Just as the triumphant smile began to spread across Kusano's face...
Something unexpected happened.
The baseball, which had seemed securely trapped inside his glove, suddenly tore free as though pulled away by an invisible force.
The change came so abruptly that Kusano was completely caught off guard.
By the time he realized what was happening and instinctively tightened his grip...
It was already too late.
The ball burst out of his glove and shot toward the center-field stands like a blazing laser.
Boom!!
It crashed deep into the seats with a thunderous impact.
For an instant...
The entire stadium fell silent.
No one could believe what they had just witnessed.
Then—
"It's gone! It's a home run!"
"What an unbelievable play!"
"The second home run of the game belongs to Kitamura Kou!"
Although the catch had seemed successful at first, the sheer force behind the hit blew the ball right out of Kusano's glove!
Even more incredible...
The pitch Kitamura had sent over the fence was none other than Akutsu's Knuckleball—the notorious "magic pitch" renowned for its unpredictable movement!
With that towering blast, Yakushi High School extended its lead to 2–0!
The commentator could no longer contain his excitement.
His voice nearly gave out as he shouted into the microphone.
"What an incredible game!"
"Kitamura Kou has done the impossible once again!"
"Let's hear it for him!"
The crowd answered with an explosion of cheers.
Thunderous applause swept through the stadium like rolling waves.
Among the spectators, Tsukishima Momiji's cheeks had turned bright red from excitement.
Unable to contain herself, she cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted toward the field.
"Kou!"
"You're amazing!"
Her voice was quickly swallowed by the deafening roar of the crowd.
But she didn't care.
She continued jumping excitedly in place, cheering with all her heart.
"Momiji, sit down before you hurt yourself."
Smiling helplessly, Tsukishima Wakaba reached over and gently pulled her younger sister back into her seat.
Taking a handkerchief from her bag, she carefully wiped the sweat from Momiji's flushed face.
"Look at you."
"You're drenched in sweat."
"What if you catch a cold?"
"When it's time for bitter medicine or an injection, don't expect me to take care of you."
Despite her teasing words, Wakaba's movements were as gentle as ever.
She even reached out and lightly pinched Momiji's nose.
"Hehe..."
Momiji's eyes curved into happy crescents.
"You'd never ignore me, Wakaba."
"And besides..."
"Kou was incredible!"
"He actually hit that crazy pitch!"
She enthusiastically waved both hands around, trying to demonstrate just how unbelievable the hit had been.
Wakaba merely smiled.
Ignoring her sister's excited gestures, she turned her gaze back toward the field.
Her eyes settled on the familiar figure standing beneath the bright stadium lights.
Her childhood friend.
The boy who had grown up beside her.
Now...
He was standing on the grand stage of Koshien, chasing the dream they had once shared.
A gentle warmth filled her eyes.
Like sunlight reflecting across a quiet lake, they shimmered with an affection she could no longer hide.
Carrying his bat over one shoulder, Kitamura calmly returned to Yakushi's dugout.
The moment he stepped inside, his teammates surrounded him.
To them...
He looked every bit like a victorious general returning from battle.
Only after Coach Todoroki Raizo called out did everyone finally calm down.
"Well done, Kitamura!"
Todoroki grinned broadly as he patted him on the shoulder.
"That home run stunned everyone."
"The Knuckleball isn't a pitch most batters can even make contact with."
"And yet..."
"You sent it over the fence."
His expression gradually became serious.
"Now tell us."
"Do you have any advice for the rest of the team?"
Every player immediately looked toward Kitamura.
"Hmm..."
After thinking quietly for a moment, Kitamura finally spoke.
"If Akutsu's pitching isn't affected by that home run..."
"Then trying to beat his Knuckleball head-on is almost impossible."
The smiles in the dugout immediately faded.
Everyone's expressions grew serious.
"...However."
Kitamura smiled.
"There's one weakness."
"The Knuckleball is an incredibly demanding pitch."
"Even Major League pitchers can't throw it indefinitely."
"So there's no way a high school pitcher can."
He picked up his water bottle and took a drink before continuing.
"My estimate is that he can throw no more than forty Knuckleballs in a game."
"So..."
"Beating him isn't nearly as difficult as it seems."
The players' eyes immediately lit up.
A path to victory had suddenly appeared before them.
Nakanishi Daiki, unable to contain himself any longer, impatiently rubbed his hands together.
"Come on, Kou!"
"Don't stop there!"
"You're killing us!"
"Hurry up and tell us the rest of the plan!"