"Huh? Wakaba, you're joking, right?" Tsukishima Aoba frowned, disbelief written all over her face. "That guy hasn't even played an official game before. Their coach must be out of his mind."
"Come on, you said the same thing when Kou first started," Tsukishima Wakaba replied, waving her hand dismissively. "Relax. Kou's the kind of guy who creates miracles. You've seen it yourself—again and again."
Aoba paused.
Memories surfaced one after another.
The 100-meter sprint back in middle school…
The swimming match in elementary school…
Each time—
Kou had proven everyone wrong.
"…You've got a point," Aoba muttered, falling silent.
Seido dugout.
"Tanba," Coach Kataoka said, his voice steady but firm, "the score is down to one run. Everything depends on you now."
Tanba Koichiro smiled faintly.
"Not bad out there just now," Jun Isashiki said, clapping a hand on his shoulder.
"You're finally starting to look like an ace," Kominato Ryosuke added with a teasing grin.
"It's been a while since you've pitched like this. Enjoy it," Masuko Toru said.
"Yaha! Just bring it on!" Kuramochi laughed.
"Let them hit it, I've got it covered," someone called out.
"One by one… we'll shut them down."
"Let's go," Yuuki Tetsuya said simply.
That was all it took.
The entire team surged onto the field.
The Seido supporters roared, their voices filled with renewed hope.
"Just a one-run game… and they're finally getting fired up," Todoroki Raizo chuckled darkly. "Wouldn't it be satisfying to crush them right when they think they've clawed their way back?"
His eyes shifted.
"Kitamura. I know you're itching to take the mound but wait. First, crush that bald monk at the plate. They'll definitely face you head-on. That's the arrogance of a powerhouse."
A grin spread across his face.
"I'm counting on you to lead us to Koshien."
"…Coach, you're making us sound like the villains," Kitamura Kou said lightly.
Then his expression sharpened.
"But yeah… I'm getting pretty annoyed with all their tricks."
He picked up his bat.
"Time to vent that frustration."
"Do your best… Ace," Sanada Shunpei said with a tired but bright smile.
"Get some rest," Kitamura replied calmly, slipping on his helmet.
He spun the bat once—
and stepped into the batter's box.
"Tch… cocky brat," Tanba muttered under his breath.
"It looks like Seido is finally choosing to face him directly," Akiko Owada said.
"This at-bat could decide everything," Fujio Mine added. "If they can shut him down, the entire flow of the game changes."
"Kitamura! Send it flying!"
"Show them what you've got!"
"Tanba! Don't back down!"
"Take him down head-on!"
The stadium buzzed with anticipation.
We settle this here, Miyuki thought, eyes locked forward.
If we can't stop him, we can't stop Yakushi.
From the stands, Kaname Manaka clenched his fists.
Don't challenge him head-on, Koichiro…
The memory of that devastating home run still lingered vividly in his mind.
Behind the plate, Miyuki narrowed his eyes.
Dangerous hitter… we need to completely shut him down.
He flashed a sign.
Tanba nodded.
The first pitch came fast.
"Ball!"
A wide, dropping curveball—Tanba's signature.
Low and outside.
Kitamura didn't move.
That break… impressive, he thought, watching it settle into the mitt.
"That's a nasty pitch," he muttered. "Not easy to make contact with something like that."
His eyes lingered on Tanba.
Strong… but unstable.
Miyuki already had the next step in mind.
Second pitch—set him up. Doesn't matter if it's a ball. Keep it low.
Tanba delivered again.
"Ball!"
Kitamura held back once more.
Fastball and curve so far…
His mind worked quickly.
There's something else. There has to be.
A breaking fastball, maybe…
Behind the mask, Miyuki clicked his tongue internally.
Sharp eyes… just like when he faced Furuya.
Tanba-senpai's control isn't perfect. If we don't make this tricky enough, he'll crush it.
He exhaled slowly.
Then we gamble.
We still have one card they don't know about.
He gave the signal.
It's early… but if this works—this ends it.
On the mound—
Tanba's grip tightened.
I've been a burden long enough…
This pitch decides everything.
He drove forward—
and threw with everything he had.
"SWOOSH!!!"
The ball tore through the air—
carrying all of Tanba's resolve—
as it screamed toward home plate.