Although Kitamura Kou's dominant pitching performance and Todoroki Raizo's fiery speech had reignited the team's fighting spirit, this situation was different from anything Yakushi High School had faced before.
This was Koshien.
They were only a few steps away from the national championship.
More importantly, this was the final summer for Yakushi's third-year players.
If they lost here, their high school baseball careers would come to an end. There would be no second chance, no next tournament, no opportunity to start over.
The pressure weighing on the lower half of the lineup was unimaginable.
Among them, Ota Isao looked the most nervous.
He gripped his bat so tightly that it seemed to weigh a thousand pounds. His movements were stiff and awkward as he shuffled toward the dugout entrance. Sweat poured down his face like a broken faucet, soaking his uniform and dripping continuously onto the ground.
"Huh?!"
Suddenly, he felt an arm drape over his shoulder.
Already under tremendous pressure, Ota nearly jumped out of his skin.
His heart leaped into his throat as he quickly turned around.
Standing beside him was Yakushi's ace pitcher, Kitamura Kou.
Wearing his usual warm smile, Kou looked completely relaxed.
"Senpai, don't be so nervous," Kou said casually. "Just do your best. If we lose, I'll pack my bags and head home with everyone else."
His tone was so carefree that it sounded as though the outcome of the game didn't matter at all.
Surprisingly, those words eased some of Ota's tension.
His shoulders relaxed slightly.
"Thanks, Kitamura."
A bitter smile appeared on his face.
"But I don't want my summer to end here."
He looked at Kou seriously.
"Please... give me some advice."
Kou let out a small sigh of relief. Ota had finally calmed down.
With the state he had been in moments ago, stepping into the batter's box would have been no different from surrendering.
"In the previous inning, Inoue threw over thirty pitches," Kou explained. "Add in the last three innings, and he's probably thrown more than seventy pitches already."
"Most of them were breaking balls."
"His control won't be as sharp as before."
Ota listened attentively.
"My suggestion is simple," Kou continued.
"Ignore the breaking balls."
"Wait for a fastball."
"When it comes, swing with everything you've got."
"As for the rest..."
Kou shrugged.
"Leave it to luck."
Ota took a deep breath.
Then another.
The hesitation in his eyes gradually disappeared.
With a do-or-die determination, he strode toward the batter's box.
At that moment, his eyes burned like flames.
His gaze locked onto Inoue Mamoru on the mound.
There was only one thing left in his heart.
Victory.
At the same time, Inoue Mamoru wasn't feeling much better.
Sweat poured down his forehead, cheeks, and neck.
Although he had only pitched four innings, the effort he had expended was comparable to throwing an entire game.
Especially during the previous inning.
He had managed to stop Yakushi's relentless offense through sheer skill and willpower, but the physical and mental toll had been enormous.
Originally, he had hoped to recover while Hakuryu was batting.
Unfortunately, Kitamura Kou had other plans.
The ace had blown through the lineup so quickly that Inoue barely had any time to rest.
He raised his right arm.
It felt incredibly heavy.
His shoulder throbbed with fatigue.
Ironically, continuing to pitch might have felt better than sitting down and stiffening up.
A trace of concern flashed across Ito's eyes.
Still, he forced himself to stay calm and flashed a series of signs beneath his glove.
Inoue-senpai, only three outs remain.
This batter may not be dangerous, but he won't give up easily.
No matter what, hold on.
Inoue nodded.
Then he gathered what strength remained and delivered the pitch.
His trademark slow curveball.
Smack!
Ota didn't even flinch.
He simply watched the ball settle into Ito's mitt.
"Ball!"
The pitch missed the strike zone.
Ito immediately called for another slow curveball.
"Ball!"
Again, Ota remained motionless.
This time, the pitch broke even farther outside.
Ito frowned.
The slow curveball was completely losing its command.
Without hesitation, he switched strategies.
"Let's try the curveball."
The next pitch came.
"Ball!"
It was closer, but still missed the zone.
Three straight balls.
No strikes.
The situation had suddenly become dangerous.
Ito instinctively glanced toward the dugout.
Coach Sasaki simply nodded.
Continue.
There were no better options.
Hakuryu's bullpen couldn't compare to Inoue Mamoru or Ohno Shintaro.
At this point, all they could do was trust their ace.
Gritting his teeth, Ito called for a fastball.
He knew Ota was waiting for one.
He knew it was dangerous.
But he had no choice.
Please don't miss, Inoue-senpai.
On the mound, Inoue's chest rose and fell heavily.
Every breath felt scorching hot.
Even so, he showed no intention of backing down.
No fear.
No hesitation.
No retreat.
With a roar in his heart, he summoned the last of his strength and fired the baseball toward home plate.
"SWOOSH"
The ball shot forward like an arrow released from a bowstring.
The location wasn't perfect.
Nor was it unhittable.
It drifted toward the upper outside portion of the strike zone.
A hittable pitch.
The pitch Ota had been waiting for.
His eyes widened.
Now!
Without hesitation, he unleashed the strongest swing he could muster.
CLANG!
A crisp sound echoed throughout the stadium.
The baseball exploded off the bat and soared high into the air.
Like an arrow released from a bow, it streaked toward the outfield, tracing a beautiful arc against the sky.
Ota immediately tossed aside his bat and sprinted toward first base.
The fielders of Hakuryu High School reacted at once.
"Catch it!"
"We have to get there!"
"It can't drop!"
The entire stadium held its breath.
Players from both teams rose to their feet.
Supporters shouted at the top of their lungs.
The deafening cheers shook the stands and echoed throughout Koshien Stadium.
At that moment, all eyes followed the same baseball soaring through the sky.
The fate of Yakushi High School's final summer hung on where it would land.