<94> Second Year of Middle School!

Chapter 94: Second Year of Middle School!

After their early elimination in the fall tournament, Akagi Junior High returned to their usual training routine.

Sendo, however, had been brainstorming ideas to make the most of their limited team size, creating more efficient practice methods.

He also introduced additional batting drills, believing their defensive skills had reached a bottleneck.

Improvement in defense now required gradual accumulation, so he shifted focus to areas where progress could be made more quickly—like hitting.

For now, they practiced by having someone toss balls for swings against a net.

Though it might seem simple to an outsider, the key was controlling the bat even through the follow-through.

Players had to learn to stop mid-swing if necessary, mimicking real-game scenarios.

Tossed balls, though slower, dropped from above, forcing players to adjust to changing contact points rather than the predictable trajectory of a straight fastball.

In short, slower pitches weren't necessarily easier to hit—unless they lacked vertical drop, like the ones Akagi's two outfielders had been practicing with.

Unfortunately, they hadn't yet had a chance to play in games due to Sawamura's superior outfield defense.

...

Time flew by in the camaraderie of training.

Fall turned to winter, and winter soon gave way to spring.

The New Year arrived, and as always, everyone took a short break, visiting shrines to draw fortunes before regrouping for fun.

As usual, Sendo, Sawamura, and Wakana hung out together before meeting up with the rest of the team.

...

A few months later…

"Hahaha! Starting today, we're second-years! Finally, we're no longer the youngest!" Sawamura cheered.

"Can you tone down your foolishness now that we're in second year?" Sendo retorted.

"Sendo, aren't you happy about it?" Sawamura asked.

"What's there to be happy about? It's just the same as always."

"Wait! Why do you look so annoyed?"

"Typical. Your brain's reflexes are still as slow as ever," Sendo muttered with a smirk.

After a brief silence, Sawamura's expression turned serious. "Sendo!" he called out.

"What now?"

"Nothing much. I just wanted to ask you something."

"What is it?"

"How do you think we're doing now? It's been six months since the fall tournament, and we've been practicing non-stop. But I have no idea how much I've improved!"

For Sawamura, this was a genuine concern.

His training mainly focused on running, balance exercises, and building foundational skills.

Pitching was limited to maintaining his form and building chemistry with Shin.

However, he couldn't tell if he had actually progressed.

In truth, his improvements were modest, primarily stabilizing his lower body in preparation for proper guidance in high school.

Sendo didn't consider himself qualified to coach Sawamura in pitching, so he focused on building a strong foundation.

Coach Nakani, busy managing his own team, couldn't dedicate the time to remotely train a unique player like Sawamura.

Thus, consistent foundational work was the best approach.

"You? I'm not sure. But your progress is probably small. Right now is the time for steady accumulation. On the other hand, the rest of the team has improved significantly—not just in skill but also in defensive range. Their batting has improved a lot too, given the daily swing counts they've been putting in."

"I see!"

"I knew it—you've been ignoring everything going on around you and suddenly decided to ask this. Don't tell me you're itching to play a game again?"

"As expected of Sendo! You hit the nail on the head!" Sawamura admitted.

"I know everyone's been holding it in for a while now, but practice games are off the table for the time being."

"Why not? Are we not ready yet?"

"It's not that. Other teams aren't like us—they take breaks during spring vacation. It's better to focus on training and get back into shape after the new school year starts."

"Got it!"

"I've already asked Sano-sensei to help schedule some games in advance. I'll let you all know when they're confirmed."

"Understood!"

"I feel so bored lately! Got any good novels to recommend, Eijun?" Sendo asked, changing the topic.

"Haha! Are you running out of books again?"

---

Meanwhile, at a nearby table, a group of girls gathered around Wakana, giggling and whispering.

"Those two seem to be getting closer and closer over the past few months. Do you think they're… you know… a couple?" one joked.

"Not at all! They just share some overlapping interests. Sendo's a total otaku, and Sawamura loves reading light novels. That's all there is to it."

"I see. By the way, Wakana, which one do you like?"

"Huh?" Wakana blinked, caught off guard.

"It's Sawamura, isn't it?" one teased.

"Wait, what?"

"Of course! Childhood friend romances are always the best!"

Wakana sighed.

---I guess there's no point in continuing this conversation today.

...

Sendo wasn't joking when he said everyone had improved.

As the team's batting practice pitcher, he had the most direct observation.

The current lineup now required over 40 pitches to get through, even with the same pitching speed he had used six months ago.

It wasn't just about speed—Sendo's pitches combined velocity with precise four-corner control.

Moreover, since he wasn't throwing at full strength, his accuracy had further improved.

The team's focus on hitting and their determination to contribute offensively had led to remarkable progress.

That said, part of their improvement came from familiarity; they had grown used to Sendo's pitching style.

Even if another pitcher had the same speed, the results would differ significantly.

After all, every pitcher's style is unique, and even a fastball can be considered a type of breaking pitch.

Despite this familiarity, Sendo was genuinely impressed with everyone's progress.

Sawamura was right about one thing: the team needed a real opponent to gauge their actual level.

Facing the same pitcher and following the same routines day after day naturally led to better performance, but only a real game could reveal how much of that progress was sustainable under pressure.

Sendo personally estimated that their team wasn't yet at a level to compete with Tokugawa Middle School.

The disparity in talent, formal training, equipment, and other resources was still significant, and Tokugawa's improvement over time would likely be just as impressive.

Whether Akagi was closing the gap or whether it was widening would only become clear in the summer.

However, one thing was certain: when summer ended and Tokugawa restructured their team with new members, Akagi would have a golden opportunity to significantly close the gap.

The strength of Akagi's team lay in their shared experience—having grown up and improved together.

Their camaraderie and understanding weren't just for show.

In addition to seeking matches through Sano, Sendo was also exploring options with Sakura Girls's University.

Their softball team, composed of experienced players, was a perfect training opponent for Akagi's lineup.

The pitchers from Sakura Girls's offered a valuable challenge for Akagi's batters to refine their skills.

Unfortunately, any practice games with Sakura Girls's University would likely have to wait until just before the summer tournament.

For now, Sendo could only patiently await opportunities while other teams completed their joint training.

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