"This result isn't surprising—it's exactly what I expected."
After confirming that Inashiro had won, Ushijima Wakatoshi stood up.
The Seido players followed suit, rising from their seats and looking down at Inashiro on the field.
The Inashiro players also looked up at Seido, their gazes meeting in silent understanding.
"Hey… I'll settle last year's debt with Seido."
With his back to the field, Ushijima glanced sideways at the blond figure below.
"This year's Inashiro is going to be tough to deal with," Isashiki muttered, recalling what had happened last year.
"Yeah. This year, we're taking revenge—for the cleanup hitter who crushed us back then."
With that, Seido's players turned and left the stands.
As they walked out, Sawamura and Furuya suddenly said,
"Ah—we need to use the restroom."
"You guys really…" Miyuki Kazuya sighed. "Lazy people always have the most things to do."
"Go ahead, I'm going too," Ushijima Wakatoshi added.
Miyuki shrugged and followed along.
After finishing, Miyuki came out first and waited by the entrance.
The others were still inside.
Leaning against the wall, Miyuki quietly thought about the upcoming match.
The finals…
At that moment—
a group of Inashiro players walked toward him.
Miyuki's expression stiffened slightly.
"What's wrong? Haven't you gone back yet?" Carlos asked with a mischievous grin.
"Were you watching from the stands just now?" Yabe added arrogantly.
Even Shirakawa, his bangs covering his eyes, sneered,
"So… did you get the information you wanted?"
"What's the point of data?" Miyuki replied calmly. "Even with perfect pitching, it doesn't guarantee anything."
His tone was light—but it sounded like praise.
Narumiya Mei immediately scratched the back of his head, grinning like a kid.
"Oh, haha~ Kazuya praised me."
Miyuki glanced toward the restroom, silently hoping his teammates would come out soon.
He had no interest in talking too much with his future opponents.
"Come to think of it," Carlos said, "this is the first time we've all gathered like this since last year."
Miyuki remained silent.
A year ago, in spring, Narumiya Mei had personally gathered this group—Carlos, Shirakawa, Yabe, Yamaoka—to join Inashiro.
Everyone agreed.
Except Miyuki Kazuya.
He chose Seido.
And more importantly—
he wanted to compete against them.
"Yeah," Narumiya said with a shrug, "you're the only one who turned us down."
At that moment—
Ushijima Wakatoshi stepped out from the restroom.
Narumiya's eyes immediately shifted.
"Even without you," he said confidently, "our team is still the strongest this year."
Ushijima, who had just come out, heard that clearly.
Their eyes met.
"I will absolutely not let you take Koshien," Narumiya declared.
Ushijima looked at him calmly.
"Oh, really?"
His tone turned colder.
"You're going back to Koshien for redemption? To make up for last year's reckless pitching?"
That one sentence struck straight at Narumiya's weak point.
Last year—
his uncontrolled pitching had cost them everything.
Since then, he had worked tirelessly to become stronger.
Even now, that regret lingered.
Ushijima's words hit exactly where it hurt.
"So what?!" Yabe snapped. "At least we made it to Koshien! What about Seido?"
"Yeah," someone added, "Seido didn't even make it last year!"
Miyuki didn't deny it.
"That's true," he said calmly. "We didn't make it last year."
"But so what?"
"Last year is last year. This year is this year."
"You've gotten stronger."
"And so have we."
"Last year, Seido's weakness was the pitcher's mound."
He paused.
"This year… do you still think that's the case?"
Ushijima stepped forward slightly, raising his hand as if holding an invisible microphone.
"Excuse me," he said lightly,
"how exactly does Inashiro's lineup plan to hit against me?"
Silence.
His words completely shut them down.
They had been training specifically for him.
Why?
Because without targeted preparation—
they couldn't even guarantee a single hit.
Ushijima Wakatoshi currently had the highest strikeout rate in the entire tournament.
In today's game alone—
26 consecutive strikeouts.
27 total.
Even Narumiya Mei hadn't reached that level.
"You'll find out soon enough," Carlos said, forcing confidence into his voice.
Ushijima gave a faint smile.
"Good. Then let's settle it on the field."
Narumiya and his group walked past them.
As they passed, Shirakawa leaned closer to Miyuki and said quietly:
"You'll regret not joining us."
"For ten years."
"For twenty years."
"For the rest of your life."
Miyuki's lips curved into a small smile.
Instead of responding—
Ushijima spoke.
"Let's strike him out in his first at-bat."
Shirakawa's steps slowed.
"Not just once," Ushijima continued calmly. "Twice."
"They're getting too confident. Someone should teach them a lesson."
Shirakawa clenched his fists tightly as he walked ahead.
Two strikeouts…?
He's looking down on me…
At that moment, Sawamura and the others finally came out.
Seeing the tense atmosphere, Sawamura immediately misunderstood the situation—
which earned him a quick knock on the head from Ushijima.
"What do you think?" Miyuki asked as they walked together.
Ushijima replied calmly,
"Inashiro is strong this year."
"But next year—they won't be."
Miyuki raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? Why?"
Ushijima glanced ahead.
"Because Narumiya Mei is too strong."
"And his personality is… arrogant. Childish."
"When a pitcher like that becomes too strong, someone has to keep him in check."
"And that person…"
"has to be the catcher."
"The catcher is his partner."
"Right now, Harada Masatoshi can control him."
"But once Harada graduates…"
"There won't be anyone in Inashiro capable of restraining Narumiya."
"When that happens, he'll start acting on his own—becoming reckless, ignoring guidance."
"And that's when problems begin."
Ushijima looked at Miyuki.
"That's why he wanted you."
"In his eyes…"
"You're the only catcher who can keep him in check."