In the top of the second inning, Ugumori's cleanup hitter, Umemiya Seiichi, stepped up to the plate and managed to get a hit off Kawakami's Slider.
The fifth batter then attempted a sacrifice bunt, but Miyuki saw right through it. The bunt failed, and the batter struck out.
Next came the sixth batter. He connected with a sinker, sending a bouncing ground ball toward second base.
Kominato Haruichi charged forward and fielded it cleanly. Kuramochi covered second base, receiving the toss and tagging out Umemiya Seiichi before immediately firing the ball to first.
Double play!
Just like that, Ugumori's second-inning rally was extinguished.
They once again failed to score.
After the sides switched, Seido's offense took the field.
Leading off the bottom of the second inning, Toujou Hideaki immediately laid down a bunt toward third base and beat the throw to first.
"Ya-ha-ha! Nice one, Toujou! But when it comes to bunting, you're still nowhere near my level!" Kuramochi shouted toward first base.
Then, after stepping into the batter's box, he immediately squared around to bunt.
Ugumori's infielders instinctively charged forward.
At that exact moment, Umemiya delivered the first pitch.
"Ya-ha!"
Kuramochi instantly pulled the bat back and unleashed a full swing.
Bang!
Because Umemiya's pitches barely exceeded 100 kilometers per hour, Kuramochi had plenty of time to adjust.
The ball shot between first and second base, piercing through the infield and rolling into the outfield.
"Ya-ha-ha-ha! Run, Toujou!"
Kuramochi shouted while sprinting down the line.
"I'll get there first!"
Even while advancing the runner, he somehow managed to turn it into a race.
No outs.
Runners on first and second.
"That guy really is a terrible senior sometimes," Kanzaki Ryou muttered.
"That's just Kuramochi. Give him an opportunity and he'll get carried away," Miyuki replied.
Bang!
This time, Kominato Haruichi successfully laid down a sacrifice bunt.
Toujou advanced to third.
One out.
Runners on second and third.
Miyuki followed with a sharp single to right field, easily bringing Toujou home.
One out.
Runners on first and third.
"Home run!"
"Kanzaki!"
The crowd immediately erupted when Kanzaki Ryou stepped into the batter's box.
This time, they refused to believe Ugumori would intentionally walk him again.
"You're not planning to walk me again, are you?" Kanzaki asked with a grin.
Ugumori's catcher remained silent.
What choice did they have?
An intentional walk was impossible.
Not only would it force in a run, but it would also leave runners on first and second with dangerous hitters waiting behind him.
They had no choice but to face him.
After a brief moment of thought, the catcher signaled for the first pitch.
Until now, they had always started with a slow curveball.
This time, they would do the opposite.
Fastball.
On the mound, Umemiya Seiichi felt enormous pressure.
The score was already 5–0.
If they gave up any more runs, the game could end in five innings.
As he prepared to pitch, he glanced toward the dugout.
There sat Ugumori's manager, Matsubara Nanpo, watching from his wheelchair.
A former baseball player.
A close friend.
Someone whose baseball career had ended because of a traffic accident.
After entering high school, Matsubara became the team's manager, handling nearly everything behind the scenes.
How could Umemiya allow him to see such a pathetic performance?
Never give up!
His blood boiled.
With a roar in his heart, he fired a high inside fastball toward home plate.
BOOM!
His determination was admirable.
Unfortunately, reality was sitting in the batter's box.
A pitch of that caliber posed no threat whatsoever to Kanzaki Ryou.
The bat flashed.
The baseball soared.
A towering shot disappeared into the right-field stands.
Home run!
Exactly as expected.
Three-run homer.
The score jumped to 8–0.
After that swing, Umemiya's spirit completely collapsed.
By the end of the inning, Seido had extended its lead to 11–0.
Third inning.
14–1.
Fourth inning.
16–1.
Fifth inning.
21–1.
The dark horse that had defeated Nio Gakusha was completely overwhelmed by Seido's terrifying strength.
With a twenty-run difference after five innings, the game ended early under the mercy rule.
After the Ugumori game, Kanzaki Ryou returned to his usual routine of classes and training.
Meanwhile, one particular injured pitcher had been enjoying a surprisingly relaxed schedule these past few days—though he certainly didn't see it that way.
After practice one evening, the team gathered in the cafeteria.
"Captain, can I sit here?"
Furuya carried his tray over and stopped beside Kanzaki.
"Sure."
"I..."
"Eat first. Talk later."
Kanzaki immediately cut him off.
He knew Furuya and Sawamura too well.
Whenever either of them approached him voluntarily, it was always about baseball.
And usually something troublesome.
Munch. Munch.
Furuya immediately started shoveling food into his mouth.
"Haha, Furuya, eating faster won't help. It only starts after Ryou finishes eating," Miyuki said from across the table.
"Yeah. Slow down. If you choke yourself to death, it'll be a waste of talent," Kuramochi added.
Furuya froze.
"...It doesn't count if I finish first?"
"Are you an idiot?" Kuramochi deadpanned.
Five minutes later, Kanzaki finally finished his meal.
Furuya looked as though he had been waiting for an eternity.
"Alright. What is it?"
"Captain... I want to know something."
"What?"
"Why didn't you get injured?"
The entire table went silent.
Kuramochi.
Shirasu.
Maezono.
Everyone stared at Furuya with increasingly dangerous expressions.
"Hey, Furuya," Kuramochi said flatly.
"What exactly do you mean by that?"
Kanzaki sighed and raised a hand.
"Relax. It's Furuya."
Everyone immediately understood.
Furuya's communication skills were famously terrible.
"You want to know why my pitches are faster than yours, but you're injured and I'm not, right?"
Furuya nodded vigorously.
"The doctor said my foot injury and even my finger injury were both caused by overusing my arm and body while pitching."
Kanzaki smiled.
"Do you know the biggest difference between you and me?"
Furuya shook his head.
"I've told you before. You and Sawamura are obsessed with the mound."
"That's not a bad thing."
"But everything has limits."
"Every time you step onto the mound, you throw with everything you've got. During practice, you push yourselves just as hard. Even on rest days, you train like you're trying to kill yourselves."
"That's why you're injured."
Then Kanzaki pointed at himself.
"Look at me."
"I rest when it's time to rest."
"I'm lazy whenever I can get away with it."
"Hehe."
"Don't put so much pressure on yourselves."
"Baseball isn't going anywhere."
"You take it one step at a time."
"Not just you guys—even I'm still young. We've got a long road ahead of us."
Furuya sat quietly, processing everything.
After a long pause, he finally asked:
"...If I'm lazy, won't Coach scold me?"
"..."
"..."
"..."
The entire table fell silent.
A vein bulged on Kanzaki's forehead.
"After everything I just said, THAT'S the only part you remembered?!"
BONK!
His fist landed squarely on Furuya's head.
The sound was crisp and satisfying.
A perfectly good brain.
Such a shame it wasn't being used.
"And listen carefully."
Kanzaki stood up and pointed at him.
"If you ever hide an injury again, I'll personally kick you off the first string!"
Leaving behind that final threat, Kanzaki stormed out of the cafeteria.
Furuya rubbed his head and stared after him.
"...Captain seems angry."
The others nearly collapsed from exasperation.
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