Chapter 07 : Sawamura's Debut on the Mound!

"YEAAAAAAH!!!"

"Good save, Hiroto!"

"Show those arrogant firsties your strength!"

"Yeah! Don't let them mess up more than this!"

As everyone on the second team was celebrating the last play with Hiroto, Sawamura froze on the spot. He was just two steps away from the home plate, yet he was killed by the laser beam from the right field. His mind is running fast, recalling what just happened. Haruichi who was also the victim of Hiroto's laser beam looked at him worriedly, trying to figure out what was on his mind.

"Are you okay?"

It took Sawamura a few seconds before he realized he was approached by Haruichi. For the pink-haired boy, Sawamura had nothing but respect toward him. They didn't know each other, yet Haruichi managed to ignite his spirit just by his words, and he also almost sent Sawamura back home successfully. In his opinion, if there was no Hiroto there, it was a perfect play. However, there is no use to regret it now.

"Hello?" Haruichi waved his hand right in front of Sawamura's face, trying to gain his attention. "Are you alright?" Now, not only Haruichi, but even the second-team players also noticed his wrong state. But they had no intention of saying something nice to Sawamura.

Compared to the other newcomers, they had already acknowledged Sawamura as a worthy opponent. Even though there was the element of luck involved there, they couldn't deny Sawamura's fighting spirit to always play as best as he could no matter how badly the score moved them a little. That's why, saying something nice to him would be an insult to his effort.

The same could also be said for Haruichi. The second-team players didn't expect the petite boy would swing aggressively from the start and hit it straight into a tricky spot just on the first attempt. It might be because their new pitcher hadn't onto the game yet after replacing Tanba, or it could be because of the lack of Haruichi's information. However, it doesn't change the fact that if not for Hiroto, the first team players, they would be humiliated by two runs from the newcomers.

That's why for Sawamura and Haruichi, the second team had already looked at those two as their own. If those two were crumbled just because of one play, they would be disappointed and reject the idea of accepting them as the second team members.

Unexpectedly though, after a few seconds standing there as if he was frozen by his thought, a burst of laughter suddenly came from Sawamura's loudmouth.

"BAHAHAHA! THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING!" Everyone was too stunned to react to his sudden outburst. "As expected of Hiroto-senpai, he is really awesome! But this is not over! We will go back home successfully the next time!"

Hiroto twitched his mouth, looking at the excited Sawamura amusedly. Even though it is good for Sawamura to bounce back this quickly, the first-year pitcher really had no filter. He would always blurt out everything in his mind whether it would insult the other or not. Just like this, the second-team players were looking at him with murderous intent.

By mentioning Hiroto directly, he also insulted the other, as if saying if not for Hiroto, he would be able to go home safely. And even though it wasn't wrong, that doesn't mean it wouldn't touch the other's bottom line.

"This brat is so full of himself!"

"Yeah! Just one lucky hit and he thought he was the best hitter in the world? Let's knock him down!"

'If the coach put him on the mound, I will kill him on the spot!"

Unfortunately, in the middle of this excitement, Kataoka-sensei suddenly raised his hand and shouted, "BOTH TEAMS LINE UP!"

"Eh?" Everyone snapped their heads toward the coach immediately, not knowing what happened. But the confusion was broken by his sudden announcement a second later that caused an uproar on the field.

"The game is over. If we keep going, the point difference will only get bigger there."

There was silence for a couple of seconds before his words finally sunk into everyone's head.

"EEEHHHH?!!"

"Boss, you cannot stop the game when it was about to start!" Unsurprisingly, it was Sawamura who complained first. "Even though we hadn't scored successfully, we came very close to it before! Maybe we would be able to do that again the next time, right?"

For this, Kataoka-sensei just pointed out his finger toward the other newcomers.

"You look at your teammates' state. With that kind of attitude, do you think you can have that chance again? No. Instead, think about it from another perspective. If we continued the game, it would be the second team's turn to do the offense. How many more do you think they would score? It would be too cruel for your teammates to continue the game."

"This…."

Sawamura was speechless for a moment. Even though it was harsh, what Kataoka-sensei said was indeed right. He could see the dejected states of his teammates as if their souls were pulled out of their bodies. It was indeed cruel to let them continue the game. However, Sawamura is still unwilling to end the game when it has just started to get heated.

"Hey, guys! Are you willing to end the game like this?!" Sawamura turned around, trying to encourage his teammates. "We have no idea when will a chance like this come again! If you give up right now, will you be able to hold your head high and say you gave it all you had? Moreover, have you no shame at all? You all were the best middle schoolers in the country last year, yet the best performers here are a bunch of nobody! Where would you hide your face after this?!"

