Hearing Kanzaki Ryou's suggestion, Sawamura looked doubtful.
Will this really work…?
"Hey, hey, the problem isn't his stance," Miyuki couldn't help saying. "Sawamura just swings without thinking. Add his slow bat speed and it'd be a miracle if he hits anything."
"Just try it. What if it works?" Kanzaki smiled. Of course he knew Sawamura's issue.
But the kid had a strange talent when it came to bunting. Maybe using a similar feeling could actually help.
"Kazuya, why don't you pitch?" Kanzaki suddenly said.
"Me?" Miyuki blinked, then laughed. "Alright, I'll be today's guest pitcher."
"Hahaha, your ball is fast too don't throw too hard," Kanzaki warned. Miyuki's velocity exceeded 140 km/h. If he hadn't insisted on being a catcher, he could easily have been an elite pitcher.
Chris quietly added, "Miyuki… you won't hit me, right?"
"Hahaha! Chris-senpai, are you scared?" Miyuki laughed while walking toward the mound.
Chris smirked. "Just throw."
"…Wait, weren't you supposed to help my batting? Why does this feel like a showdown between Master and Miyuki?" Sawamura muttered.
Chris smiled faintly. "Get ready. If you miss, you run five laps."
Sawamura froze, then immediately took a bunt stance.
"Come on, Miyuki Kazuya!"
"At least call me senpai," Miyuki sighed.
He delivered a clean fastball not full power, under 140 km/h.
The instant Miyuki's arm moved, Sawamura pulled the bat back and swung wildly toward the incoming ball.
Bang!
"Whoa! he actually hit it!" Kanzaki shouted in surprise.
Sawamura himself stood frozen.
"It worked… it really worked!" He stared at Kanzaki with sparkling eyes.
"See? I've been thinking about this method just for you," Kanzaki lied shamelessly.
"Thank you, Aniki!!"
"Don't get carried away. You still need proper batting practice. I'm waiting for the day you hit a home run."
"Yes!"
Sawamura then hit ten balls in a row five connected.
A clean 50% contact rate.
Unfortunately, almost every hit flew wildly with no direction or height control.
After dealing with Sawamura, Kanzaki resumed practicing his palmball.
This time, the long-awaited catcher was Miyuki.
Sawamura, swinging nearby, suddenly froze after seeing the pitch.
His eyes lit up.
"Master! I want to learn that!"
He looked at Chris like an eager puppy.
Chris smiled gently and shook his head.
"Not yet. First master control. Only when you can hit the nine-square grid can you learn breaking balls."
Sawamura deflated and returned to swinging practice.
Chris watched him with relief.
Because of his unusual playground-style pitching, Sawamura once possessed a strange late break. After correcting his form, it disappeared. The coaches already understood — to truly develop his natural "seven-color breaking ball," he first needed elite control.
Only then would it become a true weapon.
If not for the reliable upperclassmen carrying the team, Sawamura and Furuya might already have been allowed to learn breaking balls.
The Next Day — 8:30 AM
Seidou's 20 first-string players gathered at the field, boarded the bus, and arrived at the game venue.
Just after getting off, they encountered Akikawa High, who had arrived at the same time.
At the front of the lineup stood You Shunshin.
His sharp gaze immediately locked onto the yawning Kanzaki Ryou.
Akikawa took Seidou seriously but they hadn't deeply studied Kanzaki. Not out of disrespect, but because You Shunshin concluded Seidou wouldn't deploy their ace against a minor opponent like them.
Instead, they focused on the other pitchers especially Tanba and Kawakami.
Today's starters would likely revolve around those two.
"Hello!"
As the teams met, greetings were inevitable.
While the coaches exchanged pleasantries, Kanzaki suddenly stepped forward and extended his hand.
"你好."
You Shunshin froze.
"…Chinese?!"
He stared at the hand for several seconds.
"What, is it strange that I speak Chinese?" Kanzaki smiled.
You Shunshin quickly shook it.
"Your pronunciation is very standard."
Of course, Kanzaki thought smugly.
"Interesting…" You Shunshin's curiosity deepened. The strongest pitcher of their generation spoke fluent Chinese, unexpected.
"Your profile shocked me too," Kanzaki said frankly. "You've only played baseball for about a year. That's incredible."
Even calm You Shunshin felt excitement rise in his chest.
Among his generation, the pitchers he respected most were Kanzaki Ryou and Narumiya Mei and the ones he most wanted to defeat.
"It's an honor to hear that. I hope we face each other today," You Shunshin said sincerely.
"Heh. Depends on whether you can force me out."
You Shunshin nodded firmly. "I will."
"I'm looking forward to it."
They chatted like old friends while teammates and coaches behind them stared in total confusion.
"…What are they even saying?"