Top of the fourth inning. Akikawa Academy was at bat.
The temperature on the field was steadily rising.
On the mound, Furuya Satoru was breathing heavily. Sweat soaked his thin uniform, dripping down his body. His face showed obvious exhaustion.
From the dugout, Coach Kataoka watched quietly.
"Has Furuya thrown more than sixty pitches?" he asked.
"Yes," Takigawa Chris Yuu replied. "At this rate, it'll be difficult for him to stay under a hundred pitches in five innings. And with the temperature rising, it's hard to say how many more innings he can last."
"We can't allow any more runs," Kataoka said calmly. "Even though it's still early, we need to start preparing a relief pitcher. Call Kawakami. Tell him to get ready."
Behind the plate, Miyuki Kazuya studied the situation carefully.
After the seventh batter, don't force the fastball too much, he thought.
So far, none of them have been able to properly hit it.
After confirming the sign, Furuya delivered the next pitch.
But just as the ball left his hand, the batter, Kunimi, suddenly squared to bunt.
Furuya instinctively rushed forward off the mound—
Only to stop halfway.
Kunimi pulled the bat back.
A fake bunt.
Miyuki's eyes narrowed.
So they're not only trying to run up his pitch count… they're also trying to wear down his stamina.
They intend to drive Furuya out of the game completely.
At that very moment, in Akikawa's dugout, You Shunshin spoke quietly to himself.
"If a small country wants to compete with a big country, it has no choice but to use every method available."
"The sooner they bring in a relief pitcher, the more control we'll gain over this game."
"And that ace pitcher of theirs who hasn't appeared yet…"
His eyes gleamed slightly.
"I want to see exactly what weaknesses exist in Seidou's lineup."
"Strike!"
Snap!
Furuya sprinted off the mound again.
His breathing was becoming heavier and heavier. His uniform was already soaked, and the fatigue on his face was impossible to hide.
Whenever a batter squares to bunt, the pitcher must charge forward.
It was a simple tactic—but extremely effective.
Even if you know it's a bluff, the pitcher still has to react. Because if you hesitate, the fake bunt can easily turn into a real one.
And once a runner reaches base, the pressure on the pitcher only increases.
That was exactly Akikawa's strategy against Furuya Satoru.
Back in Seidou's dugout, Coach Kataoka suddenly made a decision.
"This inning," he said, "the moment someone reaches base, we will substitute Furuya."
The coaches looked surprised.
Kataoka continued calmly.
"Ichidaisan's players are likely watching this game right now. We cannot allow Furuya's weaknesses to be exposed any further."
Chris nodded silently.
If Furuya gets completely crushed here, it could affect his confidence in future games.
One of the coaches spoke up.
"Then… we have no choice but to send in Kawakami. Even if it means he'll have to pitch many innings."
But Kataoka shook his head.
"No."
"If we rush to bring in Kawakami now, we'll fall directly into Akikawa's trap."
The assistant coach blinked in confusion.
"Then… who will pitch in such a critical situation?"
Suddenly he realized something.
"Wait… Coach… don't tell me…"
Ignoring the stunned looks around him, Kataoka spoke firmly.
"That's right."
"We'll send in Sawamura."
"Kominato, tell Sawamura to start warming up."
"Huh? Yes!" Kominato Haruichi quickly ran to deliver the message.
If both Furuya and Eijun take the mound in this game… this match will become even more intense, Haruichi thought.
Chris quietly analyzed the coach's strategy.
The coach predicted this possibility last night.
If we rely only on Kawakami for relief, the pressure on the team will be enormous.
But if Sawamura appears here… the entire atmosphere will change.
Now it depends on whether Sawamura can live up to the coach's expectations.
When Haruichi delivered the message, Sawamura Eijun froze.
"W–Wait… I'm really going in?"
"I'll replace you once someone reaches base," Haruichi confirmed.
"Okay!!! Leave it to me!" Sawamura shouted excitedly, already preparing to rush onto the field.
"Wait!" Haruichi and Kawakami Norifumi quickly grabbed him.
"The coach said after someone reaches base!"
Behind the plate, Miyuki heard the commotion from the dugout.
Looks like the bullpen is moving.
We can't let this continue.
Furuya cannot collapse here.
In the batter's box, Kunimi looked at Furuya coldly.
This guy has already reached his limit.
Don't blame us. We're simply fighting to win.
"Strike!"
Snap!
"Strikeout!"
Kunimi stared in shock.
His power… suddenly increased again?!
Furuya had clearly heard the movement from the dugout. He knew the coach was preparing to replace him.
A fierce determination burned in his eyes.
I absolutely can't let my seniors' summer end like this.
I have to hold on.
"Strike!"
Snap!
"Strikeout!"
Furuya's renewed fighting spirit helped him retire the eighth batter, Sekiguchi.
Miyuki immediately encouraged him.
"Furuya! Just one more out!"
But Furuya was still only a first-year student.
Coming from Hokkaido, he wasn't accustomed to the oppressive summer heat of Tokyo. Combined with the pressure from Akikawa and the rising temperature, his stamina finally gave out.
The next batter, Takada, watched as four pitches missed the strike zone.
Ball four.
A walk.
Miyuki frowned.
Did he lose control because he stopped throwing the forkball?
The crowd murmured.
"Ah… to walk a batter at such a crucial moment…"
"What a shame. He was just one out away."
Coach Kataoka stepped out of the dugout.
"Time out."
He walked calmly toward the mound.
"Miyuki," he said, "it's time to make the change."
Furuya stared at him in shock.
"Already…?"
The crowd buzzed with confusion.
"Substitution already?"
"But it's only the fourth inning!"