Chapter 67: Confronting
For several days of practice games in a row, the lineup still hadn't been settled.
Overall batting averages were low, and aside from the games Rinichi pitched complete, they all ended in losses.
The stats laid out in front of everyone weren't pretty.
Still, many couldn't help but think—without Rinichi, they wouldn't have won at all.
One evening, Coach Kataoka gathered them and made an announcement.
Yakushi would be coming for a practice game in two days.
Yakushi…
Everyone's breath caught.
It had long been known that Yakushi went around challenging teams to practice matches.
"But in that game against Yakushi, I won't be letting Kamishiro pitch."
Coach Kataoka's words left everyone frozen.
They all understood—Rinichi's brilliance on the mound covered up all of their flaws. Put harshly, it made them look useless.
Even in games, Rinichi alone produced more scoring than they could hope to match.
They began to admire their graduated third-years more—how they had managed to stand out despite Rinichi's overwhelming presence.
And in their own hearts, they felt frustrated.
The coach's decision was clear: facing such a strong opponent without Rinichi would test just how far their abilities could go.
If they performed well, they could secure a starting spot.
"Tomorrow morning's game, Rinichi will pitch a complete game. In the afternoon, it's Furuya and Kawakami's turn. That's all."
Lately, whenever Rinichi pitched, he was left in for a full game.
Even so, Rinichi wasn't pleased.
Rather than shutting out some weak opponent, he wanted to shut out a powerhouse.
Ochiai stroked his beard, saying nothing.
If it were him, he'd have used Rinichi against Yakushi and let him go the distance. Facing a strong team was valuable experience.
But Kataoka chose instead to give that opportunity to the others.
Ochiai's gaze lingered on Kataoka.
It was hard to understand.
Rinichi didn't strike him as someone lacking in experience.
Relying fully on the ace seemed the better path.
After all, relievers were always just relievers.
If they lost to Yakushi, word would spread—and it wouldn't sound good.
The next day's game, however, everyone suddenly seemed transformed. The scoring improved.
Rinichi couldn't tell whether his teammates had actually grown stronger, or if the opponents were simply too weak.
Still, being forced to shut out such a weak team annoyed him.
"Strike! Batter out!"
He dispatched three batters easily.
The opposing team was dumbstruck.
They already knew about Seidou's ace—that no one had ever scored a run off him. But facing him themselves, being unable even to touch the ball, felt entirely different.
Miyuki jogged up to Rinichi.
"You're only in the first inning and already throwing too hard."
Rinichi gave him a sidelong glance, answering lazily:
"I know."
Miyuki: "…"
He had a bad feeling about this.
Second inning.
Rinichi threw only forkballs—each with a different trajectory.
Forget about the batters hitting them—Miyuki himself could barely catch them.
Back in the dugout, Rinichi asked as he came over:
"Got a problem with that?"
Miyuki: "…"
Sweat ran down his forehead, his smile a little stiff.
Third inning.
Rinichi stepped up to the plate, helmet on, black gloves gripping his bat.
Runners stood on second and third.
He entered the left-handed batter's box.
The first inning had brought in two runs, the second another run.
All Rinichi wanted was to end this game early.
Continuing on like this held no meaning, and no fun.
With that thought, he gripped the bat tighter, swung at the first pitch—
Another home run.
And it had been such a low pitch too, scooped right up!
The opposing pitcher's spirit was shattered.
As Rinichi wished, the game ended early. Every at-bat of his was a home run, without a single miss.
Facing Rinichi's proud, icy eyes, the opponents shivered.
It was the first complete and utter domination in memory.
Everyone else was delighted—except Rinichi himself.
Still, it became the first step in building the team's confidence.
That afternoon's practice match also went well. Even without Rinichi, they won—by a margin of three runs.
The batting lineup was finally improving.
Everyone wanted to show results in the coming game against Yakushi.
In a way, they owed Yakushi thanks—for serving as a "stimulant."
That night, the players gathered to analyze the day's practice games.
Rinichi, of course, had no interest in such a boring "meeting." Besides, he hadn't made a single mistake today.
Back at the dorm, he ran into Kuramochi, who already had a bat in hand.
The two locked eyes for a few seconds, unmoving.
Then Kuramochi slung an arm around Rinichi's neck, forcing him to bend down a little.
He dragged him to the indoor training area.
Many players were there, swinging away.
And Rinichi, pulled along by Kuramochi, ended up sitting by the net, tossing balls as Kuramochi practiced his swings.
Rinichi: "..."
Why did he have to do something so boring?
The next day, during the game against Yakushi, everyone could feel the resentment radiating from Rinichi as he sat sulking in the corner.
Instinctively, they all kept their distance.
They suddenly remembered how yesterday Rinichi had mercilessly crushed the opposing team.
The pitcher had completely broken down.
Now, if anyone dared approach him, he'd speak in a chilly tone:
"What? I can't even watch the game?"
"…"
They wouldn't even try to answer.
As for Rinichi not being on the mound, Yakushi's side was disappointed—none more than Raichi Todoroki.
"Hey, you think they're looking down on us, not sending out their ace?" someone from Yakushi asked.
"Probably just using us to test their team's strength."
"Well, can't be helped. We were the ones who asked for this game."
"Then let's crush them!"
"Yeah, imagine beating the national champions…"
Yakushi's side was brimming with fighting spirit.
But thanks to winning both of yesterday's matches, Seidou's morale wasn't low either.
That was one of the reasons Coach Kataoka had Rinichi pitch a complete game yesterday morning—to boost confidence and momentum.
The afternoon game, without Rinichi, was to see how far they could go on their own.
And now, it was time for the real test.
Rinichi, for his part, understood this too.
Being treated like a tool didn't feel good at all.
But no one dared provoke him when his mood was this sour.
Through the course of training and practice games, everyone had pretty much figured out Rinichi's personality.
If someone tried to challenge him head-on, Rinichi would only come back fiercer, even looking like he was ready to throw punches. And by the looks of him, he wouldn't be bad in a fight either—that confidence had to come from somewhere.
On the other hand, if you spoke to him calmly and politely, Rinichi wouldn't make things difficult.
Unexpectedly, he was the type who responded to a soft approach, not a hard one.
Fortunately, Miyuki had been the first to show them—through a bloody lesson—just how true that was.
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