Chapter 265: Miyuki Kazuya!!!
"As expected of you! Just a single sentence and you managed to ignite Tanba-senpai's fighting spirit again! I'm really grateful, Sendo! …"
No outs, runners on first and second.
The batter showed a clear bunt stance.
Judging from Inashiro's style, they were absolutely trying to use a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners.
Right here—use the forkball, force the bunt, and get the out!
Seeing that Tanba-senpai had regained his spirit thanks to Sendo, Miyuki finally felt he could handle this situation properly.
"Fwoosh!"
"Ting!"
"A forkball!"
"The ball barely rolled anywhere!"
The sudden forkball caught Fujikawa completely off guard—he couldn't deaden it properly, and the ball rolled weakly right toward Miyuki.
"Glove!"
"Out at third!"
Miyuki's call for the forkball wasn't just a test.
If the bunt was good, tag the batter.
If it was bad—cut down the lead runner.
"Nice job, Miyuki!"
"Keep attacking!"
"Miyuki-kun!!"
Now it was one out, runners on first and second, and the lineup was turning over to Inashiro's heart of the order.
"One by one—we'll shut them down," Miyuki said, injecting confidence back into Tanba.
With Sendo and Miyuki—the "Troublemaker Duo"—both firing him up, Tanba's fighting spirit finally began to stabilize.
Even Kataoka silently let out a breath of relief… though the fear still lingered.
....
Carlos stepped up, resting the bat on his shoulder like always.
"As expected… you really are amazing," he said. "No wonder Naru wants you so badly! Let's settle this right here, Tanba!"
Miyuki didn't even look at him.
He wasn't the slightest bit interested in Carlos's theatrics.
But—when Carlos entered the batter's box—Miyuki didn't signal right away.
"Sendo… just like you said earlier."
"It's the catcher's job to make the pitcher's load lighter."
Inashiro was clearly targeting Tanba's straight fastball.
So this time—Miyuki followed Sendo's earlier advice.
....
Miyuki recalled their conversation:
"You're too forceful with your game-calling, Miyuki."
"If your risky lead works, the pitcher gains confidence—but if it fails, it destroys the confidence you were trying to build."
"In this situation, they're waiting for Tanba-senpai's rare easy fastball."
"So take two strikes using breaking balls—then force them to swing at difficult breaking pitches."
"Once the batters start doubting themselves—that's when you throw the fastball to restore Tanba-senpai's confidence."
Remembering it in detail, Miyuki smirked.
Sendo might be a brat, but his instincts for baseball were terrifyingly sharp.
....
With the infield creeping closer, Miyuki finally signaled.
If the opponent was aiming for the straight ball, and Tanba's breaking pitches were sharp, then—
Miyuki dared Carlos to hit a breaking ball through Blue Lock–level elite defense.
"FWOOSH!"
"Strike!"
"First pitch—curveball! Carlos doesn't swing!"
Naturally.
With the infield charging in, Carlos abandoned the idea of a bunt.
Trying to bunt at Sendo-tier defenders would be suicide unless he had Sendo's speed—which he didn't.
....
Carlos steadied his breathing.
"If that's the case…I'm not swinging at low breaking balls. My target is the straight ball. If it's juicy—I'll crush it."
....
"Let's go, Tanba-senpai."
Second signal.
"FWOOSH!"
"Strike!"
"Another curveball?!"
Carlos felt a jolt of danger—this was exactly how Yamaoka's at-bat went.
Curve.
Curve.
Fork.
Then the finishing straight.
But if the third pitch isn't a breaking ball…
If it's a straight ball…
I'll strike out looking!
Being down 0–2 with no balls was the worst situation for a batter.
Any borderline pitch would force a swing.
Carlos gritted his teeth.
....
Miyuki gave the final signal.
Tanba didn't hesitate.
"Swing or don't swing—no time left. Fine! I'll swing!!!"
"FWOOSH!"
"Straight ball!"
Everyone's attention locked onto the batter.
And Miyuki did something familiar—something iconic.
He stood up, turned his glove backhand, preparing for a throw.
Just like in the Yakushi game—the legendary pickoff motion.
The runner hadn't noticed—until it was already too late.
"Huh…?"
"PAH!"
"It was a forkball?!"
"Crap!!"
By the time the runner realized—
Miyuki already had the ball.
Left foot planted.
Arm swinging forward.
Tanba instantly dove flat, clearing the throwing lane.
"FWOOSH!"
"TAG!"
"OUT!"
Silence.
Then—
"ANNNNNNND STRIIIIIKE THREE!! SIDE RETIRED!!"
Even the umpire froze for a moment before calling it properly.
Miyuki had already peeled off his mask and was walking off with that smug smile before the ump even finished the strikeout call.
Behind him, the ump punched the air with a delayed dramatic gesture.
Absolute coolness.
---
"Seidou's genius catcher—MIYUKI KAZUYA—has just declared that they have NO intention of surrendering momentum!!!"
The commentator nearly screamed.
"Yaro…" Narumiya laughed under his breath.
