As the nation's top-ranked powerhouse, Osaka Kiryu High School Baseball Team carried themselves with unmatched experience in handling pressure.
When they realized that the only way to hit Zhou Hao's pitch was to gamble, they didn't hesitate. They chose the riskiest path—the one that gave them a chance to connect with the ball.
Exhausting Zhou Hao's stamina? Forcing him off the mound?
That thought never even crossed their minds.
That wasn't the style of the Universe Team.
As the country's most outstanding high school players, they feared no challenge. Their confidence was absolute—they believed they could defeat any opponent.
And that naturally included Seidou High School.
The bottom of the second inning began with Seidou on offense. The scoreboard still read 1–1.
Chris stepped into the batter's box.
He wanted to do something for Zhou Hao.
If he could get a hit, ease the pressure, maybe Zhou Hao's pitching would become lighter.
But before the thought could settle, Kuroda's pitch was already there—
Boom!
The terrifying 150 km/h fastball exploded past him. Watching it from the batter's box was nothing like facing a machine in practice. This was on another level entirely.
Chris could only watch the ball sail by, his bat unmoving.
Thwack!
"Strike!"
Chris gave a bitter smile. He knew his own limits. At his current level, hitting a pitch like that was impossible.
How did Azuma-senpai and Yuki manage to hit something like this…?
The only comfort was knowing Seidou had monsters too—hitters who wouldn't let them stay on the defensive forever.
But against Kuroda, Chris's swing cut nothing but air.
"Strike three! Strikeout!"
Nobody blamed him. Even his teammates silently admitted their results wouldn't be any better.
Next up was Yoshida—the former ace of Seidou, burning with determination. He lifted his bat high, eyes locked in, and unleashed a full swing at the incoming heater.
Boom!
Thwack!
The ball blew through the strike zone untouched, Yoshida's timing just a beat too early.
When the fastball topped 150 km/h, batters were left helpless. Forget hitting it out—the difficulty was simply making contact.
Three pitches later, Yoshida too was struck out.
Three up, three down. Seidou had been shut down.
The stands erupted.
"Kuroda!"
No one knew which fan started it, but soon the entire stadium thundered with his name.
"Kuroda! Kuroda! Kuroda!"
Tens of thousands of voices merged into one, shaking the ground beneath their feet. At that moment, standing tall on the mound, Kuroda wasn't just a pitcher—he was the protagonist of the entire game.
Seidou's strength was undeniable, but that only made Kiryu's dominance more exhilarating for their supporters.
Now that they saw their team suppressing Seidou head-on, the emotions inside them surged like a tidal wave.
They wanted to show it—to prove their invincibility.
The game moved into the top of the third inning. Osaka Kiryu was back on offense.
Anyone could see the fire burning in their players' eyes. Their desire to crush Zhou Hao, to break his spirit, was overwhelming. And stepping up were the top of their lineup—the very batters who had already proven their strength.
They were the ones who had first taken Zhou Hao's Spiral Ball over the fence.
This time, they would face him again.
The ninth batter, however, was far more cautious. He took a balanced stance, nothing flashy—holding the bat in a way that suggested he could handle any pitch.
Chris, crouched behind the plate, narrowed his eyes. This one wouldn't go down easily.
Zhou Hao wound up and unleashed his Spiral Ball.
Boom!
Even though the batter was braced for it, the pitch still froze him in place. His mind was crystal clear the instant it arrived—
Impossible. I can't hit that.
Three pitches later, he was gone.
Strikeout. One out, nobody on.
In Kiryu's dugout, Director Matsumoto Takahiro's expression hardened.
They had planned and prepared to deal with Zhou Hao. And yet—here he was, shutting them down all the same.
"Damn it… we'll have to put our hopes on Kitamura and Kujo."
If the ninth batter failed, then perhaps their top two could do it. Having already faced the Spiral Ball once, they should have adjusted. Their chances of connecting were higher now.
Behind the plate, Chris exhaled. He understood Zhou Hao's intent clearly.
Against Osaka Kiryu, they couldn't yield an inch. Batting was for the sluggers—but defensively, the pitcher-catcher battery had to slam the door shut.
Chris gave a wry smile.
"Pitchers really are a willful bunch…"
Still, he raised his glove and flashed the signal.
"Let's do it."
Breaking Ball No. 2—The Disappearing Pitch!
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