"Top of the second inning, Seido High School is up to bat. First up: the leadoff hitter!" the commentator announced, voice brimming with excitement.
"Leadoff hitter, shortstop, Kuramochi-kun."
Whoosh!
Clang!
A perfect bunt! Kuramochi dropped his bat and sprinted toward first base like a cheetah.
"Yahahaha!" Kuramochi Yoichi let out a strange laugh as he reached first before the ball could arrive.
Manaka Kaname on the mound clenched his teeth in frustration.
"His—his leg speed is incredible!" a first-year manager from Seido exclaimed from the stands, eyes wide.
"Second batter, second baseman, Kominato-kun."
Kominato Ryosuke narrowed his eyes, a confident smile playing across his face as he took a bunting stance.
Manaka wound up and threw.
"Steal!" the commentator shouted.
Kominato pulled back his bunt and swung normally, sending the ball racing past first and second.
"A hit through first and second! Seido executes a successful hit-and-run! No outs, runner on third!"
The commentator's booming voice carried across the stadium.
"Third batter, center fielder, Isashiki-kun."
Isashiki stepped into the batter's box, politely nodding to the umpire.
"Please take care of me," he said softly.
Then he gripped the bat with one hand, glaring at the pitcher with fierce determination.
"Bring it on!"
The catcher flinched at his aura, quickly regaining composure to set the signals.
"Fastball," he decided.
Manaka Kaname delivered his pitch.
Whoosh!
Isashiki swung with all his strength.
Clang!
Though slightly jammed, the ball still found a gap for a hit.
"Seido adds another run!" the commentator shouted, high-pitched with excitement.
The Seido supporters erupted.
"Fantastic! Amazing, Takako-senpai!"
"Ichidaisan High's pitcher, Manaka, already battered in the first inning—including giving up a home run—still can't contain Seido's lineup. No outs, runners on first and second, and now the cleanup hitter steps up."
"Cleanup hitter, first baseman, Yuki Tetsuya-kun."
Clang!
"A hit! Between left and center field! Ichidaisan High, a top-eight team in the Spring Selection, is completely overwhelmed!"
The score now read 7–2 in favor of Seido.
Kitamura Kou, sitting behind Seido's four female managers, listened to their proud chatter.
"See? This is our batting lineup," one said.
"Truly incredible," another replied.
Bottom of the fourth inning. Ichidaisan's offense. Score: Seido 9, Ichidaisan 5.
Whoosh!
Snap!
"Ball!"
"Just a bit off, Tanba-senpai." Miyuki Kazuya said, patting him on the shoulder.
"Throw it for them to hit!" his teammates cheered.
Whoosh!
Snap!
"Ball! Walk!"
Tanba's pitch proved too generous.
Clang!
The ball soared into the outfield. Ichidaisan scored a run.
Whoosh!
"Steal!"
Snap!
Miyuki rose fluidly, snatched the ball, and fired to second. Kuramochi caught the ball just as the runner arrived, tagging him out.
"Out!"
The crowd erupted.
"Amazing! Miyuki's arm is like a cannon!"
"The runner didn't even get a chance to slide!"
"A straight arrow from home plate!"
Even Ichidaisan's player who got tagged out couldn't hide his admiration.
"Training a catcher like him would take years, yet his instinct is beyond high school level!" Coach Tahara gritted his teeth. "Why didn't you come to our school, Miyuki Boy?"
Seido dugout.
"You walked a batter, created a crisis, and still tried to throw a fastball down the middle? Tanba, what have you learned in these past two years?" Coach Kataoka scolded.
Tanba could only stare in silence.
"Kawakami, you're up next inning."
"Uh, yes!" Kawakami replied promptly.
"Before their pitcher settles, we'll tear through them. Decide this inning," Kataoka instructed, ignoring Tanba's frustration.
"Yes!!!" the team cheered.
The spectators murmured among themselves.
"What a hitting battle!"
"Last year, the team centered on Azuma Kiyokuni. This year's Seido lineup could dominate nationally."
"As long as they have a pitcher who can make Miyuki's calls shine, a national title isn't impossible."
"Coach Kataoka must be frustrated—he used to be a pitcher himself," another remarked.
"The only challenge: no ace to stabilize critical moments."
The game ended.
"Thank you for the game!"
Final score: 13–9. Seido's explosive batting narrowly secured the win, but the team wasn't celebrating. They'd seen their own weaknesses.
In the press box, two Baseball Kingdom Weekly reporters discussed the teams.
"Seido barely won despite their batting lineup."
"If they continue like this, summer preliminaries will be tough."
Kitamura Kou left the stands with the crowd, spotting Seido returning to the dugout. Their grim expressions revealed no joy from victory.
Even Miyuki Kazuya, who'd shone in the game, lacked his usual cheer.
"Ah, a formidable team. This summer will be tough," Kitamura muttered.
Suddenly, Miyuki froze, sensing something. Kitamura's back disappeared into the crowd, but Miyuki's intuition told him: this person would be a formidable rival.
"Miyuki, what's wrong?" Captain Yuki Tetsuya asked.
"Nothing… must be my imagination," Miyuki replied, quickly catching up to the group.
Three months remained until the start of the summer tournament.