"Your curveball was actually a very good Ball Trajectory, but the catcher's passed ball, the psychological pressure from Tactical Torture, getting hit, giving up runs...
The seniors had been putting pressure on you bit by bit. In other words, they were going all out!
Runs allowed weren't your responsibility alone!!"
As Kuki listened to Sendou, hope rekindled in his eyes.
"So don't take this game to heart!
You'd already performed well enough!!"
"Yes!"
"Still, while I might not understand baseball as well as you do, I do have a few suggestions!
Do you want to hear them?"
"Please, by all means, teach me!!" Kuki immediately rose and gave a respectful bow.
"Don't be like that! Honestly!
I won't comment on the technical side. Our manager, Coach Ochiai, and that Black-bellied Glasses guy will all have plans for that!
I only want to say this: lately, watch Eijun's performance carefully!
His words, his eyes, the words conveyed through his pitching!!
Of course, ignore the idiot side of him!
Although foolish words can have a certain strange power too, you only need to understand why those words produce that kind of effect. Think it through yourself!"
"Pitching Speaks?!" Kuki lowered his head slightly, seemingly deep in thought.
"Speaking with Pitches!!" Tojo had clearly gained a lot from this as well.
"Eijun's recent performance could be called a textbook example of an ace on a team.
Both in terms of pitching itself and mentally!
If your goal is to become an ace too..."
"Yes!
I understand!!"
"That's right! The way you just stopped to think was very good!
Think for yourself about what the essence of baseball really is, and take responsibility for your own decisions!
You have to keep thinking about everything. Only then will what you gain truly belong to you!