In a small break room packed with reporters, the two people being interviewed were none other than Seidou's ace battery — pitcher and catcher.
Camera flashes went off one after another.
Rinichi remained composed, even tossing out one or two rather arrogant remarks.
Yet, when those words came from him, they didn't feel unpleasant.
Perhaps it was because they came from someone who truly had the strength to back them up — and because he wasn't arrogant to the point of looking down on others.
By contrast, Miyuki was noticeably more modest, occasionally glancing over to check what Rinichi was saying.
Truthfully, he needn't have worried.
Rinichi always said whatever he felt like saying.
After enduring the reporters' questions for a while, the two were finally free.
Rinichi had always disliked such troublesome affairs, though he had to admit — saying certain things out loud felt surprisingly satisfying.
When Seidou's team walked out carrying the "West Tokyo Champions" banner, the crowd erupted in cheers.
Not long after, the defeated Inashiro Industrial team also emerged.
Akiko frowned slightly.
"I'm not sure how to put this… I thought both teams were evenly matched, but it ended up being nearly a one-sided game…"
Mine Fujio adjusted his cap.
"More like… the pitchers were on entirely different levels."
"Two walks from Narumiya, while Rinichi…"
"Not to mention, Narumiya's form wasn't great from the start, while Rinichi pitched at full strength from the very first inning to the complete game."
Akiko's eyes widened slightly.
No matter the pitcher, there's always a day when they're not at their best… right?
"Even in the games before this, Rinichi's pitching form never once dipped. I don't know how he manages to always be at peak condition no matter the situation…"
"Just that alone makes him terrifying."
"At this rate, unless something unexpected happens, no one will outshine him in high school baseball for the next three years. Seidou's strength just went up a whole tier because of him…"
An unshakable ace — a pillar that stands like a mountain.
The two watched Seidou's players board the bus in silence.
"Don't get too excited, everyone. Rest up early!" someone called out.
But telling them not to be excited was impossible — they had just earned a spot in the Summer Koshien.
Seidou's first time in five years.
Rinichi, on the other hand, remained calm, acting as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
Toujou Hideaki and Kanemaru Shinji glanced at the slightly lazy-looking Rinichi as he stepped off the bus.
"Can't believe it… Kamishiro's still an ace even in high school… and he just shut down Inashiro's lineup…" Toujou's pupils trembled slightly, a hint of fear in his voice.
Kanemaru frowned and gave a short nod.
They still clearly remembered that day in the National Junior Tournament — Rinichi on the mound, eyes calm to the point of coldness beneath the brim of his cap, gaze devoid of all others, his presence lofty… like a god surveying all from above.
And before they knew it, the announcement rang over the stadium:
"Congratulations to Daikyou! Advancing to the finals!"
Without a single chance to turn the game around.
What they never expected was that the once-unreachable opponent they'd faced back then would end up in the same high school as them.
Almost like fate playing a joke.
"Two hits… two home runs…" Kanemaru muttered, his hand curling into a fist.
"I need to hurry and make the starting lineup—"
Rinichi, completely unaware that the two were talking about him, rolled his shoulders.
Miyuki noticed first.
"What's wrong? Shoulder bothering you?"
On second thought, that seemed unlikely… but his words still caught the attention of the seniors nearby.
"…No," Rinichi replied flatly.
He had just been loosening up.
Kuramochi let out a crooked grin.
"You guys are way too jumpy. Chris-senpai said he only threw 73 pitches."
That number left even the third-years stunned.
To shut down Inashiro's lineup with just 73 pitches…
Someone unconsciously swallowed hard at the thought.
The pitch count wasn't bad, but Rinichi could still feel a bit of fatigue. Right now, his limit was probably just over a hundred pitches.
Still, he understood why everyone was so tense.
The fact that Seidou's defense had such an easy day was entirely thanks to him.
"Make sure you get to bed early tonight. If I hear from Youichi that you're still awake at nine…" Jun's voice trailed off, but his sharp expression made it clear it was a warning.
"…Nine is way too early," Rinichi thought, but wisely kept it to himself.
After everyone disembarked, Coach Kataoka gathered them together.
"There's still some time before the opening ceremony on the 7th. Use this period to adjust your condition. No heavy training. That's all."
With that, they were dismissed.
Of course, the seniors still organized some voluntary batting practice.
Such energy, Rinichi thought.
When Rinichi returned to the dorm, a message from Shinomiya came through.
[You did great today.]
Just a simple compliment — nothing more.
Rinichi's eyes lowered.
He closed his phone and let out a slow breath.
In his mind, scenes from the final summer of junior high — the championship — kept replaying.
Yet, inside, there was only the faintest trace of joy.
It felt incomplete, like something important was missing.
Blocked up inside, leaving a heavy, stifling sensation.
The partner he had been waiting for… hadn't been there to win alongside him.
And this time… was no different.
Still, Rinichi had to admit — shutting out the opponent and hitting a home run off their ace pitcher had been deeply satisfying.
At the very least, those moments brought him genuine happiness.
After dinner and a shower, Rinichi was already lying in bed.
It was only a little past eight — still some time before the nine o'clock bedtime Isashiki-senpai had told him to keep.
Kuramochi and Masuko were both surprised he was actually going to bed that early.
In truth, Rinichi hadn't really fallen asleep yet; his mind kept wandering back to the past.
When the clock finally struck nine, he closed his eyes for real — almost exactly as Isashiki had ordered.
When Kuramochi mentioned it, it wasn't just Isashiki who was surprised — the rest of the team was as well.
None of them expected Rinichi to actually follow Isashiki's instructions so obediently… and even get into bed nearly an hour early.
Over the next few days of light training, Rinichi seemed… different.
Quieter than before, almost unnervingly so.
Whether it was batting practice or bullpen pitching, everything he did was executed to absolute perfection.
Maybe something had shaken him?
But… it didn't quite seem like that.
It felt more like the atmosphere third-years had when they were about to face their last summer.
Especially when he was only a first-year.
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