Episode 19: "XB vs. Zero: Part 3"

The group was now up to bat.

It was now Zero who held the XB Ball in his hand.
Standing in front of him with bat in hand...

Zero
"Oh? You're the first batter up, then?"

Former Minato Tribe member Kazuki Aoyama was the one taking position to bat.

Kazuki Aoyama
"We're taking our strategy for batting order seriously. And since I'm the one with the most XB experience, it only made sense to do it this way."

Zero
"Heh..."

As he started to prepare his pitch, Zero chuckled to himself, but was interrupted just a moment later.

Kazuki Aoyama
"Oh, right. There's one thing I wanted to mention before we get started."

Just as the tension was coming to a peak, Kazuki broke it by speaking.

Zero
"Hm? And what's that?"

Kazuki Aoyama
"Tsuki and Sui may have only joined up with us because of the circumstances, and decided to tag along right before we entered 24 City. But..."

With each word he spoke, Kazuki's tone grew more stern.

Kazuki Aoyama
"They really did care about Yo. That's why we agreed to let them come with us."

Zero
"...What is it you're trying to say?"

Zero's tone was disinterested.

Kazuki Aoyama
"I'm saying that I'm pretty pissed about what you did to them, too."

Intensity lined the words Kazuki responded with.

Zero
"Pissed, you say? So you speak of the strength of your emotions.
Well, sorry to say, but the anger you feel as a result of your compassion won't amount to very much."

The disinterest in his tone didn't falter.

Zero
"Kazuki Aoyama... I believed you to be the smart one. Do you honestly think you can defeat me with those foolish emotions?"

Kazuki Aoyama
"It's not just that I think it'll happen. We're going to win."

Zero
"Is that really all you have to say? Perhaps you should think things through before you speak, seeing as these may well be your final words."

With no hesitation, Zero wound up his pitch and threw the ball, his form relaxed.

A clear pinging sound echoed through the air as Kazuki's bat connected with the incoming pitch.
The ball flew over third base.

Zero
"My, my. I have to say, playing defense alone must be difficult."

Zero sent one of his hand drones over to the ball to pick it up.
Kazuki had made it to first base in the meanwhile, however...

He was unable to progress any farther.
The path to the next base had been obstructed by the drone holding the XB Ball. Kazuki was only able to score a single.

Kazuki Aoyama
"I won't push my luck this early on."

Zero
"A wise decision, I'd wager."

Once Zero had the ball in hand again, he turned his gaze back toward home base.
There stood Roku Saigo, formerly of the Ota Tribe, holding a gigantic bat.

Zero
"If it isn't former Ota Tribe member Roku Saigo... I hope you aren't planning to get all emotional on me as well."

Roku Saigo
"I have no interest in fraternizing with my enemies."

He kept his response curt.

Zero
"Oh, how cold! Though I can't say I expect any less from a former mercenary.
It's strange, though, isn't it? I can't imagine mercenaries like to take on ill-paying jobs."

Roku Saigo
"..."

Zero
"What reason could an elite mercenary like yourself possibly have for putting yourself on the battlefield of a game you're sure to lose?
Or could it be that feelings are the determining factor here for you as well?"

As he spoke, Zero wound up his pitch.
Roku, for his part, tightening his grip on the bat.

Roku Saigo
"A professional's job is to ensure their employer is victorious."

Roku's gigantic bat connected with Zero's pitch.
This time, the ball flew over first base.

Zero
"Ugh, they managed to get another hit?"

What followed played out similar to Kazuki's hit.
Both advanced a base, but were stopped from progressing once the hand drone picked up the ball.

Zero
"All right, then..."

After the XB Ball had once again been returned to Zero, his gaze shifted to home base.
Standing there waiting for him this time was...

Tsuruko Semba
"..."

Tsuruko Semba, formerly of the Bunkyo Tribe.

Zero
"Ah, you're... a former member of the Bunkyo Tribe, correct?
Whatever, little lass it is, then."

Tsuruko Semba
"Hey, don't 'little lass' me! How dare you just leave out my name like that!"

It didn't take much of Zero's teasing attitude to get Tsuruko fired up.

Tsuruko Semba
"You could at least call me the... Bunkyo Beauty or something!"

In her hands was a bat adorned with Japanese-style decorations.

Zero
"Truthfully, I'm a bit too dark-natured a person to do well around chatty types like yourself.
Besides, you're not much of an athlete, are you? So rude of you to butt into a game uninvited this way—"

Tsuruko Semba
"When something has to be done, then you have to just keep moving forward!"

Tsuruko declared as she readied herself for the pitch.

Tsuruko Semba
"You're the one who's being rude to me, by the way! I know enough about XB from being in the Bunkyo Tribe.
I can just follow Yo's lead and make up for my lack of experience with determination, anyway."

Zero couldn't help but to heave a sigh after hearing what Tsuruko had to say.

Zero
"Bor-ing. At the end of the day, your feelings just shield you from reality. Such things are useless in the face of a massive skill gap."

Zero wound up his pitch as he spoke before hurling a fastball toward Tsuruko.

Tsuruko Semba
"Passion is a privilege of youth, you know!"

With a narrow swing befitting of her small stature, Tsuruko managed to make contact with the pitch.
The ball rolled past Zero.

