Early April—when cherry blossoms bloomed across Tokyo—was often regarded as the city's most beautiful season.
It was also the time when high schools welcomed the start of a new academic year.
Seidō High School, located in West Tokyo, was a private institution famous nationwide for one thing and one thing only: baseball. Here, baseball was not merely a club activity—it was the school's very soul.
At the main gate of Seidō High School stood a sixteen-year-old boy.
He carried a backpack over one shoulder and wore the standard Seidō uniform, his eyes bright with barely contained excitement. Beyond the gate, several baseball practice fields stretched into view, open and unobstructed, radiating an unmistakable competitive aura.
The boy's name was AJ.
A name that sounded distinctly foreign—far removed from the surnames and given names commonly heard in Japan. And indeed, AJ was an exchange student from the Philippines.
To be precise—
He was a Filipino student from another world.
In his original world, there was no Seidō High School. No powerhouse teams like Inashiro or Teitō. And certainly no genius catcher named Miyuki Kazuya.
The moment AJ opened his eyes in this new reality and noticed the subtle yet undeniable differences from his previous life, he knew—without a shred of doubt—that he had crossed into a parallel world.
At first, he searched frantically for proof.
And eventually, in Japan, he found it.
Seidō. Inashiro. Teitō.
Names he had once only seen in a baseball manga drawn by a certain "step-dad" author.
The realization sent a tremor through his body.
For a baseball fan, this was nothing short of a miracle.
…Well, to be honest, AJ had only been a pseudo-fan.
He loved baseball, but his understanding of the sport had once been shallow at best. Yet that didn't matter. It was through Seidō, through that loud and stubborn protagonist, and through a prodigious catcher who commanded the field with calm brilliance, that AJ truly fell in love with the game.
He would never forget those days—
Watching weekly updates. Witnessing the protagonist stumble, struggle, and grow. Slowly learning the depth, cruelty, and beauty of baseball itself.
So—Japan.
He had come.
And best of all, he discovered that he was in the same grade as Sawamura Eijun.
That meant he wouldn't miss that tournament.
A tournament that would change everything.
This mattered.
Because ever since childhood, AJ had consciously trained himself in baseball.
Pitcher?
No—he had no overwhelming velocity, no freakish talent, no signature breaking ball. Worse still, every pitch he threw felt… off, as though something fundamental refused to align.
Left with no other path, AJ made a choice.
He would become a batter.
Without talent to rely on, he chose the clumsiest yet most reliable method possible:
A thousand swings a day.
More when his body allowed it. Less when it didn't.
Slow. Painful. Repetitive.
But effective.
"Seidō… Miyuki… Sawamura…"
AJ clenched his fists, his heart pounding.
"I'm here."
"This time—I won't let you have any regrets."
With that silent vow, he strode toward the staff office. As an exchange—and transfer—student, he needed to meet his homeroom teacher first.
"Oh, Aj-kun, right?"
The teacher glanced at his documents and nodded. "I've already spoken with your father. I've also informed the vice-captain of the baseball club. You may join directly."
He adjusted his glasses.
"As for whether you can stay… or even become a regular—that will depend entirely on you."
"Yes, Yamanaka-sensei. I understand. Thank you."
AJ bowed deeply.
Respect toward teachers came naturally to him, and in Japan, such courtesy was all the more important.
"If you encounter any difficulties while living alone, come see me. Your dormitory has already been arranged. For now, let's head to the classroom."
"Yes, thank you very much."
AJ bowed once more, quietly reminding himself to adapt. The hierarchy here was stricter than in the Philippines—but when in Rome, do as the Romans do.
"Ahem. Everyone," Yamanaka-sensei announced, "as you know, our class has a new transfer student—an exchange student from the Philippines. Please come in."
AJ stepped forward, wearing a gentle smile.
"Hello, everyone. My name is AJ. I'm from the Philippines. I look forward to spending this year with you."
As he spoke, his gaze swept across the classroom—and two familiar figures instantly caught his eye.
A tall, thin boy with black hair and an emotionless expression.
And another with soft pink hair, his eyes partially hidden, an air of quiet reserve about him.
Furuya Satoru.Kominato Haruichi.
AJ's lips curved faintly.
"Not Sawamura's class… but this works just fine."
The rest of the day passed like any ordinary Japanese school day.
For AJ—who had been a university student in his previous life—the coursework posed little difficulty. The exceptions, of course, were Japanese language and history.
Speaking fluently didn't mean mastering kanji, classical grammar, or historical nuance.
After all—drop any foreigner into a local language class, and they'll quickly discover the terrifying depth of a nation's culture.
When classes finally ended, AJ had memorized most of the faces around him. Kominato and Furuya included—both as quiet and reserved as he remembered.
He didn't rush to approach them.
There would be time.
The Seidō dormitory—built specifically for baseball club members—was modern, spacious, and fully equipped.
While specially recruited players had their fees waived, regular entrants paid their own way.
AJ fell into the latter category.
Fortunately, his family was well-off. His parents had always supported him wholeheartedly—support that extended even to his decision to study baseball in Japan.
Standing before his assigned room, AJ glanced at the nameplate.
His pupils shrank slightly.
Then, he smiled.
"Same dorm as him, huh…"
"The next two years are going to be interesting."
He pushed the door open and greeted loudly:
"Hello, senpai! I'm AJ, the new member. Please take care of me from now on!"