The Cunning Drop #WeeklyShortShortNote

The 2050 World Series features a matchup between my old team, the BJ's, and our arch-rivals, the LD's, for the first time in a quarter-century. Twenty-five years ago, the LD's had an ace named Kato who threw a vertical-dropping split-finger fastball known as the "cunning drop." In Game 7 of 2025, which decided the championship, I struck out on Kato's "cunning drop," and that was the game. It is a scene that has haunted my life ever since.
When the BJ's asked, "Mr. Rodriguez, would you like to throw out the ceremonial first pitch?" I made a counter-proposal: a one-pitch showdown where the former LD's ace, Kato, would pitch and I would stand at the plate. A while later, a message arrived: "I accept the challenge."
That evening, sports news showed footage of Kato throwing with a physique as toned as when he was active, and it lit a fire in me.
The day of the first pitch finally arrived. Kato threw the ball. My bat cut through the air, and I collapsed right there on the spot. As Kato helped me up, he said, "Man, the ball just dipped on me."
Kato. That cunning guy. I patted him on the shoulder with a smile.
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I am participating in Tarahakani-sama's project.
The World Series was exciting!