Three up, three down!
The game entered the bottom of the second inning, with the score still 2–1.
In terms of runs, the gap between the two teams wasn't large.
But at this moment, everyone in the stadium—even the supporters of Inashiro Industrial High School Baseball Team—could clearly feel it.
The momentum radiating from Seido High School Baseball Team was overwhelming.
It carried the unmistakable aura of a champion.
A first-year rookie, facing the starting lineup of Inashiro Industrial, had just retired three batters in a row without allowing even a single touch of the ball.
That wasn't something an ordinary player could accomplish.
Furuya Satoru was clearly no ordinary rookie.
Or rather—
There were no ordinary players on the Seido roster at all.
Every single one of them was strong.
Facing an opponent like that, the pressure on the Inashiro Industrial side was naturally immense.
Inside their dugout, even the coach wore a grim expression.
The atmosphere was so heavy it felt as if it might drip with gloom.
"Didn't expect that first-year kid to be this troublesome."
The captain of the Inashiro Industrial baseball club rubbed his half-bald forehead and let out a bitter laugh.
The other players felt the same.
At that moment, a faint cracking sound echoed through the dugout.
It was the unmistakable sound of someone stretching their neck.
All eyes immediately turned toward the source.
Their coach.
Coach Kunimoto slowly lowered his shoulders before speaking.
"Let's get through this inning first."
The game moved into the bottom of the second inning.
Now it was Seido's turn to attack.
It was obvious that the Seido players were completely prepared.
Their team's momentum was surging right now.
And they had no intention of missing the opportunity to press their advantage.
The batter who stepped up to the plate was normally a quiet, low-key player.
But now he raised his bat high, his posture radiating determination.
He was ready to swing no matter what.
"They really look down on us."
On the pitcher's mound, Arata smiled bitterly.
He understood the mentality of the Seido players very well.
But that didn't mean he intended to let them do as they pleased.
High school baseball had always been a battlefield where the braver side prevailed.
If the opponent was ready to risk everything—
Then how could the pitchers of Inashiro Industrial afford to retreat?
Their true Ace, Narumiya Mei, was widely recognized as one of the top three pitchers in the country.
Having such a teammate brought tremendous security to the team.
But for Arata—
Things were different.
He was also a pitcher.
And for someone competing for the same position, Narumiya Mei was an incredibly daunting presence.
As long as Narumiya remained on the team,
it would be extremely difficult for other pitchers to carve out their own path.
Even so—
Arata had never once considered giving up.
He believed that if he kept working steadily, step by step, one day he would find the opportunity to surpass the team's prodigy.
He wasn't even afraid of Narumiya Mei.
So how could he possibly fear Seido's batters?
Even if the opponent stood there with absolute confidence—
Arata intended to crush them completely.
Leave them no room to breathe.
And so—
He acted.
He lifted his leg.
Stepped forward.
And released the pitch.
Every movement in his pitching motion flowed together perfectly.
Before anyone could even react, the white baseball had already reached home plate.
At the plate, Shirasu narrowed his eyes as he watched the ball approach.
He could feel the opponent's determination clearly.
It was like facing someone who had completely lost their mind.
Against a pitcher in such a state, waiting patiently for a perfect opportunity was almost impossible.
Which meant there was only one option left.
Even if it meant risking everything—
He had to swing.
"Ping!"
The moment the bat connected with the ball, Shirasu's expression changed.
This duel had been even more difficult than he expected.
Arata's pitch was incredibly heavy.
Before Shirasu could think any further, the ball had already bounced off the ground.
The third baseman of Inashiro Industrial moved swiftly, fielded the ball cleanly, and threw it to first base.
"Snap!"
"Out!"
One out. No runners on base.
After being retired, Shirasu stared quietly at his palm.
His hand was trembling slightly.
Those monsters on our team…
They can easily drive the ball even against a pitcher like this.
But he couldn't.
Back in the Seido dugout, several players exchanged surprised glances.
Shirasu believed the reason he failed was because he simply wasn't as skilled as the other starters.
But the rest of Seido's players didn't see it that way.
They had their own understanding of Arata's pitching.
And because of that, they were even more shocked.
In their memories, Arata's pitches had always been sharp—
But they had never been this fierce.
By the second inning, not only did he show no signs of fatigue—
He seemed even stronger than before.
"Did he… evolve just for today's game?"
None of the Seido players wanted to accept that possibility.
But the situation in front of them made it difficult to deny.
Arata had clearly improved.
At this moment, he was far more troublesome than before.
"We need another plan."
A calm voice suddenly spoke up.
Zhou Hao.
"We can't let this guy keep running wild."
The other Seido players nodded immediately.
A baseball game was a constant tug-of-war.
When the opponent revealed such terrifying pitching strength, they had no choice but to respond.
"Ping!"
Seido's ninth batter stepped up and swung with everything he had.
The ball soared high into the air.
Inside Seido's dugout, several players widened their eyes.
For a moment, they thought the opponent was about to be punished.
But reality struck them like a slap.
"Snap!"
The ball dropped straight into Shirakawa's waiting glove.
"Out!"
Two outs. No runners on base.
Although Inashiro Industrial hadn't produced the same string of strikeouts as Seido earlier—
The impression they created was just as strong.
In some ways, it even felt more oppressive.
"He's getting more and more cunning…"
After the second out, the batting order rotated back to the top.
Although Seido had only scored two runs in the first inning, their lineup had flowed very smoothly.
