Shino, a developmental draft pitcher struggling through the professional baseball system, unexpectedly unlocked advanced pitching attributes during a late-December trip to Osaka, according to a dispatch published on kakuyomu.jp.
An Impromptu Encounter in Osaka
The sequence of events began in late December in Osaka. Following an official team induction press conference, Shino sought out a major local event where Uta and her bandmates were scheduled to perform. Having missed the initial ticket sales window, Shino secured immediate admission when organizers held a last-minute ticket resale just before the venue doors opened. While scouting the concert grounds to locate the stage ahead of the performance, Shino crossed paths with Uta, bassist Fubuki, and drummer Miu stationed near a food stall.
Fubuki and Uta were sampling yakisoba noodles, while Miu drank a beverage through a straw. During the casual exchange, Fubuki abruptly pushed Uta toward Shino, suggesting she be “loaned out” until the band’s set began. Left alone together after Fubuki pulled Miu away, Uta voiced quiet frustration over being constantly bossed around by her bandmate’s impulsive ideas. When Shino smiled at the dynamic, remarking on how rare it is for friends to speak so honestly without fear of fracturing relationships, Uta reacted defensively.
Reflexes That Alter Game Mechanics
In her sudden agitation, Uta dropped her container of yakisoba directly into the path of an approaching man wearing an expensive, high-end suit. Operating with the hyper-focused concentration usually reserved for facing runners in scoring position with zero outs, Shino slowed time in his perception and swept his hand out to scoop up every falling noodle and ingredient before the meal hit the ground.
A subsequent check of Shino’s player status sheet confirmed major ratings across the board: a fastball clocking at 153 kilometers per hour, control rated at A-180, and stamina at A-150, alongside breaking pitches including a slider-5, fork-5, and sinking fastball-3. Special pitcher traits now include recovery, escape, release point precision, low-pitch mastery, ball retention, bunt defense, and the newly added pinch skill—which grants a +10 control boost and +1 km/h velocity boost when runners occupy scoring position. Meanwhile, a nagging negative trait, the pre-clutch penalty, vanished the moment the resale ticket was purchased.
A Shared Creative Vision for the Mound
The sharply dressed man whose suit was narrowly saved offered a brief, dismissive warning before moving on, leaving an indignant Uta to vent her anger. Shino used the moment to pivot the conversation toward deeper personal struggles, reflecting on his own difficulties while teammate Tishima emerged as an ace. When Uta asked if Shino ever felt overwhelmed by hidden frustrations or a desire to tear down the world around him, the pitcher acknowledged that her music had previously pulled him out of a dark, indifferent mental loop caused by a time-loop reset engineered by the deity Tsukiyomi.
Struck by how much her art had reignited his competitive fire, Shino floated a spontaneous proposal: using the band’s music as his official walk-out and pitching entrance theme when taking the mound next season. Taken aback, Uta stammered before asking for time to consult Fubuki and Miu before giving a formal answer during spring training in February. As the interaction closed, a visibly blushing Uta asked to exchange contact information, instantly triggering the acquisition of a Playmaker
trait.
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