The next morning, there were crowds of people around Seido's training field.
Members of the public, former alumni and journalists always gathered to watch the team train during the weekends.
They were currently watching the players gathering in the two dugouts.
"Oh? Looks like a scrimmage is going to start." One spectator said.
"Did you not hear? Apparently, the coach organised a game between the freshmen and the seniors." Another responded.
"What? Why would he do that? Won't it just crush the first-year's spirits?"
"Maybe he's trying to find some capable players that can do well despite the disadvantage."
As the crowd were murmuring with each other, the first-yeah dugout had a very tense and nervous atmosphere.
"Crap! I'm getting really nervous." One first year said.
"I couldn't sleep last night, either." Kanemaru replied with his hands on his hips.
"I never thought I'd have to face the upperclassmen this early into high school." He continued as he looked over at the senior players.
They were staring over at the freshmen like they wanted to crush them.
It made the freshmen feel even more nervous.
"Why're you all so nervous? Isn't this a good thing?" A voice suddenly popped up from within the crowd.
I walked forward from the crowd with a glow in my eyes.
"Of course we're nervous!" Kanemaru said.
"Are you not?" He asked.
"No, I'm excited. I finally get a chance to show off my skills to the team and the coach in a game. I didn't come to this school just watch the senior players on the field while I stood in the crowd for 3 years. I came here to put my all into baseball and try to get on the team. Isn't this the perfect opportunity to do that?" I replied.
I looked at all the first years with a golden fire.
They could see my aura around me and my words started resonating with them a bit.
They started gaining a bit more confidence and shake off their nerves.
"YOSH!"
"I'm gonna show them!"
"There's no point if we get nervous before the game starts!"
The freshmen started to get riled up, filled with determined expressions.
I grinned at them when a saw the change in the atmosphere.
'My work here is done, I think.' I thought.
On the other side of the field, in the senior dugout, the seniors were watching the change in the freshmen.
"Oh? Looks like the freshmen are getting fired up."
"Doesn't matter, we'll crush them either way."
"Still, it'll be a more worthwhile game if they're not shaking in their cleats from the start, haha!"
"Hahah, true that!"
Most of the seniors were joking at the change of the freshmen, most of them were staring daggers at Furuya because of the scuffle in the cafeteria yesterday.
However, there were two individuals that were focused on Sawamura throughout all this.
Tanba and Masuko.
Both had been demoted to second string for this game because of mistakes they made in games.
They needed to prove their worth in this game to go back up.
Tanba looked at Sawamura with a determined frown.
'He changed the whole mindset of the first years with just a few words. I was right to see him as dangerous.' He thought.
Masuko, however, was looking at Sawamura with a slightly sympathetic look on his face.
'Sawamura-chan, don't hate me when I hit a homerun off you.'
The Coach then walked over to the first-year dugout with some umpire padding on.
"All the first years will be able to play. Make sure you're all warmed up." He said to them.
"Yes!" They replied.
"Alright, let's get this started! First years will bat first while seniors take the field!" He said whilst walking to Homeplate.
I walked towards the bullpen on the field as I knew I wouldn't be on for a while.
I happened to see Miyuki standing next to the fence of the pen.
"Yo, Sawamura, you nervous?" Miyuki said with a smirk.
"Hey, senpai. No, I'm not nervous. I'm ready to take the mound whenever." I replied with a smile.
"When are you pitching?" He asked.
"Well, I'll be third up, after Tojo and Furuya, but I think Furuya's turn will be done quick." I said.
"Why do you say that?" Miyuki asked with curiosity.
"Because nobody can catch his fastball." I replied. "At least, nobody in first year anyway."
Miyuki looked a little intrigued at that.
"Want me to help you warmup then?" He asked.
"Sure, thanks." I said back with a grin.
***
WHOOSH
"Arrghh!"
PAH
"Strike!"
Tanba's curveball scared the first-year batter, making him fall backwards outside the batter's box.
Miyauchi stood up from his crouched position from behind Homeplate.
"HMPH! What's the matter rookie?" He asked, blowing air out of his nostrils.
"You can't swing your bat if you're on your butt." He continued as he threw back to Tanba on the mound.
Tanba looked like a vicious lion on the mound, ready to eat his prey with every pitch.
When the batter got back into the batter's box, Tanba then threw another curve.
WHOOSH
PAH
"Strikeout! Three outs, change." Coach said from behind Miyauchi.
"YEEAAAHH!!" Tanba shouted on the mound, pumping his fist.
He then glanced over at the first-year bullpen.
He found Sawamura standing there looking at him with a smile on his face, his eyes glowing that golden hue.
Tanba then turned and walked back to his dugout.
***
'Tanba-senapi had a great first inning with three up and three down.' I thought as I saw Tanba look at me then turn towards his dugout.
The first years started taking the field for defence, Tojo was the first on the mound.
