"Way to go, Takumi-kun!" Yōichi jumped up in the dugout, his voice bursting with excitement.
If Takumi hadn't still been in the game, he would have dashed over and hugged him.
"What's going on?" someone muttered in disbelief.
"How did he manage to hit that ball out?"
"It must have been a fluke," another scoffed.
"Come on, didn't you all see his batting earlier?" a skeptic snapped back.
Some players who had doubted him began whispering nervously among themselves. Yet, compared to before, their confidence was visibly shaken.
After all, his performance was undeniable. No matter how it happened, he had managed to send the ball flying.
And the pitcher was Kawakami Norifumi, a first-year.
His performance today was flawless.
Throwing sidearm, his tricky angle and precise control made him formidable.
Plus, his breaking ball!
Though not overpowering, his pitching was rock solid.
Even some of the stronger first-year players struggled against him.
The few hits he had given up earlier were mostly due to fielding errors.
In other words, Takumi might have been the only one to get a hit off him today.
"When did his batting get this good?" someone whispered in amazement.
Not only the players but also the two club presidents exchanged surprised glances.
However, with the game still underway, they couldn't call him over to ask questions.
The game pressed on.
Kawakami Norifumi, having given up a run, quickly regained his composure. Though not aggressive in style, he had a strong fighting spirit.
As long as he stayed on the mound, he wouldn't give the batter any easy chances.
One out, runner on first base.
The powerful hitter, Maezono Kenta, was sent to the batter's box by Takashima Rei.
Compared to the previous generation of second-year players, this year's team not only saw the rise of a prodigy like Miyuki Kazuya but also several promising talents.
These players all had the potential to become key members of Seidō in the future.
Among them was Maezono.
He was a burly young man who, upon stepping into the batter's box, raised his bat high, looking ready to strike at any moment.
However, facing Maezono, Norifumi remained unfazed.
He wound up fully and threw the ball decisively.
Whoosh!
The white ball whistled past, and Maezono didn't swing.
Thwack!
"Strike!"
On the second pitch, Maezono swung, but the ball was well outside the strike zone, rendering his effort useless.
"Two strikes—the batter's in a tight spot," someone remarked grimly.
"Kawakami-san's pitching today is outstanding. The batter can't find a single opening," another praised admiringly.
"Even those who make contact aren't hitting well," a third added with approval.
Players who admired Kawakami murmured among themselves, their voices tinged with satisfaction.
As they spoke, their eyes involuntarily flicked toward Takumi.
The better Kawakami performed, the more impressive Takumi's earlier hit became.
"How did he manage that?" the unspoken question hung heavily in the air.
While the whispers continued, Takumi, patiently holding first base, suddenly began moving toward second.
"He's just trying to distract you. Don't fall for it," the catcher warned sharply.
Noticing immediately, he casually signaled to Kawakami Norifumi.
He nodded firmly in agreement.
Then he wound up, poised to deliver the third pitch.
Just as he prepared to throw, Takumi suddenly sprang into action.
He had been shifting in small, calculated steps, and the moment Kawakami fully wound up—unable to attempt a pickoff—Takumi dashed without hesitation toward second base.
"This timing?" Takashima Rei gasped from the dugout, eyes wide with astonishment.
She stared at the sprinting Takumi, disbelief etched across her face.
In sheer timing alone, he outmatched even the First String player renowned for stealing bases.
He had completely anticipated Kawakami's every move.
But just as she focused all her attention on him—
He was out.
Though his timing was excellent, his speed was too slow.
The catcher, seeing the steal attempt, immediately moved aside and signaled Kawakami to throw.
Norifumi, mid-pitch, forcibly altered the ball's trajectory, causing it to fall outside the strike zone.
Maezono Kenta lunged to block it but missed.
Thwack!
After snagging the ball, the catcher hurled it toward second base.
Snap!
The shortstop, poised and alert, caught the throw and grinned as he closed in on Takumi, still five or six meters away.
"Rookie, you're too slow!" he taunted with a sly smile.
If it had been any other runner, starting at that moment might have given at least a 50% chance of making it safely.
But he clearly wasn't one of them.
His speed was relatively slow even among the Second String players.
The game continued as he dejectedly left the field.
He had hoped to perform well and use this opportunity to earn promotion to the Second String.
He hadn't expected such seamless coordination even among their Second String players.
"Takumi-kun, you'll definitely be promoted to the Second String! Even if it's not this time, it will be next time!" Yōichi exclaimed, bounding forward to envelop him in a big hug.
'Next time, huh?' He mused silently.
Given the fierce selection process of the Seidō, his next real chance would likely come during the autumn tournament.
He was far behind the others in his grade.
"If you don't have the skill, don't show off!" someone sneered.
"With your speed slower than a turtle, what made you think you could steal a base?" another jeered.
Amid Yōichi's encouraging words, mocking voices rang out.
"Instead of criticizing others, why don't you focus on your own performance? When you help the team get RBIs, then you can talk about the heroes who scored!" one shot back sharply.
Takashima Rei appeared beside him, her tone firm and protective.
Those who had mocked him immediately fell silent.
They knew that making a poor impression on the club presidents could lead to serious consequences.
Ignoring the others, she fixed her gaze on Takumi.
"When you were batting just now, did you anticipate where the ball would land?" she asked thoughtfully.
It wasn't just the final swing that connected well; even his batting stance on the second swing was flawless.
Only the timing was slightly off.
One good hit could be a coincidence, but two in a row?
"Coincidence! Sometimes, I can see it too," she remarked with a knowing smile.
He didn't dare to fully admit the truth.
Unlike other talented players, his vision depended on a special skill.
Moreover, this skill consumed a lot of energy and couldn't be developed through conventional training.
If she wanted to verify it, he couldn't guarantee a satisfactory result.
"You can only see it at certain moments? Like when your mental focus is at its peak during a game?" Rei asked with genuine curiosity.
She explained it so well that he had no reason to disagree.
"That's right," he admitted softly.
"That's enhanced dynamic vision! Yamamoto-san, you'll be training with the Second String starting tomorrow," Rei announced decisively.