Chapter 6 — Disappointment! Sendo Akira Rises to the Top!
The practice field was unusually quiet that afternoon. Only three figures occupied the diamond—Sawamura, Miyuki, and Sendo Akira, whose footsteps had been echoing in the dirt since the start of training.
Sawamura squinted toward him."Wait a second… right now it's just me and Sendo here?"
"That's right." Miyuki gave his trademark smirk, mask tilted casually up on his head.
Sawamura's eyes shone with sudden excitement. "Then as long as I drag him along, I can practice catch as much as I want!"
Miyuki chuckled. "Except Akira hasn't touched a ball all day. He's just been running, running, and running. Doesn't that strike you as weird?"
But Sawamura wasn't listening. He jumped up, waving. "Hey, Sendo! Practice catch with me!"
Sendo's reply was short and steady, just like his stride."No. I'll keep running."
The rejection hit Sawamura like a fastball to the gut. "Ehh? You're serious?"
Sendo didn't even slow down. "Yeah." His breathing was rough, but his eyes were calm, focused. Sweat trickled down his jaw, but his rhythm never faltered.
Sawamura's shoulders sagged. "What a buzzkill…"
The field gate clattered, drawing their attention. Furuya Satoru stepped in, late as usual, but his presence shifted the balance instantly. With a few words exchanged, Sawamura pulled him into a game of catch, the ball snapping back and forth between them. Miyuki watched with mild amusement, but his gaze kept drifting to Akira, still circling the field without pause.
That determination was something else.
Jingu Second Stadium — Summer Tournament
The atmosphere was tense, filled with the rumble of the crowd and the sharp echo of metal bats striking against the ground.
Bottom of the fourth inning.Seidou trailed City Junior High, 0–4.
On the mound, Tanba Koichiro gripped the ball with sweaty fingers. His face was pale, lips tight, eyes betraying the nerves that clawed at him.
"Ball four!" the umpire's call rang out again.
The batter jogged to first. The bases were now loaded.
From the dugout, Kataoka's expression darkened. His arms were crossed, jaw clenched. This isn't the Tanba I know. In practice, his pitches have national-level bite. But in a real game… his heart is too easily shaken.
The catcher gave the sign. Tanba nodded, wound up—Crack! The sound was like a whip.
The ball rocketed into left field. The crowd roared as the runner on third dashed home, then another followed. The scoreboard flipped:
City Junior High 5 – Seidou 0.
The Seidou bench fell silent. Sawamura gripped his glove tighter, teeth clenched. Furuya's jaw locked as his eyes tracked the disaster unfolding. Miyuki let out a long breath, shaking his head.
On the field, Tanba's shoulders slumped. Each pitch grew weaker, less confident, until the inning dragged to a painful close.
When he returned to the dugout, the disappointment was thick in the air. His teammates avoided his eyes.
The Decision
Kataoka stood slowly, the weight of his presence pressing on the entire bench. His voice was deep, unyielding.
"Tanba Koichiro… you're removed from the First String."
The words struck like thunder. Sawamura's eyes went wide. Furuya stiffened in disbelief. Even Miyuki's smirk had vanished.
But Kataoka wasn't finished. His eyes swept across the dugout, past Sawamura and Furuya, until they settled on the lone figure still running, long after everyone else had stopped.
Sendo Akira.
Sweat streamed down his face, but his pace was steady, each stride carrying the same conviction as the first. He didn't even realize all eyes were on him—his world was narrowed to the track beneath his feet, his lungs, his heartbeat, his goal.
Kataoka's voice rang out once more."The open spot goes to Sendo Akira. His fastball will carry Seidou into the future."
The dugout erupted in murmurs. Some were shocked, others envious, but none could deny it. Akira's persistence, his unshakable will, had carved his place.
Sawamura and Furuya both stared at him, a mixture of disbelief and awe in their eyes.
Akira didn't react. He kept running. His steps were heavy, his chest burned, but inside… he felt lighter than ever.
This was only the beginning.
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Author's Notes (Baseball Terms Refresher):
Walk (Base on Balls): When a pitcher throws four pitches outside the strike zone, the batter is awarded first base.
Hit: When the batter successfully strikes the ball into fair territory and reaches base safely.