Rebirth of Toujou Hideaki

Toujou Hideaki stood alone on the pitcher's mound, the dirt beneath his feet feeling loose, unsteady. His uniform clung to his skin, damp with sweat, but the night air was cold. Too cold.

He swallowed hard, gripping the baseball in his hand. But something was wrong. The familiar weight of the ball felt foreign, slipping against his fingers as if it didn't belong to him. His heart pounded in his ears, drowning out the shouts from the dugout.

The batter stood ready, his presence looming larger than life.

Toujou wound up and released the pitch—only to watch in horror as it sailed wide, nowhere near the catcher's mitt.

A whisper of unease rippled through the crowd.

He clenched his jaw and tried again.

Crack!

The bat met the ball with a deafening sound, sending it soaring into the outfield.

Toujou's stomach lurched.

The next batter stepped in. Another pitch. Another hit.

Then another.

And another.

The scoreboard climbed relentlessly. 1… 3… 5 runs… By the time he finally managed to get the last out, the damage was done. The score read 12-0.

His fingers twitched, his breaths coming in short gasps. The world around him blurred, yet the weight of a thousand unseen eyes bore down on him. Judging. Expecting. Disappointed.

Then, silence.

He turned slowly towards the dugous, his teammates, faces unreadable, but their disappointment was deafening.

"You lost us the game," someone muttered.

"You weren't good enough," another voice whispered.

"You failed."

"You will still fail."

The air grew heavy, suffocating. Toujou tried to speak, to explain, but no words came. His legs felt like lead, sinking into the mound as if the earth itself was swallowing him whole.

Then, he jolted awake. His chest heaved, his breath coming out in ragged gasps. His back was soaked with sweat as he stared at the dark ceiling of his room.

But the nightmare lingered in his mind, leaving him restless for the rest of the night. He needed to be better. He couldn't let that dream become reality.

Just a dream.

And yet, as he gripped the blanket, he could still feel the weight of the baseball slipping from his fingers.

The sting of failure.

The judgment in their eyes.

It lingered.

And it terrified him. Just like how he failed to show his potential in his the scrimmage against senior during his first year in highschool.

---

The early morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a faint glow across the room. Toujou Hideaki lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.

His body was awake, but his mind was caught in a whirlwind of restless thoughts.

A nightmare had crept into his sleep, leaving behind a lingering sense of unease.

He could still hear the distant echoes of the game, the roaring crowd, and the weight of failure pressing down on his chest.

The first game… His heart raced at the thought. This was it—the moment he'd been working for, and yet, his confidence felt fragile. He tossed the covers aside and quickly stood, determination settling in despite the lingering nerves.

Toujou dressed quickly, pulling on his Hikari Gakuen uniform with practiced ease. The simple act of preparing himself felt like a ritual, a way to steady his thoughts.

But even as he pulled on his cleats, the pressure remained. He was the starting pitcher today.

His team's leader. The weight of that responsibility pressed down on him like never before.

No time for doubts, he thought, brushing off the fear threatening to creep in. I can't afford to let them see me waver.

The weight of his role as pitcher and leader wasn't lost on him. He'd been leading this team throughout training, but the real test had always been on the mound.

Today, he would prove that he wasn't just a player—he was someone they could rely on.

As the clock ticked closer to game time, Toujou's resolve solidified. He couldn't let his mind wander back to those lingering thoughts of failure.

He had prepared for this moment. He had trained. Now it was time to show everyone, including himself, that he was ready.

---

The school courtyard was buzzing with activity as the players of Hikari Gakuen Elementary Baseball began assembling. Bags were slung over shoulders, bats and gloves clutched in hand.

The air was thick with the mix of excitement and tension. Everyone seemed to have something to say to each other, but Toujou was lost in his own thoughts, barely hearing the chatter around him.

He spotted his teammates—Ryoma with his other teammates Kazuki, and Yuto—smiling and laughing as they loaded gear onto the bus.

