Hmph. Fine. As you wish—one more ball. May this pitch cut like a winter wind; baseball’s just a meaningless game.

As his words fell like stones into a still pond, the ball ripped from I’s hand at a speed that defied belief, a white comet spearing straight for Lian.

The ball swelled in her vision like a rising moon; fear never touched her face, and a small smile unfurled at her lips.

Hey, Mr. I—why do you play baseball?

I’s pitcher’s smirk blew out like a candle in a draft; confusion rose first, then the thought—why did he play at all?

I…

Hmph! Hear me, I! Baseball isn’t the toy you think it is; it’s the sign of friendship, a red thread between hearts.

Lian’s words cracked across I’s mind like lightning; a silhouette flashed—JOJO, the man who played beside him, the one who helped him win a football game (Baseball: ???), the foe for life, the friend for life.

Pain hammered in waves against his skull like war drums; tears spilled at the corners of his eyes like sudden rain.

Shut up… shut up! Just shut up!

He clutched his head like a storm-tossed helm; his knees hit the ground, and the ache swelled as old memories surged like a tide.

Lian breathed out a laugh like a soft breeze and watched I, already beaten by words; her fingers tightened on the bat like iron around a hilt.

Whoosh—she let out a long breath, then warmth sharpened into resolve. Let me show you with my baseball what baseball means, I.

As everyone knows, commentary never steals time; only now did that blazing fast ball drift into Lian’s sight, hanging like a hawk mid-dive.

Ultra Dragonflame Direct Hit! Get up there—fly high!

Her roar tore the air like a furnace door; the bat carved the wind and met the onrushing ball, sparks leaping like fireflies. They locked, an iron stalemate, neither side yielding an inch.

Go, Lian!

From the stands, Alicia’s voice cracked like a bell; as if the shout were wind in a sail, the bat began to push the ball back.

If you lose, we’ll eat all your snacks! And we’ll wipe your phone clean!

Remi and Flan piled on, their words like playful stones tossed into the stream—cheering, in their own way.

Proving Lian’s claim—that baseball is a sign of friendship—her bond-born power swelled like a rising tide; the bat’s force grew, and the locked pair started to slide across the air.

But I wouldn’t just watch Lian knock it away; his ability surged like a tailwind, and the ball’s drive spiked. What was about to fly free was shoved back like a storm returning.

Aer shot to her feet, voice ringing like a trumpet. Lian! What are you doing! Don’t stop—keep swinging!

Aer’s call struck first like a spark; Lian’s eyes sharpened, and a ridiculous flashback bloomed—Alicia’s practice sessions, Remi and Flan fussing over her, and, most of all, Aer’s constant cheer. (None of it actually happened.)

Our baseball can pierce the heavens!

Power flooded her hands like spring water breaking through stone; fatigue blew away like smoke, and the bat started shoving the ball again, steady as a tide.

I stared at Lian, shock brimming like wide eyes in moonlight. Impossible! My baseball can’t have a weak point! No—this isn’t even baseball!

Lian didn’t spare his words a glance; right now she felt power pouring through her like a volcano’s glow, her body alight and humming, strength welling up without end.

Move for me, Dark Bat!

With that cry, the balance snapped like a twig; the ball blasted off, an arrow of light racing at a speed that mocked reason.

Lian watched the streak vanish like a shooting star; her face couldn’t hide her thrill. Aer vaulted from the stands and tackled her, gold and silver hair weaving together like silk threads, not jarring at all—strangely beautiful.

Alright, alright. Don’t lie on me; time to get up.

Lian patted Aer’s back with helpless fondness, her tone tender even as she sighed.

Aer rubbed her cheek against Lian’s modest chest like a kitten seeking warmth, then stood up, reluctant as dusk.

Rising from the ground, Lian glanced at I, now silent at the side, and grinned like sun through cloud. So? Baseball. How was it?

I looked at his hands, the same hands that had just fought; they trembled like leaves in a small wind.

Heh… He let out a low sound and a small smile. Yeah, that felt pretty good… Maybe that’s what hot-blooded means. Didn’t expect the cold-blooded me to feel it again. Baseball’s… a decent thing.

Praise for baseball lit Lian up like lantern light. Right? Right? Let’s play together sometime!

I shook his head, smiling, like a reed bending in current. Hold off on a rematch for now. Why were we playing baseball in the first place?

…

The question was a needle, and the air froze like winter glass—so quiet you could hear a steamroller drop with a thunderous boom.

Lian’s right hand slipped behind her back like a fox hiding a trick. We agreed not to bring that up, didn’t we?

I blinked at Lian, puzzled as mist. When did we agree?

Isn’t that common sense?!

Her hidden hand whisked out a paper fan from nowhere like a magician’s dove, and she flicked it against I’s face. When the plot goes berserk, we soothe ourselves by saying the Great Cosmic Consciousness meddled. You can’t say that out loud! Got it?!

I rubbed his head, half-getting it, like a man waking from a dream. Well… if you say so. Call it my loss. I’m done.

Saying he’d stop, he truly stopped; I turned to a nondescript little door, opened it, and walked out, snuffing the surrounding flames like candles so Lian and the others could leave.

We’re through just like that?

Lian didn’t really know; she’d only been talking on impulse, and yet— I think… that’s probably it.