Mishima High's pitcher was completely shaken.
It was only the second inning.
Eight batters had already stepped up.
Seven runs were on the board.
And there was still a runner on third.
The next batter? The third hitter in the lineup.
Isashiki stepped into the batter's box with a dark expression.
He had been intercepted in the previous at-bat.
And Ushijima Wakatoshi's endless sarcasm had only added fuel to the fire.
He was furious.
He wanted to vent.
"Jun-san, you'd better get a hit," Kuramochi called from third base, staring at him intently. "Or you're going to get mocked again in the locker room."
At first base, Kominato Ryosuke smiled faintly.
The Mishima pitcher was visibly lost. His confidence was gone.
"GET OUT OF HERE!!!"
Isashiki roared as he swung at the first pitch.
Bang!
The ball soared high into center field.
Since it hadn't landed yet, Kuramochi held his position, carefully watching the defense.
The center fielder was already tracking back.
"Thwack!"
The ball dropped neatly into the center fielder's glove.
Out.
Isashiki froze.
Center field—clean interception.
"Aaaaaah!"
"Center fielder makes the catch!!!"
In the lounge, Ushijima Wakatoshi jumped up and pumped his fist dramatically.
He looked more excited than Mishima's bench.
The entire Seido dugout burst into laughter.
Even Coach Kataoka, who usually wore the expression of a stern underworld boss, couldn't hide his amusement.
Your teammate gets caught out and you're celebrating like this?
What kind of personality is that?
"Pfft—"
Rei Takashima covered her mouth, laughing.
"Stop fooling around," she scolded lightly, smacking Ushijima on the back.
Ushijima only sniffed and looked at Isashiki returning to the bench in silence.
Too embarrassing.
He still hadn't reached base.
On the field, Kuramochi tagged up and returned home.
Kominato Ryosuke advanced to second base.
He didn't risk third one base was enough.
Just then—
Mishima signaled for a pitching change.
Their starting pitcher had completely collapsed in the second inning.
And now stepping up was Seido's eternal fourth batter—
Yuki Tetsuya.
Current situation:
One out.
Runner on second.
Seven runs already scored this inning.
Seido's batting line was fully connected—relentless.
"They've finally sent in their ace left-hander," Kuramochi said after removing his gear.
"They had no choice," Ushijima replied calmly. "That pitcher was already broken."
As he spoke, Ushijima began putting on his protective gear.
Unless Mishima turned a double play here—
He would definitely bat again this inning.
Two at-bats in a single inning.
In high school baseball, that was rare.
But today showed the gap in strength.
Facing Mishima's ace left-hander, Yuki swung at the first pitch.
A breaking ball.
He drove it sharply into the infield.
Safe at first.
An infield single.
Kominato had already advanced to third.
When Ushijima stepped into the batter's box, he glanced at the scoreboard.
7–0.
Then he looked toward first base.
Yuki Tetsuya met his eyes instantly.
Kominato on third narrowed his gaze.
This guy…
Mishima's ace felt a chill.
He remembered Ushijima's earlier monstrous hit to left field.
A left-field extra-base hit that somehow turned into a run.
That kind of play was rare.
Left field was close to third base—long hits there usually stopped at second.
But Ushijima had forced it home.
That swing had shattered them.
"Steal a base!" the first baseman suddenly shouted.
"What?!" the pitcher panicked.
Thud!
The pitch landed in the glove—
But by the time the catcher stood up—
It was too late.
Yuki Tetsuya had already stolen second.
Now he was in scoring position.
"Tetsu is in the scoring zone," Kominato muttered with a smile from third.
"If Ushijima hits one deep, that's two runs guaranteed."
In the dugout, Coach Kataoka crossed his arms.
"I see it now," he said.
"He could have attacked earlier but he waited."
Furuya nodded.
"He waited for the captain to reach second."
"Only then would a long hit guarantee he scores."
Kominato Haruichi added quietly,
"He's not just hitting with power. He's calculating the situation."
"He understands the pitcher… because he's one himself."
The pressure on Mishima's ace intensified.
Second pitch.
At the catcher's signal, he fired quickly.
Ushijima gripped the bat with both hands.
Fastball.
Around 135 km/h.
Slight break—
Slider movement.
In that split second, Ushijima adjusted.
He pulled the ball inward slightly as he swung—
Bang!!!
The thickest part of the bat struck the sinking pitch cleanly.
"What?!"
The catcher stared in disbelief.
"Thwack!"
The ball landed in deep right-center field and rolled toward the wall.
Kominato dashed home.
Yuki rounded third—
And scored easily.
The crowd erupted.
Seido's dugout exploded in cheers.
By the time Ushijima reached second base, Kominato and Yuki were waiting.
The three exchanged a firm fist bump.
Another two runs.
And Mishima's morale—
Completely shattered.