"What are you thinking about?" Miyuki saw Kanzaki Ryou spacing out and handed him the ice pack.
Ryou took it and pressed it to his shoulder. "Narumiya Mei… he's quite interesting."
"Mei is indeed an excellent pitcher," Miyuki said with a smile.
"What about me?"
Uh…
Miyuki looked at Ryou speechlessly. "You're the most excellent, alright."
"Tch, how perfunctory." Ryou clicked his tongue and walked ahead.
Shaking his head helplessly, Miyuki sighed. These two pitchers—both equally willful.
Just then, Manager Fujiwara Takako walked over, carrying Ryou's shoulder bag, clothes, and water bottle.
"Ryou, it's time to go," Fujiwara Takako said gently.
"Okay, let's go." Ryou reached for his bag, but she stepped back.
"I'll carry it. Keep icing your shoulder."
"Then I'll trouble you, Senpai." Ryou gave a bright smile.
After winning the championship, the Seido team walked out of the stadium and were immediately surrounded by fans screaming their names.
Ryou spotted Kanzaki Kumiko in the crowd, waved to her, then followed Fujiwara Takako onto the bus and sat at the back.
"Yo, Kanzaki. Takako-senpai is really good to you, even carrying your stuff," Mita Yuka teased.
Fujiwara Takako instantly turned red.
"Hehe, Senpai always takes good care of me."
Ryou puffed his chest proudly, completely oblivious.
Mita Yuka stared at him in disbelief. This guy was too dense.
When they returned to school, the principal and Coach Kataoka were waiting at the gate to welcome them.
Even though the championship was "only" the Spring Tokyo Metropolitan Tournament, it was Seido's first title in years.
But—
"It's just the Spring Metropolitan Tournament. If we're going to celebrate, let's wait until summer," Coach Kataoka said.
A small disappointment, but understandable. Coach Kataoka carried the greatest pressure of all; he wouldn't allow himself to relax yet.
After washing up and changing, the team headed to the cafeteria.
Although Coach declined the celebration, the feast was ready—and leaving it uneaten would be wasteful.
"Kazuya! That drumstick is mine!" Ryou snatched the drumstick from Miyuki's bowl.
"Huh!?" Miyuki's chopsticks shot out like a missile.
"Let go! It's mine!"
"Mine!"
The two idiots wrestled over the drumstick.
"Stop fighting, there's watermelon over there."
The moment someone said "watermelon," Miyuki sprinted across the cafeteria like lightning.
After devouring the feast, Ryou was heading back to the dorms when someone called out to him.
"Kanzaki!"
Takashima Rei jogged over.
"Rei-chan? What's up?" Ryou asked.
"I just received a call from Baseball Kingdom. They want to interview you."
"Interview? Me?" Ryou blinked.
Well… it made sense. He had been crucial in Seido's victory, even if he didn't pitch many innings this tournament.
Not to mention—
A first-year rookie throwing over 150 km/h.
"Yes. Do you want to accept the interview?" Rei asked.
Normally, Coach Kataoka would have refused immediately—
First-year rookies could get arrogant from media attention.
It could ruin a young player's mentality.
But this time, surprisingly, Coach instructed Rei to ask Kanzaki Ryou's opinion.
Ryou didn't even hesitate.
"No need. I'm just a first-year. If I get interviewed, I'll get shy."
Rei's smile twitched. What are you even saying?
"Are you sure? This is a good chance to get famous."
She still couldn't believe how calm he was.
Most 15–16-year-old boys would jump at the opportunity.
Fame. Girls. Attention. Recognition.
But Kanzaki Ryou only shrugged.
"I'm sure. Doing an interview now is pointless. I won't gain anything from it—only the magazine will. I'll do interviews after we reach Koshien."
His tone was steady, mature.
"Keeping a bit of mystery is better," he added. "An overly flashy rookie draws too many enemies."
Rei froze for a second… then smiled softly.
"I'll decline on your behalf, then."
"Thanks, Rei-chan."
After parting with her, Ryou received a call from Kanzaki Kumiko, who had been watching the game.
They talked for nearly half an hour.
Listening to his little sister's excited, admiring voice made Ryou laugh like an idiot the entire time.
Meanwhile, outside the Seido campus, social media in Tokyo was exploding.
Seido's dramatic run to the championship—
Defeating Ichidai Third and Inashiro back-to-back—
had fans calling this Seido's strongest generation in years.
But the hottest topic?
Seido's first-year monster: Kanzaki Ryou.
Once someone compiled his stats online, people went wild:
Pitching — 9 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs allowed.
Batting — 4 at-bats: 2 home runs, 2 hits. 100% OBP.
Perfect on the mound.
Perfect at the plate.
Perfect in the spotlight.
A genuine monster rookie had appeared.
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