BOOM!!!
The baseball exploded off Kitamura Kou's fingertips, screaming toward the inside corner just below the knee.
Only after the ball left his hand did Yoshizawa Hideaki realize it was targeting the inside.
He swung with all his strength—
Too slow.
Thump!!!
"Strike three! Batter out! Side retired!"
"Kitamura, the starting pitcher for this game, is matching Narumiya Mei pitch for pitch! He opens with three consecutive strikeouts against Inashiro Industrial High School—including cleanup hitter Yoshizawa Hideaki! Neither side is giving an inch—the tension is skyrocketing!" the commentator shouted passionately.
The already electric stadium grew even louder.
Now, the spotlight shifted—
To the duel between the two aces.
Two dominant pitchers.
Two overwhelming forces.
No one could say who would come out on top.
"Inashiro's in trouble…" Miyuki Kazuya muttered, his tone bitter. "All the data they gathered on Kitamura Kou is basically useless now."
Beside him, the two first-year pitchers fell silent.
Watching another freshman dominate at this level—
It stung.
Meanwhile, the Inashiro bench had gone completely quiet.
You could hear a pin drop.
"How was it?" Masatoshi Harada finally asked.
"…His speed is insane," Yoshizawa said grimly. "But what's worse is his control. It's practically pinpoint… like a nine-grid target."
Coach Kunitomo's expression darkened further.
A pitcher who could exceed 150 km/h and maintain elite control—
That wasn't just dangerous.
That was overwhelming.
"Tch. He's just a first-year," Narumiya Mei scoffed, stepping forward. "There's no way he can match me in stamina. What are you all so worried about?"
His eyes burned with intensity.
"I'll shut them down completely. By the late innings, his control will slip—and that's when we crush him."
He turned, already heading for the field.
"Let's go, Masa-san. I'll teach that brat what real pitching looks like."
Top of the Second Inning
"Yakushi High School's fourth batter—pitcher, Kitamura Kou!"
Bat in hand, Kitamura walked calmly into the batter's box.
He rolled his neck once and settled into position.
No overwhelming aura.
No visible pressure.
Completely different from his presence on the mound.
"Kou! Do your best!"
The Tsukishima sisters cheered together.
Even Aoba Tsukishima, setting aside her usual attitude, was fully focused on supporting him.
On the mound, Narumiya Mei transformed.
His earlier playful demeanor vanished.
What remained—
Was a king.
His gaze locked onto Kitamura Kou.
In that moment, there was only one thought in his mind:
Crush him.
Prove who the true king of the mound is.
"Mei," Harada signaled calmly, "this is their strongest batter. Don't hold back. Even if you throw balls, it's fine—we have room."
His instincts were screaming.
This batter—
Was dangerous.
On the same level as the elite sluggers they'd faced at Koshien.
Narumiya said nothing.
He simply extended his glove.
Harada returned the ball and set his target—
High and inside.
Narumiya unleashed the pitch.
WHOOSH!!!
The moment the ball left his hand, Kitamura analyzed it instantly.
Fastball. 148 km/h. High inside.
He didn't move.
Smack!
"Ball!"
No reaction.
No hesitation.
Narumiya fired again.
WHOOSH!!!
This time—
Straight at the head.
Kitamura didn't flinch.
Didn't swing.
Didn't even step back.
The ball grazed past his face—
Just centimeters from his nose—
Before slamming into Harada's glove.
Smack!!!
"Ball!"
A murmur spread through the crowd.
"He's not biting…" Harada muttered.
Then his eyes sharpened.
"No choice. Let's go head-on."
He gave the next sign.
"Low outside corner. Cut it right along the edge of the zone."
Narumiya nodded.
This time—
Full power.
WHOOSH!!!
The pitch tore through the air, sharp and fast as it closed in on the plate.
This time—
Kitamura moved.
His hands tightened around the bat.
His body coiled—
Then exploded.
The swing was like lightning.
CLANG!!!
BOOM!!!
The crack of impact echoed across the stadium, followed instantly by the violent whistle of the bat cutting through the air.
Narumiya Mei's eyes widened.
Masatoshi Harada froze.
That was a full-power pitch—
Perfectly placed.
And yet—
The ball soared high into the sky.
Under the stunned gazes of Inashiro Industrial High School…
The rising excitement of Yakushi High School…
And the breathless anticipation of the entire stadium—
The baseball climbed higher and higher.