Classes had ended, and there was no evening training today due to Karasuma-sensei's personal circumstances. I was walking home with Sugino, Karma, and Nagisa.
"Really? You actually went to see 'Sonic Ninja'?"
"Yeah, Koro-sensei took us all the way to Hawaii to watch it."
"But then he made us write an English essay about our impressions of the movie."
While we exchanged this idle chatter, Sugino's gaze suddenly shifted toward the baseball team practicing intensely.
Even though we belonged to Class E, we were still within the grounds of Kunugigaoka Academy. It was perfectly natural to pass by the main building on our way back. In moments like these, it was only human to look toward one's former team during practice.
Then again, I was a member of the "Go-Home Club," so I didn't truly understand that sentiment.
"Oh, isn't that Sugino?"
An exclamation of surprise almost escaped me when I heard a tone lacking the usual contempt from the main building students. I composed myself as Nagisa and the others watched Sugino being called over.
"Hey, Sugino! Come visit us once in a while!"
"Haha, I'd feel a bit embarrassed doing that."
What strange boys; they were unusually friendly for main building students. It seemed the baseball club members were unexpectedly good teammates.
"You're playing as a pitcher in the ball sports tournament next week, right?"
"I remembered... nothing's been decided yet... but yeah, I'd like to be the pitcher."
Ah, right. The ball sports tournament was next week. I had completely forgotten about it.
As I furrowed my brows in distaste at the thought of school activities, the atmosphere between Sugino and his former teammates grew slightly tense.
"But you're really lucky, Sugino. Since you're in Class E, you just spend your whole day playing, don't you? Meanwhile, we work ourselves to the bone every day."
"Stop that, you'll hurt his feelings. Balancing studies and sports in an elite school like this is something only the chosen few can do. Others shouldn't bother exhausting themselves with it."
I take back my previous thought; these boys looked down on Class E just like everyone else. It seemed I wasn't a good judge of character after all.
While I felt ashamed of my miscalculation, Karma stepped in with a hostile tone, addressing the team captain.
"Yeah! That's right."
Good grief, he said they were the "chosen ones" with a wide, mocking grin. Did he feel no shame saying something like that?
Shindo, the captain of the baseball team, ignored our reactions—which hadn't quite processed his arrogance yet—and began to speak boastfully.
"Don't like what I'm saying? Then I'll show you in next week's tournament. I'll teach you the vast gap that has opened at this age between those born to be at the top and those who aren't."
"You're talking big, but in the end, you just mean 'let's play baseball,' right?"
"—Nozaki."
"Anyway, let's head back now and hold a meeting to set our plan."
I realized things wouldn't end well; Karma could explode in anger at any moment, I was starting to loathe these boys, Nagisa looked upset that his best friend's feelings were hurt, and Sugino was losing his confidence. I grabbed Sugino's hand and pulled him away firmly so we could leave the area.
●○●○●
When we relayed this conversation to Koro-sensei, it turned out he didn't even know a ball sports tournament existed, so we had to explain it to him first.
"An inter-class ball sports tournament! Cultivating the body and mind through sports! That is absolutely excellent! ...But why isn't Class E on the list?"
"Class E doesn't participate because of a ridiculous excuse: they say the number of teams would be uneven if we joined."
"I see. Their usual method."
"Yeah, and they'll make a laughingstock out of us as usual in an 'exhibition match'."
"Exhibition?"
"Yes. They'll make the boys' team face the baseball club and the girls' team face the basketball club. The tournament is for the regular students; these matches are just a chance to show off the prowess of the school clubs that didn't get a chance to participate. In short, we're just sacrificial lambs used to highlight their strength."
As soon as Mimura finished his explanation, Terasaka's group announced their withdrawal. It was expected, so I wasn't surprised.
"We aren't taking part in such a farce."
"Handle it yourselves."
"Hey! Terasaka!"
Isogai tried to stop them in a hurry, but it was too late; they had already left the classroom.
Maehara tried to dispel the gloomy atmosphere their departure left behind and directed a question at Sugino.
"Sugino, you're the baseball expert here. Don't you have a secret plan to win? Or maybe you know their weaknesses?"
"—That's impossible. We're a group where most haven't even touched a ball, and they've been practicing for at least three years. It's not just a matter of winning or losing; under normal circumstances, there wouldn't even be a match."
Sugino spoke in a tone that was almost a mutter, but his back radiated a fighting spirit.
"On top of that, their team is very strong. Especially Shindo; his fast, booming pitches have high schools keeping an eye on him. It's unfair for one person to have both academic and athletic excellence. But... even so... I want to win, Koro-sensei."
Sugino's enthusiasm spread to us, and it seemed to reach Koro-sensei as well. Before Sugino could finish his sentence, the teacher had returned wearing a tracksuit.
