Chapter 473: Seiko Match – Head-On Clash
"What a terrifying sound… if that bat had connected cleanly, with Sawamura's current velocity and power, the result could've been devastating..."
The cleanup hitter for Seiko was brimming with overwhelming presence.
Unable to help himself, Miyuki glanced sideways at Seiko's No. 4 batter, Nagata. A faintly serious look flickered across his eyes.
He gave a subtle signal with his fingers.
On the pitcher's mound, Furuya nodded in response.
His stride and arm swing flowed seamlessly as he launched the next pitch.
A brilliant flash streaked through the air.
"Whoosh!"
The dazzling glare of the fastball pierced the sky.
At the plate, Nagata mustered all his strength.
Suddenly—
As the ball neared the plate, it traced a sharp curve in midair, breaking away toward the outside.
A vertical slider!
Nagata's pupils shrank sharply, a flicker of surprise crossing his gaze.
On instinct, he dropped his arms and lowered his center of gravity, angling his bat outward—
Just before the pitch completed its break—
"Clang!"
A loud crack echoed through the stadium as bat met ball.
Behind the plate, Miyuki remained calm, lips pressed tight as he tracked the ball's trajectory with a stoic gaze.
"Whoosh."
The ball soared straight into left field.
Out in left, Eijun's eyes sharpened. In an instant, he read the ball's flight path.
He broke into a sprint, dashing in the direction of the ball.
As the ball arced high in the air, nearing the edge of the field's limits—
Everyone on Seidou's side held their breath.
With unwavering focus, Sawamura chased after the ball.
"Shff!"
A white streak cut through the sky—just barely lacking the extra push to clear the fence.
The speed wasn't enough.
Eijun stayed on its tail, and at the very last moment, as the ball began to drop at the farthest edge—
He dove.
"Smack!"
The ball landed squarely in his glove with a crisp snap.
"OUT!"
As Eijun secured the catch, a wave of relief swept over Seidou's players.
On the mound, Furuya finally let out a breath he'd been holding.
Nagata's previous performances had been nothing short of terrifying—averaging nearly two home runs per game, with an on-base rate over 80%. If not a hit, then a walk.
Maybe the previous opponents weren't top-tier, but still—such dominant numbers said all that needed to be said about Seiko's cleanup hitter.
That last hit—everyone on Seidou's side had feared it might go over the fence. If it had, the momentum of the game would've completely shifted.
In left field, Eijun stood up slowly, heart still pounding.
He raised his left hand high and shouted toward the infield—
"Furuya! That's one out!"
His slim but solid figure stood tall in the outfield, clad in Seidou's blue and white.
As Seidou's ace, Sawamura Eijun—
Even Furuya had to admit—
In that moment—
Just seeing him standing there—
Brought an incredible sense of calm and unwavering trust.
So this is the presence an ace is supposed to have...
Once again, it made Furuya acutely aware of the gap between himself and Eijun.
But instead of discouragement, that gap only fired him up.
He wouldn't give up.
He needed more—needed to work harder, to make up for what he lacked!
Wherever he stood was a battlefield.
A fiery glint of fighting spirit burned in Furuya's eyes.
---
"Batting fifth, second baseman, Tamaki-kun."
"That was a slider, right?"
"Yeah. Quick break, and the velocity didn't seem to lose out to his fastball," Nagata replied earnestly.
"Hmph, got it."
Tamaki gave a sharp nod, a gleam of determination flashing in his eyes as he strode confidently to the batter's box.
Seiko's lineup was built on raw power.
So the answer was to overpower them in return—while also using precision to outwit them.
That had been Miyuki's strategy from the very beginning.
It was also the best way to maximize Furuya's strengths.
...
Almost at the exact moment the umpire called the count—
Behind the plate, Miyuki gave a subtle signal with his finger.
At the same time—
On the mound, Furuya unleashed his power pitch.
"Whoosh!"
A fierce glare accompanied the surging ball, charging in with an overwhelming presence.
"Swoosh!"
Tamaki swung with everything he had, holding nothing back.
"Clang!!"
The moment bat and ball connected, Tamaki's expression shifted.
The impact that reverberated through the bat was heavy and intense.
Even though he'd expected it—
Actually feeling it made him instinctively gasp.
"Whizz!"
"Thud!"
Unable to fully absorb the pitch's power, the ball slammed down hard near third base.
Kanemaru made a quick turn—
"Foul ball!!"
The ball ricocheted outside the line, followed by the umpire's call.
That Seidou pitcher really wasn't just about speed—his pitches had weight and late movement too. Just like the scouting reports had said.
Tamaki took a deep breath and reset his stance.
...
"Whoosh!"
Furuya's arm once again sliced the air—
A bright streak blazed across the sky.
"Clang!"
Another booming crack rang out.
Tamaki's face was tight and focused.
"Whizz!"
"Thud!"
"Foul ball!!"
Even with a powerful fastball and a power-heavy batter, neither side was gaining a clear upper hand.
That was the nature of a power-vs-power showdown.
Each batter so far had responded well to Furuya's first pitch.
But—
A glint flickered in Miyuki's eyes.
He shifted his position slightly, closer to the outside corner, and gave a subtle signal with his finger.
On the mound, Furuya gave a small nod.
He raised his left leg high and drove it down hard.
Dust flew up around his foot as his arm whipped forward—
"Whoosh!"
A cold flash streaked through the air.
"Swoosh!"
Tamaki's bat carved through the space—
But the pitch veered just outside his reach.
"Smack!"
The pitch clipped the outside corner cleanly, slipping into Miyuki's glove with a crisp, satisfying snap.
"STRIKE THREE! BATTER OUT!!"
The umpire's loud call rang across the field.
Tamaki stood frozen at the plate, face dark with frustration.
"A perfect outside fastball! After retiring cleanup hitter Nagata, Seidou goes all-in and takes down No. 5 Tamaki with a three-pitch strikeout!!"
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