The morning mist clung to Kamiyama's abandoned field like a damp blanket, but Haruto Saito felt a spark of excitement. Today was their first "real" game—even if "real" meant playing against six ten-year-olds from the neighborhood youth club.
He tightened his cap, glanced at his ragtag teammates, and called out: "All right, Team Who?, gather 'round!"
Seven mismatched uniforms huddled under the rusty scoreboard. Haruto cleared his throat. "We've practiced in mud, rain, and math-class detention. Today, we show them what we've got."
Sōta Nakamura adjusted his glasses, clutching Basey like it was a lifeline. "If by 'got,' you mean 'not get obliterated,' then yes."
Aoi Tanaka handed out water bottles. "Remember—have fun. And catch the ball if you can."
Riku Hayashi stretched lazily. "Let's hope their pitcher's worse than our catcher."
Reina Fujiwara tapped her glove. "I just want to field without tripping."
Tomo Hoshikawa bounced on his heels. "I'll hit one fair, I swear."
Kento—towering over them—nodded silently, his reserved eyes shining with determination.
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First Inning: Disaster Ball
Haruto led off as pitcher, heart hammering. Opposite him, a scrawny ten-year-old wound up dramatically—more enthusiasm than skill.
Haruto threw a gentle fastball. The boy swung wildly and missed. Strike one.
"Nice," Haruto said.
But the next two pitches were wild curves that whizzed past the catcher and buried themselves in the tall grass. Three balls called by the neighborhood coach—and the batter strolled to first base.
Haruto cursed under his breath. "Sōta, block those wild ones!"
Sōta dove, glove flailing, and patted dirt. "Blocked! …Well, sort of."
By the time Haruto regained his composure, two more kids had bunted singles, and one scored easily on a lazy grounder. Score: 0–1.
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First Bat: Aoi's Pep Talk
Up to bat, Haruto inhaled Aoi's calm smile. "You've got this. Remember how we practiced under that cherry tree?"
His swing was true, but the ball soared… directly into a broken window of the janitor's shed.
Crack!
The entire team froze.
Kento's eyes widened. "Uh… sorry?"
Aoi hissed, flicking a thumb at the shards. "We'll explain later."
Haruto trudged back, head low. "Great. First hit, and I destroy school property."
Reina clapped him on the shoulder. "At least you made contact. That counts."
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Second Inning: Tiny Terror
Reina took the mound next. She wound up with surprising grace, releasing a soft lob that dipped at the last second—strike one. The neighborhood kids giggled and clapped.
She beamed, confidence blooming. But the next pitch was too gentle; it dribbled to Tomo at first, who fumbled it. Two runners advanced, one scored. Score: 0–2.
Reina bit her lip. "I'll get better."
Haruto crouched beside her. "You're doing great. You stood there. That's more than most would."
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Third Inning: Kento's Moment
At-bat, Kento gripped the bat like a lifeline. He swung. Miss. Again. Miss. On the third pitch—CRACK!—the ball flew past the third baseman and rolled into the outfield.
"Go, Kento!" Riku shouted, sprinting after the ball.
Kento wavered between bases but made it safely to second.
Reina and Tomo high-fived him. Even Sōta managed a shy grin.
Haruto pumped his fist. "That's how we do it!"
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Closing "Victory"
By the fifth inning, the score was 0–7. Haruto's fastballs still curved into grass, Sōta's blocks were more theatrics than technique, and every grounder seemed to slip through someone's glove.
Yet, the neighborhood kids cheered them on—amused, entertained, even impressed by their persistence.
When the final out was called, the opposing coach trotted over. His ten-year-olds clapped as one.
"Not bad for your first game," he said with a grin. "You lose today, but you'll win soon enough."
Haruto swallowed. "Thanks. We'll be back."
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Aftermath: Bonds Forged in Mud
Back at the dugout, the team gathered around a single water jug.
Aoi poured cups. "We didn't win."
"No," Haruto admitted. "But we didn't quit."
Sōta nodded. "And Riku ran so fast he almost hit that fence… twice."
Riku smirked. "Speed kills."
Reina wrapped an arm around Tomo. "We had some moments, didn't we?"
Tomo beamed. "That was the most fun I've ever had."
Kento, finally smiling, said softly, "Let's practice more."
Haruto looked at his team—mismatched, muddy, imperfect. His chest swelled with pride.
"Okay," he said, voice firm. "Next practice: real bases, no broken windows. And tomorrow… we invite more people."
They cheered, voices echoing across the empty field, chasing away the mist.
For the first time, Kamiyama's forgotten diamond didn't feel so forgotten after all.
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End of Chapter 4