"Two outs! Ushijima, two outs!"
"Just one more! One more out!"
The voices of Seidou's players echoed across Jingu Stadium.
Yuki Tetsuya's voice was trembling slightly.
After everything they had endured, Seidou was only one out away from Koshien.
"USHIJIMA!!!"
From center field, Isashiki's booming voice rang out across the diamond.
Standing on the mound, Ushijima lowered his head for a moment.
He could feel it.
The anticipation.
The excitement.
The hopes of every third-year player.
One more out.
Just one more.
And he would lead them to Koshien.
This was their final summer.
Their last chance.
Slowly, Ushijima looked around the field.
At third base, Masuko stood ready with his glove.
The big slugger was grinning from ear to ear.
At first base, Yuki Tetsuya bent forward in his defensive stance.
The moment he noticed Ushijima's gaze, the usually serious captain smiled.
A genuine smile.
Then Ushijima looked toward center field.
Isashiki was practically shaking with excitement.
Finally, his eyes drifted toward the dugout.
Chris.
Tanba.
Miyauchi.
Sakai.
Kominato Ryousuke.
Every third-year was watching him.
Watching the ace who had carried Seidou all the way to the doorstep of Koshien.
A faint smile appeared on Ushijima's face.
So this is what it feels like...
Helping the seniors achieve their dream.
Helping them reach Koshien.
It really is exciting.
The thought warmed his heart.
Then he turned his attention back to home plate.
The final batter stood waiting.
Yoshizawa.
A third-year.
A player carrying his own determination.
For him, this game could not end here.
No matter what happened, he had to reach base.
He had to keep Inashiro alive.
Ushijima understood that.
Which was why he showed no mercy.
WHOOSH!
The first pitch exploded from his hand.
A 150 km/h Shootball.
The pitch raced toward Yoshizawa's chest before breaking sharply back toward the strike zone.
Yoshizawa didn't swing.
The velocity was simply too fast.
Most pitches thrown at that speed struggled with command.
Many ended up missing the zone entirely.
But—
THWACK!
Only a sliver of the baseball clipped the strike zone before diving into Miyuki's mitt.
"Strike!"
The umpire immediately made the call.
Yoshizawa clenched his bat tighter.
He knew better than to argue.
The ball had caught the corner.
Barely.
But enough.
A strike was a strike.
His eyes sharpened.
Come on.
Throw the Forkball.
Show me that Forkball again.
The fighting spirit in Yoshizawa's eyes burned brighter than ever.
Ushijima saw it.
And understood immediately.
You want the Forkball?
Fine.
I'll give it to you.
Consider it...
My graduation gift.
His fingers spread across the seams.
Then he unleashed the pitch with everything he had.
WHOOSH!!!
The baseball screamed toward home plate.
Yoshizawa's eyes widened.
Even Miyuki's pupils shrank.
Fast.
Far too fast.
The Forkball looked almost identical to a Fastball.
Until—
It vanished.
The baseball suddenly plunged downward.
Yoshizawa's swing was only halfway complete when the ball had already disappeared beneath his bat.
BANG!
The pitch slammed into the dirt.
The velocity was so terrifying that even Miyuki failed to catch it cleanly.
At the last possible moment, he threw his body in front of it.
THUD!
The baseball struck his chest protector.
Pain shot through his body.
But the ball stayed in front of him.
Without hesitation, he pounced on it and secured possession.
The umpire immediately made his call.
"Strike Two!"
Yoshizawa's bat stopped halfway through his swing.
The strikeout count stood at two.
Meanwhile, Miyuki stared at Ushijima in disbelief.
That Forkball...
Its velocity had exceeded 150 km/h.
Even Furuya's Forkball wasn't this ridiculous.
This wasn't a normal Forkball anymore.
It was a monster disguised as one.
No wonder Ushijima had hidden it until now.
A weapon like this could completely change a game.
Yoshizawa's breathing became heavier.
Even he couldn't hide his shock.
A 150 km/h Forkball?
What kind of monster was standing on that mound?
But Ushijima remained calm.
This was the final batter.
The final out.
The final pitch.
As he gripped the baseball, a single thought crossed his mind.
Happy graduation.
Then—
He threw.
BOOOOOOM!!!
The baseball exploded from his fingertips.
A Four-Seam Fastball.
The pitch he had barely used all game.
The pitch that exceeded 155 km/h.
The pitch that embodied overwhelming power.
The moment Yoshizawa saw it, his entire body froze.
It didn't look like a baseball.
It looked like a beast.
A wild beast charging straight toward him.
Human instincts were strange.
When faced with danger, people reacted automatically.
And Yoshizawa's body reacted.
He swung.
Without thinking.
Without hesitation.
Pure instinct.
But he was too late.
Far too late.
WHOOOOOSH!
The bat sliced through empty air.
The baseball continued forward untouched.
The overwhelming velocity caused the ball to rise slightly as it crossed the plate.
Miyuki raised his glove.
BOOM!
The ball crashed into the mitt with an explosive sound.
For a brief moment—
The entire stadium fell silent.
Then the umpire's voice shattered the stillness.
"STRIKE THREE!"
"BATTER OUT!"
"GAME OVER!!!"
For a fraction of a second, nobody moved.
Nobody breathed.
Then—
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
Ushijima threw his head back and roared toward the sky.
Months.
Four months of pressure.
Four months of training.
Four months of carrying expectations.
Everything exploded from his chest in that single roar.
They had done it.
They had changed the future.
They had reached Koshien.
And this time—
Seidou's third-years would not leave the field crying.
This time—
They could smile.
This time—
Their summer would continue.