Tokyo: The story begins with a confession.

Page 65

This movement is mandatory; no two people are allowed to stand on a base. In baseball terminology, a hit that allows the batter to safely reach base is called a hit.

Because of this rule, there are a large number of tactics in baseball games.

This also shows just how awesome a home run can be.

Chapter 127 Already planned

A home run is when the ball hits a spot that the defending player cannot catch, such as outside the field or in the stands.

Once a home run is hit, the swinger can even take a sip of water and then leisurely run from first base to home plate.

If there are runners on first, second, and third base, that's impressive; a home run would be four runs!

Therefore, if the difference in strength between the two sides is very large, a baseball game can score the same number of points as a basketball game.

However, home runs are very difficult. If the ball doesn't go far enough, it will be caught by a defender in the outfield before it hits the ground, resulting in an out.

The most crucial figure for the defensive team during a game is the pitcher. It can be said that how far and how strong a baseball team can go depends on the level of its pitchers.

When facing the same offensive player, i.e. the batter, three strikes are thrown to knock out the batter. When a batter has three outs in an inning, the players switch sides and advance to the next inning.

A strike means that the ball is in the strike zone and the batter has not hit the ball that the catcher has caught.

In other words, as long as your pitcher is good enough that no one can hit the pitch, then the offense will never be able to score a single point for your team, and you will be in an invincible position from the start.

This is also why pitchers carry the ace's jersey number – 1.

Of course, generally speaking, there won't be a pitcher who can sweep the offensive team cleanly as if they have cheated.

At this point, it's up to the other defensive players: the catcher at home plate, the first baseman, the second baseman, the third baseman, and the shortstop. These five players defend the infield.

The center fielder, left fielder, and right fielder defend the outfield area.

Their goal is to pick up the ball as quickly as possible after the batter hits it, and then pass it to the corresponding defender before the opponent reaches base by continuously throwing the ball. Touching the defender with the ball results in an out.

The ultimate goal is to touch the runner with the ball before the opponent reaches base and knock them out.

Although Watanabe Fuuta had explained it very simply and concisely, Mashiro was still confused.

Eriri flicked her ponytail. "Shiina, you don't need to worry about that. Just swing hard when you hit the ball, and when you pitch, make sure no one hits it."

Mashiro nodded, indicating that she completely understood.

Baseball games are actually quite slow-paced, and sometimes an inning can drag on for a long time. This game was no exception; even though the eighth inning had already passed, it still dragged on for more than twenty minutes before finally ending.

Kenichi Uesugi observed that the speed of the pitches thrown by the ace pitchers of Aokawa High School and Meifeng High School was around 140 km/h, which was clearly displayed on the speedometer on the side of the field.

However, the pitchers from Qingchuan High School can throw more pitches and have much better control, which is the key to their advantage.

In the end, Qingchuan High School emerged victorious with a score of 15-7.

After the match ended, the piercing air raid siren sounded in the stadium, making him, who was completely unprepared, tense up. Thinking that some disaster had occurred, he prepared to call them to run away together.

However, after seeing that everyone else looked normal, I realized that this might be a tradition.

In the arena, several contestants from Mingfeng High School were kneeling on the ground, crying bitterly, completely unable to accept the fact of their defeat. They were finally pulled away by others after being urged by the staff.

Meanwhile, the students from Qingchuan High School were all smiles, their faces full of excitement.

"Their summer is over." Watanabe Futa sighed. This is the cruelty of Koshien. From the preliminaries onwards, it adopts a single-elimination system. If you lose a game, don't perform well, or are drawn against a strong opponent, you can prepare to pack your bags and go home.

A year's hard work and sweat have come to an end in just one day.

Upon witnessing this scene, Tetsuya Ishida couldn't help but sigh, "This is the cruelty of competitive sports. Nobody wants to lose, but there will always be winners and losers. The only way to minimize this pain is to keep striving and become stronger."

Kenichi Uesugi's gaze fell on the boys who were still crying, and he was slightly surprised after hearing Tetsuya Ishida's words.

