Seeing the pitcher's condition falter, Towa's catcher quickly called for a timeout.
"That's unfortunate," Kanzaki Ryou muttered with a smirk.
Miyuki chuckled beside him. "If you ever end up in that kind of situation in the future, don't expect me to comfort you, Ryou."
Kanzaki snorted. "Please. If the two of us ever give up a grand slam, we wouldn't need comfort — we'd just surrender and concede."
The word surrender made a few players stiffen, but no one spoke up.
"You're right," Miyuki nodded with a grin. "I won't let that happen."
"Neither will I."
While the two joked, the game resumed.
Even though Takano Kento, the opposing pitcher, somewhat recovered his rhythm, he still gave up another hit and allowed a run before finally ending the inning.
Seidou High School led 5–0.
In the bottom half, it was Towa High's turn to bat. Trying to lift their ace's spirits, their batters attacked aggressively, forcing Nanjo Taishi to stay sharp on defense.
Despite their efforts, Towa failed to score.
By the time Seidou's lineup added another run in the second inning, Coach Kataoka finally gave an order.
"Tanba, Kanzaki — warm up in the bullpen."
"Yes, sir!"
Excitement instantly lit up their faces. This was the chance they'd been waiting for.
"Looks like you got called before me. Congratulations," Miyuki said, patting his glove. "Let's go. I'll warm up with you."
Not far away, Tanba Koichiro paused, staring blankly for a moment before second-year catcher Miyauchi Keisuke called him over to throw.
"Is it him?"
"Yeah, that first-year."
"He doesn't look that strong, though…"
The bullpen suddenly became the center of attention, especially from Seidou's cheering section.
As soon as Kanzaki Ryou stepped onto the bullpen mound, a buzz spread through the stands.
"What have you been hiding from me?" Miyuki asked suspiciously.
Kanzaki smirked. "You'll find out soon enough."
By the end of the second inning, Seidou led 7–0.
In the bottom of the third, Tanba took the mound. Though still a bit raw, he delivered two solid innings, allowing only three hits and no runs.
When he came off, Coach Kataoka nodded approvingly. "Good work. You pitched well."
Tanba's face turned red with excitement.
By now, the score had grown to 9–0.
If Towa couldn't hold Seidou this inning, the game would end early by the fifth.
Towa's players, despite realizing their defeat, refused to give up.
Even if there was a gap in strength, their passion for baseball was no less than Seidou's.
"Just one inning for me, huh?" Kanzaki sighed as he received Kataoka's signal to take the mound.
"Don't be greedy," Miyuki teased. "Be happy you're even getting that."
Kanzaki grinned and turned to Isashiki Jun, who was preparing to bat. "Senior, how about going easy on them?"
"Huh?" Isashiki glared at him.
"Just kidding, just kidding! Go get 'em, Senior!"
"Tch," Isashiki snorted, walking toward the batter's box.
Crack!
A single.
Moments later, Seidou added two more runs.
Bottom of the fifth inning.
Seidou took the field. Before Kanzaki went out, Fujiwara Takako approached with her camera.
"Kanzaki, good luck!"
"Thanks, senpai. Make sure you record it."
With that, he jogged onto the field, surrounded by his teammates taking their positions.
"Go!" Fujiwara called after him.
Kanzaki turned back briefly, flashing a confident smile before stepping onto the mound.
"One, two, three—start!"
"Waaaahhhh~~!"
"Kanzaki! Kanzaki!!"
The unified chant shook the entire stadium.
"What the hell…?" Miyuki muttered, staring at the stands in disbelief.
Was Kanzaki that famous? He hadn't even played a single game yet!
Even the Seidou players on the bench looked confused. They knew he was talented, sure — but this? This level of popularity was absurd.
Across the field, Towa's players, who had been optimistic about facing a rookie pitcher, were also stunned.
"Don't underestimate him!" their coach barked.
Amid the thunderous cheers, Kanzaki walked calmly to the mound. His expression was cool, but inside, his heart was racing.
Under the gaze of the entire stadium, he lowered his head, raised his right arm high, and pointed a single finger toward the sky.
Then — whoosh! — he swung it down sharply.
For a moment, the entire stadium went dead silent.
The cheers, the clapping, the noise — gone.
"…So cool," Fujiwara whispered, her camera trained on him.
Then—
"NO WAY!!"
"Too flashy!"
"Arrogant bastard!!"
"Shameless!!"
The Seidou bench erupted in collective protest.
Chris just smiled wryly, Takashima Rei rubbed her forehead, and President Ota sighed.
Even Coach Kataoka, usually composed, couldn't help twitching his mouth.
He'd seen a lot over the years — but never an entrance this dramatic.
"If he doesn't pitch well after that, he's digging his own grave," Rei muttered.
Miyuki gritted his teeth. "So this was the secret plan with the manager, huh?"
On the field, catcher Tanaka Wataru crouched behind home plate and called out, "Let's do this!"
"Heh… let's go," Kanzaki replied, gripping the ball.
As the batter stepped into the box, Tanaka felt his blood surge. Somehow, he knew — this first-year would become a legend.
And his first pitch in high school would land in his glove.
Kanzaki raised his leg high, shifting his balance. His form was smooth yet explosive.
He pushed off with his right leg — every muscle snapping in unison like a whip.
The ball tore through the air like a white blur.
To the batter, it felt like a beast lunging straight for him.
Bang!
Before he could react, the ball had already thudded into Tanaka's glove.
The batter turned in shock — Tanaka just tilted his head with a grin. "Scared you, didn't I?"
"Strike!" the umpire called.
"WAAAAAAHHHHH!!!"
"So fast!"
"Oh my god!"
"His name's Kanzaki, right?"
"He's so cool!!"
Then someone shouted from the stands, "Look at the radar gun!"
"149 kilometers!!"
"What?! No way! He's a rookie!"
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