Chapter 3: In a Few Days

While taking out his phone, Sawamura explained to Kuramochi.

"From what I can observe, there are probably not many people here who can hit that guy's pitching."

There was no exaggeration in this statement.

In fact, if it weren't for the concern of dampening Kuramochi's enthusiasm, Sawamura's words might have been even more decisive.

From Sawamura's own feeling, these teammates from Seidou High School would struggle not only to hit Narumiya's Change-up but even to make contact with it.

He answered very cautiously.

However, before he could open the phone and check the contents inside, Nishiyama, who was next to Kuramochi, couldn't wait and asked eagerly.

"Can you hit it out?"

Compared to Sawamura's vague answer, Nishiyama was looking for a reference.

Sawamura was undoubtedly the best reference.

Although Sawamura had not faced Narumiya's ball in this practice game, he had watched from the sidelines. Nishiyama believed that, given his senior's ability, he would definitely not come back empty-handed.

Sawamura gave Nishiyama a complicated look.

Sometimes, younger teammates who were too clever could be really frustrating.

"I can't say for sure whether I could hit it without actually facing him in the Batter's Box," Sawamura hesitated before answering.

It wasn't that he was being petty and unwilling to share his judgment with Kuramochi and Nishiyama.

It was simply that Sawamura truly couldn't make a clear judgment himself.

He wasn't as lucky as Miyuki, who could clearly read Narumiya's Change-up trajectory.

Though Sawamura had observed Narumiya's pitching, it had mostly been from the sidelines or from second base.

In such a position, even if he could observe something, it was just like the blind man trying to feel an elephant. His understanding could never match the actual pitch.

The best way to understand Narumiya's pitching was to stand in the Batter's Box or behind the plate.

Thinking about this, Sawamura couldn't help but feel some regret.

"Not even you are confident that you can hit it out?" Nishiyama's tone clearly changed.

Asada, who was tall, thin, and wearing glasses, looked at Sawamura with an expression of disbelief.

Although the young man hadn't been on the Seidou High School baseball team for very long, Asada had already completely considered himself part of the team. The initial discomfort had completely disappeared...

Now that he had truly integrated into the team, Asada, like all the other Seidou High School baseball players, looked up to Sawamura as a legendary existence.

Not just Asada, but many of the first-year newcomers in the team regarded Sawamura as their spiritual pillar.

No matter how was the opponent, the Great Demon King would come up on top.

It seemed like there was nothing that Sawamura Eijun couldn't do.

The previous matches of Seidou High School perfectly proved this. As long as Sawamura stood on the mound or in the Batter's Box, no matter who the opponent was or what prestigious team it was, none of them had been able to stop Sawamura's insane performance.

Even the one match that Seidou High School lost—the Tokyo Autumn Tournament last year—didn't change their view. Seidou lost to Inashiro Industrial High School, who had made an impressive comeback. But even then, Sawamura had scored and performed brilliantly on the mound.

The team's loss wasn't a glorious event, but to blame it on Sawamura was out of the question.

Through a year and a half of effort, Sawamura had earned the respect of every player in the Seidou High School baseball team and had established his own authority.

Now, he was clearly the team's star player and golden boy.

If even he couldn't hit Narumiya's ball out, it would be a major disaster for the Seidou High School baseball team.

Seeing their surprised expressions, Sawamura could almost guess what was running through their minds.

With a bitter smile, Sawamura quickly reassured them.

"It's not that I'm completely lacking confidence! After all, it's just a Change-up, and there's one thing that isn't threatening is the speed of the ball."

Sawamura didn't elaborate further; he simply approached the issue from a different perspective.

Nishiyama and Asada's faces immediately brightened up.

They began to imagine the real situation.

As for Sawamura, he couldn't do much about it.

He lowered his head and flipped through his phone.

Now, Sawamura had become somewhat of a celebrity.

If his phone number leaked out, it would definitely be a huge problem.

So unless necessary, Sawamura rarely gave his number to just anyone.

Only those who were critically important to him could contact him through that number.

When he opened a message, he saw a long string of formalities, but most of it was just pleasantries.

