"How are you feeling, Sendou?"
"Which aspect are you asking about?" Sendou asked upon hearing Kataoka Coach's question.
"Do you think you'll be able to play tomorrow?
If you can play, do you want to continue batting fourth?
I want to hear what you think.
Of course, if you don't feel ready and don't want to participate in the game against Naruta Technical High School, just say so."
Kataoka Coach had not asked that for no reason.
With a player like Sendou, listening to his opinion could more or less reveal his current state of mind and allow them to offer some help or support.
Kataoka Coach encouraged players like Sendou and Miyuki, who could think independently, to think more.
Unlike idiots like Sawamura, who could only obey orders!
That counted as teaching according to aptitude!
"I think I can play. No matter how much I practice, it still needs to be tested in an actual game!
I'm not that fragile either. Even if my batting isn't ideal, it'll be fine!
I can... no!
Please let me play!"
"So that means I'll decide your spot in the batting order, right?
Can I understand it that way?"
"Yes!"
"Are you really okay with that?" Kataoka Coach asked after understanding what Sendou meant.
"Yes!"
Kataoka Coach then looked toward Coach Ochiai, who nodded at him.
In truth, Coach Ochiai did have some assessments of Sendou's recent training performance!
Perhaps because they had given Sendou enough trust and freedom, allowing him to train on his own in many areas, those assessments were only for reference.
But they were already enough!
"Sendou!
You have always had the caliber of a cleanup hitter!" Kataoka Coach spoke first.
Sendou raised his head at those words.
"That was also why, at Koshien last summer, I suddenly decided