Seeing Kanzaki Ryou's focused demeanor, Omori High's catcher felt immense pressure. After a quick brainstorm, he made a decision: a cutter would be the safest choice. In all the data and videos he had seen about Kanzaki Ryou, he had never seen him hit a cutter.
Moreover, Seido's pitchers didn't seem to use cutters either.
This deduction might be presumptuous, even foolish, but it was the only viable option now. They couldn't keep throwing straight balls, could they?
As the signal was given, Iwao Sho on the mound was incredibly nervous.
Bases loaded, one out—when had he ever been tested like this?
Kanzaki Ryou, observing Iwao Sho, frowned slightly at his expression. Was he already breaking down before even throwing?
Heaven helps me.
Since that's the case… I won't hold back.
Kanzaki Ryou quietly waited for the pitch, his aura rising to its peak. His steady stance, firm as a mountain, made several Seido players subconsciously glance toward Captain Yuki.
Just then, after struggling internally, Iwao Sho narrowed his eyes, raised his right hand high, and threw with everything he had.
In the batter's box, Kanzaki Ryou's pupils widened slightly. In the next instant, power surged from his feet upward as he stepped forward and brought his entire body into the swing.
Boom!
The bat cut through the air like thunder, its power sweeping across the catcher's vision.
Bang!
The nervous, poorly executed cutter had barely crossed the plate—it hadn't even begun shifting sideways—before it was crushed by Kanzaki Ryou's thick, long black bat.
On the mound, Iwao Sho's raised leg hadn't even landed yet when the ball was already flying over his head, soaring toward the right-field stands.
On the bases, all three runners immediately took off. Although they hoped Kanzaki Ryou would hit a home run, hope alone wasn't enough—running on time was still their duty.
In the stands, everyone held their breath, eyes tracking the white ball. Some prayed for a homer; others prayed it would drop.
Only Kanzaki Ryou, who had hit the ball, jogged forward calmly after dropping his bat. A batter knows—at the moment of contact—exactly where the ball is headed, how high, and how far.
This ball was 100% out.
"It's out!!"
"Home run!!"
"Whoaaa!!"
The baseball landed among Seido's student cheering section.
A tsunami of shouts erupted, drowning the stadium in deafening cheers.
This wasn't just a home run.
This was a grand slam—a golden home run.
Many players go their whole lives without ever hitting one. You need a strong batter… plus timing, luck, and alignment of everything.
Even Seido's Azuma Kiyokuni, with thirty to forty home runs in more than twenty official games—averaging over one homer per game—had never hit a golden home run.
Kanzaki Ryou grinned, raising both hands and waving toward third base as he rounded the bases—First Base, Second Base, Third Base—finally stepping onto home plate. Four runs. A golden home run.
"This kid… he's seriously incredible."
"When an opportunity shows up, he never lets it slip. That's just who he is."
"For this hit alone, I won't bring up the Akita dog incident anymore."
"Look, he's waving! That little showoff!"
"He's getting full of himself! I'm jealous!"
….
Hearing his seniors grouse and praise him, Miyuki chuckled and turned his gaze to Kanzaki Ryou.
"Hmph. As expected of my partner."
On the field, Kanzaki Ryou high-fived his three seniors one after another before all four jogged back into the dugout.
The moment they stepped inside, their teammates swarmed him.
"Good kid, you really saved us."
"Niceball!"
"As expected of my junior!"
"Woof!"
Laughter erupted as everyone rubbed Kanzaki Ryou's head. Meanwhile, the four Seido giants watched with different expressions.
Chris smiled gently.
President Ota stretched out his hands, lips trembling, wanting to congratulate Kanzaki Ryou.
Takashima Rei pushed up her glasses as usual, a faint smile forming beneath the white glow on her lenses.
"Kanzaki!"
Coach Kataoka's voice suddenly boomed. The playful crowd halted immediately. Kanzaki Ryou straightened up and faced him. Coach Kataoka's face was unreadable.
As the air grew tense, Kataoka finally smiled and gave Kanzaki Ryou his first thumbs-up.
"Keep it up."
"Yes, Coach!"
Satisfied, Kataoka nodded. "Rest well."
The game continued. Shida Shota was caught out. Kominato Ryosuke came up next. After two niceballs, he stubbornly prolonged the at-bat, nearly driving Iwao Sho insane.
He must not get on base.
Both Iwao Sho and the catcher knew—if Ryosuke got on base, they would have to face Seido's terrifying third batter. That would be even worse.
Bang!
Ryosuke hit the ball between First Base and Second Base, but it didn't get through—caught neatly in a glove.
The pitcher and catcher exchanged glances, exhaling heavily. They were trembling with nerves.
Thus, the third inning ended. The scoreboard read 9–0, Seido in full control.
"Nanjo!"
"Here." Nanjo stepped forward.
"It's on you next. Any issues?" Coach Kataoka asked.
"No problem." Nanjo grinned. Seido was up by nine. His job: finish this early. No runs allowed.
Coach Kataoka then looked toward Miyuki. "Miyuki, you're up."
"I've been ready for ages." Miyuki smirked and stepped out. Watching Kanzaki Ryou shine for three innings had made his fingers itch.
They replaced shortstop Shida Shota as well, giving Kuramochi Yoichi a precious chance to play.
As the fourth inning began, Seido swapped pitcher, catcher, and shortstop all at once. The fact that their Ace—fresh off a golden home run—was removed from the field left the audience grumbling.
"Are we being disliked?" Nanjo joked.
Miyuki covered his mouth with his glove, chuckling. "Senior… if you give up runs, it'll be more than just dislike."
Nanjo froze… then sighed.
"You've always talked like this, haven't you?"
How this kid avoided getting punched was a miracle.
"Hehehe."
Miyuki laughed without answering.
----------
Support me at patréon com/DaoOfPeeking