"Strike!"
The home plate umpire's emphatic call echoed across the stadium.
"So fast..."
Sengoku Masato slowly tightened his grip on the bat, his eyes never leaving Kitamura Kou.
"I have to admit, your fastball is incredible. At this stage, its velocity is every bit as good as Shigeno Goro's... perhaps even better. And your potential? It may surpass his."
A grin spread across his face.
"But don't think that's enough to defeat us."
"Our Kaidou High School baseball isn't built on sand."
"As a reward for your courage, I'll show you my true strength."
"The strength I forged after tasting defeat at Shigeno Goro's hands."
The provocative gleam in Sengoku's eyes vanished.
In its place burned an overwhelming fighting spirit.
His sharp gaze seemed to blaze crimson as it locked onto Kitamura atop the mound, as though it could pierce straight through him.
A savage smile slowly spread across his lips.
Until now, Sengoku had never faced a pitcher worthy of forcing out his full strength.
Because of that, he had always held something back.
But now...
There was no longer any need for restraint.
Boom!
Like a volcano erupting after years of silence, an overwhelming aura burst from Sengoku's body.
The terrifying pressure swept across the field like a tidal wave, crashing toward Kitamura with enough force to make even breathing feel difficult.
"Oh?"
Kitamura's lips curled into a faint smile.
"Now that's more like the cleanup hitter of a championship-caliber team."
"If you were planning to rely on those cheap provocations from earlier..."
He looked at Sengoku with open contempt.
"...I'd have been seriously disappointed."
The anger Kitamura had displayed moments ago vanished without a trace.
Replacing it was nothing but calm confidence—and unmistakable disdain.
He had never been someone who let others have the last word.
If someone provoked him...
He preferred to settle the score immediately.
So he deliberately raised his voice, returning Sengoku's challenge with one of his own.
Although Sengoku's expression remained unchanged, the aura radiating from him grew even more intense.
It was obvious that, despite his composure, Kitamura's words had struck a nerve.
"So that's all it takes to make you angry?"
Kitamura chuckled.
"My anger isn't so easy to satisfy."
The corners of his mouth lifted into a cheerful grin.
Heh...
Let's keep this game going.
With that thought, Kitamura brought both hands together.
His pitching motion flowed without the slightest hesitation.
BOOM!!
The baseball exploded from his fingertips like an arrow released from a drawn bow, tearing through the air with a deafening whistle as it rocketed toward home plate.
Once again...
It targeted Sengoku's high inside corner.
A razor-thin location on the border between a strike and a ball.
"It's inside!"
A crimson gleam flashed across Sengoku Masato's eyes like a predator spotting its prey.
Without the slightest hesitation, he exploded into motion.
Step!
His right foot slammed forward as both hands tightened around the bat. Using every ounce of his strength, he unleashed a ferocious swing at the blazing white streak screaming toward him.
Whoosh!
The bat sliced through the air with a sharp, piercing hum.
Ping!!
The ball barely grazed the bottom edge of the bat before ricocheting violently into the dirt behind home plate.
"Foul!"
Two strikes.
One ball.
Sengoku Masato had been driven into a corner.
"Tch..."
He clicked his tongue and shot an irritated glare toward the smug-looking Kitamura Kou on the mound.
Still, he couldn't deny his opponent's ability.
He knew Kitamura's style well enough by now.
Even if the batter knew an inside fastball was coming, Kitamura would never retreat. He would attack the inside corner again and again without hesitation.
And despite knowing exactly what pitch was coming...
Sengoku had still failed to square it up.
There was no denying it.
He had lost that exchange.
Taking a deep breath, Sengoku slowly exhaled, forcing his racing heart to settle.
I have to admit... with my current ability, breaking through his pitching won't be easy.
But...
I'm the cleanup hitter for the national champions, Kaidou High School.
No matter the cost, I'll lead Kaidou to the top of Japan.
His eyes hardened with unwavering determination.
Resetting his stance, he tightened every muscle in his body and fixed his gaze firmly on Kitamura, silently waiting for the next pitch.
"Oh?"
Kitamura smiled faintly.
"That swing had some real spirit behind it. Your batting eye isn't bad either."
"I'll raise my evaluation of you."
"For now... I'll put you in the same class as Sato Toshiya."
His expression turned serious.
"And to make sure you never forget this at-bat..."
"I'll strike you out with the very next pitch."
Lowering his head, Kitamura adjusted his grip on the ball before bringing both hands together.
He stepped forward.
Then—
BOOM!!
The ball exploded from his fingertips like a bolt of white lightning, screaming toward home plate.
Once again...
It was headed for the high inside corner.
That razor-thin location balanced between a strike and a ball.
"Damn brat!"
Sengoku's face twisted with rage.
There's a limit to how much you can look down on someone!
Three straight high inside fastballs?!
The flames burning in his eyes seemed capable of setting the entire stadium ablaze.
Grinding his teeth until they nearly cracked, Sengoku raised the bat high above his shoulder.
Like an enraged lion, he poured every ounce of strength into his swing.
His hands had turned bright red from gripping the bat so tightly, veins bulging across the backs of them.
Even if I can't drive it...
All I need is a piece of it!
As long as I foul it off, this duel isn't over!
Let's see how much longer you can keep this up, you arrogant brat!
With a roar, Sengoku forced even more power into his swing.
But ideals rarely matched reality.
THUD!!
Before the bat could arrive, the blazing fastball tore through the zone with overwhelming speed and buried itself squarely in Akaishi Osamu's mitt.
The tremendous impact made even Akaishi's sturdy frame shudder.
Yet with his superb reflexes and flawless fundamentals, he secured the catch without letting the ball escape.
"Strike three! Batter out!"
The cleanup hitter whom every member of Kaidou High School had placed their hopes in...
Had been overpowered.
Struck out.
With no choice but to accept the result, Sengoku Masato lowered his head, turned away from the batter's box, and walked back to the dugout in silence.