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Chapter 3 – Second Medicine Buyer: Ryotaro Kasamatsu
Ryotaro Kasamatsu is a name that shines in the history of high school baseball.
He belonged to a prestigious baseball club in Kanto and participated in the Koshien Tournament a total of four times.
As an unwavering ace in his sophomore year, he won consecutive spring and summer championships in his senior year.
He had the fastest fastball of the era at 158 km/h, and he threw both vertical and horizontal sliders from the exact same shape.
He also had a split-fingered fastball that dropped suddenly at the last moment, which helped him rack up a huge number of strikeouts.
He was the top candidate for the number one draft pick, and there was no doubt that he would be an instant success in the professional world.
However, what made Kasamatsu famous was the miracle he performed at the Koshien Tournament in the summer of his third year.
The miracle began in the first game of the second year’s summer tournament when Kasamatsu faced a high school team from Kyushu and pitched a perfect game into the ninth inning with two outs.
In the midst of the unusual tension that filled the stadium, just as it appeared that the last batter had been struck out on a weak hit, the catcher threw the ball wildly.
This was called an error, and the dream of a perfect game was cut short.
Kasamatsu struck out the next batter for a no-hit, no-run game, but his perfect game was cut short. He is said to have comforted his sobbing teammate by holding his shoulders.
“Don’t cry. There’s still a chance. Lead me to another perfect game with your bat.”
That year, Kasamatsu and his team lost in the semifinals.
But the following year, the miracle happened again.
In the summer of his third year, Kasamatsu faced his last Koshien. In the semifinals, he played a perfect game, avenging his loss from the previous year.
This was the first time a perfect game had been pitched in the summer in Koshien High School baseball.
Behind his success was the presence of the catcher, who had researched information on his rivals from around the country and made accurate decisions.
Kasamatsu’s name became firmly established as “Monster No. 2.
This is the good side of the story.
After turning pro, Kasamatsu’s career was plagued by a long period of darkness.
He was drafted first overall and won his first game as a pitcher brilliantly, but then he unexpectedly developed elbow problems.
He developed medial epicondylitis.
He developed what is known as “baseball elbow” and was forced to take a long break from the game due to surgery.
After that, his pitching sense became distorted, he began to have problems with his speed and control, and he spent a long time in the second team.
Now, he is definitely one of the top players in the second team and is regularly promoted to the first team.
In the first team, he was repeatedly taken off the field after taking a lot of hits.
There are many players who achieve amazing results in high school, but then their peak is over.
Nevertheless, there are many fans who are hoping for Kasamatsu’s comeback.
Once again, the glory of the past. A comeback.
Show them a miracle.
More than anything else, it was probably Kasamatsu himself who was dissatisfied with the current situation.
He knew better than anyone else what his original potential was.
He bitterly thought that he could do more, that he should have been able to do more.
But he couldn’t.
He received treatment from many different places, including well-known hospitals, and many different types of therapy, such as osteopathy and chiropractic.
He also tried to correct his form with the help of a pitching coach, but his body wouldn’t move the way he wanted it to, and he was forced to pitch in a way he didn’t want to.
One day, as he struggled and struggled, feeling that he had no choice but to keep going, he heard the good news.
“Hey, Kasamatsu. I’ve got a good story for you.”
Endo Ryota.
He’s a senior player on the same team, and although he’s overflowing with talent, he’s also suffering from an injury.
Since joining the team, he has been a great help to Kasamatsu, and Kasamatsu is indebted to him.
Still, he couldn’t trust the following words so easily.
“What would you do if I told you that your injury could be healed in one go, all you had to do was pay for it?”
“Whatever you want, I’ll pay whatever you want. Even Senpai does that, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. I got some medicine from a friend and it healed me.”
“Really? Aren’t you being cheated, senpai?”
“Here is the medical certificate. The test results say I’m completely healed.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“No, I’m not. Hehe, just wait. I’ll show you what I can do.”
Ryota’s knee was completely ruined.
He had been able to cover it up with his natural athletic ability, but the quick movements of a nimble, wild beast were gone, and it was painful to see.
Everyone knew that he had rubbed his knee, which was stiffly wrapped in a support bandage, during the bus ride.
Now Ryota’s knee was completely healed.
It was hard to believe.
“Can you get 5 million yen? I’ll introduce you to people who can help you.”
Although the signing bonus he received when he joined the pros was high, 5 million yen was a large sum of money for Kasamatsu, who had been on the second team for a long time.
Still, if it could really heal his body…
There was no longer any hope of his elbow healing in a normal way.
“Please help me!”
With his last hope, Kasamatsu bowed his head.
〇〇〇
“(5 million yen for a bottle of this kind of energy drink? If it doesn’t work, it’s a scam.)”
Kasamatsu had come to a rented room in the center of Osaka.
This was so that he could try to move around once his condition improved.
Even though it was a rented room, it wasn’t a meeting room or anything like that, but more like a fitness or yoga studio, with a large room and mirrors set up on all sides.
The man named Wataru, who Endo introduced to Kasamatsu, seemed a bit suspicious to Kasamatsu.
He was young for someone selling such an amazing medicine.
He didn’t look like a salesman.
Many things made Kasamatsu uneasy, such as the fact that the meeting place was a rented room.
Kasamatsu was once a promising professional baseball player surrounded by many other working adults.
A person of some standing generally has a certain air about them.
From that experience, Wataru seemed more like an average or even ordinary person than a super-talented person.
