Ken returned to his room a while later, feeling exhausted. He had left Daichi and Miho alone after they had finally decided to get into a relationship, not wanting to get between them.
'I hope they don't end up chatting all night. We play the US tomorrow after all.' He thought inwardly, opening his room door.
Upon entering, the first thing he saw was Hiroki fast asleep on Daichi's bed. It was likely that he thought Daichi might not react as violently as Ken upon finding him in his bed.
Ken let out a sigh and checked the time. It was currently 9pm, but their wasn't until 1pm tomorrow. The coach wouldn't care if they slept in as long as they were ready at the appointed time.
He quickly got through his nightly routine before hopping into bed. Since Hiroki was already asleep, it was the perfect time to open the system, something he'd been wanting to do all day.
MAJOR LEAGUE SYSTEM
SYSTEM LEVEL: 4 (77,880/100,000 Major points to level up)
NAME: Ken Takagi
AGE: 16
TALENT ASSESSMENT: SS
POTENTIAL: SS+
MAJOR POINTS: 77,880
USER MENU:
-STATS
-MISSIONS (1 notification)
-SYSTEM SHOP
-LOTTERY (Locked)
-IMAGE TRAINING
-IDENTIFY
-TRAINING PLAN
-MENTOR
USER STATS:
>Physical Fitness: SS
>Pitching: SS+
>Fielding: B
>Game Intelligence: B
>Mental: SS
>Skills: 20
>Traits: 1
PHYSICAL FITNESS: (Avg. SS)
Balance and Coordination: SS+
Agility: SS-
Strength: SS
Stamina: SS+
Seeing the flashing icon next to his missions caused Ken's face to break out into a grin. He already knew what it was, but that didn't kill his excitement at all.
#NEW MISSION: U18 Baseball World Cup
*Task 1: Get onto base 15 times [12/15]
*Task 2: Hit 8 home runs [8/8]
*Task 3: Do not drop a single catch
*Task 4: Advance to Super Round
*Task 5: Finish top 2 in Super Round
*Task 6: Win the World Cup
*Task 7: Win player of the Tournament
*Hidden Task: Rob a home run two times [2/2] [Completed]
REWARDS:
>Task 1 rewards - 5,000 Major points
>Task 2 rewards - 5,000 Major points
>Task 3 rewards - 7,000 Major points + Fielding Boost
>Task 4 rewards - 10,000 Major points + Skill Selection ticket
>Task 5 rewards - 15,000 Major points + Potential Booster
>Task 6 rewards - 25,000 Major points + SSS-Grade Physicality Elixir
>Task 7 rewards - 25,000 Major points + SSS-Grade Mental Elixir
>Hidden Task rewards - Trait: Academic [Claim Reward]
"Kekeke, come to me…"
Ken's bad habit appeared once more after ogling his prize. His words were similar to a line from a third-rate villain from a bad movie.
Yet he didn't care, clicking the Claim Reward button with an expectant grin.
[Congratulations, user has completed the hidden task: Thief in the Outfield]
# Hidden Task: Rob a home run two times.
*Rewards: Academic Trait
Ken raised his eyebrow at the systems naming convention, but quickly focused on the most important point.
'Let's see what this trait is…'
>Skills: 20
>Traits: 2 (new)
He clicked on the traits menu and was met with another system window. He pressed the new Academic trait and was suddenly bombarded with text.
Trait: Academic
Description: The Academic trait grants user exceptional intellectual abilities and a keen aptitude for learning and understanding complex concepts quickly. This trait makes the user an adept student, not just in the classroom but also in analyzing and strategizing for baseball.
With the Academic trait, user can absorb and apply knowledge effectively, enhancing both his athletic and academic pursuits.
Effects:
Enhanced Learning: User can grasp new concepts and skills rapidly, reducing the time needed to learn and master new techniques or strategies.
Strategic Thinking: User's ability to analyze and understand game strategies is heightened, allowing him to make smarter plays and outthink opponents on the field.
Memory Recall: Improved memory helps user remember detailed information about opponents, game scenarios, and techniques, which they can recall at crucial moments.
Focus and Concentration: Increased mental focus allows user to maintain high levels of concentration during both academic studies and intense game situations.
Academic Performance: User's performance in his academic studies is significantly improved.
"Oh. My. Goodness…"
Ken read through the list of effects for his new trait with tremendous speed. It took him all of a few seconds to completely digest the new information which he understood was a result from the trait itself.
"This… this is cheating." He mumbled, half in shock.
Originally he had tried to convince himself that having his system wasn't exactly cheating. Some players had God-given talents that far surpassed him, so he believed that the system was just his way of catching up.
Yet as his brain now operated like a top of the line PC, he could consciously admit that it was cheating.
He closed his eyes, pouring over memories which were once forgotten. He could recall things in vivid detail, as if he was experiencing the moment once more.
Ken seemed to drift off to sleep as he watched memories of his life as if it were a movie.
A memory that he did not want to replay, jumped to the forefront of his mind.
He could feel his heart beating wildly, doing its best to pump adrenaline into his system and counteract the effects of the drug. He could feel the cold floor of his apartment after toppling to the ground.
The hopelessness of his plight as he dug into his bag and saw he'd taken the wrong pills.
Then came the merciless regret which threatened to overwhelm him, sucking him down into the deep abyss.
"Haaah Haaah Haaah"
Ken quickly sat up in his bed, gasping for air, his whole body matted with sweat as the blanket stuck to his body.
"W-What's wrong!?"
Hiroki quickly jumped out of bed, turning the nearest lamp on. His face still looked half asleep, but he seemed alert. As he turned his attention to Ken, he saw his pale face and sweat covered body.
"Ken what happened?"
"J-Just a bad dream." He responded, trying to catch his breath.
His heart was still beating wildly in his chest as he did his best to calm down.