Orix Buffaloes. Yuma Mune infielder (29) was calm and on fire. I was ready to hit every pitch. With two outs and runners at first and third, he hit a final pitch to right field from former colleague Sawada. He caught the first pitch perfectly and let out a roar of joy on the basepaths.

In his ninth game of the season, he batted first. He delivered a valuable hit in the batting batting order that his respected senior had always held. Fukuda Shuhei (33), who contributed to the team's consecutive league championships in 2021 and 2022 as part of the 1-2 batting combination, retired from active play at the end of 2025. On opening day, he contacted him saying, "I'll do my best starting today!" "It's not about the result, just go all out!" Fukuda's reply, full of his characteristic style, gave him courage.

For his first at-bat of the season, he used Fukuda's entrance music, "Geki! Teikoku Kagekidan." He said that Fukuda laughed at him, saying, "That's so weird," but Sou is motivated by the great presence of Fukuda, saying, "I want to carry Shuhei's feelings with me." After Home Run in two consecutive games, he led the offense with a clutch hit. The team stopped their losing streak at three games and returned to a .500 winning percentage. "I just want to put 100% of what I have into each at-bat, each pitch," he said, as he enters his 12th year as a professional with passionate determination. (Shunta Nanbu)