“BANG!” What a crisp, exhilarating note—that sound is music to a batter’s ears.
If there’s a moment that excites a batter the most, surely a game-winning home run must be the pinnacle of thrill and joy.
For Kanzaki Yuto, making his debut in an official regular-season game, this was undoubtedly the height of excitement.
He had just hit his very first hit in life, and it was also his first home run!
Yet, inside, he remained calm, as if the swing had been executed by someone else entirely.
The moment the bat connected with the ball, Kanzaki Yuto didn’t think about whether he could hit it, or whether he could live up to others’ expectations.
He simply fulfilled his duty as a batter.
And so, the ball flew!
It soared as if heading straight for the distant sky.
“SWISH!” The white speck gradually receded, finally crossing the boundary and disappearing into the trees beyond the field.
“It… it… it’s gone!” “Home run!” The spectators erupted in a roar of astonishment.
Even the second- and third-year players, including first-team starters, wore expressions of disbelief.
Izashiki Jun’s face was as black as the bottom of a pot.
Even the stoic cleanup hitter, Yuuki Tetsuya, couldn’t hide a flicker of emotion.
Three RBIs!
Kanzaki Yuto raised his right arm high, as if proclaiming something, yet his expression remained perfectly calm.
“OOOOH!!!!” The first-year students went wild, screaming as if possessed!
“This kid actually did it!” Yuki Kazuya murmured in shock.
He had thought he’d already rated Kanzaki Yuto highly, yet he had underestimated him after all.
A home run?
High school fields have strict length and width regulations, unlike junior high.
Some outstanding players go straight to professional baseball after high school.
The shortest distance in a high school field is nearly 100 meters, and the center field home run wall can reach 120 meters.
Kanzaki Yuto’s home run wasn’t the longest, but in high school, only a handful of players can clear the fence.
And this was a first-year rookie, facing second- and third-year veterans, who had never participated in a regular game before!
The magnitude of Kanzaki Yuto’s swing was terrifying.
On the pitcher’s mound, Kawakami’s hands trembled as he lowered his cap.
Whether in an official match or a practice game, a home run is an indescribable pain for a pitcher.
Some pitchers’ mental states collapse instantly after giving up a homer, leading to a series of poor performances.
Miyauchi Keisuke sighed lightly.
Kawakami’s pitch had been excellent—perhaps the inside angle could have been slightly tighter.
Yet even so, a first-year kid had hit a home run?
Miyauchi’s gut told him his team would likely concede points this inning.
Bases loaded, sacrifice flies or bunt plays could have minimized damage, but instead—Kanzaki Yuto cleared the bases with one swing.
Three RBIs!
He had underestimated this kid.
Miyauchi glanced at Kanzaki Yuto rounding the bases, silently impressed.
“Great job, Yuto-kun!” Kominato Haruichi slapped Kanzaki Yuto’s shoulder, face flushed with excitement, and grinned.
He wasn’t shy—he was just pumped up, as usual.
“Ahhh!!
You actually hit a home run!” Sawamura Eijun roared nearby.
Kanzaki Yuto smiled slightly, his face calm, yet inside he felt immense satisfaction and relief.
He hadn’t let them down.
He was used to Ryousuke’s simple, straightforward personality.
“Now!
The main event starts!
Everyone!
The pitcher is shaken!” Kanzaki Yuto clapped his hands, rallying the first-years.
“Yes!” After Kanzaki Yuto’s home run, the first-years were pumped to the max.
At that moment, Kanzaki Yuto truly felt like the team’s captain and star player.
The second- and third-years gritted their teeth in frustration.
“This must be why the coach values Kanzaki Yuto so highly,” Takashima Rei thought in the coaching room.
At first, he had thought Kanzaki Yuto was promising, but not yet ready for the first team.
Even Akaya would only have been fast-tracked if Seidou lacked a decisive ace like Narumiya Mei.
So why had Kanzaki Yuto earned the same privilege?
Now, Takashima understood.
It was Kanzaki Yuto’s unique qualities combined with performance that made Coach Kataoka break tradition and allow him into the first team.
“Mentality and ability—both are indispensable, right?” Takashima smiled knowingly.
“Huh?
What do you mean?” Oota asked, puzzled.
“He might just become the future cleanup hitter of Seidou High’s baseball team,” Takashima said, pointing at Kanzaki Yuto.
“Huh?” Ota looked incredulous.
“But this is just a practice game, right?” Takashima shook his head slightly.
Indeed, it was just a practice game—but even in one such game, much could be seen.
“BANG!” Another hit!
Kawakami quickly glanced as the left fielder caught the ball, visibly relaxing.
“Three outs!
Switch!” Coach Kataoka’s voice rang out, and the second- and third-years finally exhaled.
The pressure on Kawakami on the mound had been immense, as if in a real match.
Even though no more runs came after Kanzaki Yuto’s home run, the sense of urgency was what truly pressed on the field.
After the homer, the next batter, seizing the moment while the pitcher and catcher were adjusting, successfully bunted to reach base!
Then, using sacrifice bunts, the runners advanced.
Under Kanzaki Yuto’s direction, by the time there were two outs, the runners were on third base!
Just one more hit—even an infield single—would have scored again.
Fortunately, no other first-years matched Kanzaki Yuto or Kominato’s performance, giving the second- and third-years a slight reprieve.
Yet, after the top of the sixth, the glaring “3” on the scoreboard remained a painful sight for the upperclassmen.