Despite his insult, he was clearly delighted.
Carlos let out a breath.
"Damn… that was incredible. I can't even hate that."
Even Inashiro's bench staff were stunned.
"So that move against Yakushi… it wasn't luck," the record keeper whispered.
"Seems not," Coach Kunimoto replied.
....
Meanwhile, the stadium exploded.
"MIYUKI!!!!"
"What kind of reception throw was THAT?! You did it twice in one play?!"
"Are you insane, Miyuki?!"
"HELL YEAH!!! MIYUKI KAZUYA!!"
Sawamura was windmilling his arms like a madman.
Sendo grinned.
"Not bad at all."
With a quick stride, Sendo caught up to Miyuki.
"You're kinda acting different today," he said, smacking Miyuki's helmet with his glove.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"That stylish act you pulled on the way off the field—
not bad at all. Very unlike you, though."
"Hehehe! Cool, right? I saw how Naru was acting and wanted to try it myself. That confident smile puts a lot of pressure on the opponent, don't you think?"
Miyuki said, his tone gradually drifting into arrogance.
"True. Facing unpredictable moves like that…
even Inashiro can't stay completely calm. Tanba-senpai may not be as strong as Narumiya,
but the rest of our starting lineup? You could call it a galactic battleship."
Sendo added with a double meaning.
But Miyuki, unaware of Ryousuke's injury, didn't catch that nuance.
"If Furuya heard that he'd be crushed, you know."
"That's impossible. His cluelessness is his charm."
"Hahaha! Fair point!"
"And that final show-off move wasn't like you at all.
That sort of reckless flair is the opposite of your style. You're a bold guy…but you did good."
"Hah! You have no right to say that!"
"But thanks…For what you yelled at Tanba-senpai back there. Only you can fire someone up with a single sentence. You blood-spilling maniac."
"Clack!"
Their gloves smacked together—the Troublemaker Duo, united again.
"Hmm."
Coach Kataoka watched them with a tsundere-like snort.
He didn't know what they said, but after this summer,
those two would unquestionably become the pillars of Seidou.
…He also felt a headache coming on.
They were reliable when it mattered,but normally they were nothing but trouble.
....
"Miyuki!"
Chris called out when everyone returned to the bench.
"Thank you."
Miyuki immediately switched to respectful mode—
the clown persona gone.
"Hahaha! Nice job!!"
then SLAM!
Isashiki hit him from behind.
"Yahaha!!"
Kuramochi used the chaos to kick Miyuki in the butt.
"Now it's our turn to attack! Let's widen that lead!!"
Sawamura declared with exaggerated presence.
"SA—WA—MU—RAAAA!!"
Kuramochi yelled toward the bullpen.
"Yes!!"
"I told you—stop saying smart things!! How am I supposed to make fun of you?!"
Kuramochi barked.
"Hahahahaha!"
Even the spectators behind the dugout laughed.
....
"Top of the 6th! Batting third—Right Fielder, Isashiki!"
"Time to show them! Kuraraaa!"
Pure-san marched out full of spirit—
Then immediately bowed.
"Please take care of me!"
The comedic contrast hit again.
....
"I won't let you hit anything anymore,"
Narumiya said coldly.
Watching Miyuki's brilliance had ignited his own fighting spirit.
"Keep it low,"
Harada signaled with a downward motion.
Powerful stride—powerful arm.
"Ugh—changeup!"
"PAH!"
Pure-san, having prepared for Narumiya's fastball
and being fresh off the bench, had no chance on the first pitch.
"That's it!"
"Naru!"
"You're almost timing him, Pure-san!"
And this time, it wasn't just empty comfort.
Despite not expecting a changeup, Isashiki had only just missed it.
.....
"Another changeup…Why use so many suddenly?
Is he only trying to shut down our heart of the order
to seize momentum…?"
Chris wondered.
The current situation was simply too misleading.
If Inashiro managed to cleanly suppress Seidou's 3-4-5 hitters, after scoring the previous inning, it would lift their spirits tremendously.
No runs for Seidou.
Heart of the order suppressed.
Meanwhile, Inashiro's 3–6 already produced three runs.
The contrast was massive.
So Chris naturally stopped theorizing about the changeups.
The previous inning gave him a hint—but nothing concrete.
....
"FWOOSH!"
"Huh!"
"PING!"
"Foul!"
A straight ball for pitch two.
But the lingering effect of the earlier changeup threw
off Pure-san's timing.
He barely managed to foul it behind him.
"Yes! Two strikes!"
"Finish him, Naru!"
"Narumiya-kun!!!"
A chorus of girls screamed his name—making several Inashiro benchwarmers visibly annoyed.
Meanwhile Seidou's single men, especially Isashiki,
had zero attention to spare.
.....
"Pure-san!"
"You're seeing it clearly!"
"Keep fouling him off!"
"'Keep fouling'?"
Narumiya sneered.
"This is where it ends."
A proud and ruthless smile spread across his face.
---------------
If you want to read 20 chapters advanced.
Visit my patreon: patreon.com/Shu_21