"Yo-ho!"
Standing on First Base, Isashiki Jun bumped fists with Kanzaki Ryou on Third.
Runners on the corners. No outs.
Seidou's chance of scoring was easily over 80%.
Seidou's fans erupted, drowning Koshien in blue cheers.
Up next was Miyuki Kazuya, batting seventh for the first time.
He stepped into the batter's box with that trademark smug smile, looking as if Hinata Hayato's pitching was nothing more than a warm-up machine ball.
After settling in, he even shot Kanzaki at Third Base a ridiculous wink.
Disgusting.
Kanzaki glared at him like he'd seen something cursed.
Miyuki just chuckled and shifted his focus to Hinata.
With runners on base, Miyuki's "passive ability" activated.
No matter how good the pitcher is—I will make contact.
A Straight.
A Slider.
Miyuki waited for a Fast Forkball—
Bang!
He hit it…
But the ball flew too high. Kanzaki remained on Third.
"Out!"
Miyuki scratched his cheek in embarrassment as he walked back. That swagger of a few seconds ago evaporated instantly.
Next came Araki Keita, Seidou's eighth batter—a steady third-year, not flashy, but dependable. Since earning a spot on the First String, he'd never let the team down.
Now, on the biggest stage—
with Seidou's ace on Third—
his job was simple:
Score the run.
Araki exhaled slowly. Every nerve lit up like a live wire.
Whoosh!
Hinata delivered a Slider.
Araki recognized it instantly and didn't even flinch.
That pitch was difficult, and not his specialty.
He wanted a Straight.
Clap!
"Strike!"
The catcher raised a brow. Araki was waiting for something specific.
But what?
He returned the ball to Hinata, then signaled for an inside Fast Forkball.
Hinata nodded and threw.
The pitch flew in—a Fast Forkball disguised as a Straight until the very last moment.
Araki stepped forward.
He swung early—
and connected.
Bang!
Not clean.
Not powerful.
But enough.
As long as the ball passed the infield—
Kanzaki Ryou would score.
Araki dashed for First.
The ball bounced past First Base and into shallow right.
Sagara's defense scrambled, fielding it and rifling the ball home—
Kanzaki sprinted, eyes locked on the incoming throw.
Faster.
Faster!!
The entire crowd watched with bated breath.
Clap!
Just before the catcher's mitt closed—
Kanzaki's foot smashed onto home plate.
"Safe!!"
The umpire's shout echoed across the stadium.
"Ohhhh!!!"
"Seidou!!"
"Kanzaki!!!"
Seidou's side exploded in celebration.
Kanzaki glanced back at the catcher.
Just a moment slower, and he would've been tagged out.
With Kanzaki scoring, Seidou took the 1–0 lead, and runners remained on First and Second with one out.
Hinata exhaled helplessly.
This was Seidou's terrifying depth—
Even the lower lineup could strike at crucial moments.
"Hahaha! Isn't this your first time scoring a run yourself?"
Azuma Kiyokuni teased in the dugout.
Kanzaki froze.
Was it…?
It really was.
All season, he had been the one hitting his teammates home.
But this—
This was actually his first time being sent home by someone else.
After the Spring Tournament, Kanto, Regionals, and now Koshien—
it was insane, but also somehow completely believable.
His early batting positions were always ninth or fifth, with fewer opportunities.
So this first-time moment… was oddly satisfying.
Back on the field, Yoshikawa Junpei, batting ninth, struck out in three pitches.
Shida Shota managed contact but hit a foul, and after two strikes, he whiffed on a Changeup.
Bottom of the second inning.
Sagara High School on offense.
Seidou's nine players walked onto the field radiating momentum.
The moment Kanzaki stepped onto the mound, Sagara's stands erupted.
"Shunsuke!! Crush him!!"
"Home run!!"
"Destroy that pitcher!!"
Kanzaki smiled bitterly at Miyuki.
All because of that stupid pee ball pitch.
He'd gained a fan club of pure hatred.
Miyuki, shameless as ever, didn't mind.
A catcher needed a thick heart—and thicker skin.
He looked up at the batter and grew serious.
Shunsuke Furukawa.
Sagara's cleanup batter.
Even more dangerous than Maya Yamato.
Not only was he powerful—
His batting technique was elite.
Even difficult pitches could be redirected flawlessly.
They could not give him a chance.
Unless they intentionally walked him, they needed raw strength to suppress him.
Let's take him down together.
Miyuki's focused stare made Kanzaki uncomfortable.
Bro, why did that look feel weirdly romantic?
It's a game. Stop with the eyes!
Still, Kanzaki nodded at the sign.
First pitch—
Outside Straight.
Whoosh!
A white flash shot from Kanzaki's hand.
Furukawa stepped forward, swinging with a heavy, mountain-like force toward the outside pitch—