CH 72

Chapter 72: Those Who Compete For The Same Chair

TL: Akabane

***

When it comes to baseball, the image of Koshien is always associated with baseball, but the Tokyo Five College Baseball Tournament is also televised and is one of the most exciting events in its own right. Well, in the previous world, I wasn't interested in such things, so I didn't go through with it. That is why I didn't know that Hagiri was participating in the baseball game. Perhaps he was in the previous world. Maybe he intends to be active in baseball and from there to appear on TV in the summer and onward. So it's definitely an opportunity for me to intervene here. As proof.

"I don't wonder now that you are everywhere I go. This is her curse, you know. But yes, I would like you to at least say a few words. I need to be prepared to greet you."

Hagiri looks at me as if I'm a pest. He's really getting on my nerves. That feels good!

"In what world are there idiots who declare a surprise attack? Let them worry their brains out at best!"

With that, I leave Hagiri's side as he sits on the bench. We are now at the baseball field on the edge of campus. The club's practices are mainly held here. Today we are practicing for the Five College Baseball Tournament. I was wearing a baseball uniform, waiting for Ayashiro and the others to come. Then Ayashiro and Yuzuriha came. Both of them are wearing baseball uniforms. The only difference from us boys is that they are wearing shorts.

"What's that? That outfit is cute, but isn't that a manager's jersey?"

Ayashiro, with her natural makeup, answers my question. Maybe it's because of her face, but she looks like she's in the big leagues.

"Manager? No! We're not!"

Ayashiro and Yuzuriha both show me their shoulders. Ayashiro is the "head coach." Yuzuri was wearing an armband that said "manager."

"What's with that position? When did you get that position?!!!!"

"I have Kyogoku-senpai's approval. It's all right. I'm a member of an educational circle, and I'm good at teaching others."

"Have you ever played baseball before?"

"I've played a lot of rubber ball baseball with us, but I don't think I've ever played a real game."

"That's okay. I've never held a man's vat, but I've learned it well, so I'll have no problem teaching you."

"Man vat? Ha! Your statement is too ballsy!"

Well, Ayashiro would do well. She's ridiculously dexterous, in fact, she seems like she'd be just the right person to raise the bar in terms of strength.

"But Yuzuriha, you accepted to be the manager after all. That's great!"

I patted Yuzuriha's head. Yuzuriha smiled ticklingly.

"Heh heh. Well, Kanata is going to appear, and I can't hide in the shadows either."

Yuzuriha is doing very well. I can't hide how happy I am that this girl is growing up more and more.

"By the way, where is the virgin girl?"

The three of them are always together. But I can't see Milan. I hear she's not working in the arts today.

"Oh, there."

Ayashiro points toward the stands. There was Igarashi there, dressed in a cheerleader's outfit. She is smiling, looking very happy and smiling. If you look closely, you can see a glimpse of silver hair behind Igarashi's back. I have a bad feeling about this!

"Yoo-hoo! I brought Milan!"

Saying that, Igarashi came over to us. Behind her was Milan. I mean, she was there, but....

"...What are you wearing?"

"Uuuh, don't look at me! Kanata! Don't look at me! Ah!"

Milan, who was red-faced and trembling, was cute, but her outfit was a bit odd. She was wearing a white gym uniform and navy blue bloomers, an outfit that would not have been seen in this era even if I were a time leaper. The long, moderately well-fleshed, beautiful legs and white skin extending from the bloomers were very dazzling.

"What do you think, Tokiwa? Isn't Milan very cute!"

"She's cute, but I don't know what to think about the direction she's headed! What's going on?"

"What happened? Oh, the reason I'm dressed like this? I'm punishing you!"

Igarashi, with a very nice smile on her face, started to say something very nasty. What exactly is the punishment?

"Milan, I invited you to cheer, but the dance circle decided to go to the baseball game, didn't they? It's so hurtful for a girl to be punished like that! I feel like I'm being left out! That's why I'm punishing you!"

Saying this, Igarashi patted Milan's bloomer-covered buttocks. Milan blushed and turned over.

"Hmph. You have a very cute and soft ass, Milan..."

"I'm not! I'll never lose...nn...ah..."

