The Old Baseball Player System

"Alright, we're here. Everyone out! We'll hold the meeting in our dugout." - Coach Yamada announced after parking the bus and instructing his players to get off. The Shoto players quickly rose from their seats and made their way toward the dugout.

Everyone sat on the benches while Coach Yamada stood in front of them, his expression serious as he scanned each of his players.

"As you know, we'll be competing in the Kanto tournament next week. We don't yet know who our opponents will be, but we do know how the tournament will work. The 16 qualifying teams will face off in knockout games. This means, if we manage to win it all, we'll be playing four games." - Coach Yamada explained, observing his players' reactions. Although they seemed excited, their serious gazes showed they understood the gravity of the upcoming tournament.

"The tournament lasts only three days, from Friday to Sunday. That means winning teams on Friday will play a second game the same day. Semifinals will be held on Saturday, and the finals and third-place match will take place on Sunday.

This won't be easy, especially for our pitchers. But I'll be honest, I believe in you! The determination you've shown, not just today but throughout the entire Tokyo tournament, has been incredible. I'm confident this team has the potential to win it all in Kanto! But… remember to stay humble and never forget what brought you here: the hard work and effort you've put in every single day!" - Coach Yamada said, his tone firm yet encouraging as he looked each of his players in the eyes.

"Yes, Coach!" - All the players stood and bowed deeply toward Coach Yamada. At that moment, the team's resolve intensified. Their focus shifted entirely to the Kanto tournament just one week away.

"Jiro, Sora, make sure to rest well over the weekend. We'll need you at your best in Kanto." - Shun approached Jiro and Sora after the coach's speech. As one of the leaders responsible for the pitching staff, it was his job to ensure his younger teammates were ready.

"Yes, Senpai!" - Jiro and Sora responded in unison, their eyes brimming with determination. After witnessing Shun's perfect game, both young pitchers were eager to contribute to the team.

"You too, Daigo. Rest up this weekend." - Shun added, addressing the young catcher. He knew how hard Daigo worked to manage three completely different pitchers.

"Yes, Senpai!" - Daigo replied just as determinedly, earning a smile from Shun. Not wanting to linger too long, Shun nodded at his teammates and started walking out of the dugout.

"Hey, Shun! Want to grab something to eat to celebrate?" - Kenta approached him with a grin.

"Oh, sorry, I've got some stuff to take care of. Next time, I promise!" - Shun smiled apologetically. As much as he wanted to hang out with his friends, he still needed to complete his daily workout routine.

"Alright, see you later then!" - Kenta trusted Shun's words and waved him off with a smile.

"See you!" - Shun replied before saying goodbye to Ren, Shimizu, and the rest of the team. He then started walking toward a park near his house.

The sun was setting as Shun began his exercises, undeterred by fatigue. He had chosen the park because it was close to home, sparing him a long walk after completing his intense workout.

---

About an hour later…

Ryosuke and Kyosuke were heading home after stopping at a restaurant for dinner. Ryosuke was still in a foul mood, clearly affected by watching his former teammates succeed without him. Kyosuke, however, seemed unbothered by his younger brother's sulking.

"Man, that food was amazing! I don't think I've ever eaten so well in my life!" - Kyosuke exclaimed, trying to spark some conversation. He had made several attempts along the way but to no avail. However, when Ryosuke suddenly stopped walking, Kyosuke was caught off guard.

"Huh? What is it, Ryo?" - Kyosuke asked, confused by his brother's expression. Ryosuke stood frozen, his face a mix of surprise and disbelief as he stared at the nearby park.

Curious, Kyosuke followed Ryosuke's gaze and saw a teenage boy drenched in sweat doing burpees. Recognizing the boy's uniform, Kyosuke quickly understood Ryosuke's reaction, but he remained silent.

"Why? How? He just pitched a perfect game. He just won the MVP award and qualified for the Kanto tournament. So why? Why the hell is he training right now?" - Ryosuke finally muttered, his voice laced with confusion and frustration as he struggled to comprehend the scene.

Clenching his fists, Ryosuke kept his eyes fixed on Shun. Tears began streaming down his face as a whirlwind of emotions overcame him, frustration, confusion, anger, fear, and, most prominently, a deep sense of inferiority.

"Let's go." - Kyosuke broke the silence after observing his brother's turmoil. Without waiting for a response, he began walking home.

Ryosuke instinctively followed, staying silent for the rest of the way. Kyosuke didn't push for conversation, giving his brother space to process his feelings. But as they reached their front door, Kyosuke spoke again.

"It's scary, isn't it, Ryo?" - Kyosuke said, turning to his brother with a knowing smile.

"Huh?" - Ryosuke looked at him, puzzled, but before he could ask anything, Kyosuke continued.

"Guys like that… no matter how much they win or lose, they're never satisfied. It's like they're obsessed with improving, in a way that no one else can understand. I was scared the first time I met someone like that, too. But you know what? Those kinds of people… they're usually the ones who love baseball the most." - Kyosuke's tone softened, as if recalling old memories. He then looked directly at Ryosuke before delivering his final words.

"You're lucky to have met someone like that so early, Ryo. If you want my advice, remember this: the longer you stand still, the bigger the gap between you two will become." - With that, Kyosuke entered the house, leaving his younger brother to ponder his words.

Ryosuke stood there for a long moment, replaying Kyosuke's words in his mind. Slowly, he clenched his fists tighter, a spark of determination igniting in his eyes before he finally stepped inside.