"Another steal?!"
Kuramochi was genuinely shocked.
He hadn't expected Seido to attempt a steal again after already reaching second base.
Why?
With Kominato-senpai's batting ability, advancing to third was almost guaranteed.
If Kominato got on base as well, it would immediately become runners on first and third—
That alone would be more than enough to pressure Ichidai San High's pitcher.
There was no need to take such a risk.
At least, that was how Kuramochi saw it.
But even though he didn't understand, he still obeyed the coach's signal.
At home plate, Kominato Ryosuke was just as puzzled.
"Another steal…?"
Is this really happening?
Yet after confirming the signal, his expression steadied.
He quietly committed it to memory.
On the mound, Manaka Kaname glared fiercely at Kuramochi on second base.
"Damn it…"
After exchanging signs with the catcher, Manaka focused and began his pitching motion.
But the instant his arm moved—
Kuramochi exploded forward like a bolt of lightning.
"Steal!!!"
The second baseman shouted in alarm, immediately warning both pitcher and catcher.
"What?! Again?!"
Manaka's anger surged.
He hurled the ball toward home plate with all his strength—
But the pitch was just a fraction slower than before.
Thwack!
The catcher received it cleanly and instantly whipped the ball toward third base.
Kuramochi gave everything he had.
His foot touched the bag—
0.2 seconds before the ball entered the third baseman's glove.
"Safe!!!"
The third-base umpire swept his arm decisively.
"Oh ho ho~ Another successful steal!"
"Consecutive steals?! What kind of speed is that?!"
"Seido's leadoff hitter—Shortstop Kuramochi Yoichi!"
"With no outs and a runner on third, Ichidai San High is in real trouble!"
"And after stopping the steal, it's already two balls against the second batter!"
"At this point, that run is almost guaranteed!"
The crowd was on fire.
In Seido's dugout, the atmosphere was completely different.
Everyone stared at Ushijima Wakatoshi as if he were something terrifying.
Even Tanba swallowed hard.
As a pitcher—and a third-year at that—
He had never thought about the game this deeply.
Coach Kataoka felt his blood boiling.
Seido had used stolen bases before.
But never like this.
Never with such certainty.
Never knowing, down to fractions of a second, that the steal would succeed.
After giving Kominato the signal, Kataoka folded his arms and watched.
Kominato Ryosuke understood his mission perfectly.
With Kuramochi on third—
He had to bring him home.
Clang!!!
The bat met the ball cleanly.
The baseball flew past the shortstop's glove and dropped into the outfield.
"Ya ha ha~!"
Kuramochi dashed home and celebrated with Kominato using a mid-air fist bump.
Kominato stood on first base, smiling faintly as he returned the gesture.
After returning to the dugout, Kuramochi couldn't help asking,
"Why did you have me steal twice in a row today?"
"Weren't you worried I'd get caught?"
Yuki, who was heading toward the on-deck circle, replied quietly,
"Ask them."
In the end, Masuko—Kuramochi's dormmate—explained everything.
When Kuramochi learned that the entire strategy came from Ushijima Wakatoshi—
He froze.
"…Damn it."
Then he laughed.
"You're really a nasty guy."
"Thank you for the compliment." Ushijima replied calmly, flashing a victory sign.
"Ya ha ha~ Manaka's going to mentally collapse today."
"Our first-year pitcher is brutal."
"Hey, Miyuki," Isashiki grinned,
"This guy's even more annoying than you."
Miyuki smiled innocently.
"Thanks for the compliment."
Coach Kataoka turned to Ushijima.
"Can Kominato steal too?"
"Kominato-senpai averages 3.40 seconds from first to second," Ushijima replied.
"With Manaka's current mental state, it's possible."
"But since the last steal succeeded, they'll be more cautious."
"He can still steal—but he needs to keep distracting Manaka from first base."
"Manaka will try multiple pickoffs."
"The more we drag this out, the more unstable he'll become."
"And the higher the success rate."
Kuramochi, listening nearby, grew more excited by the second.
Coach Kataoka immediately signaled again.
On first base, Kominato stiffened.
"R-Really? You want me to steal?"
"I'm not as fast as Kuramochi…"
At the same time, Isashiki received his own instruction.
Don't swing.
He didn't understand—but that was exactly how the earlier steals happened.
Thwack!
Manaka snapped a pickoff throw to first.
"Damn it! He's taking such a big lead—does he think I'm a joke?!"
Manaka's irritation continued to build.
The catcher quickly stepped in.
"Forget the runner. Focus on the batter."
Manaka nodded and reset.
Once he committed to the pitch—
Kominato took off.
"What?! Again?!"
"Steal!!!"
Manaka was furious.
He fired the ball home.
The catcher rose and launched a full-power throw to second base.
Swish!
Kominato slid in—
"Safe!!!"
The stadium exploded.
"It worked again!"
"Another stolen base!"
"What kind of strategy is this?!"
Seido's supporters roared with excitement.
"Nice one, Kominato!"
"Keep stealing!"
Standing on second base, Kominato looked toward the dugout.
No signal.
Isashiki's grin widened.
He knew it.
The pitcher was about to snap.
"COME ON!!!"
The foxy dog Isashiki barked loudly, openly provoking Manaka.
Enraged, Manaka unleashed his best pitch—
A high-speed curveball.
Isashiki swung without hesitation.
Clang!!!!!
The metal bat sent the ball screaming toward right field.
The defense couldn't stop it.
As the ball landed, Kominato sprinted.
Double.
Ichidai San High's defense had been completely dismantled.