On Seido's bench, Kataoka Tesshin was in the middle of giving tactical instructions.
But Kanzaki Ryou wasn't listening very carefully.
His eyes remained fixed on Furuya Satoru.
Something had already felt off during yesterday's practice.
Furuya's walking posture had looked strange.
At the time, Kanzaki hadn't paid much attention to it since Furuya's expression never changed and his training hadn't seemed affected.
But today—
it was even more obvious.
Even while standing still, Furuya was unconsciously shifting most of his weight onto one leg.
He's injured.
"Coach."
Kanzaki suddenly spoke up.
Coach Kataoka immediately paused and looked at him in confusion.
Based on experience alone, every time Kanzaki interrupted during a meeting, something serious followed.
The entire bench instantly turned toward him.
"Furuya can't start today."
The whole dugout froze.
Questioning the coach's decision before the game even began?
The first-years nearly stopped breathing from fear.
Meanwhile, the second-years, along with Takashima Rei, Oota Kazuyoshi, and Coach Kataoka, all became serious immediately.
They knew Kanzaki well enough to understand he would never speak carelessly.
"Furuya is injured."
"…What?!"
The words hit like thunder.
Today's starting pitcher—
injured?!
Even Furuya himself looked shocked.
He clearly hadn't expected anyone to notice.
Coach Kataoka only needed one glance at Furuya's guilty expression to confirm everything.
Instantly, his anger exploded.
"IDIOT!!"
"Are you stupid?!"
"If you're injured, why didn't you report it?!"
"Do you think this team can't function without you?!"
The game hadn't even started yet, but the uproar coming from Seido's bench immediately attracted attention from nearby spectators.
"I-I'm fine…"
Before Furuya could finish speaking, Kominato Haruichi quietly pushed him lightly from behind.
Instinctively taking a step forward, Furuya immediately grimaced in pain.
The atmosphere became even heavier.
It really was an injury.
And worse—
it was his pivot foot.
Realizing he had been completely exposed, cold sweat instantly covered Furuya's forehead.
Coach Kataoka took several deep breaths to suppress his anger.
Ever since the incident involving Takigawa Chris Yuu, he had become extremely sensitive regarding player injuries.
Failing to notice Furuya's condition beforehand made him feel deeply responsible as well.
"Take off your glove."
"Go to the hospital immediately."
"I…"
"Furuya."
Kanzaki's voice suddenly turned colder.
"You're only a first-year. Even if you're talented, this team doesn't absolutely need you."
Everyone fell silent.
"What exactly are you worried about?"
"Do you think Seido will lose without you?"
"Or are you just unwilling to give up the mound?"
"What, are you planning to retire after this game? Never play baseball again?"
"You're already injured. If you force yourself now, you could destroy your baseball career entirely. Do you understand that?"
As Seido's ace and captain, Kanzaki carried overwhelming authority within the team.
Once he started lecturing someone seriously, nobody dared interrupt.
Furuya lowered his head stubbornly, unwillingness written all over his face.
"You're talented."
"Your future isn't limited to these three years of high school baseball."
"And the same goes for Sawamura."
Boom!
Both Furuya and Sawamura Eijun froze.
The two of them were practically obsessed with the pitcher's mound in front of them.
But neither had ever seriously thought about the future beyond high school.
After all—
they were both hot-blooded idiots by nature.
Thinking that far ahead simply wasn't their style.
"Are you really going to gamble your entire future on a game we're not even going to lose?"
"Just for the mound right in front of you?"
Furuya clenched his fists tightly.
But he could not refute a single word.
In the end, Coach Kataoka stripped Furuya of the starting role immediately and had Manager Oota drive him to the hospital.
At the same time, Seido officially changed today's starting pitcher to Kawakami Norifumi.
After informing the umpire about the last-minute adjustment, the lineup was finalized.
"Good luck, Kawakami."
Kanzaki patted Kawakami on the back.
"Play well today and show those two idiot first-years that Seido doesn't rely entirely on them."
"…Yeah!"
Kawakami nodded forcefully.
Soon, the starting lineups for both teams appeared on the giant stadium screen.
"It's starting!"
"Let's go, Seido!!!"
"OHHHHHHHHHH!!"
"Kanzaki!!"
"Miyuki!!"
"King Seido!!"
The crowd erupted instantly.
"Please guide us well!"
"Please guide us well!"
Tokyo Metropolitan Autumn Tournament — Third Round.
Fuchu Citizens Stadium.
First-base side: Seido High School.
Third-base side: Ugumori High School.
Ugumori batted first.
Standing in left field, Kanzaki glanced toward Ugumori's bench thoughtfully.
In the original timeline he remembered, Ugumori had eventually defeated Inashiro Industrial High School and become the tournament's dark horse.
But now—
things were different.
Seido and Inashiro no longer belonged to the same bracket.
If the two teams wanted to meet, it would only happen in the finals.
Top of the first inning.
Ugumori's leadoff batter stepped into the box and immediately felt intense pressure while facing Kawakami's expressionless face.
This pitcher—
was only Seido's backup?
Even the scouts in the stands became interested.
Compared to Tanba Kouichirou at the same age, Kawakami clearly looked more complete.
If developed properly, professional baseball might genuinely be possible for him in the future.
At the very least, he could absolutely become an ace-level pitcher in college baseball.
On the mound, Kawakami remembered Kanzaki's words before the game.
A surge of emotion rose within him.
Furuya and Sawamura were talented.
But he was not inferior to them.
Not at all.
First pitch—
143 km/h slider!
That's right.
Kawakami had developed a new pitch.
Starting the at-bat with a breaking ball completely caught Ugumori's leadoff batter off guard.
He froze.
"Strike!"
0–1.
Second pitch.
A low inside fastball.
Swing and miss.
0–2.
Third pitch—
Kawakami's signature sinker.
Whoosh!
"Strike three!"
"Batter out!"
The umpire's call echoed across the field.
Strikeout.
Immediately afterward came Ugumori's second batter.
Whoosh!
Swing and miss.
Foul.
Swing and miss again.
"Strike three!"
Back-to-back strikeouts.
The Seido supporters immediately burst into cheers.
Standing on the mound, Kawakami suddenly felt as though he were the protagonist of the game.
His chest swelled with emotion.
"This guy's control has improved so much!"
"Kawakami! Nice job!"
"Keep it going! Three up, three down!"
"OHHHHHHH!!"
Amid the roaring cheers, Ugumori's third batter stepped into the box.
First pitch.
A low outside slider.
Swing and miss.
Strike one.
Second pitch.
A low inside sinker.
The batter managed to make contact—
but only weakly.
The ball rolled harmlessly into the infield for an easy out.
Three up.
Three down.
In less than five minutes, Kawakami had retired all three Ugumori batters.
Sides retired.