Time! Miyuki hurried to the Pitcher's Mound.
"Is something wrong with your fingers?" He was terrified that Seido would gain another injured player.
"No, they're fine. I'll throw it in next time." All of a sudden, Furuya seemed to be wreathed in blue flames, his voice filled with determination and refusal to lose.
Miyuki quickly understood why.
"Ah, Your Highness, you came too!" Like a restaurant waiter, Eijun welcomed the ace into the Bullpen. "I'll give you my spot! Please pitch here!"
"Ha ha ha." Miyuki laughed so hard on the mound that he clutched his stomach. He patted Furuya on the shoulder. "Pitchers really are fascinating creatures." The two pitchers had only just begun to show signs of rivalry, yet Kōshū had already taken the initiative to encourage—no, provoke—Furuya.
"Miyuki... senpai... what are you laughing at?" Furuya still looked the same, unable to understand what was so funny.
"Then let's do as you said." Miyuki pressed down on the pitcher's shoulder, their foreheads touching. "Strike out the next batter and make those three runners stand there as punishment. How about it?"
"Yeah!" Furuya nodded seriously. He did not have much of a sense of humor, nor did he tease the catcher in return at a time like this.
If Kōshū were here now, I definitely wouldn't be the one saying that. That guy would have had his own idea from the start. Feeling a faint pang of loneliness, Miyuki realized that Kōshū's absence had made guiding the pitcher less fun.
"Miyuki—Kazuya—why are you smiling so wickedly? Can't you guide him properly like a senpai should?!" Having given up his pitching spot, Eijun was especially idle and had the energy to "instruct" what was happening on the field.
"Shut up!" Miyuki turned his head and mouthed back at him.
This