"Both sides are back on the field!"
"Three pines down, two runs, man on second base, zero outs!"
"Kamikawa is leading by two runs, but the ace pitcher suffers from heat stroke at a crucial moment. Can the relief pitcher withstand the pressure?"
"Kamikawa, Mimatsu, who can go to Hanshin Koshien Stadium in Hyogo Prefecture!"
"Who will dominate the 20th district of East Tokyo?"
The commentator roared, and in the 32° high temperature, the audience cheered and banged the inflatable ball sticks wildly.
Watanabe Toru applauded softly for the slogans just shouted by both sides.
He has always been aware of the efforts of the Kamikawa baseball team.
From Monday to Friday, they do morning jogs every day; on Saturdays and Sundays, if you go there, you can see them doing special training in the playground.
I don’t know how far Sansong has come, but to make it all the way to the regional finals, he must have endured a lot of hardships.
"Maki," Mrs. Kiyono said with a smile, "would you like to make a bet?"
"What are you betting on?" Mrs. Kujo asked with interest.
"Hmm - the loser should bark like a dog?"
"Which team are you betting on?"
"Misong. I like reversals." Mrs. Kiyono smiled.
"If you want to cheat, give me your sapphire necklace."
"good!"
The two ladies raised their hands, which were as tender as those of young girls, and clapped their hands against each other, making crisp applause.
They are having fun.
"Ah! Misatsu hits again. There are runners on first and third base. We're about to score." Mrs. Kiyono pretended to be surprised. "Maki, do you want to change? I'll let you bet on Misatsu."
"Thank you, but I like Kamikawa." Mrs. Kujo looked past her daughter and winked at Toru Watanabe.
Toru Watanabe opened his fan and fanned Kujo Miki.
Kujo Miki first looked at him, then at the fan: "This is a fan passed down from the Kujo family."
"No matter how good the fan is, if it can't fan Meiji, it's just a decoration."
“It was originally just a decoration.”
"You two!" Kujo Maki said dissatisfiedly, "How can you say that our ancestors' things are just for show!"
"Misong scored!" Toru Watanabe pointed at the court.
Mrs. Kujo looked over and saw Sansong, who had just been running hard, rushing across the home plate with one bat. He excitedly high-fived his teammates in the coaching booth one by one.
"It's 4 points." Mrs. Kiyono said happily, and on the scoreboard in the distance, Sansong's total score jumped from 3 to 4.
"What is Kamikawa, the relief pitcher, doing?" Mrs. Kujo said dissatisfiedly.
Not only her, but also the audience who supported Kamikawa and Kamikawa's students began to feel dissatisfied to some extent.
"What's the situation now?" Toru Watanabe asked Kujo Miki in a low voice.
"This relief pitcher has a very bad mentality," said Miki Kujo.
"Can you be more specific?"
Miki Kujo turned her head to look at him, and Toru Watanabe stared at her with a look that showed he didn't understand anything.
Rolling his eyes at him, Kujo Miki patiently explained:
"There are two innings in a game. One side can only move on to the next inning after three outs. Do you understand?"
"Yeah." Toru Watanabe continued to fan her.
"In other words, as long as Misatsu doesn't eliminate three batters, he can keep scoring. Kamikawa, the relief pitcher, has a bad mentality and can't handle the pressure at the critical moment, so almost all the balls he threw were hit."
"But as long as the person guarding the base gets the ball in advance, no points can be scored even if the ball is hit."
"That's right." Kujo Miki laughed, "I'm afraid this pitcher's mentality will completely collapse, he'll lose the ability to control the ball, and he'll keep throwing bad balls and giving away walks."
"Walk to first base? What does that mean?" asked Toru Watanabe.
Miki Kujo turned her head to look at the court and said, "That's it."
Watanabe Toru looked over.
"Balls!" the referee yelled.
At that moment, roar swept the whole audience.
Amid the grim looks of the nine Kamikawa players and their silent cheerleading, the Sansong batter walked from home plate to first base, the one on first base walked to second base, the one on second base walked to third base, and the one on third base walked back to home plate.
Scoreboard, Sansong score: 5!
"ah!"
"Three pins! Three pins! Three pins!"
The field was in madness and the score was completely tied.
"So far, Sansong still has zero eliminations!" the male commentator shouted.
"And the bases are loaded! There are people on every base! We can definitely continue to score!" The female commentator was excited.
