"The first method is actually very simple."
Kitamura Kou raised a finger as he calmly explained his thoughts.
"Stop trying to hit the Knuckleball."
"Instead, look for any other pitch before you fall behind with two strikes."
He glanced around at his teammates before continuing.
"Remember, even the pitcher doesn't know exactly where a Knuckleball will end up."
"Judging by its movement, there's a good chance it'll drift out of the strike zone."
"So don't force yourself to swing at it."
After a brief pause, Kitamura raised a second finger.
"As for the second method..."
"Forget about driving the ball."
"Focus on making contact."
"Even if it's just a foul tip."
"The goal is to stay alive at the plate and drag the at-bat out."
"The more pitches Akutsu throws, the better."
He smiled confidently.
"The Knuckleball is an exhausting pitch to throw."
"If we force him into a long battle, he'll eventually lose command."
"And the moment his control slips..."
"...he'll be forced off the mound."
The players nodded one after another.
Their expressions brightened considerably.
Then...
A mischievous smile quietly crept across Kitamura's face.
"Hehe..."
"Actually..."
"I've got a third method."
"And it's the simplest—and most effective—of them all."
"So..."
"Want to hear it?"
Everyone froze.
"What?!"
"There's another one?"
"Quit keeping us in suspense!"
"Just tell us already!"
Originally, Kitamura had intended to tease them a little longer.
But the moment he looked up...
His smile stiffened.
Every teammate was slowly approaching him.
Cracking their knuckles.
Rolling up their sleeves.
Their smiles looked... less than friendly.
The message couldn't have been clearer.
Say it.
Now.
Recognizing that discretion was the better part of valor, Kitamura immediately abandoned any thoughts of building suspense.
He cleared his throat.
"Alright, alright."
"The third method is simple."
"Wait until the very last possible instant before swinging."
"But..."
He spread his hands helplessly.
"Your swing has to be fast enough."
Silence.
The dugout became eerily quiet.
Then—
Everyone's expressions darkened.
"...That's your brilliant idea?"
"The simplest method?"
"The most effective method?"
"But only you and Raichi can actually do it!"
"So you've been messing with us this whole time?!"
A moment later—
"Get him!"
Before Kitamura could react, his teammates surrounded him.
"I'll teach you to keep us in suspense!"
"I'll teach you to toy with us!"
"You've got some nerve!"
Fortunately...
They still had enough self-control to stop after giving Kitamura a "small" lesson—one he certainly wouldn't forget anytime soon.
Leaving the bruised Kitamura behind for the moment...
The game continued.
Although Kitamura had taken him deep with a home run, Akutsu displayed remarkable composure.
He hadn't collapsed as many expected.
Admittedly, he had already slipped out of the mysterious Zen state he had entered earlier.
But that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
While that state dramatically enhanced his Knuckleball, it also consumed an incredible amount of physical and mental stamina.
With Akutsu's current level, remaining in that state for much longer would likely have exhausted him within two innings.
Returning to normal allowed him to regain his rhythm.
Facing Yakushi's second and third batters, Akiba Kazuma and Mishima Yuta, Sato Toshiya calmly guided the game from behind the plate.
The Knuckleball remained the centerpiece of their strategy.
Occasionally, he mixed in a well-placed fastball to keep the hitters honest.
Combined with Kaidou's airtight defense, they weathered Yakushi's offensive pressure and escaped the inning without allowing another run.
Kitamura had no intention of giving Akutsu time to recover.
If possible...
He wanted to end the game as quickly as he could.
Returning to the mound, he raised both hands before driving forward with explosive force.
BOOM!!
Snap!!
"Strike!"
BOOM!!
Snap!!
"Strike three! Batter out!"
"Three outs! Side retired!"
Once again, Kitamura overwhelmed Kaidou's lineup.
The seventh batter.
The eighth batter.
The ninth batter.
All three went down on strikes.
With that, his streak reached an astonishing nine consecutive strikeouts.
The already electric atmosphere inside Hanshin Koshien Stadium surged to another level.
Akutsu had barely returned to the dugout.
He had only just sat down.
His breathing hadn't even steadied yet.
But there was no time to rest.
He stood back up, grabbed his glove, and slowly walked toward the mound once again.
Another relentless wave of Yakushi's offense was waiting for him.
"Cleanup hitter..."
"Third baseman..."
"Todoroki Raichi!"
"Kahahaha!"
Raichi burst into his signature laughter as he stepped out of the on-deck circle.
A wild grin spread across his face.
His eyes gleamed with frightening excitement as they locked onto Akutsu.
"It's finally my turn!"
"I'm going to blast your Knuckleball just like Kou did!"
Behind the plate, Sato Toshiya narrowed his eyes.
Yakushi's second-most dangerous hitter...
He's not on Kitamura's level.
But beating him is more than enough to restore Kaidou's momentum.
After observing Raichi's previous at-bats, Sato already had a rough understanding of his strengths—and, more importantly, his weaknesses.
A faint smile crossed his face.
I've already prepared the trap.
Now all that's left...
...is for you to step into it.
He lowered his glove and gave the sign.
"Akutsu..."
"First pitch."
"Throw it here."
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