After the tournament, I fantasized about my performance on Koshien every day. I should have been quite active in the tournament, and I have reason to fantasize about that future. So before I went to Hyogo, I invited her to watch me at least one game, and she would probably be watching me live or in front of the TV......

But God played a huge joke on me. The opponent of Koshien's first match was decided - last year's champion Kiriyo Osaka.

"I didn't expect that it would be a stronger opponent than Ping'an High School, this is really a king bomb," Xiao Bai smiled bitterly, "Xiao Hei, your luck is too good......

"You're the captain, you should have gone to draw ......lots," Xiao Heidao said, "but it's okay this way, if you win last year's championship, you won't meet stronger opponents." It's just that...... I'm sorry senior, but you can only be substituted in the first round, this is to give us a better chance of winning...... However, I'll definitely arrange for you to play, senior! ”

"I'll listen to your ......"

Until now, many years later, I don't have any resentment against Xiao Hei, after all, everything is about winning, and I know that he is a man of his word. Unless something unexpected happens......

Yes, there were too many surprises in that game: we took a two-point lead as soon as we came up, everyone was in surprisingly good shape, the score of 2-0 remained for a long time, and for the sake of the team's victory, Xiao Hei could not emotionally send me on the field. However, after we played 8 innings downwind, in the first half of the 9th inning, the situation changed, and Xiaobai, who had been strong before, was hit with a full home run. 2-4, 2 points behind us.

In the second half of the 9th inning, we were quickly two outs, and if we didn't score any more points, then I ......

"I'm sorry, Senior Minami and Senior Kiba, I promised to let you all play, but now I may only be able to play alone as a substitute at most......"

【HOMERUN！ The lower part of the sun returned a home run! Reifuin High School pulled back 1 point, 3-4! 】

There's still a chance! If I hit a home run as a substitute hitter like I did in the finals of the tournament, then I'm the hero who saved this team! yes, she might be watching me from some corner of the pitch right now......

But if I fail...... Then I'd be the last hitter, the sinner who ruined the team's chances of qualifying, and if that's what she saw......

"Kiba, you go first, you're looking forward to your appearance at Koshien more than I do, aren't you?"

"But Xiao Jin, obviously your batting rate is higher!"

"Say no more! As long as you get on base, I'll still have a chance to play, and then I'll be able to hit a goodbye home run and go straight to the reversal! ”

I actually flinched...... It's not because I want to give up this opportunity, it's simply because I'm scared......

【Strikeouts! Ace Ann's wonderful pitch brought the game to an end! After a fierce battle, Osaka Kiryo advanced to the second round! 】

As a result, I couldn't get out of the circle of the waiting area, which is also the best punishment for me to be weak at the critical moment, and I really gave up halfway!

I inadvertently set my eyes on Xiaobai, and he silently shed unwilling tears. But soon, he quickly wiped away his tears with his cuffs.

"After all, the opponent is Osaka Tongyang, and it is good for our new team to fight to this point, of course, if the draw is better, we may be able to go further...... Let's all puff up! ”

The hearty smile that Xiaobai showed when he comforted his teammates was really an expression that only the captain could make.

At this moment, someone slapped him on the back.

"I'm sorry, senior...... I forgot to put you on the field......"

It's Blackie. I couldn't see the expression on his face at that time, but I could feel from his aura that he was the most unwilling.

"I'm sorry, Kim, I should have let you get on ......," Kiba apologized while crying.

Why? Why do you all have to say sorry? Obviously, I retreated at a critical moment!

***

I thought so until now, I was the least qualified to cry. So no matter how much my teammates cried, I decided not to shed a single tear.

"Nanjun ......"

As I walked out of Koshien Stadium, I heard the familiar sound – the last thing I wanted to hear.

"You've come to watch the game......" I said with my back to her.

"It's a bit of a pity, but it's still a good game...... I fully understand your choice now, baseball is a lot of fun! ”

"Well, yes...... However, Koshien has just started this year, so if you want to collect materials, there is still a chance, and I think it will be of great help to you in writing your thesis......"

"I'm here to watch your game......"

This sentence seemed to touch some switch, and his throat felt an inexplicable sense of oppression, and he couldn't speak.

"It's a shame that I made a special trip from Kyoto to Hyogo and didn't let you see any of my performance......" It took a while for my throat to make a sound.

With that, I ran towards a place where there was no one. Before I knew it, tears were still flowing.

***

【Contest over!】 Osaka Kiriyo defeated Kitakyushu Gakuen to win the championship! 】

As expected, this time Koshien or Osaka Kiriyo had the last laugh. But it doesn't matter to me anymore, because I've already withdrawn, completely withdrawn.

"It's a pity, if I could have performed a little bit in Koshien, maybe the result would have been completely different." Coach Yongguang came to me and said.

Coach Nagamitsu is really a good person, and he has always cared about me after I quit the track and field club.

"How's the Athletics Association doing?"

"There is not much hope, the Athletics Association originally wanted to recommend you to the national team after you graduated, but you didn't have any results this year, so this place has already been transferred to others...... "Coach Nagamitsu said.

"yes, then there's no way......"

"It's not for nothing, you can go to college first, and then return to ......track and field," the coach said busily, "Your athletic talent is still there, and you're still young, so there's no rush for these things!" ”

"Coach, is there one thing I can ask you?" I asked, "Why did you agree to Mitobe's request to transfer me to the baseball club?" ”

"yes, that's the kind of thing that only a fool would agree to, but you know what? Mitobe-san noticed something I hadn't noticed," the coach said, "You never seemed to smile when you were in the athletics club, and even if you won so many championships, you didn't laugh, so it seems that athletics didn't make you happy......

(To be continued)