Vol 7 Chapter 5 (1/2)
The Fifth Question
Remember these baseball rules!
Yuuji: “So that's how it is Since Himeji doesn't understand baseball, ill do a simple explanation of the rules”
Akihisa: “We're norht, to think that it'll be the other way around”
Mizuki: “Ple, please teach me well”
Yuuji: “Noe're going to explain the foul called 'balk[1]'”
Mizuki: “Balkis it?”
Yuuji: “That's right This is a foul when the pitcher's pitching”
Mizuki: “A foul? What is it about?”
Akihisa: “For example, when the pitcher's steps on the rubber to pick off the baserunner in place but didn't throw the ball out”
Yuuji: “Or throwing a pickoff while the toes are facing the batter”
Akihisa: “And there's also the 2-part pitching stance—stoppingmotion, even if it's a little bit, these are all fouls”
Mizuki: “Leta pickoff, and the 2-part pitching stance”
Yuuji: “Anyway, it's not okay as long as the pitcher does so to hassle the batter or make the batter misunderstand”
Akihisa: “Like letting the batter think that 'the pitch is co the batter think that the pitch won't be co out of a sudden This will severely affect the match”
Mizuki: “I seeso letting people misunderstand is called a balk”
Yuuji: “Well, yeah, you just need to think this way”
Mizuki: “Then, Akihisa-kun”
Akihisa: “Hm? What is it?”
Mizuki: “You balked”
Akihisa: “Eh?”
Mizuki: “You balked”
Akihisa: “What are you saying, Himeji-san?”
Mizuki: “Akihisa-kun balked”
Akihisa: “Eh”
Yuuji: “HaaI'm too lazy to even comment about this”
In the end, class 3-E and 3-F couldn't beat each other, and so we advanced to the next round without a fight
Thus--
“It's time for the semi-finals”
“Yup, the class of that Toko-Natsu pair”
We've just battled against thee a while back, and noe met each other so soon It seems that we have sort of inexplicable relationshi+p with those two
“Um, so that means 2-A lost?”
“I guess they did”
“They lost? They have the alhty Kirishi+ma-san!”
The class rep of 2-A, Kirishi+reater than even Hiroup?
“Mmwell, she's not as bad as Hiuess that's the reason why she lost”
“The way I see it, there are people who are as impressive as Kirishi+ma”
“Well, I guess so”
Anyway, since class A, which is led by Kirishi+ma-san, lost, we have to be ever more cautious now
I guess there's only 1 or 2 tiet points from the third years
“It's pointless to think about it now Let's hurry to the sports center”
“That's right We should be able to understand once we play against them”
I' about the fact that 2-A lost to the Besides, the key to us winning is the plan Yuuji comes up with Class 2-A has Kirishi+hts thoroughly, leading them, so they should be harder to beat than class 3-A with better marks
“Yuuji”
“Hm? What is it, Akihisa?”
“If class 2-A advanced, ould your plan be?”
I think Yuuji thought of a plan against 2-A already
“I actually planned to get Kubo to join us by char him over and play 10 vs 8”
On hearing my question, Yuuji casually answered back 10 vs 8if we can do it, the difference between both classes can be reduced, so it will be to our advantage It's just
“Char? How can Kubo-san do such a dirty thing?”
“Reallyif you can think this way,to you”
“The real Kubo got blinded by those corrupted feelings”
“Not knowing is the real blessing”
“Eh? Why is everyone looking at me with pity when I mentioned Kubo-san?”
Those eyes looked like someone just died I can't understand them at all
“Oh yeah, Yuuji, what's our plan now?”
“To be honest, I really didn't expect 2-A to lose with Shouko and Kubo a them, so I didn't really make any adjustments for the match with class 3-A However--”
Though he says this, Yuuji must have planned already
“--I guess we should just kill their summoned beasts”
I see, this plan is easy to understand
“Seeuys don't have any sportsmanshi+p at all”
“This tactic is the worst”
“Kill the to kick them out?”
Seeing Himeji-san look so puzzled, it seems that she still doesn't understand Yuuji's plan well
“Got it So we're going to beat those guys up during a mess-up until they can't show up?”
“Who're we doing it on?”
