Chapter 1: CH 1

“Hiroto-kun, take me as your wife when we grow up!”

“Yeah! All right! I’ll protect you, Haruka!”

Haruka was a shy girl that lived next door.

She couldn’t talk to anyone except the teacher and me, she was always looking down, and her bangs hung over her eyes so I couldn’t see her expression.

She couldn’t make friends in elementary school and boys would say, “Talk to me!” “Let me see your face!” etc., and make her cry.

She always followed me wherever I went and hid behind me.

But…… she was cute like a doll with clear eyes, and even cuter when she smiled. She was also kind-hearted.

She always smiled and talked a lot when she played with me.

I love …… Haruka-chan.

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“Ring-ring-ring-ring!”

The alarm clock rang, pulling me back from my dream.

“It’s morning already?…. I still want to sleep….”

It’s been a while since I’ve had such a nostalgic dream… It’s been seven years since I left that town…. I wonder if she’s doing well…

I was lying on the bed, thinking in a daze when my mother burst into my room.

She came in and said, “Hiroto, you said you would wake up at this time for the game. Rise and shine!”

My mind woke up in an instant.

Today was the day of the big game!

I quickly changed into my clothes and went to the living room, where my step-father, Toru, was  having breakfast and our eyes met.

“Hiroto-kun, good morning.”

“Toru-san, good morning.”

“Good luck in today’s game. I’ll be there to cheer you on now that I have some time.”

“Hiroto, your mother will be there too.”

“Thank you. Today’s opponent is strong, but we’ll win!”

As I was finishing my breakfast and calming down, I heard the doorbell ring.

“Yoichiro is here, so I’m going.”

As I was putting on my shoes at the door, my mother came up beside me.

“I was surprised when I heard that you were going to enroll in Saijo High School, but now you’re a freshman and you’re close to making your dream a reality. The three of us, including your father, are rooting for you!”

“Thanks, Mom. Yeah, …. we’re going to win!”

Full of enthusiasm, I ran out of the house and headed for the site while making final adjustments with Yoichiro.

“Coach, good morning!”

Yoichiro and I greeted the director.

“Good morning. Yoshizumi, Tanabe, I’ll be counting on you today. How are you feeling? Did you sleep well?”

“I slept well, my shoulders are light, and I feel fine today.”

Today is the semifinals of the Koshien qualifier high school baseball tournament.

Our opponent is Toko University High School, a strong private school that is favored to win this year’s tournament and a regular at Koshien.

We will be playing in the second game today, and in the other semi-final of the first game, both schools were less powerful than Toko University High School.

If they manage to win this semifinal, their chances of participating in the Koshien Tournament will increase dramatically.

In a district known for its fierce competition and strong players, Saijo Prefectural High School was in the top four.

Even though they were a school with a long history, they had never made it past the top 16.

“Some people said that it was a fluke or a miracle, but from our point of view, it was inevitable, and participating in the Koshien Tournament was a natural goal.”

TLN: Dead notice me owo

MPK ily for editing

HamletNote: I like you. Defo better than Dead

DeadNote: I like you more than hamlet

MPK Note: (T_T) Sorry for not editing this sooner. Sleeping at 6am isn’t helping me much.