Reborn in Diamond no Ace

--- After Breakfast ---

First years are walking towards the baseball field right now as instructed earlier to them before having their breakfast.

*PANGG

*PANGG

They heard the sound of a bat hitting the ball as they were nearing the field, their senpai's are practicing over there. 'They're good' Renji thought as he watched some first string practice their batting.

"First years gather up!" Coach yells as they saw him entering the field.

"Go put on your spikes, we are going to test your skills in your desired position, Gather at B ground afterwards" coach said on which Renji hear excited whispers coming from the freshman's. He quietly go to change to his cleats shoes himself but before exiting the field he notices the loudmouth kid earlier that tried to sneak in talking with coach which he pay no mind.

After that they immediately gathered at B ground as instructed.

"Fielders follow Yuki and for Pitches follow me to the bullpen" he said pointing at our captain and walking towards the bullpen himself so he just followed at their coach back.

Coach Kataoka organizes a test to evaluate the incoming first-year players' skills, particularly their pitching. This is an opportunity for the new players to demonstrate their abilities and earn recognition from the coaching staff and senior players. 

When the group arrived at the bullpen, two people were already there, both wearing catcher's gear. They stood waiting, their expressions calm and composed. Renji didn't know their names yet, but judging by their demeanor and the way they greeted the coach, he figured they were upperclassmen—senpai.

As Coach Kataoka exchanged a brief nod with them, Renji took a moment to glance around. Including himself, there were about ten freshmen gathered, all vying for a shot at the mound. The competition was stiff, but Renji didn't waver.

"Too bad for them," he thought, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "As long as I'm here, that mound belongs to me."

Coach Kataoka surveyed the scene with a calm but calculating gaze as he entered the bullpen. Miyauchi and Ono, the catchers he had asked to assist with evaluating the first years, stood ready. After acknowledging their greeting with a simple nod, he shifted his focus to the list of names in his hands.

"There's quite a lot this time," he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible. His sharp eyes scanned the list again. With so many young hopefuls this year, he silently wished that at least one of them would show enough promise to become a vital part of Seidou's future.

Renji's grip on his glove tightened as he stood among the others, ready to prove himself. The energy in the bullpen was thick with anticipation, each freshman eager to make their mark. For Renji, though, this wasn't just about standing out—it was about claiming what he knew was his: the mound.

"Let's begin," Coach Kataoka announced, his voice cutting through the tension in the bullpen. He glanced down at the list in his hands and started reading names.

"Aoi Mishiba, Kirishima Matabo. Warm up your shoulders first before pitching."

"Yes!" both freshmen answered in unison before stepping forward to begin their warm-up pitches.

Renji stood off to the side, his excitement steadily building as he watched. However, his enthusiasm wavered when the two began pitching seriously. Their throws lacked speed, control, and power—hardly impressive. He frowned slightly, his anticipation giving way to mild disappointment.

The evaluations continued, and one by one, Renji watched his fellow freshmen step up to show Coach Kataoka what they could do. Most of them fell short of expectations, with pitches that were either too wild or too weak to make an impact.

One player, Tojo, managed to stand out slightly. At least his pitching was decent—consistent, if nothing extraordinary. Still, Renji wasn't impressed. He crossed his arms, his gaze fixed on the mound as he waited for his name to be called.

After several more first-years had their turn, Coach Kataoka called the next pair. "Mashina Ken, Satoru Furuya."

Renji's attention sharpened as the two players stepped forward. His eyes fell on Furuya, the freshman he recognized from breakfast—the one who had fallen asleep mid-meal. Renji raised an eyebrow, watching curiously as Furuya strolled toward the mound with an almost casual air.

"So, I'm pitching last, huh?" Renji thought, a smirk forming on his lips. "Is this what they mean by saving the best for last?"

The excitement bubbling inside him grew stronger. His turn was almost here, and he was ready to show everyone why the mound belonged to him.

Both Mashina and Furuya began with their warm-up pitches, throwing lightly to loosen up. Renji watched with mild interest until a sharp, thunderous sound rang out.

BOOM!

Everyone turned their attention to the mound just as a laser-like pitch tore through the air, slamming into the catcher's mitt—or rather, it would have, had the catcher managed to catch it. The ball flew past him, and the catcher stumbled back, his face pale with shock.

On the mound stood Furuya, his tall and lean frame exuding an almost casual confidence. The entire bullpen was momentarily stunned into silence.

"Interesting," Renji muttered, his lips curling into a small smirk as his eyes remained fixed on Furuya. He hadn't expected to encounter someone with that kind of power here.

"Not bad," Renji admitted softly, nodding slightly to himself. Judging by the sound and speed, Furuya's pitch was somewhere around 149 to 150 km/h—a serious threat for any batter.

Meanwhile, Coach Kataoka's gaze sharpened as he observed Furuya's pitching. While his expression remained unreadable, a glint of satisfaction flickered in his eyes.

Without shifting his focus, Kataoka turned to one of the managers standing beside him. "Call Miyuki," he said firmly. The words carried weight, and for a brief moment, an intense light passed through his eyes—a spark of anticipation that went unnoticed by everyone around him.

"Continue" he said implying for Furuya to continue pitching but the outcome is still the same. Miyauchi a 3rd year catcher can't catch a single pitch so far.

Before Furuya could throw the 4th pitch, Miyuki arrived and saw the scene on the bullpen. The catcher's gaze shine at the sight of the mere speed of the fastball.

"Ohh this is interesting" Miyuki mumbled

"Go change in your catchers gear" Instructed by kataoka on which the catchers nod and follow his instructions. After awhile Miyuki could be now seen sitting on the other end of the mound. It attracted quite the attention as some of the seniors and regulars could be seen paying attention.

"Throw here, I'll catch it" Miyuki said opening his mitt with a determined gaze looking at Furuya on which exudes his aura on the mound. The intensity could be feel around.

*BOOMMMM

Once again, a sharp, thunderous sound echoed through the bullpen. This time, Miyuki Kazuya, the team's ace catcher, managed to secure the ball in his mitt. Despite his success, the pitch was erratic, flying wildly all over the strike zone. Still, Miyuki didn't let a single one slip past him, showcasing his exceptional skill as he corralled each fast, unpredictable throw.

The freshmen watched in stunned silence, their faces frozen in disbelief. Among them, however, one boy stood apart. Renji, his lips curling into a wide smile, observed the scene with shining eyes. He wasn't looking at Furuya with admiration but at Miyuki, whose calm composure and precise movements left him in awe.

"Amazing," Renji thought, his heart pounding with excitement. He was far more impressed by Miyuki's incredible catching ability than by Furuya's wild fastballs.

Sure, Furuya had speed—his pitches were undeniably fast—but in Renji's eyes, that was all he had. Without control, speed alone wasn't enough to earn his respect.

After a while, Coach Kataoka stepped forward, his gaze landing on Mashina, Furuya's pitching partner. The boy's shoulders were slumped, his expression downcast.

"Do you have any other pitches to show me?" Kataoka asked, his tone neutral but firm.

Mashina shook his head silently, his dejection clear in the slight droop of his posture. Kataoka nodded, making a quick note on his clipboard before turning his attention back to the mound.

Renji's smile remained as he continued watching, anticipation building within him. His turn was coming, and he was ready to show everyone what true control and precision looked like.