Inside the locker room, Kanzaki Ryou changed into his uniform and began doing some light warm-ups.
When he ran into Yakushi earlier, he could clearly see the determination in their eyes. In today's game, they would definitely swing with everything they had.
Although his pitching was powerful, baseball was unpredictable. No one could guarantee what would happen once the game began.
Facing a team that attacked relentlessly, Kanzaki Ryou did not dare to relax in the slightest.
"Let's go! The game's about to start!"
Yuki stood at the locker room entrance and called out.
"Let's go!" Isashiki Jun shouted as he walked out.
"Haha, let's see just how strong this dark horse Yakushi really is," Kuramochi Yoichi added as he followed.
"My bat is already thirsty!"
At the same time, the Yakushi team was also heading toward the field.
"Ha, haha! That Kanzaki Ryou earlier—he really looks strong. I really want to hit his pitch."
The little monkey, Todoroki Raichi, walked in the middle of the group, his face full of excitement.
"I want to hit it too!"
Mishima Yuta, also a first-year, looked forward to the match with shining eyes.
To him, Seido's Kanzaki Ryou and Inashiro's Narumiya Mei were both idols. In the small notebook he always carried, he recorded information about every high school player he admired.
One day, he wanted to defeat them all—one by one.
"You're not seriously thinking about hitting the Overlord's pitch for a home run, are you?" another first-year, Akiba, asked cautiously.
Mishima Yuta turned and grinned.
"Why not? If you want to do something, you have to dare to think about it first."
Hearing that, Coach Todoroki—who had been walking at the front while thinking about how to deal with Seido—turned around and laughed.
"Haha, that's the spirit! What's there to be afraid of?"
"Later, everyone swing your bats with full strength. No matter who the pitcher is, hit the ball with everything you've got!"
"Yes!!"
A few minutes later, the stadium had reached its peak atmosphere.
The stands were packed with spectators, all eagerly waiting for the game to begin.
Today—would it be another victory for the reigning king, Seido?
Or would the dark horse Yakushi continue its miracle run?
After a short warm-up, both teams returned to their dugouts.
Kanzaki Ryou looked at the starting lineup displayed on the giant screen.
"Todoroki Raichi batting leadoff? Trying to get an extra at-bat? Greedy guy."
"Heh, they're probably trying to increase their chances of winning. Looks like this kid's hitting really is something."
"Of course. In the last game he even hit a home run off Manaka Kaname-senpai."
"Let's go, it's time!"
As the nine Seido starters took the field, a thunderous cheer erupted from the stands behind the Seido dugout.
The crowd was incredibly excited.
Their Ace was finally pitching!
"Kanzaki!!"
"Ace!!"
"Chris!"
"Yuki!"
Fans shouted the players' names one after another.
After everyone took their positions, Kanzaki Ryou stood on the pitcher's mound and slowly looked around the stadium.
Sure enough… this spot was still the most comfortable place in the entire field.
Then, after a long time, Kanzaki Ryou slowly raised his right hand.
It's coming!
The Seido fans grew even more excited.
As his arm swung down—
The roaring crowd suddenly fell silent.
"Die!"
"So cool!"
Todoroki Raichi's eyes sparkled the moment he saw the pitch begin.
"Hey, hey… this is a game. Isn't this guy boosting the opponent's morale instead?" Coach Todoroki complained helplessly as he looked at Raichi's excited face in the batter's box.
The game began.
Kanzaki Ryou spun the baseball in his hand while studying Todoroki Raichi.
The stance of this batter gave off a strange sense of pressure.
Although his expression looked somewhat silly, the burning excitement in his eyes told Kanzaki Ryou everything.
This guy was desperate to hit his pitch.
Heh. You really don't know the immensity of heaven and earth.
No matter how much trouble you cause, you'll never escape my Five Finger Mountain.
Little monkey… prepare yourself.
At the same time, Todoroki Raichi was also observing the pitcher he had been looking forward to facing.
The aura and pressure radiating from Kanzaki Ryou were far stronger than the pitcher he had faced two days earlier.
Just standing there made Raichi feel an overwhelming sense of pressure.
Even the bat in his hands felt heavier than usual.
On the mound, after seeing Chris's signal, Kanzaki Ryou's eyes sharpened.
His raised left leg stepped forward forcefully.
His arm whipped forward.
The baseball shot toward home plate.
From Raichi's perspective, the ball looked like a ferocious beast charging straight at him.
For a brief moment—even someone as fearless as Raichi felt a flash of fear.
Thwack!
The ball slammed heavily into Chris's glove.
"Strike!"
Only when the umpire's voice sounded did Raichi instinctively swing his bat.
Seeing this scene, the entire stadium gasped.
Whether they knew Kanzaki Ryou or were seeing him pitch for the first time, everyone was stunned.
Especially those who had watched Yakushi's previous game against Ichidai Third High. They knew exactly how terrifying Raichi's hitting ability was.
Yet now—
In front of the pitcher known as the Overlord, he looked completely helpless.
Even a little ridiculous.
"161!"
Someone shouted.
Everyone immediately turned toward the speed gun displayed in the corner of the stadium.
The cold numbers on the screen made their hearts skip a beat.
Then the entire stadium exploded in shock.
"What?! 161 km/h?!"
"How can it be that fast?!"
"This is insane… is he really a high school student?"
"He's cheating! He must be cheating!"
"What nonsense—how could someone cheat with a radar gun?!"
The spectators were stunned.
Kanzaki Ryou's pitch speed had exceeded 160 km/h.
In the Seido dugout, Coach Kataoka's pupils trembled when he saw the number.
Because of his strict instructions, Kanzaki Ryou almost never pitched at full strength during practice.
He never expected the boy's pitch speed to have increased to this level.
"My goodness… what did this guy eat growing up?"
"Is he even human?"
"Being born in the same era as him… I'm really glad I joined Seido."
The players in the dugout whispered among themselves.
Meanwhile, the fielders behind him raised their hands and cheered loudly.
In the Yakushi dugout, everyone was stunned.
After seeing the pitch speed—and Raichi's reaction—no one spoke for several seconds.
Even Mishima Yuta, who had been full of confidence earlier, fell silent.
"Wow… that was fast."
"Todoroki Raichi… he…"
"He won't get discouraged, right?"
"Maybe. It's the first time I've ever seen him look that flustered. That swing just now…"
"This was only the first pitch."
Sanada Shunpei, Yakushi's ace, understood better than anyone how terrifying Raichi's batting ability was.
If even Raichi couldn't hit the ball…
Then what about everyone else?