Eighth inning.
Score 8:7.
0 outs, 0 strikes.
Looking at Sudo on the pitcher's mound opposite him, Shibata tugged his sleeves and took a hitting stance.
His gaze couldn't help but flick toward the defensive players on first, second, and third base.
Miyake Akito, Ike Kanji, Horikita Suzune.
At first glance.
The biggest breakthrough point in this game was obviously the female student, Horikita Suzune.
After all.
Even if other abilities are excellent.
Insufficient arm strength is a fatal defect in a baseball game.
How could the breakthrough points be Ike Kanji and Miyake Akito?
He couldn't figure it out.
Shibata was too lazy to keep thinking about it; anyway, he would try following Hikigaya's plan first.
It had reached the eighth inning.
Nearly two hours of intense exercise.
Having already thrown about 120 pitches consecutively, Sudo's stamina was clearly beginning to decline.
And having only one type of pitch meant people had already grown used to it.
He could do it!
Bang.
The crisp sound of a hit rang out.
The ball was like a cannonball hitting the ground, flying straight between first and second base, slightly leaning toward Miyake Akito's side.
Seeing this.
Miyake and Ike Kanji started running at the same time, wanting to intercept this ground ball.
It's useless.
Shibata rushed toward first base with full power, having already grown accustomed to Sudo's pitches.
Originally, he could have tried for a double.
Since Hikigaya told him to hit to this position, it was impossible to fail; at the very least, it would be a single.
Clearly.
Having played for so long.
Shibata still had some spare energy.
However.
Looking at Miyake Akito who suddenly appeared in his field of vision, Ike Kanji, who was desperately chasing the ball, was momentarily stunned.
Not only that.
The two of them were stunned almost at the same time.
Logically speaking.
This ball should belong to Miyake's defensive range, but it wouldn't be strange to attribute it to the second baseman either.
Hesitating for only a short moment.
Miyake Akito decided to give up the ball, leaving it for Ike Kanji to handle, and hurriedly ran back to first base.
Similarly.
Ike Kanji also hesitated for just a moment before taking the ball into his glove, but to tag him out, he still needed to wait for Miyake Akito to return to first base.
Thus.
Shibata successfully reached base.
Although even without that incident, he still could have reached base.
"Don't mind it, aim well at the later hitters!"
Sudo raised a finger and shouted loudly.
Up to now, the lead hitters on both sides basically have scoring ability, so it was no longer surprising that Shibata would reach base.
On the other side.
Returning to second base, Ike Kanji's gaze was slightly resentful.
But he also knew it was during a game, so he didn't say much and returned to second base.
If Miyake Akito had stayed honestly at first base.
They could have made the out.
It truly felt a bit regrettable.
It's just that he didn't realize his own vision had narrowed.
Driven by an urgent desire to perform, he failed to see Miyake Akito rushing toward him.
Psychological warfare?
It wasn't to suppress Ike Kanji.
But to send him balls to give him the false perception at this moment that he was highly expected of, and that "I can do it too."
The second batter.
Kanzaki didn't have the same ball control as Shibata; this time he failed to grasp the landing point well, and the ball veered toward the second and third base area.
This time.
Miyake Akito naturally didn't move; Ike Kanji took three steps in two and followed the ball for two steps, taking it into his glove.
Just as he was about to turn his head.
He saw Shibata, who had run halfway, and Kanzaki Ryuji, who was nearing first base.
Should he quickly return to second base, or pass the ball to Miyake Akito?
No.
With his speed, he couldn't possibly compete with Shibata; he feared Shibata would arrive at second base before him instead.
Throw to first!
Thinking of this.
Ike Kanji suddenly threw toward Miyake Akito.
It was this moment of hesitation again that allowed Kanzaki to get a step closer to first base.
Furthermore, he used too much force, causing the ball to deviate by half a body length.
This didn't actually count for much.
Ike Kanji's basic abilities were inherently inferior to others, and his training had been conducted with everyone supporting him.
Miyake Akito leaped into the air and caught the ball in his glove.
However.
He naturally left the base as a result, and Kanzaki stepped on first base with a subtle, marginal difference.
"Safe!"
The first base umpire declared the reach-on-base valid.
A miss by an inch is a loss by a thousand miles.
Although it wasn't a high-quality game, Class B wasn't a clumsy team that could be dealt with by this level of mistake.
"Don't mind it, focus on the people behind!"
Sudo pointed his finger, indicating everyone shouldn't worry about it.
Shibata, Kanzaki, and Sumida are Class B's most outstanding and stable hitters; it's normal for them to reach base.
However.
In the coach's bench.
A smile couldn't help but appear on Hikigaya's face.
Of course, there was no need to care.
Has anyone truly considered things for Sudo, for Ike Kanji, or for the others in Class D?
No!
Everyone is responsible for their own affairs; this is a matter of course.
Naturally, no one would truly care about them.
It's just that Sudo has excellent physical fitness and outstanding talent, possessing utility value for Class D, so they hope he can contribute to the class...
So.
What about Ike Kanji?
Ike Kanji, an ordinary person, is just a presence that livens up the atmosphere in Class C; no one would place too much attention on him.
Moreover.
Ike Kanji himself is not a clever existence.
Being unpopular is truly quite normal.
So.
What will Ike Kanji be thinking right now? His gaze toward Miyake Akito became even more resentful.
He had already made the correct judgment.
If Miyake Akito could have caught it steadily, Kanzaki Ryuji would have definitely been out.
However.
Ike Kanji still didn't say much.
He turned to watch Ayanokouji, focusing his attention on the game.
It's okay.
Shibata and Kanzaki reaching base is already something they've grown used to seeing.
It can be done!
He can definitely do it!
He just scored 2 points for the team!
Although Miyake Akito's ability is also mediocre, as long as he can do better on his end, it'll be fine!
If it's him.
He can do it!
Ike Kanji's fighting spirit was higher than ever before!
On the other side.
Class B coach's bench.
Looking at Ike Kanji who was focused on the game, Hikigaya's gaze was deep.
Just now Ike Kanji was only standing on the base, but now he has lowered his center of gravity, clearly wanting to focus on the game.
However.
Baseball is not such a simple sport.
Neither being discouraged nor being excited will do; one must master their mindset, otherwise, it will only affect ball control.
Truly sorry...
Just as Yonezu Haruto was walking to the batter's box, Hikigaya pulled Sumida and said with a smile:
"Sumida, I'm counting on you. Send the ball into Ike's glove, ideally at a distance where he's slightly behind second base without hitting Hirata. Can you do that?"
"I can do it, I guess."
Sumida scratched his head, somewhat puzzled:
"But what's the use of doing this? Even if I don't do it, I can consistently get a base hit now. Isn't it better to continue the offensive and score points like this?"
"It's not bad, it's just that relying only on a few of you to score points like this is too little. I want to completely crush Class C's defense right here."
The corner of Hikigaya's mouth curled into an arc.
Scoring points is not bad.
It's just that it will be difficult for Beppu and the others later to score points.
Although they can hit Sudo's pitches, the defense of Hirata, Miyake, Koenji, and others is not weak either.
If they want to widen the gap, this is the only way.
To completely crush Ike Kanji.
A person who cannot recognize themselves.
Destruction...