants."

The Giants' chief scout.

Nakagawa Wataru!

"Scout?"

Coach Kataoka asked, puzzled.

"Ha, you're still as stubborn as ever. I'm not here to recruit immediately, just to offer Sawamura a choice."

After the handsome middle-aged man proposed his idea, the atmosphere suddenly turned heavy.

Coach Kataoka looked at his former senior through his sunglasses, saying nothing.

Nakagawa Wataru stared at Kataoka confidently, as if he was sure that Kataoka would agree to his request.

In the midst of this silence, the atmosphere grew peculiar.

Gradually, Coach Kataoka's gaze became sharper, as if a sword was about to be unsheathed.

He seemed to have made up his mind to speak when a knock came at the office door.

"Knock knock knock, knock knock~"

The words Kataoka was about to say were swallowed. When he spoke again, his expression had become calm.

"Come in!"

The door opened, and three people entered: Watanabe, Kudo, and Higashio.

"Excuse us!" Watanabe said calmly, his expression neutral. He seemed unsure of how to address Kataoka in the presence of an outsider, even though the man looked familiar.

"This is Nakagawa Wataru-senpai you should know about him right? He is also a graduate of Seidou High School," Kataoka introduced.

Watanabe, Higashio, and Kudo quickly bowed in surprise. "Pleased to meet you!"

"No need to be so stiff. I'm not much older than you, so just call me 'Senpai,' like Kataoka does," Nakagawa Wataru said with a smile. According to the new standards for middle-aged people, he wasn't even middle-aged yet.

'Yes, I am still quite young.'

Kataoka resisted rolling his eyes and ignored his senior's antics.

"What's the matter?"

They were not outsiders; they could speak freely.

"The batter data of Inajitsu is ready! I wanted to get it to you early so you can analyze it tonight," Watanabe said, holding a thick stack of documents on Inajitsu's batters.

Coach Kataoka nodded with relief and then apologized. "Sorry to make you handle this behind the scenes. You've been working hard!"

His tone was gentle.

"Not at all… I was confused at first, but now I'm happy to help the team. Perhaps contributing as a manager is better for me," Watanabe said, implying his thoughts to the Coach.

This statement carried a different weight when directed at Coach Kataoka.

It was clear he had made a significant decision.

Nakagawa Wataru looked at Watanabe in surprise.

Kataoka's tone was solemn, almost like a police interrogation. "Are you speaking from your heart?"

Watanabe, taken aback, clenched his fists and nodded firmly. "Yes, this isn't an impulsive idea. After the summer break, when the new team started forming a fixed lineup, I felt out of place and questioned whether I should stay. Now, as a manager, I feel more at ease and still part of the team. Even if it means working from behind the scenes, I want to contribute to the team as much as I can."

For the team!

Kataoka studied Watanabe in silence until Watanabe looked back at him with determination.

"What about you two? Do you feel the same way?"

Kataoka turned to Kudo and Higashio.

"Yes, we do!" Kudo said nervously, but his answer was firm.

"We can help the team's training, it might be closer to a trainer's role than just a manager's," he added.

Nakagawa Wataru, dressed in a suit, looked at the three with surprise, not expecting them to be so specific.

Kataoka remained silent for two minutes, which felt like an eternity to Watanabe and the others.

Finally, Kataoka said, "There have been cases where players became managers due to injury. They wanted to keep playing but couldn't. Are you truly sure about this decision?"

The three felt a jolt as if a string in their hearts had snapped.

"Show me your hands," Kataoka said.

The three obeyed, extending their hands for Kataoka to examine.

Kataoka grabbed each hand and felt their palms. The sensation was unusual, making the three sweat nervously, wondering what the Coach wanted to say.

"These calluses are thin and small, indicating insufficient swinging practice."

Hearing this, the three of them felt ashamed at their lack of effort.

"But these new calluses only form from persistent practice," Kataoka continued. "Since you're set on becoming team managers, why continue swinging? Is it really for the team?"

Saying it's for the team seemed far-fetched.

This year, they weren't even selected for the second string. Without a miracle, playing in the first string seemed impossible.

"No, it's not. It's because I've been doing this since I joined the club. If I suddenly stop, it feels very uncomfortable…"

Kataoka's expression softened.

"So, you've been swinging for yourselves, not just for the team?"

'For ourselves!'

Watanabe and the others looked up in surprise, their eyes filled with the joy of being understood.

"Even if it's just a spark, as long as you want to keep it burning, don't give up. Keep swinging, even if it's just one more time. Pursue what you want fiercely. It's not just for the team; it's for yourselves!"

'Not just for the team, but for ourselves!'

Watanabe, Kudo, and Higashio had never thought about it this way before, but now it made sense. They trained hard too not only for the team but for their personal growth and dreams.

…

T/N: Now the game with Ugumori is completed.

Thank you all for reading!!

And I hope you all have a good day!

You also can check my Patre0n for extra Chapters.

https://www.patre0n.com/ColdColt

There are +120 Chapters there.