Scapegoat

"Nice hit!" Senior Asou had barely finished feeling awkward when Kijima-senpai walked over, held out his hand for the protective gear, and casually praised him.

"...!" After a moment of silence, Senior Asou obediently began taking off his gear.

"Crack!"

After a long battle, with three balls and one strike, Kuramochi hit a fly ball to center field.

Not toward center field, but Sendou's home run...

And it seemed to be the only one. At least, that was how Joujima remembered it.

Seikou Academy's center field had been targeted so badly today it was practically sick of it. Every ball hit to the outfield seemed to be headed for center field.

"It's carrying far enough!"

"Smack!"

"I... won't let you look down on me!!!" Senior Asou charged forward as he shouted.

"Pfft!"

"Safe!!"

"Ura! Ura ura!!" Senior Asou got back up and started performing again.

However...

"Nice fly ball, Kuramochi!"

"...!"

"That had to be intentional." Seeing Guan-senpai and the others' reactions, Sendou turned away and secretly smiled.

"Second batter! Right fielder, Shirazu-kun!!"

"Two outs, runner on second!

Stepping into the batter's box is the second batter, Shirazu!

Though there are two outs, Seidou's favorable batting order still gives them an excellent scoring opportunity!" The commentator briefly explained the situation.

"Though his pitches still have plenty of power, his control still hasn't fully settled...

That last catch was also lucky. Before the score gap becomes completely insurmountable, it would be better to start considering a pitching change now." Thinking that, Masu Shinichiro glanced at Coach Oga in the dugout.

Coach Oga nodded as well and looked at Ogawa, who had only just entered the bullpen. He hoped Kojima could buy him some time.

He was already prepared to make an immediate substitution if things went badly.

*I only need three