Love, Dreams, Friendship

What is beginning to unfold

When Nao turned around, it was a boy from another class of executive committee members standing there.

"I'm sorry, suddenly"

"Oh, it's okay ..."

Oh, I'm Toru Iwahata I say''

"Oh, this is Nao Mamiya."

Fifty Hata was a boy with a gentle and somewhat unreliable atmosphere. Of course I've seen it because I'm with the executive committee, but this is the first time I've spoken. I did not speak to him because he was irresponsible, but Tohru spoke to Nao as if she had decided. What the fuck? Nao is waiting for the next word.

"... Like what, Hasumi?"

Like Atsushi's name, Nao couldn't answer that faint question and tilted his head.

"Oh, I'm sorry.well, I'm from the same Junior High as Hasumi."

Thinking that he himself was the one asking the cryptic question, Toru repartitioned and started talking in quick succession.

"Although I was in the same class only when I was in the middle of 1, ... but it was awkward to call him a friend, or it was bad for Hasumi ..."

Nao silently listens to Tohru's story, but still can't see what Tohru wants to say.

"That ... in other words .. I was bullied in class when I was 1"

Nao was surprised by the shocking words that suddenly came out.

"But it's not a big deal because it's ignored or connected..."

Nao thought, "No, it's no big deal," but I thought it better not to interrupt the story, so I pressed the aizuchi and listened to the story.

"But only Hasumi treated me normally... At first I thought he was a hypocrite and couldn't accept it, but he still didn't change his attitude at all..."

Tohru spoke with a nostalgic smile.

"Well, if you talk in detail, it'll be long, so it's a pity, but thanks to Hasumi, from the middle second half of 1 onwards, it'll be long, I was gradually able to talk to other classmates and I couldn't ignore it, Hasumi in the middle of my 2nd away from class, but I was friends ... "

"Oh .. that's good."

To be honest, I still don't know what Toru wants to say, but Nao thinks he's being honest about it.

"Thank you .. and that's why I thank Hasumi and I like her .. that's why I'm worried about the current situation."

After talking about his feelings for Atsushi with a smile, Toru looked a little sad.

"I didn't talk to Hasumi anymore when I was out of class, but sometimes I saw her talking happily with her friends and heard that she was doing her best in club activities ... but suddenly from summer 2 Hasumi changed. ... "

Nao held back the feeling of wanting to dig in and listen.

"I couldn't change my facial expression, I couldn't talk to anyone, and I started building walls with people around me ... I quit the baseball club before I realized it ..."

Tohru said so far and took a breath.

"Have you heard of Mr Mamiya? He said he left the baseball club."

Nao tends to nod.

"That's different."

Toru, who had spoken unreliably until then, made a strong and clear statement.

"Rather. The baseball club left Hasumi."

Back in time, it was the autumn day when Atsuto was in his first year of junior high school. Club room baseball club Junior High Minami. The members who finished the training left the club room one after another, starting to prepare for their return. Meanwhile, only Atsushi continues polishing the ball and the hitter used in training.

"Hasumi, polish all this."

"Don't help you"

While lightly glaring at the other members around Atsushi, I also placed tools and shoes around Atsushi, and the second-class member was Ryota Yatabe and his friends, the members, and the members, leaving the club room laughing.

"Hasumi, that's bad ..."

"Are you okay?

"It's okay. You don't care."

"... Yeah, but ..."

"Because I was asked"

"If you don't come home early, your senior will probably suspect you."

Atsushi smiled as he said so to the other first-class members who looked anxious. It was tough at first, but it's been about two months since the abuse started, and when I realized it, I started to feel like it was a normal routine. I used to laugh so as not to worry about others.

Ryota is the center of the 2nd class member and is said to be the next ace pitcher of the Nanchu baseball club after the 3rd grade retires. That doesn't mean that he's talented, he's just the best pitcher in the second year.

Everyone is aware of it, but no one can fight Ryota, who has a strong and strong Yankee temperament. Unfortunately, not only the 2nd and 1st grade students, but also the 3rd grade students who were seniors were only in a good mood. Perhaps because of that, Ryota was overconfident in his strength and misunderstood. The next ace after the third grader retires is me.

It was at the first meeting after the third graders retired that the event that destroyed Ryota's self-esteem occurred. On that day, uniforms were shared with the announcement of new uniform numbers.

"Jersey number 1 ..."

my Counselor didn't When he said so, everyone there thought Ryota's name would be called.

"Hasumi"

Ino's nickname is "Hasumi", which is Junto. The surrounding members were noisy, and the person called, Atsushi, was stunned and confused. And Ryota was really disappointed.

"Hey, Hasumi. Let's get it right away."

Ino looked a little frustrated because there was no reaction from Atsushi.

"Oh yeah……"

In a hurry, Atsuto stood up and went to Ino. Then, as Junto tried to receive the uniform from Ino, Ryota stood up and shouted.

"Teacher, why!"

"... What'sthat?"

Ino replied with a cold look. Atsushi felt awkward and gently returned to his place.

"Why Hasumi's us number! I'm the next ace!"

"... I was the advisor who decided that."

Ino keeps announcing the next number, saying a lot to Ryota. Ryota sat down regretfully, staring at Ino and Atsushi. In the end, Ryota is given the number 10 given to him by the second ace.

That's from that day. The abuse against Junto was started by Ryota and his comrades.

It has become a daily routine to polish all the tools at the end of club activities, such as hiding or breaking gloves and shoes that are planned to be used in games, doodling uniforms, and so on. However, Atsushi never gave up on many people. With a smile on his face, he took care of everything and continued to produce results in matches.

Maybe he doesn't like it, Ryota doesn't stop harassing Atsushi. The members around me were also injured, but I couldn't say anything because Atsushi didn't seem to care that Ryota was scared.

Ino, the adviser, not unconscious. However, I pretended not to see the good things that the student and the person concerned did not say anything. By making Junto an ace, the value of the baseball club has increased and my evaluation has increased, but if the school knows that there are negative and troublesome things to do in club activities, it will be very difficult to do, my evaluation will go down. .. I definitely want to avoid that.

While everyone around me pretended to be pouting, supporting Atsushi's heart were the words of an unknown girl I met in the library, saying that he liked baseball more than anything.

"I can't wait to make my dream come true."

It was an ordinary word, but it remained in Junto's heart for a long time. With a bright and beautiful smile. Atsushi believes that he can handle it. However, the day when my heart reached its limit was gradually approaching.