However, the ball began to break inside this time, revealing itself as a two-seam fastball. While it wasn’t as exaggerated as the cutter, it still had more movement than he was expecting.
WHOOSH
PAH
“Strike”
Seeing his brother miss the swing, a small sense of satisfaction crept into Daichi’s body. Though he held Ken in high regard, there was something about outsmarting an opponent that gave him a rush.
Ken let out a grin, feeling his heart beat faster.
Both brothers seemed to resonate with each other in that moment, their minds coming to the same conclusion.
‘This is fun…’
The sense of unpredictability caused by a master catcher and the underlying threat of getting hit out of the park by a slugger. This was a clash of wit and skill between the two talented brothers.
Seiji’s nerves were tight the entire time as he watched the deadly dance in the batters box. Ken’s earlier swing threatened to send the ball over the fence, yet the precise pitching and leads from the opposing team were unpredictable, almost leaving him breathless.
Seeing such a masterful display of a high stakes cat and mouse game was just too entertaining. One wrong move and the game would be over for the defending side.
Yatsuo narrowed his eyes momentarily before picking up the rosin bag beside him and coating his hand with the powder. He wasn’t particularly sold on the next call, yet he nodded anyway.
He stepped forward with the same action as before and sent the ball whipping towards home plate once again. This time, the pitch was slower than the last two.
‘Chance!’
Ken felt his body contract as his eyes chased down the incoming ball. He noticed that the spin was also different, yet he instantly recognized it.
“Hup”
DOONG!
Ken got his bat under the pitch and managed to hit it in the center of the barrel. At the moment of impact he felt his muscles contract further and send the ball flying, a result of his Slugger skill.
Judging by the angle of the hit and the strength he’d put into it, he had no doubt that it would sail over for a home run. However, its trajectory was not so certain in that moment.
A cheer erupted as everyone turned their attention to the course of the ball.
It flew towards the foul zone in the left outfield, as if it was aiming for the large yellow pole in particular. If it hit the pole it would be a home run, but if it went left it would be a foul.
Everybody on the field held their breath as they watched the ball sail towards its destination.
DONG
*DING*
The sound of metal ringing broke the silence, prompting the crowd to erupt in cheers at the masterful hit.
Without looking back, Ken dropped his bat and began his jog around the bases, reveling in the feeling of hitting a huge home run.
“ORYAAAH!”
“Nice hit Ace!”
The Yokohama bench came alive as they began to hoot and holler triumphantly after drawing first blood against the super team of Osaka.
Yatsuo frowned as he watched the ball hit the foul post. He had originally not wanted to throw the curveball, but he decided to trust Daichi, especially considering he had the most experience against his own brother.
Yet this was not what he expected.
Daichi too seemed to be a little lost in that moment. He had looked at the data and seen that Ken struggled to hit big on low pitches.
What he’d failed to realize was that Ken had been researching curveballs like crazy over the past few days since he wanted to perfect his own. Of course there was no way that Daichi could know this.
Ken finished his lap of the bases and finally touched back onto home base, his gaze meeting his brothers.
“I’ll pay you back for that one.” Daichi said, although his face was turned up into a grin.
“You can try.” Ken said with a laugh before heading back to his own dugout.
He gave Yusuke a high five on the way past, telling him to do his best.
Yusuke nodded. One thing about being in the batting lineup after Ken was that he often had to follow up a masterful home run. While it boosted morale, it also added pressure onto him to perform.
As Ken walked down the stairs into the dugout, he received the rain of slaps onto his helmet from his teammates. The mood was high as everyone celebrated his breakthrough.
Coach Hanada couldn’t help but wear a brilliant smile. He had thought they would struggle to get a run on the board at least in the earlier innings, yet Ken’s home run had overturned this.
While the game was still open to anyone, it showed that Osaka’s battery was not infallible.
“Batting 6th, 2nd base, Yusuke.”
Daichi quickly rubbed off the grin he had on earlier and focused. He mentally made a note not to throw a curveball against Ken again this match, since it seemed to be a ball he was familiar with for whatever reason.
He placed his glove out and called for a four-seam fastball on the inside.
However, Yatsuo shook his head, causing a frown to appear on Daichi’s face. Yet he shook it off and called for another four-seam, this time on the outside.
Yatsuo shook his head once more before grabbing the front of his cap and wiggling it.
Daichi felt a burst of annoyance from this, yet he still made the signs for the ball that Yatsuo had requested and placed his glove out. Yet his expression was dark.
Yatsuo wound up and sent the ball towards the open glove.
DONG!
Yusuke was surprised when the ball appeared directly where he had wanted it, up high and slightly outside. Without complaining, he swung his bat and made good contact with the ball, sending it into the outfield.
“Nice hit Yusuke!”
“Run Run!”
Yusuke managed to make it to 2nd base from the hit before the ball returned to the infield.
Daichi called for a time out and headed towards the mound with his fist clenched, his expression dark.