Rebirth of Toujou Hideaki

Top of the 3rd Inning...

The score remained 2-0, with Hikari Gakuen still struggling to break through against Seishin Elementary's pitcher, Shunji Hasegawa.

Hasegawa wasn't an overpowering pitcher—his fastball hovered around 50-55 mph, far from the fastest at this level. But what made him dangerous was his ability to change speeds and locations unpredictably. His slow curveball had just enough late movement to keep batters second-guessing, and his fastball placement made it difficult to get solid contact.

On the Seishin dugout, Coach Murakami watched intently, arms crossed, his sharp eyes scanning the field like a hawk.

"They're still hesitant at the plate," he thought. "Good. That means our plan is working."

A few subtle claps from him, and Seishin's fielders adjusted their positions, moving with a fluid precision that showed how well they were trained. They weren't overpowering Hikari Gakuen—they were controlling the game's rhythm. Murakami was a tactician, and this game was his to command.

---

First Batter: Ryoma (Catcher, 5th in the Lineup)

Ryoma stepped into the batter's box, gripping his bat tightly. As a catcher, he prided himself on his ability to read pitchers, but hitting was a different story. He was still adjusting to the rhythm of Hasegawa's unpredictable deliveries.

Hasegawa delivered the first pitch—a high fastball at 50 mph.

"Ball," Ryoma judged, letting it pass.

The next pitch—a slow slider, floating toward the outer half of the plate.

He swung—CLINK!

The ball made weak contact and rolled toward Riku Nakamura, Seishin's third baseman, who had already shifted into position. With a swift, efficient motion, Riku scooped it up and made a strong throw to first base.

THWAP!

"OUT!" the umpire called as the throw easily beat him to first.

Ryoma jogged back to the dugout, clicking his tongue. "I misread it again."

In the outfield, Keita Aoyama, the cleanup hitter, watched intently, noting how the fielders were shifting so quickly in response to Hasegawa's pitching.

"They're not just reacting—these guys are anticipating," Keita muttered, nodding slightly.

---

Second Batter: Yuto (Outfielder, 6th in the Lineup)

Yuto stepped in, determined to make something happen. He wasn't just a power hitter; he had excellent contact skills, but Hasegawa's pitching was making it difficult to find his timing.

First pitch—a slow changeup that dropped in beautifully.

"That's hittable!"

SWING—

SWISH!

"STRIKE ONE!"

Yuto scowled, his eyes narrowing as he watched Hasegawa. "That ball dropped late… He's not just throwing randomly; he's setting up traps."

Yuto adjusted his stance, his grip tightening around the bat. Shota Kurose, Seishin's second batter, stood in the field, keeping a keen eye on the plate. His defensive positioning reflected his sharp instincts; he could read the batter's movements as much as Hasegawa did.

The next pitch—a curveball that started in the zone before breaking just enough to the outside.

"That's a ball—"

But the umpire's voice rang out.

"STRIKE TWO!"

Yuto's eyes widened in disbelief. "That broke back in?! How?!"

In the dugout, Coach Ichiro narrowed his eyes, observing Yuto's reaction. "Hasegawa isn't just disrupting their swings—he's messing with their confidence."

The final pitch—a fastball, high and inside.

Yuto flinched for a split second—just enough for the ball to clip the edge of the zone.

THWAP!

"STRIKE THREE! OUT!"

Yuto clenched his fists, gritting his teeth. "Damn it… That was a setup."

Seishin's fielders—Riku Nakamura, Shota Kurose, and Keita Aoyama—exchanged quiet nods as Yuto made his way back to the dugout. They were all aware of the pressure building on Hikari Gakuen. Riku gave Shota a quick look, his confidence never wavering.

"Keep the pressure on them," Riku whispered.

---

Final Batter: Kazuki (Shortstop, 7th in the Lineup)

Kazuki was a contact hitter, but even he struggled against Hasegawa's unpredictable timing. Kazuki had already recognized that Hasegawa wasn't throwing in a straight line; each pitch was designed to throw off the batter's rhythm.

He fouled off two pitches, each time just barely staying alive in the count. The tension in the air thickened. On the Seishin side, Coach Murakami tapped his foot impatiently but didn't show it on his face. His team had a plan, and it was working.

Then—Hasegawa nodded at the catcher's signal.

Kazuki expected another fastball. Instead—

A sharp slider, low and away.

SWING!

SWISH!

"STRIKE THREE! OUT!"

Three up, three down. Again.

[Hikari Gakuen's Dugout]

The silence in the dugout was deafening. The entire team sat slumped in defeat, with only Coach Ichiro remaining composed, his hands tightly gripping the fence.

Coach Ichiro exhaled slowly, the weight of the moment settling on him. "They're controlling our batters completely. If we don't break their rhythm soon, this game will slip away."

Across the field, Coach Murakami smirked, his hands tucked into his jacket pockets.

"A few more innings like this, and they'll start panicking," he muttered under his breath. His eyes were cold, calculating. Seishin's tight defense was exactly what he had planned for.

[Seishin's Dugout]

Despite their dominance, not all of Seishin's players felt at ease.

Standing by the railing, Riku Nakamura, Seishin's leadoff hitter and cleanup batter, tapped his bat against the fence, his eyes fixed on Toujou Hideaki, who was warming up on the mound.

"These guys aren't as weak as they look," he muttered. "They're just waiting for the right moment."

Riku glanced at Coach Murakami, who was looking for cracks in the defense. "I've got a feeling their ace pitcher is about to turn the tide."

---

Toujou sat quietly, watching his teammates return to the dugout, frustration clear on their faces. His jaw tightened as the weight of their struggles set in. But instead of sinking into doubt, he clenched his fists.

"If we don't change something soon, this game is slipping away from us," he thought, his mind racing. His focus sharpened, and he stood up, ready to take the mound.

He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the game pressing on his shoulders.

"First, I need to shut them down on the mound."

Coach Ichiro caught his eye as he walked past the dugout. There was a quiet, unspoken understanding between them. They need to gain momentum and shakes the opposing team.

Toujou jogged to the mound, locking eyes with Ryoma behind the plate. They exchanged a brief nod, and Ryoma adjusted his stance. Seishin's batters would soon face a new challenge—one that wouldn't be as easy to crack.