Takaichi did not put any pressure on Shido and simply ran back to the Rest Area. Inashiro, meanwhile, called a timeout. Su Qing had called it because he felt it was necessary to properly adjust Shirakawa's state.
"What's wrong? It was just one double play. You're acting like we lost. If you keep blaming yourself like this, we'll only fall further behind."
Shirakawa clenched his glove tightly. Not only at bat, but on defense too, he had...
Just as Shirakawa lowered his head in dejection, Su Qing threw an arm around his shoulders.
"What's going on? Narumiya hasn't even cracked yet, but you already have. Tsk, tsk, tsk. As expected of the Diamond Ace version of Agutsu—his methods of messing with people's minds are truly ruthless."
"Hey! What do you mean, I haven't cracked yet?! My mentality is perfectly fine! Even if all of you crack, I won't!"
"Then what was with the second inning just now? Who was sulking and refusing to nod?"
"What does that have to do with mentality?!"
"How does it not have anything to do with it?!"
"Enough, enough. Stop arguing, you two."
Shirakawa, who had still been a little upset, was immediately stirred into action by Su Qing and Narumiya Mei, his inner mother hen instinctively trying to break up the fight.
"My mentality cracked. There won't be a next time—whether at bat or on defense, there won't be a next time!"
"Now that's the Shirakawa we know. Nothing can knock him down, always positive, and forever sharp-tongued."
"Shirakawa clearly scares people with his face. Look at that hairstyle and that gloomy expression—they have nothing to do with what you just said, okay?"
"How am I gloomy?! Even if I were, wouldn't it be because you people drove me to it?!"
The three of