ALL NOVEL Chapter 150: <150> Takashima Rei's Judgment
Chapter 150: Takashima Rei's Judgment
Sendo, having easily made it back to home plate, maintained his composed expression.
After a simple high-five with Omura, he returned to the dugout.
Unbeknownst to anyone, Takashima Rei, who was supposed to attend the game yesterday but didn't, was now sitting in the stands, utterly stunned by what she had just witnessed.
From the thunderous cheers that echoed across the stadium as Sendo stepped up to bat, to his lightning-fast base running that defied her understanding of the game, every moment shattered her initial expectations of what should have been a low-profile match.
...
The moment Sendo stepped into the batter's box, the entire crowd—except for Tokumei Academy's support section—began chanting his name in unison.
The synchronized cries of "Sendo!" reverberated like a grand chorus, leaving Rei dumbfounded.
She thought to herself, Even in high school regional qualifiers, it's rare for pitchers to endure this level of pressure.
Although she hadn't seen Sendo swing the bat, it wasn't necessary.
His base running alone was enough to understand why Tokumei's pitcher chose to intentionally walk him.
No one in their right mind would willingly let such a runner on base—unless absolutely forced to.
From Rei's perspective, Tokumei's pitcher wasn't weak.
In middle school baseball, it's rare for a pitcher to intentionally walk a batter in their first plate appearance unless it's entirely strategic.
This wasn't a case of the pitcher lacking confidence; it was a tactical move unanimously agreed upon by the team.
However, it underscored one thing: the sheer terror of facing Sendo.
...
In student baseball, intentionally walking a batter is rare because it affects more than just strategy—it can shatter a pitcher's confidence.
Unlike professionals, student players haven't undergone the mental conditioning to withstand such psychological blows.
A single intentional walk can plant seeds of doubt, leading to mistakes like wild pitches, hit batters, or misplaced throws.
For elite pitchers like Narumiya Mei, even when the odds are stacked against them, they would rather face a batter head-on than be forced into a decision they don't believe in.
Such forced walks can lead to meltdowns and devastating losses.
Rei muttered to herself, "Just how sharp must his swing be?" Everything—the pitcher's decision, the deafening cheers, and the unusually large crowd for a middle school game—pointed to Sendo's unparalleled strength as a hitter.
...
Although most of the scouts present were local to Nagano, Rei was an exception.
National-level powerhouse schools rarely scout in such minor tournaments, focusing instead on players in junior baseball leagues or youth teams aiming for professional careers.
Sendo, Sawamura, and Furuya were unique cases.
Sawamura remained unnoticed due to his ignorance of the junior leagues.
Furuya's reclusive nature kept him off the radar.
Sendo simply had no interest in baseball initially and hadn't planned on pursuing it.
Yet their raw talent allowed them to overcome the gap in experience and shine.
Despite this, Rei believed she had stumbled upon a hidden gem in Sendo.
Confident in her judgment, Rei was certain Sendo wouldn't refuse Seidou's invitation to play for their renowned program.
She even began envisioning how he would fit into their rigorous training regime.
Watching Sendo laze on the bench, casually eating a banana, Rei thought to herself, This kind of laziness won't do.
Once he joins our school, our practice schedule will whip him into shape.
There's no way he'll have time to relax like this!
...
While Sendo's dominance was clear, Tokumei's pitcher struggled with subtle lapses in focus.
These lapses resulted in consecutive hits and another run scored.
Though manageable, the mental strain of their inability to get on base was palpable.
In contrast, Akagi's newly strengthened lineup continued to widen the score gap.
Despite managing to hold Sendo's second at-bat scoreless, Tokumei's relief pitcher faltered, giving up runs to Akagi's lower-order batters.
By the sixth inning, the score stood at 9-0, with little hope of a comeback.
...
Though the game was effectively over, no one in the crowd left. All eyes were on one man as Sendo stepped into the batter's box once more.
With the score difference nearing the mercy rule threshold, Tokumei's pitcher decided there was no point in another intentional walk.
