Chapter 247: Reunion with Azuma
Sendo didn't want the two catchers to keep it a secret to prevent others from finding out, or else he wouldn't have asked Miyuki to join him.
He was just doing whatever he wanted, who could control him?
The real reason for the secrecy was that he didn't want anyone to watch while he practiced in secret... it would be too awkward.
From the catchers' perspective, putting aside everything else, they were genuinely shocked that Sendo was willing to practice bunting.
Bunting is something that most people don't like. Who wants to hit a ball like that? It's not exactly glamorous!
However, when someone knows they can't hit with power, but still want to win, bunting becomes an essential skill.
Whether it's executing a tactic or a speedy batter disrupting the defense, it's a useful tool that forces defenders to process more information.
Clearly, Sendo was in this situation. Once he had the option to bunt, the opponents would have to consider his potential to reach base, forcing them to defend against his possible bunt.
This would serve to tie up the defense's "forces."
It would shrink their defensive range, and expand his ability to create damage with his hits.
Sendo's request wasn't too high; he just wanted to practice bunting until it couldn't be easily dealt with. As long as he could make it work on the surface, even if it was just hitting a foul ball, that would be fine.
The opponents would have no choice but to consider his potential for using his speed to bunt for a base hit, which would force them to defend against that, thereby widening the gaps in the defense. This would fulfill his goal for practicing bunting.
The three of them were thinking along the same lines. But after a few pitches...
"You've got to be kidding me! You learned to bunt this well in just a few tries?" Miyuki, watching how quickly Sendo had gotten his bunt to a competent level, felt both surprised and helpless.
"I specifically observed Eijun's stance today, mimicked his posture and power mechanics, and made slight adjustments with each pitch. It's that simple!" The utterly unaware Sendo casually said something that stung.
"The time's almost up! We'll need to gather soon, so let's practice a few more pitches!" Chris reminded them.
So, after a few more pitches, they headed to the field.
...
In the afternoon, it was time for defensive practice, and except for the pitchers and catchers, only Sendo, who was asked to practice hitting, didn't need to participate.
As for where Sendo was practicing his swings, Coach Kataoka didn't care.
So, Sendo ran over to the bullpen to practice, and he also got a chance to enjoy the spectacle of Sawamura smashing his bat into a gold ball (one willing to hit, the other willing to take it!).
"Hey! Isn't that...?"
While taking a break and preparing to head back to practice with a banana in his mouth, Sendo heard some commotion from the audience as he passed by the field.
"That's definitely him!"
"Ah hahahaha!" A big, chubby guy carrying a box of drinks laughed loudly as he entered.
"Last year's team's main slugger, the third-round pick in the draft, the monster! Azuma!" As the spectators marveled, Sendo happened to lock eyes with the newcomer, still holding the banana in his mouth!
"Hmm?" Both of them turned to look at each other.
Though it was brief, Sendo did recognize the senior.
Azuma's reason for turning around wasn't to recall who Sendo was, but because he was puzzled to see a kid wearing a Seido uniform running around with a banana in his mouth during practice time.
"Hey! Kid!" Azuma was about to speak when he was interrupted by the senior players on the training field.
"Azuma-senpai! Is that really Azuma-senpai?" Isashiki excitedly called out.
Isashiki had always admired Azuma.
"Oh! Isashiki!" Azuma turned his attention and responded.
Sendo quickly finished the banana he had been holding...
"It's been a while!"
"Hello!"
"Hello!"
The senior players, led by Isashiki, ran over to greet him.
"But why is a professional player here? Isn't it still the middle of the season?" The spectators were starting to wonder about Azuma's appearance.
"I heard that Azuma was sent down to the second string to lose weight! They say he's not allowed to play until he loses ten kilos!" One of the spectators, who kept up with professional news, explained.
"Lose weight?" Another spectator, hearing the conversation, was shocked.
"Azuma-san! Has your body gotten bigger? How did you gain weight after joining the pros?" Isashiki asked, even patting his own stomach in confusion. He was puzzled because the training in the pros was intense, so how did Azuma put on weight?
"Shut up! It's the stress weight from not being able to play!" Azuma was very angry...
He had always disliked others commenting on his body, and now that he had gained weight, it was even worse.
