"Kitamura, don't get too excited. Keep your pitches low. The main event is against Inashiro Industrial High School later. Don't reveal too much and draw their attention," Todoroki Raizo reminded him once again, still worried. "Akaishi, as the catcher, you need to keep Kitamura under control."
"Don't worry, Coach," Akaishi Osamu replied.
"My mission is complete. Now it's up to you, Kitamura," said Sanada Shunpei, who had recovered slightly.
"Don't worry about the score, we'll hold them."
"We'll definitely keep scoring, so just go all out."
The students from Yakushi High School cheered for Kitamura Kou as he prepared to take the mound.
"Come on, let's secure the final victory! Only nine outs left. Go, Yakushi High School!" Kitamura Kou said as he led the way out of the rest area.
"He's out! Kou's out!" Tsukishima Momoji shouted when she saw the Yakushi players emerge.
"Hmph, let me see how his pitching has changed compared to a few years ago!" Tsukishima Aoba said defiantly.
"Kou, do your best!" Ichiyo Tsukishima cheered.
Tsukishima Wakaba didn't say much. She simply smiled as she watched his figure walk toward the pitcher's mound.
"Kou, this is our first time partnering as pitcher and catcher in an official game. How do you want to pitch?" Akaishi Osamu asked, covering his mouth with his glove.
"Against Seido High School's lower lineup, Akikawa's pitching strategy should be enough. I also want to test how good my control really is," Kitamura Kou replied.
"Whatever you say. With your pitch speed, even if you intentionally slow it down, it won't be easy for them to make solid contact. Let's take them out one by one." Akaishi Osamu patted his shoulder before jogging back to home plate.
"You brat… I was still thinking about how to get revenge after you blasted my forkball earlier. Looks like fate's given me the chance already," Tanba Koichiro muttered from the batter's box, staring at the smiling pitcher. "Hurry up and throw it. I'll definitely pay you back."
Kitamura Kou inhaled deeply. The air carried the scent of earth mixed with fresh grass, while the midday sun burned against his skin. He closed his eyes, savoring the long-lost thrill that belonged only to the pitcher's mound.
Then he opened them.
Bending down, he picked up the rosin bag, pinched it lightly between his fingers, and looked toward Tanba Koichiro in the batter's box. Seeing the fierce, almost predatory look on Tanba's face, his smile widened. He tossed the rosin bag aside.
"If you can hit it, then try," Kitamura Kou murmured.
He set his grip on the ball, slowly raised his hands above his head, lifted his left leg, and pivoted on his right. His body twisted as his arms came down in sync.
His left foot slammed into the ground.
Power surged upward—from his legs, through his core, and into his arm. His right arm whipped forward, all that force gathering at his fingertips as he released the ball.
"SWOOSH!!!"
The baseball turned into a streak of white light, darting toward the upper inside corner of the strike zone.
Unfamiliar with Kitamura Kou's style, Tanba Koichiro chose to watch the first pitch and gauge the pitcher's ability.
Smack!
"Strike!"
The ball snapped cleanly into Akaishi Osamu's glove.
"The speed isn't that fast… around 140 km/h. A four-seam fastball. But the location is tricky—high and inside, right on the edge between a strike and a ball…" Tanba analyzed quickly. Should I swing next time… or keep observing?
Kitamura Kou didn't give him time to think.
After receiving the return throw, he immediately went into his motion and fired the second pitch.
"Strike!!!"
Caught off guard by the fast rhythm, Tanba could only watch as the ball once again snapped into Akaishi's glove.
Smack!
"Two strikes!"
"What a joke! It's the exact same spot as the first pitch! Don't underestimate me, you brat—I'll blast the next one!" Tanba's eyes burned with anger as he glared at the mound.
"Tanba-senpai! It's not that fast just swing when you see it!"
"Show that brat the power of Seido High School!"
"Don't get fooled! That pitcher's only at this level!"
"Nice one, Kitamura! You've cornered him!"
"Finish him on the next pitch!"
Supporters from both sides shouted, the tension rising with every second.
"How scary… If you think those pitches were the same, then you're definitely going down on the next one," Kitamura Kou muttered, his smile widening.
He raised his hands again.
Stepped forward.
And fired the third pitch.
"SWOOSH!!!"
As Tamba watched the ball leave Kitamura's hand, it looked identical to the previous two—same speed, same trajectory.
His anger exploded.
"Stop looking down on me, you brat!!!"
With a roar, Tanba swung with all his might, veins bulging as he tried to send the ball flying.
But reality was cruel.
The ball barely grazed the top of his bat before slipping cleanly into Akaishi's glove.
Smack!
"Strikes Three! Batter out!!!"
The fury on Tanba Koichiro's face vanished instantly, replaced by shock.
He had aimed perfectly.
So why couldn't he even make solid contact?
No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't understand.
In the end, he could only return silently to Seido High School's bench.