For the third-year players on Tokumei's team, this was their final summer, and they couldn't accept ending it without a proper duel against Sendo.
The stadium buzzed with anticipation as the announcer's voice boomed:
"Bottom of the sixth inning, Akagi Junior High's attack!"
"Batting cleanup, the catcher, Sendo!"
Chants erupted once again:
"Cleanup! Sendo! Cleanup! Sendo!"
"End it with your bat, Sendo!"
"Go for it, Sendo!"
Everyone—Sendo's massive fan base, Rei and the scouts, Tokumei's supporters, and even both teams—waited breathlessly for this final showdown.
...
Sendo stepped into the batter's box, his name echoing through the stadium as the crowd reached a fever pitch.
Despite the limited number of official games he had played, his impact was already monumental.
"Although he's only participated in four games and faced pitchers in just six at-bats, this man has left an indelible mark!" the commentator's voice rang out, energized by the atmosphere.
"Just yesterday, against Kirinishi, he smashed four home runs in a single game!"
The commentator continued, "And yet, his batting average remains a perfect 1.000! His slugging percentage? An unbelievable 4.0! Pure slugging percentage? A staggering 3.0! For those hearing this for the first time: no, these aren't percentages. These stats mean every single at-bat ends with a home run!"
The crowd erupted:
"Sendo! Sendo! Sendo!"
Takashima Rei adjusted her glasses slightly as she watched the game unfold.
While impressed by the statistics, she also knew the numbers were based on a small sample size.
Still, the energy and presence surrounding Sendo were undeniable.
"Let me see it for myself," she murmured, "the swing that backs up this confidence."
...
The Tokumei pitcher, now at the height of focus, delivered the first pitch.
"Pop!
Ball!" The umpire's call echoed.
The second pitch followed:
"Ping! Foul ball!"
And the third:
"Ping! Another foul ball!"
"What's going on? Are you mocking us?" the Tokumei catcher hissed under his breath, visibly irritated. Sendo had deliberately hit two foul balls.
Sendo smirked lightly and responded, "No, it's just that your pitch selection seems... uncertain. You can't showcase your full potential like this. Let's settle this with one pitch. Show me your best."
The Tokumei catcher, though initially annoyed, recognized the sincerity behind Sendo's words.
He nodded and called for a timeout to confer with his pitcher, encouraging him to give it everything he had for this final duel.
...
The stadium fell silent as the pitcher wound up for his best throw, fueled by a mix of frustration and determination.
With a sharp motion, he released the ball—a perfectly executed pitch, grazing the edge of the strike zone and diving sharply into what would normally be unhittable territory.
Sendo, however, was ready.
"PING!!!"
The sound of the bat meeting the ball reverberated through the stadium, leaving the pitcher stunned.
The ball soared high into the sky, arcing over the outfield and clearing the protective netting with ease.
It landed far beyond the fence, bouncing as if mocking the very purpose of the barrier.
The commentator, nearly shouting, declared:
"Home run!!! Game over by mercy rule! This is his seventh consecutive home run! The streak continues!"
The stadium erupted in cheers, the audience roaring in celebration. Takashima Rei gently pushed her glasses up, a faint smile playing on her lips.
...
Sendo, as always, remained composed.
He gently set down his bat and began his trot around the bases, indifferent to the thunderous applause around him.
Meanwhile, Tokumei's pitcher could only let out a resigned sigh, gazing skyward with a bitter smile.
"That pitch wasn't meant to be hit," he muttered. "And yet, he sent it flying like that... I've got nothing left to say."
Sendo, rounding the bases, reflected silently:
"Good thing his pitch speed wasn't higher. If it had been faster, even I would've struggled to send such a low and tricky ball over the fence. At best, I'd have aimed to foul it off and reset the count."
As he crossed home plate, the match officially ended, but the crowd's admiration for Sendo continued to grow.
For Takashima Rei, there was no doubt:
Sendo wasn't just a great talent—he was an absolute phenomenon.
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