CHAPTER 8 : Decision

I woke up at exactly 5 AM in the morning as usual as I've checked my phone to look at the time.

Today is Saturday so dad is supposed to be back later. I get out of my bed to wash my face and change into my training clothes since I would go do my morning run and pitching practice now.

I made my way downstairs and I've notice the lights at my parents room is already light up so I think mom have already woken up too.

When I'm outside our gate, I started doing some stretching first for a couple of minutes then started my run at a slow pace first and slowly increase the pace as I go on until I've reached my destination, old man goro's place.

Old man goro is the owner of batting cages here where I go every morning to practice my pitching and sometimes batting too since aside from the batting cages old man goro's place also has pitching area. It's just one though since mostly people come here to bat and not to pitch so it's always vacant.

"Goodmorning old man goro!" I greeted him with a smile.

"Ohh Jiro goodmorning to you too" He greeted me back. I know old man goro since I was 11 years old. Dad can catch for me but as time goes on he finds it harder and harder to catch for me, he's not a catcher to begin with dad was a shortstop when he was still playing so we look for a place where I could practice pitching back then and we found this place.

Starting that day I've atleast visit old man goro's place atleast 5-6 times a week. Old man goro let me use the pitching area for free as long as I clean up the place before leaving. He's that kind of good guy. He always just says that it'll be good for his business someday since his place has become the place where a pro would practice heheh which I don't mind since I'll make everything that he's said come true and who would decline free things this days? For sure not me.

"I'll use your pitching area again old man goro, I'm trying something new hehe" I told him.

"This monstrous brat , here catch!" He said looking at me happily while throwing me the key for the place that I managed to catch.

"Thank you, old man goro!" I said a smile plastered on face while heading towards the place.

I arranged the pitching net that has tapes of the strike zone on it and once I'm done on it I get the container full of baseball balls carrying it towards the side of the mound.

I warmed up my shoulder first by throwing around 15 pitches to the net once I've felt that I'm ready to pitch seriously I begun my wind up.

I raised my knee high, raising my arms, stomping my foot firmly on the ground and whipping my arms out focusing all of my strength in my fingertips.

*BOOMMM

A loud sound could be heard as the fastball I've thrown make contact with the net.

"It's really not as satisfying when I pitched it into a mitt" I said to myself but this would do for now, a couple more months and I'll have someone crouching down for me waiting to catch my pitches.

*BOOMMM

*BOOMMM

*BOOMMM

I've thrown more fastballs and as usual a loud sound follows after that. I don't really know the exact speed of my pitch anymore all I know for sure is I'm over 150km/h but the exact speed? I'm not sure about that since I don't have any means to measure it for now since uncle goro doesn't have radar device here either.

After throwing around 50 fastballs I'm satisfied with it now so I'll practice my breaking ball on which currently I only have forkball under control as of now so I throw some of it.

*BOOMMM

*BOOMMM

*BOOMMM

I've thrown a couple more satisfied seeing the break on it. It's slightly slower than my fastball but the pitch has a downward drop when it's approaching the strike area, I also have other breaking balls that I've used when I'm still active in my last life but I haven't focused on throwing those yet because I want to avoid injury as my body still in its growing phase. I'll start working on those in highschool though but I have a pitch in mind that I would like to try today.

Before I begin my pitching motion I've changed the way I grip the ball and as I started once again my wind up.

*BOOMMMMM

There's a loud sound once again since the ball meets it's mark perfectly. The ball I've thrown has a spiral like spin, there's no Magnus force on it as it arrives on home plate.

A gyro ball.

I've thrown it again a couple of times and the accuracy isn't up to par for me to feel satisfied but it's okay, I'll work my way up on this again.

50% of it hit my desired mark but the remaining 50% of it is just a considered a ball or a wild pitch sometimes. Sigh

I've stayed for more than 2 hours already at uncle goro place since I've practiced at batting cages too and I had to clean up the place before heading back home. It's almost past 8 AM now so I have to go back.

"Old man goro, thank you again for today I'll comeback again tomorrow hehe" I said to old man goro giving him the key for the pitching area back.

"Okay brat, you should go now the sun is already high up there" he replied to me on which I just nod and say my goodbye again to him as I begun my run to go back to our house.

When I've arrived at our house it's already 9 AM. So I made my way inside our house then I've notice the shoes of my old man near the door.

'he's back' I thought to myself.

"I'm backk!" I yell as always announcing to them that I've returned and there I saw dad in the dining table while mom is currently putting the foods that she cooked on the table.

"Hey Jiro, go wash up now we'll eat together" dad said to me on which I just replied a simple "yes" after going upstairs to freshen myself up with a cold shower.

~~~

As we are currently eating our breakfast peacefully together I remembered that I have to inform them of my decision regarding on which highschool I'll go.

"Dad , Mom I have something to tell you guys" I stated on which they look at me waiting for what I'm about to say as both of them has that 'go ahead and tell us look' on their face.

"So last night I did my research and stuff to decide on which highschool I'll go and I've decided about it already so I want to tell you guys now"

They both looked excited as I tell them that especially dad since he wants to see me pitch in an official match more than anyone else since they know once I've told them in the past about my decision of not playing in any official tournaments not until highschool.

"So where is our baseball addict of a son would go?" My mom asked jokingly on which dad and I laughed at her.

Baseball addict huh? Maybe I really am.

"I'll go to seido"