Soon.
The game reached the seventh inning.
At this time, it was Class B's turn to attack again.
0 outs, runners on first and second.
Sudo seemed to have calmed down, but Shibata and Kanzaki's strength was also real; they successfully hit two base hits.
The third batter, Yonezu Haruto.
Looking at Sudo opposite him, Yonezu Haruto took a deep breath.
Just like Sumida.
He was also a member of the Karate Club.
Although he couldn't compare to Sudo or Koenji, his strength was also much greater than an average person's.
The reason he was arranged as the third batter.
Yonezu Haruto knew very well: it was hoped he could expand the advantage for Shibata and Kanzaki here, allowing Sumida behind him to continue the offensive.
However.
Until now.
Although they had hit several base hits, the results weren't very significant and hadn't achieved the expected effect.
It had already reached the seventh inning.
Both sides were basically familiar with each other's pitch paths; switching batters here would be the most ideal situation.
But whether it was Class B or Class C, they didn't have such substitutes.
Looking at Sudo who had reset his stance, Yonezu Haruto's gaze was sharp as he swung directly; it would be too late if he waited to see the release point.
"Only knowing one pitch path, don't look down on us too much."
Bang.
A crisp hitting sound rang out.
The baseball was like an arrow from a bow, forming a graceful arc in the air as it flew toward the field. Hikigaya and the others in the dugout immediately stood up.
"Home run?"
"No... the distance seems not quite enough."
The ball passed by outfielder Koenji by one body length and landed on the ground.
"Great."
It wasn't caught.
Yonezu Haruto was already about to reach first base.
Meanwhile, Shibata had started running from the moment the fly ball was hit; Kanzaki started running after confirming the ball landed.
With different speeds, their strategies were naturally different too.
From home plate to the outfield stands, it was over a hundred meters; it would need to be relayed by the shortstop back to home plate.
At least a triple.
Watching the scene, Hikigaya's mouth twitched.
There was no choice.
With Koenji's strength, even an average person with experience could catch it, as long as they dove for the catch.
Unfortunately.
Koenji refused techniques like diving, sliding for bases, and the like; after all, it was easy to get mud on his body, and it wasn't very aesthetic.
Compared to the match.
Koenji seemed more like he was showing off and displaying his strength.
"Koenji, the ball!"
"Damn it, what is that guy Koenji doing?"
Shortstop Hirata quickly called out loudly, and Sudo's expression was also a bit grim.
One saw.
Koenji tossed the ball in his hand a few times, flicking his bangs with a face full of enjoyment.
"Ah, I, active on the field, am super beautiful!"
Onodera, who had just run over, was suddenly a bit angry.
"Koenji, don't just daze off there! Quickly throw the ball to Hirata!"
"No need to worry, everything is within my expectations."
Saying so.
Koenji laughed heartily and threw it with a sudden force.
The ball was like a cannonball, leaving a parabolic line in the air.
It flew back to home plate.
"How is this possible..."
"Just how monstrous is that guy's arm strength?"
Sumida and the others were suddenly stunned.
It just seemed not very accurate, and while the ball was in mid-air, Shibata had already returned to home plate. The ball landed four meters to the front-left of Ayanokouji.
As for why he threw it back to home plate.
Ayanokouji naturally understood that this was the correct choice.
For Koenji, who didn't want to get his body dirty, catching Shibata was almost impossible, but catching Kanzaki, who started a step later, was hopeful.
And Kanzaki, who originally wanted to use the opportunity to return to home plate directly from first base, was now rushing toward third.
Letting Horikita Suzune catch such an unstable ball.
The difficulty was too high.
However.
If it were himself, it would be no problem. Ayanokouji stepped forward a few paces, leapt in the air, and smoothly delivered the ball accurately into Horikita Suzune's glove.
"Out."
With her heel against the base and her body leaning forward, Horikita Suzune held the baseball high in her glove, but her face didn't look very good.
She quickly threw the ball back to second baseman Ike Kanji.
She could do nothing...
Just standing on the base, waiting for someone to deliver the ball, and she didn't need to consider anything; Ayanokouji had zero errors until now.
As long as she remained still.
The ball would naturally enter the glove...
Seeing this.
Kanzaki's brow furrowed.
He looked back and forth between Koenji and Ayanokouji.
Despite it being a 100% triple, Koenji could actually send the ball directly back to home plate.
Although it wasn't accurate.
Such a laser shoulder had only been seen on professional fields; the physical fitness was truly frightening.
What was even more terrifying.
Ayanokouji not only caught such a ball but also reacted instantly to complete the tag; until now, he still had zero errors.
It caused him and Yonezu Haruto to be doubled off simultaneously.
8:5.
2 outs; no one on base—that was the current score.
For some reason.
The score always maintained a gap of 2 to 3 points, unable to further widen the lead.
Needless to doubt.
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka accounted for the vast majority of the credit.
He could always hit base hits, doubles, or triples at critical moments to narrow the score.
Such stable hitting ability was truly a bit terrifying.
This inning had ended.
After all, with 2 outs and no one on base, Ichinose's direct base-running right was almost wasted; they just needed to resolve one more batter.
By the way.
Hikigaya had actually hit a base hit.
Although it was much slower than Shibata and the others, he could more or less adapt to Sudo's balls.
After all.
He only threw fastballs right down the middle.
Although the spirit was strong, it wasn't much different from a pitching machine.
It was just an experimental hit, a tactic to exhaust Sudo's stamina.
The offensive also ended with Moriyama Takuya.
The dugout.
Yonezu Haruto was somewhat apologetic.
"Sorry, it's all my fault that everyone was doubled off. If I'd known, a hit would have been better."
"Don't apologize. This was entirely unexpected. I also thought it was a triple."
"Speaking of which, Koenji and Ayanokouji are truly monsters. They must have played baseball before."
Correspondingly.
Koenji also seemed to gradually grasp the knack of it.
Although he couldn't hit triples like Ayanokouji, he could at least gradually stabilize into base hits.
Hikigaya also felt the gap in talent.
He turned to look at Sumida and the others.
"Just asking, do you guys have a way to control the direction of your hits?"
"Hmm? That's no problem. After all, Sudo's pitch path doesn't change at all."
"I'm fine too."
"For me, I can only try at most. Why do you ask?"
Shibata and Sumida had such confidence, but Kanzaki did not; the ones with the strongest hitting ability were still Sumida and Shibata.
"Then from the next inning, everyone, try your best to hit the balls between second and first base, preferably at the exact midpoint."
Hikigaya's mouth curled into a smile.
Although his talent couldn't compare to theirs, he also had his own way of fighting.
"First and second base? Not third base?"
"Correct, it's first base."
Kanzaki and the others looked at each other and frowned.
No matter how one looked at it, Horikita Suzune at third base should be the breakthrough point.