"He's pretty good at pitching! The first pitch came inside, the second drifted outside… what a chaotic style!" Sanada Shunpei muttered, completely lacking self-awareness. "I wonder what the next pitch will be. I'm really looking forward to it."
Miyuki Kazuya narrowed his eyes.
He didn't swing at either pitch… Is he conserving energy, or is there another reason?
Then a sly smile crept onto his face. You just gave us a big 'gift.' It wouldn't be like me not to return the favor.
With that, Miyuki quietly adjusted his mitt and gave the next signal.
Sawamura Eijun blinked in surprise when he saw it—then immediately broke into a wide, excited grin. His already blazing fighting spirit surged even higher.
"Hey, wipe that grin off your face!" Miyuki snapped. "You're practically announcing our plan. Just throw it already—the same pitch you used on the coach yesterday."
"Got it!" Sawamura quickly composed himself, though the excitement still lingered in his eyes.
He wound up and fired.
"What—red center?" Even Sanada couldn't hide his surprise. Facing a pitch right down the middle, thrown with full intent, he reacted a split second late but still swung.
Ping!
The contact was weak. The hesitation cost him.
The ball rolled toward third base.
"Third!" Sawamura shouted.
Masuko Toru scooped it cleanly and fired to first.
"Out!"
Another clean out.
Sanada clicked his tongue lightly but didn't dwell on it. "That catcher… petty as ever. Using my own trick against me."
But the next moment, his expression shifted—because now came the real highlight.
"First batter, third baseman—Todoroki Raichi!"
"Hahahaha!" Raichi strode into the batter's box, his wild grin stretching from ear to ear.
I've been waiting for this, he thought, eyes locked onto Sawamura. Three different pitchers in one game… this is way too fun.
Miyuki's gaze sharpened.
"Sawamura, you saw what he did to Furuya. Don't take him lightly. First pitch—let's test him. Throw a ball outside the zone."
Sawamura hesitated for just a split second.
Part of him wanted a straight-up duel. But the image of Furuya being crushed by back-to-back home runs flashed through his mind.
He steadied himself.
I can't win alone. I have to trust Miyuki-senpai.
He nodded—and threw.
A pitch aimed tight at Raichi's chest.
Raichi didn't hesitate.
"BOOM!!!"
"CLANG!!!"
The bat roared through the air, and the ball rocketed down the third-base line at terrifying speed.
Masuko lunged but missed.
Luckily
"Foul!"
Sawamura and Miyuki both exhaled.
That was dangerous…
Raichi, however, looked even more thrilled.
"Hahaha! That was amazing! It bent right at the last second!"
Miyuki adjusted his glasses slightly.
Next pitch—low and outside. Even if it's a ball, keep it down.
Sawamura nodded.
The second pitch came quickly.
Raichi didn't swing this time.
Instead, he tilted his head slightly, eyes gleaming.
Now it dodges outward… This guy's incredible. What a fun weapon.
A predatory smile spread across his face.
The third pitch followed.
"CLANG!!!"
Another explosive hit—again screaming down the third-base line.
Masuko leapt—
—but came up empty.
"Foul!"
Ota groaned from the dugout. "My heart can't take this… Sawamura's pushing it too far."
Coach Kataoka said nothing, his sharp eyes fixed on the field.
In the batter's box, Raichi kept swinging, mimicking the timing, refining his feel.
From the stands, Todoroki Raizo shouted loudly:
"If you want to hit that kind of pitch, wait for it! Let it come all the way in—don't be afraid of getting jammed! You can still blast it over the infield!"
Sawamura clenched his teeth.
I need to make it even harder. I can't give him anything easy.
Miyuki heard that too—and made his decision.
Two strikes, one ball… this is it. We go all out.
His eyes sharpened as he set the next sign.