Just as Akaishi Osamu focused on firing the baseball to Third Base, Kitamura Kou's voice suddenly rang out from the mound.
"Akaishi, don't throw!"
The unexpected shout exploded in Akaishi's ears like a clap of thunder, causing his body to instinctively freeze in the middle of his throwing motion.
That brief hesitation was enough to change everything.
Originally, Akaishi still had about a fifty-percent chance of throwing out Kusano at Third Base. But after that split-second pause, the opportunity had disappeared. Unless Kusano made an incredibly careless mistake, the steal was practically guaranteed.
And considering the battle-tested experience of Kaidou High's players, that possibility was virtually zero.
After weighing his options, Akaishi quickly realized that forcing the throw would accomplish nothing besides wasting precious time and energy. Worse, with Todoroki Raichi's occasionally unpredictable defense, trying to force a difficult play could easily result in an even bigger mistake.
Just imagining that outcome made Akaishi shudder.
In the end, he decisively held onto the ball.
"Safe!"
The umpire's loud call echoed throughout the stadium as Kusano slid safely into Third Base.
Both catchers immediately turned to stare at Kitamura Kou on the mound, their faces filled with surprise and confusion.
Requesting time from the home plate umpire, Akaishi hurried toward the mound.
The spectators, who had been completely immersed in the game, were stunned for a brief moment before the entire stadium erupted into an uproar.
Everyone's attention was fixed on the visibly agitated Akaishi Osamu and the calm, composed Kitamura Kou.
Whispers instantly spread throughout the stands.
"Did I hear that correctly? Kitamura actually stopped his catcher from making the throw?"
"No, you heard right. I heard it too."
"I honestly don't understand that decision."
"Neither do I. I've watched baseball for over twenty years, and I still can't figure out what he was thinking."
Elsewhere in the stands—
"Haha! They had a chance to throw the runner out, and Kitamura shouted his own catcher down. No wonder Akaishi looks so upset."
"But why would Kitamura do that? He doesn't seem like the type to panic over something like this."
"It's hard to say. He's still just a first-year high school player. Even talented freshmen make mistakes."
"Hahaha! That pitcher must have finally been intimidated by Kaidou's pressure."
"Exactly! He may have shut down the King Kaidou earlier, but now that he's falling apart, we won't show him any mercy!"
"Sato! Don't hold back—make him cry!"
The discussions spread like wildfire throughout the stadium.
Everyone wanted to know what Kitamura Kou was planning.
Unlike the spectators, however, Kaidou's players weren't nearly as optimistic.
"A trap... there's definitely a trap."
"Obviously. The question is, what kind of trap?"
"Uh..."
The player scratched his head awkwardly.
"I... haven't figured that out yet."
"Hmph."
Naoki Enomoto continued warming up in the bullpen, wearing his usual look of disdain.
"They're just putting on a show."
On the mound...
"Kou, isn't this plan a little too reckless?"
Akaishi's eyes widened as he stared at his pitcher.
"If Coach asks later, don't expect me to cover for you."
Kitamura simply grinned.
"Relax, Akaishi. I know exactly what I'm doing."
His confident smile only grew wider.
"This plan has at least an eighty-percent chance of succeeding. And if everything goes the way I expect, even if Coach gets angry afterward, it won't matter."
He lightly patted Akaishi's broad shoulder.
Although Akaishi still looked unconvinced, Kitamura's unwavering confidence left him with little room to argue.
Seeing his catcher continue to hesitate, Kitamura finally gave him a gentle shove.
"Come on already. Trust me."
"I've got this."
Akaishi let out a long, helpless sigh before dragging himself back toward home plate.
Meanwhile...
Sato Toshiya kept his eyes fixed on Kitamura Kou.
His gaze sparkled with curiosity.
What exactly is this guy planning?
This is getting interesting.
Then, as though another possibility suddenly crossed his mind, the excitement in his eyes gradually faded.
"...Ah."
He let out a quiet sigh.
"Play!"
The umpire's command signaled the resumption of the game.
Kitamura inhaled deeply before raising both hands high above his head.
His sharp eyes locked onto home plate as he prepared to deliver the first pitch after the timeout.
At Third Base, Kusano watched every movement carefully.
The moment he confirmed that Kitamura could no longer attempt a pickoff, he exploded toward home.
"He's coming home!"
Seeing the runner break, Todoroki Raichi immediately shouted at the top of his lungs.
At almost the exact same moment, Sato Toshiya squared around to bunt.
Just as expected.
Kaidou High had chosen the safest possible offensive option—
A squeeze bunt.
Neither Raichi's warning nor Kaidou's strategy caused the slightest hesitation in Kitamura.
His delivery remained perfectly smooth.
Calm.
Steady.
Everything proceeded according to his rhythm.
Boom!!
The baseball exploded from his fingertips like a cannon shell, screaming toward home plate.
How would Kitamura Kou escape Kaidou High's relentless offense this time?