In February the grass grows and orioles fly, willows brush the spring mist.
The new term began on April first, right when spring was at its fullest.
Nagano Prefecture, outside Akagi Junior High School's gate, was as lively as a temple fair.
Basketball Club, Dance Club, Archery Club, Kendo Club… each society set up like a market stall, laying out tables and raising banners. Most of the recruiters were the clubs' star beauties, wearing tailored uniforms and smiling as they offered delicate hands—each holding a club application form—to the new first-years.
Weaving through the crowd, Yamaguchi felt dazed. He'd heard that clubs were huge in middle school, and top clubs even fought over recruits on day one.
But could someone explain why, after two hours, no one had asked him to join? When the kindly seniors saw him, they simply looked away without a word.
He'd even worried on his way in: what if they fought over him?
Yamaguchi Ken—150 cm tall and 150 kg—was thoroughly lost.
"Kid, your bones are extraordinary, your talent unmatched—a once-in-a-century slugger! Interested in our Baseball Club?"
Just when all seemed lost, an angelic voice sounded behind him.
Turning, Yamaguchi saw someone half a head taller, well-built, a bit handsome.
The boy smiled, eyes so clear they seemed to swallow you whole.
What a charismatic senior!
Yamaguchi wanted to say yes, but after being ignored all day, could the hottest club really want him? Baseball Clubs were always popular.
"Senior, are you sure you want me?"
He even sucked in his bulging stomach to look less heavy.
"Absolutely! Landing a genius Player like you is our club's luck."
The words thrilled him. Mocked all his life for his size—people compared him to a barnyard animal—this was the first time anyone called him a genius. Even flattery felt good.
While they talked, the boy stuffed an application form into his hand.
In a daze Yamaguchi signed up and became a member of Akagi Junior High's Baseball Club. Only afterward did he learn the boy's name.
"I'm Sawamura—Sawamura Eijun. Call me Eijun or Little Eijun!"
Sawamura grinned like a fox that had stolen a hen, giving Yamaguchi an uneasy feeling.
"Oh, don't call me senior—I'm a first-year, same as you."
Only then did Yamaguchi fully register the scene around Sawamura.
Behind him stood two simple country boys: one tall and thin, almost malnourished; the other so plain you'd lose him in a crowd.
Noticing the glance, Sawamura introduced them warmly: "These are my countryside Teammates—tall one's Nakagawa Shin, slightly shorter is little Yamazaki."
Sawamura spoke with passion, yet by Yamaguchi's standards they were definitely misfits.
Suddenly he doubted Sawamura's selection criteria.
Just what standards did this charming classmate use?
Sawamura had no time for such doubts.
With Yamaguchi they now had three; add Sawamura and childhood friend Wakana and they reached five.
Still four short!
The revolution isn't done—comrades must strive on.
After a mental pep talk, Sawamura led an ordinary face, a beanpole, and a 150 cm/150 kg colossus onward to recruit more.
The quartet stood out grotesquely in the recruiting lanes.
People dodged them like a plague.
"Alas, morale's gone—hard to lead the troop!"
Carrying a Baseball Club placard, Sawamura scoured the campus and finally roped in a delicate, almost girlish boy.
"Fūryō, trust me—you're born to be a Shortstop."
He declared it so earnestly he almost believed it himself.
Trailing behind, Yamaguchi wore a strange expression; the line sounded familiar.
"Don't we have any upperclassmen?"
However modest Sawamura acted, he'd already recruited plenty—six first-years including his own elementary pals. That should be enough.
After all, tiny Akagi had only three hundred-odd students in all grades. With barely a hundred new students and a gender ratio that left boys scarce, every guy could supposedly have multiple girlfriends and still leave spares.
By that math, Sawamura's haul was staggering; even if all were oddballs, he'd rallied a crowd. Any senior's quota should be filled.
"Upperclassmen?"
Sawamura looked blank, then brightened: "We don't have any! So every one of us is an absolute starter—everyone gets to play…"
While Sawamura painted their brilliant future, Yamaguchi felt something was off.
"This school never had a Baseball Club before."
The newly joined Fūryō Masayasu said gently.
"Then we…?"
Yamaguchi, Kurosaki, and Nakagawa all wore the look of the conned. No club—had they joined a fan circle?
"Relax! The club's brand-new—I specially asked the principal!"
Sawamura flashed a thumb at his own chest.
"Today is Akagi Junior High Baseball Club's very first day!"
On the first day of the new term, the Akagi Middle School Baseball Club was born. Right now they lacked both a field and full numbers.
Yet who could foresee the future glory of Akagi?
Even Sawamura only wanted to mend his Teammates' youthful regrets and take them to the National Tournament.
"I'm Sawamura, here to keep my promise."
Looking at these unforgettable faces, Sawamura said silently in his heart.