Chapter 11: Testing and Shock
Amidst all these people, two gazes stood out distinctly. One belonged to Furuya Satoru, who would eventually become Eijun's greatest rival. His indifferent glance swept over Eijun, though it was fleeting, it carried a meaning unlike that of the others. The other gaze came from Hideaki Tojo, the ace pitcher of the Matsukata Senior League team.
Compared to Furuya's enigmatic gaze, Tojo's eyes reflected a much more complex mix of emotions. His look was one of special interest in Eijun Sawamura, a sentiment rooted not just in Eijun's unique qualities but also in the bold declaration he made during his self-introduction about becoming the ace pitcher. This proclamation had triggered a strong sense of crisis within Tojo. As the ace pitcher of a team that had once made it to the national semifinals, Tojo's goal in joining Seidou High School was undoubtedly to secure the ace number. But Eijun's performance, statements, and demeanor had instinctively made Tojo see him as his greatest competitor.
Of course, Tojo didn't realize that by the summer of their first year, he would already be out of the running for the ace position. The real rivalry would be between Eijun and Furuya. At this point, no one except Eijun himself could foresee what the future held, and this could be considered a natural advantage of being the protagonist, a unique kind of "cheat."
"First-years, gather up, change your shoes, and head to Field B for defensive position testing!"
As the first-year students were still undergoing their basic physical training, a few coaching assistants appeared near the field. One of them, clearly the leader, held a list and shouted loudly to the first-year group.
These words brought a look of joy to nearly all the first-year students. Finally, they could participate in some proper baseball activities—position testing! Many of them thought this would be a great opportunity to showcase their skills, impress the coaches, and prove their potential.
About eighty percent of the first-year students had this exact thought in mind at that moment.
"Defensive testing, huh?" Eijun's eyes flickered slightly as his gaze unintentionally drifted towards Coach Kataoka, who was calmly observing the second and third-year players training. A classic scene flashed through Eijun's mind, causing a faint smile to appear on his lips.
However, that scene wouldn't play out the same way this time.
Eijun softly murmured to himself, then followed the rest of the group as they jogged toward Field B.
The so-called defensive testing was, in reality, a way to assess the players' abilities based on the positions they expressed interest in during their self-introductions. The students were divided into several groups and tested accordingly.
In addition to these individual defensive position tests, there were also some general skills tests, like relay throws between the infield and outfield, and base running assessments.
During these tests, Eijun's performance was rather average. For the pitcher-specific tests, it was mostly about gauging arm strength, balance, and collecting some basic data.
These were mostly theoretical figures, as the true measure of a pitcher is tested in actual game situations.
During the arm strength test, Eijun gave it his all in the long throw and barely managed to reach 100 meters. This was with Eijun deliberately suppressing the characteristics of his quirky pitches.
The enhanced control of his throws was evident. In the original story, Eijun's straight ball eventually turned into a curveball, and his throw only reached around 80 meters, just short of 90 meters.
With a throw of slightly over 100 meters, the coach assistants nodded approvingly. Given his arm strength, he could certainly be a pitcher, though they couldn't discern the deeper aspects of his potential.
Overall, Eijun's performance was average to above average. In contrast, Tojo Hideaki also achieved a throw over 100 meters.
However, one individual stood out.
"Whoosh!"
A burst of white light and blue flames left the crowd stunned. The ball soared high, crossing the field and landing far beyond the net.
Many people gasped, their eyes wide, staring at the tall, calm figure at the mound.
A throw of over 120 meters.
The coaching staff were equally shocked, frequently glancing at the slender figure.
"Homerun!!!!"
"Damn, over 120 meters? This guy..." one freshman marveled in awe.
"Isn't this guy a new student?" Kanemaru Shinji muttered in shock, with Tojo Hideaki also displaying a look of astonishment.
"Such a player should have been recruited specially," another freshman commented incredulously.
"Could he be one of those undiscovered geniuses?"
"Wow, just based on his throwing strength, he could definitely be a pitcher."
"It seems like he might be another genius..."
The first-year students were all astonished, staring at the expressionless face of Satoru Furuya, as if the throw he had just made wasn't actually his.
Among everyone present, only Eijun maintained his composure. However, he unconsciously clenched his left fist tightly, the pressure increasing.
The blazing fastball and powerful pitcher—Satoru Furuya.
"Indeed, he's exceptional..." A faint but unmistakable look of envy appeared in Eijun's eyes.
Even in an era where pitching strength is evaluated through a combination of factors, speed remains crucial—it's the romantic aspect of being a pitcher.
Naturally, Furuya's remarkable throwing distance stood out prominently.
Moreover, Eijun knew well that this guy was also a monster when it came to hitting, even though he was still a bit of a blind cannon in his first year.
Nonetheless, Furuya was a formidable presence.
His astonishing performance in the defensive tests left a strong impression on everyone, making him a standout among the first-year students.
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