"Ushijima, is Shortstop your preferred defensive position?"
Coach Kataoka asked, watching Ushijima Wakatoshi remove his gear.
Kuramochi stiffened at the question, a surge of nervousness running through him.
Ushijima paused, then looked at the coach and said, "I do have that intention."
"Shortstop?" Kataoka muttered, rubbing his forehead. This was going to be complicated.
The team already had a very reliable Shortstop—Kuramochi. His defensive skills at Shortstop were exceptional.
It was true that Kuramochi's batting and speed weren't quite at Ushijima Wakatoshi's level. But that didn't mean Kuramochi was inferior defensively.
Ushijima had performed admirably in Shortstop drills, but Kuramochi's record and experience still gave him the edge. He had participated in more games, had better chemistry with teammates like Kominato, and his consistency made him the naturally safer choice.
"Currently, our starting lineup already has Kuramochi, a very stable Shortstop," Coach Kataoka explained. "So, do you want to switch to the outfield? You could play Left Field."
Ushijima Wakatoshi didn't respond immediately.
Kataoka continued, patiently explaining.
"Your height—188 cm—and your speed would greatly expand your defensive range in the outfield. You could cover more ground, catch long hits, and make powerful throws back to the infield. The outfield suits your physical advantages better than Shortstop. This will strengthen our overall defense."
He was right. If Ushijima were to play Shortstop, his speed, reaction time, and defensive skill were on par with Kuramochi's. But for an outfielder, height and arm strength made a bigger difference. Taller players could reach balls that would otherwise drop for extra bases, and stronger arms meant quicker, more accurate throws across the field.
Moving Ushijima to Shortstop would also force Kuramochi into the outfield, where his shorter stature and weaker arm would be a disadvantage. Outfielders need strong throws to cover the long distances to the bases—especially to Home Plate. The left and right outfield walls are roughly 99 meters away, and the center field wall is about 122 meters. In most cases, outfielders relay the ball to an infielder before it reaches Home Plate, but even a two- or three-second delay can make the difference between an out and a run.
"If I'm in Left Field, I'd rather play Center Field," Ushijima said. "With my speed, I can cover both sides and provide support across the outfield. That's more effective than staying in Left or Right Field."
Coach Kataoka nodded. That made sense. Initially, he had planned to place Ushijima in Left Field to replace the weaker Banjing, boosting both offense and defense. But Center Field was a better fit for Ushijima—his speed, height, and reaction time would maximize defensive coverage. The original Center Fielder, Isashiki, could then move to Left Field, keeping the outfield balanced.
"Good," Kataoka decided. "Ushijima, you'll play Center Field, and Isashiki will move to Left Field."
The other First String members had no objections to Coach Kataoka's arrangement.
But the player being replaced—of course—realized his starting spot had been taken. He wasn't happy about it and silently vowed to work harder to reclaim his position.
"Ya haha~"
"Safe, safe! My Shortstop position wasn't taken."
Kuramochi couldn't hide his relief. He had honestly feared being replaced.
Miyuki Kazuya smirked at the arrangement and teased, "Shirasu, looks like all three of you in your dorm are now Outfielders."
Shirasu, quiet as ever, realized that was indeed the case.
Isashiki had been assigned to Left Field, Shirasu was already in Right Field, and now their first-year dormmate, Ushijima Wakatoshi, was taking Center Field.
The three of them truly became an outfield trio.
But Ushijima quietly thought to himself: Not necessarily.
Maybe he wouldn't even play Center Field for the whole game. A few innings, and he might need to head to the pitcher's mound.
The summer tournament was still three months away. Three months from now, he would have three more Gold skill packs and one Diamond skill pack. Who knew how much stronger he could get by then?
"Alright, continue training," Coach Kataoka announced. "Ushijima Wakatoshi has been promoted to the First String. From now on, he will train with the First String."
Every baseball club member turned to look at Ushijima. Even the freshmen couldn't hide their envy.
"So amazing… he made First String just one week after joining Seido Baseball Club?"
"That scoundrel Ushijima… he actually betrayed us!!" Sawamura shouted, pointing at him, fuming.
Ushijima hadn't expected this sudden promotion either.
At that moment, his dorm senior, Isashiki, jumped over and playfully kicked him in the backside.
"Good job, kid. You didn't embarrass our dorm. Making First String one week after joining—first time in Seido Baseball Club history!"
Isashiki now looked at the freshman with genuine respect. Ushijima's strength had made the entire team stronger, which also meant their third-year teammates' chances of reaching Koshien increased.
"Keep it up," Shirasu added sincerely, nodding in approval.
Ushijima Wakatoshi removed his glove and watched the departing coach. He had actually wanted to ask Kataoka about pitching, but seeing him leave, he thought, Never mind. I'll ask another time.
"Hmm? Talk about what?" Isashiki asked curiously.
"Nothing. I'll tell you guys later," Ushijima said, waving his hand. "Right Field training is about to start. Don't just stand there, or the coach might punish you."