Episode 27: "XB vs. Kazuma: Part 3"

Yutaka Gotanda
"No... I can't take it anymore. I've reached my limit!"

Yo Kuronaka
"Mr. Gotanda!"

Shaking with fury, Yutaka burst forward and sprinted toward Kazuma.
Yo and the rest of the team chased on after him.

However, Yutaka stopped abruptly before reaching Kazuma, and shouted toward his subordinates.

Yutaka Gotanda
"Nakanobu, Ebara, Fudo, Nishikoyama!
Ms. Kashiwa, Mr. Ogura, Ms. Mitarashi, Mr. Abekawa! All of you, listen to me!"

Yo and the rest all blinked in confusion, not recognizing any of the names Yutaka had just called.

Minami Oi
"Mr. Gotanda... You remembered, after all this time..."

Minami was the only one that had realized the meaning behind those names.

Kazuma Ichinose
"Hahaha! You're pathetic? Thinking you can plea to the dead for the strength to defeat me?
Do as you please! When we instate the governing rules back, you will be the FIRST to be laid off!
You'll get to reunite with all these names you're calling to soon!"

Ichinose doubled over in laughter, believing Yutaka was spouting nonsense in a panicked state.
But he didn't get it at all.

Nakanobu - Shinagawa Tribe
"Why... Why do you know my name?
I... I never even spoke to you before, even back when you were our leader, Mr. Gotanda..."

Kashiwa - Shinagawa Tribe
"I... I never even greeted you!
Why would you know the names of people like us, who weren't even originally part of the Shinagawa Tribe?"

The names Yutaka had shouted out weren't just random names, or those of the departed.
These were the names of the 24 Tribe and Shinagawa Tribe that currently served under Kazuma.

Kazuma Ichinose
"...Huh? What is the meaning of this? You mean to tell me those were your names...?"

Yutaka Gotanda
"Oh? Shouldn't YOU, as their superior, have immediately recognized those names as the ones of your subordinates?
A boss ought to know the names of all those under him."

Kazuma Ichinose
"Oh, don't be ridiculous! They all look identical!
There's no way you could tell any of them apart!"

Yutaka Gotanda
"That's not true. I can tell each one of them apart."

While Kazuma stood there, confused, Yutaka stepped forward, a gentle smile adorning his face, as he approached Kazuma's subordinates.

Yutaka Gotanda
"Nakanobu, Ebara, Fudo, Nishikoyama.
You four have been part of the Shinagawa Tribe ever since I was the leader.
We may have never spoken, but you were my subordinates, and I cherished you as so. Remembering your names is the least I could do."

Ebara
"Mr. Gotanda..."

Fudo
"It's an honor that you would remember me among everyone else you'd have to keep track of..."

Yutaka Gotanda
"And as for you, members from the 24 Tribe... Ms. Kashiwa, Mr. Ogura, Ms. Mitarashi, Mr. Abekawa.
We met when Ichinose was trying to move into the hotel, didn't we?
You all showed incredible coordination amongst yourselves after Ichinose had left. It's some unbelievable potential."

Ogura
"No way... You remembered even something that small?"

Mitarashi
"Still... This makes me so happy... There was someone out there, who truly saw us as we were."

Face Flash Memory.

That was one of Gotanda's special skills. It had even caught Yo off-guard when he first saw it.
Once he linked a face with a name, he could recall it instantly.

And it didn't just apply to the subordinates he'd spoken to.
He could even perfectly remember the names and faces of enemies he'd never even had the chance to exchange words with.

For the subordinates who were never called by name by their own boss, that fact struck them deeply.

Yutaka Gotanda
"From here on I don't say this as your opponent, but as a human being to another.
Please... Leave Ichinose. Talented young people such as yourselves don't deserve to be crushed by someone like him.
I sincerely beg of you.
No matter what, a superior should never neglect those under him. A leader's true duty is to their own. To ensure they flourish."

Minami Oi
"Mr. Gotanda..."

Yutaka bowed his head deeply. He truly wished for happiness to find Kazuma's underlings, even if now they were the enemy.

He was, without a shadow of a doubt, a man of true spirit, with the undeniable qualities of a leader.
Anathema to the man Kazuma was, who instead opted to neglect and belittle those under him.

The rest of Yo's team felt something stir within them at seeing Yutaka's open sincerity on display.

Kazuma Ichinose
"Hah. Quit it with the saccharine sentimentality. Did you seriously think they'd be moved by that? That they'd listen to you?
This is why I despise you obsolete, corporate drones. Now, come on, you lot. Set him straight."

Yutaka didn't stir from his deep bow. Kazuma spat bitterly at him, urging his subordinates to back him up.

And yet...

Nishikoyama
"I'm sorry, but I cannot follow that order."

Abekawa
"We have opened our eyes! This is the last time we work under you, Ichinose!"

Nishikoyama
"U-Um... F-From here on out, please handle your affairs all on your own, Boss! Er, Former Boss!"

Kazuma's subordinates slowly turned their backs on Kazuma, both literally and figuratively, after having heard Yutaka's heartfelt words.
They gingerly stepped forward, finally freed from the heavy chains that had bound them for so long.

Kazuma Ichinose
"W-Wait! The match isn't over yet!"

Kazuma panicked, realizing those who once followed him without question were now deserting him.

Tsuki Iroha
"No way! Even Kazuma's underlings couldn't stand up to all that abuse!"

Minami Oi
"As expected from Mr. Gotanda, sir. You've managed to free them from Ichinose's terror."

Yutaka Gotanda
"No, I've done no such thing. They reached their limit and did this all on their own."

Yo and the rest of the team gathered around Yutaka, impressed with his actions. He smiled bashfully at all the attention.

Kazuma Ichinose
"...Damn it! Damn, damn, damn, DAMN IT!"
Why?! Why would you leave someone as brilliant as me?!
Trash Tribe! You snakes! This is your fault! You whispered falsities into their ear and now they've left me!"

Kazuma's anger swelled with his voice, his angry gaze piercing at everyone.
Instead of biting, Yo spoke up to ask a question.

Yo Kuronaka
"So? It's just you now. You still wanna play?"

Kazuma Ichinose
"Of course! As long as I'm here, I can beat you! I need none of those unsavory weaklings to crush you!"

Yo Kuronaka
"All right. Your funeral."

And so the game resumed.

Kazuma returned to the field, wearing a smug look on his face. It spoke of someone who thought undeservedly high of themselves.

But the cracks showed as soon as he stepped up to the plate.
The prototype XB Gear the Shinagawa tribe had provided him broke down during Kazuma's offense.
And when he was on the defense, with no team to speak of, Kazuma had to chase after the ball all by his lonesome self.

The Trash Tribe steadily racked up runs against him while Kazuma's mistakes piled high one on top of the other.

It was finally at the bottom of the sixth inning that the match was forcibly ended. The Trash Tribe had claimed their victory.