Improvement and Internal match

As time seemed to run away, the two weeks passed in a blur for Kazuki. Every day, he made his way to the club, determined to push himself to new limits. His focus was on improving his catching skills, and he spared no effort in his training.

With each passing day, Kazuki could feel himself getting better. His reflexes sharpened, and his technique became more fluid. He paid close attention to the coach's guidance, implementing their advice with precision.

Kazuki's dedication didn't go unnoticed. The coach could see the progress he was making and was impressed by his commitment. Kazuki's brain seemed wired for catching, his instincts and anticipation becoming more finely tuned with each practice session

Despite his focus on catching, Kazuki also worked on his batting. While the improvements were smaller in this area, his dynamic vision helped him connect with the ball more consistently, resulting in some solid hits.

As Kazuki became more integrated with his team, he found himself receiving valuable assistance from his teammates. They helped him fine-tune his catching technique, offering tips and advice based on their own experiences. Kazuki was grateful for their support, realizing that baseball was truly a team sport where everyone worked together to improve.

In addition to his catching, Kazuki also received guidance for his batting. His teammates shared their knowledge, helping him refine his stance and swing.

One exciting development was Kazuki's collaboration with the team's second pitcher, Saki. Despite being the second pitcher after Narumia, Saki was a skilled player in his own right. However, his main challenge was his lack of confidence in his abilities.

Kazuki noticed Saki's potential and was eager to work with him. He believed that with the right support and encouragement, Saki could overcome his confidence issues and become an even stronger pitcher. Kazuki spent extra time during practice catching Saki's pitches, providing feedback and encouragement to help boost his confidence.

This experience not only improved his catching skills but also helped him understand the nuances of different pitchers' styles, which would be invaluable during actual games.

Despite Kazuki growing acquainted with his teammates, there is an exception with Narumia, who seems to hold a grudge against Kazuki. When Kazuki approaches Narumia, he talks loudly and complains about Kazuki not keeping promises. Kazuki sees this behavior as childish. Seeing this side of Narumia, Kazuki feels concerned about how to manage him on the mound in the future

As the two weeks came to an end, Kazuki reflected on how far he had come. His hard work had paid off, and he was more determined than ever to continue his journey towards excellence in baseball.

At the end of a rigorous training session, Coach Nakamura gathered the team around. He announced that the next day would be an internal match and instructed everyone to be ready. The players exchanged excited glances, eager to showcase their skills in a real game scenario.

As the team started to disperse, Coach Nakamura called out to Kazuki. "Kazuki, I want you to be the catcher for tomorrow's internal match," he said with a smile. Kazuki's eyes widened in surprise and delight. Being chosen as the catcher was a big responsibility, and he was determined to do his best.

After a long and productive training session, Kazuki headed home with a spring in his step. He was eager to share the exciting news with his parents about the upcoming internal match and his role as the catcher.

"Mom, Dad, guess what?" Kazuki exclaimed as he walked through the door. "I got chosen to be the catcher for tomorrow's internal match!"

His parents beamed with pride, knowing how hard Kazuki had been working to improve his skills. They congratulated him on his achievement and listened intently as he recounted the day's training and his anticipation for the match ahead.

Kazuki's parents were supportive and encouraging, offering him words of advice and encouragement as he prepared for the game. Kazuki felt grateful for their support and knew that with their encouragement, he would be ready to give his best performance as the team's catcher.

The next day, Coach Nakamura gathered the team together to discuss the details of the internal match. "Today's game will be a 5-inning match," he announced, setting the stage for an exciting game ahead.

However, there was a slight hiccup. "As you all know, we have 7 people on the team, but according to the rules, we need 9 players to field a complete team," Coach Nakamura explained. "We'll have to make some adjustments to ensure a fair game."

After a brief discussion, the team decided to rotate players between positions, with some players playing multiple positions throughout the game. Despite the challenge, everyone was determined to make the most of the situation and give their best effort in the match.

Coach Nakamura gathered the players and announced the team lineup for the internal match. "Today, we have two teams. One team will be led by pitcher Narumia and catcher Hideki," he said, pointing to the two players who had been performing exceptionally well in practice.

"The other team will be led by pitcher Saki and catcher Kazuki," Coach Nakamura continued, indicating the other pair of players who had also shown great improvement in their skills.

"Narumia, Hideki, Saki, and Kazuki, I want you all to lead your teams with confidence. This is a great opportunity to showcase your leadership and teamwork skills," Coach Nakamura added, inspiring the players to give their best in the match.

"Go and warm up; after some time, we will begin the match," Coach declared.

With that, both teams went to warm up.