“I'd say, you guys have already accepted such a plan without hesitation”
Muttsurini, who's used to assassination, taking photos from the shadows, cover operations and doesn't even have any relation to sportsmanshi+p Of course, he accepted it without any resistance I'uy normally, but we have an aim we have to achieve no matter what, so it can't be helped that we have to use such underhanded means to win”
“No, it's alright even when it's not adirectly”
“Yup, like sliding into the opponent or throwing a 'Hit by Pitch'”
“Or faking a swing and hitting the bat on the opponent”
“That's good Great that you can understand”
“I sayyou guys are really too evil!”
It's too crude to call us evil If there's a need to call us that, just say that we have a flexible approach to the rules
Standing beside us, Minami rolls her eyes and says,
“I say, you guysif you guys do such a thing, you deserve it even when you're scolded and called 'despicable'!”
Despicable? Scolded? What is this girl saying?
“Hoho, Minami, it seems that you don't understand”
“Yup Seeotten the whiff of our sportsmanshi+p”
“Lack understanding”
I, Yuuji and Muttsurini answered in turn Can't be helped though Even though she didn't study enough, there has to be a limit
“Wha, what do youto say?”
“Listen up, Minami”
Seeing the troubled and puzzled Minami, all three of us answered loudly in unison,
“““DESPICABLE AND DIRTY ARE THINGS THAT ONLY LOSERS WILL COMPLAIN ABOUT!!!”””
“YOU GUYS ARE REALLY ROTTEN!!”
This is the golden rule of winning and losing To e have to pull all the stops
“Uu, well, but even if we force the opponent's summoned beasts to be iht? How should we deal with it? And looking at their points, we can't possibly do ht?”
Hideyoshi+ voiced out his doubt
That's true It's okay to take them out, but what do we do after that?
“The opponents are the 3rd years And the spot-check was only done on the 2nd years, so their desire to win isn't a great, right?”
“Mn, that's true”
We're et back those confiscated items, and we're a whole lot different fro this school event out of necessity
“So we'll use the difference in strength of motivation”
“Using the difference in motivation? Even if you say that”
“Ahh, well, just look at it Besides, there's no other way anyway”
“Mn, I got it somewhat”
“Understood”
Yuuji didn't explain the plan further, and we head to the in
“At tiuy”
“Using such evil et back the A-books”
“Ah, ah hahahaha”
”--STRIKE THREE! BATTER OUT!”
The uhout the sports arena, and the 1st batter Minami walked back in a lonely manner As expected of class 3-A, their ball velocity and control can't be underestimated
”Sorry, I really couldn't hit it”
”Don't worry, shi+e difference in scores anyway”
Yuuji consoled Mina Chemistry as the subject, and as it's not Minami's speciality, it couldn't be helped that she couldn't hit it Besides, Yuuji's plan isn't to hit the ball, but to attack through violence, so it doesn't matter that we didn't hit the ball
”Summon!”
As the second batter, Sugawa-san called out hi lineup goes like this
First batter: 3rd baseman shi+mada Minami
Second batter: Shortstop Sugawa Ryo
Third batter: Pitcher Yoshi+ Akihisa
Fourth batter: Catcher Sakamoto Yuuji
Fifth batter: Right fielder Kondou Yoshi+mune
Sixth batter: 2nd baseman Tsuchiya Kouta (Muttsurini)
Seventh batter: Center fielder Kimishi+ma Hiroshi+
Eighth batter: 1st baseman fukumura Kohei
Ninth batter: Left fielder Yokomizo Koji
It'll be bad if we use violence right from the start, so the lead-off batter just need to hit in a norawa-san andto the situation If we feel that it's alright, Yuuji will give us the go It'll be great if the first batter Minauard down
Class A, Natsukawa Shunpei, Chemistry, 244 points
VS
Class F, Sugawa Ryo, Chemistry, 59 points
As how things went in the past, the pitcher and catcher are the baldy-seroup that we're all too familiar with I heard that the pitcher and catcher were different in their ainst 2-A Maybe they decided to take over this ti in this one Those two really hate to lose
“59 uy's score is really pitiful”
Standing on the pitcher's mound, baldy-seuy's looking down on us as usual
But even though we got laughed at for our grades Sugawa-san doesn't look like he really cares His su position, As expected of a h he got treated like an idiot
“Oh, you don't even have the guts to argue back? Such a useless bum”
After saying this nonchalantly, baldy-seathers all the force in the arm, and at the next second, he throws the ball out
“STRIKE!”