Their energy was infectious, but Toujou couldn't shake the knot in his stomach. This wasn't just another game. This was his first challenge as the ace.

The first time he would stand alone on the mound, with his team's hopes riding on him.

Coach Tachibana, ever the calm figure in the midst of chaos, approached him. He clapped a reassuring hand on Toujou's shoulder, his expression unreadable but his words clear.

"You're ready, Toujou. Just do what we've practiced, and trust your instincts. You've got this."

Toujou nodded, trying to quell the fluttering in his chest. The weight of his coach's confidence in him was undeniable, but it also felt like an added layer of pressure.' I'll make him proud', he promised silently. I won't let the team down.

With a deep breath, he joined the rest of the team and boarded the bus, setting his focus on the game ahead.

---

Arrival at the Seishin Elementary School...

The bus pulled up to the opposing school's field, and as soon as Toujou stepped off, his breath caught in his throat.

The field stretched out before him—larger, cleaner, and more polished than their own.

The freshly painted lines and the towering fences made it seem like a major league venue compared to Hikari Gakuen's smaller, more worn-down field. The sheer size of it seemed to heighten the stakes.

His teammates were chattering excitedly, but Toujou could barely hear them.

All he could focus on was the field, his heartbeat rising with every step he took toward the dugout.

This was it. This was the stage where he would prove himself—or fail. There was no in-between.

His gaze shifted to the towering mound at the center of the field, and the reality of what was about to happen settled in. I'm the starting pitcher, he reminded himself. I'm the one who's going to lead this team today.

---

The team began their warm-ups, stretching and jogging as they prepared for the game. The atmosphere was a mixture of nervous energy and excitement.

Players threw the ball back and forth, their voices ringing out in bursts of laughter. Even as they kept things light, Toujou couldn't ignore the tension gnawing at him.

He stood off to the side, his eyes closed as he focused on his breathing. He could hear the familiar rhythm of the team's preparations, but it all felt distant, as though he were in a bubble of his own thoughts.

Today, he was not just another player. He was the leader, the one who would set the tone for everything that followed.

His thoughts were interrupted by the flicker of movement across the field. He turned to find the opposing team gathering, their players stretching in silence.

The tension between the two teams was palpable, especially when his gaze locked onto the first batter, Riku Nakamura. Riku's calm demeanor and sharp eyes immediately caught Toujou's attention.

He looks confident, Toujou thought, narrowing his gaze. This won't be easy.

---

The game began with the traditional coin toss. Hikari Gakuen lost, and they would start on defense.

As the team lined up for the field, Toujou's stomach tightened. It wasn't the batting order that worried him; it was the weight of his role on the mound.

He stood with his glove in hand, his eyes focused on the field ahead, and took a deep breath. Focus, he reminded himself. One pitch at a time.

The team was ready, but as the opposing batter stepped up to the plate, Toujou's pulse quickened. This was his first real test. And it was time to rise to the challenge.

---

Riku Nakamura was the first batter, and he exuded confidence as he approached the plate.

He didn't look at Toujou as he set himself, but his presence alone made it clear: he wasn't here to lose. His calm, almost arrogant stance made Toujou wary.

This guy's different, Toujou thought, adjusting his grip on the ball. He's not just a strong hitter. He's smart.

It was clear that Riku wasn't just relying on physical ability—he was studying Toujou's every move. It was going to be a mental game as much as a physical one.

As Riku made his way to first base, Shota Kurose took his place at the plate. He was tall and lanky, his movements almost fluid as he sized up Toujou. There was a nonchalant air about him, but his eyes were sharp, calculating.

I can't afford to underestimate him, Toujou thought, adjusting his stance. Shota had quick reflexes, and Toujou knew he had to keep his pitches unpredictable. One mistake, and it could cost him the game.

---

Toujou stepped onto the mound, his heart racing. The opposing team was silent, waiting for the first pitch.

He gripped the ball tightly, staring down the batter as the world seemed to slow. His breath steady, his focus unwavering, he nodded to himself.

I'm ready.

He wound up.