"Tch… I thought we could catch Narumiya Mei off guard and sneak in a hit… but no luck."
Coach Todoroki Raizo rubbed his temples in frustration.
"As expected of the best left-handed pitcher in Kanto… he's the real deal. What a headache."
"Coach… your eyes are really red," Kitamura Kou said, glancing at him.
"Did you stay up all night watching Inashiro's game footage again?"
"Idiot! I'm not that dedicated!" Todoroki snapped.
"This is a normal hangover, okay?!"
"I drank sake, shochu… even Okinawan awamori last night…"
A blissful expression spread across his face.
"…ah, what a taste."
"…Coach," Kou said flatly,
"Putting aside whether you can drink… do you even have money for that?"
"Hahahaha!"
Laughter burst out across Yakushi's bench, easing the tension brought by Narumiya's overwhelming pitching.
But the pressure on the field remained real.
Akiba Kazuma, the second batter, fought hard—
Seven pitches.
Yet in the end, he was struck out by a 148 km/h four-seam fastball that barely clipped the outside edge.
"Despite a slight stumble, Narumiya quickly regains control!"
The commentator's voice echoed through the stadium.
"He has now struck out the first two batters from Yakushi High School!"
"And now—stepping up to the plate…"
"Todoroki Raichi!!!"
"The powerhouse slugger who has hit home runs in three consecutive games!"
"What kind of clash will we witness between these two monsters?!"
"Hahahaha!"
Todoroki Raichi walked into the batter's box, grinning wildly.
"Narumiya Mei! I'm going to blast your pitch out of the stadium!"
The crowd exploded.
"Monster boy! Show us what you've got!!!"
"Narumiya! Strike him out!!!"
Facing Raichi—
Narumiya felt it immediately.
This wasn't like the others.
The pressure.
The aura.
Like a wild beast standing before him.
"…No matter how strong you are," Narumiya thought coldly,
"You'll still bow at my feet."
"Be careful," Masatoshi Harada warned quietly from behind the plate.
"Keep your pitches tricky."
"I know, Masa-san," Narumiya replied.
"Just set the target."
Harada nodded.
First pitch—inside high fastball. Full power.
Narumiya raised both hands—
His presence sharpened instantly.
Like a king overlooking the field.
SWOOSH!
The ball exploded from his hand—
Blazing toward the inside corner.
Raichi didn't hesitate.
He swung.
"Clang!"
The ball barely grazed the bat—
Then slammed into the net behind home plate.
Even so—
Harada and Narumiya's eyes tightened.
That swing speed…
Was monstrous.
If that pitch had been even slightly more centered…
That ball would've been launched.
"…Four-seamers alone won't be enough," Harada thought quickly.
"We need to mix in breaking balls—but first…"
Second pitch.
SWOOSH!
Low and outside.
Still fast.
Still sharp.
Raichi roared—
And swung again.
"Clang!!!"
The ball screamed down the third-base line.
Yoshizawa dove—
But missed by centimeters.
"Foul!!!"
Third pitch.
Another four-seam—
Low inside.
"Clang!"
Foul again.
Raichi's grin widened.
Inside—
He was thrilled.
This is amazing…
Aside from Kou… this is the hardest fastball I've ever faced.
Even Furuya Satoru's speed can't compare to this feeling!
"Alright… time to finish this," Harada decided.
He stood, tossed the ball back—
Then crouched again, setting his mitt firmly.
Narumiya caught the ball.
His eyes turned cold.
The pressure around him intensified.
"You first-years… should know your place."
Fourth pitch—
SWOOSH!
The ball flew out—
But this time—
It was slower.
And worse—
Right down the middle.
A perfect, hittable pitch.
"…That's bad!!!"
"Too sweet!!!"
The Inashiro supporters cried out in alarm.
Even in the stands—
Miyuki Kazuya's eyes widened slightly.
"…Did Narumiya mess up?"
For a split second—
The entire stadium held its breath.
Because standing at the plate—
Was Todoroki Raichi.
And a pitch like that—
Could change everything.