I Thought I Was Dead After Getting Stabbed While Protecting a Girl From a Random Attacker, but a Goddess Gave Me a Special Reward and Brought Me Back to Life in My Original Body—Now, All These Girls Are Coming on to Me!? - Chapter 42: Accident Occurs

Chapter 42: Accident Occurs

Captain Nogata faced off against Arai for the first time.

The first pitch came. A straight ball landed just on the outer edge.

Nogata’s courage shone through as he confidently threw a strike from the first pitch.

However, Arai, facing him, didn’t flinch at all, suggesting he was likely narrowing down his target pitch.

Makoto, wearing the catcher’s mask, probably noticed this too.

As expected, the second pitch, a curveball, slightly missed outside for a test.

Yet, Arai didn’t react to this either.

“Is he narrowing it down by the course?” Tsutsumi, watching the game nearby, muttered.

As Tsutsumi said, it’s normal to assume Arai focused on the course rather than the pitch type.

“There’s a possibility, but his lack of reaction feels eerie,” Nogata replied.

While they talked, the third pitch came.

This time, a straight ball went high and inside, slightly missing for a ball.

Even Makoto must have been puzzled by Arai’s lack of reaction to this.

At this point, low-inside or high-outside became the likely targets, but that seemed too obvious.

Alternatively, Arai might have been baiting the pitches thrown so far.

For the fourth pitch, a batting count, Nogata threw a curveball on the outside.

“…!” Arai hit it hard.

Despite the slow ball on the outside, Arai didn’t fight it and hit it to the opposite field.

It became a clean hit in front of the right fielder.

“He’s good,” Tsutsumi said.

“Yeah, his batting skill is impressive, though his personality is something else,” Nogata added.

In modern baseball, the second batter generally fell into two types.

One type, like Yanagi, excelled at small techniques.

This expert type supported runners on base with bunts or hit-and-run tactics.

The other type placed a strong hitter simply.

By lining up powerful hitters from the leadoff, this type aimed for straightforward scoring efficiency.

From that batting, despite his personality, Arai seemed like a formidable hitter.

Makoto sent some gestures to Nogata on the mound, and Nogata nodded in response.

It appeared Nogata wasn’t shaken by the hit.

With one out and a runner on first, Nogata chose a low-inside straight ball for the first pitch.

However, a loud crack echoed!

Arai pulled it hard, resulting in a hit in front of the left fielder.

“Uh-oh, this is bad, Minase!” Tsutsumi exclaimed.

“It’s still fine. With one out and bases not full, we can aim for a double play. Let’s cheer loudly now,” Minase replied.

“Right!” Tsutsumi agreed.

“Come on! Stay calm!” they shouted together.

Makoto walked to the mound.

They discussed something before parting.

It’s okay; those two will hold it together, Minase thought.

For the fourth batter, Nogata threw the first pitch.

It was another first-pitch straight ball on the outside.

This time, Arai pulled it hard.

The ball seemed to go between first and second base!

“Take that!” shouted Tanaka, a third-year second baseman.

Tanaka dove and caught the strong hit, then threw to second base from his knees.

Hashima, a third-year shortstop covering second, threw to first, completing the double play. Three outs, change.

“Nice, Tanaka!” Minase cheered.

They barely held on, one might say.

Nogata, returning to the bench, kept talking with Makoto.

The opponent’s batting suggested some intent, but no clear pattern in their swing choices appeared.

Was it luck, or something else?

The image of that man with black-rimmed glasses stuck in Nogata’s mind.

“Hmm, scoring would’ve been a bonus, but it’s not that easy,” Arai said.

“Sorry, I could’ve pulled it more,” his teammate replied.

“That was their superb play, so it can’t be helped. It might’ve left a bad taste for them,” Arai smirked.

They didn’t specifically target pitches.

They simply varied between sticking it out or swinging early.

They preset this for each batter.

The main hitters getting good hits was a pleasant surprise.

If this confused the opponent’s strategy, their subsequent attacks would become much easier.

From the first inning, only the third and fourth batters seemed capable of hitting Arai’s pitches.

If they maximally cautioused those two, the rest were a ragtag bunch.

Now, how to cook that hateful Nogata who stole Madoka from me, Arai thought.

He couldn’t stop grinning.

“They’re probably not targeting pitches but changing their approach,” Makoto said.

“I see, that’s it,” Nogata replied.

After holding the first inning, Nogata and Makoto discussed the opponent’s odd strategy on the way to the bench.

Makoto’s point clicked.

They likely decided whether to wait or attack early based on the batter.

That explained Arai’s lack of reaction and the sudden first-pitch attacks by others.

“Then, let’s figure out who’s aiming for what in the first round,” Nogata said.

“Right, but what if they change their approach by the round?” Makoto asked.

“They’ll change only after we notice their intent. Leave that judgment to me,” Nogata replied.

“Okay, I trust you, partner,” Makoto said.

In our team, I, the pitcher and fourth batter, often got the spotlight, but if asked who’s irreplaceable, I’d say Makoto without hesitation.

