<135> Autumn Tournament

Chapter 135: Autumn Tournament

"Sano-sensei, don't take the data from the Autumn Tournament so seriously. Autumn is merely a competition among new teams," Sendo remarked upon hearing Sano was collecting data.

"Does that mean the Autumn Tournament is meaningless?" Sano asked, puzzled.

"No, humans grow, that's true. But by analyzing their characteristics and other factors, we can predict their growth direction."

"I see!"

"However, for the Autumn Tournament, our data collection is straightforward—just focus on the current individual abilities and technical characteristics of the few strong teams. That's enough."

"Understood!"

"Leave that to me, and the recordings are on you, Sano-sensei!"

"Got it!"

...

Three days later,

The Autumn Tournament's opening match begins!

Nagano Municipal Baseball Stadium!

"Sendo! What's going on here?!" Sawamura shouted, pointing at the starting lineup just before the game began.

"Exactly what it looks like," Sendo replied. Just as he finished speaking, the announcer began broadcasting the lineup!

"In ten minutes, Akagi Junior High will face Saoto Junior High.

Now, introducing the starting lineup:

Batting first, shortstop, Ohno-kun!

Batting second, right fielder, Aoki-kun!

Batting third, second baseman, Kondou-kun!

Batting fourth, pitcher, Sawamura-kun!

Batting ninth, left fielder, Aotsuki-san!

That's the lineup!"

Yes, Sawamura was the cleanup batter, and Wakana was batting ninth.

From the start, Sendo had no intention of taking the Autumn Tournament seriously.

He imposed specific restrictions on the players, such as prohibiting coordinated tactics between hitters and runners, bunting, or sacrifice plays.

The goal was to ensure that opponents in Nagano couldn't gauge Akagi's level accurately, making it even harder to estimate their strength, tactics, or characteristics by next summer.

With Sendo himself as the ultimate wildcard, Akagi had a carefully crafted strategy designed to overwhelm district rivals, especially Tokugawa Junior High.

This strategy aimed to dominate the national stage in one go.

This approach was unique to Nagano, as other regions also had Spring Tournaments.

In hardball baseball, there are several national tournaments a year, not to mention world-class competitions.

Tokyo might dominate the national stage, but Japan is merely a branch—there are world tournaments beyond their reach.

For example, the Little League and Pony League also have national and even world championships.

Sawamura's junior, Yui, was the captain of Japan's team in the Little League World Series. This meant he had been professionally trained with hardballs since elementary school.

This match was over before it even began. Akagi not only shut out their opponents but also scored in every inning for five consecutive innings, ending with a final score of 15–0.

"Akagi's batting lineup is incredible!"

"They're a powerhouse!"

"But their true strength lies in small-ball tactics, which they didn't even use today!"

"True! Akagi's de facto coach, Sendo Akira, is not to be underestimated just because of his age. Last year, he concealed many strategies and only revealed everything in the game against Tokugawa. His guidance, combined with the team's execution and the players' peak performance, almost defeated the reigning champions, Tokugawa Junior High, last summer!"

"Indeed. Now their batting has improved further. How much stronger can they get? And they likely haven't abandoned their small-ball tactics, meaning those strategies have only gotten sharper! By next summer, even without their collective peak performance, Tokugawa will be in serious trouble."

Spectators and scouts from other teams discussed fervently on the sidelines.

The complete domination left scouts impressed by Akagi's improved batting lineup but disappointed as the match offered little actionable information.

They couldn't discern detailed capabilities.

Only when Akagi clashed with strong teams would they gather useful insights.

The one tangible takeaway was that Sawamura's pitching speed had noticeably increased, allowing a conservative estimate of his "real" velocity for next summer.

Despite the lack of concrete intel, every team now regarded Akagi as a threat on par with Tokugawa.

However, unlike Tokugawa, Akagi's full potential remained a mystery, making them far more dangerous.

