"..." Furuya remained silent while Miyuki and Sendou chatted.
He recalled Sawamura's positive words and actions ever since the Spring Tournament ended, and decided to face this rival again.
"Nice pitch!" Furuya deliberately walked toward Sawamura and brushed past him before suddenly speaking.
"Huh?" Sawamura, who had not noticed the little calculation behind Furuya's path, whipped around.
Even the players across the entire bench, including Miyuki and Sendou, who had still been chatting away, froze and looked at them.
"..." Sawamura stared at the back of Furuya's head, pressing his lips together.
"I'm not satisfied!!
I let too many runners reach third base...
Honestly, the defense saved me several times!
I'm absolutely not satisfied with those results!!" After several seconds of silence, Sawamura spoke resolutely.
Those words brought Auntie Smiles to quite a few faces, as if they were watching one of their own children grow up.
"Great!!
Then we can start competing!" Furuya turned to look at him.
"Is Furuya-senpai... forcing himself to act tough?" Yui asked, somewhat puzzled.
That was what many people were wondering as well.
None of them knew why this Natural Airhead had said something like that at this moment!
Sendou, on the other hand, understood a little.
This was his way of expressing the will and attitude he had as the ace, wanting to lead the team!
"No matter how good your pitches are...
There's no point if the team loses!
If the opposing pitcher performs better than we do, then we can't win!
Losing means it's over!!
Then all we have to do is not let them score even one run!
Don't give them any opening—overwhelm them with absolute power!!
The one who can lead the team to victory after victory is the ace!!
The one who can keep winning is the ace!!