"What's the pitch count?"
In the dugout, Coach Kataoka kept his eyes fixed on the field, his expression calm as he asked the question.
"It's at 110 pitches now," Chris responded gravely, sitting nearby.
He glanced sideways at Eijun, who was leaning against the bench, gasping for air.
Concern flickered in Chris's eyes.
After hearing Chris's report, Kataoka's brow twitched slightly. He didn't say much but continued watching the mound, where Hongou's powerful pitching stance stood out.
Eijun had just been struck out with ease, followed shortly by Sakai Ichirou, who was also dispatched with only two pitches.
Coach Kataoka's face grew colder and more stern.
...
Two innings remained.
For Seidou, it felt like a razor-thin line between heaven and hell.
The likes of team captain Tetsuya Yuuki and Jun Isashiki were gritting their teeth, their faces showing expressions rarely seen.
The championship was within their grasp—just one step away.
But that single step could also feel insurmountable.
...
"Whoosh!"
"Thud!"
"Strike! Batter out!"
"Three outs! Change of sides!"
...
"Wow, that first-year pitcher from Komadai Fujimaki is incredible!"
"Yeah, every pitch lands in such precise spots. And to control a fastball over 150 km/h with this level of finesse—it's hard to believe he's just a first-year."
"Absolutely. It feels like he's already surpassed most second- and third-year pitchers in terms of skill."
"Seidou has Sawamura, and Komadai Fujimaki has Hongou. No matter what today's result is, the next two years are going to be fascinating."
"Ha, no doubt! This ga has fired up already."
"Still, that was Seidou's lower batting order. The ga isn't over yet."
"This match is getting more interesting by the minute. With just a two-run lead, anything can happen. Will Seidou hold their ground and reclaim the throne, or will Komadai seize their chance and beco the dark horse of the sumr?"
"Two innings left—I'm so excited I can hardly sit still!"
...
In the seventh inning, Hongou delivered a dominant performance, striking out Eijun, Sakai, and Shirasu consecutively. His pitching drew widespread praise from the crowd.
Exceptional talent.
An unshakable deanor.
Standing tall on the mound with an aura of cold arrogance, Hongou resembled an emperor surveying his domain. His gaze swept over to Seidou's bench, locking briefly with Eijun's.
That solitary and proud air seed to radiate toward Eijun.
"I'll prove I'm stronger than you!"
There were no words exchanged, no changes in expression—just that fleeting mont of eye contact.
Then, Hongou turned and jogged back to his dugout. Yet, Eijun could clearly discern the aning behind his gaze—a declaration of superiority, an unyielding presence that always looked down on others.
"We're the ones in the lead, and yet you still dominate the montum? Masamune Hongou!"
Eijun clenched his fists tightly, his eyes gleaming with determination. This was a battle of wills, a fierce contest without words.
...
"Top of the eighth inning, Komadai Fujimaki is at bat. Eighth in the lineup, third baseman, Ishikawa-kun."
"I must get on base. Absolutely!"
Ishikawa stepped into the batter's box, gripping his bat tightly and swinging it a few tis. His fierce expression made it clear—he was ready to devour Eijun whole.
"Whoosh!"
The relentless battle continued.
Miyuki didn't need much deliberation. Facing the bottom of Komadai Fujimaki's lineup, he decisively gave the signs for the pitch sequence.
Eijun, fully trusting Miyuki's judgnt, stepped forward without hesitation, his arm swinging confidently.
Miyuki understood that by this point in the ga, Eijun's control was not what it had been earlier. His ability to command breaking pitches with precision was no longer as reliable.
Thus, Miyuki opted to increase the use of fastballs. Occasionally, he mixed in cutters and changeups as bait, avoiding the more control-intensive five-seam fastball entirely.
A mistake in that pitch could result in a ball with no power, no movent, and no tailing action—an easy target.
Instead, Miyuki focused on utilizing Eijun's unique pitch movent, encouraging batters to make contact so the defense could secure outs.
It was a simple yet effective strategy. Miyuki's keen decision-making unsettled Komadai Fujimaki, who were accustod to Eijun's highly calculated pitching style.
This approach—relying on defense, montum, and even a bit of luck—threw Komadai off balance during these critical final innings.
...
"Whoosh."
"Ping!"
The unpredictable movent of the pitch caught Ishikawa off guard. On the second pitch, he mishit, sending a high fly ball to left field.
"Pop."
Sakai Ichirou easily caught the ball, securing the first out of the top of the eighth inning.
"Well done, Sawamura!"
"Keep it up, keep it up, Sawamura-kun!"
"One out! One out, Eijun!"
"Hang in there, Sawamura!"
"Let's go, Seidou! Seidou! Seidou!"
The deafening cheers and electric atmosphere engulfed the stadium.
Eijun, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, remained unwavering, his eyes filled with determination.
...
"Whoosh."
Eijun's arm swung with everything he had, a symbol of his unyielding spirit.
This final step toward victory—he, Sawamura Eijun, and his team, Seidou High School, were determined to take it!
"Pop."
"Strike!"
Good. His arm was moving fluidly again. While his power and velocity had diminished, as long as he could maintain a full range of motion, the natural quality of his pitches would be enough.
A small, confident smile tugged at Miyuki's lips as he continued signaling.
Seidou still held the montum firmly in their grasp.
...
After two pitches, Eijun induced another out with a perfectly placed inside pitch, forcing a high infield fly ball.
Ryousuke expertly tracked the ball and made the catch with precise positioning.
Eijun's shift in pitching style caught Komadai off guard.
Even though the eighth and ninth batters were part of the lower lineup, their swift dismissal highlighted Eijun's resilience despite his fatigue.
In the dugout, Coach Nitta's expression turned contemplative as he observed the unexpected change.
...
"First batter, second baseman, Nishi-kun."
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