"We can't afford to lose momentum."
Miyuki Kazuya's eyes swept across his teammates.
"Furuya's pitching thrives on momentum. Even if we give up another pitch, we can't let the rhythm break."
He paused briefly, then continued with quiet confidence.
"And besides…"
A faint smile formed on his face.
"Our lineup isn't weak either."
After a moment of thought—
Miyuki removed his gloves.
Then he looked directly at Furuya.
His gaze sharpened.
Not as a catcher—
But as a teammate.
A silent message passed between them.
Trust your pitching.
Trust mine.
Let's create the best possible result—together.
Something changed.
It wasn't visible.
It wasn't logical.
But—
Furuya Satoru on the mound suddenly shifted.
His entire presence—
Exploded outward.
A suffocating pressure filled the air.
Even from the batter's box—
Kitamura Kou felt it.
He exhaled slowly.
"…Hah."
A smile crept onto his face.
This is good.
Strong opponents didn't intimidate him—
They excited him.
What he disliked was being walked—
Like that one time in the past…
A match where the pitcher avoided him entirely.
That wasn't baseball.
That was avoidance.
And to him—
That was far more frustrating than a strikeout.
He tightened his focus.
No wasted movement.
No unnecessary aura.
Just stillness.
But beneath that calm—
Lay something far more dangerous.
Miyuki's eyes narrowed.
"…Don't tell me… a first-year is hiding that much?"
Even he, standing behind the plate—
Could feel it.
A quiet danger.
A hidden storm.
For a brief moment—
He questioned his own decision.
Was that too reckless?
But there was no turning back now.
"Furuya!"
Miyuki called out.
"Let's make it work!"
Furuya nodded.
He lifted both arms high.
Stepped into his motion.
Left leg rising—
Body coiling—
Then—
He drove forward.
BOOM!!!
The ball exploded out of his hand.
A terrifying roar filled the stadium.
The sound itself felt unreal—
Like a sonic blast echoing in everyone's ears.
The pitch screamed toward the plate.
Not just fast—
But overwhelming.
This is stronger than before.
Miyuki thought.
THUMP!!!
The ball slammed into the mitt.
A heavy, violent impact.
The glove trembled—
White mist rising faintly from the force.
"STRIKE!!!"
The umpire's voice rang out—
louder than usual.
For a moment—
Silence.
Then—
The stadium erupted.
On the scoreboard—
The number glowed.
152 km/h
"…What…?"
"…152?!"
"…No way…"
"…That's impossible…"
The crowd froze.
Then erupted again.
Chaos spread through the stadium.
Voices overlapped.
Some laughed in disbelief.
Some questioned reality.
Some simply stared—
Unable to process what they had just witnessed.
Even among high school baseball—
This was monstrous.
A first-year.
Throwing at this speed.
On the field—
Seido's players roared.
"Furuya!!!"
"Strike him out!!!"
"Keep going!!!"
"Don't let him breathe!!!"
Coach Kataoka's usually stoic expression—
Broke.
His pupils trembled.
Even he—
Couldn't hide his shock.
On the Yakushi side—
Raizo grinned.
"…That kid's getting stronger."
His voice was calm—
But his eyes were sharp.
"Kitamura, show him what happens when you challenge us."
"Don't panic!"
"Keep your timing!"
"He can't throw that every time!"
"Wait for your pitch!"
Yakushi rallied themselves.
In the stands—
Momiji's face tightened.
"…Is Kou okay?"
Aoba didn't answer immediately.
Her expression was serious.
Deeply serious.
Then—
She tightened her grip on Wakaba's hand.
"…This is real."
Wakaba's smile softened.
But didn't disappear.
Just…
Quieted.
"…Kou will handle it."
Though even she—
Was holding on a little tighter now.
On the field—
Kitamura Kou stood in the batter's box.
Unshaken.
Eyes locked on the mound.
Furuya Satoru stood tall—
Breathing steady.
Two monsters.
Facing each other.
And in that moment—
The game truly began.