章節 18: Intrasquad Game, Start!!
At Night in the spirit dorm cafeteria.
"Another bowl, please", said Rei. He was trying to finish his 3 bowls of rice.
"What do you know…you're eating now. You were throwing up on your first day", said Kanemaru while sitting down next to Rei.
Rei blushed in embarrassment and glared at Kanemaru.
"You have got to chew more. It's bad to just swallow", said Kanemaru.
"Why are you talking like you are my senpai", said Rei glaring at Kanemaru.
Kanemaru looked away and said, "No reason, junior" trying to hold in his laughter.
"Not funny at all. By the way, why is everyone in the cafeteria so quiet today? Did something happen", asked Rei totally oblivious.
Kanemaru stared at Rei dumbfounded.
"What", said Rei feeling uncomfortable receiving glares from Kanemaru.
"Haven't you heard? Tomorrow is the intrasquad game with the upperclassmen", informed Kanemaru.
Rei's expression remained unchanged and said, "oh" and continued eating. But inwardly he was shocked because he had forgotten about such important news.
While Rei and Kanemaru were talking, a person appeared next to their table and asked, "Can I sit with you?".
Rei and Kanemaru looked up to see who the person was, surprisingly it was, Chris senpai.
"Oh, Chris senpai. Please go ahead", said Kanemaru gesturing for Chris to sit at the seat next to him.
Ignoring Kanemaru, Chris went and sat next to Rei.
The atmosphere at the table turned awkward after what Chris did.
"Don't mind me", said Chris as he sat down.
Rei squinted his eyes at Chris and said, "I wonder why you are here. I thought you didn't like me".
"Why would you think that", asked Chris.
"Because Kanemaru told me what you said about me", said Rei.
Chris glared at Kanemaru.
Kanemaru looked away guilty and feeling uncomfortable from Chris senpai's gazes.
"What…", said Kanemaru with beads of sweat rolling down his face.
Chris ignored Kanemaru and said, "Well it's not like that, I just had a different opinion about you before, but it has changed now since I saw you these past few days on the field".
Rei nodded. He felt happy about Chris senpai changing his opinion about him because he wanted to receive guidance from him.
"Got any advice for us 1st years", asked Kanemaru.
Chris nodded and said, "Usually, the first years only do basic strength training. They don't participate in the first-string tryouts. But after our last game we are a little desperate".
Rei nodded fully understanding what Chris senpai was saying because the team was currently having problems with their ace and needed more pitchers. That must be the reason why they are holding first-year tryouts.
"I advise you guys to be cautious and not be arrogant for tomorrow's scrimmage. Our 3rd years have gotten the experience and skill that the 1st years can't overcome", said Chris.
"Chris senpai, during tomorrow's scrimmage, I don't plan on letting anyone hit my pitch. That's just how good I am", said Rei proudly.
When all the 3rd years in the cafeteria heard him, they were all pissed thinking that some naïve 1st year was challenging them. After all, these past 2 years they had been increasing their skills and gaining experience that the 1st years didn't have.
They all came and gathered near Rei ready to fight.
"Stop ganging up on him. The only way we fight is on the baseball field", said Tanba seriously while eating his food.
"Haii, Tanba-san", said the 3rd year's and went back to their seats fired up for the scrimmage tomorrow.
"I see. So that's what the coach is after. He's trying to pump up the upperclassmen by putting them up against the first years", thought Chris looking at the 3rd years.
**
In the changing room.
Rei was getting ready to take a bath after he finished eating. He took off his clothes and slid the door open to enter the bathtub.
He came in while humming.
He entered the bathtub and felt the hot water on his skin making his exhaustion go away.
"Haaa…", sighed Rei letting go of the stress and tension in his body.
"I know right!....AHHHHHHH", yelled Kanemaru as he opened the door. He was surprised to see Rei in the bathtub because he was just talking behind his back right now.
The scream startled Rei and he looked around to find Kanemaru and Furuya standing at the door.
After 10 minutes.
Furuya and Kanemaru were on one side of the tub while Rei was on one side.
