Miyuki did not wait.
The moment Baldy released the first pitch, Miyuki swung.
That single action stunned Hosen High School's catcher.
He had believed he understood Seido High School Baseball Team's hitters very well. He thought he had grasped their habits, their patience, their tendency to wait for favorable counts.
Now, it seemed he understood nothing at all.
These Seido players were completely unpredictable.
That thought flashed through his mind, but it lasted only an instant. His attention was immediately dragged back to the baseball that had already been struck.
The ball shot out at tremendous speed, landing almost instantly behind Hosen High School's first baseman.
Under normal circumstances, this hit alone could have decided the situation.
But this time, the Hosen players felt a trace of confidence.
They had prepared for this.
It had to be said, the defensive strategy they arranged beforehand was effective.
Against all Seido hitters except Zhang Han, Hosen had adopted a pitching strategy focused on attacking the inside.
At the same time, their defensive formation had undergone major adjustments.
The outfielders shifted noticeably toward the first-base side, and even the center fielder leaned in that direction. The infielders also made subtle positional changes.
Miyuki Kazuya's hit happened to fall within the reach of Hosen's right fielder.
Although he could not catch it cleanly in his glove, he immediately blocked the ball with his body, pinning it beneath him.
Then he sprang up with astonishing speed and raised his arm to throw.
Zhang Han had already left Second Base before the baseball even touched the ground.
From the moment the ball left Miyuki's bat, Zhang Han had made his judgment.
The opponent would not catch this ball in the air. At best, they would block it.
That meant he could run.
So he ran without hesitation.
By the time the outfielder recovered the ball, Zhang Han was already nearing Third Base.
Even when he reached Third, Zhang Han did not slow down. He prepared to charge straight toward Home Plate.
Then he saw the Third Base coach standing ahead of the bag, arms crossed in front of his chest.
No. Not enough distance.
The outfielder had blocked the ball less than forty meters from Home Plate.
If Zhang Han continued, the ball would definitely arrive before him.
Annoyed, he stopped.
Now was not the time to act recklessly. A runner on Third Base was too valuable to waste.
But even as he halted, Zhang Han was far from idle.
He crouched low, body tense, adopting the posture of a runner ready to steal at any moment.
If the outfielder threw the ball to First Base, Zhang Han would sprint home without hesitation.
On the other side, Miyuki was closing in on First Base.
Describing it takes time, but everything happened simultaneously.
Almost the instant Hosen's outfielder blocked the ball, stood up, and prepared to throw, the situation was already set.
Although Zhang Han had temporarily stopped at Third Base, he was far from stationary. He stood five or six meters away from the bag, barely twenty meters from Home Plate.
If the ball went to First Base, Zhang Han would run.
How could this guy be so fast?
The Hosen outfielder cursed inwardly.
He was confident in his own speed and reactions. By all logic, Zhang Han should not have been able to reach this position so quickly.
But he had.
And worse, he was threatening Home Plate.
The outfielder, who had focused entirely on fielding the ball, had not realized that Zhang Han had already started moving before the ball even landed.
Zhang Han's preparation allowed him to accelerate faster than the batter, Miyuki.
Even more frightening was his starting position.
He was already several meters off Second Base when the ball was hit.
With one gaining ground and the other losing it, Zhang Han's speed naturally surpassed Miyuki's.
Miyuki was still several meters away from First Base, while Zhang Han had already forced the defense into a dilemma.
In that brief instant, the Hosen outfielder had to decide.
Throw to First Base, or hold the ball and freeze the runners?
Throwing to First was risky. Miyuki was fast, and the distance was short. There was no guarantee of an out.
Meanwhile, the threat at Third Base was enormous.
For now, holding the ball seemed like the safest choice.
His mind raced, weighing the options.
Then, something unexpected happened.
Miyuki, who was about to reach First Base, suddenly tripped.
About four meters from the bag, he fell heavily to the ground.
As he fell, he stretched out his arm and quietly reached toward First Base.
It was flawless acting.
In that instant, everyone's attention shifted to Miyuki.
When a player falls during a game, people instinctively look.
It is not concern alone, but simple human curiosity.
Like witnessing an accident on a busy road, your attention is drawn to the disturbance rather than the calm surroundings.
Earlier, Zhang Han had already received Miyuki's signal.
Watch my move. Find the chance to steal Home Plate.
At the time, Zhang Han did not know exactly what Miyuki planned to do.
But he was ready.
The moment anything changed on the field, he would move.
This was not blind faith. It was trust.
They were not just teammates.
As the only two first-year newcomers in the Seido High School Baseball Team, they had fought side by side from the beginning.
They understood each other's abilities and instincts.
Zhang Han trusted Miyuki. If Miyuki made a move, it meant the path was open.
So when Miyuki fell, Zhang Han knew his moment had arrived.
He stomped the ground hard, and his body shot forward like a released spring.
It takes roughly one second for a person to turn their head and react in shock.
That one second, combined with Zhang Han's speed, was more than enough.
Ninety-nine percent of the attention on the field was focused on Miyuki Kazuya lying near First Base.
Very few eyes were on Zhang Han.
Not none. Just very few.
Some sharp observers immediately sensed something was wrong.
The fall might be a diversion.
Seido High School Baseball Team could be making another move.
And they were right.
Miyuki and Zhang Han did have another plan.
Zhang Han was stealing Home Plate.
"These two kids are insane."
Fujio, the senior reporter from Baseball Kingdom Magazine, muttered as he watched Zhang Han surge toward Home Plate.
The two first-year players from Seido were typical clutch performers.
They were outstanding under normal circumstances.
But in crucial moments like this, they could unleash something even greater.
************************************
Upto 20 Chapters In Advance At: P@treon/Vividreader123