"Didn't they say you couldn't play because you gained weight? Is there really such a thing as 'stress weight'?" Sendo remarked.
"Shut up! Of course there is! By the way, who are you, brat! Don't think you can slack off just because you're on the bench! How can you be so careless as a member of Seido?" Azuma snapped.
"Is that so?" Sendo seriously thought about whether "stress weight" really existed.
As for what happened next, Azuma felt ignored.
"Hey, listen to me! You brat!"
"Oh! Sorry!" Sendo, thinking about what Azuma had gone through, felt a bit of sympathy.
"However, I'm not a benchwarmer! And I've never been one!" The words he said hit everyone like a dagger.
What? Is that even a thing to say?
"What did you say? ...Huh?" Azuma instinctively prepared to retort as soon as Sendo spoke, but midway, he realized what Sendo had said, stunned for a moment.
Azuma turned to look at the senior players.
Seeing that the third-years nodded, though their expressions were awkward, they were simultaneously hurt by Sendo's words, and felt ashamed that he was so rude to an OB.
...
"What's going on here?" Azuma asked.
"Well... um... the coach had him join the first team on his first day, so he's never been a benchwarmer!" Jun explained awkwardly.
"And now he's our team's fifth batter!" Yuuki, without hesitation, began to deliver the hard truth, though the naturally clueless Masuko didn't even notice.
Masuko, being naturally clueless, was immune to the hurtful comments, just like he was immune to the previous damage from them.
"Really?" Azuma muttered quietly, feeling a bit dazed.
His mind was buzzing.
The fifth batter position was already a bit mysterious—wasn't center and right field Isashiki's?
And now it's taken?
Azuma knew very little about Seido's news from Koya during the professional season, so he had never heard of this.
A first-year joining the first team right away, getting the starting number in his first summer, stealing a spot in the national-level center field position, and now even taking a spot in the heart of the batting order?
Azuma felt like his brain wasn't processing it, or maybe this series of news had hit him too hard.
Forget the whole series—just any one of these things alone was already incredible, let alone all of them together.
"Did you go say hi to the coach?" Jun tried to change the subject and break the tension.
"Ah! I just went earlier! But all I got was [Hurry up and lose weight!]" Hearing Isashiki's words was like coming out of a daze, only to be kicked straight into the low, depressing atmosphere of being scolded and ignored by the coach.
Azuma felt like today was his unlucky day!
He had no idea, the worst part was still coming.
"Uh!" Iaashiki hadn't expected this situation either.
"Anyway, my stuff is whatever! The most important thing is you guys!" After the low mood passed, Azuma finally remembered the real reason he was there.
"The dreams I couldn't achieve, I'm leaving them all to you! You absolutely have to make it to Koshien!" After adjusting his mood, Azuma raised his fist to encourage the juniors.
It felt like a passing of the torch, like a rite of succession.
"Well, we'll have to see the result of the finals! By the way, senpai, are you free lately? You should come watch tomorrow's game! Win or lose, it'll definitely be an exciting game!" However, the atmosphere was quickly shattered by one sentence from Sendo...
"Idiot! I told you not to say such unlucky things before the game! Damn it!" Jun finally exploded at Sendo, who had just killed the mood.
Azuma sighed for the second time today, thinking how unlucky he was...
But...
"Is that so? Well, I'll go check it out! Make sure I get to see a good game!" This time, Azuma smiled at Sendo.
"Yep! I promise!"
Everything was unspoken!
For the first time, Azuma thought this kid wasn't so bad after all!
"Stop trying to look cool! Listen up! The coach has already gone to the bullpen! If he catches you again..." Kuramochi warned.
"..." Sendo was silent for a few seconds, processing what he was being told.
"It's fine!" After analyzing his situation, Sendo casually responded.
"Again? ...Forget it! I also need to go to the bullpen, so let's go together!" Azuma was initially confused about why Kuramochi said "again," but after seeing Sendo's expression, he had a rough idea and decided to go along with it.
"Senpai, this way, please!" Sendo suddenly became a bit more obedient, just a little...
In that brief moment, Azuma was moved by Sendo's actions, thinking of certain memories or perhaps feeling a resonance—his coach was so strict!
