"He's finally out!"
"Let's beat you to a pulp! You arrogant first-year!"
"Hmph, even if you cry on the pitcher's mound, we won't let you leave it easily!"
The moment Furuya Satoru walked onto the pitcher's mound, the second and third-year Senpai' emotions immediately surged! Unlike Aj's performance in the first half of the inning, which stimulated them, Furuya had truly provoked the second and third-year Senpai at dinner last night...
Well, there was also the foul-mouthed Sawamura. Hmm, basically, the second and third-year Senpai' anger came from these three. Eh? You mean the other one? Of course, it was Aj. Although he wasn't as foul-mouthed or naturally naive as Sawamura and Furuya—hmm, it was a clumsy and cute display—his steady demeanor, and almost hitting a Home Run off Tanba's pitch (an illusion), made those second and third-year Senpai want to teach him a good lesson even more...
Aj himself was very curious how the script would unfold, whether it was the strong inertia of the original plot or an extra bug caused by his appearance. Aj wouldn't be surprised by any further unexpected events...
However, it seems, hmm, the possibility of an unexpected event might be somewhat low... Probably... Aj thought to himself.
Furuya Satoru stood on the pitcher's mound, his cold and unapproachable expression immediately made the first-year catcher, who had originally wanted to go to the pitcher's mound to discuss the pitch sequence with Furuya, abandon his idea...
His demeanor didn't seem like the type to discuss things properly. His spirit had already been shattered by the second and third-year Senpai. Anyway, it didn't matter anymore. Forget it, let's just go with it...
The young catcher thought helplessly, then squatted down in the catching zone. Sigh, whatever comes, let it come. Let's just end this boring Red and White Battle soon. He didn't want to continue. The first-year catcher thought despondently...
"Start!" Coach Kataoka glanced coldly at Furuya Satoru and the catcher, then imperceptibly shook his head and said coldly. Ultimately, among this year's freshmen, only three had currently caught Coach Kataoka's eye...
As for the rest, he would have to wait and see. After all, it's almost impossible for someone to immediately adapt and become a force after coming from middle school to high school. It's normal to be hit hard like this at the beginning. It's just that some performances seemed a bit too poor....
Furuya Satoru, standing on the pitcher's mound, looked calmly at the senpai in the batting box, showing no emotion. He exhaled slightly.
The moment Coach Kataoka's words fell, his expression became stern. It seemed that at that moment, his aura condensed, and his eyes radiated something called 'momentum'! A cold yet imposing feeling!
He took a big step forward, and his right arm swung violently!
"Whoosh!"
A blue shockwave-like object surged forth! It roared and snarled as it shot towards the batter!
Like an existence that devoured everything, the batter was instantly stunned at that moment, not moving at all. In that moment of daze, the ball flew past the batter's hitting range.
With a "bang!" it sounded as if it had hit something, making a violent noise!
"Coach!"
"Are you alright, Coach!"
Furuya Satoru's pitch roared like a beast, arriving in an instant. Neither the catcher nor the batter had time to react. That fast pitch, with its low-to-high trajectory, even knocked off the protective mask of Coach Kataoka, who was acting as umpire...
The second and third-year Senpai nearby immediately gathered around, some even glaring fiercely at Furuya Satoru!
"Haha!" But to their surprise, Coach Kataoka actually laughed, a smile appearing on his stern face for the first time.
"Furuya Satoru! You've passed! Starting tomorrow, you'll join the first team training! You don't need to continue this game!" Coach Kataoka's words were like a bolt from the blue, shocking everyone present!
"Coach! Please let the game continue!" The third-year senpai in the batting box was instantly dumbfounded. He had been hoping to blast Furuya and show him what high school Baseball was all about, but Coach Kataoka's plan...
"No one among the first-years can catch his pitch!" Coach Kataoka's words were cold, causing the first-year catcher beside him and the catchers in the dugout to change their expressions and immediately look disheartened. Not being able to catch a Pitcher's ball is the biggest blow for a catcher; it could even become a significant factor in questioning their identity as a catcher.
"This way, Miyuki-senpai can catch my pitches!" It was as if it were tangible; everyone around could feel a blue flame burning from Furuya's body!
That burning will! He stared intensely at Miyuki, who was not far away. Miyuki looked at Furuya's challenging gaze, smiled indifferently, and shrugged. Miyuki had completely seen through Furuya's personality at dinner last night; he was just a naturally clumsy kid...
Hmm, but he's quite interesting. This year's first-years, Miyuki covered his mouth and chuckled secretly, like a thief who had stolen some treasure...
"Pitcher change!"
"Caught out! Change of sides!"
That inning finally ended with Furuya leaving the field, and the score settled at nine, surprisingly not breaking ten. This surprised Aj. It really was one pitch that changed the momentum and flow....
It's really a bit exaggerated... Aj thought, stroking his chin.
The second and third-year Senpai' offensive momentum seemed to have been suppressed by that one pitch. In his previous life, Aj truly didn't believe in such a fantastical situation—that one pitch could change the momentum? Well, reality was before him, leaving Aj no choice but to believe.
"Indeed, this kid really has the potential to become an Ace!" Aj looked at Furuya, who was packing his things in the dugout, and thought with emotion. His natural fastball was a perfect gift from heaven!
How envious, Aj thought with some emotion. No wonder Coach Kataoka valued Furuya so much later, even though Coach Kataoka was emotionally more inclined towards Sawamura, he ultimately chose to focus on developing Furuya....
However, this was not the Ace Aj envisioned, nor was it the Ace he recognized, even if Furuya in his previous life had reached a superhuman level...
But!
"Eh, you're leaving?" A first-year beside him looked at Furuya, who had finished packing and was about to leave, and asked with some confusion. Although the Coach had told him to leave the field, the game wasn't over yet. He was just leaving?
"Hmm, there's no meaning in continuing." Furuya Satoru said indifferently, then packed his luggage and left.
"Also, Aj, you can leave the field now too." At this moment, Coach Kataoka's cold words rang out, making Aj, who was considering the upcoming defense and batting, slightly stunned. He looked up in surprise at Coach Kataoka, who was not far away. Although Coach Kataoka had already said it during this Red and White Battle...
To give every first-year student a chance, basically everyone only had two or three innings to play. He had already had a premonition, but being replaced like this, Aj was still a bit unwilling...
But unwillingness couldn't change anything; he had to leave the field, didn't he? Aj clenched his fists tightly, feeling a strong urge within him not to leave the field.
Everyone wasn't surprised; Coach Kataoka had already mentioned this substitution rhythm before. But Coach Kataoka's next sentence once again greatly surprised everyone....