Mash-Up: I'm Not A Substitute

[Ding! Detected Event 5: Attend the fireworks festival with Ryuju Momo — complete. Reward: Gangster Pack ×1, 10,000 points]

[Ding! Detected Event 11: Attend the fireworks festival with Koyasu Tsubame — complete. Reward: Dance Pack ×1, 10,000 points]

[Would you like to open the rewards?]

On Day 8 of the Koshien tournament, Takashi was having breakfast at the buffet when the system rewards arrived.

Open them!

He thought while chewing on toast.

The last two boxes he opened were pretty useless, so he had no expectations this time.

[Ding! Gangster Pack opened. Congratulations! You received: Toyota HiAce, Gangster Aura.]

[Toyota HiAce: Childhood nightmare of Guangdong kids, mobile HQ of Chan Ho Nam. Allegedly filled with intellectuals who love reading the newspaper.

Effect: Hit the brakes and even Stephen Hawking would run two blocks.

Seats: 12 max? 

Intro: Chill, chill—sweep two blocks first!]

[Gangster Aura: When you treat the world viciously, you'll find out—it's actually quite gentle.]

[Ding! Dance Pack opened. Congratulations! You received: Flexibility!]

[Flexibility: A man shouldn't always be too hard—sometimes being soft gives a better burst.]

GOLDEN LEGEND!!!

Takashi was extremely pleased with this round of rewards.

Now, he could even count as a car owner.

Although driving that car might not just make you look impressive—it might scare people instead.

Of course, whether it's about the car or not doesn't really matter.

Takashi was satisfied because of the Gangster Aura and Flexibility.

Gangster Aura doesn't mean being unreasonable, overbearing, or lawless. 

It's a kind of fierce determination—the courage to break conventions, take responsibility, and push yourself to the limit.

As the saying goes: Mercy doesn't lead armies.

Once someone becomes a leader, they can't always act gentle and easygoing.

That's not truly being kind to employees, and it won't lead a team to victory.

Great leaders all carry a kind of "gangster edge."

Even the refined Lei Jun once said something full of gangster spirit: Look death in the face. If they're not convinced, just fight!

As for Flexibility—that's even more important.

Flexibility is crucial for athletes.

Good flexibility not only increases joint range of motion and reduces injury risk, it also boosts muscle elasticity and smoothness, improving agility and coordination.

Take basketball, for example—a player with good flexibility can more easily perform crossovers, direction changes, and dunks, gaining an edge on the court.

Compared to last time, this was definitely a golden pull.

"Takashi, are you done eating? We're heading out."

Kudata Musashi called Takashi.

"Yeah, coming."

Takashi grabbed the baseball cap from the table, pulled it down tight, and strode toward his teammates.

…

Koshien, the tournament symbolizing youth and passion, generally lasts only 14 days.

Forty-nine teams must finish the tournament in 14 days—the packed schedule speaks for itself.

This brutal pace is why many promising teams ultimately miss the championship.

Near the end, players don't get enough rest and rely entirely on willpower.

That's one of the long-standing criticisms of Koshien.

But the organizers are powerless to change it.

High school matches can only be arranged during holidays; only bad weather permits using class days.

This was Aoba's third-round match, scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

The team manager had already arranged the bus, and they started loading people up early in the morning.

Hanshin Koshien Stadium was even more packed.

This time, not only had all Aoba's students and faculty, including the principal, come, but even many graduates took leave from work to attend.

Making it into the national Top 16 was Aoba's best achievement in the past decade.

Unless there was an emergency, everyone showed up to support the younger generation.

The sense of unity at Aoba Private High was unimaginable for other schools.

For instance, when Takashi needed to borrow camera equipment at the last anime convention for a photoshoot with Kitagawa Marin, he just called Nakamiya Haruto. 

As soon as Nakamiya found out it was a younger Aoba student asking, he sent the gear over without hesitation.

And before that, Takashi had never even met Nakamiya Haruto.

…

In the stadium, Kato Keiichi had just greeted his schoolmates when he turned to the curious Kato Megumi and said, "Megumi, this is your first time watching baseball in person, right?"

"Mhm."

"How does it feel?"

Megumi tilted her head, ponytail swaying.

She thought for a moment. "It's totally different from watching it on TV."

The atmosphere was completely different from being at home.

"You're not uncomfortable, right?"

Kato Keiichi asked, concerned.

Megumi shook her head. "Not at all."

She wasn't socially anxious and didn't mind crowds.

"Cousin, how come your hospital's not busy today?"

Megumi asked casually, like chatting at home.

"It is busy! Hospitals are never not busy."

"Then you took leave today?"

"Yup."

"Eh? Why?"

Megumi didn't understand.

It's just a baseball game. Was it worth taking leave?

Whether they won or lost didn't really matter to her cousin, right?

"This is Takashi and my juniors' last game. I was coming no matter what."

Kato Keiichi replied seriously, for once.

Hearing the name "Takashi," Megumi's long lashes trembled slightly.

She remembered the boy who lit up the sky with fireworks for her that night.

She was trying hard not to think about him.

But his figure still popped into her mind from time to time.

"Cousin… you really think Aoba will lose?"

She shook her head, trying to break the train of thought.

"Even though I hate to say it, the gap between Aoba and Osaka Toin is just too big."

It's not that Aoba wasn't strong.

Aoba was very strong.

As long as they didn't face Osaka Toin or Chukyo High, they could've at least reached the semifinals.

Unfortunately, Aoba got a tough draw—facing Osaka Toin in the Top 16.

"Takashi's legend… might end today."

Kato Keiichi sighed with regret.

The strongest batting lineup versus the most naturally gifted pitcher in Aoba's history.

If Takashi could realize his potential, this match could still be competitive.

But sadly, he had started too late.

So late that he hadn't even had time to realize that potential before being thrust into this moment of crisis.

It was all fate.

Maybe Aoba just wasn't destined to be champions.

"..."

Megumi didn't reply, but her heart was already filled with concern for Takashi.

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