In Seido High School's rest area, everyone watched the field with admiration.
"Impressive… those two have completely grasped the batter's psychology."
"After that first four-seam close to 150 km/h, it left a deep impression on the hitter."
"And by the third pitch, even if it's technically a ball, it's still a good pitch as long as it makes him swing."
Behind her gold-rimmed glasses, Rei Takashima's eyes trembled slightly.
"Yes… they're thinking too far ahead," Minister Ota muttered.
"They're pitching with their brains," Coach Kataoka said with crossed arms, nodding in satisfaction.
"Sawamura, watch carefully. You'll learn a lot from this."
A pitcher must think when pitching. Not just throw.
Chris glanced at Sawamura.
The boy's eyes were sharp, almost like a cat's.
He wanted to play.
But he knew this wasn't his game. His chance would come later in the afternoon.
So all he could do now… was watch and learn.
On Kiryu's side, the pressure was mounting.
The fifth batter stepped into the box, eyes locked onto Ushijima Wakatoshi on the mound.
"It's either four-seam or two-seam."
"That's all he throws."
"But everything averages 145 km/h or faster."
"As long as we lock onto the speed… we can attack."
He tightened his grip on the bat.
On the mound, Ushijima sensed that fighting spirit.
To him, it wasn't confidence.
It was pressure.
"…Being a pitcher really isn't an easy job," he muttered inwardly.
"But with great power comes great responsibility."
Miyuki set his glove.
Ushijima nodded.
First pitch—
WHOOSH!
A blazing fastball ripped through the air.
"Ball!"
It barely missed the zone.
The batter exhaled in relief.
He had almost swung.
Lucky…
But that pitch made him think.
At this speed, he probably can't control it perfectly…
He won't dare throw that hard again.
Unfortunately for him—
Miyuki and Ushijima had already predicted that thought.
Second pitch—
WHOOSH! BANG!
Another rocket.
Nearly 150 km/h again.
This time it clipped the edge.
"Strike!"
"What?! That's a strike?!"
"The umpire's already influenced by the speed…"
"Then we'll have to protect the corners…"
The batter gritted his teeth.
On the mound, Ushijima stared back coldly.
Neither side backing down.
The tension thickened.
Behind him, Seido cheered.
"Nice pitch!"
"Keep it up!"
Ushijima glanced at Miyuki.
It was time.
Miyuki lowered his glove to the inside corner at knee height.
His fingers subtly signaled—
Cutter.
Ushijima adjusted his grip.
Index and middle fingers pressing the seam.
Body twist.
Arm swing.
Middle finger snap.
The ball exploded from his hand with vicious spin.
"It's slower than the fastball!"
"Either four-seam middle or two-seam outside—"
"Got it! Home run—!"
The batter swung with everything he had.
Then—
The ball suddenly cut inward.
"What—?!"
BANG!
The bat sliced air.
The ball smacked cleanly into Miyuki's glove.
"Strike!"
Silence.
Then—
"Cutter…"
Kiryu's coach muttered under his breath.
So that was it.
To become Seido's Ace, two pitches weren't enough.
Even 155 km/h wouldn't matter if it was predictable.
But now—
Four-seam.
Two-seam.
Cutter.
All around 145 km/h.
All breaking differently.
For a batter, it was a nightmare.
"You can't tell which one it is until it's already at the plate…"
"It's torture…"
Only by seeing it again and again could you even hope to adjust.
Distracted by the Cutter, the fifth batter lost focus.
Fourth pitch—
Four-seam to the corner.
STRIKE THREE.
"Strikeout!"
"Ho ho ho! Two innings and already four down!"
"Against Kiryu's cleanup too!"
"Third, fourth, fifth batters all struck out in a row!"
"Ushijima's terrifying! And he's just a freshman?!"
"Four out of five batters struck out… that's insane!"
"His Cutter is disgusting…"
The crowd outside the stadium buzzed nonstop.
Meanwhile, on the mound—
Ushijima Wakatoshi simply smiled.
Calm.
Confident.
Like an Ace.