"A powerful swing and precise angle—"
"With two outs, Seidou's No. 3 batter, Sawamura-kun, perfectly read the trajectory of a fastball down the middle and pulled it deep into center field! Seiko's center fielder nearly made the catch, but just missed! Two outs, runner on second—Seidou has another scoring opportunity!!"
"Hahaha! Beautifully done, Sawamura-kun!"
"That's the rhythm we want, Ace!"
"Let's go, Seidou!"
"Miyuki, keep it going!"
"Send Sawamura ho—that's your job, Miyuki-kun!"
At second base, Eijun dusted himself off and handed his removed gear to Rei.
As he straightened up, he locked eyes with Ogawa Tsunematsu, who was glaring fiercely from the mound.
Eijun responded with a faint, cold smile.
Fatty… this is only the beginning. There are plenty more "surprises" waiting for you.
Don't you dare run away. You better not escape.
For once, Eijun's gaze was intense and sharp.
His eyes glead with a cold light that sent a chill through Ogawa Tsunematsu.
Though he didn't fully understand why Seidou's ace was focusing on him so intently—
The hostility and aura pouring off of him were unmistakable.
...
"Now do you see, Tsunematsu? A single careless pitch, and they'll seize the opening. These guys aren't like the teams you've faced before. Not even that Sensen squad compares to this one— You're standing on the mound against the team that won the national title two months ago!"
Masu's stern voice snapped toward the mound.
Tsunematsu nodded, this ti far more seriously than before.
...
"Batting fourth, catcher, Miyuki-kun."
I'm ready to steal. Anyti.
As Miyuki stepped into the batter's box, Eijun subtly touched the brim of his helt.
In the dugout, Coach Kataoka gave a small nod, brushing his chin thoughtfully.
Miyuki smiled knowingly.
He tapped his bat gently against ho plate,
a calm smile on his face—but that very calmness sent waves of pressure straight at Tsunematsu.
...
"Gulp…"
For the first ti in his life, Tsunematsu felt genuine pressure.
From behind him, Eijun lood like a shadow.
And in front, Miyuki stood calmly— emitting a natural, overwhelming presence.
A wolf in front and a tiger behind.
That's exactly how it felt.
...
In Seiko's third-base dugout, Coach Oga signaled.
"If needed, walk him. We've still got two empty bases.
It's fine to take on their No. 5 instead."
"Agreed," Masu nodded behind the plate.
Indeed, facing the cleanup batter with a runner in scoring position was a risk.
But even a walk had to be aggressive.
(Just like in the original story—Seiko always approached Miyuki with this mindset.)
...
"Let's start with an outside pitch. Be careful—don't miss too badly."
Tsunematsu nodded quickly, like a chick pecking rice.
...
On second base, Eijun locked his eyes on the pitcher, while also scanning Seiko's infield defense out of the corner of his eye.
...
"Swoosh!"
As Tsunematsu raised his right leg and moved his left arm—
"Now!"
Eijun launched.
His muscles tensed and his body burst into motion—
A blur, like a gust of wind, sprinting toward third base.
"He's stealing!!"
Shortstop Yamashita's expression changed as he shouted in alarm.
...
"What?!"
A straight steal on the first pitch?!
Masu Shinichiro's face changed.
The entire crowd gasped—
All eyes locked on the blazing figure tearing up the basepath between second and third.
...
But Seidou wasn't done. Not even close.
...
"Whoosh!"
As the pitch neared the plate—
Miyuki stepped forward and swung.
"Swish!"
"Smack!"
The ball just barely escaped Miyuki's bat.
In his narrowed eyes—
"Thud!"
The ball landed cleanly in Masu Shinichiro's glove behind the plate with a crisp snap.
"Strike!"
Imdiately, Masu snatched the ball from his glove and fired it toward third base with a sharp flick of his wrist.
The ball zipped through the air—
And just as it reached third base:
"Smack!"
Eijun, already mid-slide, touched the bag cleanly with a textbook steal.
"Safe!!"
"OHHHH! A bold first-pitch steal! Seidou's ace, Sawamura Eijun, shows his fearless spirit once again—successful steal to third base!"
"Nice one, Sawamura!"
"That's how an ace should play—break them down!"
"Let's go, Seidou!"
"Charge!"
At third, Eijun brushed the dust off his uniform and t Masu Shinichiro's frustrated gaze with a mocking smirk.
He bent forward slightly again, edging off the base, prompting Masu and Tsunematsu to both grind their teeth in irritation.
"Damn it… we got baited."
"Now that there's a runner on third, everything changes. Forget it—don't take the risk. Walk this batter."
Masu didn't hesitate. His mind was made up in a flash: Issue an intentional walk—aggressively.
With a runner on third, even a soft infield hit could bring in a run. The risk wasn't worth it.
Masu's judgnt was cold and precise.
But unfortunately for him—
He was facing the one batter best at reading a catcher's intent.
...
"Whoosh."
"Smack!"
"Ball!"
After two fastballs intentionally thrown just off the inner corner, Miyuki narrowed his eyes in thought.
One of them had been a spiral pitch, which he fouled off.
The count: 2 balls, 2 strikes.
But at the corner of his mouth, a faint smile appeared.
A walk, huh?
Then the next one will probably be—
They both had the sa thought—Miyuki and Masu Shinichiro:
A low inside pitch, off the zone. Just for deception.
...
"Whoosh!"
As that white streak blazed across the sky— Miyuki, having retracted his stance slightly, dropped his elbow and—
"PING!!"
The explosive sound rang out across the stadium,
and Masu's stunned face said it all:
"That was a ball!!!"
...
But it didn't matter.
No matter how shocked Masu was—
The white flash that erupted from ho plate pierced through Seiko's infield defense.
"THUMP!"
It slamd into the turf between first and second base— well beyond the reach of the infielders.
The ball shot off toward right field.
Eijun casually sprinted ho from third.
Bottom of the third inning— Seidou, with its golden duo's aggressive play, adds another run to the scoreboard!
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