NOVEL WEB Chapter 132: <132> Night Talk and Awkwardness
Chapter 132: Night Talk and Awkwardness
"Game over!"
The seven-inning match flew by as both teams immersed themselves in the game.
The final score was 5–2, with Akagi Junior High securing another victory in their second matchup against Seiwa.
After Sawamura and Sendo successfully neutralized Seiwa's top lineup, Akagi's offense came alive in the fifth inning.
Their sixth batter, Omura, capitalized on a fastball and got on base. The seventh batter, Oyama, drew a walk, and Takada's surprise bunt resulted in a safe squeeze play, loading the bases.
With no outs and bases loaded, Shin's sacrifice brought Omura home, adding a much-needed insurance run.
Facing Akagi's top lineup for the third time, Seiwa fought hard.
Though Ohno managed to reach base, Aoki's inability to deliver a decisive hit became apparent again, as he failed even to execute a bunt.
Following Aoki, Kondou was taken out by Seiwa's solid defense.
In the sixth inning, Sendo was intentionally walked. Demonstrating his incredible speed, he stole bases effortlessly, reaching third without even sliding.
Sawamura's contribution brought Sendo home for Akag's third run. Although the following batters were retired in order, the score stood at 3–0, with both teams refusing to back down.
Sawamura's exceptional form and a bit of luck kept Seiwa from reaching base.
However, in the final inning, Akagi's batting order exploded. Having seen Fujiwara's breaking balls so often, Akagi's hitters suddenly stopped fearing them and focused entirely on fastballs, dismantling Seiwa's strategy.
Seiwa conceded two more runs.
Despite Seiwa's resilient effort in the last inning, where they managed back-to-back hits to score two runs, it wasn't enough to close the gap.
With that, Akagi wrapped up their summer training games with an impressive five-game winning streak.
...
After returning to their villa, instead of celebrating, the team held a reflection meeting. Though their batting order eventually exploded, it was clear their overall hitting skills still needed refinement.
Sendo, deep in thought, eventually suggested a change in strategy.
He proposed that hitters should focus less on coordinating with baserunners and instead hit wherever they felt most comfortable.
This new approach would take priority in their next training sessions.
Over the next three days, their batting skills noticeably improved.
Just as they began to see progress, Akagi received an invitation from Sakura Girls's University. Packing their bags, the team moved into what felt like a "kingdom of women."
...
The joint training camp at Sakura Girls's University went exceptionally well. Both Akagi and the women's team used the camp as their final tune-up before the fall semester began.
The intense schedule consisted of at least three games per day, followed by targeted training sessions.
Although Akagi struggled initially and lost several games, their determination and passion reached new heights.
The continuous cycle of battling, analyzing, adjusting, and battling again led to rapid progress.
For Akagi's players, Sakura Girls's University's skill level was on an entirely different plane.
They observed the university team's training routines, seeking methods they could adopt.
Immersing themselves fully in baseball, the Akagi players lost track of time, analyzing every swing, every at-bat, and every defensive play while studying the older players' techniques.
...
Meanwhile, Sendo found himself in an awkward situation.
His interactions with Ozawa—a senior player from Sakura Girls's University—caught Fumino's sharp eye. Fumino noticed Sendo often seemed to avoid Ozawa, while Ozawa's gaze toward Sendo carried a surprising gentleness.
Initially alarmed, Fumino soon realized their conversations revolved entirely around baseball.
Ozawa, seeing Sendo's talent, treated him more like a younger brother.
After all, Sendo was only in eighth grade, while Ozawa was nearing university graduation.
Despite their youth, Akagi's players often found themselves the subject of teasing.
The university players joked about whether the boys were sneaking peeks at them showering.
If it had been any other group of middle schoolers surrounded by athletic, energetic women, their imaginations might have run wild.
But Akagi's team, a mix of innocent angels, a few airheads, and a laid-back Sendo, avoided such incidents. Still, the teasing left them blushing furiously on multiple occasions.
After three days of grueling training and ten games, both teams collapsed in exhaustion following the final match.
Only Sendo, who often lazed around and expended less energy during games, remained relatively unscathed, though even he complained of sore legs.
...
This marked the end of Akag's final Tokyo training camp of their junior high era. What Sendo didn't know was that Coach Sakaki, the passionate old-timer, had secretly observed their games multiple times.
...
On the last night at Sakura Girls's University, Sendo let out a dramatic sigh as he stepped into the bathhouse.
"Can I just die now?" he lamented.
"Sendo, you've barely done any work these past few days! We're the ones who are actually exhausted!" Sawamura snapped, standing up to yell but quickly collapsing from muscle soreness.
Sendo ignored him entirely.
"Ah, to have so much energy... Good for you!" he quipped.
"What did you say?! Ow, ow, ow!" Sawamura's usual overreactions were as dramatic as ever.
Meanwhile, the rest of the team, sprawled out on the floor, silently declared, "We have no energy to even argue!"
...
"What are you thinking about?" Sawamura asked, breaking the silence as he moved closer to Sendo.
"I'm just thinking… summer passed by so quickly. Another year has flown by," Sendo said, tilting his head back with a tone of reflection.
"Yeah, you're right. This is our last summer as Akagi Junior High students," Sawamura replied earnestly, surprising Sendo.
"By the way, were you serious when you said you'd stop playing baseball after junior high?"
"... Do you think I wasn't serious when I said it?"
"No, it's just that... well..." Sawamura hesitated, unable to put his feelings into words.
Sendo didn't respond immediately either. He was unaware of the flicker of doubt that crossed his mind. What should have been an immediate answer was instead met with hesitation—a moment of wavering.
But quickly, the uncertainty in his eyes was replaced with determination.
"What about you? Are you planning to keep aiming for Koshien with everyone in high school?"
