My bad wrong chapter.
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The top of the first inning—which had felt endlessly long—finally came to an end.
When Matsugi Musashi walked off the mound, the audience couldn't help but applaud.
Even after giving up two home runs, his rapid adjustment afterward proved why he was still regarded as the strongest pitcher in this Koshien.
"…What a shame," Tanaka Wataru muttered as he returned to the dugout with Isashiki Jun.
"He adjusted way too fast."
Isashiki snorted. "That's because you're not Kanzaki Ryou. I swear, that guy only loses his cool when facing a first-year like him."
Tanaka laughed. "That actually makes sense."
For a proud ace like Matsugi Musashi, being challenged head-on by a first-year genius was far more irritating than facing veteran batters.
Osaka Kiryu's Bench
After seeing Matsugi stabilize, Manager Matsumoto Hirotaka completely abandoned the idea of moving him to the outfield.
"Matsugi," he said sternly, "this is Koshien. The semi-finals. Your opponent isn't Kanzaki Ryou, It's Seidou. Play clean. Don't do anything unnecessary."
Matsugi nodded.
Seeing the scoreboard showing 0–3, he understood how reckless he had been earlier.
But—
If he faced that first-year again…
He would still confront him head-on.
Just in a different way.
Bottom of the First Inning
Seidou took the field.
Nanjo Taishi, fully prepared, stepped onto the mound.
In left field, Kanzaki Ryou could clearly hear the cheers pouring down from the stands. The closer proximity only made the atmosphere feel more intense.
Nanjo didn't hesitate.
Three pitches.
Strikeout.
Osaka Kiryu's leadoff batter went down swinging.
"As expected of Seidou's former Ace," someone murmured.
But good momentum never lasts long against Osaka Kiryu.
The second batter connected with an outside high-speed slider and singled to first.
Then—
Their core lineup stepped in.
Third batter Wada Daisuke smashed a deep drive toward left field.
The runner advanced to second.
Wada himself reached first safely.
One out. Runners on first and second.
The stadium buzzed.
Now stepping up—
Tahara Kazuki, Osaka Kiryu's cleanup hitter.
Three home runs already in this Koshien.
A monster-level power hitter.
One mistake—
And Seidou's three-run lead could vanish instantly.
Tanaka Wataru immediately signaled:
Outside high-speed slider.
Nanjo nodded.
The pitch flew.
Tahara swung with terrifying force.
BANG!!
Left field.
The ball soared high toward the corner.
The runners were already sprinting.
"Home run!!" Osaka Kiryu's fans roared.
The white ball continued its arc, drifting dangerously close to the wall—
At That Moment
A figure burst forward.
No hesitation.
No wasted steps.
Kanzaki Ryou sprinted toward the left-field corner, planted one foot against the wall, and launched himself upward.
At the very edge—
Just before the ball could drop into the stands—
SNAP!
He caught it.
Silence. Then—Explosion.
"Ohhhhh!!!"
"NO WAY!!"
"That was insane!"
"KANZAKI!!"
"SEIDOU!! SEIDOU!!"
The stadium erupted.
What was moments ago a sure three-run home run—
Had been confiscated.
Osaka Kiryu's runners froze mid-basepath.
Their joy shattered instantly.
Tahara Kazuki's face twisted violently.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
On the mound, Nanjo Taishi slammed his chest hard, exhaling sharply.
That catch had dragged him back from the edge of disaster.
He turned and looked at Kanzaki with gratitude burning in his eyes.
Thank you.
Still Not Over
Two outs. Runners on first and second.
Nanjo steadied himself and faced the fifth batter.
Two straight nice balls.
No swing.
On the third pitch—
CRACK!
A sharp grounder slipped through the gap between first and second.
The right fielder Yoshikawa Junpei rushed in—but he was positioned too deep.
Too late.
Bases Loaded. Two Outs.
Once again—
Seidou stood on the brink.
Nanjo didn't panic.
I've been here before.
One more out—that's all I need.
The sixth batter stepped in.
Count quickly ran full.
Tanaka gave the sign again.
High-speed slider.
Nanjo's decisive pitch.
WHOOSH!
The batter swung hard.
BANG!
The ball shot high—
Right field!
Nanjo's heart skipped.
Everyone's gaze snapped toward the outfield—