Chapter 539

Shinoara Shingo suppressed the urge to look up and laugh, puffed out his chest, and answered with a resonant, decisive tone:

"No objections! I fully agree!"

Hanyu Jinkai’s gaze swept across everyone present, and he said in a deep, declarative voice:

"Since both parties have no objections and the conditions are clear and explicit."

"Then, I hereby officially announce—"

"The 'wager' between Private Tsukikage Academy Baseball Team Captain Shinoara Shingo and Natsume Chikage is officially established!"

"This wager will be supervised and arbitrated throughout by the Private Tsukikage Academy Student Council!"

"The terms of the wager are as follows: One month from today, both parties will engage in a ten-pitch duel at the school baseball field. Natsume Chikage will be the pitcher, and Shinoara Shingo will be the batter."

"If Natsume Chikage wins, Shinoara Shingo and his designated team members must withdraw from this school, be barred from participating in baseball for life, and must not harass Natsume Chikage or his associates. Furthermore, Shinoara Shingo’s personal glove shall become the property of Natsume Chikage."

"If Shinoara Shingo wins, Natsume Chikage must withdraw from this school."

"Should the losing party violate the agreement afterward, whether inside or outside the school, the Student Council and the school administration have the capability and the obligation to impose corresponding sanctions. I hope both parties keep this in mind; do not say you were not warned."

"That concludes the announcement."

The moment the announcement ended, Shinoara Shingo could barely control the smile on his face. He cast a triumphant glance at Natsume Chikage, snorted coldly, and led those few baseball team members out of the Student Council room with his head held high.

He was ecstatic: It’s done! In a month, Natsume Chikage will disappear! Yukimura Suzune... when this eyesore is gone, you will finally see who is the most suitable person for you!

As for Natsume Chikage, he acted as if nothing had happened, tossed the somewhat heavy old glove in his hand, and prepared to turn and leave.

"Natsume-kun, please stay a moment."

Hanyu Jinkai called out to him.

Natsume Chikage stopped and looked back at the Vice President.

Hanyu Jinkai adjusted his glasses and asked a question that many people wanted to know:

"Natsume-kun, I want to confirm one more time."

"Last time... before your match with Nakajima-kun, when you were learning baseball, did you have any contact with pitching? Even just some basic practice?"

The girls nearby who hadn't left yet immediately held their breath, waiting nervously for the answer.

Upon hearing this, Natsume Chikage shook his head quite simply and said candidly:

"No."

"Last time I only practiced swinging and batting a little."

"I haven't touched pitching at all."

"Hiss—"

A clear sound of gasping echoed in the room.

The few girls who still held a glimmer of fantasy had their last bit of hope shattered, their faces turning ashen as if they could already see the scene of Natsume Chikage leaving the school in dejection a month later.

Hanyu Jinkai also fell silent for a long time. He looked at Natsume Chikage’s calm face, truly unable to understand what this boy was thinking.

Finally, he could only helplessly offer a polite, yet at this moment, incredibly pale blessing:

"...I see. Then... good luck."

"I hope you can create a miracle in a month."

Natsume Chikage nodded at him, his tone flat:

"Thank you."

Having said that, he didn't linger, took the baseball glove he had "won," and turned to walk out of the Student Council room.

Konoe Hitomi had not spoken again from beginning to end.

She just quietly watched Natsume Chikage’s departing back, thoughts surging in those deep eyes.

On the way back.

Natsume Chikage looked down at the dark brown baseball glove in his hand, a peculiar expression mixed with surprise and delight uncontrollably appearing on his face.

In his field of vision, a translucent prompt box that only he could see hovered clearly above the glove.

[You have obtained ownership of this equipment. Would you like to register it?]

[Yes/No]

Regarding this.

Natsume Chikage didn't hesitate at all and muttered in his heart:

"Yes!"

[You have successfully registered the equipment 'Effort Baseball Glove'!]

[Only one more piece of special equipment needed for the next attribute point!]

Immediately after, a second prompt popped up:

[Would you like to equip the 'Effort Baseball Glove'?]

[Yes/No]

"Yes!"

He confirmed again in his heart.

The moment the equipment was finished, he didn't feel any obvious strange changes in his body.

But he wasn't surprised by this.

After all, the effect of this equipment was clearly written: 'When pitching a baseball, strength increases by 5%, control ability slightly improves, and hit rate increases by 10%.'

Now that he didn't even have a baseball in his hand, he naturally couldn't experience that unique effect.

As for the effect itself, although looking at the numerical increase alone, it seemed less simple, crude, and directly violent than the 'Hot-Blooded Bat' effect of 'When swinging, strength increases by 10%, hit rate increases by 20%.'

But looking closely, the effect of the 'Effort Baseball Glove' appeared more multifaceted and balanced.

It covered strength amplification, control assistance, and hit rate improvement simultaneously, making it more like a comprehensive auxiliary equipment tailored for the specific position of "pitcher."

Natsume Chikage knew his 'Hot-Blooded Bat' was conceptual equipment, and the effect description stated it took effect "when swinging."

A bold idea couldn't help but pop into his mind: perhaps he could try to see if he could also trigger the strength and hit rate bonuses of the 'Hot-Blooded Bat' during the motion of throwing a baseball?

If he could... then the stacked effect would be truly ridiculously strong.

One had to know that the basic bonus directions of these two pieces of equipment were already consistent.

If the effects could really stack, that would be a total increase of 15% in strength and a hit rate improvement of up to 30%!

Roughly calculated, it meant that for every three pitches, one would stably enter the strike zone and would definitely not be hit.

And the rules of his wager with Shinoara Shingo were precisely a ten-pitch system; as long as he didn't let Shinoara Shingo hit three pitches, he could win.

Therefore, even from the perspective of hit rate alone, he seemed to have considerable odds of winning.

Of course, the premise for all of this was—the effects of the two pieces of equipment must be able to stack successfully.

If not, then in this month, he would have to put in far more effort than the average person and engage in extremely arduous, targeted training.

But even so, deep down, Natsume Chikage didn't think he would lose.

He still had time.

Within a month, he could continue to exercise and improve his existing strength and agility attributes.

He could also obtain precious free attribute points by finding and collecting new special equipment.

At worst, he could directly add attribute points to strength and agility to forcibly raise his body's basic quality.

As for the pitching itself, as long as the ball speed was fast enough, fast enough that the opponent couldn't react in time and the trajectory was hard to capture.

Of all martial arts in the world, nothing is unbreakable, only speed is unbreakable!

If it's fast to a certain degree, the opponent simply won't be able to catch it!

Class 1-A.

Saionji Nanase, Fujiwara Aoi, and Yukimura Suzune were still gathered together, chatting and having their lunch break.

At this moment.

Natsume Chikage walked back with that baseball glove, his pace as usual.

Saionji Nanase was the first to notice him and the conspicuous object he had in his hand. A hint of curiosity flashed in her amber eyes, and she took the initiative to ask:

"Natsume-kun, you're back. Was there something important when you were just called to the Student Council?"

Natsume Chikage walked to his seat, placed the glove casually on the corner of the desk, shook his head upon hearing this, and revealed his usual gentle smile:

"Nothing major."

"Just chatted briefly with the Student Council to verify some situations."