[15] Something Feels Off About the Atmosphere!?

Chapter 15: Something Feels Off About the Atmosphere!?

The next morning, at 9 a.m., on Seidou High School's A Field.

Since it was the weekend, a large crowd had already gathered near the field. Among them were alumni, reporters from various magazines, and baseball enthusiasts from the nearby neighborhood. It was quite common for a lot of people to come and watch the Seidou High School players train on weekends.

Especially after hearing the news that Seidou High School would be holding a Red and White game this weekend, even more people gathered, most of them wearing expressions of interest as they awaited a match that, even before it started, seemed to promise a one-sided massacre.

At least, that's what almost all the spectators believed.

After all, with the second and third years forming one team and the first years another, it wasn't that people were underestimating the first years—it's just that the gap in skill was way too obvious.

This was nothing less than a blatant case of upperclassmen bullying the underclassmen.

This was the consensus among all the spectators.

On Seidou High School's A Field, on the first base side, stood all the first-year players, while the second and third years were gathered on the third base side.

Coach Kataoka, dressed as the chief umpire, was at home plate discussing the details of the game with a few assistant coaches.

"Wow… there are so many people… oh no… my stomach's starting to hurt…" A first-year freshman, his legs trembling slightly, looked at the crowd and said.

"It's always like this. On weekends, there are especially a lot of people," Kanemaru Shinji remarked, "And today is the Red and White game, so a lot of interested alumni have come to watch."

"The most important thing is, I overheard some of the alumni saying this is going to be a slaughter," another first-year freshman said with a wry smile.

This comment caused most of the nearby first-year freshmen to look rather uneasy. Sitting on the bench, Eijun gazed at the upperclassmen on the second and third-year team not far away, a faint smile forming at the corner of his mouth.

"The moment has finally arrived…"

Eijun murmured softly.

"But, the second and third years are batting first? I thought it was supposed to be the first years who batted first."

Eijun's eyes shifted to the scoreboard nearby. At the top, it showed the second and third-year team, and below that, the first-year team, clearly indicating that the upperclassmen would be batting first.

It seems that my arrival has quietly started to alter the storyline in some subtle ways...

Eijun thought to himself.

His gaze swept over the bench, briefly pausing on Furuya Satoru, who sat in the corner looking rather isolated and indifferent, and then on Haruichi Kominato, who was on the other side, shyly chatting with some other first-year students while carefully polishing his bat.

It wasn't just because of the original story, but also due to Eijun's personal reasons, that he felt a unique connection to these two.

However, this wasn't his moment to shine just yet. Eijun lowered the brim of his cap slightly. The first thing he needed to do was focus on the basics.

Batting seventh, right fielder, Sawamura Eijun.

Earlier that morning, Coach Kataoka had announced the first lineup, and as expected, the first one to take the mound was Matsukata Senior League's ace pitcher—Hideaki Tojo.

This was only natural. After all, among all the first-year freshmen present, when it came to achievements in middle school, Hideaki Tojo and Kanemaru Shinji clearly outshone everyone else.

"Tojo, are you ready?" Kanemaru Shinji approached his old teammate from middle school, and close friend, Hideaki Tojo, with a hint of concern in his voice.

"Well, more or less," Tojo replied, forcing a slight smile.

"Just show what you've got, Tojo," Kanemaru said, patting Tojo's shoulder with a smile.

"Yeah, I know. You too, Shinji, as our cleanup hitter, give it your best," Tojo replied with a smile.

"I will," Kanemaru responded, a confident smile spreading across his face. It was just a Red and White game, after all. Though he was admittedly a bit nervous, and hadn't slept well the night before, Kanemaru was still full of confidence, seeing this as his first big debut in his high school baseball career.

Winning the game wasn't his main focus—what mattered was showcasing his abilities and potential.

That was exactly his goal!

The only thing slightly beyond his expectations was how terrifying the expressions were on the faces of the upperclassmen on the third base side. Their gazes felt sharp and piercing.

Kanemaru Shinji swallowed hard, thinking to himself.

It seemed that this match wasn't going to be as simple as he had imagined.

"Line up!"

"Salute!"

"Please take care of us!"

"Oh, so the second and third years are batting first?"

"This really does feel like they're trying to intimidate them right off the bat."

"Tsk, tsk, I can already imagine the looks on those first-years' faces."

"I heard that the first-year pitcher on the mound was the ace of a team that made it to the national semifinals in middle school."

"Semifinals? Even if you're the ace of a national championship team, it won't matter here. Middle school is middle school, and high school is high school. They're two completely different levels of baseball."

"True enough. Poor first-year freshmen."

"We'll see if the second and third years go easy on them."

"Do those fierce-looking guys seem like the type to go easy? I'd say the first years will be lucky if they don't get utterly destroyed."

"Yeah, let's just hope the freshmen don't end up completely shattered."

"Doesn't seem likely, though."

As the first-year players took their defensive positions on the field, the spectators outside showed expressions of eager anticipation. To put it another way, they had their snacks ready, their seats prepared, and they were eager to watch the show begin.

Eijun stood on the wide grassy area of right field, holding his glove, and looked toward the center of the field at Hideaki Tojo's back.

A faint look of regret appeared on his face.

"One of the most brutal beatdowns in history is about to begin..." Eijun muttered under his breath.

He couldn't help but feel a little sorry as he looked at Tojo's dimly visible profile.

Such a promising ace pitcher from middle school, and now he was about to be utterly crushed by Seidou High's upperclassmen to the point where his confidence would likely be shattered. It really was quite pitiable.

"!!!"

May God be with you! Amen!

Eijun thought with a hint of playfulness deep inside.

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