That evening, inside the meeting room, Kataoka Tesshin finished reviewing the game against Nihon Shono and then played a new video.
As the footage started, Kanzaki Ryou spoke first.
"This should be our next opponent — Akikawa High."
Kataoka nodded and fast-forwarded to the bottom of the first inning.
A tall pitcher stepped onto the mound.
You Shunshin
"Sawamura. Furuya. Watch him carefully."
"Yes!" Sawamura Eijun shouted.
"Mm." Furuya Satoru responded quietly.
Beside them, Miyuki Kazuya leaned closer.
"You know this pitcher?"
"I've heard of him," Kanzaki said. "Exchange student. Only played baseball a little over a year."
Miyuki's eyes widened.
"Only a year?!"
On screen, the pitcher's control was surgical — posture, rhythm, release — flawless.
A voice spoke from behind them.
"His nickname is Precision Machine."
Takigawa Chris Yu.
Everyone subconsciously looked at Kanzaki — Seido's control specialist.
He shook his head.
"My control is good… but not that good. Throwing over 150 km/h makes that level almost impossible."
Kataoka nodded.
"He has talent and training. But also his velocity is only around 130 km/h."
Understanding dawned on the room.
Slower speed… perfect placement.
Sawamura's imagination immediately ran wild.
If I could control pitches like that…
Pitch after pitch appeared on screen.
High inside.
Low outside.
Never missing the glove.
Miyuki frowned.
"He hasn't missed once."
A catcher's dream pitcher.
He even wanted to try receiving it.
Kanzaki continued:
"Primarily fastballs. Few breaking balls but he can throw curveballs and forkballs too."
He glanced at Sawamura and Furuya.
"Now compare him to yourselves."
Silence.
"…My pitches are faster," Furuya insisted stubbornly.
Sawamura opened his mouth — then closed it.
He had nothing.
Kanzaki smiled.
"To beat a pitcher like this don't get baited by edge pitches."
"Hesitation helps him. If it's a strike swing decisively. Full power."
Chris, Miyuki, and Kataoka nodded.
Then Ochiai Hiromitsu spoke.
"Break his rhythm. Bunts. Steals. Hit-and-runs. Force him to think."
Kataoka added:
"He's a cerebral pitcher. Unlike certain hot-blooded idiots on this team."
Several players coughed awkwardly.
"Speed up the game. Don't let him control the tempo and you will win."
The Next Day
Practice proceeded normally.
Inside the bullpen, Kanzaki finished pitching and looked around.
"…Where's Furuya?"
"I'll check." Miyuki left.
Nearby—
"Ahh! I missed again!"
Sawamura's wild pitch flew past the plate.
Kanemaru Shinji, wearing full protective gear, nearly collapsed.
"Are you trying to kill me?!"
Since Sawamura joined the first string, Kanemaru had become his batting practice partner…
…and had been hit over thirty times.
Kanzaki laughed.
"Why not remove the armor? Train courage too."
"Aniki, that's murder."
Kanzaki chuckled.
"Your control still needs work."
Then Sawamura suddenly turned.
"Aniki! Didn't you say you'd teach me batting?"
Kanzaki froze.
He forgot.
Sawamura's eyes widened.
"You forgot didn't you?!"
"No! Of course not!"
He coughed.
"During batting practice later… I'll teach you a secret technique."
"A guaranteed hit."