Catcher's area.
Hikigaya glanced at Ayanokouji Kiyotaka on his left.
Why the fourth batter would be Ayanokouji, rather than the overt ace Sudo, can also be roughly inferred.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka being the fourth batter.
Shows that in daily training, he displayed strength consistent with the fourth batter.
Only.
As the masterpiece of the White Room, highly valued by powerful people, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka's strength is naturally unfathomable.
Possessing only fourth-batter strength.
Doesn't mean Ayanokouji is already prepared to display his strength.
So.
What are the facts?
Although Sumida knows both the slider and the curveball.
But the winning pitch is the as-yet-unrevealed changeup.
Exert full effort just to strike Ayanokouji out?
No.
Although Ayanokouji probably hadn't had contact with baseball before, he also had two months of learning time.
Even that Sudo could grow to this level.
Ayanokouji should be far above Sudo.
It wouldn't even be surprising if he were more skilled at baseball than Sumida right now.
Hikigaya's vigilance toward Ayanokouji was maxed out.
Although he feels Ayanokouji is somewhat naive, his strength is definitely the real deal.
Test him first, a fastball right down the middle!
Seeing this.
Sumida on the pitcher's mound frowned.
Knowing his own pitch speed isn't particularly fast, and facing the opponent's fourth batter, he actually chose the most ordinary fastball?
As the pitcher.
He naturally had some doubts about such an instruction.
After just a moment of hesitation, Sumida still did as he was told.
The ball flew accurately toward the glove.
However.
Bang.
The bat and ball collided with a crisp sound; the ball smashed into the ground, passed the third baseman Yonezu Haruto, and flew straight out.
Seeing this.
Shibata hastily tried to salvage it.
Having caught the ball while his body was still in mid-air, he forcibly twisted his body and threw it to Kanzaki Ryuji at first base.
"Safe!"
However.
Ayanokouji had also already reached base, and he began to answer questions on the tablet prepared by the staff; naturally, there was no need to choose a substitute answerer.
"Don't worry about it, it was within expectations."
Hikigaya stood up, raised his finger, and shouted.
Originally it should have been Sumida's job, but this guy fears taking responsibility, so there's nothing to be done.
Is this Ayanokouji's full strength?
Probably not.
Although it is still difficult to judge Ayanokouji's strength.
For now, this should be enough.
Even if Ayanokouji has the ability to hit a hit with every strike.
That is not enough to be feared.
0 out, one person on base.
Next batter, Ike Kanji.
It can often be heard from Karuizawa and others that Ike Kanji has particularly good luck.
Placing Ike Kanji as the fifth batter.
The next batter is then Horikita Suzune, who has the right to advance directly to base.
Followed by the unpredictable Koenji, who serves as the seventh batter.
Although it's impossible to judge whether Koenji will play seriously, he will similarly give the opponent a certain amount of pressure.
Clearly.
Horikita Suzune and the others also considered many things.
Hikigaya, standing from a third-person perspective, judged Horikita Suzune's thoughts.
However.
Baseball is not a game that can be played well by luck, and balls hit because of luck can even easily bring about bad results.
Very quickly.
Ike Kanji was struck out by him.
After all, he can't even compare to Hirata and the others; this guy is just swinging blindly.
"Horikita, are you guys being too arrogant, actually having three girls participating in the game."
Hikigaya suddenly spoke.
Although she has the right to advance directly to base, she still has to go through the motions.
"It's enough."
Horikita Suzune didn't say much and walked directly toward first base.
Her face was a bit solemn.
One knows one's own family's business.
It's not that Class C is coveting those class point rewards, but rather that Class C has no one left.
The academic group fortunately has Yukimura and Wang Mei-Yu.
In terms of physical strength, there are also Ayanokouji, Hirata, Sudo, Koenji, Miyake Akito, and others.
But.
No more can be taken out.
They could only let Kushida Kikyo and the others participate.
And on the other side, Ayanokouji also moved to second base, only needing to answer questions, but this shouldn't count as much for him.
1 out, two people on base.
Leaving aside Horikita Suzune at first base for the moment, Ayanokouji's speed at second base is also quite fast, even not inferior to Shibata's.
If a double is hit.
Ayanokouji can probably rush directly back to home plate.
Looking at Koenji Rokusuke walking to the batter's box.
Not knowing if this guy can hit, but Hikigaya also feels a hint of pressure; this is the pressure brought about by strength.
"Koenji, I didn't expect you to actually participate; have even you felt the bond?"
Hikigaya still spoke to test him.
Still wanting to scout this guy's thoughts and then make decisions based on the situation.
"Haha, is that how it looks to you?"
Koenji propped the bat on his shoulder and said with total indifference: "It's just a whim, wanting to try it out."
"Although I haven't had contact with this sport before, to put it simply, it's just a game of putting the ball into the opponent's glove and hitting the ball that flies over, right?"
"Alright, come on."
Hmm...
A whim...
But that Koenji hasn't had contact with baseball should be a fact; given this guy's loner personality, it's impossible for him to have played with others.
No news was scouted during this period about Koenji training.
Is he looking down on the sport of baseball a bit?
Or is he simply relying on talent to be able to handle everything?
Regardless.
Koenji has the idea of showing his swing.
Glancing at the muscles on his arm, with this guy's strength, it should be very easy to hit it to the outfield.
Looking at the next batter, Onodera kayano.
Hikigaya felt there was no need to take a risk.
Ayanokouji and Koenji indeed have extremely high talent and are very outstanding, stronger than anyone he had seen before.
But.
Baseball is also not a sport where individual strength being great means one can do whatever they want.
Hikigaya extended his glove outward.
"Hmm? A wise judgment!"
"Four balls!"
An intentional walk.
There was no need to persist in a duel with the strong.
As long as the game can be won, even if Ayanokouji and Koenji are walked for the entire game, so what? The baseball project wasn't chosen for nothing.
Hikigaya is just such a boring guy.
Focus on dealing with the next two.
1 out, three people on base.
Although it was such a severe crisis situation, neither Sumida nor Hikigaya took it to heart.
Very quickly.
Onodera Kayano stood in the batter's box; hearing the ball enter the glove with a crisp sound, she blinked.
"Strike! Batter out."
A matter of course.
The world record for women's baseball is 121 KM at its highest, while the men's world record is 169 KM.
The gap in between is obvious.
Facing Sumida's 130 KM breaking ball.
Whether it was Onodera Kayano or Kushida Kikyo.
The two of them were basically powerless.
Rashly swinging or even bunting would only lead to a triple play or a double play.
Besides the captain who has the right to advance directly to base.
Kushida Kikyo and Onodera could only be considered window dressing.
Just like that.
Neither side could do anything to the other for the time being.
It wasn't until the fourth inning.
That the situation began to undergo a change.