"OUT!"
When the umpire shouted this word, Koshien Stadium was engulfed in a frenzied atmosphere.
At that moment, everyone's gaze was fixed on Miyuki Kazuya.
It was like the guy was made of gold, dazzling the attention of those around him and becoming the center of focus.
Three Outs, offense and defense exchange!
The players from Seidou High School rushed back to their dugout, preparing to change their gear.
As they ran back, teammates surged forward to hug Miyuki one after another.
"Incredible!"
"Great job!"
"Amazing Captain!"
"So Cool!"
"Hyaa-ha-haa! You finally shone anything sharp other than your tongue!"
"Captain!"
"Miyuki-Senpai!"
Even teammates who spent every day together couldn't help but praise him, highlighting just how brilliant his performance had been.
"Was that missed catch intentional?" Even Owada Akiko, a relative outsider, noticed it.
Let alone veteran reporter Fujio.
"Exactly! That missed catch was indeed calculated by Miyuki-kun."
'Furuya's average pitch speed hovers around 155 km/h. Even his Forkball exceeds 150 km/h.'
At such terrifying speeds, it's not easy for batters to connect. For a catcher, if you don't know where the baseball will land in advance, catching it can be extremely challenging.
After all, the ball is moving too fast!
In such a scenario, being able to deliberately miss a catch and redirect the ball where you want it is an extraordinary feat.
That alone is not something just anyone can achieve.
But that's not the most impressive part.
Most people saw only Miyuki Kazuya's outstanding performance, but they overlooked a crucial detail.
That was the action of the third base runner from Komadai Fujimaki High School.
Because Miyuki calculated that the runner from Komadai Fujimaki High School would never let such an opportunity pass.
That's why Miyuki's plan unfolded so smoothly.
'With catching skills, baseball IQ, and a bit of shrewdness…'
'Though he may not have the reputation of Sawamura Eijun, the "Demon King", when it comes to overall power, Miyuki is likely on par.'
'Among all high school catchers in high school now, he's probably the only one capable of such a play.'
Many share Fujio's viewpoint.
Even though they haven't fully tested Miyuki Kazuya's skills, his recent performance alone indicates he is a rare gem in catching, found once in a decade.
"MIYUKI!"
"MIYUKI!"
In contrast, the audience was much simpler and more direct. They lacked the in-depth analysis of professionals; their reactions and thoughts were straightforward.
As long as he looked cool, that was enough.
Miyuki had looked exceptionally cool, whether the missed catch was genuine or deliberate.
Both scenarios him awesome to some extent.
If outsiders were amazed, the Seidou High School baseball team was even more shaken.
The players in the dugout were already feeling the sting of their mistakes.
They had also lost a point in defense.
This situation left them feeling anxious.
Only after Miyuki made that Out did they realize their backbone was not just one person but two.
In addition to Ace pitcher Sawamura Eijun, they had Captain Miyuki Kazuya.
They believed that under Miyuki Kazuya's leadership, defeating Komadai Fujimaki High School was possible.
"Well done!"
Though Miyuki's approach was somewhat risky, Coach Kataoka's first words to him were praise.
There was hardly anyone in Seidou High School who surpassed Miyuki in terms of baseball understanding.
With Sawamura unable to take the mound, the team's core shifted to Miyuki Kazuya.
This was not merely due to Coach Kataoka's decision; it was because of Miyuki's genuine strength.
Even after the third-year seniors graduated, Seidou High School's baseball club had 59 members in its 23rd year. Adding the first-year recruits brought the total to a staggering 120.
No one could manage such a large team with enough patience after such rigorous training at Seidou High School.
The captain mostly leads the main players of the first string.
Of course, this doesn't mean the captain has no influence over those who aren't in the first string.
On the contrary, in Seidou High School's baseball club, the captain's role is very clear.
First, he needs to use his superb skills to set an example for others.
From this standpoint, Miyuki has clearly succeeded.
The next step is to address the current issue with pitcher Furuya.
"The pitch just now was too forceful! Didn't we practice this in the winter? It's too much! There's no need to exert so much power; just push the ball out naturally." Miyuki first made his suggestion.
Then he saw Furuya staring blankly, not responding much.
'Sigh…'
These words clearly didn't inspire Furuya.
"Don't forget, you're the Ace pitcher today. The coach plans to have you pitch the entire game."
Ace pitcher!
Sure enough, those two words had a strong effect.
Furuya, who looked half-dead before, suddenly came to life with an aura flaring like no tomorrow after hearing them.
"Yes!"
He nodded vigorously, looking earnestly at Miyuki.
"Great! Let's get ready to attack!"
Miyuki, having motivated Furuya, turned to the huge electronic scoreboard on the field.
The score of 1:0 was glaringly obvious.
To be honest.
Falling behind so early in the first inning was something the Seidou players had not anticipated.
They originally thought they could at least compete with the players from Komadai Fujimaki High School.
