Ayanokouji was half-squatting on the ground.
His gaze was fixed on Sudo Ken on the pitcher's mound.
It must be said.
Sudo's talent in sports is at a top-tier level; as long as he is taught seriously, he can have an outstanding performance.
During this period of time.
Under his, Ayanokouji's, practice partner role.
He finally cultivated Sudo to this level.
The pitcher.
Is undoubtedly the key and the ace of a team.
As long as the pitcher is strong enough.
They can make it so the opponent doesn't even have the possibility of scoring.
Originally, Koenji or he should have served as the pitcher, it's just that Koenji doesn't practice, and Ayanokouji temporarily has no intention of showing off.
Moreover.
Precisely because of this.
Ayanokouji didn't have time to guide Horikita Suzune and the others in teaching, so much so that the levels of Hirata and the others are not very high.
Although they are not high.
That is only relative to professional baseball personnel.
Hirata and the others are still much more outstanding than an ordinary person like Ike Kanji.
However.
The opposing pitcher doesn't seem bad either.
Based on what Hirata and the others just said.
That guy named Sumida has very good control, and he seems to have quite a few pitch types he is good at.
Only three people.
For the time being, one still can't see all of Sumida's strength.
However.
When the pitcher cannot form a crushing-level gap.
The key hand for victory or defeat is undoubtedly the catcher-cum-fourth batter, which is he, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka.
A catcher needs to look at the overall situation and formulate tactics.
Leading the game toward victory.
In other words.
This game is the duel between him and Hikigaya the catcher, yet the sport of baseball is far deeper than he imagined.
As long as Class B cannot stop Sudo's 150 KM high-speed ball, they absolutely cannot win the game.
For now, it's still no problem.
In that case, come.
A 150 KM fastball is enough to deal with amateurs.
Ayanokouji placed his glove in the center.
Sudo was seen raising his hands over his head; Hikigaya held the handle with one hand and the barrel with the other, his body leaning down.
A bunt.
Just when he thought that, Hikigaya instantly retracted the bat.
Thump.
Ayanokouji hastily changed his glove to catch this ball.
"Ball!"
Hearing this.
Ayanokouji cast an imperceptible glance at Mashima-sensei behind him.
At the last second.
Sudo's pitching motion indeed became deformed.
Wanting to escape Mashima-sensei's sight is indeed impossible.
On the other side.
Looking at Sudo with his displeased face on the opposite side, the corners of Hikigaya's mouth couldn't help but rise in a slight arc.
As expected, he will feel the pressure.
There is no need to seriously try to catch it; he only needs to let Sudo feel the pressure.
Third pitch.
Hikigaya continued to feign a bunt.
"Ball!"
Ayanokouji's face was expressionless, but he felt something was not quite right.
Although Sudo hadn't played much baseball before.
But as an official member of the basketball club, the athletic aspects are basically connected.
Reasonably speaking.
Sudo shouldn't be affected in his mindset by such small tricks.
Moreover.
A play like a bunt is not some high-level strategy.
They had naturally discussed it long ago.
"Timeout."
Ayanokouji requested a timeout and ran to Sudo's side.
"What's wrong? Sudo?"
"It's nothing."
Pressing the baseball handed over by Ayanokouji, Sudo looked at Hikigaya with some displeasure.
"It's just that seeing Hikigaya's face makes me want to give him a good lesson and suppress him thoroughly."
There were no fluctuations in Ayanokouji's heart.
He was just a bit helpless.
Actually.
Most people in Class C extremely dislike Hikigaya, and Horikita Suzune is also diverting the conflict outward.
As a means of diverting conflict.
This is indeed a good choice.
Actually.
Horikita Suzune also utilized such conflict to greatly increase Class C's morale.
During this period of time.
Class C was able to put in 200% more effort than usual for training.
But precisely because of this.
They used a bit too much force.
"However, I know."
After speaking, Sudo then took a deep breath, and with a turn of the conversation, said:
"Now is not the time to be considering this, right? Next, I will follow the plan and quickly finish him off."
"Got it."
Ayanokouji nodded and returned to the catcher's area.
Fortunately.
As an official member of the basketball club, Sudo is able to regulate his own actions.
And he has also had immense growth during these two years.
At least he won't be like before, unable to control his emotions.
Watching this scene.
Hikigaya once again set his stance, repeating his old trick.
"Strike!"
However.
The baseball seemed like a meteor streaking past his eyes, then crashing into Ayanokouji's glove.
Two strikes and two balls.
Was it something Ayanokouji said?
That allowed Sudo to adjust so quickly?
Perhaps it's better to see it as Sudo's own growth.
Then let's try it.
Watching Sudo set his pitching motion, Hikigaya also made preparations for a bunt.
Thump.
The ball and bat collided, making a crisp sound; Hikigaya, whose hand felt numb from the vibration, had a twitch in the corner of his eye.
He smoothly pushed it toward Horikita Suzune's direction at third base.
Immediately.
He then threw down the bat and ran toward first base; meanwhile, Ichinose also ran toward second base with all her might.
However.
Even though it was third base's defensive range, Ayanokouji took action a step ahead, covering several steps to scoop the ball into his glove and throw it to Ike Kanji at second base.
Having caught the ball.
Ike Kanji smoothly threw it to Miyake Akito at first base.
"Double play!"
As Mashima-sensei shouted, Hikigaya and Ichinose slowly stopped their pace.
Presumably, Class C must have also trained countless times to deal with bunts.
What a wonderful double play.
It's just.
The two of them didn't take it to heart either, and simply returned to the coach's box calmly.
Against a high-speed ball that even Sumida couldn't hit.
Basically, they hadn't held much hope anyway.
"How was it?"
Returning to the coach's box.
Hikigaya walked in front of Tsuebi Hitomi and the others and asked in a deep voice.
Besides the study group.
Tsuebi Hitomi and the others also served as managers, recording the pitch paths thrown by Sudo to analyze the opponent's preferences.
Although it's possible that after only two innings one still can't see much.
However.
Sudo might be an exception.
"As expected."
Kanzaki and the others looked at the record sheet in their hands, the corners of their mouths couldn't help but reveal a smile.
"Up until now, everything Sudo has thrown has been fastballs right down the middle."
"Although in total it's only been fewer than ten pitches."
Shibata said half-jokingly: "We just don't know if he's hiding his strength, or if he thinks he can finish us off just by relying on fastballs?"
"That's not necessarily true."
Hikigaya looked at the coach's box opposite, happenstance meeting the eyes of Horikita Suzune and the others.
"It feels like there should be some reason. Beppu, next inning, just aim for the center and swing casually."
"Go, let's suppress this inning first."
"Roger, then I'll try."
Beppu and the others nodded seriously.
Everyone turned around and stepped onto the stage again; it was once again Class C's turn to attack.
Hikigaya looked at the coach's box opposite.
The next batter.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka...