Ever since his exceptional promotion to the First String and his assignment to Center Field, Ushijima Wakatoshi had been training with the First String every single day.
"Clang—!!!"
The crisp metallic sound of bat meeting ball echoed through the field, drawing the attention of spectators gathered outside Seido High School's baseball grounds.
Every day, a crowd formed beyond the fence—local residents, Seido alumni, and even professional scouts—watching the First String's intense training sessions.
"Oh wow… this freshman is incredible."
"Yeah. Seido's batting lineup has always been famous nationwide, and it looks like they've picked up another treasure."
"That's right. Seido's batting order is easily top five in the country."
"I thought they'd weaken a bit after Azuma Kiyokuni graduated…"
"But now? With this kid here, it might actually get stronger."
"Even if all his hits are infield hits, his batting average is ridiculous."
"Yeah. I've been watching for a while—three at-bats, three times on base."
"One of them was even a double."
"They say his speed is faster than Kuramochi's."
"What? Faster than Kuramochi?"
"Kuramochi survived at Seido purely on speed. His batting is average—but now even his speed advantage is gone."
Clang!
Ushijima Wakatoshi swung again, sending the baseball skimming toward an extremely delicate spot.
The ball landed just in front of the Third Baseman. As it bounced, it shot cleanly between the defender's legs and rolled into the outfield.
Ushijima exploded forward the moment contact was made, sprinting at full speed.
By the time the Third Baseman scrambled to retrieve the ball, Ushijima was already standing on Second Base.
"…What?"
The Third Baseman stared in disbelief.
"Ya hahaha~!"
"This bastard's infield-hit accuracy is absurd!"
"He hits exactly where he wants."
"If he ever develops long-hit power, we're all done for."
The First String players muttered among themselves.
Ushijima Wakatoshi stood calmly on Second Base.
That hit had gone exactly as planned.
The batting skill pack he possessed focused entirely on Infield Short Hits, but even within that category, there were many variations.
An infield hit wasn't limited to a weak grounder to First Base.
As long as the ball landed anywhere between First and Third, it counted.
And if the batter had enough control, awareness, and speed, an infield hit could easily turn into a double—or even a triple.
Just like this one.
Ushijima had deliberately targeted the space directly in front of the Third Baseman.
A ball landing there forced the fielder to bend down and lower his center of gravity to field it. That single moment of hesitation—combined with the ball's low bounce—was enough.
The ball slipped between the Third Baseman's legs.
More importantly, its bounce carried it just far enough into shallow left field.
The Left Fielder didn't charge in immediately, leaving only the Third Baseman to turn around and retrieve it.
That brief delay was all Ushijima needed.
By the time the ball was picked up, he had already reached Second.
"Nice hit," a teammate said as Ushijima returned to the dugout.
Ushijima adjusted his cap and nodded.
"My infield hitting is solid for now."
He loosened his glove and continued calmly,
"But I've been thinking a lot about long-hit technique lately. I still haven't grasped it."
"Relax," Isashiki said as he stepped into the batter's box. "You're only a freshman. By the time you're a third-year, you'll have long-hit power like us."
Ushijima replied lightly,
"I'm not in a hurry. But you third-years are."
"…Hmph!"
Isashiki immediately bristled.
"Stop talking nonsense. Get out of here."
Ushijima only smiled.
On the mound, Kawakami continued pitching steadily, testing the First String batting lineup.
Watching the order cycle, Ushijima couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
This generation of Seido's batting lineup was terrifying.
Lead-off batter—Shortstop: Kuramochi Yoichi.
His batting was average, but his speed alone made him dangerous. As long as the ball wasn't hit too poorly, he could reach base.
Second batter—Second Baseman: Kominato Ryosuke.
Kominato Ryosuke's batting technique was extremely comprehensive, second only to the captain.
Although his overall skill set was well-rounded, his pure power was slightly lacking. Because of this, Ryosuke excelled at handling all kinds of pitches, making him perfect for the second batting spot—both to wear down the pitcher's stamina and to disrupt their rhythm.
Third batter, Left Fielder—Isashiki Jun.
This guy's batting was fierce. With his strong arm and explosive swing, even a bad pitch could be turned into an outfield long hit if he made contact.
However, his weakness was just as obvious. He often hit the ball too high, giving the defense easy chances to catch it.
Fourth batter, First Baseman—Yuki Tetsuya.
There was no need for further explanation.
Yuki was the cornerstone of Seido's batting lineup.
In terms of pure batting ability, Yuki was definitely among the top three hitters in Diamond no Ace at present.
A national top-three batter.
That alone was terrifying enough.
Fifth batter, Third Baseman—Masuko Toru.
A super-heavyweight slugger.
He was extremely good at hitting fastballs, but struggled against breaking balls.
Once he connected, the ball usually turned into an outfield long hit—or even a home run.
But his weakness was also very clear: breaking balls were his nemesis.
Sixth batter, Catcher—Miyuki Kazuya.
This sinful man's batting ability could only be described as wildly inconsistent.
When he was in form—especially with runners on base—he seemed to receive a mysterious buff, often sending his teammates home with ease.
But when he wasn't motivated, particularly with empty bases, he could just as easily slack off and strike out without resistance.
Seventh batter, Right Fielder—Shirasu Kenjiro.
Shirasu was a steady and reliable presence.
Though his existence felt somewhat understated, his batting ability was solid and dependable.
Most importantly, his performance was extremely consistent, rarely affected by pressure or emotions.
As for the eighth and ninth batters—
One spot was usually reserved for the pitcher.
The other had originally belonged to Sakai, but now it had been replaced by Ushijima Wakatoshi.
Ushijima's exact batting order had not yet been decided.
Still, his batting ability was undeniable, and the coach would surely arrange him appropriately.
For now, it was enough to include him in the lineup.
As for the ninth batter, it should have been Tanba or Furuya.
But Ushijima Wakatoshi didn't think so.
Because he knew Seido High School still had a hidden ace.
Kominato Haruichi.
Though he looked shy, blushed easily, and possessed a rather small frame, he was a rare talent who used a wooden bat.
In middle school, his batting average had reached an astonishing 65%.
That alone was enough to show how terrifying his batting ability truly was.
Using a wooden bat was far more difficult than using a metal one.
Metal bats made long hits and home runs significantly easier, while wooden bats relied heavily on technique, strength, and precise contact.
Yet despite his size, Kominato Haruichi could still hit long balls—and even home runs—with a wooden bat.
If he were to switch to a metal bat and adapt to it—
Exaggeration aside, he could absolutely occupy the heart of Seido's batting lineup, even as a freshman.
Unfortunately, it seemed that the younger Kominato had a strong personal conviction.
And because of that, he stubbornly refused to abandon his wooden bat.
…
Swish. Swish. Swish.
On the field, Ushijima Wakatoshi turned into a white streak of lightning, sprinting toward left field.
Running at full speed, he lifted his head, tracking the baseball soaring through the air.
"Ushijima!! It's yours!!" Isashiki roared.
"Got it."
Ushijima calculated the landing point mid-run, slid smoothly into position, and raised his glove.
The baseball dropped neatly into it.
The moment the catch was made, the players around him finally relaxed.
At the same time, they couldn't help but admire Ushijima Wakatoshi's terrifying speed.