Did Seidou High School also get drunk on their winning?
As the players from Seidou High School stepped onto the field, almost every spectator found themselves wondering the same thing.
To understand why, let's take a look at Seidou High School's starting lineup for today's game.
First and foremost is the pitcher, the core of the team.
Today, Seidou High School's starting pitcher is Kawakami.
This doesn't mean Kawakami is weak by any means; it's just that he's undoubtedly one of the lesser pitchers on the Seidou High School baseball team.
Putting him on the mound in this game makes it hard to believe that Seidou High School is going all out.
And then there's his partner.
In today's game, Seidou High School has also switched catchers.
Now, it's Ono Hiroshi behind the plate.
Their key player and captain, the cleanup hitter Miyuki Kazuya, isn't playing.
Ono and Kawakami's pairing is arguably the weakest battery in the Seidou High School baseball team.
In the quarterfinals of the Spring Tournament, Seidou High School finds itself in a crucial match with an entire lineup of substitutes.
This certainly raises eyebrows.
But that's not all. Let's look at the first base, where Yamaguchi is stationed.
Yamaguchi Ken!
Yamaguchi is the primary backup for first base and is known for his raw power.
Not only has the battery changed, but even the first base has been filled by a backup.
If you still don't grasp Seidou High School's intentions, take a look at second base.
Currently, it's Kijima Rei with his shaved head.
Next up at third base is Higasa.
The shortstop position is even more bizarre, as Kanemaru has been put.
He, the former starting third baseman, has now moved to shortstop.
Finally, let's check out the three outfielders.
That's where things get interesting.
In center field, Nishiyama Kibo has stepped in for Toujou Hideaki.
This super-sub from the previous game has once again secured a starting spot.
But he shouldn't get too excited, as he's now partnered with all substitutes from the first string.
It feels like he's being relegated to the bench as well.
Next, we have Asou in the left field and Yuuki Masashi in the right field.
"What is this feeling?"
Many die-hard supporters of Seidou High School looked at the team before them in stunned silence, unable to recognize who is this team.
At this moment, if someone were to interview these fans, they would undoubtedly ask the same question.
"Is this the Seidou High School team we've cheered for before?"
This question is one that no one would dare to answer definitively.
In the Seidou High School dugout, all the key players sat together, exchanging glances and expressions of disbelief.
Even during their offensive turn, they had never gathered this many players together.
Let alone during defensive plays.
"Has the Coach lost interest in the Tournament?"
Kuramochi voiced his frustration bluntly.
This certainly isn't the first time he's complained like this; in fact, he had expressed similar sentiments the day before when he first heard the lineup from Coach Kataoka.
This current lineup seemed like a joke. No matter how you look at it, Seidou High School shouldn't start the quarterfinals with this team.
Coach Ochiai, stroking his chin thoughtfully, glanced at Coach Kataoka.
Coach Kataoka wore his sunglasses, and his face showed no emotion.
In fact, he never even took off his sunglasses while showering.
Sawamura has known Kataoka for over a long time now.
He couldn't recall ever seeing Coach Kataoka without his sunglasses even in the bath.
At this moment, everyone couldn't help but remember the night before the game.
That night was uneventful for the players of Seidou High School.
Everyone was ready to rest early.
The main starters had just finished a game and were thinking about the match the next day.
After routine training, they were eager to get some sleep.
Meanwhile, several substitutes, believing they wouldn't get a chance to play, gathered to practice.
This scene was witnessed by Coach Kataoka and Coach Ochiai.
He looked thoughtfully at the bench players holding bats and preparing to find a spot to swing.
"Coach!"
The players noticed Coach Kataoka and hurried over to greet him.
"The game is tomorrow. What are you all doing?"
Coach Kataoka asked indifferently.
For the substitutes, it was an easy question to answer.
"Coach, we're preparing to train. With potential consecutive games coming up, we need to be ready to play at any moment,"
Yamaguchi proclaimed loudly, flexing his muscles for emphasis.
Kijima, with his shaved head, looked equally determined.
"That's right!"
"Then go ahead,"
Coach Kataoka said, neither angry nor stopping them, simply allowing them to leave.
