In the stands.
Many employees from the Keyaki Mall were watching the match, including Chairman Sakayanagi, who was wearing a baseball cap and sitting in a corner.
His gaze, however, couldn't help but fixate on Hikigaya Hachiman in the dugout.
Perhaps he (Hikigaya) didn't realize.
This school has extremely high standards for selecting students.
Talent, temperament, ability, and special skills.
Every student had undergone a rigorous selection process.
Even for people like Ike Kanji and Yamauchi Haruki, although they had flaws, they also had things they were good at.
Due to his ordinary background.
Hikigaya had many naive aspects.
After all, this couldn't be helped; the surrounding environment lacked particularly excellent individuals.
Of course.
Hikigaya also had his own advantages.
In Chairman Sakayanagi's view, Hikigaya's greatest merit.
Lay in his ability to adapt—to be flexible as the situation demanded.
Although he had some flaws and liked to complain.
Whether it was being ostracized, isolated, failing, or succeeding, Hikigaya could always do his job well.
It was simple to say, but extremely difficult to do.
Yielding and stretching.
It is not simply bowing one's head when one should, or being flamboyant when one should.
Rather, it is being neither conceited nor impetuous.
Being able to clearly find one's own positioning at all times.
Only.
It is not yet clear.
Why a genius is called a genius.
At this time.
On the field.
Shibata So, wearing his protective gear, stood in the left batter's box and took a deep breath.
During this period of time.
A batting lineup was researched based on Sumida's insights.
With him, the fastest runner, serving as the first batter, the more stable Kanzaki Ryuji would continue the offensive.
The one with the greatest strength in the class.
And Yonezu Haruto, who had baseball experience, served as the third batter.
As well as the ace, Sumida Makoto, acting as the fourth batter aiming to score.
Then, the fifth batter was Ichinose Honami.
Ichinose, who possesses the right to advance directly to base, can get a run even if she has to squeeze in; following her are Hikigaya, and the decent
Beppu Ryota, Moriyama Takuya, and Watanabe Norihito.
After all, there are only a few people who are good at baseball and can perform stably.
Although there are some flaws.
But this is the batting lineup everyone researched.
Very quickly.
Seeing Sudo on the pitcher's mound raise his left leg high, Shibata held his breath and focused on the release point behind the opponent's glove.
Thump!
A white light streaked past his eyes like a meteor, followed by a crisp sound behind him.
"Strike!"
The voice of Mashima-sensei, the homeroom teacher behind him, was clearly excited as he abruptly waved his arm.
Ayanokouji expressionlessly threw the ball back.
This was right down the middle.
Naturally, it was a strike that no one could find fault with.
It couldn't be helped.
After this period of testing.
Other than him.
No one in Class C could completely catch Sudo's full-power pitches for an entire game.
Hirata would feel his palm go numb midway, leading to unstable catching.
Koenji might be able to.
It's just that this guy wasn't tested, so Ayanokouji wasn't very sure either.
After all.
"Holy crap?"
"What was that just now?"
"146 KM?"
In the coach's box.
Looking at the pitch speed displayed in real-time on the electronic scoreboard, Hikigaya and the others stood up abruptly.
146 KM?
Are you kidding me?
What is this guy doing playing basketball? He should just go play baseball.
That is completely a professional player's speed, and even a standout among professional players.
If someone could throw a 150 KM fastball in the high school national tournament.
They would inevitably become a star attracting everyone's attention.
It's just unexpected.
That this school actually has someone like that.
And.
It has only been a little over two months of training.
Although Sudo was originally an official member of the basketball club and his physical fitness was already very high, this is still terrifying enough.
Coach, this guy is practically cheating!
And on the field.
Sudo, having caught the ball, couldn't help but let a proud smile surface on his lips.
Next pitch.
"Strike."
Even though he was swinging.
Shibata's movement was still half a beat slow.
The human reaction speed is usually between 20-40 kilometers per hour; it is simply impossible to react.
And the scoreboard constantly updated the pitch speed.
147 KM.
"Strike, batter out!"
148 KM.
Struck out.
Clearly, Sudo belongs to the slow-to-warm-up type of player, it's just that his starting point is a bit high.
The second batter, Kanzaki Ryuji, and the third batter, Yonezu Haruto.
Without exception.
Three up, three down.
"Great! How about it? If you're smart, just hurry up and admit defeat."
Sudo raised both hands and let out a roar, high-fiving Ayanokouji and the others in celebration, as if he were the king of the center of the field.
It must be said.
This guy's athletic nerves are indeed top-tier.
Advanced Nurturing's basketball club is already at a top national level.
Possessing the physical fitness to match, Sudo indeed masters things very quickly.
Perhaps.
As long as it is an athletic project.
Sudo can quickly master it to a level far exceeding ordinary people.
Class B coach's box.
"How was it?"
Looking at Shibata and the others who had returned, Hikigaya asked in a deep voice.
After all, there was no real sense of it.
They only saw a flash of white light pass by, and then they were out.
"What was that?"
"It's just like a monster..."
Yonezu Haruto and the others shook their heads with some helplessness.
Although Ayanokouji and Koenji are monsters.
As far as Hikigaya and the others are concerned, Sudo is already monster enough.
Admitting it frankly.
Although they are Class B and Horikita Suzune and the others are Class C.
Perhaps they are the ones who belong to the side of the challengers.
"It indeed was too fast, completely impossible to react."
Kanzaki Ryuji also shook his head, turned back to look at Shibata and the others, and said:
"I was finished off by three fastballs. What about you guys?"
"Us too."
Yonezu Haruto spread his hands helplessly.
All three were directly finished off by three fastballs...
Three up, three down...
Sumida didn't even have a chance to appear...
"What should we do now?"
Sumida was similarly having a bit of a headache and said: "If we don't solve that fastball, won't it be completely hopeless?"
Hey.
You are the ace, you can't say such discouraging words...
"That's not necessarily true."
Shibata looked back at the opposing Class C coach's box, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but lift into a slight arc.
"Although it is indeed very fast, it's not completely impossible to react to."
"Moreover, I noticed one thing."
Kanzaki nodded, also picking up the topic.
"What?"
"I don't know if it's because it wasn't needed or for some other reason, but Ayanokouji didn't make any hand signals at all, he didn't even have the idea of changing the pitch sequence."
"So that's how it is."
Everyone couldn't help but nod.
As expected of Kanzaki and Shibata.
Even though they were struck out, it wasn't like they had zero gains.
"Don't worry."
Hikigaya revealed a smile on his lips and thumped Sumida's chest.
"Let Class C see our strength first."
This guy's strength is fine, it's mainly that his state of mind is a bit lacking.
However.
From another angle, it can be considered a merit.
At least Sumida is obedient enough and has no air of being an ace at all.
As long as the responsibility is placed on his own head.
Sumida can perform at full power.
"Understood."
Sumida nodded as if he had breathed a sigh of relief.
"Then... move out, boys!"
"What's that..."
"Anyway, let's first suppress Class C's arrogant atmosphere."
"That's true."
"Baseball is not an individual sport!"