"We have word that Ken Takagi has been discharged from the hospital after receiving an errant pitch to the head in yesterday's semi-final match at Koshien."
"Our sources say that although no further information was divulged about the injury, he will not be eligible to play in tomorrow's finals."
As the news reporter was talking, Ken saw the footage of him receiving the ball to the helmet at full speed. There was even a slow motion replay showing the impact, making him shudder.
It was weird to see himself on TV, more so getting dropped by a pitch to the head.
He inwardly thanked the system for providing him with the Recovery Elixir, otherwise things could have gone real bad at the end. Yet it wasn't something that he wanted to think about.
'I'll need to work on my dodging ability.' He thought inwardly.
Ken had lost focus after seeing Yatsuo fall to the ground clutching his wrist. This led to the unfortunate moment where he'd been hit in the side of the head.
"Ken?"
Shiro emerged from the room where he'd just dropped off his bags, looking like a zombie. His hair was disheveled and he had bags under his eyes, looking like he hadn't slept at all.
"KEN!"
The small guy ran forwards and launched himself at him, clinging his legs around Ken as he went for a hug. Due to his short stature, he almost looked like a child who had rendezvoused with their father after a long time.
Ken's face turned up in disgust and he was about to throw the guy off him, however that was until he heard Shiro's next words.
"I thought you were going to die…" Shiro mumbled, holding on for dear life.
Ken's features softened a little bit as he patted the teen on the head.
"Don't worry, it'll take more than that to kill me." He said laughingly.
"Oh damn, should we get you guys a room?"
Yusuke's voice called out from the side, his expression full of smiles. It wasn't just him who had arrived either. Hiroki, Yuta, Kaori, Yuko and even Ai were nearby and had spotted him.
Seeing Ai, he suddenly tried to pry the Koala-like figure who was clinging onto him so tightly, yet he failed. Before he could try once more with all his strength, he felt the floor vibrate as if it was the prelude to a stampede.
Ken turned around only to see the entire team rushing towards him, only one thing on their mind.
"Ah no wait!"
However it was too late. He was suddenly bombarded by the group, receiving hugs and slaps all over. While it would usually be a heartwarming moment, it soon devolved into chaos.
"Hey! Who punched my butt?"
"It's your damn fault for putting it in my face"
"Argh someone stepped on my toe."
Ken struggled violently within the mass of bodies. Thankfully he was tall enough that he could breathe properly, though some didn't have that luxury.
'M-Mika! Activate Limit Break… Please'
He pleaded with Mika to use one of his skills so he could break out of the entanglement.
[User cannot use this skill outside of a baseball match]
Ken cried inwardly. He could see Ai giggling next to the other managers while the whole team bombarded him, yet that didn't help his cause.
Feeling desperate and out of options, Ken latched onto the only thing he believed could save him.
'Please Mika, use anything that can help me get out.'
[Understood. Activating flatulence protocol]
'Huh? Flatulence protocol?'
BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRT
Like a V-Twin motorbike engine the fart roared itself into existence, threatening to blow away those who made the mistake of being too close.
The sound was intimidating, yet it was not the most dangerous part of the attack.
"Urgh, damn it. Who farted?"
"BLERGH"
"M-Makoto! Is that another one of your protein farts?"
Suddenly, those in the vicinity began choking as they were assaulted by the deadly weapon. Soon enough, only Ken and Shiro were left at the epicenter of the detonation zone.
Ken grabbed Shiro by the collar and easily removed him from his earlier position. His face was bright red as the embarrassment of letting a huge one rip assaulted his ego.
'Ah, he's unconscious…'
Suddenly, Ken had an idea, one that he was not too proud of in that moment.
"Damn it Shiro, what the hell kind of fart was that?" He yelled before placing him on the floor gingerly.
With that, he quickly ran away and left the poor guy to be stared at by everyone on the team. Though he felt really bad at that point in time, Shiro had been the cause of this whole situation to begin with.
"Does someone need to check his underwear?"
"Man, I didn't know that guy had such an atomic weapon."
"Forget that. We need to open up some windows or something."
After a few minutes, the smell began to disperse. Ken who was feeling guilty, went over and grabbed the poor guy before taking him outside to get some fresh air.
Funnily enough, this was not the first time that he'd carried the teen's broken body. In fact, it seemed to be a trend with Shiro after any heavy workouts to be carried by him.
The other two managers had already left once the bomb dropped. Only Ai had broken into an even more uncontrollable laughter than before. She had to leave shortly after since her sides were cramping so much.
Thus Ken was welcomed back into the team after such a scary incident. Dinner that night was full of jokes and lighthearted laughter as everyone enjoyed the return of their Ace.
Shiro had recovered from the earlier incident, though he swore that he didn't remember letting out a fart. While Ken kept his mouth shut, he vowed to tell him what really happened in the future.
Though everyone seemed in good spirits, there was an undertone of determination beneath each player. Tomorrow was the finals of Koshien and they needed to play without their Ace.
There was one player who felt the pressure more than anyone, and that was Akira.