"Seido's batting lineup is terrifying! Even a first-year has this kind of power and speed?!"
"With that physique and that explosiveness, no wonder he's a starter."
"Wait—this hitting power and speed are actually better than Kuramochi's, right? And it only took eight pitches!"
"Yeah… Seido's roster strength is honestly horrifying."
The stands buzzed with excitement.
Miyuki Kazuya, having returned to the dugout, turned around with a grin and glanced at Ushijima Wakatoshi standing on first base.
"This guy really got a hit in his very first official at-bat."
Kuramochi laughed as he teased Ushijima, though the words carried unmistakable praise.
"If Manaka ignores Ushijima's push-and-pull hitting style and just throws three slurves in a row,"
Kominato Ryosuke said with a sharp grin,
"he'll definitely strike out."
"Yeah," Isashiki nodded.
"A 130-kilometer breaking ball is exactly this kid's weakness."
In Isashiki's eyes, that was perfectly normal.
Anyone without weaknesses at this stage would be a monster.
Next up—
The ninth batter.
Former ace pitcher: Tanba Koichiro.
These two were old rivals… and old friends.
Tanba glanced toward the dugout and received a coded sign from the coach.
Don't swing at the first two pitches.
Create space for Ushijima to steal.
Snap!
The instant Manaka Kaname began his pitching motion, Ushijima Wakatoshi exploded off first base.
"Steal!"
Another successful steal—sending a chill through Ichidai San's first baseman.
"What kind of joke is this?! A first-year dares to steal on us?!"
Manaka pitched with full force.
The catcher sprang up the moment the ball hit his mitt and fired it toward second base.
But—
Before the ball even crossed the pitcher's mound—
Ushijima's foot was already on the bag.
"Safe!!!"
The second-base umpire shouted.
"Wooooah—!"
The crowd erupted again.
"This speed… even Kuramochi doesn't steal like that!"
"Seriously, that height and speed—are they cheating?!"
"It's even faster than Kuramochi!"
"That's insane!"
Back in Seido's dugout, the players were cheering wildly.
Ushijima Wakatoshi stood on second base, only a step away from danger.
At this distance, Manaka knew—
Trying to hold him was pointless.
It's only the first inning… and I've already allowed multiple stolen bases.
What's going on? Why is everything falling apart?
Forcing himself to calm down, Manaka turned his attention back to the batter.
Snap!
But the moment he moved—
Ushijima took off again.
"He's stealing—!"
The second baseman shouted in shock.
Thud!
The ball slammed into the catcher's glove.
"You brat—stop messing around!!"
The catcher, furious, sprang up and fired the ball to third base.
Too late.
Ushijima had already slid in safely before the ball even arrived.
As Seido's fastest runner—and someone who had already calculated the pitcher-catcher timing—
He wouldn't hesitate for even a second.
"Excellent play! Seido's first-year, Ushijima Wakatoshi, successfully steals third base!"
"Two outs—but there's a runner on third!"
"And remember, Seido already scored five runs this inning!"
The commentators were nearly shouting now.
Ichidai San High was being completely toyed with.
Just as Coach Kataoka had said—
Last year's grudge against Ichidai San High would be repaid tenfold this year.
Standing in the batter's box, Tanba felt a twinge of sympathy for his old friend.
"Manaka… Seido is different this year."
"And the biggest difference is that first-year."
"Don't underestimate him."
As the pitch came in, Tanba quickly lowered his bat, aiming for a light tap.
The moment he made contact—
Ushijima bolted for home.
But when things shouldn't go wrong—
They did.
Tanba had intended to force Ushijima back with a controlled bunt.
Instead—
Clang!
The contact was awkward.
The ball shot straight upward.
A high pop fly, rising vertically above home plate.
The catcher didn't even need to move.
Ushijima, halfway between third and home, watched the ball climb helplessly.
He stopped.
Frozen in place.
"…Ah."
Bang!
The catcher caught it cleanly.
The batter's box fell silent.
Tanba stood there, utterly embarrassed.
"Out!"
The umpire announced.
Seido's first offensive inning ended—
Five runs scored.
On the mound, Manaka Kaname couldn't help complaining.
"Tanba… your batting really hasn't improved at all."
batting and bunt had always been Tanba's weakest point.
And yet, he'd tried to use it for a sacrifice play.
"Tanba-senpai," Ushijima said innocently,
"You did that on purpose, didn't you?"
"You know this was my debut."
"I almost got a perfect start with a run scored…"
"And you gave me this instead."
"Thank you—so—much."
Despite the criticism, Tanba simply whistled and pretended not to hear.
The dugout burst into laughter.
Both of them were ace pitchers—
Which made their rivalry strangely dramatic.
"Alright, Ushijima," someone called out.
"It's your turn to defend."
"Everyone on Ichidai San High is waiting to take revenge on you."
"How much you're worth as a starter—this inning will show it."
Ushijima removed his batting gloves and slipped on his pitching glove.
He rolled his neck lightly.
"Alright," he said calmly.
"Let's give Ichidai San High a surprise."
"Let's go!"
Yuki Tetsuya shouted.
"Yeah!"
Seido's defense responded in unison.
Ushijima jogged up to the mound, bent down, and picked up the rosin bag, rubbing his fingers until the grip felt right.
Ichidai San High's first batter stepped into the right-handed batter's box.
Miyuki Kazuya crouched behind the plate, smiling faintly.
He raised his glove—
Inside corner.
Low.
Near the knee.
Ushijima tightened his grip, raised both hands overhead—
Then stomped forward.
His body twisted sharply.
The ball exploded from his hand.
The batter instinctively flinched as the pitch screamed toward him.
Bang!
The baseball slammed perfectly into Miyuki's glove.
"Strike!!"
The umpire's call rang out.
The batter stared in disbelief.
"…That kind of control?"