The battery of Tanba and Chris.
To be honest, this pitcher–catcher duo was absolutely one of the nation's top-level combinations.
Especially now that Chris-senpai's injury had nearly healed.
In fact, Chris had not only recovered, but his strength as a catcher had far surpassed what it had been before. Together with Tanba Kouichirou, they ford a battery whose threat level could not be underestimated.
....
"Bottom of the first inning, the underclassn's attack. Leading off, shortstop Kuramochi-kun."
Tanba and Chris-senpai, huh…
Damn, I haven't even stepped in yet, and I'm already fired up!!!
Kuramochi's raised lips and shining eyes as he stepped into the batter's box betrayed exactly how he was feeling inside at that mont.
And the instant he set foot in the box, that heavy pressure ca crashing down.
Chris-senpai, smiling as he crouched behind the plate.
Tanba-senpai, standing tall and cold upon the mound.
The combined pressure of the two seed to rge into one and squeeze in from all directions toward the batter's box.
Even Kuramochi's pupils, filled with excitent, couldn't hide the tinge of gravity that appeared.
....
"Play ball!!!"
The mont Kuramochi raised his bat into his stance, Kataoka's arm went up and his booming voice rang across the field.
"Co on, Tanba, show them our strength!"
"Kouichirou, crush them!"
"Take 'em down, Tanba!!!"
"Make these punks understand what it ans to face their seniors!"
From the field, the third-years' cheers resounded in waves. Out in center field, Isashiki-senpai shouted even more ferociously, overflowing with killing intent.
On the mound, Tanba's aura sharpened into sothing almost feral.
....
Tanba, you know these underclassn as well as we do. Drop your guard for even a mont, and they'll blast you out of here.
Behind the plate, Chris wore his calm, easy smile.
Tanba gave a solemn nod.
....
"First pitch: inside, high fastball. We can't let them outmatch us in spirit."
Chris's fingers twitched, flashing the signal.
The mont Tanba saw it, he gave a slight nod.
His crouched fra suddenly straightened. His right arm, hidden behind him, rose high, and with a thunderous step forward, he whipped his arm through.
....
"Boom!"
A gust of air erupted.
A flash of light streaked forth.
"Shoo!"
Electric sparks snapped off Tanba's fingertips, and a heartbeat later the ball shot free.
The sharp glare of light streaked toward the plate, blazing like a beam.
Kuramochi caught the trajectory the instant it entered his sight. His brows lifted, both arms snapped tight, his legs lunged forward, and his bat tore through the air with a roar.
Inside fastball!!
....
"Swoosh!"
"Clang!"
The violent collision sent vibrations rattling through the bat.
Kuramochi grimaced.
Tanba's pitch… it feels heavier than before!?
Never one for power hitting, Kuramochi found himself completely suppressed. Muscles straining, body twisting, he sohow managed to fling the ball away.
"Shoo!"
"Thud!"
But there was no way it could travel far.
The ball rely struck down near the third-base line and ricocheted away.
"Foul ball!!!"
....
The sheer force of the first pitch left Kuramochi visibly unsettled.
Chris-senpai instantly seized on it, flashing the next sign.
Inside fastball, knee-high.
....
"Whoosh!"
"Swoosh!"
"Clang!"
The bat t the ball again with a crack.
"Thud!"
"Foul ball!"
Not a rigid sequence, but a deliberately pressing rhythm of attack.
Two straight inside heaters, and Kuramochi was already cornered.
....
The crowd broke into excited cries. That fierce pitching, the raw power in the fastballs… Since when had Tanba's pitching beco this dominant!?
Yes, Tanba. That's exactly the state you need to be in.
Behind the plate, Chris's smile widened with quiet confidence.
His fingers twitched once more, flashing a new signal.
....
"Third pitch: curveball. Tanba, release point a little higher—make the break sharper. Just like we practiced. You can throw it, right?"
"Yeah. No problem, Chris!!"
On the mound, Tanba's lips curled into a confident grin.
He spread his stride, drove his arm and leg forward in unison, and the force of his motion surged like a roaring gale.
In the batter's box, Kuramochi felt the full weight of Tanba's oppressive aura pressing down on him.
....
"Shoo!"
The glimr of light danced across his fingertips—
And in the next instant…
The ball surged forward—a torrent of montum behind it.
"Swoosh!"
All eyes followed the gleaming white streak.
Kuramochi swung his bat with every ounce of strength.
The ball's shadow was heavy, the bat itself heavy.
But just as bat and ball were about to et—
The pitch jerked.
Mid-flight, it broke sharply, curving at the last instant.
It slipped past the swinging bat, carving a perfect, razor-sharp arc across the air.
"Pop!"
Kuramochi had no ti to adjust.
All he could do was watch helplessly as the ball snapped into Chris-senpai's mitt with a crisp sound.
"Pop!"
"Strike three, batter out!!!"
A masterful curveball.
Sharper, more biting than before.
It perfectly struck Kuramochi out.
Completely toyed with.
Kuramochi sighed, helpless, shouldered his bat, and trudged back toward the dugout.
....
"Second batter, second baseman, Kominato-kun."
"Tanba-senpai's curveball is breaking even harder now. Watch out, Haruichi."
Passing by, Kuramochi lowered his voice with a warning.
Haruichi nodded firmly, tightening his grip on the tal bat in his hands.
....
The sa position.
The sa spot in the order.
Even the sa batting style.
The two brothers stood opposite one another once again.
The instant Haruichi stepped into the box,
his eyes locked on the figure standing tall on the left side of the mound— his own brother, Kominato Ryousuke.
....
When their gazes t, they each revealed different expressions:
Ryousuke wore a calm, smiling face.
Haruichi, by contrast, bore a look of grim determination.
It's about ti you stop copying , Haruichi.
No, brother. I swear I'll surpass you!!!
The clash between brothers, unspoken yet burning,
grew fiercer in that silent mont.
....
A tal bat, huh?
The way Haruichi gripped his bat caught Chris's eye as the younger brother stepped into the box.
Behind the plate, Chris's eyes narrowed slightly.
Deep in his pupils, a sharp glimr flickered.
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