"Sawamura, you were amazing!"
"That reaction just now was crazy fast."
"Seriously, that ball was coming straight at you. You almost gave us a heart attack."
"That's why being a pitcher is a high-risk profession."
After returning to the dugout, Sawamura was immediately surrounded by his seniors, who bombarded him with praise.
"Kanzaki, go finish the game," Coach Kataoka suddenly said.
Kanzaki Ryou, who had been sitting quietly, froze for a moment.
Finish… the game?
Was the Coach actually sending him up in the bottom of the ninth?
"Is there a problem?" Coach Kataoka asked calmly.
"No!"
Kanzaki sprang to his feet, grabbed a bat, and took a few warm-up swings.
Bottom of the ninth inning.
Seido was on offense.
The first batter was the fifth hitter—Chris.
Holding the bat, Chris radiated a steady, unyielding presence.
Bang!
Hiromi Tachi's first pitch was crushed into center field.
"Safe!"
Chris reached first base cleanly.
Next up was the sixth batter, Arima Kazusa.
"Arima, get on base. I'll bring you home," Kanzaki Ryou called out.
"Yes!" Arima's eyes sparkled.
This was his first time fighting alongside Kanzaki Ryou on the same field. Even if it was only a practice game, his blood was boiling.
In the batter's box, Arima adjusted his breathing and stared at the pitcher.
Whoosh!
Slap!
"Strike!"
Slider.
Arima swung decisively but missed.
He calmly reset his stance.
Whoosh!
Bang!
"Foul!"
Curveball.
Two strikes.
Arima slowly exhaled.
The next pitch… I have to put it in play.
The Osaka Kiryu catcher frowned.
This first-year had swung at two completely different breaking balls.
Was he guessing? Or reacting?
Either way, one more pitch would settle it.
On the mound, Hiromi Tachi smiled.
The smile on his terrifying face only made it more chilling.
Even Arima felt a shiver crawl up his spine.
Signal given.
Hiromi Tachi nodded and fired.
Inside high fastball.
Arima twisted his waist and swung hard.
Bang!
So heavy!
The ball screamed toward the middle infield.
The shortstop charged, fielded cleanly, and fired to second.
Thwack!
"Out!"
Chris was forced out at second.
But Arima sprinted through the bag at first.
"Safe!"
Arima stood on first base, breathing hard.
Then he looked toward the on-deck circle.
Kanzaki Ryou was already walking toward the batter's box.
Just standing there, he made Osaka Kiryu feel suffocated.
Behind the plate, the catcher swallowed.
This face…
Last Summer Koshien.
Two-run homer.
Three-run homer.
The man who personally crushed their championship dream.
Even now, the pressure hadn't diminished in the slightest.
On the mound, Hiromi Tachi's smile faded.
After nine innings, his stamina was clearly dropping.
Facing Kanzaki Ryou in this state…
It was terrifying.
In the Osaka Kiryu dugout, Coach Takahiro Matsumoto sighed.
He had hoped this game would end in a draw.
But Coach Kataoka had sent out the executioner.
"It's just a practice game…" he muttered.
Yet deep down, he understood.
Another loss to Kanzaki Ryou might become fuel for future growth.
If used properly.
On the field, Hiromi Tachi steadied himself.
Whoosh!
The ball left his hand.
The catcher's eyes lit up.
Good speed.
Good spin.
Curveball!
Kanzaki Ryou's eyes flashed.
He stepped in and swung.
Bang!!
The sound exploded through the stadium.
The ball rocketed high and far.
"So high!"
"So fast!"
"It's gone!"
"Home run!!!"
The ball disappeared beyond the stands.
Seido's bench erupted.
They won.
"Did you see that?! This is our Ace!" Sawamura shouted, hands on his hips, laughing wildly toward Osaka Kiryu's side.
"This kid…" Kanzaki muttered, shaking his head with a faint smile.
He didn't bother running the bases.
Arima crossing home plate was enough to end the game.
"Senior Kanzaki, you're incredible!" Arima said excitedly.
"I told you I'd bring you home."
"Haha, impressed?"
"Very impressed!"
The practice game ended.
Both coaches stepped forward and shook hands.
"Coach Kataoka, this was an excellent match. Your first-years are outstanding. Two pitchers with completely different styles, and position players with great potential," Coach Takahiro Matsumoto said.
"You're also strong. Some of your starters didn't even play," Coach Kataoka replied.
"Hahaha, we gave it our all."
"Is that so."
Two smiling tigers.
Neither revealing their true thoughts.
After seeing Osaka Kiryu off, Seido began packing up, preparing to disband and rest.