"Mutual Appreciation"

"So that was it!

To take as much pressure off their ace as possible, they let the ace face that idiot at the end?

No wonder that old man on their side had been standing by the bench for so long!" Miyuki finally understood Yakushi's arrangement.

If Sanada had been brought in earlier, Tojo could still have caused him trouble.

If Sanada had not adjusted his mindset from the start, he might have taken a heavy blow right off the bat.

After all, Tojo truly had talent as a pitcher. In the Teitou match, he had even hit Taiyou's pitch one-handed.

Even if Raizo Todoroki was confident he could suppress Tojo, wasn't it better to have him face Sawamura?

"Ka-ha-ha-ha!

Yeah!!" During defensive practice, Raichi's first pitch was a Wild Pitch...

"Damn it!

Where are you throwing?!!

Idiot! Die!!

Don't make me run!!!" Mishima-zai, who had to catch it, was the one suffering. He had to run dozens of meters...

"The game resumes now!!

Eighth batter! Pitcher, Sawamura-kun!"

"My turn!!!

Da-ha-ha-ha!"

"Alright! Satisfied now?" Kanemaru asked from behind Sawamura.

"Let's go!!!" After shouting that, Sawamura strode toward the Batter's Box with the swagger of someone who feared neither heaven nor earth.

Just from the way he held the bat, he looked every bit like a power hitter.

"Sawamura!!

We don't expect anything from you!!"

"Just go swing the bat three times and come back!!!"

"Getting a hit would be a miracle!!"

From the stands behind Sawamura came the considerate "encouragement" of the senior substitutes.

"That's way too real, hahaha!" Even with his left hand throbbing in pain, Sendou was amused.

"Come to think of it!

It really does feel like we're back in middle school!!

Back then, I'd run to third base, and you'd bunt me home.

I never expected