The toughness, passion, and determination Takashi showed on the field wasn't born of love for the sport, but rather his personal trait of never doing anything halfway—if he does something, he does it best.
To say he liked baseball? Not really.
Baseball was just a means to an end.
Because he knew how important baseball was in Japan. If he succeeded here, it would provide him with immense leverage in both the business and political worlds in the future.
It was Hitomi who told him that.
Everything Takashi did now was about laying a solid foundation for the future.
He knew what pushed the emotional buttons of the Japanese people.
He knew that if he succeeded, it would benefit him later. Daring to tell Otani Shota, "Leave the championship to Aoba" wasn't about pride—it was because Aoba actually had a shot.
If Aoba had been a joke team, he wouldn't have dared to say something like that.
From the start, it was all calculated.
Of course, that didn't mean he would walk away immediately.
He still had a score to settle with Shohei Otani—but it wouldn't be on the Koshien field.
He had already decided: he would unleash that 166 km/h fastball during the qualifiers and smash it straight into the head of the Shuchiin culprit—and then quit.
He already had his excuse lined up:
"Hit someone, suffered severe mental trauma, developed the yips. Retired."
"Kitahara, stay,"
"Aoba needs you."
"As long as you're here, Aoba can stay at the top."
This conversation was Momodani's last effort to keep Takashi on the team.
"Senpai, today's a day for celebration. Don't ruin the mood."
Takashi patted his shoulder and jogged ahead to rejoin the team.
Stay?
What a joke.
Soon, both Noda Yusei and Katsuta Musashi would graduate. Then, even with Takashi included, Aoba would be left with only him and Otani Shota.
Whether they could even make it to Koshien next year was questionable.
Even with Noda Yusei and Katsuta Musashi, they barely made it through.
Next year, even if he gave everything he had, it might not be enough.
If not now, then when?
Glory is fleeting—and you must step down while still at the peak.
Like that one infamous old author—if he had died right after publishing Black Moon Tide Part 3, he would've become the Eastern world's J.K. Rowling. A legend.
But sadly, he didn't.
If Takashi quit now, he'd go down as the greatest in Japanese high school baseball.
Everyone would say: "If Kitahara had kept playing, he could've gone even further."
With those thoughts swirling in his head, Takashi returned quickly to the locker room.
When he opened the door and walked toward the shower, Otani Shota asked, "What did you just talk about with Momodani?"
"He wanted me to stay."
Takashi didn't hide anything.
There was no reason to.
Nearby players paused their showers and leaned in, eavesdropping.
They all wanted to know his decision.
After reaching the peak, they didn't want to experience failure again.
They hoped Takashi would keep leading them.
"So, what do you think?"
Otani turned off the water and looked at Takashi, who was pouring out shampoo.
"For this championship, my dear Hitomi hasn't even been taken care of properly. She's been complaining nonstop."
Takashi had even skipped a "conjugal session" to focus on the tournament.
If this were ancient China, he would've been executed for such a crime.
He'd given up a lot.
And Hitomi didn't pamper him either—she kicked him out of bed and made him sleep on the floor.
"Kitahara…"
Otani hesitated, then finally gave Takashi a pat on the butt. "Do what you want. Don't worry about me."
In the end, Otani didn't use friendship to bind Takashi.
He knew that if he said the word, Takashi would at least consider it.
But he didn't.
He didn't want to put Takashi in a difficult position.
And that's why Takashi saw Otani—and Tanaka Kota—as real friends.
Takashi had many acquaintances, but few he truly considered friends.
"Could you stop slapping my ass? I don't like men."
Takashi scolded playfully.
"Hey, I've been single too long. Besides, Kitahara, lately I've noticed… you've still got quite the charm."
"Screw off!"
…
At Hanshin Koshien Stadium, Takashi parted ways with his teammates.
His excuse was that he had to get his arm casted—but in truth, he was going to meet Eriri and Utaha.
Some things you just have to face.
He didn't want to run anymore.
Before he left, he hung his medal around Narii's neck.
The girl lit up with joy, hopping like a happy little bunny.
Now that he'd decided to have both Hitomi and Narii, he no longer pretended to keep his distance from the girl.
Of course, he wouldn't get too close either.
Because there was still a certain young lady left unresolved.
One step at a time. At least until he could "sleep with—no, convince" Hitomi, he wasn't going to do anything reckless.
Probably.
Takashi, who had zero confidence in his own self-control, wasn't too sure.
He wanted to be a devoted, faithful, pure-hearted war god of love—but…
There were too many temptations around him.
Too many uncertainties that could shake his resolve. Sometimes, his Guan Yu took control of his brain.
You just wouldn't understand—unless you've experienced being truly desired by women—how bold they can be.
Takashi walked toward the underground parking lot, planning to take the car Hitomi had prepared for him to his next destination.
Say what you will—but Takashi was now a celebrity.
If Takashi were walking down the street right now, he'd probably cause a commotion.
Lately, he could only get around by car.
"Takashi ."
As Takashi arrived at the underground parking lot, someone suddenly called out to him from behind.
He turned around—and saw that it was Horikita Manabu.
He immediately pulled out his phone and messaged Horikita Manabu:
[Your sister just showed up on her own. If you don't want me to stand up and kick her, be here in five minutes.]
Horikita Manabu replied instantly:
[Got it.]
Suzune walked toward Takashi, her black hair swaying, eyes sharp and beautiful as she glared at him.
"You used Sudo's feelings for me, deliberately pretended to confess to me just to provoke him. You're despicable."
Takashi put his hand to his ear, as if listening intently. "Do you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
Suzune blinked, confused.
"A dog barking."
Takashi smirked.
"A loser's bark."
Suzune's eyes flared with fury as she stomped hard on Takashi's foot.
"You—!" Before she could finish, a large hand suddenly clamped around her throat and lifted her off the ground.
Takashi's eyes turned cold. "You sure you know who you're dealing with?"
"Where did you get the nerve to lay a hand on me?"
"Your brother, Horikita Manabu?"
"You'd better think before you speak. I'm not Ayanokoji Kiyotaka. I won't act all polite after getting stabbed with a compass."
Takashi wasn't someone who had never been stepped on before.
But not just anyone had the right to step on him.
Hitomi was his girlfriend, and Adagaki Aki was someone he couldn't afford to mess with—and also one of his goals at the time.
But Horikita Suzune? Who did she think she was?
She dared to step on him?
Even Yukinoshita Yukino wouldn't dare treat him like that.
Did she really think he didn't hit women?
If you messed with Takashi , not even being a newborn baby would save you.
"Urgh…"
Feeling the increasing pressure from his hand, Suzune started to choke.
Takashi didn't drag it out. He let go shortly after.
Suzune collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.
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