Tsuruko Semba
"I did it! See, when there's a will, there's a way!"

Tsuruko's spirits remained high as she ran to first base.
She made it no farther than that, as the hand drone once again had the ball in its possession.

With her hit, the bases were fully loaded.
As they saw the current state of the outfield, the rest of the group got hyped up in the dugout.

Hyakuichitaro Senju
"Haha! Take that, you masked bastard! Can't even live up to the big game you were talkin'!"

Enoki Yukigaya
"Way to go, Tsuru!"

Despite the hype in the dugout, Kazuki's expression darkened from his position at third base.

Kazuki Aoyama
"Three singles in a row..."

He lightly shook his head.

Kazuki Aoyama
"He's... just toying with us."

Meanwhile, Zero expressed something different.

Zero
"No outs, bases loaded, huh? You've really got me backed against the wall here."

Though his shoulders slumped, dejected for just a moment...

Zero
"I guess I'd better get serious, then."

Nonchalantly, he stretched before straightening his back.

Zero
"Now, please don't misunderstand. I'm not trying to underestimate you.
It's plain to see how strongly you all feel.
So in turn... could you perhaps lend me an ear? Hear out my feelings?"

Jio stepped up to the plate before Zero, bat in hand.

Jio Takinogawa
"Huh? Are you crazy, or are you just playing mind games with us right now? Not that I care either way."

Zero
"Mind games...?"

Zero responded with a light laugh.

Zero
"Oh, no. No, that's not my intention at all. I just think it's better that you understand where the source of this overwhelming power of mine comes from.
Just as you're all using your feelings as a strength to get through this battle, I too, have my own... emotional strength."

Jio Takinogawa
"Yeah? And what's that?"

Zero
"It's something that threatens to tear my body limb from limb... Boredom."

Zero's words came out cold, emotionless.

Zero
"Do you understand now? It's the sort of boredom that makes me want to curse this entire world."

Jio Takinogawa
"Boredom, excitement... Isn't that kind of all on you?"

Zero
"It seems you don't truly understand what I mean. Well, I suppose we should hurry and wrap this up, then."

Zero, clearly finished with their conversation, shifted into a big windup for his pitch.
It was clear that his form was completely different from the prior three pitches.
One leg lifted into the air and bent backwards—enough so that his back was now visible from home plate.
He was amassing an extreme amount of power, his body tightening like a towel being wrung.
It was then that he unleashed all of that power in one shot, throwing the XB Ball with what could only be described as perfecting pitching form.

Jio Takinogawa
"...!!"

The pitch was so strong that it boggled the mind.
The air pressure from the ball's speed as it flew past caused Jio's entire body to bend backward.
Only seconds later, the loud sonic boom reverberated through the air.
(Boom!)
That was when everyone realized that not only had the catcher's mitt been blown off—the force of the ball had done the same to the drone as well.

It was as if the ball had been shot from a cannon.

Zero
"After I took control of Neo Tokyo, all that I had left was a sense of regret. My last hope was crushed by my own hand..."

As he slowly made his explanation, Zero threw one cannon-like pitch after another.
Jio had no chance of getting a hit.

Zero
"The hope was that... there was someone in this world stronger than me."

Moments later, he struck Jio out.
Had he made contact with any of those pitches, he would have immediately been blown to pieces.

It was now one out, bases loaded.
The next batter up was...

Q
"I'll admit, you're strong."

The complete man of mystery—Q.

Q
"But your heart is weak, and your eyes are blind to your surroundings."

Zero stood in silence as he listened to what Q had to say.

Q
"All you see is your own narrow worldview."

Zero
"Is that so? Are you speaking from your own experiences?"

Zero's next utterances took on a tone that made them sound meaningful.

Zero
"I suppose now isn't the time to discuss your identity.
But I can assure you that what awaited you down the road not taken would have been the very same view I've seen."

Q
"..."

Zero
"The type of boredom that awaits at the end of the road to power.... We're similar, you and I, don't you think?

He spoke as he twisted and wound up his body, similar to how he had with the pitches to Jio.
And like a cannon, Zero threw the ball once more.

Q
"We are not the same."

As the jet-like pitch flew toward him, Q swung his bat.
However...

Q
"Gugh!"

A harsh, violent crashing sound could be heard.
It was Q's bat, shattering into a million pieces from the collision.

The XB Ball then rolled toward Zero's feet.

Zero
"Oh. Well, that was disappointing."

The hand drone quickly flew over to pick up the ball.
After that, it lunged toward Kazuki, who had taken off at full speed from third base in order to round home.

Kazuki Aoyama
"Crap...!"

Despite the fact that he'd dodged the drone's initial strike with a quick jump, it wasn't enough.
The drone then aimed for where Kazuki's feet would land; they collided, which sent Kazuki's body flying.

Kazuki Aoyama
"Gaaaah!"

Yo Kuronaka
"Kazuki!"

Zero
"I said it earlier, didn't I? It's impossible for you to defeat me."

Beneath the mask, they could be sure his expression was nothing short of smug.

Yo Kuronaka
"Damn it!"

Yo balled his hands into fists.

After being thrown in that manner, it took Kazuki some time to finally stand.
He gripped his arm in a way that implied he may have been injured, but appeared all right otherwise.

Regardless, it seemed as if Yo and the others had been completely backed into a corner.