No one could remember how many pitches had been exchanged during this fierce showdown.
The count had reached a full count—three balls and two strikes.
Both the Pitcher and the Batter had been pushed to their limits. At this stage, even the slightest mistake could determine the outcome of this intense duel.
One thing was worth noting.
Aside from the first two pitches, Naoki Enomoto had not thrown another Gyro Ball.
Instead, he cycled through every pitch in his arsenal, refusing to give Kitamura Kou the one pitch he wanted most.
Even so, relying on his exceptional batting technique and astonishing reaction speed, Kitamura Kou managed to foul off every single one.
To the spectators, it looked effortless.
But in reality, every swing was incredibly dangerous.
Several times, Kitamura Kou had come dangerously close to mishitting the ball, nearly giving Kaidou High School an easy out.
"Haa... Haa..."
Naoki Enomoto breathed heavily.
Despite having taken the mound only a short while ago, sweat was already streaming down his forehead, soaking the hair clinging to his face.
His eyes, filled with defiance and provocation, remained fixed on the equally exhausted Kitamura Kou.
"Hmph... That damned brat."
"He's as stubborn as dog-skin plaster. No matter what I do, I just can't shake him off."
A grin slowly spread across his face.
"So... you want to hit my Gyro Ball?"
"I don't mind."
"In fact... I'd welcome it."
"Sato..."
"Now let's see whether you have the guts to call for it."
After speaking, Naoki Enomoto shifted his gaze toward Sato Toshiya behind home plate.
For the first time, he handed the decision entirely to his Catcher.
But this was more than just a choice of pitch.
It was also a test.
A test to determine whether Sato Toshiya truly possessed the qualities needed to become one of Kaidou High School's future leaders after the third-years graduated.
Sato Toshiya bit his lip.
His eyes moved repeatedly between Naoki Enomoto and Kitamura Kou.
"Enomoto-senpai has already used every pitch in his repertoire, yet he still hasn't managed to retire this Batter."
"There's no doubt..."
"Kitamura Kou is waiting for the Gyro Ball."
"But knowing that..."
"Should I really risk everything by calling for it?"
He understood the consequences better than anyone.
If the Gyro Ball was thrown...
And if Kitamura Kou sent it soaring out of the stadium...
The damage to Kaidou High School's morale would be immeasurable.
But if they defeated him head-on with Enomoto's signature pitch...
Everything would change.
The momentum of the game would instantly swing back in Kaidou's favor, and the team's fighting spirit would soar to an entirely new level.
Just as Sato Toshiya found himself trapped between hesitation and determination...
A familiar figure suddenly flashed through his mind.
Like a bolt of lightning.
Shigeno Goro.
The man who always charged forward without hesitation.
The man who never retreated in the face of adversity.
The man who confronted every challenge head-on.
The man who had created miracle after miracle.
That image struck Sato Toshiya's wavering heart like a heavy hammer.
In an instant, all of his hesitation disappeared.
He took a deep breath.
Then another.
The uncertainty in his eyes gradually vanished, replaced by unwavering resolve.
A relieved smile slowly spread across his face.
He had made his decision.
"Hehe..."
Sato Toshiya chuckled softly.
There was self-mockery in his laughter, but also relief.
"When did I become so hesitant..."
"So afraid of winning and losing..."
"At a moment like this..."
"As Kaidou High School's starting Catcher..."
"The answer should have been obvious from the very beginning."
"Goro-kun..."
"I'll have to thank you properly after this game."
As the thought crossed his mind, Sato Toshiya quickly flashed a series of signs beneath his glove.
Without the slightest hesitation, he met Naoki Enomoto's scrutinizing gaze.
The moment he saw the sign...
A bright light flashed through Naoki Enomoto's eyes.
His heart, which had only just calmed down, immediately began pounding with excitement once again.
Finally...
He could no longer suppress the exhilaration surging inside him.
"Hahaha!"
"That's more like it, Sato!"
"This is the spirit Kaidou High School should have!"
"Fearless!"
"Always charging forward!"
"You've passed my test!"
"From this moment on..."
"No matter what pitch you call..."
"I'll trust you completely."
"I'll throw it with everything I've got!"
"Oh?"
Kitamura Kou looked at the laughing Naoki Enomoto before shifting his gaze toward Sato Toshiya behind the plate.
"So..."
"You've finally decided."
"We're going to settle this with the Gyro Ball."
"I should thank you properly, Sato-senpai."
Sato Toshiya simply smiled.
Neither confirming nor denying Kitamura Kou's words.
"Hehe..."
"Not necessarily."
"It could just be a smoke screen."
"Who knows?"
Kitamura Kou merely smiled.
He offered no further response.
Instead, he silently shifted his attention back to Naoki Enomoto.
His muscles tightened.
Every nerve in his body became taut.
Like a tiger waiting patiently to pounce on its prey.
All he needed...
Was the perfect opportunity.
Seeing Kitamura Kou's calm and confident expression...
Naoki Enomoto's temper flared once more.
Veins bulged across his forehead.
His eyes widened with fury.
"Don't underestimate me, you damned brat!!"
With an explosive roar, Naoki Enomoto violently swung his right arm.
Every ounce of strength in his body flowed into that single motion.
The white baseball exploded from his fingertips like a cannon shell, cutting through the air with terrifying speed.
"Whoosh!!"
A sharp whistle echoed across the stadium.
The baseball streaked toward home plate, targeting the low outside corner and barely grazing the edge of the strike zone.
"It really is the Gyro Ball!"
The instant the ball left Naoki Enomoto's hand, Kitamura Kou recognized its unique spin.
Every muscle in his body tensed.
His eyes locked onto the incoming pitch.
He waited.
Patiently.
Silently.
The moment the baseball entered his hitting zone—
The bat that had remained perfectly still only a heartbeat earlier suddenly appeared directly in its path.
CLANG!!!