Chapter 1: The Unexpected Transfer
The humid air of Tokyo hung heavy as Eijun Sawamura sprinted toward the Seido High baseball field, his lungs burning and his trusty mitt slapping against his thigh. "Almost there! Gotta show Coach I've been working hard!" he puffed, picturing the surprised look on Kataoka-kantoku's face.
He burst through the gate, ready to unleash his wild pitches, only to skid to a halt. The entire team was gathered around the dugout, murmuring with a mix of excitement and disbelief. Even the stoic Miyuki Kazuya had a rare look of curiosity on his face.
"What's going on?" Eijun asked, elbowing his way through the crowd.
"Sawamura, you're late," Kuramochi Youichi smirked, "But you're just in time to see this."
Standing near Coach Kataoka was a figure that made Eijun's jaw drop. He was tall, with a shock of unruly dark hair and eyes that blazed with an almost unsettling intensity. He wore a familiar baseball uniform, but not one Eijun recognized. There was an aura of raw power radiating from him, a sense of someone who lived and breathed baseball.
"This is Goro Shigeno," Coach Kataoka announced, his voice carrying a hint of something Eijun couldn't quite place. "He'll be transferring to Seido High, starting today. He'll be joining our team."
A ripple of whispers went through the team. "Shigeno? As in, the Goro Shigeno?" Eijun heard someone mutter.
Eijun had heard the name before. Goro Shigeno was a legend, a phenom. A kid who dominated Little League, then vanished from the scene, only to resurface with whispers of incredible feats on some far-off field.
Goro Shigeno surveyed the Seido team with a critical eye. "I'm here to play baseball," he said, his voice rough and direct. "I expect you all to be serious about it." His gaze lingered on Eijun for a moment, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes, before moving on.
Eijun felt a strange mix of intimidation and excitement. This Goro Shigeno was different from anyone he'd ever met. He was a wild card, an unknown quantity. And Eijun, with his own untamed talent, couldn't help but feel drawn to the challenge.
"Shigeno will be joining our practice today," Coach Kataoka continued. "I expect you all to show him what Seido baseball is all about."
The practice that followed was unlike anything Eijun had ever experienced. Goro Shigeno's presence electrified the field. His every movement was precise, powerful. When he stepped onto the mound, the air crackled with anticipation. His fastball was a blur, his breaking ball a thing of beauty.
Eijun watched, mesmerized, as Goro effortlessly struck out batter after batter. He felt a pang of jealousy, a burning desire to prove himself worthy of standing on the same field as this legend.
As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the field, Goro approached Eijun. "You," he said, pointing a finger at Eijun. "You've got a strange throw. But there's something there. Don't waste it."
And with that, Goro Shigeno walked off the field, leaving Eijun standing there, his heart pounding with a newfound determination. The arrival of Goro Shigeno had changed everything. The competition was about to get a whole lot fiercer. And Eijun Sawamura was ready to meet the challenge head-on.