Before the Battle

night,

"You can't run for long if you keep running like that!"

Sendou ate dinner early tonight and planned to go for a run, but he hadn't been running for long when these three people arrived.

Then, the three of them got serious and started sprinting.

Sendou had no idea how many times they had spun him around, so he just stared at the three of them speechlessly.

Just as Sendou said, they hadn't been running for long when Furuya, whose stamina was failing, started to fall behind.

"Senior A Xian, aren't you going to rest?" Sawamura asked his senior Kawakami was standing next to him, when he saw that Furuya was already exhausted.

"You should rest now, Sawamura!"

"No, no! I... I'm perfectly fine!"

"Me too!"

As the two were competing, Furuya, who had regained some of his strength, immediately sped up and caught up.

"Ah! He's alive again!!"

You need to rest! Furuya Laser!!

"Senior A Xian! You look terrible!" Sawamura shouted when he heard Furuya running, and then realized that Kawakami- senpai was the first among them to fall.

"So, this can't last long!" Sendou maintained his own rhythm.

Not long after, the three of them died in battle. After saying goodbye to the Sendou, they went back together!

Sendou, who was still running, was completely unaware of the conversation between Watanabe-senpai and Miyuki on the steps.

When Sendou returned, the stadium was empty.

"I can finally get a good night's sleep!" After his body warmed up completely, Sendou prepared to go back.

This guy uses jogging to help him sleep!

"I can't stop people who want to quit!" Watanabe returned to his dormitory, head down, recalling what Miyuki had told him.

"No... that's not how it is!" Without realizing it, Watanabe-senpai was biting his lip and clenching his fists tightly.

"Click!"

"Ah!" Watanabe-senpai was startled awake by the sound of the door opening behind him.

"What's wrong, Watanabe-san?"

"Standing at the door in a daze! The lights aren't even on!" Sendou, who had just opened the dormitory door, found Watanabe-senpai standing there and asked.

Oh! No!

"Nothing! I was just thinking about a problem!" Watanabe-senpai made up a random excuse to get away with it.

"I see!"

"Since I've interrupted you, go sit down and think about it!" Although he knew the other person had something on their mind, Sendou didn't ask any further questions and said with a smile.

After saying that, Sendou began to change his clothes, preparing to take a bath.

"Sendou!" Watanabe-senpai suddenly spoke.

"Um?"

"No! I think I should just give up!" Watanabe decided to abandon the idea of talking to Sendou.

"Soga!"

It seems like Watanabe-san has something on his mind!

However, no matter what it is, if you want to talk about it, I'm always ready to listen!

Although it's still Watanabe-san who makes the decision!

"I'm going to take a shower now!" After saying that, Sendou had already changed his clothes in the short time it took.

In the end, they didn't say anything!

"But that's fine. I never said I wanted to leave the club, so let's just pretend nothing happened." After Sendou left, Watanabe-senpai decided to pretend that his conversation with Miyuki had never happened.

Sendou, who had been standing at the door for a few seconds, left silently after hearing that Watanabe-senpai had not changed his mind.

This time, Sendou truly had no idea what had happened.

These landmark events are deep in Sendou's memory, and to recall them requires something specific to evoke his recollection.

Watanabe-senpai was somewhat introverted, so Sendou had no idea when or what would trouble him.

"Sawamura! Go to sleep!"

Otherwise I'll fall asleep in class again!

This kind of thing will reach the supervisor very quickly!!

Sendou, returning from the toilet in the middle of the night, heard shouts coming from the Maezono.

"No way?"

It's 1:30 now!

"That guy's still practicing!" Upon hearing the voice, Sendou was at a loss for words.

So they headed towards the Indoor Practice Field area.

"Maezono -san! Kudou -san, Higashio -san! And Haruichi, did you just finish practicing?" Sendou encountered a group of people returning from the city's Practice Field on the road.

"It wasn't Kudou! We just noticed the lights in the Indoor Practice Field were still on..." Higashio- senpai explained.

"That idiot is still practicing?"

I just heard Maezono -san shouting!

"Did you hear that?" Senior Maezono realized that her voice was too loud and might be disturbing others, and felt a little embarrassed.

"Hmm! I just came out to pee."

"Then I'll go take a look!" Sendou said, and then parted ways with the others.

The next day, Wednesday, Sawamura slept soundly during class, just as Maezono had predicted.