A bunch of nobody he said of course refers to Haruichi and Furuya. He didn't regard his performance before as good, considering it was due to his luck he was able to get into the base safely. However, Haruichi and Furuya are different. They both performed well enough to be qualified as the member of Seido's team, or at least for their second team. One with the monster pitch, and the other with his long-distance hit. They stole the limelight of the famous players like Tojo and Kanemaru who went to the national tournament last year.

"This…"

"We also know about it."

"Don't you think we like this situation?! We didn't come to Seido just for fun! There is no way we don't feel frustrated too!"

"Yeah! And why do you act as our captain?! You aren't even allowed to touch the ball until today!"

"Shut up! If you want to protest, come here!"

The gloomy atmosphere in the newcomers' dugout suddenly turned lively as the other trash-talked Sawamura mercilessly. However, his strategy to provoke their anger and pinch their pride is fruitful. Now, the lifeless newcomers had the fire back in their eyes as determination rose in their hearts. They all turned around to Kataoka-sensei at the same time and bowed down collectively.

"SENSEI, PLEASE GIVE US ONE MORE CHANCE!"

"Yeah! We didn't want to end this game shamefully!"

"It is uncomfortable to be the victim of the mercy rule!"

"Sensei, please let us fight!"

Kataoka-sensei let out a small smirk, happy with this sudden development. In Sawamura, he could see a potential to be Ishashiki's successor as the team's mood booster. And if his pitching could be half as good as his words, Kataoka-sensei would consider this intra-game as a successful one. Getting two potential pitchers and one powerful batter in one sweep, the other coaches would be salivating in envy.

However, at the end of the day, he still is a teacher. Seeing the pitiful states of the newcomers before, he had to put a harsh word to wake them up quickly and train harder or they could just give up instead of wasting time here.

"This will be your last chance," Kataoka-sensei spoke with a stern expression. "I don't want to see you all give up before the umpire declares the game is over. I don't care about the score at all. But once you give up the game, I will personally send you out of the team. I don't need a bunch of cowards here, do you understand?!"

Everyone was too stunned at Kataoka-sensei's words to respond. However, it was Sawamura who was the first to bow his head toward him.

"I understand, Boss! This Nagano boy will show you the never-give-up spirit!"

The smirk on Kataoka-sensei's face broadened as he saw the determination in Sawamura's eyes. This kind of player, he would give him one more chance as a reward.

"Sawamura!" Kataoka-sensei called. "From then on, you are the pitcher. Hurry up and get on the mound!"

Hearing that decision, Sawamura was stunned for a moment. However, in a second, his body began to tremble as the excitement crawled all over his body. The chance that he wanted finally came, and even when the team was down by over 20 points, it couldn't hinder his excited feeling right now. He turned around and bowed his head down deeply, showing his gratitude toward the coach.

"THANK YOU FOR THE CHANCE, BOSS!"

And right after that, his high school career as a pitcher finally began.

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'Well, good for him.' Hiroto smiles silently from afar, happy for his new kouhai. 'He had already impressed the coach. If he could perform well next, his path would be easier in the future.'

Out of all the players there, besides Sawamura, Hiroto is probably the most excited one of the first-year pitcher's debut. No one knows how much Sawamura suffered silently, not being able to touch the ball and was isolated from the team training since the beginning. Now that the pitcher was given a chance to shine, Hiroto really hoped his kouhai would be able to conquer at least Kataoka-sensei's heart here.

'Unfortunately, the next round wouldn't be easy for him.'

When Hiroto looked around, he could see Higasha Shouji, Yamaguchi Ken, and Miyazono Kenta had already prepared for the next round. The three were the second team's cleanup and the projected first-team players for the next year. Facing this line-up was undoubtedly the hardest challenge Sawamura had to go through if he wanted to show off his skill.

However, even facing such murderous intents from those three, Sawamura's excitement didn't waver. Instead, it is getting bigger as he grinned widely on the mound. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a second, trying to concentrate on the next batter. And when he opened his eyes, all of the goofiness suddenly vanished without a trace, replaced by a heavy pressure that radiated from his body.

'This boy….' Kataoka-sensei grinned inwardly as he was close enough to get affected by that pressure. 'It seems Rei really found an interesting pitcher last year.'

