Azuma Kiyokuni lifted his bat high, his stance screaming defiance. His aura radiated overwhelming pressure, the kind that crushed weaker opponents before the ball even left the pitcher's hand.
But on the mound, Zhou Hao showed no fear.
And behind the plate, Miyuki wore his usual mischievous grin.
If anything, the two rookies looked eager.
They say a newborn calf fears no tiger—Zhou Hao and Miyuki embodied that saying perfectly.
"You have to trust our senior's spirit," Miyuki muttered under his mask. "He won't let one loss rattle him. One last pitch, Zhou Hao—take him down!"
Before the words had even faded, Zhou Hao unleashed his throw.
Whoosh!
This pitch was sharper, nastier than before.
Down two strikes, Azuma Kiyokuni locked his eyes on the ball. His grip tightened. No matter what, he couldn't let this one pass.
But the angle—
The movement—
For the first time, doubt flashed across his mind. Is it a strike? Or outside?
Unable to judge, Azuma Kiyokuni made his choice: at worst, foul it off.
Boom!
The bat carved the air with terrifying force—
—but met nothing.
Smack!
"Strike!"
The umpire's call thundered.
Azuma Kiyokuni froze. A breaking ball? No… the motion, the path—
"A two-seam fastball… hugging the inside corner?"
His eyes widened in disbelief.
A first-year rookie throwing that pitch—so naturally, so precisely?
Behind the mask, Miyuki cackled.
"Struck out, senpai! We win this round."
As always, Miyuki's sharp tongue cut without mercy.
Azuma Kiyokuni's face stiffened, but he raised his bat again, fire burning in his eyes.
"Best two out of three. Again!"
The teammates watching could hardly believe it.
This wasn't Inashiro anymore.
Azuma Kiyokuni knew Zhou Hao's fastball inside and out. Everyone thought without the Spiral Ball, Zhou Hao wouldn't stand a chance.
And yet—the monster slugger had just been struck out clean.
Whispers filled their hearts.
First-year Zhou Hao… he's not just a monster. He's a super monster.
After all, Azuma Kiyokuni himself was the "Monster," his name feared across Tokyo and beyond.
And now that monster was being pushed back—by a rookie.
The duel raged on. Each pitch, each swing raised the tension higher.
Then, in an instant, Azuma Kiyokuni's aura surged like a general leading ten thousand troops into battle.
He swung.
Ping!
The crack of bat meeting ball sent the crowd's hearts lurching.
Miyuki's pupils shrank. "Oh no—!"
The ball soared, screaming into the sky.
Eighty… ninety meters—before crashing down with a heavy smack.
Higashi Kiyokuni let out a booming laugh, chest heaving, as if he had just been reborn.
"Ha! That's more like it—exhilarating!"
He dropped his bat and strode toward the cafeteria.
"Best two of three? Forget it—let's call it a draw. The cafeteria's open, and I'm starving."
His teammates blinked, then erupted in panic.
"Ah! My rice bowls!"
"Damn, I'll need six bowls to make up for being late!"
In an instant, the clean-up hitter and his pack of big eaters vanished, leaving the field empty.
Only Miyuki and Zhou Hao remained, unsatisfied, standing awkwardly in silence.
"Did he… just run away?" Miyuki muttered. Then, narrowing his eyes at Zhou Hao: "Hey, did you hold back just now? That last fastball felt off."
But Zhou Hao wasn't listening. His gaze was fixed on the outfield, his voice solemn.
"That pitch should've been caught for an out."
Miyuki scoffed.
"Easier said than done. Outfield catches depend on positioning—you can't guarantee 100%."
"I can," Zhou Hao said flatly, conviction burning in his eyes.
Miyuki laughed bitterly. "You were on the mound. Unless you can be in two places at once, don't expect anyone else to be a monster like you."
Zhou Hao fell silent, disappointment flashing across his face.
For the first time, he admitted it—
His straight fastball wasn't invincible. Unlike the Spiral Ball, it could be hit.
And if he relied on it too much, situations like this would happen again.
Miyuki, sensing his doubt, spoke softly.
"Don't carry it all yourself. Just keep your rhythm—and leave the rest to us."
Zhou Hao gave a quiet nod.
Time slipped by.
And soon, the Seido players once again stood at Jingu Stadium—
ready to fight for the championship.
---------------
A/N: Hey everyone, I'm really sorry for not being able to post any new chapters lately. Our city in Davao Oriental was recently hit by an earthquake, and things have been pretty rough. The tremors shook our whole neighborhood — our house even got slightly damaged, and it's been chaotic ever since.
I've been trying to gather myself and make sure everyone's safe first before I get back to writing. The experience honestly left me a bit shaken (literally and emotionally), but don't worry — I'm still here, and I haven't forgotten about you all.
Thank you so much for your patience and understanding. I'll be back to updating as soon as everything settles down. Please keep us in your prayers. 🙏
Patréon com/DaoOfPeeking