PNS – Season 5, Chapter 55
Title: Then You Play
Scene:
Kazehaya High School – Ground, late afternoon, game ongoing
Noise. Movement. Energy rising.
System: Match state – ACTIVE
Tension – increasing
Friend 1 (holding bat 😏):
"Next over."
Friend 2:
"Let's speed it up."
Nagatoro (from field 😈):
"Do it."
Senpai (worried 😅):
"…Why does this feel serious now…"
Scene:
Bowler runs in.
Fast.
*CRACK*
Ball flies again.
High. Faster.
System: Ball trajectory – LONG RANGE
Nagatoro runs.
Tracks it.
Nagatoro:
"…Mine."
She jumps—
Reaches—
*Just misses.*
System: Catch – FAILED (partial)
Ball hits ground.
Rolls far.
Friend 2:
"Again?"
Nagatoro lands.
Annoyed.
Nagatoro (😐):
"…That was off."
Senpai:
"…It looked the same…"
Nagatoro:
"It wasn't."
Scene:
Friend 1 looks at MrLapis.
Friend 1 (smirking 😏):
"…You just gonna watch?"
MrLapis:
"Yes."
Friend 2:
"Boring."
Pause.
Friend 1:
"Then play."
Silence.
System: Focus shift – MrLapis
Nagatoro turns instantly.
Nagatoro (grin 😈):
"…Yeah."
Pause.
"…You play."
Senpai (shocked 😳):
"Wait—him??"
MrLapis:
"No."
Friend 2:
"Why not?"
MrLapis:
"Unnecessary."
Nagatoro walks closer.
Nagatoro:
"Or you'll lose?"
Pause.
System: Provocation – ACTIVE
MrLapis looks at her.
MrLapis:
"No."
Nagatoro:
"Then prove it."
Silence.
Friend 1 (smirking):
"…She got you."
MrLapis exhales slightly.
System: Decision – forming
MrLapis:
"…Fine."
Senpai:
"…This is bad…"
Scene:
Positions shift.
MrLapis takes the field.
Calm.
No rush.
System: MrLapis – ACTIVE PLAYER
Nagatoro steps back.
Watching closely.
Nagatoro (low 😈):
"…Now this is interesting."
Scene:
Bowler runs.
Throws fast.
Friend 1 hits—
Ball flies—
Straight toward MrLapis.
System: Ball trajectory – DIRECT
No movement.
Last second—
MrLapis steps.
Raises hand.
*Catch. Clean.*
System: Catch – PERFECT
Silence.
Friend 2:
"…That was too easy."
Nagatoro (eyes narrow 😐):
"…He didn't even move early…"
Senpai:
"…He waited…"
MrLapis throws ball back.
MrLapis:
"Angle."
Friend 1:
"You calculated that?"
MrLapis:
"Yes."
Scene:
Next ball.
Faster throw.
Hard hit.
Lower this time.