"Center field!!"
As the ball streaked across the sky, Tadano's expression changed drastically behind ho plate.
He leapt up, shouting toward center field at the top of his lungs.
He had seen Eijun's batting stance break down mid-swing—
So how the hell did he still manage to pull the ball like that?!
That silhouette—tossing the bat and charging toward first base—
It made Tadano grit his teeth in frustration.
How?!
"Whoosh!"
The dazzling white ball streaked across the sky.
Out in center field, Carlos sprinted with explosive speed, closing the distance to the falling ball. The entire stadium held its breath, every spectator's nerves drawn tight.
"Catch it, catch it, catch it!"
"Drop, drop, drop!"
From both dugouts—Seidou and Inashiro alike—
From the stands, too—ca the desperate cries of hope and tension, colliding in midair.
Everyone's attention was fixed on the gleaming ball and the charging figure of Carlos.
The ball began to dip. Carlos's eyes sharpened.
He dove—an all-out leap—glove extended.
"Fffsh!"
Just within reach.
Everyone strained their necks—
"Clack!"
Just half a ball off.
The ball slipped past Carlos's glove, hit the grass of center field, and skipped deeper into the outfield.
Gasps exploded across the field.
"It's down! It's down!!"
"A brilliant hit! Seidou's cleanup batter pulls a blistering line drive to deep center! The runner on first, Haruichi, has already passed second—he's going for third! No—he's rounding third and gunning for ho!!!"
"Faster, Sugi!!"
Tadano roared from behind the plate.
Out in left field, Sugiya—scrambling after Carlos's failed dive—had to adjust his route. He cut off the ball near the deep outfield.
"Smack!"
Ball into glove.
Back in the infield, Haruichi had already flown past third and was barreling ho.
"Damn it!"
Sugiya's face twisted.
With a sharp twist of his arm, he fired the ball—not to ho, but to third. He wasn't Carlos. He didn't have the arm strength for a straight shot to the plate.
But that decision—
It only made the throw longer…
It only cost more ti.
"Thump!"
The ball hit Yabe's glove at third—
But Haruichi was already tearing down the baseline.
"Whoosh!"
Yabe whipped it toward ho in a blur of white light.
Haruichi felt the ball's howl closing in on the back of his neck.
No room to turn back. No hesitation.
He clenched his jaw.
And in his mind, he saw the proud silhouette of Eijun.
"All in!!!!"
The plate lood.
So did Tadano.
"THWACK!"
The ball was securely caught in the glove—
—and right behind it ca the blur of Haruichi's pink uniform.
Tadano spun around sharply, glove extended, driving toward Haruichi.
Haruichi dove, twisting midair.
"BOOM!"
A gust of air swept across the plate.
Dust billowed in every direction.
Ho plate.
The umpire.
The fans.
The players on first and third.
Both dugouts—Seidou and Inashiro.
Everyone's eyes locked on ho.
Suspense hung heavy in the air.
As the dust slowly settled…
The ho plate umpire narrowed his eyes, staring intently for one… two…
Then gave a firm nod.
He spread his arms wide and roared:
"SAFE!!!"
"OOOOOOOOOOHHHH!!!"
"What a run! A perfect link! Cleanup batter Sawamura with a stellar hit, and third batter Kominato's fearless baserunning! Seidou finally breaks the deadlock in the bottom of the fourth inning! It's now 1-1! The ga is tied again, and there are still two outs—with a runner on second!!!"
At the plate, Haruichi thrust a triumphant fist into the air.
The announcer's booming voice echoed alongside the roars of the crowd:
"OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHH!!!"
"Let's go, Seidou!"
"Holy crap, he really made it all the way back!"
"Kominato Haruichi, huh? Looks shy, but damn is he gutsy on the field!"
"Damn, just a little closer and he would've been out!"
"If Carlos had made that throw straight to ho, they could've had him!"
"This is what cleanup hitters are for!"
"SEIDOU! SEIDOU! SEIDOU!!"
The stadium was electric. Seidou had finally broken the deadlock in the bottom of the fourth, and the crowd was loving every second of it.
On second base, Eijun removed his shin guards and handed them to Kijima beside him.
A slight smirk curled on his face as he watched Haruichi trot happily back to the dugout.
"Sawamura!!"
"Haruichi!!"
"Haha! I knew you two could do it!"
"That was beautiful!!"
The Seidou bench erupted with cheers.
Even more over-the-top was Isashiki in the stands, screaming with joy as if he had personally scored the run.
That tying run— was a rally cry.
A declaration of war.
The spark of fire in the fiercest inning yet.
"…He really made it back, huh. That Haruichi guy…"
Behind the plate, Tadano grit his teeth.
Just a second… just a second sooner and he would've been out.
Out in the field, Carlos and Sugiya looked visibly frustrated.
That was a run they could have prevented.
After all, with a hit like that—
A runner usually wouldn't make it ho from first.
That's three bases.
"Aju, two outs."
On the mound, Narumiya i didn't show a flicker of emotion.
He calmly called out to Tadano behind the plate.
"Yes, i-san!"
Tadano snapped out of it, replaced his mask, and crouched down again behind ho.
From the dugout, Coach Kunimoto gave a subtle nod.
This was the new Narumiya.
Mature.
Unshakable.
Cold-blooded when it counted.
A true leader—
At least on the surface.
Though outwardly calm…
Narumiya i was far from composed inside.
Actually, if soone were standing in front of Narumiya i at that very mont, they would have noticed the corner of his mouth twitching ever so slightly.
"It's him again… That guy again, hitting off —dammit!!!"
From second base, Eijun's slightly crouched form and the heavy gaze i could feel on his back only added to his irritation.
"Batting fifth, the catcher—Miyuki-kun."
Right now, there was no doubt—Narumiya i was furious.
As the sly fifth batter, Miyuki, stepped into the batter's box, a familiar crooked grin ford on his face—a mischievous smile that said "I know exactly how pissed you are."
Knowing i as well as he did, Miyuki was certain: Behind that cool facade, Narumiya was absolutely fuming.
Sure enough, as i's gaze t Miyuki's smirk, a vein visibly popped on his temple.
Just like Miyuki knew i's temper…
i also knew Miyuki all too well.
"Calm down… stay calm… Don't fall for that bastard's tricks…!"
He repeated the words silently in his mind, trying to keep his cool.
His eyes glead with a frosty intensity, sharp and focused.
A fated rivalry reignited.
The genius catcher vs. the Prince of Tokyo.
Their second face-off at the plate.
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