"I don't want to just put on a good show; I want to win. I don't want to lose at the sport I love. After I was kicked out of the club and came to Class E, that feeling only grew inside me. I want to win with my team in Class E! ...But maybe that's impossible? Koro-sensei."
"I am excited... so very excited!"
Koro-sensei, now dressed as a coach, was holding a bat, a ball, a glove, a strategy board, and a training shinai with his tentacles. He seemed completely determined to train us using those superhuman tentacles.
"Oh, it looks like Koro-sensei wants to play baseball too..."
"I've always wanted to try the role of the passionate coach from sports stories and dramas! Since the rules forbid me from hitting you, I shall flip tables in my coaching rage instead!"
Koro-sensei ignored Sugino's comment about the "intensity of his preparations" and said happily:
"Lately, you've started expressing your goals clearly. You want to win, you want to kill. You remain steadfast no matter how difficult the objectives. In response to this spirit, 'Coach Koro' will give you the strategy and training necessary to achieve victory!"
And so, the grueling training under Koro-sensei's supervision—or rather, Coach Koro's—began, and it would continue until the following week.
●○●○●
"Pitcher Koro will throw a ball at 300 km/h!"
With Koro-sensei's shout, the first pitch flew. I entered "The Zone," predicted its path, adjusted my timing, and swung with full power to meet the ball with the bat.
"My arm hurts!!"
"Hold on, Nozaki-kun! Don't overexert yourself! Since you possess 'The Zone,' you are the main batter for our team!"
I could barely touch the ball, but the impact was so strong it almost tore my arm off. 300 km/h was no joke.
"Defender Koro will form an ironclad defense with his clones!"
I have no time for pain! I have to run fast! Coach Koro is merciless!
"Catcher Koro will use whispering tactics to break your focus! ...Nozaki-kun, speaking of the school trip and what happened recently, there seems to be a connection between you and Kurahashi-san, isn't there? I wonder, do you like her?"
"Wait... No... It's not what you think!"
Due to this unexpected attack, I panicked and tried to deny it. In the meantime, the fastball had already landed in the catcher's glove.
"Nurufufufu, your reaction proves it isn't just a delusion. I shall record this in my notebook... By the way, you showed incredible strength when you felt Kurahashi-san was in danger a few days ago."
"Leave me alone!!"
"Nozaki! Focus, focus!"
"Shut up, you imaginary guitar player! I'll mimic you right now."
"What?! Could you hear me?!"
The grueling training continued in this manner.
By the way, the psychological warfare from Koro-sensei was constantly draining my mental energy... and by the end of the week.
"The Coach Koro everyone loved is dead. Why?! Why did this happen?!"
"N-Nozaki has completely lost it!"
"Yeah, because he's a boy like a wildflower!"
"Where do you even get this information?!"
"Victory to Zeon!! (Sieg Zeon)"
"N-Nozaki?!"
"Repeat after me! Victory to Zeon!!"
" " "Victory to Zeon!!" " "
No one tried to cure me of my temporary insanity.
●○●○●
"And now, to conclude, we begin the exhibition match between Class E and the Baseball Club's varsity team!"
I was certain the words "exhibition match" were read in their hearts as "a match for our amusement." The proof was that the baseball club members were extremely fired up, perhaps to vent their frustration at not participating in the main tournament.
We were just a laughingstock here, and the entire audience was against us.
I wonder why the word "against" makes one feel inferior, whereas if we changed the perspective, we could find a different angle?
...What am I babbling about? I must have been thinking about something very stupid for a moment.
As I pondered, the whistle blew for the pre-match lineup. The students of Class E and the baseball team stood in a single row.
"The elite who combine academic and physical excellence are the only ones chosen to stand above others. This is the essence of superiority in academics and sports, Sugino. You possessed neither; you are one of the 'deprived.' ...Get ready, guys!"
" " "Yeah!!" " "
Good grief, the baseball team seemed to be at the peak of their enthusiasm. As for Sugino, he looked resentful after hearing those insulting words. Fine, I'll give him a boost of motivation without making him tense up like in the previous exams.
"Sugino, are you going to let them say whatever they want?"
"Nozaki..."
"You're at least our main pitcher, and if you're this weak, we'll definitely lose. Does that satisfy you? Didn't you want to win? With us?"
"—Heh! You don't need to say it, I know! Thank you, Nozaki, for always firing me up. Alright! Let's do our best, everyone!"
" " "Yeah!!" " "
And so, the match began.
I say "began," but what we were about to do wasn't just ordinary baseball. It was "Assassination Baseball" aimed at taking down the baseball club.
"By the way, where is Coach Koro?"
"Ah, the coach is over there."
While I looked for Koro-sensei, who hadn't appeared despite the match starting, Nagisa pointed toward the distance. Koro-sensei had buried his entire body, leaving only his face visible so he looked like one of the balls, thanks to the art of perspective.
