<268> A Star Player’s Daily Life!

Chapter 268: A Star Player's Daily Life!

Even after the group had left, Kuramochi still couldn't figure it out.

He muttered unhappily, "Why him, though?"

If it were the other three, sure—no one would question that. After all, whenever the team was in the spotlight, it was always them.

Everyone accepted that without complaint.

Whether it was their performance on the field, their individual skills, or their importance to the team…

They absolutely deserved to be selected.

But what about Sawamura?

He's just a first-year rookie, and his performance was nothing special.

So why him?

Hearing Kuramochi's question, a few other teammates also revealed expressions of agreement.

They were equally puzzled as to why Sawamura had been singled out for the interview.

"You guys are letting a single leaf block your view," Chris said with a chuckle, shaking his head.

"Don't just take Sawamura's side because you're close to him," said the mustached upperclassman with a frown.

Chris responded calmly, "Hey, the only reason you think Sawamura's performance isn't impressive is because you're comparing him to Furuya, right?"

The group paused to think about that, and it really did seem to be the case.

Their impression of Sawamura being "average" had everything to do with them constantly measuring him against Furuya.

"Furuya's performance isn't just rare for high school baseball—it's practically one of a kind. Honestly, it's not even a stretch to say he's in a league of his own. Anyone compared to him is going to look dull by comparison—including Sawamura."

Even as Sawamura's mentor, Chris didn't sugarcoat it.

And everyone knew what he said was true.

"But now, take Furuya out of the equation and just look at Sawamura's performance."

"He's a rookie pitcher, and already one of our core rotation arms. In his debut on the Koshien mound, going up against a top-tier powerhouse, he didn't give up a single run. That's not just solid—that's super rookie material. In terms of how eye-catching it was, which of you can say you've done better?"

The room fell silent.

As much as they didn't want to admit it, they couldn't argue with that.

If that's the standard, none of them could match up to Sawamura.

You could question the media's ethics—but not their eye for talent.

And it was the reporters who specifically requested to interview Sawamura.

Not that Sawamura knew that himself.

Despite always acting loud and confident, always saying he'd fight Furuya for the ace position—

The moment he faced the camera, he was extremely nervous.

Even his fingers were trembling slightly.

His palms? Soaked with sweat.

"This isn't like you at all," Furuya said, clearly entertained.

He had no idea this side of his teammate even existed.

"I'm not nervous!!" Sawamura blurted, immediately proving otherwise.

Even Miyuki, who was normally full of mischief, couldn't help but laugh. Captain Yuuki chuckled too.

"It's fine," Yuuki said kindly. "Just try to sound confident when you talk."

As team captain and the coach's favored ace candidate, Yuuki had the most experience with this kind of media attention.

And though he wasn't the type who loved the spotlight, by now, he'd definitely learned how to handle it.

After their victory in the Tokyo finals, most of the players had already experienced situations like this before.

The only one who hadn't was Sawamura—but he wasn't supposed to be the main focus of this interview anyway.

Eighty percent of the reporters' questions were aimed at Furuya, showering him with endless praise for his dazzling performance.

The remaining twenty percent were split between Miyuki and Yuuki.

Even though the reporters had specifically requested to include Sawamura in the interview lineup, once the cameras started rolling, it was only natural that their attention drifted back to the brightest stars.

That was, until one reporter suddenly realized they hadn't asked Sawamura a single question.

"Sawamura, I have a question for you. As a backup, with the ace being someone from your same year—have you ever regretted your choice?"

Everyone at the table, except Sawamura, was a seasoned veteran. They could answer questions like these in their sleep.

But Sawamura was different.

He lacked the experience, and everyone was already quietly worried about how he'd handle being under the spotlight.

And just as they feared, the question thrown at him was that kind of question.

Coach Kataoka, Furuya, and the others all instinctively turned their gaze toward Sawamura.

If it had been any other question, they might've stepped in to deflect.

But this one was far too personal. It had to be answered by Sawamura himself.

No matter how perfect anyone else's answer might be, it wouldn't carry any weight unless the words came from him.

"No, not at all."

Sawamura responded almost instantly—without even pausing to think—blurting out his honest feelings.

The moment those words left his mouth, the reporters perked up like sharks smelling blood in the water.

They immediately sensed something unusual about this rookie pitcher from Seidou.

He was clearly still a fledgling—untouched by the harsh realities of the media circus.

"Oh? And why is that?" one reporter asked, voice dripping with mock curiosity. "With the talent you've shown on the mound, perhaps you would've had more success if you'd joined another school. Maybe even had the ace role all to yourself—don't you think?"

The question was laced with clear intent—subtle bait wrapped in a seemingly innocent tone.

Anyone could tell he was trying to provoke Sawamura into saying something controversial.

If he slipped up and said the wrong thing now, they'd have a scandal on their hands in no time—

A power struggle inside Seidou despite their triumphant return to Koshien…!

A fractured dynasty—just how far can the former kings still go?

Some sharp-minded reporters had already begun crafting their headlines, spinning their stories in real time.

