"Awesome! We get to join the Second String together!" Yōichi exclaimed enthusiastically as he scooped up Takumi and spun him around.
"You're choking me!" Takumi gasped, struggling to catch his breath.
His small frame barely handled the playful attack, and he quickly pushed him away, laughing.
Meanwhile, Ōta Kazuyoshi, having caught wind of the news, approached Takashima Rei with a concerned expression.
"Isn't this moving too fast?" he voiced hesitantly. "I admit Yamamoto Takumi did well today—especially that hit—but promoting him based on just one game? Won't that cause problems with the other players?"
He didn't have anything against him.
It was just that Seidō, the best baseball school in the country, had strict rules for promotions.
Players were promoted based on consistent performance and potential.
Takumi's performance was good, and everyone knew it.
But promoting someone only on one game felt too soon.
After all, no one could guarantee whether that hit was a one-time fluke or genuine skill.
Takashima waved her hand dismissively and remarked, "If we had more time, I wouldn't make such a quick promotion either. But this is the last chance for the new students. If he isn't promoted to Second String now, he'll lose any chance of making First String before the Summer Tournament."
Ōta's eyes widened in surprise.
"You mean Yamamoto still has a chance to enter First String?" he asked, disbelieving.
"That depends on how he does in practice. I can only say there's a possibility, Ōta," Takashima responded calmly.
When it came to professional baseball matters, Ōta Kazuyoshi, as club president, clearly deferred to her expertise.
He was a sensible man, always willing to listen to those more knowledgeable.
"Then let's do it. Let him join the Second String starting tomorrow," he consented firmly.
News of Takumi's quick promotion spread among the first-years.
Although he wasn't the only one promoted this time.
His friend Yōichi, Kawakami Norifumi—whom he had faced earlier—the impressive Maezono Kenta, Shirasu Kenjirō, and the second-year senior who had helped him score were all promoted as well.
A total of six players.
The number of players in the Second String immediately went over the limit.
According to Seidō's standard roster, both First String and Second String each have twenty players.
All remaining players, regardless of grade, are assigned to the Third String.
With the addition of six new players, the Second String grew to twenty-six.
However, since the third-year seniors were about to graduate, these six additions basically filled the spots they left behind.
Moreover, for those third-year seniors, this was their last chance.
With less than two months remaining, if they couldn't make the First String, they would leave the team in June.
The team was still understanding.
If you couldn't prove yourself on the field, then focus on studying hard and try to get into a good school.
The next day, when he went to class, his classmates greeted him warmly.
"Congratulations, Yamamoto-san!"
"A true talent always shines. I knew you could do it."
"You'll play in Second String games, right? We'll come cheer for you!"
He smiled and responded to each of them warmly.
"Thank you all. I'll do my best."
Only then did he really understand the appeal of a baseball powerhouse.
At this school, baseball players were definitely the stars.
No matter where they went, they were the center of attention.
After finishing classes as usual, he arrived early at the training ground for afternoon practice.
After finishing classes, he arrived early at the training ground for afternoon practice.
The team also had morning training, but it was mostly simple runs with no special drills. Morning practice was pretty much the same for First String regulars, Second String, and Third String players alike.
In other words, he officially joined the Second String starting that afternoon.
"Hello everyone, I'm Yamamoto Takumi from first-year group three. Please take care of me!"
His introduction was simple and didn't get much of a reaction from the third-year seniors.
The seniors were really only focused on two players.
One was the pitcher Kawakami, and the other was his close friend Yōichi.
Kawakami was a given; Seidō had always had trouble finding good pitchers. Their current third-year Ace was Minamoto Haruto.
His pitching had unique qualities.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have become the Ace of a powerhouse like Seidō.
But, he tended to get too excited on the mound, which caused problems.
The team's relief pitcher, Kōichirō Tanba, had great pitching skills but had some personality issues. There were rumors that the First String needed a new pitcher.
Kawakami's promotion to Second String naturally made him a competitor to the main pitchers there.
As for Yōichi, it was all about skill.
Even though his batting wasn't much better than the seniors.
He was fast!
Even the fastest base-stealer in the current First String was a little slower than him.
He was likely to be promoted to First String as a pinch runner.
This was what caught the attention of the third-year seniors competing for a spot in the First String.
Takumi's promotion was based on one game—or more accurately, one hit.
That just meant he was lucky.
He might have potential, but for the third-year seniors, that potential wasn't a threat.
Potential needs to be developed; by the time he got good, they would have already graduated.
Why would they bother with him?
Since no seniors paid him much attention, his training in the Second String went as usual.
Overall, it went smoothly.
It was just exhausting.
Compared to the Third String's training, the Second String's regimen was significantly more demanding.
When he was in the Third String, he could barely keep up with the team's training intensity.
After he was promoted to Second String, his lack of stamina, endurance, and poor resilience were obvious.
Takashima didn't give him any special treatment.
She simply let him figure things out on his own.
Luckily, he was determined; even though he was always last, he stubbornly caught up little by little through sheer willpower.
Though still last in the Second String, he was getting closer to the others.
This training went on for a week.
Just as he was starting to get used to it.
Takashima announced that the Second String players would have a practice game. Their opponent would be Ichidaisan High School's Second String, another strong team.
Usually, with the Summer Tournament coming up, the two rivals wouldn't face each other at this time.
But since both teams were Second Strings, it didn't matter.
"Finally, we're going to play a game!" Yōichi exclaimed excitedly.
"I wonder if we'll get a chance to play?" he asked with hopeful anticipation.
"Don't worry, you definitely will," Takumi assured him confidently.