"Oh, I see. So you can still pitch?" - Coach Yamada asked without hesitation, closely watching Shun's expression.
"I-I..." - Shun hesitated, unsure of what to say. The thought of just giving up crossed his mind, but before he could respond, an irritated voice rang in his head.
[Why the hell are you hesitating, kid?! You haven't even given up a run yet! Stop being a bitch and get back in the game!] - The old man's voice echoed in Shun's mind, causing the boy's eyes to widen in shock.
Shun didn't respond to the old man. Instead, he looked at the faces of his friends standing on the mound with him. He could see the worried looks of Kenta, Ren, and Daigo. Even though he couldn't see them, he could feel the concerned gazes of Jiro in right field and Sora in the dugout, along with all the other players from Shoto Junior High.
