Chapter 194: Akutsu Appears

"Mine-senpai, based on your years of experience, what strategy do you think Kaidou High School will adopt to overcome their current predicament?"

Owada Akiko turned toward Mine Fujio, curiosity evident in her eyes.

"Hmm..."

Mine stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"That's not an easy question."

"Let me think for a moment."

After a brief silence, he slowly shared his analysis.

"If I were Kaidou's coach, I wouldn't copy Hakuryu High School's strategy of intentionally walking both Fukuda-kun and Kitamura-kun."

He shook his head.

"That approach would only damage the team's confidence."

"Instead, I'd deal with Fukuda first. His batting isn't nearly as dangerous."

"Then I'd immediately switch pitchers."

"As for whether to challenge Kitamura afterward..."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"...that would depend entirely on the count."

Meanwhile, Kaidou's coaching staff had reached almost the exact same conclusion.

Their tactical adjustment mirrored Mine's prediction almost perfectly.

On the field, Sakuraba continued pitching with his usual composure.

He needed only three pitches to retire Yakushi's ninth batter, Fukuda Daiki.

The moment the out was recorded, Sato Toshiya looked toward the dugout.

Receiving the coach's signal, he immediately requested a substitution.

"Kaidou High School requests a pitching change!"

"Sakuraba-kun will be replaced by Akutsu-kun."

"The new pitcher, Akutsu-kun, will bat ninth."

A murmur swept through the stadium.

"Sakuraba-senpai."

Akutsu walked toward the mound and extended his glove with a confident smile.

"Leave the rest to me."

"Damn it..."

Sakuraba clenched the baseball so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

His hand trembled ever so slightly.

I was so close...

Just a little longer...

I could've gotten my revenge on that brat myself.

Why...

Why am I being pulled now?

Keeping his head lowered, he stubbornly refused to hand over the ball.

Seeing this, Akutsu calmly extended his glove once more.

"Sakuraba-senpai."

"Trust me."

"I'll show them just how terrifying Kaidou High School's pitching staff really is."

"I'll pitch for both of us."

His eyes were unwavering.

Sakuraba met his gaze.

After a long silence...

He sighed.

He understood better than anyone that once Kaidou's coach had made a decision, there was no changing it.

Slowly...

His trembling hand rose.

The simple act of lifting the baseball felt as though he were raising a thousand-pound weight.

Finally...

The ball dropped into Akutsu's glove.

The exchange was complete.

Sakuraba let out a long breath, as though releasing the frustration weighing on his heart.

"Akutsu."

"I'm leaving the rest to you."

"Keep our summer alive."

Without another word, he turned and walked back toward the dugout.

"Hm?"

Coach Todoroki Raizo frowned.

"What's this?"

He had expected Kaidou to rotate pitchers.

That much wasn't surprising.

What caught him off guard was who they had chosen.

Instead of sending out proven pitchers like Mayumura Ken or Naoki Enomoto...

They had entrusted the mound to someone who had barely pitched all tournament.

"Who is this kid?"

"A hidden ace?"

"A secret weapon?"

For the first time in the game, Todoroki felt things drifting beyond his expectations.

His gaze remained fixed on the mound, uneasiness slowly creeping into his heart.

He hated situations he couldn't control.

"Next batter..."

"Pitcher, Kitamura-kun!"

The moment Kitamura Kou stepped into the batter's box, the stadium erupted in thunderous applause.

The crowd's excitement filled every corner of the ballpark.

Akutsu clicked his tongue.

"Hmph."

A first-year getting this kind of reception...

Don't celebrate too early.

His eyes narrowed.

"I'll show you exactly how strong Kaidou High School really is."

"Forget getting a hit."

"You won't even make solid contact."

Across from him, Kitamura calmly watched the new pitcher.

As expected of Kaidou.

Even in the semifinals, they still have another pitcher they haven't shown.

A trace of excitement appeared in his eyes.

I wonder...

Just how strong are you?

He settled into his batting stance.

Waiting.

Watching.

Behind the plate, Sato Toshiya studied Akutsu carefully.

Calm down...

Don't let your anger take control.

The Knuckleball is the Devil's Pitch.

If your emotions waver, so will the ball.

Quietly, he lowered his glove, signaling Akutsu to settle himself before throwing.

Akutsu took several deep breaths.

His breathing gradually steadied.

Only after regaining his composure did he begin his pitching motion.

Whoosh!

The baseball floated gently out of his hand.

Unlike Kitamura's blazing fastball, this pitch seemed almost leisurely.

It drifted lazily toward home plate.

Then—

Halfway to the plate...

It changed.

Without warning, the ball danced wildly through the air.

It rose.

It dropped.

It drifted left.

Then suddenly broke right.

Its path was completely unpredictable, fluttering through the strike zone like a butterfly dancing on the wind.

Even Kitamura's exceptional dynamic vision couldn't predict where the pitch would finish.

Thwack!

"Strike!"