You Shunshin's expression was grave.
Akikawa had yet to score a single run.
The pressure was immense — yet beneath it, there was excitement.
This was baseball.
Facing an opponent like Seidou… that was when the game became truly interesting.
He stepped into the batter's box with absolute focus.
Behind the plate stood Miyuki Kazuya.
On the mound, first-year Furuya Satoru.
Neither would be easy to overcome.
Miyuki felt it immediately.
What pressure…
Akikawa's strategy was obvious — they wouldn't swing at borderline pitches against Furuya. They were betting on his control faltering.
And You Shunshin? He would execute that plan even more perfectly.
If they couldn't rely on edge pitches, then they'd have to challenge him directly — but with Furuya's current condition, that was dangerous.
Fine.
Let's gamble.
Miyuki gave the sign decisively.
Low outside fastball.
Paint it.
Furuya wiped the sweat from his brow.
That spot… could he hit it?
He threw.
The ball screamed toward the corner.
You Shunshin's glasses flashed but he held back.
Pop!
Perfect catch.
"Strike!" Miyuki praised inwardly. It was half a ball from being outside.
"Ball!"
The umpire's call cut through the air.
Miyuki snapped his head toward him.
"Do you have an objection?" the umpire asked coldly.
"…No."
Miyuki forced a smile.
This was bad.
Unlike You Shunshin, who consistently hit his spots and built trust with the umpire, Furuya's earlier wildness had already planted doubt. Borderline calls would not favor them.
They couldn't rely on edges anymore.
If corners won't work… then overpower him.
Miyuki signaled again:
Full power. Just once.
Furuya blinked.
At this temperature? Shouldn't he conserve strength?
But Miyuki's eyes were unwavering.
Fine.
Furuya inhaled deeply.
Every pore opened.
Left leg lifted high.
Arm whipped down.
The ball exploded from his fingertips.
At the same moment, You Shunshin swung.
Pop!
"Strike!"
Miyuki caught it cleanly but frowned.
It floated high.
Still, the speed gun flashed:
149 km/h.
Good enough.
That pitch left an impression.
You Shunshin muttered softly in the box.
"Not as fast as I thought… If it's from the set position, I can hit it. Don't watch with your eyes feel it."
Miyuki couldn't catch the meaning — but he understood the danger.
Akikawa's bench roared:
"Shun! Blast it!"
Seidou's fielders responded immediately.
"Pitch like usual!" :Yuki.
"We've got your back!" :Kuramochi.
"Relax!" :Arima.
Even Kominato Haruichi shouted encouragement.
Furuya steadied himself.
Miyuki signaled: high outside fastball.
The pitch flew.
"Ball!"
Too high.
Miyuki exhaled sharply.
The heat was eating away at Furuya's precision.
But those high fastballs had served their purpose they planted a visual memory.
Now…
Forkball below the zone.
Furuya nodded.
This one won't float.
You Shunshin whispered again:
"I'll hit whatever comes."
The ball left Furuya's hand.
Good trajectory—
No.
It didn't drop.
Miyuki's eyes widened.
CRACK!!!
The bat crushed the ball.
It rocketed toward left field.
"Sakai!"
Sakai Ichiro sprinted, dove —
Missed by ten centimeters.
The ball landed.
You Shunshin flew past first base without hesitation.
Second base.
Still running.
Sakai scrambled up and fired the ball back —
Too late.
You Shunshin slid safely into third.
Triple.
The stadium erupted.
"Shun!!"
"Amazing!!"
After innings of suppression, Akikawa finally had life.
Kanzaki Ryou smirked.
"Tsk. Furuya's going to lose his cool now."
Sawamura turned toward him seriously.
"Aniki, even if he's struggling, you shouldn't gloat. Seniors should act like seniors."
Everyone blinked.
Before Kanzaki could respond, Sawamura spun toward the field and yelled:
"FURUYA! If you can't handle it, let me pitch! Ya ha ha ha!"
A collective sigh.
Is that what you call cheering?
Kanzaki chuckled.
"Well… that's certainly one way to encourage someone."
On the field, You Shunshin stood on third base.
No outs? No.
Two outs.
One hit had changed the atmosphere completely.
Furuya stood on the mound, breathing heavily under the blazing sun.
For the first time all game—
Akikawa had real momentum.
And the pressure… shifted.