"Damn it, what is Kuroda doing?!"
Two straight extra-base hits to second base.
The one-run lead Osaka Kiryu had fought so hard to secure was gone in an instant.
Director Matsumoto Takahiro's face twisted with fury. His voice roared through the dugout before he caught himself.
"Director, please… this is Koshien."
That single reminder hit like cold water. Right—this was the grandest stage of Japanese baseball. Countless cameras flashed, millions of eyes were watching. As the commander of the Universe Team, Matsumoto couldn't afford to let raw anger taint their image.
His expression smoothed, as if nothing had happened. "Kuroda, don't mind it! Pitch your game."
The words were calm. The tone, gentle. But from the mound, Kuroda felt the weight behind them.
His uniform clung with cold sweat. He knew—beneath that collected mask, Matsumoto's rage was real. If he faltered again, if he disappointed here… the punishment waiting after this game would be far harsher.
Grinding his teeth, Kuroda unleashed the next pitch.
"Boom!!"
The ball screamed in like a hurricane, blazing past Seidou's batter before he could even react.
At the plate, Shirasu gritted his teeth.
Yuki and Azuma both connected. If the cleanup can do it, why can't I?
But Kuroda's fastball wasn't ordinary. His timing lagged; even forcing a swing, his bat couldn't touch the ball.
"Strikeout!"
"Three outs—change sides!"
The scoreboard froze at 1–1.
On the mound stood two prodigies who had stolen headlines even before Koshien began: the rookie monster Zhou Hao and the Universe Team's ace, Kuroda. Both had surrendered a run. Both were still standing.
The crowd buzzed with disbelief, unwilling to blink. This was the battle they had come for.
Top of the second inning. Osaka Kiryu sent their sixth batter to the plate. Normally, the middle-to-lower order wasn't expected to shine—but here, even the sixth man carried the aura of a cleanup slugger.
"This is the Universe Team," Ota muttered, wiping sweat from his brow. "Every one of their batters could anchor another powerhouse."
The Seidou bench stiffened. Their hearts pounded for Zhou Hao. Could the rookie truly withstand such a relentless lineup?
Behind the plate, Chris's eyes narrowed. He gave the signal without hesitation.
"Changeup—Illusion Ball."
He knew the Spiral was an option. But to truly unnerve Osaka Kiryu, to plant doubt in their hearts, this was the time to strike.
Zhou Hao nodded. His blood burned with the chance for revenge.
"Whoosh!!"
From the batter's view, it was a perfect fastball—straight, sharp, unhittable.
The swing came late.
"Snap!"
"Strike!"
The sixth batter's eyes flickered. Something wasn't right.
Second pitch.
"Whoosh!!"
He read it carefully this time, teeth clenched. He committed, swung hard—
And the ball vanished.
His bat cut through air.
"Snap!"
"Strike!!"
Confusion spread through the Universe Team's dugout. Even their supporters shifted uncomfortably.
Third pitch.
It came in chest-high, riding inside. The batter flinched, realizing too late. His swing was wild, desperate.
"Snap!"
"Strikeout!!"
One out, bases empty.
Osaka Kiryu's bench went silent.
"Completely suppressed… by a first-year rookie!"
The seventh batter strode up, gripping the bat tight. But his eyes betrayed him. Hesitation. Doubt. Zhou Hao's Illusion Ball had carved into their confidence.
Chris smile behind the mask. He could see it—cracks forming.
Not long ago, even Seidou's own players had been baffled when facing this pitch.
Now, it was Osaka Kiryu's turn to drown in confusion.
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