Tokyo. Seidou High School Baseball Club.
The first-string players had gone out for a practice match. The second-string members were doing batting practice on Field A.
And the third-string players? They'd gathered on Field B for an intra-squad scrimmage.
Over fifty players had been split into two teams.The team captains were the Baseball Club President Ohta and Vice President Takashima Rei, each leading a squad.
"This is my chance!!"
A first-year player named Kuramochi had eyes burning with ambition.
In the past, the focus of the Seidou High Baseball Club—this powerhouse of talent—was solely on the first string. Even when attention trickled down, it usually stopped at the second string.
So organizing a match specifically for the third-string members? The intention was obvious.
"That guy Miyuki already got promoted to the first string. We can't fall behind, right, Zhou-san?"
The boy next to Kuramochi had an expression that showed neither joy nor sorrow.
Ever since Zhou Hao realized he'd transmigrated into the world of Diamond no Ace, his goal had been clear—join Seidou.
The system that came with his transmigration would only activate if he got into Seidou High. Even though Zhou Hao's baseball skills were average at best—and his grades were nothing special—he had one advantage:
His family was wealthy.
After paying a hefty sponsorship fee, Zhou Hao successfully enrolled at Seidou.
He thought that once he got in, he could rely on the system to dominate the field.
But things didn't go as planned. Even after joining, the system showed no signs of activating.
Zhou Hao lost all motivation almost immediately.
It wasn't that he didn't want to fight for his future—it was just that his body couldn't compete with the monsters in Seidou.
Fifteen-year-old Zhou Hao stood at 176 cm and weighed 55 kg.Among the first-year students, he was fairly average.
But the players recruited to Seidou? They were monsters.As a nationally renowned baseball powerhouse, Seidou only brought in cleanup hitters and ace pitchers from junior high teams.
They were built like bulls.Next to them, Zhou Hao was undeniably bottom-tier.
At the welcome match, he didn't even get a chance to play—let alone perform well.Unlike Miyuki, who shined the moment he joined and was quickly promoted to the first string as the team's No. 3 catcher.
Even with attention now shifting to the third string, Zhou Hao didn't believe he had a shot.
If anything, Kuramochi—standing right next to him—was far more talented in every aspect. It was only a matter of time before he was promoted to the second string.
"You already got two hits today and stole a base. I'm sure you'll get promoted."
"Thanks, Zhou-san!"
For some reason, Kuramochi really got along with Zhou Hao.Even though Zhou Hao was a known underperformer in the third string, Kuramochi never looked down on him.
"The score is 4 to 5. Red team is up. The opportunity is right in front of us."
One out. Runner on second.One solid hit, and they could tie the game.
Takashima Rei, who was leading the red team, adjusted her glasses and asked quietly:
"Who on our team hasn't played yet?"
For a moment, no one answered.
Just as Takashima turned around to send in Maezono, who had performed well earlier—
Kuramochi suddenly raised Zhou Hao's hand.
"Zhou-san hasn't gone up yet!"
Hearing that, Takashima's gaze shifted to Zhou Hao.
A clean-cut pretty boy. If it were based on looks alone, Zhou Hao could rank in the top three at Seidou.
When he first joined the team, his appearance had already caught attention.
Unfortunately, Zhou Hao had never played baseball before. He was still learning the basics.According to the coaches' professional evaluations, Zhou Hao wouldn't be ready to play in actual games until his third year.
Unless some miracle occurred.
Otherwise, with his current potential, the best he could hope for was to sit on the bench of the second string.
Takashima felt a pang of regret.
Zhou Hao wasn't completely untalented.Had he started playing in junior high and received proper training, even if he couldn't shine like Miyuki from the get-go, he might've secured a spot in the first string eventually.
Seeing the regret in her eyes made Zhou Hao feel bitter, too.
He didn't want this outcome either, but he couldn't help it.
This body he transmigrated into—this was how it was.Even with daily extra practice, he could barely keep up with third-string training.
He wasn't one of those prodigies with monster-level talent.Suddenly leveling up? Practically impossible.
And that system he had pinned all his hopes on? Still silent.
"Do you want to go up?"
Takashima asked.
Since she had already glimpsed his future, she didn't mind giving him a chance.
With that face of his, Zhou Hao didn't necessarily have to be a baseball player. He had other options.
The opportunity was right there—but Zhou Hao hesitated.
It wasn't like he hadn't tried.He worked hard convincing his parents to let him attend Seidou and never slacked off in training.
But…
Rome wasn't built in a day.And neither were baseball skills.
With the system inactive and his own hard work not enough to catch up, Zhou Hao had fallen into deep confusion.
Why couldn't he be like those other transmigrators?Why didn't he get monster stats and OP skills?
Now, Takashima was testing him.Testing whether he had the courage to step onto the field, and whether he'd made any progress at all.
Courage? Zhou Hao had that.
Progress? Sadly… he didn't feel any.
Forget the first and second string—even among first-years in the third string, many were better than him.
On the white team's side, the pitcher was Kawakami.
Another first-year rookie, just like them.But Kawakami had already caught the attention of President Ohta.
A standout among their batch.
"I…"
Just as Zhou Hao was about to speak—
Ding!
A voice echoed in his mind.His system had finally activated.
[Host has transmigrated to the Ninja World. Without any talent, survival is impossible. You are about to face your first battle with a 0% chance of victory. System activated. Newbie gift pack awarded. Open now?]
…What?
The system had awakened?
Zhou Hao froze—and then felt an overwhelming surge of strength.
But something felt off.
Didn't he transmigrate into Diamond no Ace?Why was the system treating it like the Ninja World?
Still… if he could use ninja skills in a baseball world, wouldn't that be broken?
Even though he didn't understand what was going on—
Zhou Hao stepped forward.He stared straight at Takashima without backing down.
"I'll go!"
Note: The system will only use skill-based abilities. No chakra awakening, no overpowered "ninja-killing-the-world" nonsense.