(Eijun's POV)
I head out to the backyard and start with a few stretches.
*Hey, System — you said I could name you, right? Instead of calling you Perfect Strike all the time?*
"Yes, Eijun," the voice replies. "What name would you like to give me?"
I think for a moment. *Can I call you… Jack?*
There's a small pause before the voice responds, "Yes, you can."
I grin. *Alright then, Jack it is.*
With that, I jog over to the fields and begin my 10 km run.
The first two kilometers are fine — my breathing's steady, my legs are moving well.
By the third kilometer, my lungs start to burn.
By the fourth, my legs are screaming.
By the fifth, I collapse onto the grass, gasping for air.
*Jack… do I have to do this every day? There's seriously no way out?*
"Yes, Eijun," Jack answers simply. "Unless… you don't want to become the ace."
That snaps something in me. My eyes harden, and I take a few deep breaths before pushing myself back up.
"Fine," I mutter. "If that's what it takes."
The sixth kilometer feels like the third — everything burns.
By the seventh, my legs feel like lead.
By the eighth, I'm on the edge of collapsing.
The ninth is pure agony — but by the tenth, I'm running on nothing but sheer willpower.
When I finally finish, I drop to the ground, panting hard, legs trembling… but I can't help the small, proud smile tugging at my lips.
*Jack… what's next?*
"100 push-ups, Eijun."
I groan. *This daily task is insane, Jack.*
Still, I drag myself up and move to the backyard. The first thirty are fine. By fifty, my arms are jelly. By seventy, I faceplant into the grass, gasping. Somehow, I push through to ninety, each rep feeling like torture.
At one hundred, I collapse again, wheezing like I've been drowning.
*Jack, this daily task is a monster, you know that?*
I sigh, roll over, and take a few deep breaths. *Alright… what's next?*
"100 burpees."
*Of course it is,* I think dryly, forcing myself to my feet.
The first fifty go okay.
By seventy-five, my knees are giving out.
By the hundredth, I can barely stay upright.
"Next: 100 ten-meter sprints — with tires," Jack announces.
"Give me a second to breathe," I mumble, lying flat on the grass.
After a few minutes, I get back up and push through the rest of the exercises. My body feels like it's dying, every muscle screaming in protest, but I don't stop. I refuse to stop.
Finally-
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Daily task: completed
Completion Reward: +10 Attribute Points, +1 for every stat, Recovery Potion
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A warm sensation spreads through my body, my muscles loosening and the pain fading.
*Jack… what is this feeling?*
"It's the Recovery Potion," he explains.
*Oh… okay. Thanks.*
Then, a new line flashes across the screen.
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New hidden skill:
Skill: No injury
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*Jack, what's this one?*
"It's a passive skill," he says. "It prevents you from sustaining any kind of injury."
My eyes widen. *That's… amazing!*
I grin. *Alright then — Stats Menu!*
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STATS MENU
Attribute Points: 10
Stamina: D (36/100) +1
Speed: D- (27/100) +1
Agility: D- (48/100) +1
Strength: E (54/100) +1
Flexibility: C (81/100) +1
Control: E (28/100) +1
Batting: E (14/100) +1
Bunting: B (67/100) +1
Fielding: E (44/100) +1
Base Running: E+ (21/100) +1
Mentality: B (51/100) +1
Baseball IQ: C+ (51/100) +1
Non-Dominant Arm: E (35/100) +1
Skills: 1
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*Okay, Jack — put +5 in Stamina and +5 in Control.*
"Understood, Eijun."
The screen flashes again.
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STATS MENU
Attribute Points: 0
Stamina: D (41/100) +5
Speed: D- (27/100)
Agility: D- (48/100)
Strength: E (54/100)
Flexibility: C (81/100)
Control: E (33/100) +5
Batting: E (14/100)
Bunting: B (67/100)
Fielding: E (44/100)
Base Running: E+ (21/100)
Mentality: B (51/100)
Baseball IQ: C+ (51/100)
Non-Dominant Arm: E (35/100)
Skills: 1
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*Nice. That looks good.*
Then, a new message appears.
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New Mission:
Objective: Get your new form before the tour at Seido and have the four seam fastball ready
Progress:
0/200 shadow pitches
0/100 four seam pitches
Reward: Four seam fastball skill, Perfect form skill, 1 bronze wheel ticket
Failure: never getting your old form back, -1 every stat
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*Got it,* I think. *I'll do it.*
And for the next two days, I throw until my arms ache and my breathing burns — shadow pitching and four-seam after four-seam — until the morning Rei-chan arrives to pick me up..