After securing the first strike, Kanzaki Ryō lifted his chin slightly and flashed a smile at Narumiya Mei.
A clear provocation.
"…Come on! I'm not afraid of you!" Narumiya snapped.
Kanzaki chuckled under his breath.
This guy really is fun.
He rolled the baseball lightly in his palm, eyes shifting toward home plate. Miyuki had already given the sign.
Alright, Little Blondie… show me what you've got.
Whoosh—
Kanzaki exhaled slowly, then moved.
His steps were heavy, deliberate—his arm whipping forward in a blur.
In the batter's box, Narumiya's senses sharpened instantly.
The moment the ball left the pitcher's hand—
He swung.
A flash of white streaked toward him—
Then—
It vanished.
Like light refracting into water, the ball dipped sharply beneath his bat.
Thwack!
"Strike!"
A 155 km/h forkball.
Narumiya missed again.
"…Damn it!"
Pressure mounted instantly.
Two strikes.
Sweat trickled down his forehead, stinging his eyes. He wiped it away, gaze hardening.
Third pitch.
Outside.
Narumiya didn't hesitate.
Crack!
He barely made contact.
Got it!
He had been aiming for the outside cutter—and somehow connected.
But—
The ball was too heavy.
Too fast.
The hit was weak.
Narumiya dropped the bat and sprinted.
"KURAMOCHI!!"
Kanzaki shouted immediately as the ball bounced behind him.
Kuramochi reacted in an instant—
A full dive.
He smothered the ball cleanly.
Before even landing, his wrist flicked—
The throw shot toward second.
Kominato Ryōsuke moved like flowing water, catching it smoothly and pivoting—
Then firing to first.
Narumiya was already halfway down the line.
Closing in—
Step by step—
The ball arrived—
OUT!!
"…Tch!"
Narumiya stepped past the base, frustration written all over his face.
"Nice!!"
"Kuramochi!"
"Kominato!"
"What a play!"
Cheers erupted across the stadium.
Kanzaki's pitching had been dominant—but this defensive sequence lit up the crowd in a different way.
The seamless coordination.
The precision.
It drew thunderous applause.
On the mound, Kanzaki turned and nodded toward Kuramochi and Kominato.
That was on you guys.
They grinned back, flashing thumbs-up.
Two outs.
Yamaoka Riku stepped in.
Sweat soaked his uniform.
The heat. The pressure. The suffocating atmosphere—
But he didn't back down.
Even a sliver of hope—
He would chase it.
Whoosh!
First pitch—
He swung hard.
Swish!
Miss.
"Strike!"
Second pitch.
Third pitch.
Same result.
"Strikeout!"
End of the fifth inning.
Three up.
Three down.
Again.
Back in the dugout—
Kanzaki watched Kuramochi put on his batting gloves.
"Good luck, Speedy. Whether we can start something… it's all on you."
Kuramochi turned, flashing what he clearly thought was a cool grin.
"Leave it to me."
Top of the sixth inning.
Kuramochi stepped in—and immediately swung aggressively.
First swing.
Second swing.
Two strikes.
Harada's expression sharpened.
No bunt…?
He signaled the defense to shift slightly deeper—but not too far.
Still cautious.
Third pitch.
Whoosh!
Kuramochi swung with everything—
Thud!
Contact.
"Foul!"
"…Tch."
Kuramochi reset instantly.
Behind the plate, Harada nodded slightly.
So he's going for it now…
Then take this.
Signal given—
Forkball.
Narumiya nodded.
Grip adjusted.
Pitch released—
And then—
A bat appeared, held horizontally.
Damn it—!
Thwack!
Bunt.
The ball dropped awkwardly, bouncing toward the mound.
Kuramochi had no choice—
He sprinted.
"Mei!"
Narumiya charged forward, fielded cleanly, and fired to first.
"OUT!"
A collective sigh spread through the stands.
"So close…"
In the dugout, Kanzaki leaned on the railing, lips pursed.
"…What a waste."
"Don't sigh," Yūki said calmly. "You'll sigh away your luck."
Kanzaki froze for a second—
Then turned, surprised.
"…Captain, you have that saying here too?"
Yūki blinked. "Of course. Haven't you heard it before?"
Kanzaki chuckled softly.
"…Yeah."
Just… from a different life.
After Kuramochi—
Kominato Ryōsuke struck out.
Narumiya, now fully locked in, alternated between two types of changeups, disrupting his timing completely.
Two outs.
Isashiki Jun stepped up.
Hope of the inning.
Crack!
He connected—
The ball flew to right field—
Caught.
Out.
Top of the sixth.
Three up.
Three down.
"Damn it… still can't get on base."
Isashiki chugged half a bottle of water in frustration.
"Relax," Kominato said. "If we can't score, neither can they."
"There'll be a chance," Yūki added. "We just have to wait for it."
Bottom of the sixth.
Inashiro—
Once again—
Three up.
Three down.
As the inning ended, Kanzaki picked up his bat and stepped into the on-deck circle.
His eyes locked onto Yūki in the batter's box.
Get on base.
You have to.
A faint smile touched his lips.
Captain… I'm counting on you.