Sendo understood that their secrecy couldn't eliminate all suspicion, nor did he intend to.

As long as no critical information was leaked, their concealment strategy would remain effective.

Furthermore, their ultimate weapon was none other than Sendo himself.

Meanwhile, the roaring cheers of the crowd drowned out everything else.

Last summer's clash with Tokugawa had won Akagi many fans.

What was once a little-watched Autumn Tournament now drew significant attention.

...

"Did you all enjoy today's game?" Sendo asked the returning players after the match ended early.

"It was the best, Sendo!"

"Super satisfying!"

"Good. That's all that matters!" Sendo replied, pleased.

"Hahaha! I had a blast too!" Sawamura declared, strutting back with a swagger.

Sendo stared at him expressionlessly. After a moment of silence, he spoke:

"But Eijun... you didn't allow a single hit today, did you?"

The atmosphere turned awkward.

"...What?! You damn—"

"Ahahaha!" Laughter erupted, cutting off Sawamura's indignant roar.

"You guys!" Sawamura wore a mix of bitterness and disbelief on his face. His stance, half-squatting with an outstretched, weak-looking left hand, only made everyone laugh harder.

Even Wakana couldn't help but cover her mouth to stifle a chuckle.

The interaction wasn't inherently funny, but the combination of Sawamura's smugness, the dead silence, and Sendo's precise quip made it unexpectedly hilarious.

...

"Alright, that's enough. Time to head back!" Sendo said as the laughter finally started dying down.

Hearing his words, everyone returned to their usual demeanor—everyone except Sawamura, who remained completely baffled.

The team quickly packed their things and left the stadium amid the cheers of the crowd.

The overwhelming victory in the opening match not only boosted Akagi's confidence but also filled their supporters with joy.

Watching their favored team grow so much stronger was truly exhilarating.

The Autumn Tournament continued without any major surprises.

In the early rounds, teams like Akagi and Susabano—the two rising stars of the new generation—along with traditional powerhouses, all advanced smoothly.

By the third round, clashes between strong teams began.

However, Akagi's luck with the draw meant they wouldn't face Tokugawa until the semifinals.

Until then, there wasn't any real threat.

Even the strongest opponent before that—a team weaker than Tokumei—was defeated with a decisive 13–2 victory, ending early.

By the time they faced Tokugawa, Akagi was truly unstoppable.

In the third round, Tokugawa eliminated Susabano and advanced to the semifinals, breezing through their matches with clear advantages.

Meanwhile, the only two teams capable of truly challenging them—Akagi and Tokugawa—were set to clash in the semifinals.

...

Post-Quarterfinal Strategy Meeting

"Based on the intel we've gathered so far, Tokugawa Junior High's overall strength has declined slightly since summer. However, their new players are not to be underestimated," Sendo explained, pointing to footage on the screen.

"The real challenge lies in next summer. While they still have noticeable weaknesses now, Coach Daimon isn't a fool—he'll surely address those gaps with rigorous training. Next summer, Tokugawa might be the strongest team we've seen in years, perhaps even in their history!"

"Sendo! What about next week's match?" Sawamura asked innocently.

"We actually have a good chance of beating the current Tokugawa."

"Really?"

"So... are we going to win?" Aoki interjected.

Sendo immediately understood Aoki's question.

There's a significant difference between having the chance to win and actually intending to win.

If they continued playing with restrictions, they wouldn't stand a chance.

"Let's take next week's match seriously," Sendo declared.

"Does that mean...?" Sawamura began excitedly.

"No way!"

"But I haven't even asked yet!"

"I already know what you're going to say! The answer is absolutely no! I'll consider stepping in next summer, but I won't play in the Autumn Tournament. We need to keep our trump cards hidden, understand? You airhead!"

As Sendo's sharp retort sank in, Sawamura imagined a flock of crows circling above his head, cawing "airhead, airhead."

