A two-run home run.
As Kanzaki Ryō stepped on home plate, he didn't return to the dugout immediately.
Instead—
He walked to the front, raised his fist high…
Then, under the watch of countless cameras—
He lifted both hands above his head and formed a heart.
"…Huh?"
"…Who's that for?"
The entire stadium buzzed.
The media reacted instantly, cameras sweeping across the stands—
And quickly locking onto three bright, youthful girls sitting behind Seido's dugout.
At the center—
Kanzaki Kumiko.
Kanzaki's younger sister.
"…Wait."
"Don't tell me—"
"The rumors are real?!"
"Ni-chan!!!"
Kumiko waved her flag wildly, beaming with excitement.
Back on the field, Kanzaki smiled faintly before returning to the dugout alongside Yūki.
The moment they stepped in—
They were surrounded.
"You're insane! One swing, one kill!" Kuramochi laughed, lightly punching Kanzaki's chest.
"I thought we'd grind it out… didn't expect a straight-up home run," Isashiki grinned. "Narumiya's probably losing it right now."
Laughter and cheers filled the bench.
Coach Kataoka stepped forward.
"Well done. As expected of the captain… and the ace."
Kanzaki and Yūki exchanged a glance, smiling.
"That's thanks to your guidance, Coach," Kanzaki replied.
"…Heh."
Kataoka knew it was flattery.
Still—
He didn't mind hearing it from him.
Beside him, Ochiai stroked his beard, eyes filled with admiration.
This… is Seido.
This is their ace.
Terrifying.
He couldn't help but feel relieved he was on this side now.
Kanzaki sat down, taking a sip of water from Fujiwara Takako, his gaze already returning to the field.
On the mound—
Narumiya Mei had a towel draped over his head, his posture low.
That home run…
Had shaken him.
Seido seized the moment.
Miyuki hit a single.
Masuko followed with a long hit.
No outs.
Runners on first and third.
Another crisis.
But—
Narumiya steadied himself.
Reset.
Nine pitches.
Three strikeouts.
Shirasu.
Masuko.
Kuramochi.
Just like that—
The damage stopped.
End of the seventh.
Seido 2 – Inashiro 0
In the dugout—
Narumiya sat silently, head lowered.
"What are you doing?" Harada's voice cut through the air.
"The game isn't over."
"I…"
Narumiya clenched his fists.
"It's not on you," Harada continued calmly. "I misread that situation. With two strikes, I should've expected he'd be ready for the reverse changeup."
"Yeah," Carlos added. "You recovered right after. Three straight strikeouts—that's not easy."
Narumiya looked up.
His eyes shimmered.
"…Right."
He stood.
"The game isn't over."
"We'll take it back."
From the side, Coach Kunitomo watched quietly.
Relieved.
Giving up runs was inevitable against a team like Seido.
But what mattered—
Was that Narumiya didn't break.
Bottom of the seventh.
Inashiro's turn.
Carlos stepped in—
First pitch—
Bunt attempt.
Whoosh!
A near-160 km/h fastball exploded into Miyuki's glove.
Carlos froze.
"…What the hell—?!"
Too fast.
Way too fast.
Then I'll swing.
Second pitch—
Miss.
Third pitch—
He forced contact on an outside changeup—
But the ball dropped weakly in front of the plate.
Easy out.
Shirakawa—
Strikeout.
Yoshizawa—
Strikeout.
End of the seventh.
Still no runs.
Eighth inning.
Narumiya, now fully locked in, unleashed both his circle changeup and reverse changeup in tandem.
Kominato—strikeout.
Isashiki—strikeout.
Yūki stepped in again—
Connected—
But it turned into a grounder.
Narumiya fielded it himself.
Out.
Two outs.
Kanzaki stepped up.
Narumiya hesitated for only a moment—
Then—
Walked him.
Kanzaki calmly took first base.
Narumiya's eyes burned with frustration—
But he didn't act on it.
Not now.
Not when the team still had a chance.
He quickly retired Miyuki.
End of the eighth.
Still 2–0.
Bottom of the eighth.
Inashiro's last real chance.
Harada Masatoshi stepped in.
The captain.
The pillar.
"Captain!!"
"We're counting on you!"
"Hit it!!"
The crowd roared behind him.
First pitch—
Miss.
Second—
Crack!
He connected with a forkball—
But the angle was off.
The ball skipped past Kanzaki—
Kominato dove—
Snatched it clean—
And in one motion—
Fired to first.
Out.
The stadium fell silent.
Harada stood there for a moment—
Then turned.
As he walked back, his face had already returned to calm.
No frustration.
No hesitation.
They'll do it.
The team will score.
Next batter—
Narumiya Mei.
Ace vs Ace.
Again.
But this time—
Kanzaki didn't give him a chance.
Two quick strikes.
Behind the plate, Miyuki smirked slightly.
Signal given—
Palmball.
Kanzaki's eyes sharpened.
Alright…
Little Blondie—
Time to end this.