The real challenge had begun.

The moment Miyuki Kazuya crouched behind home plate and adjusted his catcher’s mitt, he understood clearly that the most intense phase of this game had arrived.

Osaka Kiryuu High School Baseball Team’s core lineup was stepping up for the third round.

Hidezawa’s pitch count had already exceeded eighty.

On the surface, nothing seemed unusual. The score still favored Seido, 7–4. The stadium was loud, but not chaotic. Yet when all the factors were placed together, the situation revealed its gravity.

For Seido High School Baseball Team, this was the most severe test so far.

If they passed this test, then by the time Osaka Kiryuu’s core lineup came around again, the game would already be entering its late stages. At that point, it would become a direct life-or-death confrontation.

But if they failed, Osaka Kiryuu would never let such an opportunity slip away.

They had just been hit hard. Azuma’s towering Homerun had widened the gap. If they showed no response now, not only would they fall behind on the scoreboard, they would lose momentum.

And for a team known nationwide as the Cosmic Team, that was unacceptable.

They were not an ordinary school.

They were a championship contender.

How could such a team remain silent after being slapped?

If they did not strike back immediately, how would they face themselves?

Therefore, Osaka Kiryuu’s counterattack was inevitable.

Miyuki understood this completely.

Strangely, instead of feeling nervous, he felt a trace of excitement.

This reminded him of when he had first started playing baseball. Back then, standing in the catcher’s position felt like directing a battlefield. He read the opponent, controlled the tempo, and led the defense.

Every time he defeated a strong opponent, the sense of accomplishment deepened.

This was his position.

This was his battlefield.

And he would not hand it over to anyone.

Especially not now.

In Tokyo, before Koshien, Zhang Han and Miyuki had stood almost on equal footing. Zhang Han had a slight edge in hitting, while Miyuki’s role as catcher carried strategic weight.

They were promoted at the same time.

They were both newcomers.

They were good teammates and rivals.

After arriving at Koshien, Miyuki’s performance had been solid. Most spectators here did not know about Chris. In their eyes, Miyuki was simply a talented first-year catcher with decent batting ability.

But Zhang Han, Zhang Han had dazzled the entire stadium.

Breaking one historical record was already extraordinary.

Breaking two placed him in rare territory.

In nearly a century of Koshien history, only a handful of players had carved their names into the record books. Those who did, as long as fate did not betray them, inevitably rose to leadership in the baseball world.

Zhang Han had broken two records in a single tournament.

Even Azuma Kiyokuni, with five Homeruns, could not easily overshadow Zhang Han’s fame at this moment.

The distance between them had grown.

If it were someone else, perhaps they would have given up.

There is nothing difficult in the world, as long as you are willing to give up.

It sounded harsh, but it carried truth.

Many fall behind and simply stop chasing.

But Miyuki Kazuya was not such a person.

He did not give up easily.

Even if he was currently behind Zhang Han, he had never stopped chasing.

He simply lacked the opportunity to shine in his own way.

Now, that opportunity was here.

If he could stop Osaka Kiryuu’s offense at this critical juncture, he could prove his value.

Before giving the sign, Miyuki glanced toward shortstop.

Zhang Han met his eyes immediately and gave a subtle nod.

That was enough.

Miyuki felt strength surge through him.

He often mocked Kuramochi for having the blood of a fighting cock.

In truth, he was no different.

He loved competition.

Especially competition against masters.

Now it was his turn.

Hidezawa had thrown over eighty pitches. Of course, his velocity had dipped slightly. Fortunately, both teams possessed powerful offenses, extending innings and giving pitchers brief rests between defensive turns.

After resting, Hidezawa could still maintain a solid level, though not quite the explosive sharpness of the early innings.

Now, he faced Masaoka.

Masaoka, almost as renowned as Azuma Kiyokuni.

If Azuma was the top candidate for the nation’s number one slugger, Masaoka undoubtedly ranked among the top three.

Facing such a hitter required caution.

Miyuki gave the first pitching sign.

Hidezawa shook his head.

Miyuki’s heart tightened.

He quickly offered a second plan.

Another shake.

The tension between pitcher and catcher became visible to everyone.

In Seido’s dugout, Manager Ota wiped sweat from his forehead.

What was happening?

These two had cooperated seamlessly until now.

Why were they suddenly out of sync?

He leaned toward Coach Kataoka, seeking intervention. Coach Kataoka simply shook his head.

“Since we sent them out, we must trust them.”

He knew both players well enough to guess their thoughts.

In this moment, no third party could interfere.

One of them would have to yield.

Miyuki called a third pitch.

Hidezawa rejected it again.

Then Miyuki understood.

His gaze cooled slightly. He shifted his mitt and held it firm, right in the center of the strike zone.

This time, Hidezawa did not shake his head.

He accepted.

His stamina was no longer sufficient for prolonged entanglement.

If he wanted to finish this game, he had to confront the opponent directly.

“Swish!”

The ball exploded from his hand.

“Ping!”

It came fast.

It left even faster.

The sinking pitch was forcefully lifted.

The baseball soared over a hundred meters, carving a high arc toward left field.

Then it smashed into the stands.

“Thud…”

“Homerun!!!”

The stadium erupted.

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