After hearing Kanzaki Ryou's words, Sawamura Eijun instantly wilted like a frozen eggplant.
"Aniki… I want to hit a home run too!"
Kanzaki looked helpless.
With Sawamura's current batting ability, a home run was basically fantasy… but simply making contact? That might still be possible.
"Anikiii~"
"Stop wailing. I'll think of something later. Watch the game first."
The moment Sawamura heard he might actually help, he lit up again.
Just then, the situation on the field changed.
Kuramochi Yoichi laid down a clean bunt to reach first — and immediately stole second.
The Nihon Shono bench exploded.
"They're up by eighteen and still stealing bases?!"
"No mercy at all!"
"So shameless!"
Meanwhile, Kuramochi only laughed.
"Yahahaha~"
At the plate, Kominato Haruichi, in his very first high-school at-bat, nodded toward Kuramochi across the mound.
The next pitch came.
Crack!
Kuramochi dashed again and reached third — but Haruichi was thrown out at first.
Two outs, runner on third.
Then Isashiki Jun unexpectedly dropped a soft blooper behind the infield.
The outfielder had retreated too deep to react in time.
Kuramochi scored easily, and Isashiki rushed all the way to second.
"Foxy Dog!"
"Nice!!"
"Who said that?!"
Isashiki immediately turned toward the stands and roared.
While he argued with the audience, Yuki Tetsuya calmly stepped up.
Score: 19–0
At least twenty sounded better.
But the pitcher had already mentally collapsed.
Four straight balls.
Walk.
Then another four-pitch walk to Sakai Ichiro.
The pitcher completely fell apart.
Isashiki trotted home.
20–0
Now the sixth batter approached — Takigawa Chris Yuu.
"Chris! Go!!"
"Master! Home run!!"
Chris smiled faintly.
The pitcher had lost control; prediction was pointless.
Anything in the zone — swing.
The pitch came. Outside slider.
He checked his swing.
Pop!
"Ball!"
Chris glanced at the catcher.
Even now, he was still calling delicate pitches… cruel.
Next pitch — inside fastball.
Bang!
A sharp liner shot into center.
Bases loaded.
Top of the fifth. Two outs.
Next up: Kanzaki's junior — Arima Kazusa.
"Kazusa!!"
A woman in a light yellow dress suddenly stood up in the stands.
Arima instinctively looked over.
His mother.
His hands tightened.
He copied Sawamura, taking a deep breath.
Then his eyes sharpened.
The catcher signaled outside to test him.
The defense moved forward — clearly expecting a weak hit.
The pitch arrived.
CRACK!!
A beautiful swing. Perfect contact.
The ball soared toward the right-field corner.
"Run!!"
Runners exploded off the bases.
Yuki scored.
The ball rolled deep — too deep. No quick throw possible.
The coach windmilled his arm.
Keep running!
Sakai scored.
Chris scored.
And Arima… never stopped.
He sprinted around third—
—and crossed home plate.
Inside-the-park grand slam.
The stadium froze.
"…What?"
"I'm hallucinating."
"Did I sleep too late last night?"
"THAT WAS REAL!! SEIDO!!"
"Arima!! Amazing!!"
Even the bored crowd erupted.
Two first-years, two home runs today — ridiculous.
From the dugout, Kanzaki sighed.
"I've hit over thirty homers… and not one inside-the-park."
It was luck — the defense played shallow, underestimating him.
The perfect opportunity.
Arima waved excitedly toward his mother before returning.
The moment he entered the dugout, the seniors surrounded him and rubbed his head.