Chapter 25 — Preparing for the Hawks
The day after the encounter with the Hawks felt different.
Not scary.
Not stressful.
Heavy.
Like the whole team could sense something big coming—something that would test them harder than anything before.
Zach walked into the sports store early, expecting to be the first one there.
But Blake was already outside.
Sitting on the curb.
Glove in hand.
Bag at his feet.
Expression… complicated.
Zach tilted his head and sat beside him without a word.
After a moment, Blake said quietly:
"…He's better than me."
Zach blinked.
"Mason?"
Blake nodded slowly.
"He's older. Stronger. More experienced. And…"
He clenched his fist.
"He threw three perfect strikes like it was nothing."
Zach looked at him with calm eyes.
"You can beat him."
Blake laughed softly, shaking his head.
"No. You can."
Zach frowned slightly.
"That's not true."
"Yes it is," Blake said. "You're catching up to me. Fast. Too fast."
He looked down, gripping the dirt between his fingers.
"But I want to pitch in that game. I want to face him."
Zach understood.
Blake didn't want to be replaced.
He didn't want to be overshadowed.
He wanted to be strong too.
Zach placed a hand on Blake's arm.
"We'll get stronger together."
Blake looked at him—surprised.
Then nodded.
"…Thanks."
Ethan Arrives With a Plan
Ethan stepped outside, slinging a big training bag over his shoulder.
"You two ready?"
Blake stood quickly.
"Yes."
Zach nodded.
Tyler arrived last, holding a giant smoothie.
He slurped loudly.
"TRAINING STARTS NOWWWWW— brain freeze—AHHHHHHHH!!"
Ethan sighed.
"We are not winning anything if you die from a smoothie."
Tyler groaned.
"Let me perish in peace."
Blake's Shoulder Training — The Rehabilitation Phase
Ethan started with Blake.
"No pitching today," he said firmly.
"We're fixing your shoulder before it becomes a real injury."
Blake's jaw tightened.
"I can handle some pain—"
Ethan cut him off.
"No. You don't pitch hurt. EVER. Understand?"
Blake froze.
Then—very slowly—nodded.
"Good."
Ethan handed Blake a set of resistance bands.
"Let's rebuild your shoulder mobility."
Blake worked through rotations, extensions, light stretches.
Zach watched, noticing Blake's breathing change—
steady, controlled, determined.
His emotional bubble flickered with:
"Hope growing • Fear shrinking • Trust forming"
Zach smiled.
He was proud of him.
Zach's Special Lesson — A New Pitch
While Blake did rehab, Ethan motioned for Zach.
"Come with me. Time to learn something advanced."
Zach followed eagerly.
Ethan stood behind the mound and held up two fingers.
"Today, you're learning the changeup properly."
Zach blinked.
"I throw a slowball sometimes…"
Ethan shook his head.
"No. You throw a slow pitch. That's different. A real changeup looks EXACTLY like a fastball until the last moment."
Zach's eyes widened.
"That sounds hard…"
Ethan grinned.
"It is. But you're ready."
He showed him the grip—
fingers spread, ball tucked deeper, wrist relaxed.
Zach mimicked it, focusing intensely.
"Now throw it like a fastball."
Zach wound up.
Released—
The ball floated softly, wobbling.
Ethan nodded.
"Good. Now again."
Zach adjusted. Threw.
POP.
Soft but straighter.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Until—
POP!
The changeup dropped perfectly into the glove.
Ethan's eyes widened with pride.
"You learn fast."
Zach blushed slightly.
"Thank you."
Then the system chimed.
Ping.
"New Pitch Learned: Changeup (Basic)."
"Accuracy and deception will improve with practice."
Zach felt excitement bloom.
A new weapon.
Tyler's Surprise Skill Training
While Zach practiced, Tyler wandered over to Ethan.
"So uh… do catchers get special training too? Or is it just pitchers?"
Ethan smirked.
"Of course you get training. You need it more than anyone."
Tyler gasped in betrayal.
"I THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS."
Ethan tossed him three tennis balls.
"Reaction drill. Catch them all."
Tyler caught one.
Two.
Missed the third completely.
It hit him in the face.
"Ow."
Ethan sighed.
"We have work to do."
Zach giggled softly.
A New System Message
As practice continued, Zach felt a warm pulse inside his chest.
Then—
Ping…
"Team Synergy: 68%."
"Threshold Approaching… Unlock Soon."
Zach blinked.
"What does it unlock…?"
But the system stayed silent.
Hawks Scouting — A Shadow Over Training
Ethan called for a break.
The boys sat on the curb, drinking water.
Tyler sighed dramatically.
"We are working SO HARD. Why does the universe hate us?"
Then Blake suddenly stiffened.
Zach looked up.
Across the street—
leaning on a fence—
was a Ridgeview Hawks player.
Not Mason.
Another teammate.
A tall kid with sharp eyes.
Watching them.
Studying them.
Tyler whispered,
"Uhh… why is he staring at us like a creepy owl?"
Blake's jaw set.
Zach felt a chill.
The system chimed coldly.
Ping.
"Hawks Scout Detected."
"Opponents gathering data."
"Prepare for advanced countermeasures."
Zach swallowed.
The Hawks weren't just strong.
They were strategic.
Organized.
Serious.
Ethan Pulls the Boys In
"Alright," Ethan said quietly, noticing the scout too.
"Listen up."
Zach and Blake leaned closer.
Tyler held his smoothie like a shield.
"The Hawks are older, stronger, and more experienced," Ethan said.
"But they can be beaten."
Blake asked softly,
"How?"
Ethan smirked.
"With teamwork."
He tapped Zach's chest.
"With you."
Then Blake's.
"And you."
Then Tyler's head.
"And… loudness."
Tyler raised his fist.
"I WILL SCREAM FOR GLORY."
Zach smiled.
Blake laughed under his breath.
Ethan stood.
"Tomorrow, we begin team-level training. Synergy drills. Communication drills. Strategy drills."
Zach's heart pounded.
He felt the system glowing.
Something big was coming.
Ethan pointed at all three boys.
"Because if you want to beat the Hawks…"
He grinned.
"You have to become more than a team."
"You have to become one unit."