"Tanba, it's your turn," Coach Kataoka said as he turned toward Tanba, who was already prepared.
Tanba let out a low grunt, tightened his glove, and walked onto the field with the others.
Up in the stands, Mamiko perked up when she heard the announcement about Seidou changing pitchers… but the bullpen showed no sign of Kanzaki Ryou moving.
She leaned forward eagerly—only to hear:
"Pitcher change! Entering the mound: Tanba Koichiro!"
"…All that excitement for nothing."
Mamiko puffed her cheeks and sat back down.
Just then, she spotted Ryou in the bullpen. He looked up, met her gaze, and waved.
"Go get them, little brother!!!"
Mamiko stood up immediately, shouting with renewed energy.
Kanzaki Ryou laughed silently and waved back before shifting his focus toward the field.
Tanba's pitching was good—steady, dependable. As long as he wasn't thrown into a losing situation, he usually performed well. And Coach Kataoka only needed him for one inning today. If Tanba handled it cleanly, he'd earn more chances.
And he didn't disappoint.
The Inashiro players looked oddly troubled as Tanba took the mound.
Seidou's Ace had been pitching well—so why replace him?
And with Tanba, who looked almost delicate?
If Tanba heard that, he'd probably smash his head into a tofu block out of rage.
On Inashiro's bench, Narumiya Mei—already warmed up—grinned proudly as he saw Ryou still stuck in the bullpen.
I'm going in first. Hehehe~ I win.
Harada Masakatsu sighed deeply beside him.
What a problem child…
On the mound, Tanba burned with determination.
Just one inning? Then I'll make it perfect!
Fueled by that belief, Tanba pitched above his normal level. Even when Inashiro managed to hit the ball, Seidou's defense turned every dangerous play into an out.
Three outs. No runs allowed.
Tanba walked off the mound with relief… but also dissatisfaction.
One inning isn't enough… I want more…
Bottom of the sixth. Seidou on offense.
Suddenly—
"Inashiro Industrial is making a pitching change! Matsumoto Takumi moves to right field, and the new pitcher is first-year Narumiya Mei!"
A wave of cheers exploded through the stadium.
"So the little blondie prince has arrived," Kanzaki Ryou said with a smirk as he continued warming up.
"He had a full fan club back in middle school," Miyuki replied, shaking his head.
Ryou chuckled. "I can see that. He's got all the older-sister fans and mama fans."
Miyuki snorted. "Unlike you, huh?"
"Oh, my fans? All wife-fans. They're ready to bear my children."
"…How can you say that with a straight face?" Miyuki muttered, stunned.
Ryou ignored him and threw an arm casually around Miyuki's shoulder.
"It's okay to be jealous, Kazuya. Admitting it won't kill you."
"Huh?! I have fans too! Don't underestimate me!"
Their bickering continued all the way until Narumiya Mei stepped on the mound.
The "Golden Rookie" walked confidently across the field, waving to the crowd with a wide grin. The sunlight hitting his blond hair almost gave him a protagonist's glow.
"Watch carefully," Miyuki said. "He'll be our biggest rival."
"Not in the future," Ryou corrected. "Right now."
Even as a first-year, Narumiya Mei was already one of the strongest pitchers in the nation. Give him another year, and he'd become the terrifying "Prince of Tokyo" everyone remembered.
But Miyuki suddenly smiled.
"But we'll win today."
Ryou blinked. "Why the sudden confidence? You've been calling him a monster all week."
Miyuki turned to him, eyes sharp.
"Because this version of Mei? Our lineup can definitely score on him."
"And you…"
"…I believe you can suppress Inashiro's lineup."
Ryou was briefly stunned.
"…Oi. Don't suddenly get sentimental. I'm not into that."
"Heh. For someone who talks so much trash, your pitching is the only thing more impressive than your mouth," Miyuki shot back.
Ryou choked.
"You—!"
Before they could continue, the game resumed.
Narumiya Mei's first opponent:
Araki Keita, Seidou's 7th batter.
This brat thinks he can beat me? I'll crush him!
Araki tightened his grip on the bat, eyes burning with rivalry.
Narumiya returned that glare with a smirk.
A third-year? So what? You won't hit me.
He nodded to Harada Masatoshi.
Pitch one.
Inside corner.
Araki swung with everything he had—
SNAP!
"Niceball!"
Araki's swing was late.
When he looked up, Narumiya was smiling smugly at him.
Damn it…! I can hit that speed!
Because—
He had faced Kanzaki Ryou's 150 km/h fastballs.
He had survived—barely—but he had touched them.
Narumiya was fast, but not that fast.
"Mei's fastball isn't as fast as yours," Miyuki muttered, "but his pitch placement is just as nasty."
Ryou nodded. "Yeah. His precision makes it dangerous."
"I hope Araki didn't get fixated on that first pitch," Miyuki added. "If he did—he's done."
As soon as the words left his mouth—
Narumiya threw pitch two.
Araki's eyes lit up.
Outside corner! I can hit this!
He swung aggressively.
The bat sliced through the air—
And then—
DROP.
The ball plunged downward at the last instant.
THWACK.
It landed cleanly in Harada Masatoshi's glove.
"Forkball!"
Araki bit down hard, glaring at Narumiya.
So the Forkball appears immediately, huh?
Narumiya Mei smiled arrogantly.
The real battle had finally begun.
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