"Ichidai Third High lost to Yakushi? I've never even heard of that team."
Kuramochi Yoichi looked around at his teammates.
"Me neither."
"Same here."
"They were probably one of those teams that used to get knocked out in the first or second round."
"So they're a dark horse, huh? Quietly taking down Ichidai Third High."
The players murmured among themselves, clearly surprised.
Takashima Rei explained,
"Originally, the match was quite even. Ichidai Third High even held a slight advantage. But during the game, their ace, Manaka Kaname, was struck by a batted ball and had to leave the game due to injury."
"That was the main reason Ichidai Third High ultimately lost."
"What?! Hit by a batted ball?"
"Hiss… that must have hurt like hell."
"Manaka Kaname..."
Before the bus had even fully stopped, Tanba suddenly stood up.
Everyone turned to look at him.
Many of them knew about Tanba's relationship with Manaka Kaname, so his reaction wasn't surprising.
Realizing he had acted too hastily, Tanba quietly sat back down. He took out his phone and quickly sent Manaka a message asking about his condition.
At that moment, Coach Kataoka spoke.
"Do we have the game footage?"
"Yes," Takashima Rei replied. "The entire game was recorded."
"Good."
When the bus finally stopped, Coach Kataoka stood and addressed the team.
"Everyone, get off the bus and go back to rest."
"Tonight, we will watch the game footage of Ichidai Third High versus Yakushi together."
"No one is absent."
"Yes!!"
Afternoon Break
After getting off the bus, the players dispersed.
Kanzaki Ryou planned to eat lunch quickly and then take a nap.
As for Yakushi High, he wasn't particularly worried.
Overall, Yakushi's strength wasn't as great as Ichidai Third High's. Their victory likely came from the element of surprise. Ichidai probably underestimated them.
Still…
Yakushi definitely had something special.
Especially Raichi Todoroki.
Kanzaki estimated that Ichidai Third High must have been shocked by the kid's hitting power. The pressure from Raichi's swing was no less than that of Tetsuya Yuki or Azuma Kiyokuni.
Thinking about their upcoming match made him feel slightly excited.
When the time comes…
I'll definitely shut down Raichi Todoroki.
"Ryou! What are you thinking about?"
"I've been calling you for a while."
At some point, Kazuya Miyuki had walked up beside him.
"Oh, nothing," Kanzaki replied. "Just thinking about the next game."
Miyuki grinned.
"Yeah, we'll need to study that Yakushi team carefully tonight."
"Of course. Any team capable of beating Ichidai Third deserves our attention."
"Haha! What's there to worry about?" Kuramochi jogged over after overhearing them.
"Kanzaki, you're pitching next game, right?"
"Just shut down Yakushi's lineup and leave the rest to us!"
Kanzaki shook his head.
"You can't say that. Baseball always has uncertainties."
"Don't get arrogant."
Miyuki laughed.
"That's right, Kuramochi. You've been getting pretty cocky lately."
Being ganged up on by both of them, Kuramochi's face darkened.
"Damn it, Kanzaki! Idiot Miyuki!"
"Die!!"
That evening, Kanzaki Ryou, Chris Yū Takigawa, and first-year Arima Kazusa arrived at the meeting room.
The entire Seido team gathered to watch the game footage between Yakushi and Ichidai Third.
They replayed the match several times.
Especially Raichi Todoroki's hitting, which left the entire Seido team stunned.
Such monstrous batting power—
And he was only a first-year.
Kuramochi scratched his head.
"Well, he's good… but that's about it."
"Wasn't Kanzaki even better last year?"
Everyone turned to look at Kanzaki.
It was true.
Their own team also had a monster batter.
Kanzaki shook his head.
"It's different."
"Raichi Todoroki's batting style is completely different from mine."
"I'm a technical, cerebral batter."
"That kid…"
"He's a pure beast."
"He plays by instinct."
Miyuki snorted.
"Technical and cerebral?"
"What does that have to do with you?"
The room fell silent.
If they weren't teammates, they might actually have believed Kanzaki.
Coach Kataoka tapped the table.
Everyone immediately quieted down.
"Yakushi is an extremely aggressive team."
"They swing at almost everything."
"Bunts are nearly nonexistent, and their on-base rate is very high."
"In games, they constantly apply pressure on the pitcher."
"In the game two days from now, the defense must stay alert and help relieve the pitcher's burden."
"Yes!!"
Then he turned toward the pitchers.
"All pitchers, prepare to pitch."
"Yes!"
Coach Kataoka then looked directly at Kanzaki.
"How about it?"
"Do you want to pitch?"
"Yes," Kanzaki replied without hesitation.
Since the Summer Tournament started, he hadn't stepped onto the mound even once.
"Alright," Coach Kataoka said.
"You'll start the game."
"Four innings should be enough, right?"
Kanzaki nodded casually.
"More than enough."
"I don't want to get too tired."
The rest of the team stared with wide eyes.
Normally, the starting lineup was decided the day before a game.
But now the coach was asking Kanzaki if he wanted to pitch and even letting him choose how many innings.
That level of trust was unbelievable.
Tanba looked at Kanzaki silently before sighing.
If only I had that kind of strength…
Kawakami watched with admiration.
Meanwhile, Sawamura and Furuya were practically burning with jealousy.
Yakushi High
At the same time, inside Yakushi High's meeting room.
The team had just finished watching Seido's game against Akikawa.
Their ace pitcher, Shunpei Sanada, sat quietly at the back.
"Their pitching staff is ridiculously deep."
"That's the foundation of a powerhouse school."
"We can't compare."
"Exactly. Even that You Shunshin guy was strong, but he couldn't force out Seido's ace."
Someone suddenly asked,
"Sanada, what do you think about Seido's batting lineup?"
Sanada smiled.
"Seido's lineup is the strongest in the country."
"I'll do my best."
"My absolute best."
He laughed as he said it, but deep down he felt a bitter weight.
This was Seido, the reigning champions.
The team known as the undefeated overlords.
Their own team wasn't weak…
But defeating Seido?
That would require overcoming their monstrous pitching staff.
Nearby, Yakushi's coach — Todoroki Raizō — also wore a troubled expression.
Several players on Seido's roster had the aura of professional sluggers.
And what did that mean?
Power.
They fast-forwarded through the Akikawa game and then opened Seido's earlier match recordings.
The moment the video showed Kanzaki Ryou pitching—
A voice exploded in excitement.
"Sugoi!!"
"So amazing!"
"I want to hit that!"
"I want to hit his pitches!"
Raichi Todoroki jumped up and down like an excited monkey.
His eyes were shining as he stared at the screen.
His whole body trembled with excitement.
For him—
Facing a pitcher like Kanzaki Ryou…
Was the most thrilling challenge imaginable.