Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093087122434729/episodes/16818622176881966605
“Let’s go, Hayami.”
“Okay. Come on.”
On the mound.
He takes a big swing. His take-back is like a drawn bow, and his lower body moves dynamically to transfer power.
“!”
It’s not a voice, but a groan.
And then.
The white ball is shot out like an arrow from his fingertips.
“That’s fast!”
Viewed through the catcher’s mask, it was a speed unmatched even in soccer.
However, my body reacted instantly.
A crisp sound rang out. The collision of the mat’s leather and the white ball.
“Ouch!! That’s scary!”
“You say that, but you caught it normally. 140 km/h.”
“It’s not like I caught it; it just went into the mitt on its own.”
The ace of the baseball team and one of the top right-handed pitchers in the country, Itsukura Ryuji. His control is also impressive.
“Alright, let’s go again!”
“Sure, but…”
Why am I the catcher? To answer that, we have to go back in time a bit.
Two weeks before the sports festival. Our school has a special curriculum during this time.
Physical education classes are replaced with preparation for the sports festival. During this period, students are divided into groups and either adjust or practice for their respective events.
During the second period, a few of us from my class, assigned to the Green Team, headed to the third field, designated as the Green Team’s practice location.
“As expected of a sports powerhouse school. It’s amazing that they have four grounds.”
On the way to the grounds, I was approached by Itakura.
“Yeah, right.”
“Oh, by the way, have you decided which event to participate in? I recommend baseball.”
He gave me a thumbs up with a confident look on his face. To be honest, it was pretty annoying.
“Basketball. I did it last year too.”
“Why? Come on, let’s play baseball.”
“I’m sorry. I…”
I was about to say that I liked basketball manga more than baseball manga, when Shiramine’s face suddenly popped into my head.
“Hmm…”
“What’s wrong? Why are you suddenly looking so serious?”
“…Just a little.”
She wanted me to give my all at the sports festival. What was she thinking when she said that?
To begin with, I wasn’t slacking off… I think.
“Hayami-kun. I heard you’re really good at soccer. So why are you playing basketball?”
“Huh!?”
Suddenly, I turned around with a start at the words that came from behind me.
“Hey, Hayami-kun. And you must be Itakura-kun.”
“President… Don’t just start talking to me like that. It startles me. Hey, Itakura… Hey!”
Itakura, standing next to me, had fainted, standing stiffly like a statue.
“You always try to keep your distance from me, calling me ‘President.’ If you want, you can call me Tsubaki-chan. Or you can call me Honey, if you like.”
She winked slyly and looked at me mockingly, which somehow reminded me of Shiramine.
“I won’t call you that. Anyway, what competition are you going to enter, President?”
The girls are playing basketball, volleyball, softball, and futsal.
“Well, what should I enter? I’m not very experienced, so I’m at a loss. Oh, I’m not talking about being a virgin, you know?”
“Buh!”
Oh, Itakura’s nose started bleeding. He must not be good with girls, but he’s definitely a pervert.
“I didn’t hear that… Well, never mind. Let’s hurry up and go, we don’t have time to waste.”
“Yeah.”
So, as soon as we arrived at the field, under the president’s direction, we started a light practice to assess our abilities.
And now, it’s baseball.
“I’m surprised. Hayami-kun can play baseball too?”
“Huh? No, I can’t. I’m just mimicking what I see.”
“Still, I think you’re pretty good. After all, you’re the only one who’s been able to catch his pitches so far.”
It’s definitely scary, that ball.
“He throws some pretty nasty pitches, doesn’t he?”
The one who said that was the vice president, Honjo Shou, who had appeared out of nowhere. Moreover.
“You seem well-prepared, Honjo-kun.”
“Well, I’m used to the president’s unreasonable demands.”
With a helmet on her head and a bat in her hand, she looked exactly like a batter.
Moreover.
“Huh? Is something wrong, Hayami-kun?”
“No, nothing…”
I won’t say what it is, I can’t say anything, but that…No, but maybe it’s just because the president’s is too impressive? …No, I wonder.
“Well, that’s fine. Anyway…”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
Honjo took a sharp breath and stepped into the batter’s box.
“Itakura-kun. Go ahead and throw.”
“Oh, okay.”
Wow, Itakura. He actually replied. Can he talk to girls at this distance? …Well, I can’t really see his face, so I guess it’s okay.
“President. What’s going on here?”
I kept my eyes forward and asked President Sanada. I couldn’t figure out the purpose of this.
Why is Honjo at bat? That’s one thing, but more importantly, I’ve already caught all of Itakura’s balls.
“There’s no point if no one is at bat, right?”
“…Well, yes, but that doesn’t mean Honjo-san, a girl, needs to be at bat…”
“It’s simple.”
“Hayami, I’m throwing!”
With that shout, Itakura took a swing. However, I didn’t feel the same sense of intimidation as before.
I had a feeling he was holding back.
“──Here I gooooo!!!”
“Huh?”
Both I and Itakura were confused. Then, the crisp sound of the bat echoed loudly across the field.
“Honjo-kun was the ace pitcher and cleanup hitter for the girls’ baseball team until middle school. They even made it to the national finals.”
“……Really?”
As the president spoke, the ball soared high into the air and cleared the fence.
Flying, flying, flying… I don’t know the name of the song, but that’s exactly how the ball disappeared into the distance.
“Well, Hayami-kun. For now, you need to be able to strike her out today.”
“H-huh. Is it really necessary to go that far… Oh, right, this year, Aota is on the opposing team.”
“That’s right.”
Still, in sports, there’s no denying the difference in skill levels between men and women. No matter how top-tier the women’s baseball team is, there’s no way the men’s top-tier player, Itakura, should lose. …At least, that’s how it should be.
However.
“Orya!”
Single hit.
“Funnu!”
Double.
It kept getting hit repeatedly.
“Damn it, that’s it.”
“You finally figured it out, Hayami-kun. Itakura-kun can’t throw breaking balls.”
“It’s my fault, isn’t it?”
Probably because I can’t catch them. Even if a fastball is fast, it’s not that scary for me since I’m used to balls. But breaking balls are different.
I can’t predict the trajectory, and sometimes it even feels faster than a fastball.
“But it’s not bad. Your only challenge is to be able to use breaking balls. Well, let’s wrap it up for now.”
Class time is limited. Even though we have practice every day for the next two weeks, it’s still not enough.
“Hey, Hayami.”
Itakura, who had walked over from the mound, looked somewhat regretful.
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t help you.”
“No, more importantly, I was wondering… Are you perhaps… having knee problems?”
“!?”
How did he notice? I wasn’t even trying to hide the pain. How could he have noticed?
“I also injured my ligament in middle school, so I kind of understand. From your mannerisms and stuff.”
“I see.”
“Hey, you. Is that why you quit soccer?”
This is something I can’t hide. I gave up and decided to confess what happened in middle school.
“But—don’t tell Aota, okay?”
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