Hakusan Town.

After returning to school, Supervisor Toto announced that there would be no training today and that he would take a day off. The reflection meeting would be held at the next department event.

Everyone was silent and nodded numbly.

Obviously no one wanted to stay for training at this time, so everyone left.

When the team loses like this, the players need a period of time to recover from their injuries and a period of time without baseball.

Helping him lift his backpack, Nishino Tetsu said: "Let's go, Kazuya, go back."

"Um."

Nishino Kazuya responded dejectedly and followed his footsteps.

Looking worriedly at everyone's depressed mood, Kato Monami and Moriyama Aoi could only secretly worry.

The two of them are just managers and can only contribute to the logistics. It is the players who play the game, and the responsibility for losing can only be borne by the players.

"But......"

My eyes followed the figure on the back that was gradually moving away, and the number on the back slowly disappeared from my eyes.

Moriyama Aoi couldn't help but murmured.

"It would be nice if...it could help..."

Close to home.

Nishino Tetsu hung the bag on Nishino Kazuya, sent him home, and returned home himself.

"drop--"

Tetsu Nishino pressed the start button of the washing machine, put the jersey in and started washing it.

In the past, he had to wash his clothes by hand first to remove large pieces of dirt, otherwise it would be more troublesome to clean the washing machine later.

But now, he has almost no chance to slide during the game. After the game, his uniform is still relatively clean, with almost no dirt on it.

"Ha, it's easier to wash now."

Nishino Tetsu laughed at himself.

I'm afraid there's no catcher worse than me...

After the clothes were washed, they were hung to dry on the balcony.

After doing this, Tetsu Nishino returned to his room wearing casual home clothes and lay on the bed, feeling exhausted both physically and mentally.

Outside a shrine in Hakusan Town.

Sakagami Shrine.

After looking at the name on the stone plaque, Moriyama Aoi bowed slightly and walked in.

There are still few visitors to the shrine on weekends. Apart from the elderly people praying, they are some nearby residents.

This quiet little shrine is where she comes every time she feels sad.

Sometimes, when the team loses and she is helpless, she will come here and pray that everyone can overcome the difficulties and get over the failure.

Small lanterns with Chinese characters hanging around them add to the tranquility.

In the pool in front of the shrine, clear water flows slowly from bamboo pipes.

Walking to the pool in front of the shrine, Moriwasabi picked up a long-handled wooden spoon next to it, washed her hands and mouth with water, and bowed devoutly.

Then, walking to the shrine's worship hall that tilted up on both sides of the roof, Aoi Moriyama threw some change into the donation box with wooden lattice.

There was a thick hemp rope hanging in front of the worship hall. Mori Wasabi shook it twice, which made the wind chimes on the hemp rope ring.

She clapped her hands several times, put her hands together and prayed.

Tucking her hair behind her ears, the girl held her hands in front of her chest in a prayer gesture, devoutly hoping that God would hear her prayers.

Finally, Moriyama Aoi bowed deeply and completed her prayer.

The soft and gentle wind gently lifted her hair, and her delicate face was full of determination.

............

evening.

When Tetsu Nishino woke up, he realized that he had fallen asleep at some point and had unknowingly slept for an entire afternoon.

"Gugu..."

The protest in his stomach reminded him that he hadn't had lunch yet, and it was time to have dinner now.

When he went downstairs, his parents had already prepared a table of dishes waiting for him, and most of them were the dishes he usually liked to eat.

When Tetsu Nishino's parents returned home, they saw him sleeping with a tired look on his face, so they didn't have the heart to wake him up and let him rest quietly.

He happened to be extremely hungry, so Tetsu Nishino thanked him and started to eat, directly turning his grief into appetite.

After eating and resting for a long time, he sat on the sofa with his parents and watched TV programs for the first time in a long time. He didn't return to his room until after 9 o'clock.

Sitting at the desk, Tetsu Nishino still felt a little uncomfortable thinking about today's game.

The first time he played in an official game, the team lost so miserably. As a catcher, no matter how you say it, he cannot escape the blame.

Looking back on the game, he clearly noticed that his seniors were out of shape, but he did not make timely adjustments until his defense was overwhelmed.

By the time the seniors recovered, they had lost too many points, which severely limited their subsequent defensive adjustment space.

With no points to lose, Kazuya Nishino missed a pitch but was caught and hit a home run.

Even though he hit three home runs in the game, he still felt that his performance was substandard and that he failed to perform his duties as a catcher.

In essence, surrender and capture can be regarded as the core of defense.

If the catcher is uneasy, the whole team will be shaken.

In Nishino Tetsu's own words, he did not do a good job of placating pitchers and directing fielders during the game. At most, he was just a tool man who caught the ball at home plate.

Thinking of this, he suddenly wanted to take a look at the game record sheet, first to see how the team's defense was when Matsuzaka hit the ball.

Tetsu Nishino remembered that senior Aoi Moriyama seemed to have kept records of the competition, and Moriyama Aoi's home was not very far from his home, so he should have been able to borrow a record book in the past.

"But is it too late..."

A little hesitant, he thought it would be better to call and ask first.

After the phone call, Nishino Tetsu asked Moriyama Aoi about the record book. He could rush over to get it, but Moriyama Aoi asked him to wait and sent her his computer email address.

The confused Nishino Tetsu did as he was told.

Half an hour later.

"drop"

A new email was sent to his computer mailbox. When he opened it, he was very surprised.

It turns out to be an electronic file of today's game record, and it's not a simple record, but a detailed analysis of the data.

Matsuzaka Sho's hitting positions of each hitter, and the corresponding defensive adjustments made by Hakusan at that time.

The record of hitting a ball that the batter is not good at, and deliberately chasing the ball from Hakusan's pitcher tactically.

A batter has a ball to hit and a path to hit each ball.

The path of the ball actually hit and the direction in which it was hit.

These......

They are all sorted out and marked with different colors to make it easier for Tetsu Nishino to distinguish them.

I couldn't help but pick up my phone and dial that number.

"Senior Aoi, what are these information...?"

The voice coming from the other side was very soft, but Tetsu Nishino heard it clearly.

"Well...I made this myself. I just started trying it and I made it in a hurry."

"Sorry, I didn't do a good job and couldn't help..."

Hearing the self-blame in his voice, Tetsu Nishino panicked. He didn't mean it that way and quickly explained.

“Well done!”

"Thank you so much, Aoi-senpai, it's been a great help!"

The affirmative words coming from the other end of the phone made Moriyama Aoi inexplicably feel relieved.

Finally I can help.

The lying girl's delicate and white feet quietly stretched out of the bed, and the arches of her feet were playfully bent.

"Arigado, Zhejun."

"Eh?"
Chapter completed!