This past was very exhausting to say the least.
I kept training and training every day.
The day started early at 5 am.
I then got up and completed the daily tasks before I ate breakfast and went to school.
At the start, there were some difficulties to get everything done in time. But near the end of the week, it just became a habit to get it done.
I even started making variations to the tasks to make them focus on more than one stat attribute.
For example, when doing my daily 10km run, I sprinted for certain periods of time throughout the run and then went back to a light jog.
This would help not only focus on stamina but also agility.
I even added some weights to the sit-ups and push-ups tasks, using some of the weights Dad used daily.
For the yoga exercises, I didn't add any variations.
This was mainly because it was a strict training regime the was made by Max.
It also focused on flexibility and muscle recovery so I didn't want to overstretch and pull a muscle that would hinder my training.
After training, I then had breakfast with my family.
It was a little awkward at first. But I think that was because they weren't used to seeing this calmer and more mature version of Sawamura.
But they eventually got used to it, especially when they had been secretly watching me train in the back yard every day.
They saw how much time and effort I was putting into my training and assumed that that was why I became more mature.
Using the training to discipline myself.
At school, I diligently worked hard in my classes, much to the surprise of Sawamura's friends and teachers.
I had taken the middle school curriculum before, so it wasn't too bad, but I forgot a few things here and there, so I had to go back over the subjects.
What helped the most was the system.
It turned out that the Mental stat was more than just baseball related, it also developed my brain a little and helped me remember things more clearly.
Hanging out with Sawamura's childhood friends was quite fun as well.
When I told them about my plan and that I wouldn't be attending the high school they were going to so I could focus my all on baseball, they were supportive.
It seemed I underestimated how kind natured they all were and how they viewed Sawamura as someone deserving of a better environment to improve his skills.
Even Aotsuki Wakana, Sawamura's childhood friend and the only girl on the middle school baseball team, who was usually nonchalant and harsh with Sawamura, was very supportive.
Their support made feel happy and brought a bright smile to my face as this was one of the situations I was dreading the most as I didn't want them to feel disappointed with my decision.
I also went to see the coach during school.
With Sawamura's memories, I knew that school was going to be demolished at the end of the year.
I went to him to ask if I could take some baseball equipment home considering the baseball season had already ended.
I wanted a metal bat, some balls and a steel framed net that was used for pitchers and had the purpose of not letting stray balls fly away if they didn't hit the zone board.
The coach gave me a look of consideration when I asked him and when he saw that slight glint in my eye, he agreed to my request.
I got Mum to pick me up that day to help me bring the equipment back home as I couldn't walk back with all of it.
Throughout the week, I also diligently worked on my pitching.
I focused on a strict training plan which made it so I didn't overwork my shoulder and also implemented a game like process.
I first did a set of 15 pitches and then rested.
I then did another set of 15 and then did some shuttle sprints.
I then did another 15 and went back to resting.
This exercise was to make my body more used to stopping and starting to implement the changes of innings into my body.
The shuttle sprints were to implement the case of whether I got on base during my at bat and was running bases.
I thought this training plan would be beneficial to me later when I was starting to play in games.
I mainly focused on my four-seam fastball and my improved cutter throughout the week.
The process was difficult and time consuming, but I managed to get both of them to game ready level.
The mastery of both skills had improved a lot during the week.
Four Seam Fastball: 52% mastery
Sawamura's Improved Cutter: 72% mastery
I was delighted when I saw the progress I made.
I was surprised by the sudden surge in both masteries, but I realised that my past life's fastball was good and when combined with Sawamura's flexible joints, it became a dangerous weapon.
With the Improved Cutter, I already had the full mental knowledge of the pitch and years' worth of training seared into my brain, so I just had to get my body used to it and develop muscle memory.
Luckily with diligent training and my A+ mental stat, it was easier than I thought to improve the mastery.
When doing the pitching training, I mainly focused on control and precision over improving the speed of the pitch.
I didn't want to rush the process, even with the elixirs improving my body's attributes.
***
In the early morning, on the final day of the week, I was sprawled out on the grass of the back yard after finishing my daily tasks.
*DING*
[Congratulations! You have completed your daily task for the day.]
[You have been rewarded:
>a random C-grade elixir
>a bronze tier Lottery ticket
>5 Ace points ]
'Brilliant! This marks doing the daily tasks for the week.' I thought.
[Calculating…]
'Huh? What's it calculating?'
[User has gone beyond the training implemented by the system.]
[Hard work will always pay off for the User.]
[You have been rewarded a B-grade strength elixir.]
[Always be diligent in your training and keep up the hard work.]
"Holy shit!!" I exclaimed. "That's ridiculous! I didn't think me putting more on the training would give me a bonus reward."
I started to do a little dance around the place.
I must've looked like an idiot, but I didn't give a damn in that moment.
After I calmed down a little, I then spoke to Max.
'Max, please use the C-Grade random elixir.'
[Implementing random C-grade elixir now.]
I suddenly felt cold sharp pains in my legs, my muscles twitching and bulging throughout the process
I had to sit on the ground and grasped my legs, breathing deeply through my teeth.
'This fucking hurts more than usual.' I thought.
Finally, the pain stopped, and my legs felt a lot lighter, but I could see the more defined muscles on them as I inspected them.
