"Higasa!" Kataoka Coach spoke after Furuya once again shut out the opposing side in the bottom of the fifth inning.
"Yes!" Senior Higasa had thought he might finally get a chance to go in as a pinch hitter and had been told to prepare early, so he was a little excited.
"Go over to their bench for a moment."
"Huh?" Kataoka Coach's words made him blurt out his habitual response.
"That kid Sendou wants to slack off. That won't do anything to train him.
So go tell their bench a little about his current condition!"
"Uh?
Everything?
Including his lack of stamina, his punishment, and his strategy at the plate?" Senior Higasa was dumbfounded. This was the first time he had heard of anyone playing it this way.
"Yes!
In detail!!
You'll be the starter in the next game, so you won't be playing in this one!" Kataoka Coach nodded, then explained his arrangement for Senior Higasa.
"Yes!"
Though he did not understand, the coach's words were absolute.
Not everyone could guess Kataoka Coach's intentions.
Unlike Senior Maezono, who had gradually regained his form, Senior Higasa had remained in a slump lately and simply could not spare attention for too many things.
The sixth inning began under these circumstances.
Of course, Kataoka Coach was not so unscrupulous as to completely screw Sendou over.
He honestly told him, "I sold all your little tricks to the other side, so go compete properly with your ability!!"
Sendou could only roll his eyes. Kataoka Coach, the boss, had turned into an Old Six himself—what else could he do?
Even from Seidou's own bench, Sendou could see that the opposing players were looking at him differently...
Over on Yamaga High School's side, they were waiting to "slay a god"!!
"Ding!!"
"Ku! Ku! Ku!"
"Safe!!"