At the Meiji Jingu Tournament, the champions of the ten regional autumn tournaments were eligible to participate. If they won the championship, they could earn an additional Spring Koshien berth for their region.
The autumn tournaments in each region ended at different times, but Kōshū had known for a while that Hokkaido's representative would probably be Great Troll Wisteria again.
"Rustle—rustle—" Someone finished eating and shook open today's newspaper.
"Another prediction?" For the past few days, the newspapers had been filled with predictions about the tournament winner.
Asou spread out the paper. Sure enough, the front page once again displayed two huge names: "Seido" VS "Kyoma University," followed by cringeworthy headlines like "Fated Rivals" and "The Ultimate High School Showdown."
Still, those kinds of headlines had attracted plenty of attention, as though summer's heat had carried over into the present.
"They won't meet until the finals, but the media's hyping it up like they're facing each other in the first game."
"Yeah. They're completely ignoring all the teams before that. Maybe Kyoma University will stumble against a representative from another region and pull off some huge upset."
"...Come to think of it, we're the same." But that levelheaded remark stirred everyone's emotions even more. The moment it was spoken, the people around him stopped eating and looked at the speaker standing in the middle. "...Don't look at me like that!"
That plea for mercy became the signal for everyone's punishment.
"Don't be so gloomy—take this kick!"
"I'll tickle you!"
In an instant, everyone crowded around him, and the atmosphere became lively once more.
Yet beneath that lively atmosphere lay the tension of walking a tightrope. Just like that earlier remark, which had silenced everyone in an instant.
It wasn't normal at all.
Kōshū ate a lot and ate slowly, so