It's rare to see him talk so much. He was also slightly moved, realizing that his feelings about everything during high school were very pure.

Whether it's love, friendship, or this fighting spirit, it all stems from a heartfelt passion and aspiration, without any ulterior motives.

Although I went back to high school in this life, it was difficult for me to be as pure as those teenagers; my mindset was ultimately a bit 'old'.

"...It's our turn next." Watanabe Futa said with a hint of nervousness.

Although I wasn't involved and can't say I'm particularly passionate about baseball, a sense of honor lingers in my heart.

Kenichi Uesugi roused himself and focused his attention on the field; he was determined to watch his own team's match closely.

He was just wondering when Kobayashi would appear when he saw Kobayashi jog up to the audience, grab his hand, and run down to the stands.

"No, what are you doing? Why aren't you getting ready down there? Why are you pulling me up?" Uesugi Kenichi said, pulling him back in bewilderment.

Kobayashi Yoshihara turned around, put his hands together, and said with a fawning expression, "Uesugi, please help me out. One of our team members is injured and can't finish today. Could you come down and help make up the numbers?"

Upon hearing this, Uesugi Kenichi looked over with a very surprised expression. "Don't you have a second team? You don't have a single substitute, do you?"

He was somewhat skeptical of Kobayashi's explanation. One person getting injured wasn't the same as ten people getting injured. How could such a large baseball team not be able to find anyone?

"Just help me out. You don't need to go up and fight. You can just sit in the cowshed and watch," Kobayashi Yoshihara pleaded, clasping his hands together.

"But wasn't the roster already submitted? How can we add players midway through the game?"

Kobayashi Yoshihara's face stiffened, and he scratched his head, chuckling awkwardly, "I secretly added you in. We need to get ready to enter soon, boss. Help me this time, and I'll do whatever you say from now on!"

Uesugi Ken's face darkened. This was clearly not an accident; it was obviously something that had been planned in advance. He glanced at Kobayashi Yoshihara's troubled and sincere expression and said irritably, "Let's go, Rei."

Kobayashi Yoshihara's face lit up with joy, and he grabbed Uesugi Kenichi and ran downstairs, even preparing his team uniform.

As he changed his clothes, he thought to himself, "It was definitely premeditated."

Chapter 128 As long as people come

Kenjiro Uesugi glanced at the number on his back: number 13.

After changing his clothes, he noticed that everyone's eyes seemed to be on him, and some of them looked at him with suspicion and hostility.

Just as he was wondering, a man in his forties with tanned skin and wearing sunglasses walked up to him and extended his hand.

"Welcome to the baseball team. I am Hsiang Cheng-tai, the baseball coach."

After a moment of surprise, Uesugi Kenichi bowed and said, "Hello, I am Uesugi Kenichi, a first-year student."

"I know you."

"Are you all ready, students of Yamato Private Academy?"

The staff outside urged them on.

"I'm sorry for the slight delay, it's ready now."

After apologizing to Coach Cheng, he looked at all the team members and shouted, "Go for it! Today is the day to test all the sweat you've shed. Good luck!"

After Coach Xiang Cheng gave him some encouragement, he led the way off the field. The players from both sides lined up and saluted, and then saluted the four referees before the air raid siren sounded again, leaving Uesugi Kenichi, who was mixed in with them, speechless.

After a game of rock-paper-scissors, Tokiwa High School went first.

Kato Megumi and the others, who were sitting in seat 603, were very surprised to see Uesugi Kenichi appear on the field and line up.

I've never heard him mention that he would participate in the competition.

"What's going on? Is Kenichi going to participate in the game too?" Kasumigaoka Utaha straightened her posture, a look of amusement in her beautiful eyes. She wasn't particularly interested in baseball games, and she would never have come to watch a game by herself if she hadn't been with Uesugi Kenichi.

