The trio got comfortable and watched the match, their eyes glued to the laptop screen.
“Oh? That pitcher is starting this game.” Daichi said, feeling a little surprised.
“Wasn’t that sandy haired guy their closing pitcher?” Hiroki added.
“No, I’m sure we saw him starting on the first day of the World Cup. I wonder why he hasn’t been pitching lately?” Daichi scratched his head in thought as he responded.
However, Ken’s eyes narrowed as he saw the guy warm up on the mound. Like his friends had said, Ryan had barely been given an opportunity to play since his team was usually always ahead.
Yet for some reason, the guy was pitching today, against a much lower ranked team, Netherlands.
‘Very odd.’ Ken thought to himself.
What happened in the next 45 minutes was a complete and utter slaughterhouse.
United States 17 – Netherlands 0
The teens stared at the screen, their eyes filled with a mixture of emotions. This was the team that the coach wanted them to beat?
“Man these guys are tough…”
“You don’t say? If it wasn’t for the mercy rule they could have scored 40 runs easily.”
Daichi seemed a little anxious, mainly because the American batters were just too good. From the beginning of their line up to the end, each one of them had the ability to hit a home run.
Ken was silent, his gaze still upon Ryan who was shown on screen.
“We’ll hand you over to our reporter on the scene Brandon Anderson for an interview with America’s own Ryan Smith.”
Ken’s ears perked up as he heard the announcer speak up about an interview.
Yet due to the audio being in English, both Hiroki and Daichi hadn’t been paying attention, too busy speaking amongst themselves.
“Shush guys, I’m trying to listen.” He chastised, turning up the volume.
“Hmm? What is it?”
The two turned around and saw the interviewer Brandon and Ryan on the screen and instantly got curious.
“Ah damn it, they’re speaking in English.”
“Ken, quickly change it to the Jap—”
“Shut up! I’ll summarize it for you later.” He snapped back, causing the other two to throw him a questioning gaze.
“We’re here with America’s own Ryan Smith. Firstly, I want to say my congratulations for a masterful game on the mound. With this victory, you’ve cemented your spot at the top of Group B.”
Ryan merely nodded, waiting for the interview to continue.
“Not wanting to take away from your performance here, but it seemed a little odd for you to be pitching today against the obviously weaker Netherlands team. Is there a reason the coach decided to put you as the starting pitcher?”
‘Nice question Brandon!’ Ken yelled inwardly. This was the kind of journalism he wanted, especially since it aligned with his own questions.
He placed the microphone in front of Ryan, who answered with only 4 words.
“To send a message.”
“Ah… I see. Who was this message intended for? Your opponents in the Super Round?”
Brandon was a little taken aback, but since he was a professional, he rolled with the punches, trying to fill in the blanks.
However, Ryan shook his head, prompting Brandon to give him the microphone once more.
“Do you know who I am now?” He said, staring into the camera intently.
Ken felt as if Ryan was gazing at himself, despite this not being a live interview. He couldn’t help but feel a smile creep onto the side of his mouth.
‘Looks like I really pissed him off in that interview.’ He thought with amusement.
Brandon was an intelligent guy, instantly recognizing who he was talking about. It also helped that he was the one who interviewed Ken a few days ago when he had said those things on air.
Unbenknownst to those who watched the interview, Brandon had seen Ken’s playful expression afterwards. It was obvious to him that Ken’s words were merely a provocation towards his competitor.
Brandon composed himself, deciding to add some fuel to the fire.
“Do you have any comments regarding the recent comparisons between Ken Takagi and yourself Ryan?”
Ken’s eyebrow twitched as he heard those words, causing him to look at Brandon in another light.
‘Looks like that guy is also instigating.’ Ken thought, inwardly praising the wily reporter.
Though looking at Ryan’s facial expressions after his words were even more entertaining than the question itself.
“Haha! Why does he look like he swallowed a worm?” Daichi laughed aloud.
“Shhh!”
Ken once again made a shushing noise and tried to focus on Ryan’s answer.
“We’re not on the same level, so what’s the use in comparisons?”
Ryan’s voice oozed arrogance, as if he thought Ken was not worth any of his time. Though his actions and words seemed to be at odds with each other.
If Ryan truly felt Ken was beneath him, then why was his first words “Do you know who I am now?”
Ken burst out into laughter immediately, tears forming at the corner of his eyes. To see such a lauded figure in his past life get shaken by him was almost too much to bear.
Both Daichi and Hiroki looked at each other, concern evident in their expressions.
It suddenly made much more sense why Ryan had come out and pitched today. He wanted to try and assert his dominance, claiming the World Cup as his own playground.
However, that only served to get Ken more fired up.
‘Bring it on!’
Yet the interview wasn’t done. Brandon who had just heard possibly one of the most arrogant words he’d heard this year, wanted to bring the guy down a peg.
“You say you’re not on the same level, but Ken pitched a 102mph fastball against Cuba a few days ago. Are you saying that you’re above him?”
“…”
“This interview is over.” Ryan said, before walking out of frame.
“HAHAHAHA! I love you Brandon!”
Ken began to roll around on the floor with laughter, feeling his sides quickly cramp up from the strain. He hadn’t expected Brandon to go in for the kill, but it only served to increase Ken’s opinion of him.