Chapter 90: Cannot
"I heard you guys beat Teitou," Jun Isashiki said, still wearing his usual scowling face.
A few of the second-years immediately lined up stiffly, looking as obedient as ever.
But Ryousuke Kominato added, "Seven runs… two of them came from Rinichi."
The row of second-years suddenly had a bad feeling.
Isashiki's glare swept over Kominato before landing back on them. "So what he's saying is, the rest of you only scored three runs for the team."
Since Rinichi's two runs canceled out two of theirs, it really did come down to just three.
The second-years didn't dare to say a word.
"And those three runs were all in the bottom of the eighth…" Kominato added again.
Second-years: "..."
Please, we're begging you, stop talking.
"What? Bottom of the eighth!? You let our ace shoulder the pressure all the way until the eighth inning?!"
Isashiki's face was practically in theirs now.
The second-years: "..."
They almost blurted out that Teitou hadn't scored a single run, but since all of that was thanks to Rinichi shutting them down, they swallowed the words.
Unaware of the situation on that side, Rinichi was sulking: "I want to go on the school trip! A trip!"
Shinji Kanemaru, pounding the table: "..."
"Telling me isn't going to change anything!"
He just wanted to have fun. Pure and simple.
"The graduation trip overlaps with our game schedule."
"Even if they moved it… training is still the most important thing for us. Besides, it was the captain's decision."
Rinichi sat across from Kanemaru, sulking in obvious displeasure.
"If I were the captain, I'd let everyone go on the school trip. Take a proper break and relax."
So righteous and serious about it.
What a "good captain."
Kanemaru: "..."
That would be the end of this team.
He honestly didn't understand how Rinichi ever became captain back in middle school.
Sure, Rinichi might get away with skipping practice, but the rest of them couldn't. Unless… Rinichi really believed he could carry the whole team to victory on his own?
Of course, Rinichi wasn't thinking anything that deep. He simply wanted to skip practice and go play. Nothing more.
Meanwhile, Isashiki had an arm around Kenta Maezono's neck, speaking in a low voice: "Rinichi's pitching is strong… If the defense can't help, then you can only make up for it with scoring."
"Baseball isn't just Rinichi alone, right?"
The second-years lowered their heads, fists clenched tight.
Scoring runs—
....
That afternoon, Rinichi noticed the batting practice areas had increased to five.
He heard it was Coach Ochiai's idea.
It was a good change, no doubt.
But what caught his attention was seeing Furuya standing on the mound.
Apparently, he'd come to act as a BP pitcher.
Most likely just because he wanted to pitch.
Seeing that, Rinichi suddenly remembered Masamune… and his mood soured all over again.
He bit down on the tiny shards of a melting candy.
The cloying sweetness only made him more irritable.
So, he volunteered to pitch as well.
A rare occurrence.
But the coaches immediately refused.
Miyuki twisted the knife: "Anyway, no one here can really hit your pitches."
If Rinichi started throwing, it wouldn't be batting practice anymore—it would just be torture for the hitters.
And since the coaches had already told him to rest today, there was no way they'd approve his request to throw.
Rinichi: "..."
Seeing his sour mood, Miyuki tried again: "If you really want to pitch, I'll catch for you."
"Just a short session. The coaches won't object."
As expected, Rinichi refused.
Miyuki: "..."
"Then how about hitting practice instead?"
That should at least cheer him up—
"Don't feel like it."
Miyuki: "..."
And the look Rinichi shot him was downright hostile.
He had no idea what he'd done to set him off again.
Later, he learned it was because of the school trip situation.
Miyuki: "..."
There were no words. Just a pounding headache.
Rinichi Kamishiro stood inside the batting cage, bat ready in his stance.
"Come on, Kawakami-senpai!"
Kawakami Norifumi: "..."
He had already thrown five pitches. Aside from one ball, the other four strikes had all been hit solidly by Rinichi.
Honestly, he didn't want to throw anymore.
Behind Rinichi's cage, Ochiai stroked his beard.
This kid isn't just a steady, powerful pitcher—his batting is just as stable and strong.
Kuramochi: "..."
Miyuki: "..."
Kuramochi's gaze slid toward Miyuki.
"Did you say something to him?"
Miyuki scratched the back of his head sheepishly, giving a few dry laughs.
"I told him… since we've got games on both Saturday and Sunday, and with Inashiro waiting for us on Sunday, the coach won't let him pitch a complete game on Saturday…"
The idea was to keep Rinichi fresh for the showdown with Inashiro.
"And?" Kuramochi pressed.
It couldn't be that simple.
"I… also might've let slip that there'll probably be big changes to the starting batting order this time."
He hadn't meant to, but the words slipped out.
Kuramochi: "..."
Alright, got it.
His eyes went back to Rinichi in the cage.
"Let him burn off some steam. He was sulking for days after finding out he couldn't go on the school trip…"
"But still… I think Rinichi's going to be moved up to cleanup, batting fourth."
"That's not so bad. At least it'll take some pressure off you."
Miyuki countered, "Let's just hope he doesn't get promoted and immediately hit a routine fly ball out."
Kuramochi raised an eyebrow. "What are you saying? It hasn't even been decided yet."
"True," Miyuki conceded.
Something occurred to him. He walked over, gave a polite nod to Coach Ochiai, then called out to Rinichi:
"When are you planning to head into the bullpen?"
"The game's tomorrow. Let me see your pitching."
After all, Rinichi hadn't thrown a single bullpen session since the last game. Miyuki wasn't sure if he was just sulking or genuinely unwilling to throw.
"I'm not pitching."
Crack! Rinichi sent the ball flying high.
Kawakami Norifumi: "..."
Miyuki started to speak again, but Rinichi had already slung the bat over his shoulder and walked out of the cage.
"I'll show you during the game."
"Either way, I'm not pitching a complete game tomorrow."
He tossed a casual wave toward Kawakami and walked off without a second thought.
Miyuki: "..."
Meanwhile, Kawakami—finally free from Rinichi's relentless hitting—actually felt a little relieved.
Kuramochi stifled a laugh.
"How many times has he shot you down now?"
"But yeah… Rinichi's been in a foul mood these days."
Still, none of them were too worried. They knew perfectly well that Rinichi was only sulking because he couldn't go on the school trip.
A small thing. Pat him on the back from time to time and he'd get over it.
When it came to games, Rinichi was the most reliable of them all.
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