Watching Sanada Shunpei sit in the dugout, breathing heavily, Todoroki Raizo fell into deep thought.
Should I keep him in… or not?
"Listen up!" Raizo suddenly barked.
"This inning—we widen the gap again!"
"Score as many runs as you can so Sanada can pitch with less pressure in the bottom half!"
He turned to Sanada.
"And you, when it's your turn to bat, don't swing. Save your strength. Understood?"
"YES!!!"
Top of the Sixth Inning
Yakushi's offense resumed.
Kobayashi Keisuke led off—
and quickly reached first with a clean single.
Following orders, Sanada stepped up—
and didn't swing.
Strikeout looking.
Then—
Todoroki Raichi.
Seido didn't hesitate.
They walked him.
Akiba Kazuma stepped in and swung aggressively at the first pitch—
At the same time—
Kobayashi and Raichi both took off.
"Double steal!"
Miyuki reacted quickly—
He nearly caught Kobayashi at third—
But Yakushi escaped by a hair.
One out. Runners on second and third.
Another scoring chance.
Kawakami Norifumi steadied himself on the mound.
But Akiba—
refused to back down.
He forced his bat against a low outside pitch—
"Ping!"
A weak slice.
Out.
But—
"Safe!!!"
The runner from third crossed home plate.
Yakushi added another run.
6–3.
Despite Kawakami's solid pitching—
Seido made their move.
Substitution Announcement
"Seido High School will now make a change!"
"Pitcher Kawakami is replaced—"
"Pitcher: Tanba!"
"At this critical moment, Seido's ace finally takes the mound!" Owada Akiko's voice rang with excitement.
"Tanba-senpai… I'm sorry," Kawakami said, lowering his head.
Tanba Koichiro stepped forward.
Calm. Steady.
"Furuya… Sawamura… and you, Kawakami," he said quietly.
"You've all pitched brilliantly."
He extended his glove.
"Entrust everything to me."
Kawakami met his gaze—
then placed the ball into Tanba's glove.
No hesitation.
Only trust.
"Finally…" Kominato Ryosuke chuckled.
"Our group is complete."
The third-years—
once called a "weak generation"—
now stood together.
Smiling.
"Take a deep breath!" Isashiki Jun shouted.
"Can I touch your head for luck?" Kominato teased.
"Hey, me too!" Kuramochi added.
"Count me in—!"
"Don't touch me!" Tanba snapped.
"…Good," Miyuki thought with a small smile.
"That'll help him relax."
He crouched behind the plate.
"Be careful with the first pitch," Miyuki said.
"They'll swing without hesitation."
Tanba nodded.
On the Field
"Seido's ace is finally here…" Omae Takahiro murmured.
"The key is his first pitch," Hirakawa added.
"No matter how good you feel in the bullpen… it's different with runners on base," Omae said. "The worst case? Getting crushed before you even settle in."
"And the next batter matters too," Hirakawa continued. "If he walks a power hitter right after coming in… the psychological damage will be huge."
Manaka Kaname silently watched.
Don't mess this up, Koichiro…
"Get a hit, Mishima!" Raichi shouted from third.
"Now this is exciting!"
"Throw it, Tanba!"
"Shut them down!"
"Finish him!"
The entire stadium held its breath.
Miyuki set the target.
Outside fastball. Doesn't have to be perfect—just sharp.
Chris watched silently.
Don't throw a pitch you'll regret… Tanba.
Tanba inhaled.
I can see it clearly… the mitt… the batter…
I'm ready.
He threw.
"Swoosh!"
Miyuki's eyes widened.
Too sweet… wrong spot!
Mishima swung instantly—
"Ping!"
Foul.
"…Tch, that was close," Raizo muttered.
"Whoa… that pitch had some bite," Mishima said, impressed.
Even if the control's off… the velocity is there, Miyuki thought.
He signaled again.
Second pitch.
"Swoosh!"
Mishima swung—
"Ping!"
Another foul.
Now—
He was cornered.
"Even if the placement's off… the ball's alive," Hirakawa observed.
"Now it depends on his curveball," Omae added. "That's Tanba's real weapon."
Miyuki made his decision.
This one ends it.
He gave the sign.
"Finish him!"
"End it here!"
"Swing with everything!"
Tanba delivered the third pitch—
"Swoosh!"
The curveball dropped—
too much.
It hit the dirt—
and nearly slipped past the catcher.
But—
"Got it!"
Miyuki reacted instantly—
blocking it with his body.
The runner at third couldn't move.
Another crisis—
averted.
Seido held the line.