Igarashi went behind Milan's back and stroked her smooth thighs, and then stroked her from her waist to her buttocks. Oh, I can't take this anymore. I'm losing it already! And Milan is freaking out and shaking. She looks frustrated, but her mouth is slackening slackly.

"You're a disgrace to the Tokiwa clan, you disgraceful face. You slutty virgin b*tch!"

I said to Milan, looking down at her with cold eyes. Being punished by Igarashi means that I am under the military command of Hagiri. So I wanted to at least put an end to Milan with my own hands.

"Ahh! I'm not! I didn't give in! I saw you! Ufufu. Ahhhh!"

And then, Milan fell to the ground on her buttocks with a look of ecstasy on her face.

"As expected of Kanata. If a traitor appears among your people, you immediately purge her. You're the epitome of an anti-corporate!"

Yuzuriha is looking at me with respectful eyes. It feels strangely pleasant.

"No! Tokiwa's anti-corporate! Tokiwa virus barrierー!"

Saying that, Ayashiro pulls me onto her back. She puts her hands on my arms and makes me pose as if I were batting.

"Here's how you hit a home run! The Anti-corporate Buster!"

"That's why I'm not anti-corporate!"

We were playing pretend on the spot, saying these things. Then we heard a cough from somewhere.

"Ohon! It's time to start practicing, okay? ...You're too popular, you anti-corporate..."

Kyogoku-senpai, the head of the department, walked toward the home base after saying that. That's why I'm not anti-corporate! And practice begins.

The practice itself wasn't that hard. The only thing that was tough was the mental damage of having Hagiri with us.

"Tokiwa. When you set up, try to raise the bat a little more. You have a lot of power, so instead of trying to get a hit, just think about slapping the ball."

"Seriously, are you coaching properly?

Ayashiro was a seriously good coach, going around with a binder in her hand and teaching me how to bat. As soon as I did as she asked, I was able to get good hits. I think it was because she taught others diligently and earnestly. The members of the club all seemed to adore Ayashiro.

"Ayashiro is excellent. Isn't it a waste for you, who has no particular purpose or dream?"

Hagiri comes up to me and chides me with a sarcastic remark.

"Ayashiro is suited to be a manager. You seem to have the talent of a king. If the times were the times, she would surely be a queen adored by the people, or a woman who would be known as a leaning castle. Please give it to me."

Hagiri's eyes are on Ayashiro in a bad way.

"I won't let her go."

"But can you make use of her talents? I doubt it. A life where you can't make use of the talent you've been given is worthless."

"It's better than having her talent squandered by you, though. I'll support Ayashiro in whatever she wants to do, so don't get involved."

"Right. Well, you'll do your best. It's probably futile, though."

Even if we don't include Igarashi, me and Hagiri have a lot of incompatibility. We just can't accept each other's existence. There is a tension between us, as if we are fighting in a game of musical chairs. Even if Igarashi were not there, we might be destined to collide with each other. I had a feeling that we were destined to clash even without Igarashi.

When it was time for a break, Igarashi brought me a towel from the bench.

"Thanks. That helps."

"You're welcome. How are you doing? Are you going to be okay?"

"Well, I'm okay. I don't know what position I'll be in, but I think I can be a regular."

I looked at the guys in the club, and I'm one of the most athletic guys in the group. So getting a regular position is no problem.

"I see. Well then! How about catcher?"

"Catcher? Why? I want to play outfield."

To be honest, I'm also fast, so I think I'd be better suited to playing in the field.

"I'm thinking about it. I think this is my chance."

"Chance? What chance?"

"For you two to get to know each other. Look at that."

Igarashi pointed in the direction of Hagiri. He was pitching from the mound to the catcher, Kyogoku Senpai. From the looks of it, it's a fastball, and he seems to have a variety of breaking pitches.

"You want me to form a battery with him?"

"No?"

"Of course not. I mean, he's the pitcher? Seriously...?"

"I know you two aren't compatible, but...I don't think it's a good idea to stare at each other too much. Boys develop friendships when they play sports together, right? I think it's a good idea. Haha."

Absolutely not. Girls get along with each other in a fluffy way, but guys either get along with each other or kill each other ・・・・. I learned that the hard way in my previous world. So I got up and headed toward Hagiri and the others.

"Kyogoku-senpai. Can I pitch for a bit too?"

