"Crack!"
"Strike! Batter out! Sides exchanged!" Coach Kataoka's cold words echoed across the field, and the first-year students stood rooted to the spot, their faces filled with disbelief.
The sixth batter, a highly anticipated fourth batter from a certain middle school, stood motionless, seemingly unable to believe he was out, stunned and silent. Even in the first inning, the first-year batters from first to third were easily struck out, but the subsequent batters, those first-year students, still thought the first inning was just for familiarization.
However, in the bottom of the first inning, the second and third-year Senpai mercilessly showed them what high school Baseball was truly like. The glaring "5" on the scoreboard seemed to mock them, a group of ignorant youngsters.
The gap was truly immense.
After finally enduring the second and third-year's attack, Tojo Hideaki was already drenched in sweat, his face pale as he collapsed onto his seat, gasping for air.
But in less than a few minutes… just a few minutes…
The sides were exchanged.
Almost every first-year's face revealed a look of despair. In their eyes, this was just a Red and White Battle! Wasn't it supposed to be a game to test their first-year skill level?
Why? Why were the second and third-year Senpai so fierce and desperate, as if treating it like a real, official game? Kanemaru gritted his teeth, put on his cap, and walked towards the field with a gloomy, unwilling expression.
Aj frowned slightly, picked up his glove, and walked towards the outfield. In his previous life, he could see the low morale of these first-years even through the screen, but Aj hadn't expected it to be this low.
Like stagnant water, Aj had only caught one difficult outfield fly ball in the first inning, getting an out on a second-year senpai, which made the second and third-years slightly wary. After that, he noticed the ball completely stopped flying his way.
It was like watching a play, two consecutive innings of watching a play.
This situation left Aj speechless. Aj glanced out of the corner of his eye at Sawamura, who was playing catch with Miyuki not far away. He didn't know which inning Coach Kataoka would put Sawamura in. He remembered Sawamura started as an outfielder, right?
However, the current situation was even more unpredictable. With him, a small butterfly, added to the mix, anything could happen with the plot.
"Tanba really has a strong presence."
"Yeah, yeah, if this continues, this year's tournament will be worth looking forward to!"
"But these guys don't have the composure Senpai should have. Look how much they're crushing the first-years."
Some people commented on Tanba's performance with praise, while others were concerned that it might be too discouraging for the first-year students.
"Bang!" Another spectacular hit to center field, a clean slide, and a third-year senpai reached Second Base!
"Ha! Ha!" Tojo panted heavily on the pitcher's mound.
This was only the second inning! Batting, running the bases! These were simply not on the same level! Tojo felt powerless and alone on the pitcher's mound. His teammates around him couldn't give him any effective help.
Help? Tojo gave a bitter smile. As the first line of defense, how many players had he and the catcher struck out? None. The strikeout count was zero! A big, capital zero!
They only managed to get outs through difficult catches or accidental touches. For this, they paid the price of five runs in the first inning!
And in this inning? With only one out, there were already three hits and one RBI.
Whoosh…
"Bang!"
Another long hit, fortunately flying towards Left Outfield. Although the second and third-years were intentionally controlling the direction of their hits, well, it was impossible to control every ball perfectly.
Aj's pupils slightly contracted. The moment the ball flew out, he immediately judged its landing spot and quickly ran towards the ball.
With a gentle reach, he caught the ball, getting an out on that second-year senpai. He finally got the third out of this game. The senpai looked displeased, clicked his tongue, and walked off the field indignantly.
Aj's performance made the spectators' eyes light up slightly.
"Oh, this first-year's catch is very solid."
"Hmm, quite good. He seems to be an international student from Philippines, right? I think his name is Aj?"
"Philippines?"
The spectators discussed Aj's performance with great interest. After all, among this group of first-years, Aj's performance stood out, especially his mental state, which completely lacked the low morale of the other fielders.
"Hoh…" Miyuki looked at Aj, a smile he couldn't hide in the corner of his eye. As expected, he's the guy who said that, isn't he?
Top of the third inning, first-year's offense, starting from the seventh batter! How to put it, this inning, it was Aj's turn to bat. Aj checked his batting equipment and his shoes while sitting on the bench.
"Strike! Batter out!"
"Whew!" For the last pitch, Tanba chose a Curveball. Its strange, curving arc, a deliberate, intimidating presence, even scared a first-year student into falling to the ground.
He stared blankly as the catcher gripped the ball in his glove.
"Hmph, kid! If you don't want to hit properly, then get lost! The field doesn't need your kind!" Keisuke Miyauchi, a third-year first-string substitute catcher, coldly glanced at the first-year student and said with disdain.
"Hmph!" Two rough breaths escaped his nostrils.
The first-year student lowered his head, completely lacking the courage to refute Miyauchi's disdainful words.
"Oh dear, the first-years are no good, completely lacking spirit." The surrounding spectators almost lost interest in this Red and White Battle. There were no first-years worth paying attention to. Aj was only good at catching, and it wasn't even a difficult ball to handle. Earlier, everyone had only given him a second glance.
Firstly, the other first-years performed too poorly, and secondly, it was because he was Filipino.
It really wasn't because Aj performed so well.
"Strike!"
"Foul!"
"Strike! Batter out!" It was almost instantaneous, two outs in a flash.
"Whew!" Aj opened his eyes, slowly exhaling. He stood up from the on-deck circle and walked towards the batter's box, bowing slightly and saying, "Please guide me!"
Gripping the bat with both hands, his demeanor changed. He stared coldly straight ahead at the pitcher's mound, Tanba Koichiro! Hit the ball? Home run? Gain Coach Kataoka's attention from this? The exclamations of the entire crowd?
Yes, these were the things Aj wanted to achieve, but the moment he stepped into the batter's box, everything except swinging the bat was thrown out of his mind!
What the eye sees is where one stands!