Bang!
Kazashima Eita fired a fast straight ball—but to everyone's shock, Kominato Ryosuke suddenly laid down a bunt and tapped it perfectly!
It was a bunt and steal!
"Second base!!" the catcher yelled.
The ball dribbled between second and third. By the time Seika's infielder scooped it up, Shida Shota had already slid safely into second, and the throw to first was too late. Kominato Ryosuke sprinted past first base with a bright smile.
"Whoaaa!!!"
The stadium boiled. No outs, runners on first and second, and Seidou's middle lineup was coming up. They couldn't have asked for a better scoring chance.
On the mound, pressure squeezed Kazashima Eita's chest. He had already survived Fukushima's fifth game—he wasn't new to big moments. But nothing he'd faced carried the suffocating weight of Seidou's offense. As Yuki walked into the batter's box, Eita exchanged a glance with his catcher.
If they wanted to escape this situation… they had to risk everything.
The catcher gave the signal. Seidou prayed for a hit. Seika prayed for a strikeout.
Yuki narrowed his eyes, tapping his bat lightly—a clear declaration that he intended to swing.
Kazashima drew a long breath, lifted his leg, and—
Da-da-da—
While the entire stadium held its breath for Yuki's swing, Shida Shota suddenly exploded toward third base the moment the ball left the pitcher's hand!
"Steal!"
The second baseman reacted first, but Kazashima Eita had already committed to the pitch. Yuuki did not swing.
Slap!
The catcher snatched the ball and fired it to third—
"Safe!"
"Haha!" Shida Shota laughed, dusting himself off.
You guys love stealing bases, huh? Didn't expect us to steal first, did you?
The Seika third baseman glared at him as if he wanted to bite his head off.
Kazashima grimaced. He had been too focused on Yuki and forgot to check the runner.
The catcher felt even worse—he had seen Shida creeping off but had been too absorbed in pitch-calling to react in time.
Yuki shot a look at Shida, gesturing not to force another steal.
Shida returned a thumbs-up. He was confident Yuki would send him home. And even if he didn't, Azuma Kiyokuni was right behind him. This run was theirs.
Yuki then turned and exchanged a tiny grin with Kominato Ryosuke.
A sharp light flickered in Ryosuke's eyes—
He was going to steal.
Whoosh!
Kazashima lifted his leg again. Shida stepped out two paces. Kazashima's focus snapped toward him—
Shida instantly retreated.
It rattled Seika's whole infield. Except for the battery, everyone was now partly focused on Shida.
Kazashima delivered the pitch—
And both Shida Shota and Kominato Ryosuke exploded into motion!
"Steal!!"
"Double steal!!"
The catcher sprang up with the ball—only to find Shida had already turned and was retreating back to third base.
Damn it!
It was a feint!
Panicking, the catcher whipped the ball to second—
"Safe!"
Ryosuke slid into second a split-second ahead of the tag.
Seika's defense was officially coming apart.
Seidou? A powerhouse worrying about reputation during steals?
Please.
As far as their fans were concerned—
Koshien only comes once. Win however you can.
Stealing aggressively against a team that specialized in steals?
That was even cooler.
The Seidou stands roared with goosebumps.
Yuki hadn't even swung once, yet the runners were now at second and third—his presence alone had broken Seika's rhythm.
"Tsk tsk… Seika's in total chaos," Kanzaki Ryou cackled.
"They weren't ready for Seidou's baserunning," Miyuki smirked.
Runners on second and third. No outs.
Seika was drowning.
Kazashima Eita finally understood what a true powerhouse meant. People thought elite teams were built only on strong pitchers and batters. But the real thing?
Every part of the team was lethal.
Even their steal tactics were top-tier.
Kazashima had already thrown a straight and a curve to Yuki. The next pitch—
Would decide everything.
He gripped the ball deep in his palm—
Swish!
Yuki's eyes sharpened.
A Changeup!
He swung—
Bang!
He barely grazed the ball.
Not a clean hit!
But the ball bounced right between short and third—past the diving shortstop!
"Home!"
Shida Shota charged down the line, legs pumping like a madman.
The catcher shouted, "Third!!"
It was too late to stop Shida. They had to get Kominato out instead.
The fielder gathered the ball and fired to third—
But Kominato Ryosuke was just a hair short.
Shida Shota crossed home plate safely.
"OOHHHH!!!"
Seidou struck first—igniting the entire stadium.
Shida clenched his fist and lifted it high toward the cheering crowd.
"You ran fast, you made a contribution!"
"The first run is yours!"
"Kominato, that was close!"
"Azuma! Send him flying!"
Seidou's fans were ecstatic. Seika's players were silent.
One run scored. One out. A runner still on first.
And next at-bat was Azuma Kiyokuni, grinning as he stepped into the batter's box, showing off his big teeth as he glared at Kazashima Eita.
His first Koshien appearance.
He wanted to smash something.
Preferably out of the park.
After all—
the scouts were watching.