"Of course!" Sawamura replied with conviction.
"Then do your best."
"... I know, alright!" Sawamura responded, his tone slightly agitated, almost as if embarrassed.
"I'm curious about something, Eijun."
"What is it now?" Sawamura asked, not particularly eager to hear it.
"What kind of adult do you want to be after high school?"
"Huh?" Sawamura was caught off guard by the question. He had never thought about it before.
"I've never thought about it! Isn't it way too early for that? What are you, an old man?" Sawamura retorted, unusually quick with his comeback.
"Maybe," Sendo said with a chuckle. "Still, I'm curious about what kind of adult you'll become."
"I don't know! How would I know? That's something for the distant future, isn't it?"
"How long have we known each other?" Sendo suddenly asked.
"How long? Hmm… one, two, three, four… four and a half years! Why are you asking that?"
"Because it feels like those four and a half years went by in the blink of an eye."
"Huh?" Sawamura was struck by the realization of how quickly time had passed.
"You're right. It feels like we met just yesterday," Sawamura agreed, a hint of nostalgia in his voice.
"Four and a half years since we met. Four and a half years from now, we'll already be graduating high school, won't we?"
"Huh!" Sawamura's eyes widened in shock. The thought of how short a time they had left as students suddenly hit him.
"Eijun, do you want to keep playing baseball after that? For the rest of your life?"
"What do you mean?"
"I'm asking if you want to go pro—become a professional baseball player."
"Pro? What are you even talking about?"
Sendo's question stunned not only Sawamura but everyone else around them.
"Nothing, just making conversation."
"Really? Being a pro... I mean, of course, I'd want to, but someone like me? No way."
"True, idiots can't be pros," Sendo teased with a smirk.
"What did you just say?! You called me an idiot, didn't you? Idiot?!"
What had been a heartfelt conversation suddenly devolved into their usual playful banter.
Sendo knew it wasn't the right time to push, but he was planting a seed in Sawamura's mind. Focusing only on the present wouldn't be enough. He wanted Sawamura to think ahead, even if just a little.
That night, surprisingly, Sawamura seemed to have the upper hand in their exchange. Then again, Sendo was in a good mood, so he didn't mind.
...
Later that night, Sendo entered his room and took a deep breath.
"No matter how many times I smell it, it's so fragrant! The bedding, the pillows, even the whole room—it smells amazing! How's anyone supposed to sleep like this?" he exclaimed.
"Yeah, it's way too strong! It's making me want to sneeze!" Sawamura chimed in.
"...!"
"Idiot! That's not what I meant!" Sendo muttered internally. Everyone else immediately understood, except Sawamura, whose dense and unique thought process continued to baffle them all.
"You steel-headed idiot!" Sendo thought. "Wait, why am I even criticizing him? This guy probably still ends up with fangirls! If this were some medieval or isekai setting, he'd totally be the protagonist with a harem! How infuriating!"
As Sendo stewed in his inner turmoil, Sawamura tilted his head innocently.
"What's wrong, Sendo?"
"Nothing at all!!!" Sendo snapped before muttering under his breath, "How unfair..."
...
As he prepared for bed, Sendo grumbled, "I'm glad I was smart enough to pick the best-smelling blanket."
Unbeknownst to him, the reason the blanket smelled "best" was because it carried the scent he unconsciously found most familiar. For the past few nights, he had unknowingly been using Ozawa's blanket.
This was because the baseball club girls had lent their blankets to Akagi, while they used ones from other clubs.
That night, Sendo dreamed of being surrounded by a group of beautiful women. But just before waking up, he felt something soft in his hand.
"Huh? Silk?" Sendo murmured groggily, still half-asleep.
"Silk?" Realizing something was off, he opened his eyes and raised his hand to see what he was holding.
"What is this?!" he exclaimed, staring at the crumpled object in his hand. Slowly, he unfolded it to see...
...
"This is...! What's going on here?!" Sendo accidentally exclaimed out loud.
Realizing his outburst, he immediately clamped his hands over his mouth.
"Why is something like this here? I've been sleeping here for three nights already!" Sendo was on the verge of a breakdown.
Right before his eyes was a pair of women's underwear!
Not just any underwear, but the kind you'd see in manga—tiny, lacy, triangular panties!
It was the second time in his life that Sendo had been this flustered, and in his panic, he failed to notice that his shout had woken everyone else in the room.
By the time he realized it, it was too late—everyone was staring at him.
Worse, he was holding the underwear in both hands, fully unfolded, as if examining it.
...
An unbearable silence fell over the room.
"I want to die," Sendo thought to himself, feeling the weight of everyone's gazes.
"It's a misunderstanding! This is a misunderstanding! I have no idea why this ended up in my hands!" he blurted, desperately trying to explain.
"Sendo! Where did you steal that from? Are you some kind of underwear thief? I never thought you'd be into something like this!" Sawamura exclaimed in his usual naïve, harmless tone, which somehow made it even worse.
"Steal?! What are you talking about? I like nothing of the sort! I was having a pleasant dream, and when I woke up, this was here!" Sendo was now completely incoherent, spouting a mixture of explanations and unnecessary details.
"A pleasant dream? Wait, I've read about this before... Hmm... Oh! Did you have a wet dream?!" Sawamura proclaimed, as if showing off some newfound knowledge.
...
The room descended into chaos. Sendo's face turned bright red, and he was left utterly speechless.
"Shut up, Eijun!" Sendo finally shouted, launching a pillow at Sawamura to shut him up.
However, this only made things worse, as everyone else began snickering or outright laughing, unable to contain themselves anymore.
"I'll explain this! I swear I will!" Sendo declared, though his credibility was rapidly diminishing.
Unfortunately for him, no amount of explanation would erase the image of him holding up the panties like some kind of exhibit.
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