However, instead of looking scared, both Shiro and Kenji laughed. It started out with some chuckles, but then it broke out into full side-aching laughter.
The umpire didn’t know what to do in this situation, but he eventually reminded the players that it was time to play ball once again. The two quickly apologized and got back into position.
Ken saw the smiling face of Shiro as he walked back and couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief. Despite everything that happened and the threat of never playing organized baseball in Japan again, he was in good spirits.
“That was quite an expression your Coach had.” Ken commented.
“Haha, yeah wasn’t it fantastic?” Shiro replied.
“But aren’t you worried about what he said at the end?” Ken couldn’t help but ask. Inwardly he felt guilty, sure he might unlock the two teens potential, but what good would that be if they weren’t ever able to play baseball in Japan?
“I’d rather quit altogether than play his kind of baseball.” Shiro admitted, going quiet a moment later.
Ken let the boys words simmer in his mind, choosing not to reply as he faced Kenji. The average looking boy had a big grin on his face as he performed an exaggerated wind up and sent the ball blitzing towards him.
‘Holy crap!’ Ken cursed inwardly as he saw the ball break towards him at the last moment, causing his bat to completely strike air.
‘That pitch was alive…’ He was shocked, yet inwardly he felt any sign of guilt fade away.
“Nice pitch!” Shiro called out, sending the ball back to Kenji.
The next pitch was a fastball to the outside which seemed to creep away from Ken ever so slightly. However, he still managed to get contact on the ball, fouling it away.
“Heh, this is more like it.” Ken remarked, feeling a grin tug at the corners of his lips.
Now that Kenji had cleared his mental block, the pitches he threw were sharp, no longer like a lifeless pitching machine. It was as if he had a complete rebirth.
As if to back up this notion, the next ball that came his way bamboozled Ken greatly. He had been expecting the crisp and sharp fastball, yet he was fooled by the slower change up, mistiming his swing terribly.
“Strike. Out!”
Yet instead of being downcast, Ken sent a thumbs up to Kenji on his way back to the dugout unable to keep the excitement from his face.
Next up was Kenta. After seeing that they had chosen not to walk Ken, his depressed face had been replaced with his usual serious demeanor.
Ken sat down in the dugout and was approached by Coach Yoshida.
“It looks like whatever you did worked. Great job.” He said, giving Ken a thumbs up.
“Thanks, but I’m a little worried for those two. I don’t know if you could hear, but the coach was saying that he’d make sure they wouldn’t be able to play baseball again in Japan.”
Seeing as the Coach had been the one to prompt Ken to stir the hearts of the Fujimi players, he thought that he should know all the information.
However, instead of looking worried, the coach pointed to something within the dugout.
“Huh?” Ken moved his attention over and saw the video recorder on top of one of the beams which was pointed towards the field.
“Don’t worry, we could hear everything from here. We even got the unfortunate tantrum that the coach threw before leaving. Once I submit the tape to the federation, he’ll be banned from everything to do with competitive baseball.” Coach Yoshida continued, with a cheeky smile.
Ken’s eyes widened in surprise before he let out a hearty laughter. It turned out that he had been worried for nothing. Perhaps the coach had already thought such a thing would happen, because he certainly did not see a video recorder at the beginning of the game.
“3 outs! Change.”
Kenta seemed to suffer the same fate as Ken and his out put an end to the top of the 6th innings. Seiko still led the game 2-0, with Fujimi yet to have scored a run.
The game continued, yet it felt as if both teams had entered a new gear. Fujimi played as if everything was on the line, dredging up every bit of energy and heart they could muster in order to claw themselves back into the game.
Shiro stepped up to bat and managed to send back a high fastball from Kouichi sailing over the back fence for a home run. He almost skipped around the bases, cheering as if he had just hit a walk off homer.
This made the score 2-1 in favor of Seiko, sending them into a frenzy. With the absence of Coach Kitsui, they celebrated greatly, sending out hi-5’s and hugs as Shiro stepped on home plate.
However, this late rally did not last as Daichi on his 4th at-bat sent a screamer over the fence and increased the lead to 3-1. Imai finished off the bottom of the 9th with some masterful pitching, not even giving up a single hit with Daichi’s leading.
Despite losing, the Fujimi squad didn’t seem down. They were busy laughing and carrying on, a content look on their faces as if they had enjoyed every moment of their free reign.
“Thank you Ken. You showed me that baseball is fun again.” Kenji and Shiro approached him, their faces still filled with grins.
Ken couldn’t help but smile back, shaking their hands.
“I hope that we can play each other again in the future.” He said.
Kenji shook his head, “Didn’t you hear the coach? I’ll probably be blacklisted from any baseball clubs in the future.” Even though he said this, he didn’t seem upset.
Shiro too nodded, a refreshed look upon his face.
Ken couldn’t help but laugh, “What if I told you that we recorded everything and that Coach Kitsui will no longer be able to coach again?”
The two went silent as their jaws almost dropped to the floor.
“Y-You can’t be serious… Please tell me you’re not joking.” Shiro was the first to speak up, moving closer and grabbing Ken by his jersey. The desperation in his face was enough indication of how much he loved baseball.
“I promise. No one will listen to a coach who got forcibly removed from organized baseball. You’ll be free to continue playing so don’t worry about that.”
Shiro dropped to his knees, still clutching Ken’s shirt. It was as if all of the strength had left his body as the wave of relief swept through him.
“Thank you…” Those were the only words that he could mutter before breaking into tears, overwhelmed with emotion.
Kenji seemed a little more reserved but he still came forward and bowed to Ken in thanks.
“You may have won today, but I still feel like we’re winners as well.” He smiled gently before picking up his friend and taking him back to the dugout.
“Let’s meet again in High School.” Ken shouted to them after a while, receiving a wave back in acknowledgment.
*DING*
Mission Completed.