"What are you watching?"
Back in the dormitory, Ushijima Wakatoshi was completely absorbed in a video playing on his phone.
Shirasu had just returned from taking a shower. Seeing Ushijima staring intently at his screen, he walked over curiously.
Ushijima didn't answer.
Instead, Shirasu simply watched the video alongside him.
After only a few seconds, his eyes widened.
"A changeup?"
"You're studying a changeup?"
"Yeah."
Ushijima nodded.
"I've been studying it for a while now, but I still feel like it's one of the hardest pitches to master."
Shirasu couldn't help but complain.
"Come on..."
"You already know more than enough pitches."
"You've already mastered eight different pitch types. Isn't that enough?"
Even Isashiki, who was quietly studying nearby, couldn't help but chime in.
"Seriously."
"Give Sawamura and Furuya a break."
Ushijima simply smiled without responding.
"Want to head over to Miyuki's room?" Shirasu asked.
"No."
"I'll finish this video, play a couple rounds of MOBA on my phone, then go to bed."
"Alright."
"I'll go hang out with everyone else."
Shirasu left the room.
When he arrived at Miyuki's dorm, quite a few people were already gathered there.
Kuramochi and Sawamura were busy playing games.
"Hm?"
"Just you?"
"Where's that scoundrel Ushijima?"
Miyuki looked around in confusion.
"Him?"
"He's watching videos."
"Studying the changeup."
"What?!"
Kuramochi and Sawamura nearly jumped out of their seats.
"A changeup?"
Even Miyuki looked surprised.
"That guy already knows practically every pitch."
"And now he's still learning more?"
"If this keeps up..."
"Sawamura will never get a chance to become the Ace."
Kuramochi deliberately teased Sawamura, immediately igniting his competitive spirit.
"Damn it!"
"I'll become the Ace sooner or later!"
Miyuki simply smiled wryly.
"Ushijima has practically mastered every major pitch already."
"If he really perfects the changeup..."
"He'll truly have the complete pitching arsenal."
"Exactly."
Shirasu spread his hands helplessly.
"He never seems satisfied."
The dormitory remained as lively as ever.
Meanwhile, the third-year seniors had become much busier.
With university entrance exams approaching during their final semester, those planning to continue their education had thrown themselves into studying.
Whenever Isashiki got stuck on a math problem, however...
He would immediately go looking for Ushijima.
By now, Ushijima's mathematical ability was famous throughout Seido.
Even the school's math teachers frequently used him as an example in class.
As a result, whenever any third-year student encountered a difficult math problem...
They naturally sought out Ushijima for help.
His dorm room had practically become Seido's unofficial tutoring center.
Fortunately, Ushijima never turned anyone away.
As long as someone came with a question...
He would patiently explain it.
Fortunately, the semester had only just begun.
The problems weren't particularly difficult yet.
On the practice field...
Ushijima was throwing batting practice to Seido's starting lineup.
Since the third-year seniors had effectively retired after Summer Koshien, they were no longer part of the regular lineup.
Although the National Sports Festival was coming in September, it had little to do with the upcoming Autumn Tournament.
Coach Kataoka looked over the current roster.
Surprisingly...
Pitching wasn't his biggest concern.
With Ushijima available, Seido always had a reliable ace who could take the mound whenever necessary.
For now, Kataoka intentionally gave Furuya, Sawamura, and Kawakami more opportunities to pitch.
After all...
They had already won the Summer Koshien.
It was time for the younger pitchers to gain valuable experience.
The real problem...
Was the batting order.
Compared to the championship lineup, the current offense had weakened dramatically.
With Kominato Ryosuke, Isashiki, Yuki, and Masuko all graduating...
Seido's batting strength had fallen off a cliff.
Calling it a complete rebuild wouldn't be an exaggeration.
The current batting order looked like this:
Kuramochi — Shortstop
Shirasu — Right Field
Kominato Haruichi — Second Base
Ushijima Wakatoshi — Pitcher
Miyuki Kazuya — Catcher
Maezono — First Base
Toujou — Center Field
Furuya — Left Field
Kanemaru — Third Base
Looking at the lineup objectively...
It was obvious the offense had become much weaker.
Still, that was only natural.
Most of the starters were now first- and second-year students.
Naturally, they couldn't yet match the offensive power of the former third-years.
By next summer, however...
Kuramochi, Shirasu, Miyuki, and Maezono would all be experienced third-years themselves.
Defensively, things were much more stable.
Whenever Ushijima wasn't pitching, he played center field while Toujou shifted to left.
Right field belonged firmly to Shirasu.
Whenever Ushijima took the mound...
Toujou moved back to center, while Furuya handled left field.
If Furuya wasn't in the lineup, Asou would replace him.
The biggest uncertainty remained third base.
Kanemaru still had room for improvement.
Fortunately, after an entire semester training with Ushijima...
Both Kanemaru and Toujou had improved significantly as hitters.
In fact, Toujou's batting was already stronger than Furuya's.
Batting seventh suited him perfectly.
Kanemaru's biggest weakness remained his defense.
"See you later."
"One hundred twenty base runs."
"Two hundred swings."
Ushijima waved casually.
Maezono's face immediately darkened.
"Damn it..."
Throwing his bat onto the ground, he reluctantly accepted his punishment.
The nearby Second String players couldn't help laughing.
"Among Seido's current starting lineup..."
"Only Kominato seems to get punished less than everyone else."
"That's true."
"His home run rate isn't high."
"Out of a hundred hits, maybe one becomes a home run."
"But his contact rate is incredible."
"During Ushijima's batting practice..."
"Only Kominato and Miyuki maintain batting averages above fifty percent."
"Well..."
"Miyuki has caught nearly twenty thousand of Ushijima's pitches."
"Naturally he's familiar with them."
"But Kominato..."
"He's just ridiculous."
Everyone discussed the matter with admiration.
Meanwhile...
The punished players vented their frustration while running.
"Damn it..."
"What kind of pitches does Ushijima even throw?"
"They're unbelievably fast."
"And they break so sharply at the last second."
"I seriously don't understand how Kominato and Miyuki can maintain batting averages over fifty percent."
Maezono continued complaining while completing his punishment.
Kuramochi sighed.
"Forget you."
"Shirasu and I have been facing his batting practice for an entire semester and half of summer vacation."
"My batting average has only just climbed above twenty percent."
Shirasu immediately corrected him.
"Mine's over thirty-five."
"You're the one barely above twenty."
Behind them, Toujou and Kanemaru looked rather awkward.
Kuramochi glanced back.
"What about you two?"
"What's your batting average?"
Toujou thought for a moment before answering.
"Today?"
"Five infield hits."
"Four outfield hits."
"Exactly thirty percent."
"And mine is twenty-six percent," Kanemaru added.
"..."
Kuramochi, Shirasu, and Maezono all froze.
"You have twenty-six percent?"
Maezono looked utterly shocked.
"I'm only at thirteen percent!"
He hadn't expected Kanemaru to have already surpassed him.
Kanemaru scratched his head.
"Yeah."
"Twenty-six percent."
"I only put eight balls into play today."
His honest answer dealt another heavy blow to the older players.
Especially Kuramochi.
He had spent an entire semester facing Ushijima's pitching before finally raising his batting average above thirty percent.
Yet Toujou...
Who had only recently become a regular...
Had already reached a 30% batting average against Ushijima's batting practice pitches.
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