Akutsu nodded firmly, signaling that he understood the sign.
Taking a deep breath, he slowly raised both hands above his head before driving forward with a smooth yet powerful motion.
Whoosh!
The baseball shot toward home plate.
This pitch was noticeably faster than his Knuckleball, reaching around 135–140 km/h.
It tailed toward the low outside corner, finishing well off the plate.
Most batters would simply watch it go by.
Unfortunately for Kaidou...
Todoroki Raichi wasn't most batters.
Like a ravenous beast finally spotting its prey, Raichi exploded into motion.
"This isn't it!!"
His roar thundered throughout the stadium, nearly drowning out the cheers of the crowd.
The entire stadium seemed to tremble beneath his voice.
Clang!!
The baseball rocketed off the bat like a laser beam.
It crossed the field so quickly that the spectators could only catch a fleeting white streak.
"F-Foul!"
Even the home plate umpire sounded momentarily stunned.
Raichi pointed his bat directly at Akutsu.
"That's not the pitch I want!"
"Hurry up and throw that weird, twisting ball already!!"
The pressure pouring from him was overwhelming.
Even Akutsu felt his breathing falter as beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.
Scary...
He's even more terrifying than Kitamura Kou when it comes to putting pressure on the pitcher...
Behind the plate, Sato Toshiya remained perfectly composed.
His sharp eyes calmly analyzed the situation.
Good.
He swung.
Just as expected.
Now we don't need to hold back.
He flashed the next sign.
"Throw it here."
Akutsu nodded.
He repeated his pitching motion before releasing another fastball.
Whoosh!
This one came in at nearly the same velocity.
Low.
Inside.
Near Raichi's knees.
Again, it missed the strike zone.
"Not this one either!"
Raichi roared as he swung with everything he had.
Clang!!
"Foul!"
Whoosh!
Clang!!
"Foul!"
Another fastball.
Another violent swing.
Another foul ball.
Sato deliberately mixed four fastballs to both corners.
Inside.
Outside.
High.
Low.
Raichi chased every single one without hesitation.
Every swing ended the same way.
Foul.
A faint smile appeared beneath Sato's mask.
The prey has already stepped into the trap.
Now...
It's time to tighten the net.
He quickly flashed another series of signs.
"Akutsu."
"Now it's your turn."
"The Knuckleball."
"And don't lose control because you're excited."
His eyes met Akutsu's.
There wasn't the slightest trace of doubt in them.
Only complete trust.
Akutsu's lips slowly curled into an eerie grin.
Hee hee...
Just watch.
Everyone's going to witness the true power of my Knuckleball.
I trust this pitch more than anything.
He steadied his breathing.
Then...
With perfect rhythm...
He released the ball.
Whoosh!
The butterfly returned.
The baseball floated gracefully through the air, fluttering from side to side like delicate wings dancing in the wind.
Its movement wasn't as dramatic as the Knuckleball Kitamura had sent over the fence.
But it remained just as deceptive.
Just as impossible to predict.
"Kahahahaha!"
Raichi's wild laughter echoed across Koshien.
The excitement on his face became almost frightening.
Every muscle in his body trembled uncontrollably.
His eyes blazed with a terrifying crimson-black light, making him resemble a demon that had escaped from the depths of hell.
"It's finally here!"
"The pitch I've been waiting for!!"
Every instinct in his body screamed at him to swing.
To crush that dancing butterfly.
To send it soaring into the sky.
But...
He endured.
His batting instincts warned him.
Not yet.
Wait.
Wait until the very last moment.
Only then would he have the best chance of making solid contact.
Although every second felt like torture...
Although it felt as though countless ants were crawling beneath his skin...
He waited.
Finally—
The butterfly drifted across the plate.
Into his hunting range.
"Kahahahaha!!"
Raichi exploded.
He unleashed every ounce of strength he possessed.
BOOM!!
The bat ripped through the air with a thunderous roar.
Clang!!
The dancing butterfly vanished.
In its place...
A blazing white cannonball screamed toward right field.
"It drops!"
"A ground ball into shallow right field!"
The commentator shouted excitedly.
"Can Todoroki Raichi beat it out?"
"Let's find out!"
Kaidou's right fielder, Tokuchi, reacted instantly.
He charged forward at full speed and got in front of the sharply hit ball.
Without hesitation, he scooped it cleanly.
Whoosh!
The throw was immediate.
Smack!
"Out!"
"What a shame!"
"Todoroki Raichi's swing was outstanding, but he still couldn't break through Kaidou High School's ironclad defense!"
"One out!"
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