"But why do we need to go all out? Wouldn't it be better to keep hiding our strength?" Sawamura protested.

"It's pointless and counterproductive!"

"Huh?" Everyone was confused. Isn't it common sense to keep as many trump cards as possible?

"Sure, more trump cards are better—that's basic logic. But once a card is revealed, it's no longer a trump card!"

"What we're hiding now are things like small-ball tactics—bunts, hit-and-run plays, steals, and so on. Compared to the changes we made over the summer, the difference is mainly in execution. If we keep holding back, our opponents will think we have even more in reserve!"

"Isn't that a good thing?"

"Idiot! Knowing what our cards are but not their full strength will keep them awake at night. If we face them without revealing anything, they might assume we're holding back, but they'll still remain cautious of our small-ball tactics. This benefits us in no way."

"And let's not forget the audience. If they think we're throwing matches, it could cost us their support. While crowd support might not seem important, turning a home game into an away game due to hostility can be disastrous! Imagine the entire stadium cheering against you."

Everyone nodded in understanding at Sendo's explanation.

"Moreover," Sendo continued.

"Moreover?"

"If we go all out in the next match, it might make them less suspicious of our other trump cards. They'll assume they've seen everything and that we've already shown what we wanted to hide during summer. That false sense of confidence will leave them vulnerable to critical mistakes."

"I see!"

Everyone finally understood—except Sawamura, who still looked completely lost. Turning his head back and forth, he saw everyone else nodding, and panic set in.

"Calm down, Eijun! I'll explain it to you later," Wakana said kindly.

"Oh, okay!"

"By the way," Sendo interrupted their moment. "Don't reveal any of the new strategies we've developed since summer."

"Understood!"

"Alright, meeting adjourned!"

...

"Wait!" Wakana suddenly spoke up. "Let's all go shopping tomorrow! My friends are coming too!"

Sendo froze. He already knew what she meant.

"Your friends... you don't mean..."

"That's right! Reiko's coming too!"

"I'm not going! She's so annoying! Always looking for a boyfriend and teasing me!"

"Please, Sendo!" Wakana clasped her hands together, tilted her head slightly, and gave him an irresistibly cute expression. No man could refuse that look.

"Fine, I'll go. What a hassle!"

"Thank you so much!"

"I'm heading back now," Sendo sighed.

"Oh, and say hi to Fumino for me!"

"Tell her yourself! You have her number! It's not like she lives at my house!"

"I'm busy tonight!"

"With what?"

"Girl stuff! Don't ask!"

"You're starting to sound like Fumino. Has she rubbed off on you?"

"Of course not! But you're tutoring her tonight, right? Just mention it casually. Anyway, bye, everyone!" Wakana said cheerfully as she left.

"What a hassle," Sendo muttered, watching her leave.

...

As he walked home, Sendo thought about how Wakana was partly right.

Fumino hadn't attended the game, so she'd probably ask him for highlights later.

Plus, he had to tutor her almost every night since she was hopeless at science.

"Suddenly, I kind of want a girlfriend," Sendo muttered to himself.

"Not happening! Everyone around me is just a bunch of middle school kids. What am I supposed to do, raise one? Ugh, that's creepy just to think about!" He shuddered, completely forgetting that he was technically a middle schooler himself.

Sendo struggled to fully immerse himself in this role. Some aspects still felt unnatural to him.

That night, he balanced thoughts of wanting a girlfriend with tutoring his childhood friend.

Luckily, Sendo saw Fumino as just a kid, sparing her from hearing his random musings.

If he had shared his thoughts, Fumino's reaction would've been interesting—maybe anger, sarcasm, or muttered insults like "idiot," "blockhead," or "dense jerk." After all, how could he ignore a beauty right in front of him and still lament not having a girlfriend?

Before falling asleep, a fleeting image of Ozawa crossed Sendo's mind—but he quickly dismissed it, thinking, "If I blurt that out, it's not ending well!"