"I'm sure you've already realized it, Coach."
Kitamura Kou spoke calmly, his expression unusually serious.
"Kaidou High School doesn't have any obvious weak links."
"Every player is fundamentally sound. Their defense is disciplined, their offense is consistent, and their teamwork is nearly flawless."
He paused before continuing.
"Against a team like that, trying to win with clever tricks or cheap tactics is nothing more than wishful thinking."
"There is only one way to beat them."
"We have to overwhelm them with absolute strength."
"And we can't give them even the slightest opening."
His eyes sharpened.
"The moment they sense an opportunity, they'll swarm like hungry wolves that have found their prey."
"They won't stop attacking until the game is over."
Kitamura took a deep breath.
"If the game reaches that point, the result will be impossible to predict."
He looked directly at Todoroki Raizo.
"Sanada-senpai is an excellent pitcher."
"But he still throws pitches that can be hit."
"Against a lineup like Kaidou's, they'll keep targeting those mistakes."
"So..."
"Please let me start tomorrow's game."
After saying everything that had been on his mind, Kitamura fell silent.
The decision now rested entirely with his coach.
Raizo frowned deeply.
His fingers unconsciously rubbed his chin as countless thoughts raced through his mind.
Kitamura has already thrown fifteen innings over the last two games.
If I let him start and finish this semifinal...
Even if we win, he'll probably only have enough stamina to pitch four innings in the final.
Maybe even less.
He let out a silent sigh.
He's only a first-year.
His body hasn't fully matured yet.
I can't destroy this kid's future just to chase immediate results.
To Raizo, his players' futures had always come before trophies.
Still...
Another thought refused to leave his mind.
If Sanada starts and Kaidou builds an early lead...
Our chances of coming back will be slim.
His brows knitted together even tighter.
So... what should I do?
After thinking for what felt like an eternity without reaching an answer, Raizo finally scratched his already messy hair and looked at Kitamura with a bitter smile.
"Go get some rest."
"I'll seriously consider your suggestion."
Despite his usual carefree appearance, Todoroki Raizo was a coach who genuinely cared about his players.
He would never sacrifice a player's future simply to improve his own coaching record.
That was one of the biggest reasons Kitamura Kou had chosen Yakushi High School in the first place.
Knowing there was no point in pressing further, Kitamura simply nodded.
"I understand."
With a quiet sigh, he left the room.
Behind him, Raizo remained seated alone, absentmindedly scratching his head as he continued wrestling with the difficult decision.
...
Back in the present.
Kitamura Kou had already changed into his uniform and was walking onto the field alongside his teammates.
The Yakushi players chatted and laughed as though they were simply enjoying another ordinary practice.
There wasn't the slightest trace of nervousness on their faces.
Instead, every one of them radiated confidence.
Confidence born from absolute faith in their own abilities.
The loudest laughter naturally came from Mishima Yuta and Todoroki Raichi.
Despite having just been retired, the two first-years were grinning from ear to ear as if nothing had happened.
"They're way too arrogant..."
One Kaidou player clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white.
"They're not taking Kaidou High School seriously at all."
Another player glared at the laughing pair.
"When have we ever been looked down on like this?"
His eyes burned with anger, as if he wanted to incinerate the two troublesome first-years where they stood.
Naoki Enomoto's icy gaze settled on Kitamura Kou, who stood surrounded by his teammates like the center of attention.
His voice was as cold as winter.
"Kusano."
"Sato."
"I don't care how you do it."
"Make that brat cry."
"Show him the price of provoking Kaidou High School."
Sato Toshiya's usual gentle smile had completely disappeared.
Only a chilling determination remained in his eyes.
"Don't worry, Enomoto-senpai."
"I have a score to settle with Kitamura Kou myself."
Not far away, Sengoku Masato cracked his knuckles as his gaze fixed firmly on Yakushi's ace.
"Kitamura Kou..."
"You'd better hope it isn't my turn to bat this inning."
"Because if I step into that batter's box..."
"I'll make you regret standing on that mound."
The entire Kaidou High School team was consumed by frustration.
Each player silently vowed that, in the innings to come, they would crush Yakushi High School with everything they had.
Not only would they win—
They would create the largest margin of victory ever seen in a Koshien semifinal.
Only then could they erase the humiliation Yakushi had dealt them and make those overconfident players pay the price for provoking Kaidou High School.
"Bottom of the first inning!"
"Kaidou High School comes to bat!"
"Leading off, center fielder—Kusano!"
On the mound, Kitamura Kou bent down and picked up the rosin bag.
He squeezed it lightly in his right hand before calmly looking toward the batter's box.
Kusano stood there, his eyes blazing with barely restrained fury.
Kitamura's lips slowly curled into a smile.
Now that's an interesting look.
Baseball is only truly fun when your opponent wants to beat you just as badly.
Show me everything you've got.
A fiery light burned in his eyes.
Almost unconsciously, he ran his tongue lightly across his lips, unable to suppress the excitement welling up inside him.
In the Yakushi dugout, Todoroki Raizo let out a helpless sigh and slapped a hand against his forehead.
"Kitamura..."
"Don't get carried away."
He knew that expression all too well.
It was one of the few flaws his ace possessed.
Whenever Kitamura encountered a truly powerful opponent, his competitive instincts became impossible to contain.
Slowly raising both hands above his head, Kitamura locked his sharp gaze onto Kusano.
"Since you chose not to intentionally walk me earlier..."
"I'll return the favor."
"Consider this my gift to you."
The instant those words left his mouth—
His aura exploded.
An overwhelming pressure poured off the mound, crashing toward Kusano like a towering tidal wave.
The rage burning in Kusano's heart was extinguished in an instant.
It felt as though someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over his head.
His entire body stiffened.
The suffocating pressure bearing down on him was like Mount Tai itself had descended upon his shoulders.
Even breathing became difficult.
Every breath demanded every ounce of his strength.
Kitamura lifted his left leg high.
Then—
He drove it powerfully into the ground.
Boom!
The mound trembled beneath the force of his landing.
His body rotated smoothly, transferring every ounce of energy through his frame.
His right arm whipped forward.
BOOM!
The baseball exploded from his fingertips.
Like an arrow fired from a fully drawn bow, the white sphere screamed through the air with overwhelming speed and power, racing straight toward Akaishi Osamu's mitt.
Kusano's pupils shrank violently.
He could only stare at the incoming pitch in stunned disbelief.
For the briefest instant...
He forgot to swing.