Higasha Shouji who was in the batter box was also taken aback by the sudden pressure from Sawamura. However, it didn't affect his concentration too much. He just glared back at the first-year pitcher, trying to intimidate him back for the favor.

Sawamura who had already concentrated on his own world didn't notice that. He took a deep breath before starting to wind up, ready to show off his strength. He lifted his leg high and in a second, he threw the ball as hard as he could. Unfortunately, the ball didn't go at a high speed, which was easy for Higasha to handle.

'Well, it seems I would get my second home run today.'

The third baseman swung his bat decisively, hitting the ball right before it could escape to the catcher's mitt.

*CLANK!*

"OH! NICE HIT!"

"Will it be another home run?"

"No, the ball fell short! It wouldn't go out! Left field!"

"I got it!"

Fortunately, all the outfielders took a few steps back and had already prepared for such a long-distance hit. So, facing this kind of long fly ball, they didn't panic too much and just waited for the ball to fall. And unlike the amateur Sawamura, the left-fielder is a well-known player in the middle school, and he knows how to handle this ball. He waited patiently until the ball was within his reach before he let it fall into his glove.

"OUT!"

"YOSSHAAAA!" Sawamura roared as he saw the ball was caught by the left fielder. "NICE CATCH!"

"Yeah! Keep it up!"

A moment later, the next batter, Yamaguchi Ken came. Having sent one player out, Sawamura's confidence soared up to the sky. He started his windup again before throwing it hard near to the batter's body.

'An inside pitch!'

*CLANK!*

The ball was hit again! However, the angle when Yamaguchi hits the ball is a bit off, and as a result, instead of flying high, the ball just rolls down on the area between the third baseman and the second baseman.

"SHORTSTOP!"

Yeah. This shady area is the shortstop's responsibility to cover. However, before the shortstop could do anything, Haruichi had already reacted and left the second baseman to grab the ball and threw it back without hesitation onto the first baseman.

"OUT!"

"NICE COVER!" Sawamura sent a big thumbs up to Haruichi. Even though they hadn't introduced themselves to each other, they were trying to survive on the same battlefield. That was enough for Sawamura to consider the pink-haired boy as a friend. "COME ON! ONE MORE AND WE WILL CHANGE SIDE!"

After sending two players out, his confidence was spread to his teammates.

"YEAH!"

"COME ON! ONE MORE BATTER!"

"SEND HIM OUT!"

Maezono who was the next batter frowned at their confidence. It was the first time the newcomers fought back since the game started, and it was all due to Sawamura. He tried to recall the pitches that sent out two batters before him, trying to think if there was anything special in it. However, his observation skills are not good, and he couldn't find out how Sawamura sent out the two second team's cleanup batters.

'Well, no need to overcomplicate it. Just blast the ball when it is within reach.'

Unfortunately, just like the others, Maezono underestimated Sawamura's pitch. When he saw the ball was about to go to the catcher's mitt, he swung the ball without hesitation, just to find out that his timing was a bit off.

"Eh?"

Unfortunately, he didn't have time to adjust his posture, and as the bat hit the ball,

*CLANK!*

"IT WAS ANOTHER GROUND BALL!"

"FIRST BASEMAN!"

"I GOT IT!"

And when the first baseman got the ball, they all could hear Kataoka-sensai announce, "THREE OUTS! CHANGE SIDE!" And a second later, it was followed by the roars from the newcomers' side.

"YOSSHAA!!!"

"Finally! We send them out without losing a single point"

"Nice job, Brat!"

"Hey! Who do you call a brat?! We are the same age, you know?! And it is Sawamura Eijun from Nagano, remember it!"

"Sure, Brat! HAHAHA!"

As they finally swept the second team's cleanup hitters, they all finally relaxed and started to show their confidence again. As for the second team, they all just gave their kouhai dead stares as if their toys were just stolen by them, as the murderous aura soared up from their dugouts.

Kataoka-sensei who watched the excitement from behind the catcher pushed up his sunglasses, letting out a small smirk as he muttered inwardly, 'The intra-game this year is by far the most interesting one in the last couple of years. Let's see if it could get more interesting…'

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Author note :

Hey! I have written a few next chapters of this new story and posted it already on my patreon account. If you want to read it in advance, you can visit patreon(.)com/ZetaFaes .

You can read this story up to chapter 14, and I will try to update it faster. 

You can also read my other fanfiction, Kuroko no Basket: The Sixth man of Seirin Basketball Team up to chapter 153 on that page.

Thank you for your support! I appreciate it! :)

-Zeta Faes-