"Kamikawa's relief pitcher must adjust his condition!"
"That's right! This is related to the Koshien spot. Everyone has worked hard since childhood! Come on!"
On the big screen, all the teachers and students of Shenchuan, some were confused, some were angry, and some were waving inflatable baseballs and shouting at the stadium.
On the field, first baseman Kunii Osamu wiped his sweat with his sleeve. Beside him, the baseball players of Mitsumoto had excited faces and made gestures as if they were ready to sprint at any time. That action was full of hope and motivation.
"Balls!" the referee yelled again.
"Overtaking, someone is going to bark like a dog." Mrs. Kiyono said with a smile.
In Watanabe Toru's sight, Kunii Osamu's teammate from Mimatsu High School was waving his fists vigorously and jogging towards second base excitedly.
On the scoreboard, Sansong: 6
Kamikawa: 5
"Four ball balls again, a walk?" asked Toru Watanabe.
"I told you before, this relief pitcher has poor ability to withstand pressure." Miki Kujo said with a smile.
The two of them were so close that Watanabe Toru could feel the warmth of her breath through his face.
Watanabe Toru couldn't help but sigh.
A few strands of black hair fluttered gently in front of Kujo Miki's forehead.
"What's wrong?" She asked with a smile, "Are you upset seeing Shenchuan lose?"
"After all, I am also Kamikawa's student. If the starting pitcher doesn't get heatstroke..."
“This world always belongs to the winners. No one will consider the reasons for the losers’ loss.”
"Don't worry." Mrs. Kujo's face was gloomy. "Even if the score is reversed, Kamikawa can still fight back in the second half."
"We only scored five points in the eighth inning, and we expect to overtake in the last inning?" Mrs. Kiyono said with a smile.
"Misatsu only scored three runs in the first eight innings. Maybe the pitcher also suffered from heatstroke?" Mrs. Kujo smiled in response.
"Remember to bark like a dog." Mrs. Kiyono pointed her left index finger at Mrs. Kujo and said happily.
"Hmph." Mrs. Kujo snatched the fan from Watanabe Toru's hand and fanned herself hard.
Of the five people present, only Kiyono Rin stayed out of the matter.
She ordered a cup of ice cream with fruit and cookies on it, and ate it slowly, bit by bit, using a spoon.
The game continued under the scorching sun.
On the pitcher's mound, Kamikawa's relief pitcher stood there with a confused look on his face.
In the stadium of 30,000 people, everyone except Kamikawa’s own cheering team was shouting for Misatsu.
Everyone is eager for a comeback and a wonderful game!
No one paid attention to the relief pitcher, no one cared that Kamikawa's starting pitcher had heatstroke, and no one cared whether Kamikawa won or lost.
Except for Kamikawa's baseball team, all the teachers and students of Kamikawa.
On the electronic screen, Shi Gu, who is responsible for the flute of the wind orchestra and a delicate girl, was wiping her tears with her sleeve.
Next to her, the boy in charge of percussion was beating the drums hard and shouting "Come on" to the Kamikawa baseball team on the field.
The cheerleaders were in the aisle, drenched in sweat, but they still raised their legs and waved the colorful balls in their hands.
The physical education teacher was holding a loudspeaker and organizing all the teachers and students to raise the signs in their hands to form the huge word "must win" again.
but.
"Ah! I got hit again!"
"Sansong scores another point! Total score is 6 points!"
"Is the situation really going to turn around?! Is Kamikawa's summer coming to an end?!"
In the audience, all the teachers and students of Sansong cheered. They hugged each other and high-fived each other!
"San Song! San Song!" The cheers shook the earth.
…
Kamikawa coaching seat
The reserve players stared at the field in a trance, their mouths open stupidly, like lost people in the desert, looking at the empty kettle, hoping for the last drop of water to drip out of it.
"Yukiko."
"Dad?" Kobayashi Yukiko opened her eyes and clasped her hands together in a praying posture.
"…Bring it with you? Watanabe's uniform?"
"dad?!"
"He's in the VIP seat, go!"
Kobayashi Yukiko's surprised look gradually turned into determination.
She loosened her praying hands and picked up the bag containing Toru Watanabe's team uniform.
"Yes, Coach!"
She rushed off, leaving the court, to look for a miracle for Kamikawa.
"Hurry up, Yukiko." The coach clenched his shaking hands.
…
VIP Seat
"Woof?"
