Show your fighting spirit! If you throw anything easy, it'll get blasted. Come on, Sawamura… show me your best pitch!
Miyuki Kazuya's eyes were locked on the mound.
Sawamura Eijun didn't disappoint.
He drove off the rubber and fired a four-seam fastball straight into the inside corner.
"Ball!"
The pitch cut through the air like a streak of white lightning, screaming toward the plate.
Todoroki Raichi was caught off guard.
But instinct took over.
Years of relentless practice kicked in, his body moved before his mind could catch up.
"BOOM!!!"
"CLANG!!!"
Even jammed by the pitch, Raichi's monstrous swing still sent the ball rocketing forward.
It tore through the infield and raced toward left field—
THUMP!!!
The ball slammed hard into the outfield wall and bounced back.
Raichi had already dropped the bat and sprinted.
"It hit the wall!"
"So close! That was almost another home run!"
"Go! Go, Raichi!"
The stadium roared.
Raichi rounded first at full speed, charging toward second—
But Furuya Satoru, now in left field, arrived just in time and scooped up the ball.
"Third base!" Miyuki shouted.
Without hesitation, Furuya fired.
"BOOM!!!"
The throw cut across the field like a missile easily around 148 km/h.
Raichi immediately checked his run and slid safely into second.
"Hahaha!" he laughed, standing up and casually swinging his bat again, still savoring the duel.
"That was close! Good thing he didn't force third!"
"Tch… recovered fast," Todoroki Raizo muttered.
Kitamura Kou chuckled lightly. "They're a national powerhouse. This is normal. Worst case, we just beat them again."
Miyuki, however, was already analyzing the situation.
One out. Runner on second. And the next batter isn't weak…
His expression grew serious.
If Kitamura comes up this inning, things could get dangerous. We need to shut this down now—ideally with a double play.
He quickly signaled for the infield to move in.
Then he looked back at the mound.
"Sawamura," he called, voice firm, "don't crumble like Furuya. It's only the third inning. If we switch pitchers now, things get tough."
He tapped his mitt.
"First pitch—go head-on. Right down the middle. Get your rhythm back. Forget the runner. Focus on the batter."
Sawamura glanced at Raichi on second.
Even though he had mentally prepared himself to get hit before the game… it still stung.
Especially against someone like Raichi.
He exhaled deeply.
Then nodded.
Focus… just pitch.
The pitch went straight down the middle.
Akiba Kazuma tightened his grip on the bat. He had seen this pitch used earlier—but still couldn't hide his surprise.
They're really daring enough to throw this again…
He swung.
"CLANG!"
"Foul!"
The timing was slightly off.
Raizo clicked his tongue. "Still standing after that hit… annoying."
Behind him, Kitamura Kou spoke calmly, already putting on his batting gear.
"There's definitely an effect. His momentum has dropped. Even if I don't bat this inning, he won't last much longer. After one round, Yamauchi-senpai and the others should start adjusting."
Then he smiled faintly.
"But don't worry, Coach. When I step up, I'll go all out."
On the field, Miyuki observed carefully.
He hasn't collapsed… but the pressure is getting to him.
His eyes sharpened.
Let's test him.
He gave the next sign.
Inside four-seam fastball—the same pitch Raichi hit.
Sawamura froze for a split second.
That hit replayed in his mind.
His grip tightened.
He shook his head, trying to force the image away.
Miyuki didn't back down.
"Come on, Sawamura," he muttered. "If you can't get past this, you won't grow."
The crowd noise swelled around them.
"The pitcher's hesitating!"
"Akiba, don't miss this chance!"
"Keep the pressure on!"
"Crush him!"
Sawamura heard it all.
Memories flashed through his mind—
His teammates.
The third-years' last summer.
Chris's guidance.
Takashima Rei bringing him here.
Coach Kataoka's silent trust.
His expression hardened.
No matter what… I'll finish my job.
Then I'll hand the mound over properly.
The hesitation vanished.
Miyuki saw it—and relaxed slightly.
That's it.
Sawamura drove forward and released the pitch.
"Swoosh!"
The inside four-seam fastball tore toward the plate.
Akiba Kazuma locked in—
and swung.
"CLANG!!!"