"Hey, are you okay?" Kōshū had been inexplicably given a light shove by Lang Zhi.
"Hm?"
"You seem super excited." In Lang Zhi's impression, Kōshū was the type who could not sit still when a game dragged on. "High school games go nine innings. If you're this excited now, you'll definitely get sleepy later." After all, Kōshū had once fallen asleep during a six-inning middle school game.
Kōshū clearly recalled that embarrassing history as well and said softly, "Shut up. That was because the game was too boring. Watch the game and leave me alone." When he had first started watching baseball, he had been astonished that a sport could move at such a slow pace, and before he knew it, he had fallen asleep.
Lang Zhi had just opened his mouth again when someone forcibly pinched his chin and turned his head toward the field.
The female announcer's voice came over at just the right time. "Fifth batter, catcher, Takigawa."
"This kid is a first-year?" Mr. Sasaki had picked up the information from other spectators. "A first-year starting catcher. That's incredible."
"He's got quite a big build too." Shen Qing could understand baseball games by now, but she only knew to cheer along when a Home Run was hit. At other times, like Kōshū before, she remained somewhat detached. Perhaps that would change only when she watched her own son play.
In the top of the first inning, Seido had already scored three runs. With one out, the batting order came around to the fifth batter.
Chris stood in the Batter's Box. The first pitch was a low ball, and he did not swing, standing firm as the opposing pitcher wiped sweat with his sleeve. It was only the first inning, yet he was already having an extremely difficult time.
Sorry, but since you made it to the semifinals, it'll be either us, Inashiro, or Ichidai Third. We'll be the ones sending you home.
The second pitch was a high Changeup that landed high and outside, in ball territory. Yet Chris still caught it and sent it directly into the field, where it dropped in front of the center fielder.
There have been too many pointless balls. Chris made it to first base with ease.
Cheers erupted from Seido's stands. Though it was only the top of the first, the atmosphere of the entire game had already completely tilted toward Seido.
"We can pretty much be sure Seido will win, right?" Just as Lang Zhi had expected, after his initial excitement faded, Kōshū began complaining to him. "If that's the case, I kind of can't get myself excited."
"...So what are you planning to do now?"
"I want to pitch."
"Huh?" Kōshū looked utterly serious, without the slightest sign that he was joking. "Please, just settle down. Did you even bring your gear?"
Though Kōshū was mature in most respects, he could occasionally become very self-centered when it came to baseball.
"I can't help it. Even though I really want to watch that big guy hit a Home Run, just watching makes me itch to play more and more."
Seeing that he was about to stand, Lang Zhi grabbed him. "Hey, hey, are you an elementary schooler? Like you get tired two steps into a field trip and want to go home? Please remember that it took a lot for the whole family to come out together."
Kōshū yanked his sleeve free in annoyance. He knew Lang Zhi had rarely said something right. Even if the game no longer held any suspense, he had to remain seated here. A one-sided game was not interesting unless you were the kind of person who rooted for whoever was winning.
"Ugh—" Amid all the excited spectators, he looked rather out of place.
Lang Zhi had just received a warning glare, but now he secretly grabbed Kōshū's sleeve again to keep him from suddenly making up some excuse to run off elsewhere and practice.
Shen Qing also relaxed slightly. Lang Zhi was on her left, and Mr. Sasaki was on her right. Since she had not been very engaged in the game, she had caught the brothers' little disturbance. Fortunately, the two seemed to have their own unique way of getting along and had not caused any trouble, so she let out a breath.
Then the crowd's cheers drew away her attention. She looked back toward the field. Eh? How had that big-built student from just now already returned to the dugout? Feeling sorry for the cost of her ticket, Shen Qing decided to watch the game properly. But soon, the eighth batter hit a Fly Ball, and the long top half of the inning came to an end.
"Eh? The first inning is already over?" Shen Qing had not watched enough yet.
"Hahaha, amazing! Those kids nearly batted around." Mr. Sasaki, still wanting more, seemed to have returned to his youth. His face flushed with excitement as he explained things to Shen Qing. Unlike her, he was completely immersed in the game and had not even noticed the brief clash between the two boys.
"Kōshū, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Seeing Kōshū's listless expression, the oblivious Mr. Sasaki became a little worried.
"No, no. I'm just overwhelmed. The entire lineup is extremely strong, like piranhas, one after another. Before the other side has any time to react or adjust, they just keep tearing off chunks of flesh."
"That's right. Compared to the schools across all of West Tokyo, Seido's batting lineup has standout players every year. As a Seido OB, it would be wonderful if you boys could play baseball at Seido." Mr. Sasaki added for emphasis, "Both brothers together."
Lang Zhi chimed in, "Dad, we're only second-year middle schoolers." Talking about future paths was still too early. Whether they would even play baseball in high school was uncertain—though Kōshū would most likely keep playing. Tch, thinking about that made him irritated again. While he himself hesitated because he lacked the ability, the other had no such worries at all.
"A private high school like that still requires exams, right? I remember some seniors also tested into private schools."
"But specially recruited baseball students don't need to take exams. Don't worry about it. Just focus on playing baseball, and let the adults worry about the rest." Mr. Sasaki thumped his chest in assurance, looking like a man determined to take everything on himself.
"Haha, you're completely trying to make up for your regret over not being able to play baseball with your older brother back then." Shen Qing exposed him, then continued, "As for continuing your education, it really is time to start considering it. Which school you go to, we'll have our own thoughts, but your wishes will still come first."
As the family chatted, the bottom half of the inning began. Seido took the field, and on the Pitcher's Mound stood third-year Nakama. Just standing there, the muscles in his thighs bulged, as though he had undergone an enormous amount of training.
Squatting behind home plate, Chris sensed the first batter's tension—a feeling that he was waiting for a fastball.
With that stance, he doesn't plan to watch many pitches, does he? Then for the first one, a Curveball, high and outside.
Nakama nodded. A slow Curveball slipped from his fingers and dropped into the low outside corner of the Strike Zone.
The batter, who had been watching for a fastball, tensed every muscle in his body the moment the pitcher released the ball. But as the ball traced its arc, his strength inevitably dissipated, and in the end, he could not swing.
Second pitch, a high inside fastball. The batter swung in a rush, sending a foul ball toward first base. In just two pitches, he had been backed into a corner.
The third pitch was a Curveball that dropped below the knees. It was hit toward the second baseman and easily put away at first.
"His style is very different." Trapped in his chair, Kōshū felt that the bottom half of this inning had become much more brisk. Although the second batter reached first on a hard line drive to third, the following third batter hit the ball toward shortstop and was caught in a double play.
So sleepy. I'm heading out first. I only wrote until 9:30 and managed just 614 characters. I'm utterly desperate, so today's chapter is short.
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