The Old Baseball Player System

Chapter 68: Father and Son (2)

Kenshin took a deep breath, trying to hold back his tears, before continuing to speak:

"He was a pitcher. I think that's why I always wanted to be a pitcher too. You know, I've met incredible pitchers in my career, Shun, but none of them were as amazing as my father was to me. I thought I'd never feel the same way watching a baseball player in my life, but I was wrong." - Kenshin looked away from the field for the first time, looking into Shun's eyes, causing the boy to shiver.

"The first time I saw you play, that feeling I thought I'd never have again resurfaced. The way you threw the ball, the way you lifted your leg to pitch, even your courageous and playful attitude on the mound... all of it reminded me of him." - Kenshin spoke, diverting his gaze back to the field, but Shun managed to notice some tears forming in his father's eyes.

"This field... was also the field where I played my last baseball game with my father in the audience. I was in middle school like you, but I was a year younger. It was just a friendly game against a weaker team, but I got nervous and ended up making several mistakes... You should have seen it, I was substituted in the third inning haha!" - Kenshin gave a slight laugh after remembering the game.

"Dad..." - Shun tried to formulate a question, but before he could speak, he was interrupted by his father.

"You want to know why I'm laughing even though that was the last game my father watched before he died?" - Kenshin seemed to know exactly the question his son wanted to ask.

"Hm." - Shun nodded, he really didn't understand why his father was laughing.

"When my father was in the hospital, I said the same thing to him that you said to me. I apologized for disappointing him. Do you know what he told me?" - Kenshin looked at his son, puzzled, and asked.

"I don't know." - Shun answered honestly.

"He didn't say anything. He just laughed hahaha!" - Kenshin laughed loudly before continuing:

"All my life, I've wondered what that laugh meant, but today, after hearing the same thing from my own son, I finally understand."

"What do you mean, Dad?" - Shun asked, anxious for the answer.

"Hehe, listen to me, son. As long as you're chasing your dreams, it doesn't matter if you win or lose, it doesn't matter what position you play, and it doesn't even matter if you play baseball or not. As long as you don't give up, there's no way you can disappoint your father, boy." - Kenshin placed his hand on his son's shoulder and said with a smile.

"Dad!" - Shun tried to find the words to speak but couldn't, he just hugged his father tightly, burying his face in his chest.

"Remember this, boy: you are the person who inherited my father's name, you are my greatest pride regardless of what you do. So don't give up on your dreams, no matter how difficult it is, I will always be here to support you." - Kenshin hugged his son back and spoke affectionately. He felt his chest get wet with Shun's tears and quickly felt his own tears escape his eyes and roll down his face.

At that moment, both father and son felt immense relief. A son who admired his father and was afraid of disappointing him, and a father who loved his son and was very proud of him but had trouble expressing it. That hug meant a lot to both of them.

Kenshin and Shun returned home. The moment Shun stepped inside the house, he saw a little girl running toward him.

"Bro!" - Little Yumi hugged Shun tightly.

"Hey Yumi, sorry about that. Next time, your brother won't lose, okay?" - Shun hugged the little girl back. He felt guilty after learning that she cried when he lost, but he quickly spoke with determination. This time, he wasn't making an empty promise based only on arrogance, he was making a promise full of determination and will.

"I believe in you, Bro!" - The little girl spoke in a low voice, not stopping hugging her brother. Shun didn't mind and hugged the little girl until she was satisfied.

"Have you two already eaten?" - Aiko appeared in the living room and asked with a smile, she was relieved to see that her son was okay.

"Uhum, Dad and I ate at McDonald's!" - Shun said with a smile to his mother.

"Huh? I also wanted to eat at McDonald's with Dad and Bro!" - Little Yumi spoke as if she had been wronged.

"Oh, but didn't you have ice cream with Mom?" - Shun asked playfully, smiling at the little girl.

"I wanted both!" - Little Yumi didn't seem to have learned about shame at school, as she had none.

"Hahaha, all right Yumi, tomorrow after the Home Run Derby, we'll all go to McDonald's. What do you think?" - Kenshin also smiled at his daughter's reaction, he offered a solution that was quickly accepted by the little girl.

"Yay!!!" - The little girl cheered after getting what she wanted. She jumped into her father's arms before giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"Well, I'm a bit tired, I think I'll go to sleep. Good night, everyone!" - Shun remembered that he still needed to get his daily victory in the arena and said his goodbyes. The boy went up the stairs, he quickly brushed his teeth and put on his pajamas before lying down on the bed.

[So, boy! Are you ready?]

"Huh? Ready for what?" - Shun asked, confused, he didn't remember scheduling anything with the old man. In fact, the only thing the old man had told him to do was go home and rest.

[Didn't you ask for my help to improve?]

"Of course, but can you help me in the Arena?" - Shun asked skeptically.

[Hmph, of course I can! But before that, there's something else you're forgetting.]

"What?" - Shun asked, confused, but almost instantly a transparent screen appeared in front of him along with a system notification.

[DING]

[Inventory:

1 Legendary Pitch (learn)

Grade B+ Flexibility Elixir (use)]

[Do you want to use the Grade B+ Flexibility Elixir?

Yes/No]

"Ah, so that was it..." - Shun felt a certain fear remembering the pain he felt last time, but since he didn't have many options, he just took a deep breath and gathered his courage.

"Yes."