One out, runner on first base.
Yuki Tetsuya stepped into the batter's box.
Zhou Hao and Fujio understood clearly what was happening. The Director of Osaka Kiryu High School Baseball Team understood too. Their Ace, Kuroda, was already at his limits, barely holding on to prevent a collapse.
Yet what could they do? The difference between Kuroda and the substitute pitcher was vast. Bringing in a replacement now would only worsen the situation. Kuroda still commanded Straight balls over 150 km/h with precise control.
"Do your best to get this guy out," Matsumoto Takahiro ordered. Even if he doubted Kuroda could succeed, he had to give him confidence.
The fielders roared as well.
"One out! One out!"
"With us here, the ball won't pass!"
Their encouragement strengthened Kuroda's resolve. He took a deep breath and decisively threw the ball.
Boom!
"I don't believe you can hit all of them!"
At that moment, Kuroda and his team confronted Seido fully. They no longer underestimated them. In their hearts, Seido had become the strongest opponent they had ever faced.
Facing the whistling fastball, Yuki's expression changed from neutral to a faint grin of certainty. He sensed what Zhou Hao had already discovered: Kuroda's pitching power had slightly diminished, but the clever opponent hadn't exposed the weakness—until now.
The baseball approached. Yuki swung decisively.
Boom!
The Osaka Kiryu catcher felt a chill. Yuki was no ordinary batter. Even within Seido, full of powerful hitters, Yuki's skill was unmatched—stronger than Zhou Hao and Azuma alike.
Ping!
The ball shot off Yuki's bat like lightning. Osaka Kiryu's fielders were frozen, as if time had slowed around them.
"It went through!"
Seido had consecutive hits. By the time the ball was relayed back, Zhou Hao had rounded second and reached third base. Yuki had sprinted to second. One out, runners on second and third.
Seido was still trailing 2–3, but momentum had shifted. The consecutive hits gave them a real chance to win.
Next up: Azuma. He didn't even need a hit—just sending the ball deep into the outfield would give Seido a high probability to tie.
"Let's get a big one!"
"We are the strongest!"
"King Seido, dominate the nation!"
For years, Seido fans had rarely shouted this. But now, seeing their players press the nation's number one team to the brink, they felt they had the right to claim it.
Of course, victory today was the first step.
"Batter number 4, third baseman, Azuma Kiyokuni."
Stepping into the box, Azuma let out a villainous laugh. His eyes locked on the pitcher. Kuroda's condition was faltering, yet even if he weren't, Azuma was determined to hit the ball. It was his duty as the fourth batter.
"If you've got the guts, throw it over!"
The Osaka Kiryu catcher squinted. This was unexpected.
"Okay, as planned," Kuroda nodded faintly.
The catcher immediately stood, moving away from the strike zone to receive the ball from the side.
Azuma, fired up and ready, suddenly found that even touching the ball would be a challenge.
The fans in the stands—both Seido and Osaka Kiryu supporters—went silent.
"Intentional walk?"
For a team like Osaka Kiryu, renowned for skill and fighting spirit, this was unthinkable. Yet that was exactly what happened.
Pop!
Ball!
Ball!!
Ball!!!
Ball!!!!
Intentional walk!
One out, bases loaded.
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