Now the batting order had already returned to the leadoff hitter.
Stepping into the batter's box was Kuramochi Yoichi.
"Heh-heh!!"
The moment he entered the box, Kuramochi showed an unusually excited expression.
His eyes shone brightly as they locked onto the pitcher.
Like searchlights in the night.
As long as the ball entered his hitting zone—
He would swing without hesitation.
Even though Arata was currently pitching in an extraordinary state…
Kuramochi didn't care at all.
"That guy…!"
The opponent's rising momentum inevitably affects Arata on the pitcher's mound.
Seido High School's leadoff batter may not have a famous name.
But he is fundamentally different from the others.
Whenever Kuramochi steps into the batter's box, he radiates an intensely aggressive aura.
I won't let you have your way!
On the mound, Arata's fingers tighten around the baseball.
Then he drives the ball forward with all his strength.
Whoosh!
The baseball whistles toward the plate.
Seeing the pitch travel straight down the middle of the strike zone, Kuramochi can no longer hold himself back.
Patience is meaningless. The opponent has already exposed his pitch—no perfect opportunity will come.
If there's no good chance, then he'll create one himself.
"Throwing it right down the middle? You're asking for it!"
Kuramochi swings decisively.
Ping!
The white baseball soars high into the sky.
Everyone watching instinctively holds their breath.
The ball traces a high arc before descending toward the outfield.
An outfielder from Inashiro Industrial High School has already moved into position.
Standing calmly beneath the falling ball, he opens his glove.
Snap!
"Out!"
Three outs. Side change.
At this point, not only the players on the field—
Even the spectators in the stands feel like they're going crazy.
Before the game began, everyone expected a fierce slugfest.
Neither team's Ace pitcher had taken the mound.
Yet both teams possessed some of the most powerful offenses in the nation.
People had imagined a thrilling battle of hits and home runs.
A game where the score might explode to something ridiculous like twenty runs to ten.
But after two full innings…
Not only had that offensive showdown failed to appear—
Both teams' substitute pitchers were putting on an astonishing performance.
Since when did the relief pitchers of powerhouse schools become this terrifying?
The game enters the top of the third inning.
Inashiro Industrial High School comes up to bat.
The score remains frozen at 2–1.
Both teams fight desperately, yet the scoreboard refuses to move.
This alone shows just how dazzling the pitchers on both sides have been.
Now, stepping onto the mound for the third time—
Furuya Satoru releases a suffocating aura.
The batter from Inashiro Industrial has just settled into the box when the pitch comes flying.
Boom!
The baseball explodes from Furuya's hand like a cannonball.
The roaring sound of the pitch leaves the batter stunned.
So fast…
So powerful…
Standing in the batter's box gives him a suffocating sensation he has never experienced before.
I have to do something!
The moment that thought appears in his mind, his body seems to move on instinct.
His bat swings with full force.
In the Inashiro dugout, Coach Kunimoto's eyes narrow.
Furuya's pitch is clearly high.
Simply put—
It's a high bad ball.
With the composure expected of an Inashiro batter, there should be no reason to swing at such a pitch.
Yet he still swings.
And he swings without hesitation, as if his body is reacting automatically.
Not good…
Seido High School's freshman rookie is far more troublesome than expected.
Not only does he throw incredibly fast—
There's something extra hidden within his pitches.
At this moment, Coach Kunimoto doesn't even have time to warn his players.
On the field, the baseball repeatedly slices through the strike zone.
Inashiro's batter swings desperately.
Again.
And again.
And again.
But his bat never touches the ball.
What the crowd sees is the Inashiro batter being completely toyed with by Seido's freshman pitcher.
He gives everything he has trying to make contact.
Yet nothing connects.
"Good pitch!"
"Good pitch!!"
"Strikeout!!"
Another strikeout!
The opponent is the Spring Koshien runner-up.
How strong are they?
Just thinking about it is enough to understand.
And yet—
Furuya Satoru is still making them spin in circles.
One out. No runners on base.
The ninth batter from Inashiro Industrial steps up to the plate.
For a powerhouse like Inashiro, even the ninth batter is far from weak.
Against most teams, their ninth batter could easily become a breakthrough point in the lineup.
But right now…
As he steps into the batter's box, his thighs begin to tremble uncontrollably.
The sensation makes him feel deeply ashamed.
After all, he is still a key member of the team.
How could he look so spineless?
His opponent is only a freshman.
Just a kid with slightly faster pitches.
Everyone knows that.
At this pitching intensity, Furuya Satoru shouldn't be far from reaching his limit.
And yet—
They feel an indescribable frustration.
They are the national runner-up, yet they're being suppressed by a freshman pitcher.
How could anyone accept that?
Even the once-proud players feel a trace of fear creeping into their hearts.
The ninth batter even feels like smashing his head into a block of tofu out of shame.
"Just a freshman… I'm not afraid of you!"
He keeps repeating those words to himself.
Again and again.
Until he almost convinces himself.
At that moment—
Another white baseball whistles toward him.
Boom!
With a thunderous roar, the ball rapidly expands in his vision.
In that instant, the ninth batter understands.
All of his previous plans are meaningless.
The moment he sees that pitch—
He knows.
He probably won't be able to hit it.
The overwhelming pressure feels like drowning.
If he doesn't do something, the pitch might swallow him whole.
"Don't swing!"
From the Inashiro dugout, Coach Kunimoto's command rings out.