Changes and Past Anecdotes

"I'm back!"

"Welcome back, Sen-chan!"

"How was it? Is there any quick way for us to get stronger?" Sawamura asked immediately.

"No!"

"However, I got a lot of help, you'll find out! You guys continue studying! I need to think first!"

Just returning home, Sendou casually threw himself onto the sofa, closing his eyes to ponder.

"Let's just keep practicing the Bunt like this. It seems like these guys have found some tricks. There's not much I can do to help. That kind of thing isn't in my arsenal. We mortals can't understand Eijun's Martian explanations."

"That Old Man has already helped me with the problem of distinguishing Balls from Strikes and timing my base running!

All that's left is fielding. And I also asked them for a menu for explosive power. Although it won't have much effect in the short term, at least this kind of intense consumption can help them adapt sooner! Maybe it will have some effect by next summer?"

"Make up your mind! I'm just a half-baked guy myself, but I have no choice but to go for it."

Sendou lay on the sofa for a long time, finally resolving to change the training plan.

"Eijun!"

"What's up?"

"Starting today, we're adding a training item! When you practice explosive power tonight, bring everyone along!"

"Take this opportunity to join everyone!"

"I'm fine on my own."

"What are you shy about!"

"Shut up!"

"Tch, if you don't want to say it, then don't!"

"Don't forget!"

"Yes!"

The independent practice that night remained unchanged, and A Shin's catching also began to be satisfactory.

The next day

"Starting today, we're going to allocate positions, but there won't be any major changes. Takada, you and Wakaba switch positions, and everyone else stays the same."

The switch between Takada and Wakaba meant that the chubby Takada, the Left Fielder, and Wakaba, the First Baseman, would switch. Takada's physique wasn't suitable for being an Outfield.

And Wakaba could keep up with the ball, and for modern Baseball, which prefers to hit to Right Field to prevent double plays and increase processing time, the Left Field doesn't require much fielding. However, there will also be Fly Balls flying over, so you can't put a fat guy who can't run there.

"We can't do Outfield fielding practice here, but the Outfield fielding requirements for Middle School students aren't very high. The main thing is Fly Balls and Line Drives, which can still be practiced simply. You just need to stand a little outside the Infield to practice, mainly practicing backing up and catching.

The main thing is Infield fielding. Starting today, we're going to do coordination training, and someone will help us contact a Middle School in Tokyo to play practice matches. We'll have to see your training results to determine how many matches we can play before we leave. Remind them verbally, let their bodies remember, and turn the techniques into instincts!"

"Oh!!!"

"Then let's begin!"

"First, we'll start with a runner on second base!"

"Clang!"

After the training began, Sendou's reminders echoed continuously across the field!

"Shortstop, cover third base!"

"One more ball!"

"Left field!"

"Yosh! Nice catch! One more ball!"

"Shortstop!"

"What are you doing? Ono, quickly cover second base, then throw to first!"

"Right field!"

"Don't take your eyes off the ball for even a moment, or you'll miss it!"

"One more ball!"

"Good, just like that!"

"Left field, third base is open, in this situation you need to cover third base, and the same goes for the other outfielders. If the ball lands in the infield and you're not positioned deep, you also need to come and cover, understand?"

"Yes!!!"

And so, fielding practice, rest, Bunt practice, rest, back and forth, until everyone shouted to start running in the evening, and the official training for the day was considered over.

During the evening's independent practice, everyone else was normally doing batting and swinging practice.

A Shin was able to catch 130 km/h balls after a few days of practice, so he and Sendou were doing the next stage of practice. Sendou once again started one-sided indoctrination plus pep-talk style one-on-one guidance, and he seemed to be enjoying it, but it was unclear what A Shin thought.

"Don't try to scoop when catching!

Except for bouncing balls, always keep your elbows out!

Don't turn your wrists over!

It's because you're being lazy and not keeping your body in the Strike Zone that you're doing this, using your hand to scoop the ball from the side!"

"Your waist is squatting too low!"

"Your reaction is too slow! You're already tired at this level?"

"Don't miss it, use your body to block the ball, absolutely don't let it roll behind you!"

"Let's take a break for now!"

"Ugh! I'm exhausted!" A Shin said, removing his face mask.

"Um, Sen-chan!"

"Hmm?"

"I've been wanting to ask, is this pitching machine broken? It never throws a Strike, all the pitches are way off!"

"Of course it is, I deliberately adjusted it. Ei-chan's pitches are even more elusive than this! Although we definitely can't have him throw at full strength for a short time, or you won't be able to catch it. I'm aiming for you to be able to catch his full-strength pitches by the last year! Maybe you can catch them!" Sendou himself wasn't really confident, but encouragement was a must.

"Uh!"

"Are you tired?"

"I'm actually okay!"

"No need to be a hero! I used to run away after catching less than half the pitches you do!"

"Ran away is..."

"Don't worry about such trivial things!" Sendou said quickly, realizing he'd let something slip.

"The more you tell me not to worry about it, the more I want to know!" A Shin could only complain inwardly. He was afraid that if he said it out loud, Sendou would abuse his power for personal revenge. No doubt about it, he was that kind of person!

"You must be tired too! Your hands are shaking. Because the Catcher uses muscles that aren't usually used, including the waist and legs, it's still very tiring! Like the wrist flip I mentioned earlier, the Catcher's posture, just holding it like that, is very uncomfortable. It's really not a good defensive position! It's just suffering!"

"Did Sen-chan play Catcher in Little League, in that famous one? Didn't Ei-chan say you were a Pitcher? That, the ACE, Cleanup Hitter?"

"Who do you think I am? I've played every position except Second Base, Third Base, and Shortstop... a little bit! But I know a little bit about all the positions!

After all, they adopted relay pitching there to prevent the Pitcher from getting too tired. And since I was the Cleanup Hitter, they definitely couldn't take me off the field. When other Pitchers were pitching, I might be the Catcher or go to the Outfield, or First Baseman, but there was a fixed First Baseman at the time! But these were just practices, the only official game I participated in was a practice match!

What were the opponents called again?... I forgot, I don't remember the team name or anything specific because it was too boring, I just remember winning very easily. I had no interest in paying attention to those details at the time!"

"..."

"Actually, A Shin, you guys are already working very hard, ten times harder than I did. Back then, I was always thinking about how to escape training!..."

"Crap, I wanted to make it easier for him, but I accidentally let something slip!" Sendou thought to himself, stopping mid-sentence.

"Alright, since your hands are already like this, let's call it a day!"