⚾

"Shu... We have some questions."

The albino paused midway through sipping his tea and turned around to see the Beigoma Academy BeyClub and some BC Sol members looking at him intently.

Shu tilted his head in confusion. "What is it, Rantaro?"

Honcho glanced at the raven-haired boy, who sighed tiredly.

"It's just that it doesn't make any sense. Valt was a Blader before you, and yet, based on Wakiya's research, he didn't enter the tournament the same year as you. Then, you once told us that when you were a beginner—which is hard to believe—Valt always won against you. Yet, when he officially entered the competition a year later, he acted like a newbie. It doesn't make any sense." Daigo's confusion was shared by everyone in the room.

Shu smiled upon hearing that.

(Oh, he loved where this was going.)

"Wakiya, since you've already started the research, how come you didn't find anything?" Shu almost smirked slyly when the blond tsundere blushed in embarrassment.

"W-well, b-because I didn't find anything! S-simple as that!" Wakiya stammered.

The green-haired guy rolled his eyes. "You're just making excuses."

Wakiya glared fiercely at Silas, which made Cuza laugh in the background. "SHUT UP!"

Shu sighed. He needed to stop this before it got out of hand.

"If you're all curious, it's because Valt played another sport. Beyblade was his second sport."

He finally dropped the bomb, and everyone in the room froze in their spots.

"WHAT!?!?"

⚾

Once upon a time, before Valt Aoi became a legend among legends in Beyblade, he had been a promising baseball player.

Valt's love for baseball was as intense as his current obsession with Beyblading. His talent on the field was undeniable, earning him a spot as the star pitcher on the Beigoma Baseball Team. His powerful throws, sharpened through countless hours of practice, were legendary among his friends. But it wasn't just his pitching that stood out; Valt's enthusiasm and energy were contagious, inspiring his teammates to give their best. Because of him, the team made it to the championship. He was the star player.

But with that success came great expectations and pressure, causing him to lose his passion for baseball. The sport that once brought him happiness became a source of despair.

It was during this time that he rediscovered an old hobby: Beyblading. He remembered the simple joy of launching a Beyblade and the thrill of competition with his childhood friends. As he spent more time with his Beyblade, Valtryek, he realized that the passion he had for baseball could be channeled into this new sport.

Valt's old teammates were saddened by his resignation but nonetheless supported his decision, prioritizing his happiness.

However, Valt's transition from baseball to Beyblading wasn't a piece of cake. His muscle memory from baseball often interfered with his Beyblade launches. He found himself clumsily fumbling with the launcher, his hands moving as if they were still gripping a baseball. His friends and fellow Bladers often laughed at his awkward stances and unpredictable launches. But Valt's spirit was unbreakable. He knew that if he could master one sport, he could master another.

As Valt practiced, he began to notice similarities between his two beloved sports. The precision and power needed for a perfect pitch were not unlike the skills required for a powerful Beyblade launch. Slowly, he started combining his baseball techniques into his Beyblade launches. He mimicked the wind-up of a pitch (when he repeatedly rotate his arms), adding a unique flair to his style. His iconic launch move, the "Rush Shoot," was born from his pitching motion, allowing him to transfer the explosive energy of a baseball throw into his Beyblade.

Despite his clumsiness, Valt's determination paid off. His unique launching style caught the attention of other Bladers. What was once seen as a disadvantage turned into his greatest strength. Valt's launches became more precise and powerful as days passed. The skills he developed as a pitcher gave him an edge in Beyblading, making his launches and Beyblade moves both powerful and unpredictable.

The members of BC Sol and Beigoma Academy BeyClub gathered in their clubroom, their eyes fixed on Shu as he finished recounting his best friend's story. They had been pestering him about the unusual flair of Valt's launches, and now, they finally had their answer.

"He was a baseball player?" Sasha's eyes widened with surprise. "That's so cool! But why didn’t Valt tell us sooner?"

They all had the same question; after all, Valt was the open-book type of person.

"I guess he never thought it was important," Xander shrugged and grinned playfully. "He was way too focused on Beyblading and maybe didn't think his baseball past mattered."

'That's definitely Valt,' the others thought in dismay.

"But now it totally makes sense!" Kit exclaimed. "Aniki's launch moves have that weird wind-up. It’s like he's throwing a pitch every time."

"So, that's why he was so clumsy at first," Cuza laughed, remembering Valt’s struggles.

Ken nodded and spoke using Besu, "The dude was actually trying to figure out how to blend two very different sports. That's insane and amazing at the same time."

Their respect for the newly crowned champion had increased.

Even Free, who had been listening to their conversation, was pretty impressed. He barely knew the kid. Huh. This was really interesting.

Meanwhile, Gramps Raul smiled proudly. He had already figured it out in the first place.

(How? Well, it was obvious if a person was actually paying attention.)

During a practice session, Valt demonstrated his unique launch technique to his friends. He stood with his legs apart, winding up his arm in a pitching motion. As he released Valtryek, the Beyblade shot forward with explosive power, mimicking the velocity of a fastball.

‘It’s all about the momentum,’ the BeyTrainer thought. ‘He uses the same energy that would be used for a pitch. The wind-up helps him generate more force, making his launches faster and stronger. It may look odd, but it's actually pretty effective in a sense.’

In another match, Valt showcased his Winged Launch, a technique inspired by his curveball pitch. As Valtryek spun towards its opponent, Valt used precise wrist movements to guide it in a curved path, catching the other Blader off guard.

Raul once again assessed the situation.
‘It’s all about the wrist action and timing. He applies the same principle to control Valtryek’s trajectory. It may look amazing, but it's actually pretty risky. It could lead to a self-burst, and without proper control, channeling its energy is difficult as well. But, due to the young boy's talent and scary momentum control, it appears as if Lady Luck blessed him, enabling him to succeed with this seemingly impossible launch attack. A logical and analytical Blader would avoid doing such a thing since its burst capability is low, and yet this boy had the guts to pull it off. Impressive.’

Raul smiled at the memory. His past as a baseball player had shaped him into the Blader he is today.

From afar, a certain wonder boy sneezed loudly.

"Sheesh, who's talking about me behind my back?"

⚾

VALT PLAYS BASEBALL