The desperate shouts and cheers from the first-years were as if two real teams were on the decisive field, playing the most crucial game!
"First-years!"
"Haha, how should I put it, those guys have filled the entire first-year group with vitality!" The onlookers all showed unique smiles, watching the performance on the field with great interest.
Ace! I stand here, trusted by the entire first-year group!
Baseball cannot be played alone; a pitch is the best work between a pitcher and a catcher. But what was I just thinking? Did I want to defeat the batter in front of me with my own strength?
Sawamura Eijun thought regretfully about his previous ideas. Wouldn't that be betraying his teammates?
Sawamura Eijun stared intently at Kariba Wataru, who was in the catching squat, ready to receive his pitch. Suddenly, Miyuki Kazuya's figure flashed in his mind. He glanced slightly at Miyuki Kazuya not far away, and a look of understanding flashed across Sawamura Eijun's face.
"Time out!"
Just when everyone thought the decisive moment was about to begin, and Masuko Toru was solemn and confident, ready to bat, a sudden voice startled everyone on the field.
The first-years' cheers stopped abruptly, and they stared blankly at the guy who called for the time out.
Sawamura Eijun ignored the slightly strange looks from others and called for a time out quite normally. At this moment, Sawamura suddenly felt how similar this was to the match when he first arrived at Seido several months ago.
If it weren't for Miyuki Kazuya's guidance, if it weren't for the cooperation between the two of them, he would undoubtedly have been crushed by that guy named Azuma Kiyokuni. That was the result of their combined efforts, and isn't it the same now?
"Hey, you, come over here." Sawamura waved his arm, calling Kariba to approach the pitcher's mound.
Kariba looked astonished, taking off his face mask, and walked towards the pitcher's mound with a look of incomprehension. At first, Kariba thought he had fully understood this guy named Sawamura Eijun.
He was a natural airhead, a sweet and naive person. Well, at least Kariba thought so.
But Sawamura's current actions gave Kariba a very strange feeling.
"What's wrong, Sawamura? Is something the matter?" Kariba jogged to the pitcher's mound, looking at Sawamura Eijun with a puzzled expression.
Sawamura took a deep breath and said, "I think we need to discuss how to pitch. Because I have a hunch this guy might hit my pitch. A pitch is the best work between a pitcher and a catcher. We are partners, so I want to ask for your opinion."
Sawamura shamelessly plagiarized the words Miyuki had said when he first came to Seido, completely forgetting how much he had shown off his pitching when he first arrived at Seido. If it weren't for Miyuki, sigh... past events are tears, I don't want to bring them up again.
Sawamura's words made Kariba's eyes widen.
What? What did that idiot Sawamura just say? Cooperation? Partner? Oh my goodness, Kariba suddenly felt like crying again. This guy in front of him actually had such an awareness?
Kariba found it incredible. Kariba looked at Sawamura with a resentful expression, which made Sawamura feel goosebumps. However, remembering that he had been unilaterally pitching before, without any signal coordination, Sawamura awkwardly scratched his head and smiled.
Kariba sighed slightly. Well, he also knew that it was quite difficult for the naive guy in front of him to speak to this extent.
"Honestly, I don't think we can strike out this batter. I admit your pitch is indeed very tricky, but this batter is Seido's fifth batter in the first string! To be a cleanup batter in a prestigious school like Seido, he is definitely not comparable to an ordinary batter." Kariba took a breath and said decisively, pointing out what he considered reality without reservation.
Sawamura's expression stiffened upon hearing this, and he mumbled, "I even struck out Azuma Kiyokuni, Seido's so-called fourth batter, back then!"
Although his voice was low, at this distance, Kariba could hear it clearly.
Kariba sighed slightly and said, "I've heard about that too, but, Sawamura, I am not Miyuki-senpai. Frankly, it's not that your skill is completely lacking, although there are reasons for that, but as a catcher, my ability to call pitches for you really can't compare to Miyuki-senpai. I hope you understand this."
Sawamura's heart tightened when he heard Kariba's words. He was just simply optimistic and a bit careless, but that didn't mean he was foolish. Kariba's words were very detailed. Indeed, he hadn't changed or improved much compared to half a year ago.
And Kariba also couldn't compare to Miyuki Kazuya, who was known as a genius catcher.
"So, there are only two options if you don't want to get a hit." Kariba paused and said.
"What methods?" Sawamura immediately said, his eyes sparkling.
The time-out in a Baseball game is very short; it's impossible for two people to leisurely discuss strategy. Of course, because this is a Red and White Battle, the restrictions are not particularly strict, but it's also impossible for the first-years to take as much time as they want.
After Kariba quickly finished explaining the two methods, Sawamura's face showed an uncertain expression, seemingly finding it difficult to choose.
Sawamura's mouth moved slightly, and Kariba's eyes showed a surprised expression, then he nodded. As he turned to return to the catching squat,
Kariba paused and said, "Sawamura, just as they said, in this game, you are the Ace of our first-year team! Whatever choice you make, we will trust you."
Then, without waiting for Sawamura to say anything, he quickly ran off.
Sawamura, who originally had a somewhat unwilling expression, heard these words, and the previous cheers from the first-years echoed in his mind. That trace of unwillingness on his face disappeared.
I am the Ace! Leading the team to victory is what an Ace should do!
It must be said that the arrival of Aj, this little butterfly, has completely changed this Red and White Battle from the original work. Except for Furuya Satoru, who remains the same...
Everyone seems to have gained something very important in this Red and White Battle.
And Sawamura Eijun has also initially gained the recognition of the first-year students. Perhaps this recognition is not very solid or heavy, but it represents a good signal.
Spiritual purification, mental maturity—the boy named Sawamura Eijun has taken a firm step forward on the path to becoming an Ace Pitcher, achieving true evolution!
Sawamura Eijun took a deep breath, looking at the batter's box not far away, his resolute fighting spirit clearly displayed in his eyes!