All I can say is that first-year students don't have classes with Rei-chan, the supervisor, or anyone else...

Coach Kataoka goes without saying, but Rei-chan really loves to target specific players.

On the third day of training, Coach Kataoka finally began to incorporate more defensive drills.

evening,

"Um?"

Training had just ended when Sendou saw Furuya take off his shoes and massage his feet on the side of the field.

"Akatsuki!"

"Am I tired?" Sendou asked with a smile as he walked over.

"Sendou-san!"

My right leg has been feeling a bit sore lately!

"Soga?"

Maybe the intensity of my recent practice has been too high!

Starting today, no more independent practice sessions are allowed!

I will also tell the supervisor to reduce the intensity of your practice!

When your body needs your help, it will give you a variety of sensory feedback.

Therefore, pay close attention to your body's feedback!

"I...!" Furuya still wanted to argue.

"That's decided!"

It would be bad if you got injured, so stick your foot out!

I'm really good at massage!

"I wouldn't bother with ordinary people!" Sendou rarely used a commanding tone when asking Furuya, but every time he did, it was an order that left no room for refusal.

Therefore, the Furuya can only be left to its own devices...

"That's right. Let's observe for a few days before making a judgment!" Seeing that Furuya no longer had the desire to speak, Sendou explained calmly.

"Hiss!"

"What's wrong?"

"No! It feels great!"

"Seriously! Don't make those kinds of misleading noises!" Sendou was really exasperated.

"Senior A Xian!"

If you're tired, you can go home first!

"I'm fine, you're the one who's..."

If you're tired, go back!

"I'm perfectly fine!"

"Me too!"

"Don't push yourself! That's why Furuya forbade Sendou from practicing on your own!"

Getting injured is not good!

Senior A Xian!

"I'm fine!"

That evening, Sawamura and Senior A Xian started arguing again!

Sawamura didn't learn his lesson. After taking a shower with his Senior A Xian, he went to the Indoor Practice Field alone and practiced until the early hours of the morning.

It's easy to imagine what the outcome would be the next day.

After receiving another foot massage Sendou Furuya lay on the Tatami, practicing throwing a ball with one hand.

Because I started practicing in the summer, my movements are very skilled and I no longer need to concentrate; I can complete them using only muscle memory.

So Furuya on the ground lost in thought for a long time.

Finally, he recalled his performance in the Teitou battle and Sawamura's perfect rescue...

"Hmm!" Furuya thought to herself, and pursed her lips.

"Bang!!" The ball slammed heavily against the ceiling, sending up a cloud of dust.

"Oh!!" Kanemaru, who was lying down playing on his phone and living upstairs in Furuya, suddenly sat up in surprise.

"Huh?!?" Furuya, Ono-senpai was already asleep, jumped out of bed.

"Furu... Furuya! Stop!"

"Bump!!!"

Are you going to break the ceiling again?!

"Bump!!!"

Furuya's resentment was understandable; he had no way to defy Sendou.

Coach Kataoka naturally wouldn't refuse Sendou's suggestion.

So Furuya's daily practice consisted of just throwing a few balls in the Bullpen to get into shape and a few batting practice sessions at the at-bats, in order to prepare for the match against Nanamori.

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, it's Friday, the day before the competition.

The team's training intensity was immediately reduced in order to be in the best condition to deal with any unexpected situations.

Although Nanamori is a good opponent to use for training, if problems arise along the way, the strategy can be changed immediately.

Coach Kataoka also called Sendou and Miyuki to the observation room by the court to confirm their participation before the match.

"Sendou! How's Furuya doing?" Coach Kataoka's first question was naturally about the ace's condition.

"According to him, it's still a bit sour!"

"However, things have eased somewhat!" Sendou said.

"It looks like just ordinary fatigue!"

In that case, I'll consider having him move to left field for tomorrow's game!

"Left outfield?" Head Manager Oota asked, puzzled.

"Ah!

I will make him ready to play at any time, just like before!

But if there is even the slightest negligence, I will replace him immediately!

Sendou!

Continue to monitor his condition, and inform me immediately if any signs of injury appear.

"I see!"

As for why it's not considered an injury, the reason is that Seidou's training volume is very high, Furuya has poor stamina but likes to compete with Sawamura.

Therefore, it is normal to experience body aches and pains, and to cry out in pain!

"Is this a punishment for the previous match?"

