Three years had passed since the summer that changed everything.
Souta Fushimi stood in front of the mirror, straightening the collar of his new school uniform. He had grown—taller, leaner, his once-round face now a bit more angular, though his sharp brown eyes still held the same focus. His black hair was slightly longer than before, but neatly kept.
"You look so handsome," his mother, Haruka Fushimi, said with a soft smile, brushing invisible dust off his blazer. Her warmth filled the room like sunlight, always ready with comforting words and gentle care.
"Mom..." Souta mumbled, embarrassed, but not pulling away.
"Your lunch is packed. And I made the omelet just how you like it. Be sure to eat properly, okay?" she said, fussing over him with practiced affection.
"I will, thanks."
Down the road, Eijun Sawamura was having his own morning chaos.
"EIJUN! YOU BRUSHED YOUR TEETH YET?!"
"I'M DOING IT RIGHT NOW, GRAMPS!!" Eijun Sawamura yelled from the bathroom, mouth foaming like a volcano.
"You better not slack off on your first day! Represent the Sawamura family name with pride!" his grandfather bellowed from downstairs, smacking a rolled-up newspaper on the table.
"You're the only one who says stuff like that!"
Eijun's mom peeked in and smiled. "Don't forget your lunch, and don't make a scene your first day, okay?"
"No promises!" Eijun called out, rushing down the stairs.
His mom sighed and said "Try not to fight the teachers today."
"Only if they don't pick a fight with me first!" Eijun grabbed his bag and bolted out the door.
At their old corner, under a power line pole with a cracked sticker still clinging to it, the two boys met once again. The sun had barely risen, casting warm light over the quiet street.
"First day of middle schoo., You ready?" Souta said, slinging his bag over one shoulder.
"Born ready. Better question is are they're ready for us?" Eijun smirked and replied, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
"They'll have to be." Souta replied
They fist bumped and started walking toward the middle school gates. Their new journey had begun.
Three years of training had transformed them. The memory of that fateful trip to the States lingered like a brand. Seeing professional MLB players up close had ignited something deep in them.
Souta had honed his catching further. His receiving behind the plate had improved steadily. He'd trained daily at the batting cages, slowly mastering control and contact his batting that was where he wanted to shine next. Haruka would bring cold barley tea and sit beside him while he reviewed swing footage on a tiny tablet.
Eijun experimented with grips and wrist motions. The cutter eluded him for over a year. The changeup slipped through his fingers like a ghost. But he never gave up. Pitch after pitch, even when blisters formed or form broke, he returned to the mound. He couldn't use them yet efficiently but the movements were there, and so was the potential. His body had grown stronger, more stable, and his passion had been shaped into determination. He'd also grown in confidence, no longer the brash loudmouth all the time, but a thoughtful, driven competitor when it counted.
The dream of playing at the big stage was still burning in both of them.
Arrival at School
The school was alive with chatter. Students streamed through the gates, laughing, checking schedules, posing for pictures.
"Looks big, huh?" Eijun said.
"We'll make it feel small," Souta replied confidently.
As they wandered through the courtyard, they heard laughter and chatter near the classroom entrance. A lively girl with short chestnut brown hair and brown eyes waved at them.
"You guys new here too?" she asked with a grin.
They nodded. "Yeah, first years," Eijun replied.
"Awesome! I'm Aotsuki Wakana, let's get along."
"I'm Souta Fushimi," he said politely.
"Eijun Sawamura," Eijun added.
Wakana smiled and said "Nice to meet you both!"
She tilted her head and look at Sawamura who had his familiar grin on his face and said "Although Eijun you look like trouble."
"Hey!"
More kids joined them—Maki, Hiromu, and Tatsuya—students from various elementary schools. It was the first time they all met, and introductions flowed naturally.
Classes were filled with new names, new classrooms, and promises of club signups to come. During lunch, the group gathered under a shady tree. It wasn't the cherry blossom Wakana dreamed of, but it would do.
Bento boxes opened. Wakana shared her tamagoyaki. Maki and Hiromu traded sides. Eijun had forgotten chopsticks and awkwardly used his hands until Souta handed him a spare pair.
Souta nodded. "Yeah. But it also feels right. Like we're still moving forward."
They sat down on the old bench, bags at their feet.
"You're hopeless," Souta muttered.
"But lovable," Eijun grinned.
Laughter echoed around the courtyard.
"You guys are fun," Wakana said. "Let's eat together every day."
"Deal," they all agreed.
Wakana started calling Eijun "Ei-chan" by the end of lunch, and he pretended to hate it though his ears told another story.
The group explored the schoolyard after classes ended. They tried the gym, poked into the music room, and played a pickup baseball game on the dusty practice field.
That night, Souta and his mother shared dinner.
"Did you meet new friends?" Haruka asked as she placed another serving of vegetables onto his plate.
"Yeah a few they all cool and energetic."
Haruka smiled, her eyes warm. "I'm glad you're making friends, don't forget to enjoy yourself and make plenty of memories okay?"
Souta smiled and nodded his head "Got it mom!"
As Souta turned silent and was hesitating she spoke "What is it Souta", then he sighed and said looking her in the eyes "I want to make you proud, Mom. One day… I want you to watch me play at huge stadiums."
Her eyes shimmered. "I already am proud, Souta. And I'll be there in the front row, always honey."
Meanwhile, Eijun endured another loud dinner at home.
"Sawamura! You spilled miso soup again! What kind of pitcher can't even hold a bowl steady?!"
"I was aiming for the rice!" Eijun barked back.
His mom sighed, while his grandfather only got louder.
After dinner, Souta worked on swings in the dim backyard light. Haruka watched from the sliding door, humming a lullaby.
Eijun pitched against a wooden board until his arms ached. The cutter danced more now, the changeup dropped lower.
Progress was slow, but steady.
From their separate windows, they stared at the sky and thought the same thing:
Middle school is just the beginning.
And someday... the big stage awaited them.