*DING*
[Users Agility attribute has been upgraded from D- to C-.]
'Fuck yes!' I thought.
'Okay, now for the B-grade strength elixir. Max, will the pain of this one be a lot worse than the C-grade ones?'
[Correct User. The elixirs from the higher levels will considerably change the user's body, which will be a very painful process.]
'Ahhh dammit.' I thought. 'What am I going to do? I can't just start screaming in pain and worry mum, dad and grandad.'
[I have a mute function which will silence any screams you would have. Would you like to implement during the process?]
'You have something like that? Okay brilliant! Yes, implement it. Also use the B-grade strength elixir.' I thought, mentally preparing for what was to come with deep breaths.
[Understood. Implementing B-Grade Strength Elixir.]
[Activating Mute Function.]
Suddenly I felt a rush of energy come into my body and then a terrible pain assaulted every muscle.
Then pain was excruciating, like my muscles were being ripped apart and put back together throughout my entire body.
I opened my mouth wide a screamed with all my might yet there was only silence.
I was squirming on the ground in was worst physical pain I'd ever felt in both my lives and there was not a sound made from me despite my effort to scream my vocal cords.
After about a full minute of intense pain.
It disappeared like it was never there in the first place.
As if I had imagined it all in the first place.
[User's Strength attribute has been improved from C+ to B+. This is the first step into really improving your body for the future. Congratulations.]
[Deactivating Mute Function]
What followed was the feeling of surging strength coming from all my muscles.
Like a latent power was ready to burst from them.
'This feels amazing!!' I thought as I grasped my hand with an iron like grip.
The power in my fingertips intense.
I then smelt an assault of a terrible smell.
I instantly started grasping my nose in response and inspected my body.
There was a dark gooey substance covering my body, making me feel sticky and disgusting.
'Max, what's all this? I asked.
[The substance is the impurities that have been extracted from your body during the process of strengthening and enhancing your muscles. I suggest User washes immediately to get rid of the smell.]
'You didn't even have to say it. I'm going right now.' I responded sprinting into the house and going to the bathroom.
After having to wash myself twice to get rid of the lingering smell, I started drying myself.
I then caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and was instantly shocked.
My whole body looked drastically different from before.
My muscles were well defined all over my arms and shoulders and I had a well sculpted 6pack in my core.
'This is what a B-grade elixir can do?' I thought as I kept gawking in the mirror whilst poking my 6pack in amazement.
After about 10 minutes of fully inspecting my new defined body, I wanted to check the full progress I had made throughout the week.
'Max, can you pull up my status menu?'
My stats came up shortly after.
USER STATS:
>Physical Fitness: B
>Pitching: B-
>Batting: E
>Fielding: E
>Game Intelligence: C
>Mental: A+
Skills: 5
'Both my physical and pitching stats have improved? Come on!' I thought griping my hand into a fist.
I clicked on the physical fitness section and another screen popped up.
PHYSICAL FITNESS: (Avg. B-)
Balance and Coordination: C+
Agility: C-
Strength: B+
Stamina: B-
'Seeing the progress, I'm making is only making this whole process more addictive.' I thought as I looked at my stats with glee.
'I already want to start training again.'
[User still hasn't used the bronze tier Lottery ticket yet from your rewards.]
'Oh right, of course!! I had completely forgot about that. Max, please pull up the lottery section.'
In response, a gigantic wheel appeared in front of me, dazzling to the eye.
As I looked at the individual sections of the wheel, I saw a whole wide range of skills in each of them, from pitching skills to fielding and batting skills.
I was greedily looking at all the skills.
Wanting to have all the pitching and batting skills all at once.
'It's a pity I can only get one skill from all these. Hopefully I don't get a fielding skill though. I really don't want this to be wasted.' I silently pleaded.
'Okay, let's do this. Max, use the lottery ticket.'
[Using Bronze-Tier Lottery Ticket]
Suddenly the wheel started spinning, each section becoming a blur.
I closed my eyes and put my hands together, praying that I would get a decent skill that I could use.
Finally, the wheel started to slow down, each section ticking past the selected arrow.
Soon enough, the wheel stopped after the spin finished, and I finally opened my eyes in anticipation.
[ User has drawn the "Wind-up" skill. Congratulations.]
[Wind-up: Increases Pitching by 1 grade when using your wind up.]
"HOLY SHIT!!!" I screamed out loud as I saw the skill.
"Oi!! Stop screaming so loud in the morning! And watch your language, brat!" A loud, husky voice came from outside the bathroom.
'Oh, I didn't realise I said that out loud. Whoops'
"Sorry grandad!" I shouted back in response.
I turned back to the screen of the system.
"Hehe…hehehe…" I couldn't control my giggle when I looked at the description of the skill.
It was OP as OP can get. When combined with 'Ace's indomitable Will' skill on top of that, my pitching goes up 2 full grades.
'That is insane. How lucky!!!!'
I eventually left the bathroom with a skip in my step and went to back to my bedroom to get changed for school.
'She should be coming after school today, I think. Finally, Rei Takashima would come to scout me to go to Seido. I'm fully ready for you Assistant Director of Seido's baseball team. I'll show you a glimpse of what's to come.' I thought with a determined smile, looking at my reflection with a glint in my eye.