"Woof!"
Mrs. Kiyono called softly and adorably into Mrs. Kujo's face: "Woof woof?"
Mrs. Kujo closed her fan and hit her on the forehead.
"Hehehe." Mrs. Qingye barked like a dog and got beaten again, but she was in a very happy mood.
On the other hand, Mrs. Kujo looked unhappy even though she heard the dog barking and hit someone.
"It looks like we're going to lose," said Toru Watanabe.
"You're wasting my time." Miki Kujo was also in a somewhat unhappy mood.
Toru Watanabe looked towards the baseball field and Misatsu scored again.
Three pines: 7
Kamikawa: 5
On the screen, Kamikawa's relief pitcher was breathing desperately, like a fish stranded on land.
If he comes on the court, he can end Misatsu's scoring and let the game enter the next sentence, and Kamikawa still has a chance to turn the tide.
but……
In a baseball club with dozens or even hundreds of players, to become a starter; to stand at Jingu Stadium in the finals; to realize the Koshien dream;
Whether it is Kamikawa or Mitsumoto, they have shed so much sweat and overcome so many hardships since childhood to get to this point.
Win or lose, it’s all about their youth.
Just for his own comfort, he interfered and made their sweat and hard work meaningless?
"Watanabe."
Toru Watanabe turned his head and looked at Rin Kiyono through Miki Kujo and the two ladies.
What's the matter? -- Just as Watanabe Toru was about to ask, someone came over and whispered to him:
"Master Watanabe, someone is looking for you outside."
"Looking for me?"
"Yes, she claims to be the manager of the Kamikawa baseball club."
Watanabe Toru fell silent.
He wanted to refuse, but Kobayashi Yukiko had helped him several times, so no matter what, he couldn't even refuse to meet her.
He stood up and walked towards the VIP entrance.
But even if we meet, what can we do?
The entrance to the VIP seats does not get sunlight.
Kobayashi Yukiko came running over, which could be easily seen from her heaving chest, flushed face, sweaty temples, and clothes sticking to her back.
"Watanabe-kun!" Her eyes were full of surprise, and she shouted with her last hope.
"I'm sorry," Toru Watanabe looked at her, "I'm not going to play."
"But……"
"Sorry." Watanabe Toru interrupted her.
"..." The light in Kobayashi Yukiko's eyes disappeared and he stared at her blankly.
At the entrance of the VIP seats where the sun was not shining, she felt cold all over and her mind went blank.
"Come in and take a break? There's air conditioning inside . After watching the final game, trust Kunii and the others." Toru Watanabe said.
Yukiko Kobayashi came back to her senses and looked at Toru Watanabe in front of her.
His face was fair and handsome, without any trace of tan.
His lips were rosy, without any teeth marks from biting his lips unwillingly.
The brand new T-shirt slightly reveals the collarbone, without a drop of sweat.
The voice is clear and pleasant, neither hurried nor screaming.
The neck is clean and slender, without any ugly blue veins.
At this moment, Kobayashi Yukiko thought of Uchida's dark face, Yoshikawa's lips that were always bitten, Maki's sweat-soaked team uniform, and Kunii's harsh and loud roar.
"I'm going back." Kobayashi Yukiko said, "I want to go back."
"Yes." Watanabe Toru nodded, "No matter if we win or lose, we will do our best and leave no regrets. Please convey this to Kunii and everyone in the baseball club."
"……Um."
Toru Watanabe watched Kobayashi Yukiko turn around, saw the luggage bag she was holding in her arms, and saw her wet clothes.
She stepped out of the dim entryway into the sunlit hallway, ready to run.
"Kobayashi-san."
Kobayashi Yukiko turned around and looked past Watanabe Toru and at Kiyono Rin behind him.
"Why are you here?" Watanabe Toru asked, turning around.
"Come and say a few words." Qingye Rin stood there with her arms folded, and the hot and turbid air in the corridor seemed to become clear.
"Mr. Kiyono, please help me convince Watanabe-kun!" Yukiko Kobayashi shouted.
"Sorry, that's not what I came to say." Qing Ye Lin said, "But you can wait for a while."
After saying that, she turned her head and looked at Watanabe Toru.
"No matter what you say, I won't play." Toru Watanabe looked at her.
"I almost fell asleep watching the baseball game. I didn't care who won or lost. I just wanted it to be over quickly. Do you think I would persuade you?"
