"As for the reason we're holding this Red-White Game, there are two objectives."
Ushijima stood before the team and calmly explained.
"First, everyone needs to get used to playing defense behind Furuya. At the same time, Furuya and Miyuki need more opportunities to work together as a battery."
"Second..."
His gaze shifted toward Furuya.
"This game is meant to teach him something."
"Every game at Koshien is important."
"As a pitcher, giving up even a single run could cost us the entire tournament."
The atmosphere immediately became serious.
"Furuya."
"I promised you a starting spot at Koshien."
"But I never promised you the entire game."
The first-year pitcher blinked before nodding.
"If you create a dangerous situation, if there's a risk of allowing runs, or if you've already given up runs, the coaching staff has every right to replace you immediately."
"So if you want to stay on the mound longer..."
"Don't put the team in danger."
Furuya silently nodded again.
For someone as straightforward as him, the warning was simple enough to understand.
Coach Kataoka also approved of the arrangement.
Furuya possessed tremendous talent.
Allowing him to make his Koshien debut wasn't unreasonable.
And just as Ushijima had said, if Furuya showed any signs of instability, they could immediately switch to their Ace.
After all, a promise to start was not a promise to finish.
"Very well."
Coach Kataoka nodded.
"I approve of Ushijima's proposal."
"Since it is a promise made by our Ace, it will be honored."
He turned toward the players.
"Until Koshien begins, our defensive training will focus on situations with Furuya on the mound."
Then his eyes settled on the first-year pitcher.
"Furuya, how long you remain on that mound will depend entirely on your performance."
"Yes!"
Furuya answered immediately.
Coach Kataoka then looked toward the other pitchers.
"Tanba."
"Kawakami."
"The two of you will also have opportunities to pitch at Koshien."
The pair straightened instantly.
"However, let me make one thing clear."
His voice grew stern.
"Furuya. Sawamura. Tanba. Kawakami."
"If any of you become a liability after taking the mound, I will remove you immediately."
The four pitchers stiffened.
"It wasn't easy for Seido to reach Koshien."
"I will not allow our tournament to end because of one player's instability."
His eyes swept across the room.
"And I believe all of you want the same thing."
"You want to win the championship."
"You want to stand at the top of the nation."
"YES!!!"
The four pitchers shouted in unison.
The rest of the team erupted with renewed fighting spirit.
Koshien.
National Champions.
Those words alone were enough to ignite their competitive fire.
After the meeting ended, everyone began changing into their practice gear.
The first-string players gradually gathered together.
Ushijima reached out with his gloved left hand and lightly patted Yuki Tetsuya's shoulder.
"I kept my promise."
"I helped you reach Koshien."
Yuki smiled faintly.
The usually stoic captain understood exactly what Ushijima meant.
"The road ahead is unknown."
"For me and for all of you."
"This is uncharted territory."
"After all, none of us have ever played at Koshien before."
Isashiki and the others laughed.
That much was true.
Everything waiting for them from this point onward was completely new.
"You bastard."
Isashiki suddenly wrapped an arm around Ushijima's neck.
"You actually did it."
"But I still want to stand in the batter's box and experience that Forkball for myself."
Ushijima smiled.
"Isn't there still the retirement game?"
The third-years paused.
"After Koshien is over, you'll have plenty of opportunities."
"And trust me, it won't be pleasant."
"What?!"
The third-years immediately bristled with fighting spirit.
Meanwhile, the second-years burst out laughing.
Ignoring the commotion, Ushijima turned toward Kominato Ryosuke.
"How's your foot?"
Ryosuke smiled.
"I had it checked yesterday."
"The doctor said I just need some rest and should avoid anything strenuous."
"Then don't participate in training for the next few days."
Everyone looked toward Ushijima.
"There are still more than two weeks before the Koshien Final."
"And if we make it that far, we'll have several games before reaching it."
"With forty-nine participating schools, there will be multiple rounds regardless of the bracket."
"Missing two or three games while you recover won't hurt us."
