"Are you hesitating, Miyuki-senpai?"
There's no need to hesitate, Miyuki-senpai. If he's so eager to hit, then let him hit. Our goal has always been singular—to dominate the nation.
If I can't defeat this guy here, how can I even dream of climbing to the pinnacle?
Eijun stood tall on the mound, his cold gaze and determined expression showing no sign of backing down.
For the first ti—and perhaps his most resolute mont—Eijun decisively shook his head at Miyuki's sign.
He was done playing it safe. So might call it reckless or arrogant, but Eijun saw it as resilience, as pride.
...
The ace's will cannot falter here!
If people wanted to label him stubborn, arrogant, or accuse him of having a baseless sense of pride, Eijun wouldn't care.
His opponent had issued a challenge, and there was no way Eijun would back down now.
...
"In a battle of narrow paths, only the brave erge victorious!"
Miyuki-senpai, let's settle this with this pitch.
Miyuki paused, caught off guard. For a mont, he didn't know what to say or even how to react.
Normally, he would never allow such a bold decision from a pitcher—it was simply too risky.
But this wasn't re stubbornness.
It was a manifestation of Eijun's strength and willpower.
There's a saying: The line between genius and madness is razor-thin. The sa applies to arrogance and confidence.
Baseball, at its core, is a sport of logic, strategy, and intellect. But the essence of battle? It's instinct.
From the dawn of humanity, instincts have driven evolution.
And now, Eijun's instincts as a pitcher were in full force.
How could Miyuki, as a catcher, suppress this raw, primal drive?
Instead, his role was clear: to amplify it, to help Eijun channel his instincts into power.
...
Miyuki's grin returned.
"Alright, Sawamura. A five-seam fastball. If you miss your mark, you'd better be ready to face the consequences after the ga!"
For the first ti, Miyuki relented, allowing Eijun to dictate the call. He set his glove in position, a signal of complete trust.
Eijun's intensity rose to a peak, his gaze ferocious as he locked eyes with the target.
...
"Bring it on, bring it on, bring it on!"
Sano's eyes sharpened as he watched Eijun lift his leg and raise his arm in fluid motion.
...
In an instant, Eijun's wrist snapped, releasing the ball in a flash of light.
"Whoosh!"
It's coming.
Sano's sharp eyes captured every detail of the ball's trajectory the mont it left Sawamura's hand.
...
"Boom!"
With a step forward, Sano swung his bat, his timing flawless.
"Swish!"
The bat moved with unrivaled precision, aiming to intercept the ball with overwhelming force.
...
"Swoosh!"
The ball, straight and rapid, seed to pierce through the air. Just as it neared ho plate, it abruptly decelerated, flashing faintly.
...
Sano's pupils constricted in shock.
It's that pitch—the one that struck out in my last at-bat. You finally threw it again. But this ti, I won't miss.
Gripping the bat tightly, Sano twisted his body with raw power, his swing even more forceful than before.
...
The ball's faint rise and shifting trajectory only fueled Sano's determination.
...
"PING!!!"
The bat t the ball in an explosive collision.
This ti, there was no hesitation. This ti, before the ball could escape, Sano's bat was already there.
A thunderous crack resounded across the field.
The fierce velocity of the pitch and its unpredictable tailing motion—normally enough to overwhelm any batter—were subdued by Sano's monstrous strength and wrist power.
"Fly out of here!"
With a forceful swing, Sano sent the ball soaring.
"Whoosh!"
The ball shot into the sky, a bright streak of white light captivating everyone's gaze.
...
"Ohhh! He hit it! The final showdown pitch from Seidou's ace pitcher and catcher has been caught by Seihou's cleanup hitter, Sano Shuuzou! Will this be the turning point? Could this be Seihou High's counterattack?"
The comntator's voice rose to a fevered pitch, echoing the tension on the field.
...
He managed to react? Eijun thought, gritting his teeth as he lifted his head to follow the ball's trajectory.
The white streak shot over the infield, heading straight toward the outfield at trendous speed.
...
In the end, Sano overpowered Eijun in this battle of strength.
...
"Thud."
The ball landed between center and left field, falling just out of reach of Furuya and Isashiki as they scrambled to chase it.
Still, the pitch's power and movent had taken their toll. Sano's swing was enough to send the ball to the outfield, but not over the fence.
The combination of Eijun's ball's late movent and sharp trajectory made it impossible to hit a ho run.
An outfield double was the limit.
...
Sano reached second base, thrusting his fist triumphantly into the air, eliciting cheers from the crowd.
...
"Great hit, Shuuzou!"
"No outs and a runner on second! Keep it going, Misaki!"
"Show that kid what Seihou High is all about!"
...
The spectators shook their heads, acknowledging Sano's slight edge in this duel.
Yet they couldn't help but admire Eijun.
...
To challenge Sano head-on—that takes a special kind of pitcher. And this kid's just a first-year.
...
While Eijun's performance was exceptional, the outco of the showdown revealed areas for improvent.
He'd lost, whether due to raw power, incomplete mastery of his pitches, or other factors.
...
Eijun exhaled deeply, releasing the tension from the at-bat.
The road ahead is still long, he thought, straightening his posture.
...
At ho plate, Miyuki watched Eijun's composure and couldn't help but smile.
Maybe this double is actually a blessing in disguise for Seidou High.
...
"Co on, Sawamura. Your future is only going to get brighter."
Miyuki stretched his arms and lightly tapped the ground before signaling for the next pitch.
He positioned his glove on the inside corner.
"Batting fifth, catcher, Misaki-kun."
...
Step through the threshold and march toward a brighter tomorrow.
...
"Whoosh."
"Pop!"
"Strike!"
The dazzling figure of Eijun stood firm on the mound, embodying the unyielding will of an ace.
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