Last year and this year, we wouldn’t have advanced this far without him.

I glanced at the juniors cheering us from the bench.

This year, we had reliable juniors too.

I felt certain this was our year to seize.

It wasn’t that past members were lacking, but this year felt special, like all pieces fit.

I couldn’t let this chance slip.

The game then fell into a stalemate.

Our side struggled to hit the opponent’s powerful pitches.

The opponent, with their strategy exposed, couldn’t create chances.

Unlike the first inning, the game settled calmly.

Especially the opponent, led by Arai, seemed frustrated, unable to score despite their initial success.

However, one man broke the deadlock.

A metallic clang echoed through the stadium!

In the fifth inning, Nogata, the main gun, hit a solo home run into the right-field stands.

“Yeah!” Nogata shouted.

“That’s huge!” a teammate yelled.

Nogata’s hit shifted the game’s momentum.

From there, Captain Nogata raised his pitching pace.

Until the seventh inning, he allowed no runners, pitching perfectly.

Everyone in the stadium thought Nogata might pitch a shutout.

Then, an unfortunate accident occurred.

The batter was Arai, the second hitter.

Arai hooked a low-inside straight ball, sending it toward first base.

Frustrated by the inability to score and irritated at being outplayed by his rival Nogata, Arai threw himself into a headfirst slide.

Meanwhile, Nogata moved to cover first base.

Fatigued from the close game’s pressure, his legs gave out for a moment.

He saw Arai sliding toward first.

They would collide if he stayed.

Nogata forcibly moved to avoid him.

At that moment, a sharp pain shot through!

“…!?” Nogata gasped.

Arai, for a moment, couldn’t understand what happened.

Hearing the safe call, he wondered why he made it and looked up.

There, Nogata clutched his ankle and collapsed.

“What… what happened?” Arai stammered.

The coach and teammates rushed to Nogata.

“Umpire, may we have time for treatment?” the coach asked.

“Understood,” the umpire replied.

Teammates supported Nogata’s shoulders as he left for the bench’s back.

Arai hadn’t wanted this kind of resolution.

Overwhelmed by indescribable emotions, Arai stood frozen on first base.

It was love at first sight.

The moment I saw her at the game, I fell in love.

But the woman I loved already belonged to another man.

That’s why I didn’t want to lose to him.

Last year, in my first match against Nogata, he was already the team’s ace and central figure, while I was just a pinch hitter.

It was mostly luck, but in a late-game chance, I swung expecting a certain pitch and hit it.

Afterward, a defensive error allowed us to score first, and that became the winning run.

I hoped she’d notice me, but it wasn’t that simple.

So, this time, I was determined to crush him completely.

I watched DVDs until they wore out and planned with the team to beat him.

But my strategy was easily seen through, and he hit a home run against us.

Humiliation, emptiness, and frustration swirled inside.

With those emotions jumbled, I stood at the plate.

Perhaps that’s why, before I knew it, I saw Nogata clutching his leg and collapsing after my headfirst slide.

Seeing him fall before me, deep regret surged in my heart.

I didn’t want this kind of resolution.

I wanted to crush him with my own strength.

As the coach supported him to the bench’s back, I couldn’t even call out to him.

I could only stand on first base.

“Merit!” Madoka shouted.

“…Madoka?” Nogata replied.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

To twist my ankle in such a moment was unlucky.

The pain wasn’t too bad, so with proper taping, I could still pitch.

I had to pitch.

I couldn’t burden my juniors in such an incomplete moment.

The stadium’s doctor slowly removed my right shoe.

It was slightly swollen, but it shouldn’t be a problem.

“Madoka, tape it up,” I said.

“Idiot! You can’t pitch like that!” she retorted.

“With this swelling, it’s fine if taped…” I insisted.

“Doctor, what’s your opinion?” the coach asked.

“It doesn’t seem to be a bone issue, likely a sprain. Without further tests, I can’t say about muscle damage. As a doctor, I don’t recommend continuing,” the doctor said.

“I’m fine. I’ll pitch,” I declared.

“I can’t allow it. Follow the doctor’s judgment. Nogata, you’re done. Go to the hospital for tests,” the coach ordered.

“I’ll go after the game,” I protested.

“No, now. Madoka, I’ll call a taxi. Can you accompany him?” the coach asked.

“Yes!” Madoka replied.

“Coach, I…” I began.

Ignoring my protests, the coach listened to the doctor.

I, the injured one, said I could pitch, so why listen to the doctor?

At that moment, a shock hit my cheek.

“…Madoka?” I realized a beat later that she slapped me.

“Take better care of your body, idiot!” Madoka yelled.

I had never seen her raise her voice like this.

“You said it yourself. This year, we have reliable juniors. Now, get your foot checked. Got it?” she demanded.

I hadn’t seen the situation clearly in the heat of the moment.

“…Sorry. I got too heated,” I admitted.

“Anyway, let’s hurry to the hospital. Coach, go back to the game,” Madoka said.

“Got it. I leave the rest to you,” the coach replied.

Madoka led me out of the stadium.

Do your best, juniors… Don’t lose!