His tone was calm, but his confidence was obvious.
"We're not losing our opening game."
The surrounding players couldn't help but grin.
Only Ushijima could say something like that so naturally.
"And besides..."
He looked directly at Ryosuke.
"I still haven't fulfilled my promise."
Ryosuke raised an eyebrow.
"The promise to have both Kominato brothers stand on the Koshien field together."
For a moment, Ryosuke's smile widened.
As expected.
Ushijima had never forgotten.
Whenever he made a promise, he always did everything possible to fulfill it.
"He's right."
Isashiki nodded.
"We're not going down that easily."
"You should focus on recovering."
"We've still got time."
Nearby, Haruichi lowered his head slightly.
But the excitement in his eyes couldn't be hidden.
Standing on the Koshien field beside his older brother...
Just imagining it filled him with anticipation.
A dream that once felt impossible now seemed within reach.
"You should focus on recovering."
"We still have time."
Isashiki nodded toward Ryosuke.
Nearby, Haruichi lowered his head shyly, but the anticipation in his eyes was impossible to hide.
Standing on the Koshien field beside his older brother...
Just imagining it made his heart race.
"FURUYA!!!"
"Are you ready yet?!"
"We've been waiting for you!"
"If you don't want the mound, I'll take it myself!"
Isashiki's booming voice startled Furuya out of his thoughts.
Meanwhile, Ushijima walked over to Miyuki and Miyauchi.
As Furuya continued his warm-up pitches, several key players gathered around to discuss the upcoming Red-White Game.
"Miyauchi-senpai."
Ushijima got straight to the point.
"In the first inning, your side needs to score a run."
Miyauchi raised an eyebrow but remained silent.
"After that, when it's our turn to bat, intentionally walk the Captain and me."
The group immediately realized he had something planned.
Ushijima continued calmly.
"If even our lineup struggles to score after that..."
"If the opposing team refuses to challenge its strongest hitters and simply pitches around them..."
"Then Furuya will understand something very important."
Everyone listened carefully.
"A pitcher gives up one run."
"The opponent gains the lead."
"From that moment on, they no longer need to play aggressively."
"They can avoid the heart of the lineup."
"They can intentionally walk dangerous batters."
"They can sacrifice pride for victory."
His expression remained calm.
"But the consequences fall on the entire team."
The surrounding players gradually grew serious.
"If a pitcher allows a run..."
"And the offense can no longer find an opening because the opponent is playing entirely for that lead..."
"Then that single run could decide the entire game."
Ushijima looked toward Furuya, who was still throwing in the distance.
"And if that happens at Koshien..."
"Our tournament ends."
Silence fell over the group.
The weight of those words was impossible to ignore.
"Furuya needs to experience that pressure now."
"He needs to understand what his teammates feel when they're forced to chase a deficit."
"He needs to understand that every run matters."
"Only then will he truly appreciate the responsibility that comes with standing on the mound."
Ushijima's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Otherwise, with his personality, even if he puts the team in danger, he'll stubbornly refuse to come out."
"And by the time he understands the consequences, it'll already be too late."
Everyone unconsciously swallowed.
The maturity of Seido's Ace was genuinely frightening.
While most players were still celebrating their qualification for Koshien, Ushijima was already preparing the team for the harsh realities waiting there.
Chris nodded approvingly.
"He's right."
"It's better for Furuya to learn that lesson here."
"Rather than at Koshien."
The others quickly agreed.
A brutal lesson during practice was far preferable to a devastating lesson on the national stage.
Miyuki's lips curled into a mischievous grin.
"So we're going to crush him first?"
His smile became even more wicked.
"Not bad."
"If someone's going to break him..."
"It might as well be us."
"Exactly."
Ushijima chuckled and raised his hand.
Smack.
The two exchanged a high-five.
The surrounding players immediately narrowed their eyes at the pair.
One strategic monster was already troublesome enough.
Now there were two of them working together.
Fortunately, they were teammates.
If they had been opponents...
That would have been a complete nightmare.