"Ushijima… you really startled me back there."
Masuko, who had just returned to the dugout after being retired, complained as he looked at Ushijima Wakatoshi.
"Next time you plan to steal, at least give me a signal!"
Ushijima waved his hand casually.
"How could I? That decision was made in an instant."
"My original plan was just to steal third and put pressure on him."
"But I didn't expect him to relax after seeing me take third."
"He turned back toward home plate like he was already thinking about his next pitch…"
Ushijima's eyes sharpened slightly.
"That moment—when he let his guard down—that's when I realized I could go all the way."
He paused briefly, then added:
"I didn't plan to steal home from the start. That kind of play… depends a lot on timing and luck."
The dugout fell silent for a second.
Then—
They all looked at him with admiration.
Two at-bats.
Two runs.
And both created entirely by himself.
In his first at-bat, he blasted a long hit to right-center and forced his way home with sheer speed.
In his second—
He turned a simple infield grounder into a full run by stealing every base.
It was practically a one-man show.
An overwhelming display of dominance.
"Your determination still hasn't shown after four innings."
Coach Kataoka's voice suddenly cut through the atmosphere.
"Ushijima is only a first-year… yet he's already brought back two runs for you upperclassmen."
The words hit hard.
"Since when did Seidou need a first-year to score for us?"
"He shut down the opponent on the mound—"
"And now he's the one carrying the offense too?"
Coach Kataoka's gaze swept across the lineup.
"Do you think his earlier 'remarks' were too lenient?"
"If necessary, I'll step in and remind you seniors myself."
Silence.
Heavy. Crushing.
Miyuki, who was about to head to the batter's box, felt a rare sense of embarrassment.
As the seventh batter—
He had done nothing.
"Kominato, if you can't perform, I'll put your brother in."
"Furuya, if you're not up to it, Itai will take your spot in left field."
"And Tetsuya—if you can't handle their pitcher…"
Kataoka paused.
"…then Ushijima will bat cleanup next inning. You'll move down to fifth."
That single statement froze the entire team.
It wasn't just those three.
Everyone felt the pressure.
Miyuki stepped onto the field—
Eyes burning.
This inning…
This is when that 'precision machine' starts to break down.
If we're going to crush them—this is our chance.
Standing in the batter's box, Miyuki stared at You Shunshin on the mound.
But then—
You Shunshin signaled his fielders.
They moved forward.
"Akikawa's shifting up their defense."
In the stands, reporter Owada Akiko spoke in surprise.
"They're not planning to let Seidou get on base anymore."
"Yeah," Fujio nodded. "They're going all in."
Miyuki clicked his tongue.
"…So you're trying to stabilize things?"
The first pitch came fast—
A sharp curveball, barely clipping the edge of the strike zone.
Miyuki narrowed his eyes.
So that's how it is…
He grinned slightly.
Where's the next one going?
He began analyzing, predicting—
Putting himself in the pitcher's shoes.
But when the second pitch came—
His body reacted instinctively.
Swing!
He made contact—
—but only barely.
The ball skimmed off the bottom of the bat and flew foul.
Two strikes.
"…A high inside fastball."
Miyuki exhaled slowly.
Even with just two strikes—
He already felt cornered.
"Why are these pitchers so calm…?"
"Not just calm—their control is ridiculous."
"Our pitcher might lose control once he gets going…"
"But this guy… even sacrificing speed, his control is flawless…"
Miyuki's thoughts raced.
Then—
He made a decision.
If that's the case…
I'll predict his next move.
In the dugout, the Seidou players watched closely.
At the same time—
Ushijima was also analyzing.
"The first pitch was a curveball, low and outside, just inside the strike zone."
"The second was a high inside fastball."
"The third pitch…"
He paused briefly.
"If it were me… I'd throw a ball to bait the swing."
On the mound—
You Shunshin released the third pitch.
Miyuki reacted—
Forced into another swing.
Crack!
Foul.
Another one.
At this point—
Miyuki had completely lost control of the at-bat.
"…His composure is gone," Sawamura muttered in surprise.
"So far, You Shunshin still has the upper hand," Kuramochi added.
Kominato turned toward Ushijima.
"If it were you… what would you throw next?"
"Me?"
Ushijima thought for a moment.
"Miyuki is a catcher."
"He's used to observing pitchers."
"That gives him excellent vision and awareness."
"He's not like someone who just swings at whatever comes."
"He's the type who carefully selects his pitch."
He glanced at the others.
"For hitters like you who swing instinctively, that takes talent."
"But Miyuki…"
"…thinks too much."
"Because he's a catcher, he's used to planning every pitch."
"So when he's batting, he naturally tries to predict everything."
"He puts himself in the catcher's position—"
"And asks: If I were calling this game, what pitch would I choose?"
The dugout fell quiet.
"The advantage," Ushijima continued calmly,
"is that if he guesses right, he can hit powerful long balls."
"But the disadvantage…"
His gaze shifted toward the field.
"…is that against a pitcher who thinks independently—"
"Someone who doesn't follow predictable patterns—"
"He'll be completely suppressed."
Silence.
Because everything Ushijima said—
Was exactly what was happening on the field.
Even Coach Kataoka's eyes flickered with surprise.
He saw through all of that…?
Ushijima Wakatoshi—
Was far more than just a powerhouse.
He could see the game clearly.
Almost too clearly.