The world blurred in a swirl of colors and lights. One moment, I was walking home after a long day, and the next, I found myself standing on a vast, unfamiliar field. The air was thick with the scent of grass and sweat, and the distant sound of cheering echoed through the air. I blinked, trying to make sense of what had just happened.
My name is Alex Carter, and I was just an ordinary guy from Earth—an avid baseball fan. I played the sport since I was a kid, dreaming of someday stepping onto a real diamond. But now, I was somewhere else entirely.
As I looked around, I saw a team practicing in the distance. Their uniforms read "Seido," and I recognized the logo from countless anime episodes I'd watched. No way... I thought. I must have been transported into the world of Ace of Diamond.
I took a tentative step forward, feeling a strange but familiar pull in my chest—like an instinct that I needed to be here, to do something important. I looked up at the team again, noticing their focus, their intensity. I knew I had to prove myself, somehow.
Suddenly, a voice broke through my thoughts. It was a tall, confident boy with a serious look—probably a senior or a captain. He looked at me with curiosity.
"You new here?" he asked, eyeing me up and down.
I nodded, trying to find the right words. "Yeah... I guess I am. I don't know how I got here, but I want to help. I want to practice, learn, get better."
The boy's eyes softened slightly. "You look like you've got some experience. Name's Miyuki Kazuya. You're about a year older than Sawamura. We could use someone like you."
I felt a strange warmth inside. Somehow, I knew I had to seize this chance—to live out my dream, even if it was in a different world. I nodded eagerly.
"Thanks, Miyuki. I'll do my best."
From that moment, I dedicated myself to training every single day. I didn't have the magic of anime or the superhuman talent of these players, but I had something just as important—passion and determination. I worked on my pitching, my batting, everything I could learn. I watched the team practice, studied their techniques, and pushed myself to the limit.
Every morning before sunrise, I threw hundreds of pitches into the net, trying to perfect my form. I ran laps, did drills, and stayed late after practice to hone my skills. I wanted to be someone they could count on, someone who could make a difference.
Over time, I caught the attention of Coach Kataoka. One afternoon, he called me over after practice.
"You've got potential," he said, eyeing me carefully. "You're dedicated. That's what matters most. Keep working hard, and you might just surprise everyone."
I felt a surge of pride. I was living my dream, in a world that felt like a perfect blend of fantasy and reality. I knew I had a long road ahead, but I was ready.
I was going to become a pitcher—no, a legend—in this world. And maybe, just maybe, I'd leave a mark that would be remembered long after I was gone.
To be continued...