"He said he'd give us instructions by changing his face color."
"—I don't know if he's a genius or an idiot..."
I received the code chart from Nagisa. Koro-sensei changed his face to bluish-green, then purple, then an earthy tone.
"What is he saying?"
"He says... win with the intent to kill."
The codes are way too complicated, Coach Koro.
"Alright, let's do our best then."
I began stretching my body as a warm-up.
"First batter, third base, Kimura-kun."
"Go show them your strength, Number One."
The match began with our attack.
Our first batter was Kimura. When I nudged him forward, he muttered weakly, "Please, don't make me the lead-off hitter."
But he performed his duty brilliantly. During this past week, we had been training against a monster moving at Mach 20. The results were...
"What a surprise! It's a bunt!! Kimura from Class E rolled the ball into a perfect spot! The infielders hesitated for a moment over who would grab the ball! In that gap, Kimura sprinted toward first base! The ball was thrown... but he's Safe! This is unexpected! No out for Class E and a runner on first!"
The boys of Class E had mastered the bunt.
We had trained against pitches at 300 km/h, so a pitch at 140 km/h posed no problem in directing a bunt exactly where we wanted. This was one of the victory tactics Koro-sensei had devised.
Araki's commentary on the match grew increasingly tense for the main building students as the game progressed.
"Second batter, catcher Shiota, he also performs a bunt!! This time it was a hard hit toward the third-base line! The third baseman, who had moved forward, couldn't handle it and it sped past him! Now Class E has two runners on first and second with no outs!"
After Kimura, Nagisa executed a bunt. Then Isogai followed with another bunt toward the third-base line, but it was a very soft one this time. The defense was thrown into confusion, and meanwhile, Kimura and his teammates ran until the bases were completely loaded.
"Class E keeps bunting... The—the bases are loaded! Is Shindo-kun suffering from some kind of ailment?"
Shindo stood stunned, looking at us, but his features changed the moment he saw the next batter. This was natural; the next batter was his arch-rival whom he had mocked so much: Sugino.
Sugino took a bunting stance before the pitcher even began his motion. In that moment, a flash of fear crossed Shindo's eyes, but he shook it off and threw a powerful pitch.
As if Sugino had been waiting for that very pitch, he instantly switched from his bunting stance and delivered a full-power swing.
The result was that Shindo's pitch, which he took such pride in, was crushed by Sugino. His powerful hit cleared the bases, resulting in a three-base hit.
At that moment, the "Demon King" appeared on our battlefield. He stepped into the opponent's dugout.
"You look pale, Mr. Terai. Are you not feeling well?"
"Th—The Principal, Asano?!"
"You must go rest immediately. The club members are so worried about you that they cannot show their true strength."
"N—No, that's not it! I'm fine as you can see—"
"It's good that you're ill. For if you weren't, our school would not have an educator who displays such a disgraceful performance. Ah, your fever is quite high indeed. Someone, take the teacher to the infirmary. I shall take command of the team in the meantime."
I had just witnessed a terrifying display of forced control.
Terai had been perfectly fine, but as soon as the Principal approached him, he fainted from sheer terror.
Principal, do you want to turn the tables on Class E that badly? Do you dislike us to such an extent?!
"Based on information just received, the baseball club's coach, Mr. Terai, had been suffering from a chronic illness since before the match, and the players were worried about him, which broke their focus! Because of this, the Principal has decided to take command himself!"
"Is this for real? The final boss appeared in the first inning."
"Ah, look, he's called a timeout and is saying something to everyone."
"Let's do something too... Alright, everyone repeat after me: Victory to Zeon!"
" " "Victory to Zeon!" " "
"It seems Nozaki still hasn't regained his senses."
Well, our morale was now at its peak.
However, some things cannot be solved by morale alone. As soon as Principal Asano issued some instructions and returned to the dugout, the baseball club's defenders moved forward until they were practically standing in the batter's box.
It seemed Principal Asano had realized that our strategy relied almost entirely on bunts.
"They've figured out we only have bunts."
"—But isn't this distance way too close?! They'll break the batter's focus like this!"
Okajima protested, but Takebayashi adjusted his glasses and growled calmly:
"Legally, a defender has the right to stand anywhere within the fair zone. It depends on the umpire's decision, but... the umpires are on their side. We can't rely on them."
After that, Maehara hit a fly ball that resulted in an out. Then Okajima and Shiba followed with two foul balls, leading to a change of sides between offense and defense.
It seemed victory had become hopeless... but then Sugino showed us some magnificent pitches.
He was throwing breaking balls that curved so sharply the opposing players kept swinging at thin air. He was truly amazing.
Ever since he failed in his assassination attempt with the baseball, I had been practicing with him occasionally, but seeing his skills succeed against others made me realize the extent of his talent.
I felt an overwhelming joy seeing my friend's talent shine like this.
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