Chapter 17 — Extra Training and New Bonds
The three days before the first official game arrived faster than anyone expected.
School, homework, snacks—everything felt like it passed in fast-forward as Zach focused on one thing:
Training.
Coach had said the team looked strong.
The system said challenges were coming.
And Blake…
Blake was hanging on by a thread.
Zach wasn't training just for himself anymore.
He was training for all of them.
Ethan Returns With a Plan
After school, Zach jogged to the sports store with his glove in hand.
As he pushed open the door, he heard Ethan's voice from the back.
"Kid! Perfect timing."
Ethan came out carrying a bucket of baseballs under one arm and a portable radar gun in his other.
Tyler peeked out from behind the shelf.
"He tricked me! He told me there were free snacks but it was a trap!"
Ethan grinned. "Training IS a snack. For the soul."
Tyler groaned. "I want Doritos for my soul."
Zach laughed. "What's the plan today?"
Ethan dropped the bucket with a thud.
"Today? We fix two things:
Your vertical control
Tyler's fear of fastballs"
Tyler froze.
"Wait. WHAT WAS NUMBER TWO—"
Ethan tossed him a catcher mask.
"Get behind the plate."
Tyler whimpered.
Blake Joins Late… But He Joins
Just as Zach and Tyler were setting up the net, the door of the store jingled.
Blake walked in.
Slowly.
Carefully.
He looked around, nervous to interrupt.
Zach smiled. "Hi Blake."
Tyler waved. "Bro! You made it!"
Blake hesitated. "…Your mom said you were here."
Zach nodded. "Want to train with us?"
Blake glanced down.
His emotional bubble flickered:
"Hope • Fear • Gratitude • Shyness"
"…Yeah," he whispered. "I do."
Ethan clapped his hands. "Perfect. Extra arm in the rotation."
Blake flinched at the loud sound, but he didn't leave.
He stayed.
That alone was a victory.
Training Begins — Tyler's Challenge
Ethan put Tyler behind the plate.
"Tyler," Ethan said seriously, "you improved a LOT. But you're still scared of fast pitches. Today, we fix that."
Tyler squeaked. "FIX?! HOW?! WITH A SPELL?!"
Zach tried to reassure him. "I'll throw slow."
Ethan shook his head.
"No, he needs to face real game speeds."
Tyler grabbed Zach's jersey. "Ignore that man. Throw slow."
But Ethan chuckled. "Relax. Blake will start."
Blake blinked. "Me?"
"You throw accurate and controlled when calm," Ethan said. "Perfect for confidence training."
Tyler whimpered louder.
Blake actually smirked.
"Ready?" Blake asked.
Tyler whispered, "Please miss. Please miss. PLEASE MISS."
Blake threw—
POP!
Right into Tyler's glove.
Tyler froze.
He looked at the glove.
Looked at Blake.
Looked at Zach.
"…I survived?"
Zach nodded. "Yes!"
Blake snorted. "You're ridiculous."
But then he threw again.
And again.
Every pitch, Tyler caught.
Slowly, Tyler straightened his back.
Then grinned.
Then started calling pitches like a real catcher.
"Inside!"
"Low!"
"No! Don't throw that one! I lied! Fastball!"
Ethan laughed. "There we go! Confidence unlocked!"
Ping.
Zach's system chimed.
"Team Bonding Boost (Minor): Tyler has gained Courage XP."
Zach's Turn — The New Challenge
Now it was Zach's turn.
He stepped onto the makeshift bullpen area behind the store.
Sunset light turned everything gold.
Ethan held a clipboard.
"Alright Zach. Today we're pushing your vertical control further."
Zach nodded.
Blake crouched beside Tyler outside the cage, watching carefully.
Zach wound up and threw—
POP!
High green.
Next pitch—
POP!
Upper yellow.
The system chimed.
Ping.
"Angle Memory Improving."
Ethan nodded.
"Good. Now a new test."
He placed a small tennis ball under Zach's lead foot.
Zach blinked. "What is that for?"
"To fix your shoulder angle. You lift too high when aiming up. The tennis ball forces you to keep your body level."
Tyler muttered, "This is torture."
Zach threw—
The ball flew straight and true—
PING!
Top of the net.
Zach gasped. "I did it!"
Blake stood up straighter. "…Nice."
Ethan grinned. "Kid, you're a fast learner."
Ping.
"Vertical Pitch Control +1."
"New Technique Unlocked: Angle Balance Footwork (Basic)."
Zach's eyes sparkled.
A Moment Between Rivals
While Ethan helped Tyler with glove positioning, Blake approached Zach quietly.
"…Thanks," Blake said.
Zach tilted his head. "For what?"
"Yesterday. Today. All of it."
He hesitated.
"And… sorry. For being a jerk. Before."
Zach shook his head. "You weren't a jerk. You were scared."
Blake stiffened. "Don't say that out loud."
"Okay," Zach said softly. "But it's true."
Blake sat beside him on the bucket of balls.
"…My dad says only weak people get scared."
"Then he's wrong," Zach answered instantly.
Blake blinked.
Zach continued, "Strong people get scared. But they try anyway."
For a moment…
Blake didn't say anything.
Then he whispered:
"…Thanks."
Zach smiled.
And Blake smiled back.
For the first time…
a real smile.
A System Warning Before the Storm
As the training session wrapped up and the boys walked home, Zach's system gave a soft but serious chime.
Ping…
"Major Event Incoming: First Official Game."
Time Remaining: 1 Day."
Team Morale: High."
Rival Stability: Improving."
Catcher Performance: Boosted."
Warning: Unexpected challenge predicted during game."
Zach swallowed.
"Unexpected challenge?"
Tyler asked, "What did the voice in your brain say this time?"
Zach hesitated.
"It said… something is going to happen tomorrow."
Blake looked uneasy.
"Bad?"
Zach shook his head slowly.
"I don't know."
Tyler gulped. "Well… whatever it is… we'll handle it. Together."
Zach nodded.
"Yes. We will."