What truly caught Sawamura's attention was the person who had sent the message.

Takigawa Chris Yuu!

News that Seidou High School is about to head to The United States to face off against the legendary Dream Team somehow reached Chris.

He first confirmed the authenticity of the news with Coach Kataoka, and upon learning that it was true, Chris expressed his joy.

Although it had only been a few months since he left Seidou's baseball team, Chris already began to miss his teammates there.

The only regret was that the players who had once fought alongside him were now scattered, unable to accompany the team to The United States.

The message Chris sent to Sawamura was unexpectedly warm, feeling nothing like the cool and handsome Chris people were used to.

However, this was only natural.

When people are around each other day and night, they often don't realize how close those around them are.

But once they are separated for a while and then reunited, the feeling of closeness is entirely different.

Knowing that Sawamura and the Seidou High School baseball team members were about to head to The United States, Chris's reaction was completely understandable.

Sawamura was also very eager to meet Chris.

Thanks to the butterfly effect, many players' fates had changed greatly in Japan.

And it wasn't just the players from Japan. The influence was much broader.

Take the nearly one hundred additional substitute members, for example.

Not to mention Hirota, Matsumoto, Nishiyama, and Lee-Hyun from overseas.

Sawamura was confident about this aspect.

Before his regression, none of these guys had ever come to Seidou's baseball team.

Matsumoto, Hirota.

Before his regression, they were very likely not even at the same school as Sawamura.

In fact, Sawamura didn't have any memories of these two.

The only person he somewhat remembered from this group was Nishiyama and Lee-Hyun.

Nishiyama was a coach from Japan, and reportedly a distinguished one.

As from Lee-Hyun, he was one of the best runners in the MLB.

Sawamura's thoughts wandered off, it wasn't until he received a second message from Chris that Sawamura snapped back to reality.

[Once everyone arrives, I'll treat you all!]

Despite Chris's typically stoic and unapproachable demeanor, he still maintained the proper formalities when needed.

[I'm looking forward to the feast!] Sawamura immediately replied.

Chris, now a professional player, was extremely busy, and opportunities to chat were rare. Sawamura naturally cherished these moments.

[There's nothing really good to eat here—just salads or hamburgers.]

Though he couldn't see Chris's expression, Sawamura could guess that his Shisho was probably smiling wryly.

'Haha!'

It was a sentiment he could fully understand.

Compared to the extravagant Japanese Cuisine, the Cuisine in The United States is a mismatch of other Cuisines, and is mostly dominated by fast food.

Thinking of this, Sawamura's stomach suddenly turned sour.

"Forget it…"

Sawamura gave up on the idea of teasing him.

[After the match, we can all get together.]

Sawamura finally suggested a compromise.

Chris accepted with enthusiasm.

After finishing his conversation with Chris, Sawamura found that his roommates had already left the dorm for extra practice.

Sawamura was tempted to join them.

In the end, he used all his willpower to resist the urge to go with them.

He turned and left the dorm, heading for Coach Kataoka's office.

Since the decision had already been made, there was no doubt that Coach Kataoka was the one who made it.

The lights in the office were still on.

Even though he didn't have to practice with the players, Coach Kataoka would never go back early by himself.

He was accustomed to leaning on the windowsill, watching the players practice their swings under the moonlight.

"Sorry for intrusion, Boss!"

Sawamura knocked and entered, greeting him directly.

"Is there something you need?" Coach Kataoka looked at Sawamura, clearly puzzled as to why he had come.

"Has the plan to go to The United States been confirmed? When are we leaving?"

After finishing his conversation with Chris, Sawamura couldn't wait any longer.

Coach Kataoka nodded knowingly.

"In a few days!"

Sawamura looked up in surprise.

Although he knew that Coach Kataoka wouldn't make such a decision without a reason, he didn't expect it to be so soon.

"The summer tournament is coming up, and everyone still has to prepare for exams…"

Coach Kataoka also seemed helpless.

For most teams, training matches were simple activities between training.

But Seidou High School was different.

With how big of a name they are now, they were always busy...

…

T/N: No rest for the wicked! XD