Even if they ended up giving up a point first, it shouldn't be at the very start of the game.
'In this case, as team captain and main catcher, it's my duty to relieve my partner's pressure.'
At this moment, Miyuki's thoughts were quite simple.
He just wanted to win this game and push his team forward.
'The first hit will be mine!'
He raised his bat high and stared intently at Masamune on the pitcher's mound.
First, he needed to connect with the incoming fastball.
He had seen Hongou's pitching last summer and was now intimately familiar with it.
Back then, his skills weren't enough to hit those pitches, but now he felt confident he could handle them.
Bring it on!
He assumed a wide stance, giving the impression he was ready to swing with all his strength.
This made Renji, the catcher, unconsciously furrow his brow.
From the information they had gathered, Miyuki was not typically that kind of batter.
Miyuki's hitting style was quite unique. According to their analysis, he was more of a guessing hitter.
Such batters weren't uncommon across the country, especially among catchers and pitchers who understood the theory of game-calling better than most players.
Renji himself was this type of hitter.
However, upon seeing Miyuki now, he felt no such thing.
Instead, he sensed a danger from Miyuki, one that sent chills down his spine.
It felt like he was being chased by a hunter.
Renji kept his calm and focused on Miyuki's stance and his batting posture.
From these observations, he quickly deduced the pitch Miyuki was likely aiming for.
'A straight ball!'
Clearly, Miyuki didn't intend to get entangled in a drawn-out battle. If a good pitch came his way, Renji believed he would swing without hesitation.
'He is likely targeting Masamune's fastball.'
This was a logical conclusion.
To confirm his thoughts, Renji needed to validate his guess internally.
He felt certain that his deductions were close to the truth.
'If Miyuki-san intended to swing from the start, he wouldn't be aiming for Masamune's Forkball.'
Not to mention how difficult it is to hit Hongou's forkball—Miyuki's stance alone suggested he wouldn't be able to connect.
With such a wide swing, hitting the forkball was hard.
'So, he could only aim for either a straight ball or a Slider.'
'And that is likely a trap!'
'What he should be really aiming for is either the Straight or the Slider.'
If Miyuki wanted to hit, Renji was ready to let him.
'An inside Slider!'
Renji decisively signaled to Hongou on the mound.
He was certain this pitch would exceed Miyuki's expectations.
'Even if it was hit, it would likely go Foul.'
Bring it on!!
Renji's enthusiastic manner successfully captured the attention of pitcher Hongou.
Hongou instinctively furrowed his brow, looking at his partner.
'Renji's fighting spirit was unexpectedly high now.'
Though he didn't understand why Renji was so motivated, Hongou didn't hesitate to pitch.
He raised his leg high and brought it down with force.
To achieve a pitch speed of 150 km/h, it took more than just wrist strength—it required full-body coordination!
Both Furuya Satoru and Hongou were known for their large movements when pitching.
Roaar!
In an instant, the small ball flew out.
It felt like a cannonball being fired, catching everyone off guard.
In the Batter's Box, Miyuki's cheeks puffed out, almost as if he were pouting.
Faced with the incoming ball, he was quick to react.
His bat spun like a giant windmill, connecting cleanly with the ball.
Ping!
The moment he hit it, the ball rolled out of bounds.
"FOUL!!"
Miyuki let out a long sigh of relief and focused intently on Hongou on the mound.
At that moment, he didn't seem like the strategic guessing batter everyone thought he was.
Instead, he resembled a fierce warrior acting purely on instinct.
'Did I guess wrong?' Renji couldn't help but question whether his previous judgment was incorrect.
'No, it couldn't be.'
The outcome matched his expectations; he hadn't misjudged.
The look on Miyuki's face was clearly a façade.
Gazing at the determined Miyuki, Renji decisively signaled Hongou again.
'Another pitch in the same location. This time, a straight ball!'
'The impression of the Slider should still linger in Miyuki-san's mind.'
'This sudden, swift straight ball would surely catch him off guard.'
If Miyuki's swing wasn't on point, the ball would likely go foul.
If it went foul, they would have Miyuki at two Strikes.
'Even if it landed in the field, its speed and force shouldn't be too overwhelming.'
Renji felt confident either way.
In his mind, he envisioned the scenario of taking Miyuki down.
Roaar!
After seeing the signal, Hongou pitched without hesitation.
The ball raced toward home plate in an instant.
Miyuki remained calm as if he had been waiting for this pitch all along.
His body lowered slightly, focusing all his strength into his arms as he swung.
In that moment, he channeled all his power, delivering a fierce swing at the incoming ball.
Pang!
The ball soared high after being struck.
It landed perfectly between the second baseman and the two outfielders!
…
T/N: That's it for now.
Thank you all for reading!
Have a good day!
You also can check my Patre0n for extra Chapters.
https://www.patre0n.com/ColdColt
There are +130 Chapters there.