Chapter 11: First Pitch, First Fall
You don't need permission to start something great. You just need the courage to fail in front of others."
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The Arrival
The team from Minamino Middle School arrived in a polished black bus. Their uniforms were crisp, their logo embroidered. They stretched in perfect sync, their captain barking instructions like a pro.
In contrast—
The Kamiyama Sparks arrived in mismatched cleats, shared gloves, and duct-taped bags.
Haruto stood on the mound, adjusting his frayed cap. His heart pounded like a drum.
Kento muttered from shortstop, "We're gonna die."
Reina shouted from second base, "Not if we live first!"
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First Inning: Nerves on Fire
Haruto's first pitch?
A wild fastball that slammed into the backstop.
"Ball one," the umpire called.
He exhaled sharply. "Okay, okay… grip tighter."
Second pitch—straight down the middle.
CRACK!
Line drive to center field.
Kento sprinted… slipped… missed.
The runner took second.
Minamino's bench roared.
Coach Inoue, silent on the sidelines, watched calmly. He didn't flinch.
Reina jogged to the mound. "You're trying to pitch like a hero. Just throw like Haruto."
He nodded once. Third pitch—strike.
Fourth—strike.
Fifth—strikeout.
The crowd (a handful of classmates and one teacher) clapped politely.
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Second Inning: Sparks Begin
Their turn to bat.
Tomo stepped up first.
He gripped the bat like a nervous spaghetti noodle.
"Just… make contact," Sōta whispered.
First pitch—swing and a miss.
Second—bunt attempt—foul.
Third—he closes his eyes and swings—
DINK!
The ball bloops just over the third baseman's glove.
Single.
The dugout exploded. "TOMOOOO!!"
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Sōta's Secret
Next up—Sōta.
He didn't look athletic. But he had timing.
On the third pitch, he cracked a line drive past second base.
Tomo reached third. Sōta stood shocked at first, then beamed.
"Did… did I do that?"
"You're a beast!" Haruto yelled.
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Haruto's First At-Bat
Now the pitcher had to bat.
He grinned as he stepped into the box.
First pitch—high.
Second—curveball.
He swung—
CRACK!
The ball soared past left field. Not a home run… but enough for a double.
Tomo scored. Sōta followed.
2–0.
The Kamiyama Sparks… were leading.
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Third Inning: Reality Bites
Then came Minamino's revenge.
Back-to-back hits.
A stolen base.
A bobbled grounder by Kento.
3–2.
Minamino takes the lead.
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Fourth to Fifth: Gutsy Defense
Reina snags a sliding catch.
Kento redeems himself with a sharp double play.
Haruto pitches a perfect inning, fueled by frustration and pride.
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Final Inning (Sixth)
Still 3–2. One out. Runner on second.
Tomo is up. He bunts.
Runner advances. Two outs.
Haruto comes up again.
He's their last hope.
Pitch one—swing and miss.
Pitch two—ball.
Pitch three—foul.
Final pitch.
He watches carefully. It's a change-up.
He swings.
Contact.
A slow grounder toward third base.
Haruto runs with everything.
The throw comes.
Close.
Too close.
"OUT!"
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After the Game
They lost.
But they didn't break.
Haruto collapsed on the grass, laughing breathlessly. "We almost had them."
Reina looked at the scoreboard. "That 'almost'... felt better than I thought."
Coach Inoue walked over.
"Clean up. Tomorrow, we train like we belong."
For the first time, he sounded like a coach.
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End of Chapter 11