Love, Dreams, Friendship

The day my heart cracked

Even if his grades change, Ryota's abuse of Atsushi continues. Atsushi was still smiling and holding them back, and the people around him were just looking at them without saying anything, and the situation had not changed.

Since Junto became an ace, the baseball club in the south was undefeated. It wasn't a strong team .. but thanks to Junto's throw, there were only more games to win as a result.

However, students, teachers, and parents other than baseball clubs misunderstand that "the Nanchu baseball club is getting stronger" simply because they say they have won a lot. It was inevitable because there were many people who were not familiar with baseball, but most members of the baseball club, and even Ino's advisers, had made such mistakes. ..

In fact, Junto managed to win by a small number of goals and the batting line managed to score points, for example, in most cases, he won by a score like 1-0 or 2-1. Or they didn't lose in a 0-0 draw, and that's it. It is rare to win by scoring a lot of points, and in a game that Atsushi does not throw, it is not uncommon to lose a lot of goals.

Yes, the team is not getting stronger just because Junto's ability is beyond doubt. It was not "a team that became stronger together" but "a team that relied on one strong person".

"This year, our baseball club might be able to go to a national tournament."

"What if I can win the national championship?"

"How many people will a strong school be built?"

"The winning percentage is 90%, almost unbeatable since last fall."

As the summer tournament approaches, hopes for the Nanchu Baseball Club rise. No one believed and doubted his achievements since the beginning of the Nanchu baseball club.

However, the dream was fragile and shattered. The Nanchu baseball club loses easily in the first game of the district tournament.

Score's 0-1. The loser was Atsushi Hasumi.

"What, I lost."

"Let me expect it."

"No matter how much you win, it doesn't make sense if you lose such an important game."

Those who cheered in the stands complained about the baseball club. Saying something that everyone is free to do.

Post-match meeting. Terrible atmosphere. The members who thought they were strong were so depressed that no one could say anything. Ino, an adviser, could not accept the fact that the team he made, which he thought was strong, would lose at such a place.

"Isn't it because of Hasumi?"

"really? If you take that foul ball, you can prevent that one point."

Ryota spoke of the opponent's attack on top of the 9th inning. At the time, Junto was able to hold No. 4 and No. 5 and take up to 2 outs, but he was hit with a 6th hitter. The ball launched by the hitter flies into the foul zone on the side of the 1st baseline. It was the ball I got when I chased and jumped, but I hesitated to take it for fear of injury. Then, the ball that is thrown after it is brought to the stand. As a result, it became one of the deciding points of the match.

"Is that so……"

Atsushi had a lot of thoughts, but Ryota's statement was not a mistake, so he had to endure it and retaliate.

"Baseball is a sport that you can't beat unless the pitcher scores a goal. What if you can't do it!"

Ryota deliberately yells and asks for the approval of those around him, saying reasonable things and trying not to argue with Atsushi. Then, the members who usually harassed Atsuto with Ryota also raised their voices one after another.

"Maybe I'm afraid of injury and not chasing the ball?"

"Are you afraid to take the Title Ace when you're injured?"

　

"You can lose, because there will be next year."

"Aren't there enough despair like us at the end of this year?"

Atsushi silently listened to the heartless words that were increasingly poured out. The other members looked down. Second graders who usually get along with Junto can't fight third graders. Of course, the first grade students who had just joined this year were speechless.

"... Around that, you guys"

Ino, who thought it was no better than this, finally opened his mouth. As expected, Yatabe and his colleagues did not continue until they pushed Ino. Ino sighed and looked at Atsushi while astonished.

"Hasumi"

Atsushi is summoned by Ino and retaliates. A small silence continued, and Atsuto silently looked towards Ino. Then, at the next moment, Ino said a word that doubted his ears.

"... Apologize to everyone"