"A dream doesn't die in failure—it dies when no one shows up the next day."
---
Rainy Morning. Muddy Field. No Excuses.
A steady drizzle soaked the dirt.
The Kamiyama Sparks were practicing anyway.
No uniforms. No coach present.
Just six soaked kids in school jerseys, shouting half-hearted drills.
"Faster throws, Haruto!" Kento yelled.
Haruto fired a pitch.
It hit the ground before reaching Sōta. Again.
Reina clapped sarcastically. "We're really scaring the championship teams now!"
Haruto rubbed his forehead. "We're tired. Maybe skip today?"
"Nope," Reina said. "Losers skip. We're not losers yet."
---
Scene: Aftermath of the First Loss
There had been no headlines.
No fans.
Just a loss… and silence.
A few classmates said "Good job" out of politeness.
One even joked, "You guys playing again? What for?"
Haruto had laughed it off.
But it stuck.
---
Coach Inoue's Surprise Visit
The team was about to leave when a voice called out:
"You're throwing too early in your windup."
They turned.
Coach Inoue stood under a black umbrella.
"Why are you here?" Sōta asked.
Inoue shrugged. "Math class is over. Thought I'd see if the idiots quit yet."
Everyone smiled.
---
Team Talk – Sore Shoulders and Sore Egos
Inside the storage shed, the team took shelter.
"Do we even have enough for a second match?" Kento asked.
"I can ask two classmates," Reina said. "They're bad… but they run fast."
Haruto sighed. "Let's do it. Even if we lose again."
Coach nodded. "Good. Losing is part of the curriculum."
---
Scene: Small Growth
Kento's fielding had improved.
Reina was learning to read batters.
Haruto… was learning to calm down.
Each mistake hurt less now.
Each improvement felt sharper.
---
Final Scene: Empty Stands
They practiced late.
No one watched.
Just the rustle of leaves and their own footsteps.
As Haruto threw the last pitch, Sōta caught it with a firm thud.
No cheers. No applause.
But he smiled.
"Still counts," he said.
---
End of Chapter 13