Feeling sympathy for the juniors made Azuma's expression soften a lot, though no one could tell.
His face still looked pretty fierce...
"Hey, hey! Isn't that the brat from back then? What's he doing in the bullpen? Has he already made it to the bench?"
"You... you're...?" Sawamura asked, shocked.
Azuma seized the opportunity to walk into the bullpen, exuding a strong pressure.
The situation felt like Sawamura would be overwhelmed by Azuma's presence in this state.
"That fat senior I totally destroyed back then?" The next moment, the mood suddenly shifted, and Sawamura shouted loudly.
"Fat?" Azuma instantly went quiet, too shocked to say anything.
It seemed like Azuma and Sawamura just weren't meant to get along!
"Ah? Was It fat back then?" Sawamura curiously poked Azuma's stomach with his finger.
"Want to fight, brat?!!"
Azuma grabbed Sawamura by the collar with one hand and lifted him off the ground.
"Weren't you the one who said you hated prestigious schools? Yet you still came to our school, huh? Damn!"
"I... I don't remember!" Sawamura broke into a sweat, clearly pretending to forget what had happened, acting like nothing was wrong.
The two older pitchers were completely stunned and a bit... scared.
Both pitchers had rather soft personalities, and Azuma's demeanor had definitely left a bad impression on them, making them extremely afraid of him.
"Dare to mess with me? I'll shove you into a box and mail you back to the countryside!" Azuma's argument with Sawamura made Kawakami, who had heard similar lines before, feel even more shaken.
"Round and chubby~!" Azuma insulted him, while Sawamura retaliated by gripping Azuma's belly.
"Ugh!" Azuma's momentum faltered with those words.
Chris, standing nearby, was also taken aback.
Sendo, on the other hand, was struggling to hold back his laughter!
After hearing their first exchange, Sendo could barely contain himself. Now, he couldn't hold it in anymore.
Sendo crouched down, clutching his stomach, laughing uncontrollably.
"What are you laughing at? I remember now, you were the one who came with this brat to visit back then, right?" Azuma suddenly remembered and said, realizing he had met Sendo before.
Now that he thought about it, this guy was acting just like Miyuki at the time, making him grind his teeth in frustration.
"Just so happens, we've got a pitch we want to try! Want to step into the batter's box and see this kid's throw?" Seeing Sendo about to argue with Azuma, Miyuki quickly tried to steer the conversation in a different direction.
Azuma glanced at Miyuki, then turned to look at the troublesome brat, and agreed.
As Azuma walked toward the bullpen, the spectators began to react with shock at the unfolding situation.
Coach Kataoka had been watching everything. He knew that Sendo had been slacking off again.
However, compared to things like sneaking away for bathroom breaks or energy supplements, Coach Kataoka had always been in a state of acceptance.
This was also why, when Sendo had heard from Kuramochi that the coach knew, he didn't seem to care as much after thinking about it.
It could be considered a kind of tacit understanding!
Transforming from their original state to become a diligent player takes a lot of time, and even if Sendo was willing, it wouldn't be that simple to completely change.
That's why the two of them developed this kind of unspoken understanding.
Azuma stepping into the batter's box was also beneficial for Sawamura. No matter what Miyuki wanted to experiment with, having a right-handed batter facing Sawamura was the best for his development.
Coach Kataoka knew a lot of things...
If Azuma hadn't come, Coach Kataoka had already planned to have Sendo step into the right-handed batter's box, since he was free anyway.
"Give me the bat!" Azuma demanded, taking Kanemaru's bat with a powerful aura.
"Uh... well, it's better to wear protective gear!"
"Huh? No! I can easily dodge this kid's pitches!"
"Azuma!!! Didn't you decide to make money with your body? Put on the protective gear when you step into the batter's box!" Coach Kataoka still had the commanding presence...
Even if the line was a bit cringe...
With the threat of such a "nuclear weapon," Azuma broke into a sweat and, without saying a word, obediently started putting on the protective gear.
Sawamura, meanwhile, was also preparing for the real battle, organizing the bullpen's pitching area.
The atmosphere started to get tense, but Sendo just couldn't feel nervous!
This part of his memory was the most entertaining.
He couldn't help but laugh just by imagining it!
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