"Hmm? But I've already decided that Hagiri will be the starting pitcher."

"Well, just watch me. Please!"

"Well, if you insist that much, I don't mind..."

Kyogoku-senpai agreed. So I went to the mound where Hagiri was standing.

"Hmm. You're challenging me?"

"Challenge? That's naturally coming from the top. You should learn a little humility in competing."

I take the ball from Hagiri and stand on the mound. I've learned the moves of baseball by the time I stand here today. All I have to do now is trust in my body's potential. I took a swing and threw the ball with all my might. I heard the sound of the air being cut off, and then the ball hit the catcher's mitt. I was getting strikes. A member of the club who was holding a speed gun nearby came up to Kyogoku-senpai and said.

"Boss! That was 160 out there! That's big league level!"

"Yeah, that was a great fastball. My hand was numb from the ball for the first time in a long time."

Kyogoku-senpai and the rest of the club were amazed at my pitch. Well, I'm still proud of my power. My power is different from Hagiri's power!

"Are you a caveman or something?"

Hagiri muttered in a whisper beside me. He seemed to be somewhat taken aback. Whatever you say. Then he continued pitching. And after I showed him how good I was, Kyogoku-senpai started to look worried. He called Yuzuriha, who was playing with her computer, and the four of us, Hagiri and I, had a little discussion.

"Let me make it clear. I'm really torn. Which one of you is the best pitcher for the starting lineup? I want to hear the coach's opinion."

Asked for his opinion, Yuzuriha says with a serious face.

"Kanata is the best choice."

I strike a gut-punch.

"Put it this way, you are from Tokiwa's faction. You must have some favoritism. I can handle more pitches than he can, and I can throw faster than the college student average."

Suspected, Yuzuriha replies to Hagiri with an annoyed look.

"There is no favoritism. It's true that you are an excellent pitcher with the dexterity to use a variety of breaking pitches. However, Kanata is the owner of an absolute fastball. You just need to learn the breaking ball before the tournament. Kanata has good athleticism, and with the training support of me and Ayashiro, he will soon be able to master the change pitch."

"That's not what you're talking about at this point in time, is it?"

"Yes, that is true at this point in time. However, Kanata's potential as a pitcher is far greater than yours."

"That means you're not quite there yet, right? So it's not necessarily that things will go well in the future. Kyogoku-senpai. I can be the pitcher, right?"

"Kyogoku-senpai! As the manager, I recommend that you bet on Kanata's qualities as a pitcher!"

Yuzuriha and Hagiri crowded Kyogoku-senpai, who had the real authority to make a decision. Kyogoku-senpai looked at Yuzuriha and Hagiri for a moment, and then said.

"A 160 fastball is the best and brightest weapon..."

"Kyogoku-senpai. Are you forgetting that there is a special friendship between me and all the club members?"

Kyogoku-senpai's body trembled at those words. Then...

"I'll leave the pitching to Hagiri. Tokiwa will be placed as a reserve just in case. Is that okay...?"

Kyogoku-senpai looked as if he was asking for Hagiri's good mood. Thus, the pitcher was decided to be Hagiri. Hagiri went from our side to the bench in a good mood.

"Kyogoku-senpai. Why are you being threatened?"

I asked Kyogoku-senpai with a stern face and cold voice. You shouldn't show mercy at a time like this.

"It's a scandal involving a member of our club .... Our club members.......well.......they participated in a party where public morals were disturbed and not good....... I have the photographic evidence of that in his possession."

I guess this means that they attended an orgy, but Hagiri has the proof.

"...That's disgusting..."

Yuzuriha was shocked. I'm pulling away too. But orgy lovers definitely come out in college, don't they? It would be hard to recover the pictures from that guy.

"If such a disturbance of public morals were to become known to the public, the club activities would be ordered to be suspended by the university. I'm sorry, Tokiwa. I would have loved to have worked with you on the battery..."

"Then it can't be helped. I know too well Hagiri's viciousness. I sympathize with your feelings."

Hagiri never misses an opening in others and always gets what he wants. Hagiri snatched the best and brightest position, that of pitcher. Oh well. There is still time before the tournament, and you never know what will happen on the day. He will surely make some mistakes. For now, I would wait for an opportunity. That's what I decided.