While Kanzaki Ryou was busy teasing Sawamura, Miyuki discovered Furuya lying lazily on a chair inside the equipment room.
"Hey! What are you doing? It's training time and you're slacking off here. Get up!" Miyuki shouted from the doorway.
"Let me rest a bit longer…" Furuya replied weakly.
"Rest for what? Get up and come to the bullpen with me!" Miyuki still hadn't noticed anything unusual.
Furuya sighed and slowly sat up.
"But it's really hot today… Can I at least get some water?"
"Hot? When is it not hot? It's summer, idiot!"
With no choice, Furuya followed Miyuki outside.
"You must not have eaten enough. You look completely drained."
"So… hot…"
The moment they stepped into the sunlight, Furuya stopped moving, head lowered, looking like he might melt on the spot.
Miyuki's words suddenly stopped.
Only then did he remember — Furuya was from Hokkaido. The summer climate there was completely different from Tokyo's. For him, this might be the first time experiencing heat like this.
When they arrived at the bullpen, Kanzaki Ryou immediately noticed Miyuki's troubled expression.
"What happened?"
Miyuki walked closer and quietly explained the situation.
"…Yeah, that is a problem," Kanzaki muttered. "We can't let others find out. If opponents learn about this weakness, they'll target him deliberately. Though honestly… even without targeting him, he's already losing to the sun."
There was almost no quick solution to climate adaptation — only gradual adjustment.
"For now, we'll inform Coach Kataoka. Reduce his training load and closely monitor his condition so he doesn't get heatstroke."
Miyuki nodded. Forcing training while unacclimated would only harm Furuya's body.
"Let him throw two sets first. We'll check his condition," Miyuki said as he put on his catcher's gear and told Furuya to warm up.
Soon, ten pitches were thrown.
Kanzaki gritted his teeth while watching.
"No good. The ball is floating."
"A bit high," Miyuki said tactfully.
Kanzaki sighed. "Alright, stop. Any more and your condition will worsen. Furuya, go stand in the sun. Remember to hydrate."
"Hey, you're joking, right?" Miyuki stood up immediately. In Furuya's condition, sun exposure sounded suicidal.
"No joke. Ten minutes in the sun, ten minutes rest. Just standing — no training. It'll help him adapt."
Outside the bullpen, Furuya stood stiffly under the blazing sun, while Kanzaki brought a small stool into the shade and observed him.
Because there was a game tomorrow, today's training was relatively light. Only morning practice — the afternoon was free.
Reporters and spectators outside the field watched in confusion.
Was Seidou's ace bullying a first-year?
"Ryou, here's water." Fujiwara Takako handed him a cold sports drink.
"Ah, thank you, senpai." Kanzaki noticed she had already loosened the cap.
She glanced worriedly at Furuya.
"He can drink after ten minutes," Kanzaki said calmly.
She still didn't understand. If Furuya had made a mistake, punishment should come from the coach — not a teammate.
Coach Kataoka and Ochiai Hiromitsu had also noticed.
In a single glance, Coach Kataoka understood Kanzaki's intention.
Adapting to the weather… could it really work?
He thought of alternatives but realized — there really weren't any better options.
"Kanzaki, don't overdo it. Twenty minutes standing, then ten minutes rest."
Kanzaki was briefly speechless.
Furuya turned toward the coach with lifeless eyes full of resentment.
At noon, practice ended.
"There's a game tomorrow. Training ends here. The match starts at 10 AM. Don't waste energy in the morning — just stretch and gather before 8:30."
"The forecast says temperatures will exceed 30°C. Anyone doing extra training should be careful. Preserve stamina and get enough sleep."
"Dismissed!"
Players left in small groups.
"Tetsu, want to review Akikawa's footage again?" Isashiki Jun asked Yuki Tetsuya.
"No need. Preparation is done. Now we just swing with confidence in the game," Yuki replied calmly.
"Ya-haha, as reliable as ever."
After Yuki left, Jun joined Kuramochi and Masuko to continue studying footage.
Kominato Ryosuke dragged Kominato Haruichi away for batting practice.
Once everyone had gone, Kanzaki approached Coach Kataoka and Ochiai.
"Boss, I have an idea."
Coach Kataoka looked at him. "Speak."
"I want to practice a new breaking ball. But I'm not sure which type suits me best."
Recently, his game appearances had decreased, and his bullpen sessions were mainly maintenance. He had plenty of time.
"Will it affect your condition?" Coach Kataoka asked.
"You don't trust me?" Kanzaki smiled.
Ochiai spoke up.
"Learning more breaking balls is beneficial. Whether now or in professional baseball, relying only on high velocity strains the shoulder. More pitch types mean more tactical options — not every opponent requires maximum speed."
Kanzaki nodded. Protecting his arm was exactly his concern.
Coach Kataoka thought for a moment.
"You can try a slow curveball. Large break, slow speed — it complements your fastball."
Ochiai added, "A palmball is also viable. A deeper changeup — slower than a circle change and drops more. Mastering two changeups can completely disrupt a batter's timing."
Hearing both suggestions, Kanzaki returned to the dormitory wearing a conflicted expression.
Which one should he choose?