After returning to Japan, the U15 Representative Team held a wrap-up press conference, just as they had when the team was first formed. Coach Ninomiya disliked formalities, so beside the baseball field, he briefly summed up the joy of returning to the world's top three after seven years, thanked the many individuals and organizations involved, expressed his hopes for the future of Japanese youth baseball, and finally conveyed his surprise and approval to all the U15 representatives.
As the winner of the Best Winning Percentage Pitcher individual award at this U15 tournament, Kōshū was also someone many reporters wanted to interview. However, Coach Ninomiya gathered them all together and said questions would be taken at once later.
In the stadium conference room, a simple interview began. Kōshū sat behind the table, secretly wiping the sweat from his palms on the tablecloth.
"Kōshū, how are you feeling right now?"
"Kōshū, did you ever expect to receive the individual award for Best Winning Percentage Pitcher?"
"Kōshū..."
The interview lasted thirty minutes. Watching the reporters rack their brains for questions, notebooks or laptops in hand as they rapidly recorded his every word, Kōshū could not help feeling nervous. He understood that even if his story made it into the papers or onto television, it would only be a tiny article or a three-second clip.
By the end, he could not even remember what he had said. But Coach Ninomiya's expression behind him remained very composed, so he probably had not said anything wrong.
The team had already held its internal wrap-up meeting upon landing. Most of the players from outside Tokyo had already set off for their hometowns, while Kōshū, Hayakawa, and the others could finally go home as well. Since tomorrow was Sunday, they could rest properly for a day.
Only two