The Old Baseball Player System

WOOSH

PAH

"Strikeout! 3 outs, changeover!"

"Yeeaaahhhh!" - Takumi roared after once again closing the inning without allowing a single run, even with a runner on third base.

"Ka- Su- Ga! Ka- Su- Ga! Ka- Su- Ga!"

"Ka- Su- Ga! Ka- Su- Ga! Ka- Su- Ga!"

Kasuga's crowd grew even louder after the inning ended, boosting the morale of all Kasuga's players.

"Imai, start warming up, your turn is coming!" - Kasuga's coach called from the dugout as he looked at the boy with the number one on his back.

"Yes, Coach!" - Shota Imai, Kasuga's ace, responded as he climbed the dugout steps and headed to the bullpen to warm up his shoulder.

"Huh? My time's up already?" - Takumi was returning to the dugout when he saw Imai heading to the bullpen. He couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed, wanting to pitch a little longer, but deep down, he knew this was the right time to be substituted. After all, it would be tough to hold Shoto's lineup for a third round without giving up runs.

"You did a great job, Takumi! Leave the rest to Imai and take a break." - Kasuga's coach said, placing a hand on Takumi's shoulder.

"Yes, Coach!" - Takumi replied quickly, then entered the dugout and sat down on the bench.

"Ahhhh, man! Seems like I'm still not good enough..." - Takumi sighed as he took a deep breath. He looked over at Shoto Junior High's dugout and saw Shun returning to the field. Even though he hadn't given up any runs, Takumi couldn't help but feel a bit defeated when comparing himself to the blue-eyed boy.

After all, in four innings, Takumi had allowed runners to reach third base three times, coming close to giving up runs. Compared to Shun's flawless performance so far, both pitching and hitting, Takumi could only admire his opponent, while a strong desire to improve grew in his heart.

---

Shun took the mound at the bottom of the fourth inning to face Kasuga's leadoff batters for the second time in the game. The cheers from Kasuga's fans filled the stadium as their batters prepared, determined to carry on the momentum that Takumi had built at the start of the inning.

Shun calmly watched as Kasuga's first batter stepped into the box with a focused gaze. Shun could feel the fierce determination of the batter staring him down. It was clear that if he showed any weakness, Kasuga's batters would seize the opportunity to break him.

---

Meanwhile, in the stands above Shoto's dugout...

"Looks like Kasuga's ace has started warming up. How long do you think Shun can keep holding off Kasuga's lineup, Jack?" - Kazuma Ushida, Takenodai High's assistant coach, asked curiously.

"I don't know. Let's see, hehe." - Grandpa Jack replied with a mysterious smile as he watched the field. Unlike the others present, he had seen Shun pitch in a game before, so he knew very well what his grandson was capable of.

---

Kasuga's first batter continued a cautious approach against Shun but stayed ready to swing aggressively if given the chance. On the first pitch of the duel, Daigo called for a vertical slider, trying to induce a swing, but Kasuga's batter wasn't fooled, watching as the ball dropped out of the zone.

For the second pitch, Daigo called for a horizontal slider on the outer edge, but again, the batter simply watched as the ball left the strike zone. With two balls and no strikes, Daigo called for another horizontal slider, this time within the zone.

Shun nodded, lifting his leg and propelling his body forward. He planted his foot firmly as he twisted his body.

"HA!" - Shun shouted as he whipped his arm toward Daigo's glove.

WOOSH

PAH

"Strike!" - The umpire called as Kasuga's first batter chased Shun's slider and missed.

"Tch!" - Kasuga's leadoff batter gritted his teeth in frustration but quickly composed himself, focusing intently on Shun.

However, Daigo noticed the batter's reaction, so he signaled for a vertical slider and positioned his glove in the center of the strike zone. Shun nodded at Daigo's call.

"HA!" - Shun shouted as he put everything into the pitch, snapping his arm like a whip.

WOOSH

POFT

"Strike!" - The umpire announced as the first batter swung and missed, trying to make contact with the slider that dropped to the ground.

"Damn it!" - The batter muttered, but he quickly took a deep breath to focus.

"Let's finish this here, Senpai!" - Daigo thought as he made a signal and positioned his glove. With the count tied at two balls and two strikes, he was aiming to eliminate Kasuga's leadoff batter with this pitch.

"HA!" - Shun shouted, whipping his arm toward home plate.

"Fuck!" - The first batter thought as he saw the ball rapidly approaching, seeming like it was headed straight for him. His first instinct was to jump back to avoid it, but remembering the other front-door sliders Shun had thrown in this game, he fought the impulse, swinging his bat and hoping the pitch would break to the inside of the strike zone.

WOOSH

DONG

"What?" - Daigo stood up in surprise, unable to believe that a left-handed batter had hit Shun's front-door slider. He watched nervously as the batter sprinted toward first base, then looked up to see the ball flying toward center field.

PAH

"Out!" - The ball landed in Jiro's glove, who easily caught the fly ball. A collective sigh echoed from Kasuga's dugout and crowd as the first batter returned to the dugout, frustrated, he had genuinely thought he'd get a hit with that swing.

"Phew!" - Daigo breathed a sigh of relief after seeing the ball end up in Jiro's glove. Yet he couldn't hide his surprise and concern. Shun's pitch had been very well executed, but the batter still managed to make contact and send the ball to center field.

"Ka- Su- Ga! Ka- Su- Ga! Ka- Su- Ga!"

"Ka- Su- Ga! Ka- Su- Ga! Ka- Su- Ga!"

Shun received the ball back on the mound as he watched Kasuga's second batter step into the box. Even though he had gotten the out, the leadoff batter's at bat had given Kasuga's crowd a spark of hope, and they kept up their loud cheering.

Shun took a deep breath, doing his best to stay calm. He could feel the pressure mounting on the mound with each inning, and the intense sun beating down on him didn't help his situation at all.