The next love of the mohawk-sempai's summoned beast I noticed it a bit when Minami was in the batter box That ball's really fast
“What's wrong? That was right down the middle,”
The baldy-se smile at us as he looked down on us and receives the ball froawa-san doesn't respond at all as he just readjusts hiain
Seeing Sugawa-kun's unmoved look, the baldy-sempai just looks bored as he snorts He then pitches the second ball
“STRIKE TWO!”
He didn't swing at all again Now, it's two strikes Sugawa-san continues to stare at the opponent, see the situation calmly
“You're going to be the 2nd one who's going to be struck out!”
Baldy-se motion isn't too different, but the velocity's a lot slower than before
Did hethe bat as he just relove If that's the case
“STRIKE THREE! BATTER OUT!!”
Like what baldy-seawa-san in three strikes Now, it's 2 men out with no baserunners
“Oi oi oi, I threw that ball really slowly already Shouldn't you swing your bat already?”
Baldy-sean, his way of pitching was basicallyus This sports ry about this? They're the ones who came up with the punishment in the first place
“What's wrong, Sugawa-san?”
I asked Sugawa-san softly as I went past him Maybe he noticed a flaw in the opponent's attack
“No way, I couldn't find a way to attack”
“I see”
“No matter how I tried to look for it, I couldn't find that sempai in the erotic yukata”
“I see, this information is way too useful”
If that's the case, I don't have to waste h it's a littleno, it's really a pity, but now I can concentrate on the ht be a good thing
“You're going to be the 3rd batter I' to strike out, Yoshi+ Akihisa!”
As I walked into the batter's box, the baldy-sempai on pitcher's mound said that to me
Class A, Natsukawa Shunpei, Chemistry, 244 points
VS
Class F, Yoshi+ Akihisa, Chemistry, 57 points
After a while, our scores are shown I understand that h battle Unless I can hit the ball in the middle, the ball shouldn't be able to fly into the outfield However--
“I won't give up like that, Hengawa-sempai”
“HOLD ON A MINUTE! DID YOU JUST MIX MY NAME WITH THE WORD 'HENTAI' TO CREATE A COMPLETELY NEW SURNAME!?”
“Ah, sorry, hentai-sempai”
“NO!! I DON'T WANT YOU TO CHANGE IT TO 'HENTAI'! CALL ME 'NATSUKAWA'! JUST GIVE ME A PROPER NAME!”
“Sorry, because your name pronunciation is easy to mix up”
“SINCE WHEN IS IT EASY TO MIX UP! THE ONLY THING SIMILAR IN 'NATSUKAWA' AND 'HENTAI' ARE THE NUMBER OF KANJI WORDS!!”
“My itated, Natsukawa-hentai”
“So you mixed them up because 'sempai' and 'hentai' sounded all too similar!?”
The fated duel's within the bat of an eye as baldy-se up This isn't any different froa anyway
“damn you, Yoshi+ AkihisaI'M SO GOING TO KILL YOU!!!”
Baldy-seets ready to pitch the 1st ball—which quickly ca here
“STRIKE!!”
The first ball was right down the middle I didn't react to this pitch at all as I analyze the situation
“Heh, seems like you don't dare to take action”
My reaction seem to make the baldy-sempai happy, as after he received the catcher's throw back, the baldy-seood mood
Then, he pitches the 2nd ball
“STRIKE TWO!!”
At this ht down the ball
“What the heck You're pretty quiet now”
Like when Sugawa-san was on just now, I just let two pitches fly byBaldy-sempai just snorted in a bored manner
“I'et the next one”
“Checking where I'! You just couldn't hit ht?”
“”
I didn't answer him as I just wait silently for the next pitch
Like how he pitched against Mina only in the middle It's really just like his personality He wants to strike ht down the ain
“Che, so you can only look at the ball? You guys are wimps!”
It's true that I've been observing the ball up noever, I' of the pitcher The baldy-sempai would stand at the same place after both the 1st and 2nd pitch As expected of this 3rd year sempai He really kno to control his summoned beast, and his posture is rather stable
But that's going to be his Achilles' Heel
“Alright, time for the final blow!”
After getting into position, the opponent pitches the 3rd ball atmy bat hard at the opponent
The white ball zips through the air as it flies towards my head while I throw the metal bat at the opponent's face Both of us use our killer throws, and at that nail-crunching moment, it finally reached my head
“--DANGER!!”