"That's really strict!" Coach Ochiai asked.

Even if you're left fielder, you have to act like an ace.

"His teammates are all watching him!" Coach Kataoka replied.

"I wonder if that guy will realize that!"

"If he can't do that, it means he still needs to grow!"

"So, who will start?" Head Manager Oota couldn't help but ask.

As a conservative, he naturally still hoped that Kawakami the stage.

Although Sawamura can shoot inside and outside, his ball control depends on his condition on the day, which is very troublesome.

Head Manager Oota still hopes to get off to a good start.

"Excuse me!!" Sawamura's voice came through at that moment.

This was no coincidence; it's just that Sawamura arrived a little later.

There are some things I don't want that idiot Sawamura to know.

"My subordinate, Sawamura, has entered!"

What important matter is it this time?

Today's lessons were basically all about sleeping... I'm already reflecting on that!"Sawamura saluted with his left hand and began his self-destructive journey.

"I see!" Miyuki said with a look of surprise.

"It's not about that?!" Sawamura realized as well...

Sawamura's self-destruction had been foreshadowed several days earlier.

Sendou finally understood what was going on. Maezono had told him that it would reach the director's ears.

He instinctively thought that because of this incident, he was going to take the initiative to admit his mistakes and try to get leniency, but it turned into a self-inflicted disaster...

"Supervisor!" Head Manager Oota understood that the next match was purely a training exercise.

"We'll talk about sleeping in class later!"

You will be starting tomorrow!

Be well prepared!

"Hey!!!" Although Coach Kataoka said he would talk to him about sleeping in class later, nothing else mattered when it came to starting.

"Oh, right! Sendou!" Coach Kataoka suddenly said with a smile.

"Um?"

"Tomorrow's batting call, you're not allowed to hit bad balls!" Coach Kataoka said with a smile.

"Huh?" Sendou was dumbfounded.

"Can..."

"You can shoot if you want, but it doesn't matter what the result is, that is, whether it's out, out, or Home Run."

"If you take a bad shot once, I'll make you run ten laps around the Sports Field!" Coach Kataoka really let loose during this game.

"Oh!" Sendou's head was a little dizzy.

Miyuki, standing next to him, was already chuckling to himself.

If Sendou could refrain from taking easy but difficult shots, he wouldn't be Sendou.

This idea had actually been in Coach Kataoka's mind for a long time, and today he finally had a "suitable" opponent to test it out.

The goal, of course, is to help Sendou quickly increase his experience in predicting bad balls and improve his learning efficiency.

So what Sendou didn't know was that what he thought was Coach Kataoka's momentary whim was actually just the beginning of Sendou's tough times.

Although Coach Kataoka himself didn't know if it would work, he was willing to give it a try!

Coach Kataoka didn't know was that his idea would ultimately lead to Sendou's fame and achievements.

This week's training has been primarily focused on Inajitsu as the hypothetical enemy.

However, this does not affect Seidou's fighting strength in the second round. As long as they maintain their usual level, they will still be the same prestigious school.

Evening arrived quickly, and everyone gathered at the Indoor Practice Field, waiting for Coach Kataoka to announce the starting lineup for tomorrow's game.

"Announce tomorrow's starting lineup!"

One hit! Shortstop, Kuramochi!

"Hi!"

"Second bat! Right field, Shirazu!"

"Hi!"

"Third batter! Second baseman, Kominato!"

"... Hi!" Xiaochun, who was worried when she was no longer the second batter, was slightly taken aback when she heard that she had become the third batter, but then she immediately responded.

"..."

"Sixth batter! Maezono!"

"Hi!"

"Seven bats! Left field, Furuya!"

"Hi!"

The others, unaware of the details, exchanged bewildered glances. They had assumed that Furuya's reduced training volume was a way for him to build up his physical strength in preparation for the match against Inajitsu!

Coach Kataoka continued to announce without pausing.

"Eighth baseman, third baseman, Kanemaru!"

"Oh! Hi!!"

"Go first!!"

Am I finally going to post first?

"Thank you so much, Sendou-san!" Kanemaru and Tojo exchanged a glance, still somewhat incredulous. Overjoyed, Kanemaru addressed Sendou respectfully in his mind as a token of his gratitude.

"Ninth batter! Pitcher, Sawamura!"

"Hi!"

While some others had doubts about Sawamura's starting position, many were happy for him.

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