"and you?"
"Toru Watanabe."
"You're calling me by my full name. That seems incredible."
Qingye Rin ignored Watanabe Toru's joke and stared into his eyes with stern but beautiful eyes.
Watanabe Toru slowly put away the smile in his eyes.
Kobayashi Yukiko stood in the sun, looking at the two of them helplessly yet longingly.
After a moment of silence, Qing Ye Lin spoke:
"Don't you have anything you want to do first rather than consider others?"
"What do you want to do first?"
"You want to kill Kujo Miki because of your parents; you want to be loyal because of Asuka Mai's life and Koizumi Aina's ten years of hard work; you want to be with me because they... have been living for others, don't you think about yourself?"
"These are all my own decisions. Why didn't you think about yourself?"
"Because I decided to become a "Tokyo Handsome Guy", I only do what I should do and use this to restrain myself. However, before you become a "Tokyo Handsome Guy", you are yourself first. "
“…”
"What did you say when you faced Kujo Miki in the school gymnasium?"
"……What?"
"You said, you stand at the top."
"…That was just a joke." Watanabe Toru said expressionlessly, "Just like what I wrote on the college entrance examination questionnaire, 'I want to make the world bow down.'"
"Lies." Qingye's voice was stern and cold.
The dark corridor fell into silence for a long time, and then cheers and shouts coming from the stadium could be heard.
Toru Watanabe looked at Kiyono Rin, and Kiyono Rin looked at him as well.
Rin Kiyono has been able to see through lies since she was four years old. With her clever mind, she has gradually mastered the ability to see through phenomena and understand the essence of human nature.
This ability makes her, who hates lies, reject everyone, whether they are relatives or friends, and is cold and ruthless, except for Toru Watanabe.
She took the initiative to think about what he was thinking, understood any of his worries, and knew many things between the two that could not be expressed in words.
"Let me see," Qing Ye Lin's calm voice seemed to come from far away, "the most arrogant side of your heart, the real and unrestrained you."
Toru Watanabe looked at Yukiko Kobayashi behind him.
There is the summer sun, fiery gazes, sweat, hot tears and dreams.
"Do you know what will happen to this Jingu Stadium if I don't do what I'm supposed to do?"
"I don't know, so please show me."
"Kobayashi-san." said Toru Watanabe.
"exist!"
"Jersey." Toru Watanabe stretched out his hand.
"Yeah!" Kobayashi Yukiko wiped her tears and took out a baseball uniform from her luggage bag.
"I don't care what happens." Toru Watanabe took the baseball jersey stained with tears.
Behind him, Qing Ye Lin said:
"No matter what happens, I want you to live for yourself once in a while, even if it's just for a meaningless baseball game."
"…Then please watch carefully, my Kiyono-san." Toru Watanabe put his hands into his baseball uniform, causing his clothes to flutter.
"Let me tell you what it means to be at the top."
Toru Watanabe walked against the light, into the scorching sun, towards the court.
There, at the much-anticipated Jingu Stadium, efforts, regrets, joy, dreams, tears, everything, will become worthless.
Kobayashi Yukiko bowed to Kiyono Rin and followed Watanabe Toru.
【You have a new email】
[Complete the temporary event, get Charm*1]
'Temperament, incomparable'
[Players gain temperament and are invincible]
【You have a new email】
[Temporary event: Game time July 28th at 3:03, you identify with Kamikawa, sympathize with Kobayashi Yukiko, and finally, after hearing what Kiyono Rin said, you decide to go to the Jingu Stadium]
[Event content: In the most desperate summer, defeat all the most talented and hardest-working baseball players in this year's Koshien with an absolute advantage]
[Event time: end of Koshien]
[Activity rewards: 1 50% off coupon for physical strength, 1 50% off coupon for charm, 1 50% off coupon for intelligence, 1 billion yen]
"Kobayashi-san."
"exist!"
"Score again! Eight points! Miracle, it's Sansong!" the commentator shouted.
"Sansong! Sansong! Sansong!" Thirty thousand people united as one.
Amidst these voices, Toru Watanabe finally arrived at the entrance of the stadium.
He put one foot on the ground of the stadium and looked at the opposing baseball team that were high-fiving each other, the cheering teachers and students of Sansong High School, and the enthusiastic audience.
"Let them despair."
Kobayashi Yukiko wiped away her tears and said with a smile:
"yes!"