NOVEL NEXT Chapter 28: <28> The Catcher (1)
Chapter 28: The Catcher (1)
The next day at 10 AM,
"Alright, let's take a break!"
"Ahh, I'm dead! I'm dead!"
Looking at his teammates sprawled on the ground like lifeless corpses, Sendo smiled slightly and headed to the kitchen to see if there was any milk. The milk in the living room refrigerator was all gone, so he wanted to check if there was any more in the kitchen.
However, as soon as he entered the kitchen...
For a while...
"What are you doing? What happened here? Did we get robbed?" Sendo stood silently for a long time, observing the sink piled high with dishes, the trash bin, and the stove covered in various blackened substances. He found himself at a loss for words to describe the scene.
"Don't look!" Fumino instantly turned away, crouched on the floor, and covered her head, exclaiming. Before Sendo could react, she quickly confessed everything, speaking as fast as a machine gun.
"Even though I'm very interested in cooking!"
"But I've never been good at it!"
"As lowly as a bug, don't look at me!" she continued, repeating a cycle of waiving her hands and covering her head.
"Oh, I see," Sendo said calmly, though he found her behavior somewhat endearing, debating whether her shyness was due to being embarrassed or simply being naturally airheaded.
"Eh?" Fumino turned slightly to glance at Sendo but didn't get up or turn around completely.
"Everyone has things they're good at and things they're not. Even if you're not good at cooking, you can get better with proper practice and by following the right steps. You just haven't had much time to practice," Sendo reassured.
"Oh!" she responded quietly, a slight blush appearing on her face as she smiled faintly.
"Okay then, keep it up!" Sendo said before turning to leave.
"Don't!"
"Huh?" Sendo paused and looked back at Fumino.
"Don't tell anyone about this!"
"Don't worry, I'm not that bored!" Sendo turned back and walked away, leaving this reassurance behind as Wakana continued to clean up silently, observing the scene.
"Whew!" Fumino exhaled deeply and was about to say something when...
"By the way!"
"Aah!!!" Fumino was startled, turning to see Sendo's head poking back through the door.
"You don't need to start dinner preparations so early. That oversight was mine, and I'll make sure those guys come over to help out. If you don't want anyone else to find out... you know what I mean! Also, call me when lunch is ready, and I'll bring everyone back when I see your number."
"I understand!"
Satisfied with her response, Sendo withdrew his head, closing the door behind him.
"That scared me!" Fumino exclaimed, clutching her chest in surprise, though… um… nothing much…
"Heh!" Sendo chuckled softly, shaking his head as he walked away.
The next day continued on as usual. That evening, Sendo did indeed have everyone help in the kitchen, as Fumino had suggested.
Of course, the reason given was not the real one; instead, he said that relying on just two people to prepare meals for everyone was too much, and self-reliance was necessary.
As for the issue he initially planned to discuss with the coach, Sendo decided it would be better to ask in person when he returned to Tokyo.
So, instead of calling to ask about training matters, he made arrangements for a visit to see coach Nakani in three days.
In the evening, during individual practice time, Sendo called Sawamura and Takeda aside for a pitcher-catcher training session—the first time this pair practiced together in two months.
Meanwhile, the others continued with their batting practice.
However, with the very first pitch, Sendo felt hopeless.
Takeda couldn't catch the ball, and from his actions, it was clear he was inexperienced.
Reading about it in books is not the same as performing the actual motions, and seeing and correcting one's own stance requires an external observer.
Therefore, Sendo had Sawamura work on his explosive strength routines alone, while Takeda returned to the regular practice.
This added another problem to the list, but Sendo remembered his early days and came up with a solution.
There wasn't much time for individual practice due to the need for studying as well. Sendo also had to teach Fumino math privately.
Though it was mostly about answering questions and maintaining his physical training, Sendo noticed that Fumino seemed to learn more efficiently in person compared to their phone instructions, even though he felt there wasn't much difference between the two.
Unable to fully understand it, Sendo decided not to dwell on it—one of his habitual responses.
.....
"Today, everyone will practice with one pitching machine, leave the other one free for me. Eijun, you keep running!"
Poor kid...
"Shin, put on your gear and come with me to the other pitching machine. I'll tell you what to do!"
"Huh? Oh, okay!"
"As usual, the fielding practice is all yours, Ohno!"
"Alright, leave it to me!" Ohno replied.
"Okay, let's break up and begin our respective practices!" Sendo said, leading Takeda Shin to the empty pitching machine.
"Shin, before catching, let's review the squatting position for receiving."
"I remember you need to keep the body stable, place the right hand on the right side of the thigh or behind. Lean your upper body forward to prevent the ball from rolling behind you. Is that right?"
"You remember well!"
"But I don't quite understand. How does leaning forward prevent the ball from rolling behind?"
"Well, imagine if you miss the ball. By leaning your upper body forward, you have more time to use your body to block the ball!"
"Oh, I see!"
"That's right. However, your body is still a bit uncoordinated. Don't keep your feet parallel like a gorilla; try squatting on one foot so you can rise quicker."
"Like this?"
"Exactly like that. Let's start catching! Remember, never take your eyes off the ball, not even for a moment!"
"Okay, got it!"
"Let's start with 100 km/h!"
"Boom!"
"Whoosh!"
"Pop!"
"Great, keep your form steady, or it's meaningless! Another 10 balls!"
...
"Next, try making a throwing motion!"
"Keep your steps smooth!"
"When throwing, point the toes of the stepping foot in the direction of the throw! Unless you're very skilled, don't worry about fancy tricks; while they are useful, they're not for beginners like you!"
...
"Yes, yes, just like that! Now for the real deal! Pitch speed at 120 km/h!"
"Alright, bring it on!"
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