"I don't know either. I've never heard him mention it. Maybe something happened," Kato Megumi guessed, recalling how Kobayashi Yoshihara had rushed over to take Uesugi Kenichi away.

Mashiro and the others didn't think too much about it; their eyes were full of excitement and anticipation.

"Hey, why did Kenichi go to the cowshed again? Wasn't he going to play a match?" Eriri asked in surprise when she saw Kenichi sitting in the cowshed after the two sides finished exchanging greetings.

This makes no sense at all. What's the difference between sitting in a cowshed and sitting here?

The people from Yamato Private Academy who came to support them also let out a huge sigh and became somewhat agitated. Why not let Uesugi Kenichi play? They no longer have the chance to openly drool over him.

The situation here also attracted the attention of other viewers, many of whom frequently looked at Kenichi Uesugi, wondering why a person sitting in a cowshed would arouse the dissatisfaction of so many girls.

Those spectators close to the arena immediately recognized Uesugi Kenichi's appearance and a look of understanding crossed their faces. Some others also recognized Uesugi Kenichi's identity and sighed, wondering why he wasn't allowed to play.

However, most people couldn't see it at all and were completely confused about what had happened.

Tokiwa High School's first batter was already in position at the batter's box, swinging his bat confidently.

As for Yamato Private Academy's pitcher, Kenji Uesugi, he glanced at him but didn't have much of an impression.

The game officially began with the pitcher from Yamato Private Academy throwing the ball. In the top of the first inning, the score was 0-0.

"I hope we can win," Uesugi Kenichi thought to himself as he sat in the cowshed. After all, he was a student at Yamato Private Academy, and the school had always treated him very well and hadn't caused any trouble when he rose to fame. Of course, he also hoped to see his school win.

He had only been sitting for a short while when two girls shyly ran up and sat down next to him. They wanted to see his face but were too embarrassed to do so, and their clothes were almost torn apart from their awkwardness.

"We are the managers of the baseball team. We didn't expect that you, Uesugi-kun, are also a member of the baseball team. We've never heard of you before. It's quite a surprise."

"It should be a surprise," Ayumi muttered to herself, blushing.

"Uesugi-kun, are you thirsty? Would you like some mineral water, a beverage, or fruit?" another female manager, Saki, asked enthusiastically, taking out chilled water from a box and placing it in front of Uesugi Kenichi.

"Thank you, mineral water is fine." Uesugi Kenichi was indeed a little thirsty, so he didn't stand on ceremony and reached for a bottle of water.

On the other side, Ayumi glared at Saki. Although the two usually had a good relationship, now was not the time to back down.

It would be a waste of God's help to not seize such a good opportunity.

"Uesugi-kun, are you hot? Let me fan you."

"I am coming too."

Ayumi and Saki exchanged a glance, and both could see what seemed like electricity flashing in each other's eyes.

Kenichi Uesugi watched speechlessly as the two girls showered him with concern, while the other substitute players sitting nearby were utterly disillusioned with this world that judges by appearance.

They've been sitting here for so long and haven't seen a single bottle of water.

It's so enviable; this kid just arrived.

Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri looked at Uesugi Kenichi, who was being fussed over in the cowshed, with cold eyes.

They're such a handful, always attracting attention wherever they go, it's incredibly annoying.

When Mashiro saw Uesugi Kenichi sitting in the cowshed, she got up and was about to go over when Kato Megumi quickly grabbed her arm.

“I want to go to Kenichi’s place,” Mashiro said calmly.

Kato Megumi gently stroked Mashiro's hair and smiled tenderly, "Just wait for him to come back here, don't let him worry, okay?"

Mashiro nodded and took Kato Megumi's hand. Kato Megumi was taken aback for a moment, then took her hand back, which made them look a little lesbian.

Kobayashi Yoshihara sat to the side, wanting to go over, but afraid that Uesugi would be angry. He knew he hadn't done anything right, but Coach Xiangcheng had promised him that if he could get Uesugi Kenichi involved in the match, he would give him a chance to play.

This made it really hard for him to refuse.