Behind him, Coach Ochiai stroked his goatee and remarked to Coach Kataoka.
"I've heard that these players have been training exceptionally hard lately."
He stated it like a simple fact, devoid of personal feelings.
Coach Kataoka nodded thoughtfully.
"They are in their third year after all!"
In fact, this scenario often occurs at Seidou High School around this time of year. Third-year players realize that their time to improve is becoming limited.
As a result, they tend to put in extra effort.
These third-year players likely feel that urgency now.
"It's probably more than that!"
Ochiai smiled.
Coach Kataoka looked at him, puzzled.
"And the sense of urgency brought by the newcomers!"
Hearing this, Coach Kataoka suddenly paused.
Could the urgency from the newcomers be so strong?
"Indeed, you seem unaware of it yourself," Ochiai explained with a smile. "When selecting players, we completely overlooked the third-year Senpais and instead promoted two freshmen. While those two newcomers truly deserve to be chosen based on their abilities and the team's needs, the veteran players can't possibly feel indifferent about it. What about now with two of them? What happens later?"
"As the newcomers improve, the pressure on the Senpais will only increase."
In elite schools, the capable rise while the mediocre fall.
No one feels this more deeply than the players themselves.
Coach Kataoka nodded, reflecting on this.
Since these players had already participated in the Spring Koshien, when he remade the first string again, he no longer considered seniority as a factor.
Though Coach Kataoka hadn't shared this with anyone, nothing in the world is truly hidden.
Some things just can't be concealed.
The first-string substitutes probably already felt this pressure.
"I know you handle this well, but I advise you to act quickly. Delaying could lead to unnecessary consequences,"
Coach Ochiai warned, and Coach Kataoka naturally took it to heart.
The already-decided roster was scrapped by Coach Kataoka.
"All the first-string players should still be awake. Even if they've gone to bed, drag them up immediately for a meeting in the conference room."
Sawamura and the others were pulled from their beds just as they were about to settle in for the night.
"What's happening?"
Kuramochi asked, bleary-eyed.
He seemed to be in a phase where he never fully woke up, completely different from his usual energetic self.
Sawamura had just laid down and had already dozed off.
"Who knows!"
Having been yanked from bed, Sawamura felt like he could lash out.
He was a very disciplined person, a habit formed through his training as an athlete.
But the more disciplined someone is, the more they hate disruptions to their routines.
Especially sleep.
Again especially sleep.
Both he and Kuramochi, still dazed, were not alone.
By the time they arrived in the conference room, everyone remained lethargic.
It wasn't until Coach Kataoka stood at the podium and clapped his hands that they finally shifted their focus.
Coach Kataoka wasted no time and directly announced his decision.
"I've decided to change tomorrow's starting lineup. Pitcher Kawakami, catcher Ono…"
His straightforward announcement had the desired effect.
All the players were wide awake now.
Everyone's eyes widened in shock.
The first-string players exchanged looks, their initial impression being that they must have done something wrong!
Otherwise, why would Coach Kataoka suddenly decide to replace them all?
"Boss?"
Sawamura stood up, puzzled, looking at Kataoka.
Through those sunglasses, he felt he could see the look in Kataoka's eyes.
Those eyes were surprisingly cold and conveyed a sense of unwavering resolve.
There was no room for change.
This decision was final.
Sawamura slumped back down.
Although he didn't understand Coach Kataoka's reasoning, once a decision was made, it couldn't be altered.
Not only were the main players confused, but the substitutes were also bewildered.
Tomorrow was the quarterfinals. While the opponent wasn't very strong, did it really require an all-substitute lineup?
"You all should be ready, right?"
Coach Kataoka looked at each of them.
The substitutes all met his gaze, none of them looking down, feeling like a volcano was going to erupt under them.
"The opponent isn't particularly strong, but they are competent. I don't care about the score tomorrow; I have one requirement. That is to defeat the opponent! Understand?"
"SIR, YES SIR!!!!"
The nine substitutes named, including two freshmen, responded enthusiastically.
…
T/N: This is a totally normal development. XD
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