The pitch the opponent threw grazes past my temples, and the metal bat I threw flies past the opponent's nose
““YOU'RE TOO DESPICABLE!!””
“YOU TWO ARE THE SAME!!”
That damned bastard made me think that he would throw all three pitches down theat e it at the last edy that couldn't be recovered!
“STRIKE THREE! BATTER OUT!”
My throw just noas treated as a swing by the uot struck out So noith 3 men out, it will be a switch over
There's no other ideas I can think of Better gather with Yuuji and the rest on the bench and talk it through first
“Sorry Yuuji, those guys may be wary of us already”
“Don't ”
“Don't worry, everyone will help you out”
“That sounds rather nor about is the worst”
“Don't these guys know of so called sportsmanshi+p?”
“Like being cautious, induced base on balls, there's really a lot of technical terms in baseball”
Of course, I can pitch My scores aren't great, so the power of the ball isn't much, but I'm rather confident of my control I'll smack that ball hard into the opponent!
“Alright, tio up EVERYONE, LEVEL THEM TO THE GROUND!!!”
“““YEAH!!!”””
“Are you Yoshi+? Whether it's about the test of courage ret taking on us 3rd years! Summon!”
The first batter from class 3-A entered the batter box with hostility Seee made more seniors hate me now
Class A, Hotta Masatoshi+, Chemistry, 217 points
Vs
Class F, Yoshi+ Akihisa, Chemistry, 57 points
Soon after the summoned beasts appeared, our scores were shown As expected of a student from class A, the marks aren't to be underestimated
(Let's take this guy head on I want to see how far the ball will fly with such a difference in scores)
That's what Yuuji's tellingclass A opponents, so we have to see how good they are If things so s the teachers' team that's even better than class A We have to kno far we can go before we should hold back That is an i
I nod htly to indicate that I understand, and then let love is located at the low outer corner of the strikezone Even if it gets hit, at least it won't fly out if it's not a solid hit, right?
Compared to the baldy-se, the pitch of love
“STRIKE!”
Facing the pitch I just threw, the opponent just let it by and doesn't swing the bat Does he want to check my pitch velocity and power? The score's over there already, so he won't feel that I can threaten hiuess he would swing
Then, Yuuji throws the ball over This ti tothe ball (is that a free stance)? Well, I can't really think of a reason why such a difficult thing
I follow the position Yuuji indicated, and this ti the bat
KLANG—The crisp sound of the i the bat
It see baseball as the ballits distance as it flies
“damn IT!”
Looking rather angry and hurt, the opponent returned to the bench area
I see Even if the difference in scores is larger, it naturally doesn't cause the ball to fly far if the opponentclass E, even though their scores were about the same, the ball would naturally fly near It's not that power alone can win games as this would be no different froer class still has overwhel superiority
“Okay, I'm okay Summon!”
A familiar voice can be heard as the second batter called out his summoned beast
Class A, Tsunemura Yuusaku, Chemistry, 223 points
Vs
Class F Yoshi+ Akihisa, Chemistry, 57 points
It's the other member of the Toko-Natsu pair, the mohican-head sempai as the catcher Even if he's really rotten deep inside, he's really worthy of being a h scores
“BRING IT, ON, YOshi+! SAKAMOTO! I'LL RETURN ALL THE SHAME I BORE WITH INTEREST!!”
The lared as he said that to us Seems like he's rather pumped as well What should I do
(Let's pitch a ball first)
Yuuji positions his glove His glove is aiuess he has a plan if he wants me to throw that far out
I open my arms wide and pitch the first ball At thisthe bat Alright, noe have a strike--
“Ahh, my hand slipped!”
Just when I thought that, theas he swung the bat back to Yuuji's su ready to receive the pitch
Class A, Tsunemura Yuusaku, Chemistry, 223 points
Vs
Class F, Sakamoto Yuuji, Chemistry, 109 points
Having been hit on the head hard, Yuuji's sue, and the 200+ points up till now got deducted by a lot now
“Sorry Sakamoto That wasn't on purpose”
Glancing back to look at the umpire's decision, the mohican-head sempai said that to Yuuji
If that act just noas deemed as intentional, he would be forced off the field That sempai was probably worried about this, which hy he just said those insincere words
“No, no need to worry about it A lot of mishaps often happen in sports anyway?”