Everyone on the press panel clearly understood what was going on.

But understanding didn't help—they couldn't speak on Sawamura's behalf.

This was something only Sawamura himself could address.

Even Coach Kataoka, usually so firm and outspoken, chose to stay silent. He simply watched calmly.

Surrounded by curious eyes and prying microphones, Sawamura answered with unwavering sincerity.

"Since joining the team, I've been focused on learning as much as I can and doing my best to keep up with my upperclassmen. I've never thought about anything else. But one thing I can say for sure—coming to Seidou, I've learned so much. It's been intense at times, but I feel fulfilled every single day."

His words struck a chord with the rest of the panel.

As Seidou's representatives, they knew exactly how much weight Sawamura's words carried.

Especially Coach Kataoka.

The usually stern coach cracked a rare smile.

Clearly, he was pleased—deeply pleased—with Sawamura's response.

But to the reporters, Sawamura's answer was… inconvenient.

They never expected this rookie—who looked so green and naive—to speak with such grace and composure.

Could it be that what he said was actually true?

Was the team atmosphere at Seidou really that good?

Most of the reporters didn't know Seidou well.

But those who did—like baseball magazine veteran Fujio and his tall, sharp-eyed colleague—thought differently.

They knew Seidou. They knew this team. And they could tell that Sawamura meant every word.

He wasn't just performing. That was his truth.

"Coach Kataoka," Fujio spoke up, adjusting his cap, "how do you plan to develop two pitchers with such remarkable potential at the same time?"

It was a valid question.

Even if Sawamura's raw talent didn't quite match Furuya's, he was still a prodigy in his own right.

Otherwise, the reporters wouldn't have insisted on including him in the press conference.

Having two such outstanding freshmen was a blessing for Seidou.

But for the players themselves—especially for Sawamura, who played second fiddle—it could also be a burden.

The earlier reporter might've been stirring the pot, but his question had a point.

Had Sawamura joined a different school, he'd likely be their centerpiece by now—a future ace in the making.

But here at Seidou, barring any major surprises, he'd likely spend the next three years in Furuya's shadow.

Coach Kataoka didn't dodge the issue. He nodded in agreement with Fujio's point.

"It's only natural to feel conflicted when you have two such promising players on your hands," he said. "On the surface, it may look like a shame. But I believe competition is the heartbeat of baseball. If someone fears competition—or gives up just because they don't see a clear path forward—they're a coward. And cowards don't go far in this sport."

"I'll give both players a fair shot. I want them to push each other to grow. The ace position isn't set in stone. The one who performs best—that player will be Seidou's ace."

Kataoka meant every word.

He was proud of Furuya's performance, yes—but he believed firmly in internal competition.

And that belief wasn't just talk.

Even if some reporters rolled their eyes, thinking it was just another coach trying to keep peace in the locker room…

The players on stage didn't doubt it for a second.

The fire in their eyes said it all.

This was a team that believed in earning your place.

Even though the coach was very satisfied with his ace's performance so far, he still believed that healthy competition within the team was essential.

Whoever performed better would be the team's true ace.

Unfortunately, that sincerity wasn't exactly appreciated by the reporters present.

To most of them, the coach was just drawing a big, sweet-sounding pie in the sky for his players—one that did sound quite delicious.

At the very least, the players from Seidou looked fired up after hearing his words.

After that, the reporters continued with a series of interviews. The Seidou players and the coach all answered the questions exceptionally well.

The next morning, when the Seidou players started waking up one after another, they found themselves all over the news on their phones.

[West Tokyo's King Returns!]

[A Crushing Victory Over a National Powerhouse—Seidou Eyes the Koshien Crown!]

[Three Teams in the Spotlight—Who's the Real Championship Contender?]

The coverage was everywhere, with most of the spotlight focused on Seidou's ace, Furuya.

Thanks to their experience during the Kanto Tournament, Seidou's players handled the media buzz with relative calm.

This wasn't so different—just a bigger stage, more articles, and more exaggerated headlines.

What really stirred everyone up, however, was a feature published in Baseball Kingdom—a piece titled "The Twin Stars of Seidou."

"That's… an insanely high evaluation."

Everyone stared at Sawamura like he was some kind of rare exhibit in a zoo.

They had all expected that the reporters would mention him. But compared to the other more prominent teammates, his presence had always felt somewhat minor.

Because of that, most of them assumed any article would just mention him in passing.

No one expected a comparison putting him on the same level as Furuya.

And it wasn't some random blogger either—it came from a well-known and influential senior editor at Baseball Kingdom.

"Wait, isn't that the same guy who wrote that feature on Miyuki?"

Everyone knew who Fujio was. The players were all keenly aware of how sharp and insightful his takes were.

If he believed in Sawamura, did that mean… Sawamura really had that kind of potential?

"Why are you all looking at me like that?" Sawamura asked awkwardly.

"Better get used to it. This is what it's like to be a star player," Furuya said with a grin.

By now, Furuya clearly understood what came with living under the spotlight.

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