Kominato Ryosuke narrowed his eyes.
As a left-handed batter, he knew cutters would usually drift away from him—toward the outside corner.
So—
He aimed there.
Got it.
But in the next instant—
Something felt off.
The ball didn't move outward.
Instead—
It cut back in sharply, rushing toward his chest.
What—?! Inside?!
Kominato reacted fast.
He tried to adjust mid-swing—
Too late.
"Ping!"
The bat barely caught the lower edge.
The ball popped high into the air.
On the mound—
Sanada Shunpei smiled.
He stepped forward calmly, raised his glove—
Snap.
"Out!"
"Nice one, Sanada-senpai!"
"Two outs!"
"Keep it going!"
Yakushi's bench was all smiles.
Everything was going exactly as planned.
"I didn't expect it," Akiko Owada murmured.
"Just like the previous game—Seido's top batters are being shut down again."
Fujio Mine nodded.
"But the real test starts now."
"If they can suppress the cleanup… then Yakushi truly has the upper hand."
"Third batter—center fielder, Isashiki!"
Jun Isashiki stepped in.
He greeted the umpire—
Then pointed his bat straight at Sanada.
Face fierce.
"Bring it on!"
Sanada smirked.
"Just what I wanted."
"Don't cry if it hits you."
Behind the plate—
Watanabe frowned slightly.
"Don't get careless."
"These next batters are dangerous."
"Especially the fourth."
"He's on the same level as Raichi and Kitamura."
Sanada gave a small nod.
He understood.
He wasn't reckless—
Just aggressive.
The pitch came—
"Strike!"
Inside again.
Relentless pressure.
"Don't underestimate Seido!"
Isashiki roared, swinging with full force.
"Clang!"
Solid contact—
But not clean.
The ball arced over the infield—
But lacked distance.
In center field—
Kitamura Kou moved effortlessly.
Catch.
"Out!"
Three outs.
The first inning—
Ends.
Yakushi leads—
2–0.
Raichi burst forward immediately.
"So cool, Sanada-senpai! Hahaha!"
Sanada chuckled.
"If you want me to pitch easier…"
"Score more runs."
"Leave it to me!"
Raichi grinned wildly.
"I can't wait to face that pitcher again!"
Top of the Second — Yakushi at Bat
Compared to their explosive first inning—
This one was quieter.
Sawamura Eijun stood on the mound—
Still loud.
Still energetic.
Still… himself.
But his pitching—
Was causing real problems.
His motion—
Unusual.
Hard to read.
Harder to time.
Sixth batter, Fukuda Daiki.
I've heard about this…
He stayed cautious.
First pitch—
Too early.
Second—
He adjusted—
But—
"Ping!"
Weak contact.
A grounder.
Third baseman Masuko handled it easily.
"Out!"
Seventh batter, Watanabe Tatsuya.
Worse.
First pitch—
"Ping!"
A high pop-up.
Miyuki barely moved.
"Out!"
Eighth batter, Kobayashi Keisuke.
More stubborn.
Foul.
Foul.
Foul.
He fought.
Adapted.
Then—
"Clang!"
A clean hit.
The ball slipped past the infield—
Into the outfield.
Finally—
A breakthrough.
But—
"Don't even think about it!"
From right field—
Isashiki fired.
A laser.
Smack!
"Out!"
Caught at second.
The inning—
Over.
Sawamura pumped his fist, shouting nonstop.
"Nice! Nice! Nice!"
The crowd responded.
"That first-year's pretty good!"
"Not fast—but tricky!"
"Seido's pitching lineup is scary this year!"
"I wanna see him face Raichi and Kitamura!"
Yakushi Dugout
Todoroki Raizo clicked his tongue.
"…Annoying."
"That pitcher…"
"He's not simple."
He narrowed his eyes at Sawamura.
"I expected something."
"But not this troublesome."
Then—
He looked at Sanada.
"I'm counting on you."
Sanada smiled.
"I've been waiting."
His gaze shifted—
Toward Seido's dugout.
Locked onto one figure.
Yuuki Tetsuya.
"Now that's a batter worth facing…"
Then—
He glanced at Sawamura.
Still shouting.
Still noisy.
"…Interesting."
"But in terms of fighting spirit—"
Sanada's eyes sharpened.
"I won't lose to you."
"Sanada-senpai," Kitamura Kou said with a faint smile.
"The next batter is terrifying."
Then added casually—
"But don't worry."
"I've got your back."
A pause.
"This summer…"
"…is going to be long."
"Hmph."
Sanada adjusted his cap.
"You should worry about yourself."
"I'm not giving up the mound that easily."
With that—
He picked up his glove—
And walked out.
Tall.
Steady.
Reliable.
"Bottom of the second inning—Seido High School at bat!"
"Fourth batter—first baseman, Yuuki!"
The stadium held its breath.
Ace vs Cleanup.
Sanada Shunpei—
vs—
Yuuki Tetsuya.