After Coach Kataoka dismissed the team, everyone went back to their dorms to rest, as they were going to have a celebration party that night!
The food for the banquet was prepared yesterday. In my previous life, because of the defeat, no one could eat it. Tonight is destined to be a grand celebration.
When Oni-san and the others returned just as the banquet was about to begin, they were all relieved to learn that Captain Tetsu was completely fine and that Oni-san only needed to rest for three or four days.
The finals are on July 31st, Koshien opens on August 7th, giving the teams plenty of time to rest.
The Summer Training Camp only lasted seven days.
Moreover, everyone knows that Seidou will hold a banquet in the evening, so the athletes' relatives will at most send a text message to offer their blessings.
It was at this time that Sendou learned that his parents had returned to their home country.
"Before the banquet begins, let the captain give the opening remarks!"
"Come on, Yuki!" Head Manager Oota pushed Yuki forward before the banquet began.
But my Captain Tetsu doesn't know how to say any congratulatory words!
"Um... that!"
Let's begin! Cheers!
After saying just one sentence, the entire Captain Tetsu lay down.
"What is this, Tetsu!"
Okay, I'll explain!
"Cheers to our first Koshien appearance in six years!!!" Isashiki, who had been like a father to Captain Tetsu in other ways, took on this heavy responsibility without hesitation.
"Cheers!!!"
Of course, we toast with juice. In Japan, it's written into law that people under 20 are not allowed to drink alcohol. While it's impossible that absolutely no one will object, most adults would not allow it.
After the opening toast, everyone was free to do as they pleased.
Sendou, who didn't like such a lively environment, left early.
After leaving the cafeteria and arriving outside the dormitory, I found a place to sit, looked at the starry sky, and reflected on today's Death Struggle.
Not long after, Fumino walked over to his side. Neither of them spoke, and they just sat there side by side.
They are already exhausted enough today.
"Hey! You two young couples are here!"
"Want to see the stars?" Miyuki, handing over a bottle of cola while sipping his juice.
Sendou drank the cola without saying a word.
"No, no, no! You've misunderstood!" Fumino reacted quite strongly, frantically waving her hands around.
"Calm down! This guy's joking!" Sendou said after taking a sip.
Fumino hearing Sendou's words, Fumino calmed down, but her feelings were somewhat complicated!
To be honest, although I vehemently denied it on the surface, I was actually quite happy inside.
"You've had a tough day today!" Miyuki said.
"You too! Our pitching lineup is not easy to manage!"
"Hehe! You still know quite a lot!"
"That's why I don't want to be a pitcher or catcher!"
Thankfully, although it was a close call and we were lucky defensively, despite constant pitching problems, we still managed to win.
"That's true!"
A week before the start of Koshien, Tanba-san's ball control had recovered enough. At his current level, it won't be long before he returns to his pre-injury form and he won't have those occasional easy Ball Trajectory anymore!
To be honest, I was almost at my wit's end today!
Thankfully, your performance today was absolutely phenomenal!
The final match was from a completely different dimension than ours!
So, what are your thoughts?
"No! All I know is that I was incredibly focused at the time, and I couldn't hear or see anything except for information from the stadium!"
"Really? I didn't expect your attention span to be that high."
Then there's no solution!
"I think if I encounter a strong opponent that excites me, I will be able to concentrate!"
"Maybe this is Fighting Spirit is all about?" Sendou said casually, then took a swig of cola.
"Haha! Geniuses never admit defeat!"
"By the way! Shouldn't you practice your striking properly?"
Today's results...
"Stop talking! We're having such a happy day! Don't say such discouraging things!"
You should know that, right?
I feel a little sorry for my seniors, because we have entered Koshien, and they will not retire until autumn.
But no matter where we go, the new teams will gradually start around the last ten days of August, and the Autumn Tournament Qualifier will begin in early September, right?
After our predecessors retire, who will be left in our attacking lineup?
By then, those reliable predecessors were no longer around.
There will only be less than twenty days left!
Next year, this team will undoubtedly revolve around you!
"Don't talk about such a cruel reality!"
"I just don't want to come back from Koshien only to First Battle Defeat of the Autumn Tournament!"
"Uh...!" Miyuki fell silent.
"That's true! It's so great to have you here!"
At least the new team has someone they can rely on in their attacking line!
"Baka! One person can't do anything!"
Moreover, even if you make progress in other areas, it will be very small. The only thing you might be able to improve in a short period of time is through setbacks!
You have just as little attention span as I do!
A large percentage of your hits will be unsuccessful if there are no runners on base!
Moreover, Koshien is a stage that gives you an opportunity to grow! Sendou said quietly.
"I understand! I understand! I'll be careful!"
Fumino stood quietly beside them, watching the two of them talk back and forth.
As the two chatted, the banquet gradually came to an end. Captain Tetsu would also be staying at the dormitory tonight, and he would be sleeping on the floor in Sendou's room.
Only a few female managers needed to go home, and the place that Sendou chose was convenient for waiting for the banquet to end so that he could send these female managers home.
Miyuki went straight back to his room to rest.
It was quite late when Sendou returned to Seishin Dormitory after escorting the female managers home.
Since the banquet was quite late, the Sendou were basically escorted to their doorsteps.
"Call!"
"Call!"
As I walked into the Sendou of Seishin Dormitory, I heard the sound of baseball bats being swung.
"It's so late, could it be that Black-bellied Glasses?!"
"What I said earlier was indeed a bit harsh," Sendou muttered as he walked over.
When he saw it, the scene before him made his eyes widen.
A large group of substitute players, including Senior Maezono, were practicing their swings.
"Speaking of which, these guys really have a tough job!"
"They have to support us during the day, and then practice on their own at night," Sendou muttered.
The first-year students like Kanemaru in their previous lives only started to really fight hard when they realized they had a chance to join the First Team. It's not time yet, but the first-year substitutes have actually been practicing quite a bit.
Maezono is really going all out; she even went to Miyuki's room last night to ask her seniors for help with her swing.
Sendou didn't say anything to disturb them and left quietly.
This group of people are also pursuing their baseball dreams, hoping to realize their ambitions by themselves, secretly accumulating strength, and waiting for their own era to arrive.
This is a supplementary chapter.