"Why do they have to be in the bath now? I came late to take a bath because I thought there would be no one", thought Rei in his corner.
"Kanemaru and Furuya had gotten close for some reason", thought Rei. He shrugged thinking it was none of his business.
"My only peaceful time is ruined…", thought Rei with tears rolling down his cheeks. Kanemaru was talking so loudly that it was bugging him.
"I'm not going to lose", said Furuya suddenly.
"I'll be waiting...", said Rei glaring at Furuya with excitement.
They both made eye contact. Thunder crackled in the background.
"What-what is going on", asked Kanemaru with a confused expression on his face.
The day of the intrasquad game, morning, in the field.
In the dugout of the 1st years, they were discussing their current situation.
"We always have a crowd on Sundays".
"The alumni, the press…so many people come to watch".
"Crap! I'm getting really nervous".
"I couldn't sleep last night, either. Never thought I'd have to face the upperclassmen after a month in high school".
"All the 1st years will be able to play. Make sure you are all warmed up", said Kataoka.
"Haii", said all 1st years simultaneously.
Sawamura was happy that he finally got the chance to play.
Sitting in the dugout Rei chuckled seeing Sawamura's expression.
"What are you looking at?", asked Furuya, who was sitting beside Rei in the dugout.
Rei pointed towards Sawamura and Furuya nodded.
After a few minutes, the game started.
"Strike!", said the umpire as Tanba pitched.
The batter fell to the ground trying to make contact with his bat.
All the 1st years in the dugout were shocked looking at the pitch except Rei and Furuya.
"What's wrong, rookie? You can't swing a bat if you're on your butt", said the catcher.
"What in the world was that? The ball just stopped in front of me, then went straight into the catcher's mitt", said the batter feeling intimidated by Tanba's pitch.
"So that's Tanba Senpai's curve", thought Rei observing the pitch.
In the gallery. The audience was discussing the match.
"Tanba's looking fierce today".
"Maybe revoking his ace title fired him up. Once that huge vertical curve starts going to the right places, he'll be back to 100% in no time".
Tanba struck all the batters out in the 1st inning.
"3 for 3 right of the batt", commented one of the people in the audience.
Tanba walked back to the dugout giving a glare to Furuya and Rei.
[Score:
1st inning
1st Year: 0
2+3 years:]
"I'm still against having this scrimmage. At this rate, the first years will have their pride from junior high torn to shreds.", said Director Oota worryingly.
"We're aware this game will be one-sided. But if they can't give their all in a completely disadvantageous game, they won't be useful to us", said Takashima intimidatingly.
"She's like a demon when it comes to baseball", thought Director Oota feeling the aura from Takashima.
The first-year pitcher came to the mound and the 3rd years were disappointed that it wasn't Rei.
Rei smiled seeing their disappointment.
The 3rd years kept hitting runs off the 1st years giving them no chance at all.
"What the hell? I thought this was just a scrimmage. They are all dead serious!", thought Kanemaru on the mound. He was the pitcher for the 1st years.
In the gallery. The audience was discussing the match.
"The first years won't stand a chance".
"seriously".
"The upperclassmen can be so immature".
[Score:
3 innings
1st Year: 0-0-0
2+3 years: 5-2-3]
The first years looked exhausted walking back to the dugout.
They were feeling utterly defeated by them. The speed of the batted balls, their runs, their slides…it was too much pressure for them to handle on the defense.
Sawamura came to the dugout and tried cheering them up, but it didn't work.
After a while, Sawamura was moved to the outfield.
The game kept going and the 3rd years kept scoring.
[Score:
4 innings
1st Year: 0-0-0-0
2+3 years: 5-2-3-7]
All the 1st years were shocked at the offense of the upperclassmen.
Seeing the exhausted faces of the 1st years, Kataoka had enough of it and decided to call for a change.
"Pitcher change. Fujikawa Rei. Come up to the mound", announced Kataoka.
Rei got up from his seat and grabbed his glove.
"Wish me luck", he said to Furuya.
Furuya nodded in response.
Before he walked towards the mound a blue screen popped up in front of him bringing a smile to his face.
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