He looked very nervous and stiff when the first batter went into the batter's box, kicking the dirt on the mound.
He threw his first pitch..
WHOOSH
DING
His first pitch was hit for a double.
This made him even more nervous when the second batter came up.
WHOOSH
DING
Another double, 1 run for the senior team, no outs, runner on second.
Whoosh
DIING
Another double, 2 runs for the senior team, no outs, runner on second.
It was clear now that the senior team were not going to hold back at all, despite playing against rookie first-years.
I stood watching the game after Miyuki threw the ball back to me.
"Do you think they're being immature?" He asked me, talking about the senior team.
DIING
"True. To a fresh first-year, the pitch of a third year is completely new, and the speed of a batted ball is on a differently level. But to the third years, this is a huge chance. No matter what happens, the next game is the last. If they don't make the first-string, it's over for them." Miyuki continued.
We both watched as a senior player ran as hard as he could around the bases, aiming for a triple.
The ball flew and the third basemen, Kanemaru, caught it before the runner got there.
The runner then forced his way onto the base, knocking over Kanemura who dropped the ball in the process.
"Safe!"
"YEEEAAAAAHH!" The senior screamed when he was called safe.
"Hahah, you're gonna have it rough." Miyuki said.
"You'll need to be strong-minded enough to shut them up by force, or you'll never become the ace-"
WHOOOSH
PAAH
Miyuki had to stop talking and catch the fastball I threw at him with my full strength.
"Whoah, there." He said a little startled.
He looked over at me, my eyes were glowing and my face calm but serious.
"I'm even sure know…" I started off looking at him. "Coming to this school was the best decision." I then turned to the field. "Dueling with so many amazing people. However,…" I turned back to Miyuki. "I must be playing. I won't settle for anything less. I can't wait to go out on the mound." I finished with a big grin.
Miyuki looked at me, a little shocked at my statement.
He then smirked a little, "Heh." He chuckled.
'Well said.' He thought.
***
It was now the start of the fourth inning. The first year's score throughout the innings were 0 0 0 respectively.
Whereas the senior's score was 5 2 3.
The first years who had just finished their time on the field walked back utterly defeated, Tojo especially had been broken by the batting of the senior team.
The senior team walked back onto the field for the top of the fourth.
I walked over to the first years in the dugout, everyone already looked as if they game was over, completely depressed.
I frowned and crossed my arms when I saw them.
Kanemaru, who noticed my face, asked, "What's with that face, Sawamura?"
He looked a little annoyed.
"It's only the end of the third inning. Why're you all acting like we've lost the game?" I said in a calm voice, loud enough to be heard by everyone.
"HUH? What do you mean? Did you watch the game? Of course we're depressed! The seniors are crushing us!!" Kanemura snapped.
"THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS SCRIMMAGE!!" I snapped back at him shouting.
My voice carried across the field, the seniors and coach looked over at me.
"We were put in a disadvantage on purpose! Don't you see?! This whole scrimmage was to find out whether we could push through and play our best despite playing against players better than us! But what? You've already given up on the game after third inning? Are you going to do that if this was a semi-final or a final of a tournament.? Because if you are then leave. This is fucking Seido!! I'm not going to give up until the game ends and they force me off the mound!"
My voice was a little horse after shouting so much.
All the first years were slightly stunned at my outburst, not expecting me to snap like that.
Then they started frowning themselves, starring daggers at me.
"Who say's we're giving up, you bastard!"
"Damn straight, I'm not giving up!"
"YOSH! We are winning this!"
"Of course, I haven't shown them all I've got yet!"
"I was about to say the same thing." Haruichi said, walking next to me.
"Haha, I could imagine you blushing if you had to shout like that." I replied with a chuckle.
"Eijun-kun, shut up!" Haruichi said whilst blushing a little.
I then turned to Kanemaru who was still a little shocked.
I put my hand on his shoulder and whispered, "I'll leave the rest to you. Just wait until I get on the mound, we'll give them payback tenfold."
"Y-Yeah, alright!" Kanemaru replied.
I flashed him a smile and then turned and walked back to the bullpen.
***
The seniors watched as Sawamura left the dugout, leaving the adrenaline filled first years, and walked back calmly to the bullpen, as if he hadn't just shouted his lungs out a minute ago.
Most of them looked at Sawamura with admiration.
'That kid's got balls.'
'Damn, that gave me chills!'
One person was staring at Sawamura with great intensity.
Tanba, clenched his fist tightly, watched the first year walk towards the bullpen.
'Damm, that was kind of cool…. Dammit! What have I been doing in games to give up so easily? I won't lose, Sawamura Eijun! The Ace position is mine!' He thought as he threw another curve.
"Strikout! Three outs, change!"
"YOOOSSHH!!"
Tanba's voice carried over the field.
It was his response to the first year's new motivation.
'Bring it on.'