Chapter 307: A Conversation Beneath the Starry Sky
After Coach Kataoka ordered the team to disperse, everyone returned to the dorms to rest—there was going to be a celebration party that night.
They had already started preparing the banquet ingredients yesterday. In their previous life, after losing, no one had been able to eat, but tonight was destined to be a full-blown celebration.
Oni-san and the others arrived just in time for the party to begin. When they learned that Captain Tetsu was completely fine, and that Oni-san would only need three or four days of recovery, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The final had been held on July 31, and the Koshien tournament would open on August 7—there was more than enough time for the team to recover.
Summer training camp had only lasted seven days, after all.
And since everyone knew Seidou would be holding a party that night, most players' families simply sent congratulatory messages.
It was also at this time that Sendo learned his parents had returned to the country.
...
"Before the party starts, let the captain say a few opening words!"
With that, Ota shoved Yuuki forward.
But Captain Tetsu wasn't exactly the type to give speeches.
"Uh… well… let's start. Cheers."
The entire room collapsed in disbelief.
"What kind of opening is that, Tetsu?! Fine, I'll do it!"
Like a doting father stepping in, Isashiki took over without hesitation.
"To our first trip to Koshien in six years—cheers!!!"
"Cheers!!!"
Of course, everyone toasted with juice. In Japan, drinking alcohol under twenty is illegal, and while there are always exceptions, no responsible adult would allow it.
After the toast, everyone did their own thing.
Sendo, who didn't enjoy noisy environments much, slipped out early.
He left the cafeteria, found a spot outside the dorm, sat down, and gazed up at the stars, replaying the deadly battle from earlier that day.
Before long, Fumino came and sat beside him. Neither of them spoke; they just sat there shoulder to shoulder.
They were exhausted enough already.
"Yo, you two lovebirds are out here, huh? Stargazing?"
Miyuki showed up with a cup of juice and handed Sendo a cola.
Sendo took it without saying a word and drank.
"N-no, you've got it wrong!"
Fumino reacted strongly, waving her hands in a fluster.
"Calm down. He's just joking," Sendo said after a sip.
Fumino settled down, though her feelings were complicated.
Honestly, while she denied it outwardly, she felt a little happy inside.
"Today… was tough," Miyuki said quietly.
"You too. Our pitching staff isn't easy to handle."
"Heh, you really get it."
"That's exactly why I don't want to be a pitcher or catcher. Thank goodness things went our way on defense—even though the pitchers were shaky, we still pulled through."
"Yeah…Before Koshien starts, Tanba-senpai's control should recover. At this rate, he'll be back to pre-injury form soon—no more easy-to-hit pitches. Honestly, I almost ran out of options today. Good thing your condition was insane. That last at-bat… it felt like you were from another dimension. So? Any insights?"
"Nope. I just know that my focus was unbelievably intense. I couldn't hear or see anything except what was happening on the field."
"Seriously? If your concentration reaches that level, that's basically unbeatable."
"I think it happens when I face opponents strong enough to excite me. Maybe that's just competitive instinct."
Sendo took another gulp of cola.
"Haha. Geniuses really hate losing."
"By the way… you should probably work on your batting too, right? Today's results…"
"Hey, stop. It's a celebration—don't ruin the mood!"
"You know this already, right? Once Koshien is over, the new team starts forming in late August, and by early September the fall qualifiers begin. After the seniors retire, who's left in the lineup? We'll have less than twenty days. Next year, this team will obviously be built around you."
"Don't say something so cruel."
"I just don't want to come back from Koshien and lose our very first fall match."
"…Yeah."
"That's why having you is such a relief. At least the new lineup will have someone reliable."
"Idiot. One person can't do everything. And for you, the only thing that can really improve quickly is batting. You lose focus just like I do. With runners on base, you're unstoppable—but with empty bases, not so much. Koshien is your chance to grow."
"I get it, I get it! I'll work on it."
Fumino quietly watched the two of them talk.
As they chatted, the party gradually wound down.
Captain Tetsu would be staying in the dorms that night, sleeping on the floor in Sendo's room.
Only the female managers needed to go home. Since Sendo was already outside, he volunteered to walk them back.
Miyuki returned to his room to rest.
….
By the time Sendo finished escorting the managers home and returned to Seishin Dorm, it was very late.
He always made sure to see them safely to their doors.
"Whew…"
"Whoosh—!"
As he entered the dorm, he heard the sound of bats cutting through the air.
"At this hour… don't tell me it's that scheming glasses guy," Sendo muttered, walking toward the sound.
What he saw made his eyes widen.
Maezono-senpai and a large group of bench players were practicing their swings.
"Come to think of it, these guys really have it rough.
They support us during the day and still train on their own at night," Sendo murmured.
In his previous life, first-years like Kanemaru only started going all-out once they realized they had a real chance to make the first string.
It wasn't quite that time yet—but even so, the first-year bench players were already putting in serious work.
Maezono, in particular, was relentless.
He'd even gone to Miyuki's room last night, asking the seniors to look at his swing.
Sendo didn't interrupt them.
He quietly turned and left.
They were all pursuing baseball in their own way, quietly building strength in the shadows, waiting for the day their ambitions would finally take shape.
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