Chapter 498: The Intimidation of the Ace
Top of the 9th Inning – Seiko High School's Final Attack
With only a one-run difference, the situation was tense: two outs, runner on second.
And now, it came down to a duel between the pitchers.
Both were first-year lefties.
This matchup would decide the final outcome of the game.
...
"Let's go, Tsunematsu! You've got this!"
"Just one run, Tsunematsu—bring it in!"
"Crush them, Sawamura! Shut down their hope!"
"Victory! Victory! Victory!"
"Ogawa, come on! At least get one hit!"
"Don't let the game end here!"
"Ace, it's all on you—bring it home!"
"Seiko! Seiko! Seiko!"
"Seidou! Seidou! Seidou!"
...
Both sides stood at the edge of a cliff, holding their breath.
One more out.
That was all it would take to decide the fate of these two teams.
...
"The ninth inning again… with just a one-run gap?"
Eijun chuckled inwardly, despite the pressure.
"Heh… maybe I should start believing that miracles happen in the bottom of the ninth?"
Even in such a nerve-wracking moment, as Ogawa stepped into the batter's box with the look of someone ready to devour him, Eijun still had space for a stray thought.
Of course, that brief mental detour didn't escape the sharp eyes of the catcher at home plate.
Seeing Eijun's usual carefree expression, even now, Miyuki could only shake his head with a wry smile.
As expected of Sawamura.
To be this reckless in the ninth inning.
Then again, this was Sawamura's style.
Now, let's finish this last out—cleanly.
...
Their eyes met.
That familiar mischievous smirk formed simultaneously on both of their lips.
This was what they'd always done.
This tension—this moment—it didn't shake them anymore.
After all they'd been through, nothing could.
...
The umpire's voice rang out.
Behind home plate, Miyuki flicked his finger slightly.
Eijun started his motion without hesitation, the ball dancing at his fingertips before being released.
"Whoosh!"
The white blur flew through the air.
At the plate, Tsunematsu's determined face twisted into a fierce scowl.
He stepped forward powerfully, arms swinging with force.
"Swoosh!"
The bat sliced the air with a deafening metallic blast.
"Pop!"
A blazing fastball on the inside corner.
A statement pitch for the first throw.
Ogawa Tsunematsu completely mistimed his swing.
The ball cleanly avoided the bat and sank into Miyuki's glove.
"Strike!!"
"First pitch—a sharp and biting inside fastball! The batter swings and misses!"
Damn it, was I too early on the swing?!
Tsunematsu clenched his jaw, glaring at the mound where Eijun stood calmly, a faint, confident smile still on his face. Frustration surged within him.
...
"Second pitch—off-speed."
Eijun gave a subtle nod. He stepped forward forcefully, fingers pressing down on the seams as he swung his arm with precision.
"Whoosh!"
A sharp flash of light streaked across the field.
Tsunematsu widened his eyes, twisting his body as the fat on his cheeks jiggled with the motion.
The next moment—
The bat cut through the air with a fierce roar, brimming with aggressive intent.
But the ball hadn't arrived.
The bat whooshed past… and then the ball followed—delayed, perfectly timed.
"Pop!"
"Strike two!!"
...
Overwhelming pressure.
Perfect control of velocity—two strikes, cornering the batter.
Seidou was now just one step away from sealing the win.
...
"Keep it up, Tsunematsu! You've got this!"
"Send it flying! Come on!"
"One more pitch, Sawamura! Let's go!"
"Attack, Tsunematsu—don't be scared now!"
"Finish it, Ace!"
"Fight!!! Fight!!!"
...
I can't fall here.
I have to win this.
Tsunematsu gripped his bat tightly, sweat pouring from his forehead, his pupils burning red with determination. Veins popped at his temples. This was everything he had—do or die.
At second base, Nagata was ready to sprint the moment the chance came.
On the mound, Eijun stood unfazed.
Unshakable. Untouchable.
Even in this critical moment, nothing from the outside could rattle him.
He stared down Tsunematsu, who stood as if facing death, poised for a desperate counterstrike.
A steely glint flashed deep in Eijun's eyes.
...
"So… you're also a first-year lefty?"
"If there's one thing that sets us apart…"
"It's that you've never seen that stage. You've never seen the view from the top."
...
A self-assured smile crossed his lips.
Golden light seemed to wrap around his entire form.
Eijun kicked off the mound with force.
"Whoosh!"
His arm swung up—
And then…
A radiant streak burst forth.
...
"This—this is the definitive difference between you and me!!"
...
It was a pitch carrying the pride and fire of the team's ace.
A pitch into which Eijun poured everything.
A roar of defiance.
A mark of respect.
The chubby guy standing before him—at the very least, his resolve and strength had earned Eijun s respect.
Which is why Eijun vowed to defeat him with everything he had.
To bring this battle to a perfect conclusion.
A dazzling white light streaked across the sky, tracing a beautiful arc in the air.
It illuminated the round, puffed-up face of Ogawa Tsunematsu in the batter's box.
And in that very instant...
A flood of memories surged through Tsunematsu's mind.
The grueling training.
The coach's earnest teachings.
The trust and support from his teammates.
And finally, the bitter memory of that summer tournament—his own failure, leading to a first-round elimination.
A past too painful to recall.
A humiliation that had seared itself into his soul.
"I'm the one who's going to win this game!!!"
He screamed in his heart, swinging the bat with every ounce of strength.
Whish!
The ball came flying in.
Bat and ball converged.
Ping!
A deafening impact.
The ball wobbled at the edge of the bat.
That slight off-angle, that feel in his hands...
Tsune's expression twisted even further.
Whoosh!
The ball took off.
As if fate were repeating itself...
It flew toward the exact same spot as Nagata's hit earlier.
Nagata sprinted toward third. Tsunematsu dashed for first.
Eijun raced to cover the base.
Maezono charged at the ball with a wild, beastlike expression.
"This time, I won't let it slip by!!!"
Maezono's eyes locked onto the bouncing ball with ferocity.
Smack!
He extended his glove—this time, the ball landed cleanly in it.
Turning swiftly—
Eijun was already at the first base.
With a quick throw—
The ball shot out like a bullet.
And just as it sped through the air...
A large shadow came barreling in.
With momentum like a tidal wave—
The glowing ball—
SMACK!
A crisp, sharp sound rang out—
Followed immediately by another thunderous crash that shook the stadium.
At the zero point of impact—
The winner—was decided.
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