"Announcement from the tournament committee: The quarterfinal match between Seido High School and Yakushi High School is about to begin!"
"Listen up!" Todoroki Raizo barked, his voice cutting through the noise. "Swing for yourselves! Defend for yourselves! And then— go enjoy the taste of victory!"
"OOOOH!!!"
On the other side—
"Every pitch you throw, every step you take, every swing you make—represents your baseball," Coach Kataoka said firmly. "Don't hesitate. Believe in it."
"YES, SIR!!!"
At the umpire's signal, both teams lined up across from each other.
The tension between them was immediate.
Sanada Shunpei glanced sideways and smirked. "They're staring at you like they want to eat you alive."
Mishima Yuta leaned closer. "What did you even do, Raichi?"
"Salute!"
"Please take care of me!"
Todoroki Raichi simply grinned, bat resting on his shoulder, eyes locked forward—already in his own world.
Behind the plate, Miyuki Kazuya exhaled slowly.
"I can't believe I have to deal with him right away…" he muttered, glancing at Furuya. "He's not just a spark he's a nuclear warhead."
A faint grin appeared on his face.
"But your pitch won't be that easy to hit. I'm counting on you, Furuya."
"Top of the first inning! Yakushi High School's leadoff batter—third baseman, Todoroki Raichi!"
As Raichi stepped into the batter's box, the stadium buzzed.
Miyuki narrowed his eyes.
If we can shut him down here, we take control of the game.
You know that too, right… Furuya?
On the mound, Furuya Satoru stared at Raichi.
That day the memory of being looked down on flashed through his mind.
His gaze turned ice-cold.
He exhaled softly onto his fingers.
"Play ball!!!"
The game began.
"Hahahaha!"
Raichi's laughter rang out.
For days, he had imagined this moment Furuya's speed, his power, the feel of his pitches.
Now—
It was finally real.
Miyuki set his glove.
First pitch—full power. Overwhelm him.
"Come on, Furuya… don't lose in momentum."
The crowd held its breath.
Furuya lifted his leg—stepped forward—
His arm whipped forward.
BOOM!!!
A blazing fastball exploded from his fingertips.
150 km/h.
The air screamed as it tore toward the plate.
Raichi's eyes widened slightly.
For a split second, the ball seemed to expand like a massive sphere crashing down on him.
Oppressive. Violent.
—but not enough.
THUMP!!!
The ball slammed into Miyuki's glove.
"Ball!"
"150 km/h!!!"
"That's the pitch!"
"I came to see THAT!"
The stadium erupted.
Raichi's grin widened.
"Hahaha… so this is it," he muttered. "Even stronger than I imagined… but…"
His eyes sharpened.
"I've seen worse."
Behind the plate, Miyuki's expression stiffened.
He didn't flinch…?
Against Akikawa, even disciplined batters showed hesitation.
Fear.
But Raichi—
Nothing.
Not even a twitch.
Miyuki tossed the ball back.
Keep it low. Even if it's a ball.
He gave the sign.
Furuya nodded immediately.
No hesitation.
BOOM!
The second pitch roared forward still fast, still heavy—
Then suddenly dropped near the plate.
THUMP!
"Ball!"
Raichi didn't swing.
He simply watched it sink into the glove.
"Hahaha… it dropped. Nice!"
Miyuki clicked his tongue internally.
He's reading it…? Watching everything this carefully?
This wasn't the reckless swinger from before.
This was something else.
From the Yakushi bench—
"Raichi! Smash it!"
"No walks!"
"You ate all my bananas, don't disappoint me!"
"Get on base, Raichi!"
The dugout turned noisy.
Meanwhile—
Two balls. No strikes.
Miyuki exhaled.
One more… up high.
Even if it becomes 3-0.
He raised his glove.
Furuya caught the signal and his eyes lit up.
Perfect.
He stepped forward again—
Driving off the mound—
His arm lashed forward.
BOOM!!!
Another blazing fastball.
Same overwhelming speed—
Same crushing force—
But this time—
Raichi moved.
His eyes gleamed crimson.
Locked.
Waiting.
The moment the ball entered his zone—
He swung.
BOOM!!!
The bat cut through the air with terrifying force—no, even stronger than the pitch itself.
At the last instant—
The ball rose.
But Raichi had already accounted for it.
From the beginning—
He had been aiming for that exact point.
The bat met the ball head-on—
CLANG!!!