"Haha, you're serious, aren't you?"
After returning, Miyuki Kazuya threw an arm around Kanzaki Ryou's shoulder with a grin.
"No."
"You're so stubborn. Still, that performance was insane! Just look around—everyone's terrified of you," Miyuki said, smirking.
Kanzaki glanced around. Without realizing it, he and Miyuki had become somewhat isolated from the other freshmen.
It wasn't that people disliked them—it was just that the aura between them made it hard for anyone else to cut in.
That was the loneliness of a genius.
By the side of the field, President Ota rubbed his hands together excitedly as he watched Kanzaki pitch.
Powerful!
That was the simplest word to describe what he felt.
As Seidou's manager, Ota had worried about many things over the years—especially the lack of a true Ace who could shoulder the team's burden in critical moments.
But with Kanzaki Ryou's arrival, that long-standing problem was finally about to be solved.
We can go to Koshien… We can really go to Koshien!
Standing beside Ota were several girls—members of Seidou's baseball management team:
Mita Yuka, a third-year; Fujiwara Takako, a second-year; and the new first-year managers, Umemoto Sachiko and Natsukawa Yui.
"Takako, is that the pitcher you mentioned?" Mita Yuka asked, her gaze fixed on Kanzaki's back.
"Yes, Senpai. He's incredible," Takako said firmly.
"If the rumors are true, maybe this year… we really have a chance," Mita Yuka murmured.
She hadn't been at school when Kanzaki first arrived and struck out Yuuki, Kominato, and Isashiki one after another—so she had only heard the stories.
"He definitely will," Takako said, clenching her fists. "He promised to lead Seidou to the Koshien championship this year."
"That Ace declaration? You really believe that?" Yuka teased with a mischievous smile. "Don't tell me it's love at first sight?"
"N-No, it's not like that, Senior," Takako replied, flustered.
But after a moment, she glanced again toward Kanzaki—who was currently hitting Miyuki on the back for some reason—and added softly,
"I just… don't want to see everyone cry again."
Hearing that, Yuka sighed quietly and said no more.
7:30 PM.
After evening training, the first-years looked like frostbitten eggplants—their legs trembling, their faces pale.
This was Seidou's baseball regimen: rigorous, professional, and relentless.
During dinner, by team rule, everyone had to eat at least three large bowls of rice.
Unlike Miyuki, who complained that everything tasted bland, Kanzaki devoured four bowls without a word—he had always had a monstrous appetite.
"Hey, Ryou," Miyuki said, grinning slyly. "I've got a question for you."
"I'm a germaphobe."
"Oi, don't be so cold! We're partners! Your business is my business!" Miyuki protested.
"You can eat slowly here. I'm going to ask Chris-senpai to catch for me," Kanzaki said, standing up.
"W-Wait for me!" Miyuki shouted, nearly choking on his rice.
Back at the dorm, Azuma Kiyokuni was nowhere to be found—probably practicing his swings somewhere.
Chris-senpai, on the other hand, was quietly studying at his desk. Kanzaki hesitated before speaking.
"What's wrong? Looking for me?" Chris asked, turning his chair slightly.
"Hehe, I wanted to ask if you could catch for me, but if you're studying, never mind. I'll just… make do with Miyuki."
Chris raised an eyebrow. "Make do? You're quite the arrogant one."
A genius catcher that every other school dreamed of recruiting—and Kanzaki considered him a backup option.
"Hehe." Kanzaki scratched his head sheepishly.
"Let's go," Chris said, standing up and grabbing his catcher's mitt. "I want to see how much you've improved these past few months."
"This… won't delay your studying?"
"It's fine. I'm doing this because I want to," Chris replied.
"Then… let's go." Kanzaki smiled.
At the indoor training ground, the moment they arrived, they heard the sharp crack of bat meeting ball.
"Nanjo! Show some fire! Are you really okay letting a first-year kid steal your Ace number?!"
Kanzaki froze awkwardly at the doorway.
The voice came from Azuma Kiyokuni, and the pitcher on the mound was Nanjo Taishi, Seidou's current Ace.
Nanjo grimaced, but before he could continue pitching, he noticed Kanzaki and Chris at the entrance.
Azuma turned his head. "Why are you two here?"
"Practice," Chris answered calmly.
"Oh?" Azuma's gaze lingered on Kanzaki for a moment.
Kanzaki only smiled lightly and said nothing. The atmosphere was faintly tense.
"Come on," Chris said, patting his mitt.
Azuma turned back toward Nanjo. "Nanjo, continue!"
As Chris walked ahead, he said quietly to Kanzaki, "Don't mind Azuma-senpai. Just do your thing."
"I understand." Kanzaki nodded.
"Then let's start. Warm up for ten minutes first."
Ten minutes later, Azuma and Nanjo were resting while Kanzaki and Chris were just getting started.
"Azuma-senpai, can you help us record the pitch speed?" Chris asked, handing over a radar gun.
"Sure," Azuma said with a grin, "but later, I'm batting against this kid."
"No problem," Kanzaki said confidently.
Chris crouched into position, mask on, glove ready. "Ryou, forget about control—throw your fastest pitch!"
"Okay." Kanzaki took a deep breath, gripping the baseball tightly.
Even he didn't know what his true maximum velocity was.
Hearing their exchange, Azuma and Nanjo both looked over with curiosity.
To Azuma, Kanzaki was just his cocky junior roommate—annoying, but interesting.
For Nanjo, however, the feeling was far heavier.
After last year's seniors retired, he became Seidou's Ace. But in the Autumn Tournament, his team had suffered a crushing defeat to Ichidai Third High.
And now, a freshman from Kyoto had appeared—someone who had declared before even enrolling that he would become Seidou's Ace and lead them to Koshien.
To many upperclassmen, that sounded like a challenge.
But after seeing Kanzaki's overwhelming fastball firsthand, Nanjo realized that his Ace position was already in danger.
If their abilities were close, the coach might consider seniority.
But the truth was—Kanzaki's talent was on another level entirely.
Geniuses were unfair like that.
They simply did what others could never achieve, no matter how hard they tried.
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