"This guy..." Amakusa, unaware of what Sawamura was thinking, wore an excited smile.
"No matter what you're planning...
After that pitch and that expression, there's no way I can ignore it as a pitcher!" Amakusa's smile grew more relaxed.
"Damn it! What is this...
Rather than feeling bothered...
I'm frustrated!!
In the final inning of the autumn finals, Boss rejected me without hesitation!!
If I could pitch like Furuya did today...
Would he have waited until now?
He probably would've pulled me much earlier~!
That bastard even used me as a tool to provoke Furuya!!
That's the difference in back numbers...
The gap between the ace and the other pitchers!!!" Sawamura pursed his lips slightly, countless thoughts racing through his mind.
However, that also made Sawamura miss the expression of the guy on the Pitcher's Mound who was giving him "come-hither looks."
Amakusa even felt a strange sense of Mutual Appreciation, but unfortunately, he was the only one moved...
"Pfft!"
The instant Amakusa stepped forward, Sawamura raised his bat, catching Hoshida, who was ready to receive the ball at any moment, off guard.
"Whoosh!"
"Is that how much trust an ace receives?!!"
"Crack!!"
"Oh!" Amakusa's mouth formed an O!
"Pfft!"
The moment the ball landed, the first-years in the stands erupted in cheers.
As for the second- and third-years...
"He smashed it down the right field line!!
He made it to second in one go...!
Leadoff batter Sawamura with a Double Hit!!!"
"Alright!!" After a stylish slide into second, Sawamura used the momentum to spring right back up and shout.
A year of practice had polished his sliding skills considerably. He was even better at it than Sendou.
Though Sendou pursued getting on base at high speed, so the difficulty wasn't even on the same level...
Only Sawamura and the