"Whoosh!"
A sharp flash of the ball burst forth.
Standing in the batter's box, Yamashita felt the overwhelming pressure wash over him, and his expression subtly changed.
He knew Furuya's fastballs were intense—
But that was only through observation or video.
Now, standing face to face in the batter's box...
Only now did he truly understand what it ant to face a real power pitcher.
"Ping!"
He had ntally simulated this mont countless tis—facing Furuya's blistering fastball.
But the instant the bat actually connected with the ball—
He couldn't suppress the shock that surged through him.
The vibration in his palms made Yamashita's pupils contract sharply.
Can a first-year really throw sothing like this? Is this even real?!
"Whoosh!"
It was his first ti facing him, and he hadn't properly accounted for the force behind the pitch.
The ball shot off his bat, using its own power to rocket forward.
It slamd hard into the ground between first and second base.
"Thump!"
"Dash!"
Like a gust of wind, a blur streaked across the infield.
Second baseman Haruchi dashed to intercept the ball, positioning himself with graceful precision. With a smooth sidestep, he blocked the ball directly in front of him.
"Smack!"
In a fluid motion, he turned and fired to first base—
Where Maezono cleanly caught it with a crisp snap into his glove.
"Out!"
"Yeah! Great play, Furuya!"
"Two outs! Two outs!"
"Just one more—keep it going, Furuya!"
"Show them what you've got!"
With just four pitches, Furuya had already secured two outs. A flawless start.
Through his pitching, Furuya was giving his answer to everyone who doubted him.
...
"Batting third—pitcher, Kojima."
If both Masu and Yamashita struggled to handle his pitch power...
Then this guy—
Might be tougher than expected.
The ace, Ryuhei Kojima, stepped into the box, grinning wickedly, his muscular fra radiating presence.
When he stepped up, Miyuki's eyelid twitched slightly.
No doubt about it—this guy's got so serious arm and wrist strength.
His batting stance was solid, his lower body sturdy—just like the sound of his steps suggested.
And he's a pitcher too.
Which ant—he'd naturally have a sharper eye and better coordination at the plate.
A hitter like this… will take so tricks.
Miyuki narrowed his eyes, thinking quickly. Within a second, his gaze sharpened, and he subtly moved his fingers—calling for a pitch.
On the mound—
Furuya nodded slightly, his expression as cold and focused as ever.
...
"!!"
At the umpire's signal, Furuya's body snapped into motion.
A powerful stride.
A whirling arm.
"Whoosh!"
A gleam of cold light streaked through the air—
And the fastball ca screaming in toward ho plate.
In Kojima Ryuhei's line of sight, the trajectory of the pitch ca into view.
That streak of white cutting through the sky surged toward him with the force of a raging beast, making him instinctively tighten his grip on the bat.
In the next instant—Just as the ball reached its final critical point—
He swung.
Timing it perfectly.
"BOOM!"
The tallic bat tore through the air, letting out a sharp and thunderous screech.
"Whoosh—"
But just as the bat was about to et the ball—
The ball dropped.
A sudden, violent dip in trajectory.
Kojima's expression shifted.
The bat sliced through air—
And nothing else.
"Thunk!"
The sharply diving pitch landed solidly in Miyuki's mitt with a deep thud.
"Strike!!!"
A splitter?!.Damn it! You throw that on the first pitch?! You bastard!
Kojima shot a gritted-teeth glare toward Furuya.
But Furuya didn't so much as glance at him—his expression remained cool, detached, utterly composed.
That indifference only further infuriated Seiko's powerhouse ace.
...
Power vs. Power.
The first inning had already beco a fierce clash.
"Whoosh!" — "PING!"
"Whoosh!" — "Thump!"
"Whoosh!" — "Smack!"
...
Unlike Masu and Yamashita, Kojima possessed one of the top three raw power levels in all of Seiko High.
Where they had struggled to cope with Furuya's pitch weight—
Kojima was different.
His brute strength allowed him to stand his ground.
In fact, after exchanging a few pitches and adjusting to Furuya's fastball—
Kojima began to counteract its montum with sheer force of his own.
Each ti bat t ball, the impact thundered through the stadium—
Sending adrenaline spiking through the veins of the fans.
This was the battle they had co to see.
Blazing fastballs vs. a power-packed cleanup hitter.
Each collision created sparks—
And the audience roared in response.
"That's it, Kojima!"
"You're catching up now!"
"Stay calm, Furuya!"
"Shut him down!"
"Show them who's the ace!"
Even on the benches, both teams were on edge—
The first inning had already ignited the atmosphere.
Kojima was steadily regaining his rhythm at the plate.
But—
Miyuki had no intention of letting Seiko build montum.
"Whoosh!"
After a series of fastballs—
He called for a vertical slider.
"PING!"
The sharp movent of the breaking ball caught Kojima off guard—even though he reacted in ti, he still couldn't adjust well enough.
He made contact, but the ball was lifted high—
Sailing toward left field.
Out in left, Eijun narrowed his eyes, tracking the ball's arc across the sky.
He didn't need to move much.
He simply stood in place—
Waiting for it to fall.
"Smack!"
"Out! Three outs! Change sides!"
Eijun made the catch cleanly, retiring Kojima.
The first inning battle was over.
Furuya had delivered a spectacular opening performance—
Three up, three down.
Not a single hit allowed to Seiko's fearso lineup.
...
Back in the dugout—
Even the usually stern-faced Coach Kataoka allowed a faint smile to appear as he spoke to Furuya in a steady tone:
"Good rhythm. Keep it going from here."
"Yes, sir."
Furuya nodded quietly, his voice calm.
Just returning from the outfield, Eijun couldn't help but glance at Furuya again.
So setbacks really are the best teacher.
That ga against Ugumori... it had truly forged a new Furuya.
The restlessness he used to have—
Was gone.
You could feel it even in his pitching.
This was the true beginning—
Of Furuya Satoru, Seidou High's power pitcher.
...
"First thing—get on base."
Coach Kataoka's voice snapped the team's focus back to offense.
"Don't assu their defense is slow just because they look bulky. You saw their ga against Sensen, right? Their fielders are quick and sharp. Don't miss any chances—but don't underestimate them either. Understand?!"
"YEAHHHH!!"
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