Chapter 435: Only the Victor Is King
"Perfect hit, Kominato."
"That was so cool, Haruichi."
"Haha, you actually hit a home run with a wooden bat? No way."
"Hey, hey, don't try to steal all the spotlight. First-years these days really are something else, huh?"
"Two runs scored. That makes it a five-run lead."
"Let's go, Seidou!"
"Hit another one, Sawamura. We're counting on you!"
The dugout erupted with joy and excitement. Haruichi Kominato's home run had turned Seidou's bench into a sea of celebration.
At that moment, anyone familiar with the game knew the outcome was almost certain.
Although not a 100% guaranteed victory, the odds were overwhelmingly in Seidou's favor. This home run was nothing short of a decisive blow.
Over in Seidou's dugout on the first base side, Coach Ochiai's eyebrow twitched subtly. For a brief moment, an awkward look flickered across his face before quickly disappearing.
To him, this home run was…well, as the saying goes, even skilled riders stumble, and even seasoned coaches make the occasional error. Something along those lines.
In the stands, the fans who had initially supported Ouya began shaking their heads in disappointment. After that home run, Ouya's already slim chances of victory had all but vanished.
"Perfect hit, Haruichi. That's quite the trajectory. Were you aiming for it?"
At the on-deck circle, Haruichi exchanged a high-five with Eijun before the latter took up his bat and smiled.
"Sort of. I was aiming for his fastball, but I didn't think it'd go that far. At first, I just wanted to advance Kuramochi-senpai to third base."
Haruichi's cheeks flushed as he adjusted his bangs, speaking softly.
"Haha, that swing really took him down. Makes things easier for me now," Eijun chuckled, seeing Haruichi's shy demeanor.
"Okay, Eijun-kun, good luck. Get another one here," Haruichi encouraged him.
"Leave it to me."
"Third batter, pitcher, Sawamura-kun."
As Eijun confidently stepped into the batter's box, Ouya's fighting spirit had nearly dissipated. Even though Wakabayashi stood on the mound with a stubborn expression, his pale complexion and the slight tremble of his right hand betrayed the fact that he was on the verge of collapse.
The only thing keeping him from breaking down entirely was likely his last shred of belief in himself and his prideful nature.
As long as the game wasn't over, he wouldn't admit defeat. This unyielding attitude seemed to be Wakabayashi's silent declaration.
Yet by now, no one believed Ouya could turn the game around. Even Ouya's coach, Araki, couldn't help but sigh and shake his head.
As previously mentioned, Wakabayashi and Ouya High were walking a tightrope—fighting on their last breath. When that breath was gone, they would find themselves completely unable to resist.
"Wakabayashi's been pitching well, but that home run was a devastating blow," commentator Fujio remarked with a glimmer of insight in his gaze.
"Was it a missed pitch? Or did the batter guess the ball path?" Akiko Oowada, standing nearby, asked curiously after snapping a photo.
"No, it wasn't a missed pitch, nor was the pitch guessed. It was a precise and sharp delivery. There were no control mistakes, and the pitch selection was correct. Ouya's pitcher-catcher duo did their best, but the batter was simply superior. Back number 4, first-year, Haruichi Kominato—he's bound to become a key figure in Seidou's lineup," Mine Fujio replied, glancing toward the dugout, where Haruichi's pink-haired figure stood out.
Perhaps subconsciously, Wakabayashi had been too concerned about Seidou's next two batters. His anxiety to settle the inning against Haruichi allowed the first-year to seize his chance.
Unfortunately, the game was essentially over at this point. As Mine Fujio watched the central mound where Wakabayashi faced off against Eijun, he thought quietly to himself:
"Only the victors are truly kings. King Seidou will once again defend their glory through victory."
Following Haruichi's home run, a series of hits from Eijun, Miyuki, and Maezono, along with a walk, brought in another run.
Despite Wakabayashi's defiant stance on the mound, Eijun couldn't help but feel a touch of respect for his stubborn determination.
That tenacity made it difficult for Seidou's lineup to continue piling on runs.
Eventually, the top of the seventh inning ended with a three-run difference.
Even so, that was enough to push Ouya further into the abyss. With only three innings remaining and a six-run gap, Seidou's victory was merely a matter of time.
And indeed, the remainder of the game demonstrated that Ouya had lost the sharpness they had earlier. By the bottom of the seventh inning, the outcome was already clear.
At that point, Coach Kataoka made a surprising yet reasonable pitching change. Replacing Kawakami was the powerful pitcher—Furuya Satoru.
Honestly, when Coach Kataoka announced the change, everyone in the dugout—except Miyuki, who had been informed beforehand, and Ochiai, who had recommended the switch—was shocked, including Eijun.
After all, Furuya had just been hit for back-to-back home runs in the previous game, leading to a breakdown. Now they were sending him in at the tail end of this game?
However, Eijun quickly realized the parallels. He recalled the summer tournament from the original story, when he returned to the mound after a difficult match. This situation was strikingly similar.
Given their substantial lead in this game, it made sense to give Furuya another chance.
With Furuya sitting in the bullpen and seemingly well-adjusted, there was likely no major issue. Plus, after the home run, some actual game time would help him regain confidence and improve his own adjustments.
Considering this, having him come in to pitch after taking a six-run lead made sense.
When Coach Kataoka called his name, Furuya looked shocked—he hadn't expected to get another chance in this game. But as the saying goes, simple kids think simply.
For Furuya, getting on the mound was the most important thing. Things he didn't understand could wait; right now, he focused on the present, which held the greatest meaning and value.
Besides, Furuya had been holding in a lot of pent-up energy that he was eager to release.
This pitching change further rattled Ouya High. It turned into complete domination.
In the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings, Furuya's pitching was like a relentless storm, thoroughly overpowering Ouya High's lineup.
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