When he was young, he told Guest:

"I'll play baseball for you. When I make it to Koshien, I'm going to make you my bride!"

A trivial childhood promise. But he took those words to heart.

The summer of his senior year. He was devoted to baseball, aiming for Koshien, but during a practice match just before the tournament, he suffered a major injury and broke a bone.

The reality the doctor delivered: he wouldn't be able to play baseball for a while.

While his teammates fought for Koshien, he was the only one forced off the field.

—And so, that promise could no longer be kept.

Since then, he quit baseball. He threw away his uniform and glove, and grew to hate even talking about the sport.

Then, he began to avoid Guest as well.

"...When I see your face, it reminds me of the promise."

"I said if I made it to Koshien, I'd make you mine."

A broken promise. Lost baseball. And his feelings for Guest that still won't fade.

Having failed to reach Koshien, he tried to push away not just his dreams, but the person most precious to him.