The fact that two exceptionally beautiful women were smiling behind him also seemed somewhat suspicious.
“(No, the main reason I’m suspicious is because I myself don’t really believe that it will work.)”
Did his doubt show in his expression?
“What are you going to do? If you don’t believe in it, you can stop taking it, you know?”
“No, I’ll take it.”
“Is that so?”
When asked, Kasamatsu quickly denied it.
There was no way to stop taking it now.
There was no guarantee that it would cure him if he took it, but if he didn’t take it, there was no way he would get better.
And from what he had heard, there were many competitors looking for this medicine.
He had already withdrawn the money he had promised to pay in advance.
He also signed a contract not to talk about it publicly.
Ryota also made sure to remind him not to talk about it.
All that was left was to take the medicine and trust in the results.
The medicine bottle in question was placed on the only table in the studio.
It was about the size of a small energy drink.
He pulled the cork out and took a big gulp.
A thick, sweet taste spread through his mouth.
“I think it will start working soon, so please just sit there.”
“Yes… Ah, what is this?”
“It’s okay. The medicine is just starting to work. Calm down.”
He sat there for a few seconds, waiting for the change to happen.
Suddenly, he felt a strange sensation of heat and itchiness inside his right elbow.
To his surprise, he looked at his elbow and saw that it was slightly glowing.
Kasamatsu opened his eyes wide and stared at his own body.
“(Why is my body glowing? This is weird! This isn’t fireflies or squid!)”
Kasamatsu felt a sense of urgency at the strange sight.
At the same time, however, he could feel the heat and discomfort he had felt in his elbow for so long, slowly fading away.
After the light had completely faded, he knew without being told that his body had changed from what it had been just a moment ago.
“Heh, what is this…?”
“Now that the light has died down, you can move your body as much as you like. Try it and see how it works. I’ve also prepared a towel for shadow boxing, as well as a ball and a net.”
“Oh, I’ll try it right now!”
He could tell even before he threw the ball.
This was the real thing.
The feeling of security that comes from having the right thing in the right place.
He throws.
As if to check, as if to test his elbow.
The difference in sensation is corrected the more he throws, and he realizes that no matter how hard he throws, it doesn’t hurt at all.
The ball flies.
It advances sharply, shaking the net.
It’s healed.
He’s healed.
He can throw again; he can throw again with all his strength…!
“Ah… ah. Aaahhh!”
Kasamatsu found himself sobbing.
His vision was blurred with tears, and he couldn’t see properly.
“I can throw again…”
All the frustration and fear he had been holding in suddenly spilled out.
With his face flushed and tears streaming down his cheeks, Kasamatsu couldn’t help but cover his face with his left hand.
One by one, the tears flowed and wouldn’t stop.
“(If I could, I would throw more right now, but I can’t.)”
Wataru and the others couldn’t help but cry as they watched Kasamatsu with his face down and tears streaming down his cheeks.
When they approached Kasamatsu, who was still standing there, Wataru spoke to him in a friendly voice.
“This is good.”
“T-Thank you very much! You’re my savior!”
“I’m not that great.”
“You have no idea how much I wanted to get better. How much I really, really suffered. How thankful I am for this one bottle of medicine!”
He had devoted most of his life to the sport.
He had given up all the time he could have spent playing games with his friends, having fun at school events, or going on trips with his family and devoted it all to baseball.
His body was his life.
Wataru, who had cured his illness so easily, was like a savior to Kasamatsu.
No one knew how much his feelings had been conveyed to Wataru.
With a wry smile, he and the two female assistants calmed down for a while.
“Please observe your condition for a while and make adjustments. It might also be a good idea to have a thorough examination in a hospital.”
“Yes… Thank you very much.”
Kasamatsu, who suddenly felt ashamed of himself for not trusting it when he realized that it was real, naturally started using polite language when talking to Wataru.
When the tears had subsided, he smiled bashfully.
His doubts had been completely erased.
“Just because your body is healed, it doesn’t mean that you can definitely play. It depends on how you practice, Kasamatsu.”
“I know that without being told. I’m a professional too. As long as my body works properly, I can definitely play an even bigger role.”
He was confident.
Even when he watched the pitches of other professional pitchers, he could say with certainty that he was able to throw a better ball when he was in high school.
Having seen many players as professionals, even if only briefly, he knew exactly where he stood.
“Um, are you sure you don’t want me to advertise it? I’ll give you any testimonial you want.”
“Thank you, but I can’t prepare the medicine yet. If I just take your order, I’ll have to keep people waiting. Besides, it will cause a big commotion, won’t it?”
“That’s for sure. Not only baseball players, but athletes all over the world won’t be able to ignore it.”
“I’ll be honest, I’ll be in trouble if the media gets involved. Please introduce me to one or two people you can really trust. So please remember the contract.”
“I-I understand.”
Kasamatsu, who had been reminded by Wataru, made a mental note to remember it.
After a long absence, Ryotaro Kasamatsu rejoined the first team, and in the final stages of the pennant race, which had become a meaningless game after his team had been eliminated from the championship race, he won his first victory in several years, with two runs and no walks in seven innings.
The game was covered not only on the sports pages but also on the evening news.
His excellent pitching led to more opportunities the following year, and he became a starter.
Sometime later, he made a full comeback and became a pillar of the team, winning monthly MVP and Best ERA awards.
After selling the medicine to Kasamatsu, Wataru met a certain legend.
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