"True skill will always defeat a facade."
"Yakushi has a lot of potential, and in the future, they may become a strong contender capable of shaking up West Tokyo. But right now, they're still not there."
After listening to Fujio's analysis, Akiko nodded as if she understood. "So, in short, they're still some distance away from the truly top-tier teams, right?"
"Exactly. If it weren't for underestimation and that unexpected incident, Ichidai Third High should be the team standing on the field right now."
On the field, Sanada Shunpei, who had given everything he had and still lost the game, looked up at the sky and slowly closed his eyes.
Although he had already anticipated this outcome, when the moment truly arrived, a powerful sense of unwillingness still surged in his heart.
Behind him, the other Yakushi players were either bowing their heads in frustration or quietly wiping away tears. Todoroki Raichi listened to the crying of the third-year seniors beside him and stood frozen, lost in thought.
He was only a first-year student, and an unusually pure-hearted one at that. Before this, he had never really considered what it meant to lose a game.
Only now, through the unwillingness and regret of the seniors, did he fully understand that in high school baseball, once you lose, there is no next chance.
Gradually, Todoroki Raichi came back to himself. His body trembled, and tears streamed from the corners of his eyes.
On the sidelines, Todoroki Raizo let out a powerless sigh. Reaching this stage was already a very good result, but that did not mean he had no regrets at all.
"Line up!!"
Todoroki Raizo shouted.
In the Seido dugout, after the game ended, Kawakami still looked unwilling. He had only pitched one inning!
Although ending the game early was a good thing, he had really wanted to throw a few more pitches, especially to test out his Slow Sinker more in an actual game.
"Don't dwell on it. There are still many games ahead. Besides, you only threw one Slow Sinker. It'll be even more effective in the next game, or the one after that," Kanzaki Ryou said.
Kawakami nodded. "I understand."
"Let's go, line up!" Yuki Tetsuya called to everyone.
The two teams met at the center of the field. Kanzaki Ryou and Sanada Shunpei shook hands, the latter smiling faintly.
"Keep winning all the way. Hopefully, you'll still be champions this summer."
"Oh? You mean that seriously?" Kanzaki Ryou chuckled.
"Seriously. When you come back with the championship, we'll defeat you, and that victory will be even more valuable," Sanada Shunpei said.
Kanzaki Ryou laughed. "You look exhausted. Hurry back and get some sleep. You can have anything you want in your dreams."
"Heh." Sanada Shunpei sneered as well. He really doesn't give an inch. He won the game, yet he still won't let me gain even a little verbal advantage. What a heartless guy.
After Sanada Shunpei, Todoroki Raichi stepped up in front of Kanzaki Ryou.
"Next time, I'll hit your pitches!"
"Is that so? Good luck."
Although his tone was calm, Kanzaki Ryou was genuinely a little curious to see just how strong Todoroki Raichi would become once he truly matured.
Watching the Yakushi team leave, Kanzaki Ryou felt no particular sympathy. Too many people and too many teams had already lost to him.
And among all of them, the one who had been crushed the hardest was naturally Inashiro Industrial—especially Narumiya Mei.
It had been a while since he last saw him. He really did kind of miss that little blondie.
That guy had been in the stands watching the game just now, hadn't he? And he didn't even come over to say hello. How rude.
After returning to the locker room, the Seido players changed into fresh clothes and, under the lead of Coach Kataoka and Coach Ochiai, headed to the stands. The next game was Inashiro's.
That game went smoothly, with hardly any major twists or suspense. Inashiro's overall strength had risen to another level compared to before. Narumiya Mei's pitching was as sharp as ever, and his fastest pitch even reached 151 kilometers per hour.
"This little blondie really hates losing."
After Inashiro's game ended, Kanzaki Ryou looked at Narumiya Mei's back with a sigh of emotion.
"He's always been like that," Miyuki said.
"It's a pity. The championship for these three years will only belong to us, Seido," Kanzaki Ryou said before slinging his backpack over his shoulder and standing up.
Miyuki smiled and followed behind him.
After returning to Seido High School, Kanzaki Ryou took a shower, changed into comfortable sportswear, and headed to the cafeteria. After eating a hearty meal, he took a walk around campus to help digest.
Every few steps, fellow students greeted him. As the ace of the baseball team, Kanzaki Ryou was known by everyone at Seido.
Less than half an hour later, the phone in his pocket suddenly rang. A new message had arrived.
Narumiya Mei: "Wait for it. See you in the finals!"
Kanzaki Ryou: "?"
Narumiya Mei: "!"
Kanzaki Ryou didn't reply after that, leaving Narumiya Mei to fume on his own.
Just as he put his phone back into his pocket, it rang again.
Still so impatient, that little blondie.
Kanzaki Ryou thought Narumiya Mei was calling again, but when he took out the phone, he saw that it wasn't him.
"Sis?"
"Ryou, I'm at your school gate," Kanzaki Mamiko's voice came from the other end.
"What are you doing here?" Kanzaki Ryou asked.
"Are you asking for a beating?! I know you're resting today, so hurry up and come out!"
"Yes, yes, yes."
Kanzaki Ryou felt helpless. Since coming to Tokyo, his sister Mami had already figured out most of the little rules at Seido, and she knew perfectly well that he would be resting on game days.
Walking all the way to the school gate, Kanzaki Ryou saw Mami standing there in a light yellow long dress, wearing a sun hat and carrying a small handbag.
Hm?
Why had he never noticed before that his sister was actually pretty?
"Sis!"
"Come here, come here!" Mami waved happily.
Standing in front of his sister, Kanzaki Ryou asked curiously, "Why are you here today? Did something happen?"
Mami giggled and pulled several tickets not money out of her bag.
"These are?"
"Concert tickets."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Mami shook the tickets in her hand. "A while ago, I met some new friends at a music event outside school. They're from a band at the women's university next door, and they're holding a concert at the Budokan next week. They specifically gave me some tickets and invited me to go."
"I see. That's nice." Kanzaki Ryou nodded, then quickly realized something. "You want me to go with you?"
"Congratulations, you guessed right." Mami handed three tickets to Kanzaki Ryou.
"Didn't you already find a teacher for Kumiko? Her first lesson is next week, so it's perfect to bring her along. Oh, and Reina heard about it too, so she's coming as well."
The moment he heard those two names, Kanzaki Ryou who had originally intended to refuse immediately nodded and agreed.
A week later, the Summer Tournament would already be over, and the team would have a two- or three-day break. Going to a concert would not interfere with anything.
"What's the band called?" Kanzaki Ryou asked.
"After School Tea Time."
"That name is pretty cute."
"Right? I'm telling you, my friends are super cute!"
The siblings chatted as they strolled through the nearby streets, and only after having dinner together that evening was Kanzaki Ryou finally free to return to school.