"Batter out! Three outs! Change of sides!!!"
"Nice pitch, Sawamura-kun!"
"That's the way to do it—keep dominating until the end, Ace!"
"Go, Eijun-kun!"
"Hahaha! Looking sharp, Ace! Keep it up!"
"We're counting on you, Ace!"
With Eijun's flawless performance in the first inning, the Seidou dugout and stands erupted in cheers. Not even the persistent rain could dampen their spirits.
However, Teito wasn't about to back down either. Their side of the stadium, painted in a sea of red, stood in stark contrast to Seidou's blue.
"Go, go, Teito!"
"Teito! Teito! Fight!"
"Taiyou, show those Seidou guys what we're made of!"
"Captain, we're counting on you!"
"Kengo-senpai!"
"Teito is invincible!"
"Go! Go! Go! Teito!"
Teito's Dugout
"When you're on defense, focus on defense! Stop thinking about the offense from the top half—understood!?" Coach Okamoto's sharp voice cut through the dugout. "It's only the first inning. Patience is key. A single run could determine the flow of this match. Let's show those Seidou kids what it ans to face Teito's ironclad defense!"
"Yes, sir!!!"
Okamoto's gaze shifted toward Mukai Taiyou and Inui Kengo, his expression more serious than ever.
Just as Okumura had pointed out earlier, Teito had co prepared with a precise ga plan. Their defensive strategy in the first three innings would largely shape the direction of the match, especially in executing their preditated tactics.
"I understand, Coach." Mukai stuck out his tongue slightly, flashing a confident smirk.
Pitching is the one thing I never lose in.
Even against the ace of the reigning sumr champions, Mukai Taiyou had absolute confidence that he could prove he was the strongest pitcher of this generation.
...
"Bottom of the first! Seidou's offense! Batting first, shortstop—Kuramochi-kun!"
Three-dinsional control... and a screwball as his put-away pitch?
In this weather, I'd love to see how well you can actually control your pitches. If you throw anything easy, don't bla when I send it flying out of here!
Kuramochi's eyes glead with a predatory glint as he stepped into the batter's box, poised like a beast ready to pounce.
But on the mound, Mukai only looked on with an indifferent expression. Speed alone isn't enough to be a threat. As long as he can't make contact, it's aningless.
A flicker of determination flashed through Mukai's eyes.
First pitch!!!
"!!!"
As soon as the umpire gave the signal, Mukai swiftly swung his arm into motion. His steps were fluid, almost effortless.
From his perspective, ho plate always appeared as a perfectly structured three-dinsional space. In his mind, the strike zone wasn't just about width—it had depth as well.
"Whoosh!"
His right leg planted down, his left arm whipped forward.
A streak of light tore through the air, heading straight for Kuramochi.
A fastball—a simple pitch!
Kuramochi's eyes locked onto it.
Here it cos!
Kuramochi's eyes sharpened, tracking the ball's trajectory with precision. His footwork was quick, his angle calculated. The mont the pitch entered his predicted zone, he swung with confidence.
"Swish!"
A perfect strike—at least, that's what he thought.
But in the very next second, to his utter shock, his bat missed.
"Pop!"
Just before reaching ho plate, the ball made a subtle, precise movent, narrowly evading Kuramochi's bat and landing cleanly in Kengo's mitt with a crisp snap.
On the mound, Mukai Taiyou smirked under the brim of his cap.
A simple pitch? The only thing simple here is your brain.
Did you really think I'd throw sothing predictable?
Now, let show you what a real ace's pitching looks like.
You call Sawamura the strongest ace of this generation?
Seidou's "Jewel of an Ace"? "Golden Battery"?
Today, I'll prove to the world that I'm the true ace of this era!
With a swift motion, Mukai's arm whipped forward again.
"Whoosh!"
The white flash of the ball streaked across the sky.
Kuramochi clenched his teeth, adjusted, and swung at the ball he believed he had read.
"Swish!"
Miss.
"Pop!"
"Strike!!!"
Two consecutive pitches, each with just enough variation to completely ss with Kuramochi's timing. His expression darkened.
If he hadn't realized by now that his judgnt was off, then he really had no business being at the plate.
But by the ti he adjusted, it was already too late.
Mukai's signature screw ball pitch ca next—a perfectly tid finishing touch.
"Whoosh!"
"Pop!"
"Strike three! Batter out!!!"
Three swings, three misses—Kuramochi was out instantly.
Mukai Taiyou had not only asserted his dominance, but he had also shattered the pride of Seidou's leadoff speedster.
What Kuramochi thought was him hunting his prey had turned into him becoming the prey.
In the Teito dugout, Coach Okamoto looked on with satisfaction. anwhile, in the Seidou dugout, Coach Kataoka and Coach Ochiai frowned slightly.
This kind of pitching… it's going to be a problem.
...
"Batting second, second baseman—Kominato-kun."
A wooden bat?
Inui Kengo narrowed his eyes. That's rare for a high schooler. This guy must have a lot of confidence in his control.
In that case…
"Whoosh!"
"Pop!"
"Ball!"
"Whoosh!"
"Clang!"
"Foul!"
"Whoosh!"
"Pop!"
"Strike!"
So he won't throw anything easy to hit, huh?
Haruichi narrowed his grip, shortening his stance slightly. He didn't need to rush this first at-bat.
But at the very least, he had to extend the inning.
Or so he thought—until…
"Whoosh!"
What—!?
A flashing blur, an unexpected movent.
His bat and the ball's path overlapped—but just barely.
A mont of sheer unpreparedness flashed across Haruichi's eyes.
"Pop!"
"Strike three! Batter out!!!"
Precise yet daring—Mukai Taiyou's pitching wasn't just about control. It was about adaptability and deception.
And in just two at-bats, he had completely established his presence on the mound.
Teito High's Ace—Mukai Taiyou.
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