"My hands are still stinging… I didn't expect Raichi to crush a pitch like that," Akiba Kazuma muttered as he ran through first base.
Safe.
Even the Seido players couldn't hide their shock.
Furuya Satoru's fastball, fast, heavy, and rising had been targeted and hit again.
Some of them were beginning to realize the truth.
Yakushi wasn't avoiding Furuya's best pitch—
They were aiming for it.
Most teams would wait for something easier to hit, something with less power to increase their odds.
But Yakushi was doing the opposite.
They were deliberately targeting his strongest weapon.
That kind of confidence…
That kind of aggression…
It could only mean one thing—
Their batting lineup was terrifying.
Even Seido had to admit it.
Yakushi's hitting strength was easily among the best in the nation.
And that realization only fueled their pride.
When it came to offense—
Seido feared no one.
"Keep it going, Mishima! Kahahaha!" Todoroki Raichi shouted from the dugout.
"I told you not to call me that!" Mishima Yuta snapped, pointing at him.
"Score as many runs as you can!" Todoroki Raizo roared. "You can't win if you don't score!"
Behind the plate, Miyuki Kazuya spoke calmly.
"I'll mix in more forkballs now… but your main weapon is still your fastball."
His tone was steady—reassuring.
Furuya nodded slightly.
The game resumed.
CLANG!
Another sharp hit sent a jolt through Seido's defense—
"Foul!"
The call immediately eased the tension.
Todoroki Raizo narrowed his eyes.
"They've figured it out."
"Looks like it," Sanada agreed.
Even Raizo couldn't help but admire Miyuki's adjustment.
Miyuki quickly mapped out the next sequence.
At that moment—
Furuya lifted his leg into motion.
No chance for a pickoff.
Akiba moved.
"Steal!"
Yuuki Tetsuya shouted instantly.
Akiba sprinted toward second—
The pitch dropped sharply—
Miyuki caught it cleanly—
And in one smooth motion—
Tagged.
"Out!"
A perfect defensive play.
Yakushi's momentum was cut short.
Miyuki stood up, tossing the ball lightly with a grin.
"That's it, Furuya. You've still got us behind you."
The message was clear.
You're not alone.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Seido's momentum, which had been slipping away, surged back in an instant.
"Just like the veterans," Todoroki Raizo said with a smile. "Ichidaisan… Seido… their catchers are monsters."
He glanced behind him.
"Watanabe, why don't you try that sometime?"
"Coach, that's impossible!" Watanabe protested loudly.
Back on the field—
With the momentum shift—
Furuya attacked.
Mishima swung—
Missed.
"Strike three!"
Out.
"Next batter—center fielder, Kitamura Kou!"
The stadium buzzed with excitement.
"This is the player who hit three home runs last game, including a walk-off! What kind of performance will he deliver today?!"
"What will Seido do to stop this monster?!"
"Let's find out!"
"Kitamura! Show us another home run!"
"Furuya! Strike him out!"
Cheers clashed from both sides.
The crowd was evenly split—
Neither side willing to back down.
In the stands—
"I wonder if Kou can handle that fastball…" Momiji asked.
Aoba crossed her arms, eyes fixed on the field.
"…Hard to say. Fifty-fifty."
She paused.
"His hitting is real. But that fastball… there aren't many in the country who can match its speed and power."
Her gaze sharpened.
"This is going to be interesting."
"Kou…" Ichiyo murmured, concern flickering across her face.
Only Wakaba remained calm.
She smiled faintly.
"Kou will be fine."
Her voice was steady. Certain.
"He's never let us down."
Nearby—
"What do you think, Fujio-senpai?" Akiko Owada asked.
Fujio Mine adjusted his glasses.
"It depends on Furuya's current condition. But from what we saw… Kitamura has the edge in pure hitting."
He paused.
"But the real key…"
"…is Miyuki's pitch calling."
Behind the plate—
Miyuki hesitated.
What's the right call…?
He glanced toward the bench.
Coach Kataoka stood with arms crossed.
Silent.
The message was clear—
Decide for yourself.
Miyuki exhaled slowly.
We just got Furuya back on track…
If he gets crushed again, he might completely collapse.
The image of Ichidaisan's ace flashed through his mind.
But if we walk him…
We lose momentum.
And that'll hurt us later.
This wasn't just a pitch selection.
It was a gamble—
On Furuya.
On Seido.
In the batter's box—
Kitamura Kou stood calmly.
Eyes locked on Miyuki.
Waiting.
The entire stadium fell into a tense silence.
All eyes—
On the catcher.
On his choice.