Following behind were Haruichi and Furuya, with Rinichi in front:
"…"
Why was it that every ti he said he was going to the bathroom, these two also just happened to need to go?
When it ca to going to the bathroom, Rinichi still preferred to go alone.
The three of them walked in, only to see Seiichi washing his hands.
Both sides froze.
"You're from Seidou…"
Rinichi pulled his gaze back, just about to head into a stall, when Seiichi blocked his way with a cheerful look.
"You're Kamishiro, right? Please—"
Before he could finish, Rinichi impatiently cut him off:
"Don't play dumb."
Umiya's eyes sharpened slightly, though he still smiled:
"As I thought, just as short as Narumiya."
Like soone who'd had their tail stepped on, Rinichi glared furiously at him:
"Who are you calling short?!"
He looked ready to start a fight, and Haruichi pulled him back awkwardly.
After a pause, Umiya added:
"Don't make such a scary face."
Rinichi withdrew his gaze and brushed past him:
"Forget it…"
"There's no point talking to soone who'll be my future defeated opponent."
Umiya's pupils shrank, his gaze turning sharp and cold.
At the stall door, Rinichi had just pulled it open when he added:
"Co to think of it—you're the ace and cleanup hitter like , aren't you…"
"But that's where the similarities end."
When it ca to pitching and batting… they weren't even on the sa level. He didn't say that part out loud.
"Just don't be like the cowards from the last ga and walk on four balls."
"That would make the ga really boring."
"Oh, right… you guys look pretty relaxed… is it because you beat Narumiya i that you think you're invincible now?"
Rinichi tilted his head thoughtfully:
"True enough…"
"Sothing to be proud of, I guess."
The implication: that's about all you amount to.
Haruichi was practically scared out of his wits by Rinichi's words—especially when he saw the shadowy look on Umiya's face.
Clearly, Rinichi was just lashing out to get even for being called short.
Haruichi saw right through him: "…"
Furuya, not really following: "…"
"I was planning to crush Narumiya today… but whatever. Doesn't matter who it is."
Using polite speech to deliver the harshest words.
Haruichi's heart was about to leap out of his chest:
"Rinichi, that's enough!"
Umiya, however, stepped closer to Rinichi, glaring at him.
The pressure from his height advantage didn't intimidate Rinichi one bit. Instead, he smirked with interest, eyes sharp with confidence.
"If you're not convinced… then just try it. Let's see if you can score a single run off ."
"If you're only here to throw around tough talk, then there's no need."
...
Back in the dugout, Rinichi imdiately felt the heavy atmosphere.
Especially from the second-years—none of them were speaking.
Rinichi, who had just co back from a tense standoff, oddly felt a bit guilty: "…"
Warm-ups ended, and Coach Kataoka gathered the starters together.
"Before two strikes, lock onto the fastball and attack it. Drive it to center field. Don't just sit around waiting for the perfect pitch. Always keep the initiative!"
"Yes, sir!"
The players lined up in a row.
Miyuki exhaled softly:
"Right now…"
"What matters most is winning this ga first."
His eyes shifted toward Maezono Kenta, who was looking away.
"Maezono."
Maezono didn't turn back:
"I know!"
Hopefully, that wouldn't turn into a problem.
Rinichi felt a twinge of worry.
After all, he had no intention of being embarrassed.
When the umpire arrived, everyone lined up, bowed, and shouted in unison:
"Please take care of us!"
The ga hadn't even started yet, and cheers erupted from the stands—shouts of "Kamishiro!" ringing out.
All of them girls.
Back in Ugumori's dugout, Seiichi muttered:
"He's really popular, huh…"
Ugumori's leadoff hitter, Daiki Kondo, stepped into the box.
The umpire gave the signal to start, and Rinichi wasted no ti firing the first pitch.
Kondo clenched his teeth.
That guy didn't even look at his catcher before throwing, did he?!
As the ball neared his bat, it suddenly rose.
"Strike!"
It was a rising fastball—sothing Rinichi rarely even threw in the sumr.
How on earth does he pitch sothing like that? Kondo thought bitterly.
The second pitch ca, and his heart skipped. He instinctively backed off.
He didn't swing.
"Strike!"
Damn it…
Such velocity… and he still dared to jam it inside.
It showed just how confident this pitcher was in his control.
Adjusting his helt, the batter readied himself again.
When he saw the third pitch, he froze—then swung and missed.
For just a split second, his swing couldn't catch up.
That pitch just now… it wasn't Seiichi's—
"Strike! Batter out!"
His gaze slowly rose, only to et Rinichi's lofty, mocking eyes.
A three-pitch strikeout.
The sharp voices of the girls in the stands grew even sharper.
"Kamishiro!"
Even the cheer squad fell into rhythm, chanting his na.
So of the crowd followed along too.
Just like that, the montum swung to Seidou's side.
An invisible weight pressed down on Ugumori's dugout.
"Strike! Batter out!"
Not long after ca another:
"Strike! Batter out!"
Standing tall on the mound, Rinichi grinned, feeling exhilarated.
But for Ugumori, there was no smiling.
From his wheelchair, Nao Matsubara watched Rinichi step down from the mound.
Seidou's fielders crowded around him, saying things one after another, the atmosphere cheerful.
Seidou's ace… Rinichi Kamishiro…
He shone like a dazzling light—
Seiichi's pupils trembled:
"What did you just say?"
Nao blinked, turning to him in confusion:
"What is it?"
"That… Seidou's ace… he just threw the sa curveball as Seiichi."
"But… hasn't he never thrown that kind of pitch before!?"
"That's insane…"
Nau clenched his fists lightly.
"Everyone, calm down…"
"This isn't the first ti Kamishiro has thrown a pitch we've never seen before."
They didn't understand how Rinichi could know so many pitches.
The only explanation they could imagine was that he'd already mastered them long ago. Otherwise, how could soone learn a pitch unique to another ace overnight?
In truth, Rinichi hadn't even needed a night—he'd understood that pitch in less than five minutes.
Back in the dugout, Rinichi turned to Miyuki and said:
"Let their entire lineup see this pitch once. That'll be enough."
"After that, I don't plan on using it again."
Miyuki: "…"
So this was just for show?
How childish.
"Besides, copying soone else's 'signature' and pasting it onto myself… that doesn't sit right."
Of course, if he could refine it into sothing new, Rinichi would still throw it.
"I prefer things that are one of a kind."
Or rather, he liked having pitches that bore his unique mark—pitches that made him the only one.
It was pure arrogance.
Miyuki: "…"
Fine. As long as you're happy.
---------------
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