"Are you kidding me…? I still want to stand on that stage with everyone…!"
"Fly—!!!"
Clang!!!
With a sharp crack, Miyagawa Teru drove Sanada Shunpei's cutter deep into the outfield.
Fatigue had finally taken its toll. The pitch lacked its usual bite but once contact was made, there were no excuses.
The ball soared high.
Far enough.
But not fast enough.
If it dropped—
Ichidaisan would take the lead.
If it was caught—
the inning would end, and Yakushi would get one final chance to finish the game.
The entire stadium held its breath.
"Go…!"
"Catch it!"
The ball reached its peak—
then began to fall.
Beneath it, a figure was already waiting.
Glove raised.
Eyes locked.
Time seemed to freeze.
Snap!
The sound echoed like a verdict.
"Out! Three outs! Change!"
"Caught it!!!"
Cheers erupted from Yakushi's side.
"Well done, Yamauchi!"
"I'm impressed now!"
"Don't get carried away!" Todoroki Raizō barked, cutting through the excitement. "It's not over yet. Finish them in the bottom of the inning!"
"YES!"
"Let's go!!!"
Ichidaisan High School Dugout
"Don't give up," the coach said firmly. "The game isn't over. Hold them here, and we still have a chance."
"That's right!" Ōmae Takahiro shouted. "We haven't lost yet! Fight to the very end!"
Manaka Kaname, still crouched, slowly lifted his head.
"I'm counting on all of you…"
His voice was quiet—but steady.
"We can still win."
"Yeah! Their hits aren't unstoppable!" Takami Akira added quickly. "Didn't we shut down that arrogant first-year earlier?"
"GO! GO! GO! ICHIDAISAN!"
Hands stacked together, voices united—they rushed back onto the field with everything they had left.
Yakushi Dugout
"Kitamura," Todoroki Raizō said, unusually calm, "don't think about winning or losing. Just enjoy it."
One by one, the team gave him a thumbs-up.
Kou lowered his head slightly.
"Kou… you're not about to cry, are you?" Nakanishi teased.
Laughter broke out.
Kou raised his head—
his eyes clear, sharp.
"You wish."
Then, without another word, he turned and jogged toward the batter's box.
Clang!!!
The crack of the bat split the air—
and with it—
the game ended.
Hachioji Citizens' Stadium
As Inashiro Industrial left the field after their victory, one player remained visibly dissatisfied.
Narumiya Mei.
Being subbed out had cost him a no-hitter—and he wasn't over it.
"Stop sulking," Masatoshi Harada snapped. "You're the ace. Act like one."
"Coach—!"
A scout came running over, out of breath.
"What's wrong?" Harada asked.
"…The other match…"
Everyone turned.
"Ichidaisan High School… lost."
Silence.
"To Yakushi High School."
Shock spread instantly.
"They fell behind early… but after their ace returned, Yakushi caught up. And in the ninth inning…"
The scout swallowed.
"…Yakushi's fifth batter hit a walk-off home run."
Back at the Stadium
"Stand up… line up."
Ōmae's voice was lower than usual.
Manaka remained crouched, head buried in his arms.
"Stand up," the coach repeated, his voice firm.
Around them, players wiped their tears, forcing themselves to rise.
"I… I still can't believe it," Owada Akiko murmured. "Fifteen hits… eleven RBIs… five home runs… not a single sacrifice bunt. It was a pure slugfest…"
"Yakushi overwhelmed them with offense," Mine Fujio said gravely. "I expected Ichidaisan or Seidou to advance… but instead, a dark horse has emerged."
Both teams lined up.
"Thank you for the game!"
The long battle—
was finally over.
"It was worth coming to watch," Coach Kataoka said quietly. "We have our work cut out for us."
In the stands, Tanba watched silently.
His best friend—
crying on the field.
Their promise… broken.
They were supposed to face each other as aces in their final summer.
But Yakushi had appeared—
and shattered that future.
Kou stood on the field, watching Ichidaisan's players break down.
He had delivered the final blow.
Ended their summer.
He had seen this before—many times.
On his team.
On others.
Still—
it never felt easy.
…How will our summer end?
"Kou! That was amazing! Your walk-off was incredible!"
He turned.
Tsukishima Momiji waved excitedly.
Beside her—
Ichiyo smiled gently.
Wakaba watched warmly.
And Aoba—
looked away.
But her eyes kept drifting back to him.
Kou blinked—
then smiled.
A wide, genuine smile.
He turned back—
and ran toward his teammates.
Toward victory.
"…That looked stupid," Aoba muttered, her face faintly red.
"Did you say something?" Ichiyo asked.
"…Nothing."
Aoba shook her head, pushing away the strange feeling in her chest.
The curtain falls—
but summer is far from over.