Chapter 238: Evolving Control! Testing His New Pitching

“Diamond Four-Seam Fastball: Maximum velocity with full nine-zone command… 155 km/h.”

“If I throw harder than that, the ball starts to drift.”

“It can still reach 160 km/h, but once I throw it down the middle, the pitch becomes unpredictable. It could float toward any corner.”

“At that point, I lose command.”

“It could easily sail high… or end up right over the heart of the plate.”

“And against good hitters…”

“That gets crushed.”

After finishing his tests, Ushijima couldn’t hide his excitement.

Then he turned his attention to another pitch.

“Diamond Forkball: Maximum velocity with full command… 161 km/h.”

He smiled.

“The Forkball is finally complete.”

Its movement was already Diamond-level.

Now, with Diamond-level Control added on top of it…

He could locate a 160 km/h Forkball with pinpoint precision.

That was an entirely different weapon.

To be certain, he threw another ten pitches.

Every single one found its target.

There was no doubt anymore.

His strongest—and most controllable—pitch had become his Forkball.

Since practicing against a net could only tell him so much, Ushijima stretched his shoulders and walked toward the main field.

“Miyuki.”

The captain looked up from batting practice.

“What is it?”

“Catch for me.”

“I’ve got a feeling.”

Miyuki’s eyes immediately lit up.

A feeling?

Whenever Ushijima used those words…

It usually meant one of his pitches had evolved again.

Without another word, Miyuki removed his batting gloves.

Just as he was about to grab his catching gear—

Ushijima stopped him.

“No.”

“Let Coach bat.”

“I want him to experience it.”

“…”

Everyone nearby looked over in surprise.

Even Coach Kataoka paused his instruction of Maezono.

This was the first time Ushijima had specifically asked the coach to stand in the batter’s box.

Something interesting was clearly about to happen.

Since returning from Koshien, Ushijima hadn’t pitched in an official game.

He had only continued refining himself in practice.

“Alright.”

Coach Kataoka accepted the bat without hesitation and walked toward home plate.

As Ushijima loosened his shoulders, he turned toward the assistant manager.

“Rei-chan.”

“Could you bring the radar gun?”

“I’d like to check today’s velocity.”

Takashima Rei nodded and quickly retrieved it.

Before long…

The entire Seido baseball team had stopped training.

Everyone gathered around the bullpen.

“What are we testing?”

Miyuki asked as he finished putting on his catching gear.

“The four-seamer.”

“My feel today is especially good.”

“There should be a surprise.”

Hearing that, Miyuki grinned.

“Then I’ll make things difficult for you.”

“I’m calling for the corners.”

“Let’s see how good your command really is.”

Ushijima simply nodded.

He climbed onto the mound and waited.

Coach Kataoka settled into the batter’s box.

Miyuki set his glove low and away.

Ushijima gripped the baseball.

He raised both hands over his head.

His left leg lifted.

Then—

He exploded toward the plate.

His hips rotated violently.

His right arm whipped forward.

The baseball left his fingertips.

Whoosh!

The four-seamer screamed toward the outside corner.

Coach Kataoka remained perfectly still.

After all…

This wasn’t even close to Ushijima’s maximum velocity.

Thwack!

The ball slammed into Miyuki’s mitt.

The catcher froze.

He had called for a low outside fastball.

A difficult target.

Yet Ushijima had painted the corner perfectly.

And…

That pitch had been nearly 150 km/h.

Previously, he could only locate pitches that precisely below 145 km/h.

“149.”

Takashima glanced at the radar gun.

“Again.”

Ushijima casually picked up another baseball.

This time…

Miyuki set his glove high and inside.

The surrounding players immediately exchanged nervous looks.

Miyuki…

You’re really trying to make him work.

Coach Kataoka remained calm.

He simply watched from the batter’s box.

Ushijima inhaled deeply.

Then delivered the next pitch.

This time…

He put even more behind it.

Whoosh!

The baseball exploded toward home plate.

Coach Kataoka’s eyes narrowed.

For a split second…

The pitch looked as though it was coming straight at his face.

Even he was startled.

Fast!

BANG!

The baseball buried itself in Miyuki’s mitt barely ten centimeters from the coach’s face.

“…!!”

Silence.

Every member of the Seido baseball team felt goosebumps rise across their skin.

“Nice ball!”

Miyuki shouted excitedly.

“153.”

Takashima read the radar gun almost absentmindedly.

The velocity itself wasn’t surprising.

After all…

Ushijima could already throw 158 km/h.

What shocked everyone…

Was the command.

A 153 km/h fastball.

Perfectly located on the high inside corner.

Exactly where Miyuki had called for it.

Previously…

That simply wasn’t possible.

One pitch after another…

Miyuki continued testing him.

High outside.

Low inside.

High inside.

Low outside.

Every difficult location.

Every dangerous corner.

Ushijima painted each target flawlessly.

Every fastball exceeded 150 km/h.

Finally—

“The fastest was…”

Takashima looked down at the radar gun.

“…155.”

Even she couldn’t hide her astonishment.

Ushijima smiled.

“Looks like those tens of thousands of practice pitches finally paid off.”

Miyuki nodded.

“No…”

“It’s more than that.”

“You can now maintain elite command even above 150 km/h.”

“Your fastball just became far more dangerous.”

Coach Kataoka quietly lowered his bat.

He had swung at several of the pitches.

Not once…

Had he come close to making contact.

The velocity alone wasn’t the problem.

It was the combination of speed and precision.

A 150+ km/h fastball painted perfectly on the corners was almost impossible to hit.

“Now…”

Ushijima picked up another baseball.

“My left hand.”

Miyuki immediately set his target again.

The next moment…

A left-handed delivery burst from the mound.

WHOOSH!

The pitch tore through the air.

Coach Kataoka’s eyes widened beneath his sunglasses.

“…Fast.”

BANG!

The impact echoed across the field.

The entire practice ground fell silent.

“…Whoa.”

Kuramochi unconsciously swallowed.

Shirasu stared blankly at the radar gun.

Even Takashima Rei looked as though she had forgotten how to speak.

Her eyes remained fixed on the display in her hand.

“…This…”

She could hardly believe the number she was seeing.