The bottom of the ninth, the half-inning that would truly decide the game. Seido was sending out its third pitcher in a relay pitching effort, with plenty of stamina left, while Inajitsu was up to its third, fourth, and fifth batters in the central batting lineup.
In Seido's dugout, all the regulars gathered around Kataoka Manager. "Listen up. Inajitsu is even stronger this year than they were last year. The fact that we've pushed them this far proves that we truly have the strength to represent Tokyo. So don't hesitate, and don't get nervous."
Then he turned to Kōshū. "Especially you, Kōshū. You may be a first-year, but you've grown tremendously through the summer games. Let yourself pitch!"
"Yes!!!"
In Inajitsu's dugout, Kunimoto Manager had only one thing to say to his lineup. "Keep it going. We only need one run to drag this game into extra innings."
"Comeback! Comeback!" The cries from Inajitsu's cheering section rolled through the stands like waves, affecting the other spectators. Gradually, the same chant began to rise from all around the stadium.
"Hey, Kōshū, don't look up!" Kuramochi pressed down on his head, worried that the scene would affect the pitcher's state of mind.
But the voice from in front of him was nothing like that. It was remarkably calm, as though the scorching summer heat had not affected him at all. "It's fine, Kuramochi-senpai. I just wanted to see how easily people could be stirred up and influenced."
"Huh?" The unexpected answer made Kuramochi loosen his grip. "What do you mean?"
Kōshū raised his head again. "Haha, when it comes down to it, whether those spectators spend money on a ticket to come to a stadium or go to a movie theater, it's almost the same to them. They criticize the actors' performances