Chapter 439: The Root of the Problem
Seiko High's batting lineup was exerting serious pressure on Seidou High.
And that was no exaggeration.
In terms of sheer power and weight-class offense, this Seiko High team could very well be the strongest lineup Seidou had ever faced—even stronger than the once-dominant Kiryu High.
When it came purely to raw strength, not even Kiryu could match them.
Their physical build alone gave them a natural advantage.
The power generated through their wrists, the explosive force from every part of their bodies—it was all dictated by their elite-level physique.
That kind of power wasn't something regular players or teams could even compare to.
At the very least…
Right now, Maki was feeling the full brunt of that power.
"Didn't expect Maki to actually hold on like this."
The game continued into the seventh inning after that devastating three-homer fourth inning.
The current score: 5–3. A tight two-run game that Seidou honestly didn't expect.
Maezono stared at the scoreboard with a serious expression.
"Tch, I thought the game might get called early with how it was going," Asou muttered, arms behind his head, clearly annoyed.
"Three home runs and they still couldn't break him. Maki's come a long way since summer," said Shirasu, nodding thoughtfully as memories of the summer tournament resurfaced.
That semifinal game against Sensen High had left a strong impression.
Maki's height, his curveball—it all stuck with them.
"There are still three innings left and just a two-run gap. Sensen definitely has a shot. Plus, ever since the fifth inning, their batters have been picking up on Seiko's ace's pitches," Miyuki said, rubbing his chin in contemplation.
"Momentum-wise, it's about 50–50," Eijun added with a nod. Though deep down, he knew Seiko wouldn't give Sensen many more chances.
"Honestly, if we had to pick, I'd rather face Sensen in the Final Four," Kuramochi said lazily from his seat. "They're an old rival. We know them well. Plus, our pitchers match up way better against their lineup."
Logically speaking, from Seidou's perspective, both teams were evenly matched in terms of energy and spirit. But Seiko, with their heavy hitters, had the upper hand in momentum.
If you had to assign odds…
It would be a 60/40 split—Seiko with the edge.
Still, whether it was Seidou's coaching staff or players like Eijun and Miyuki, they all silently hoped Sensen would win. It would make the semifinal a lot more manageable.
Besides…
Eijun couldn't help but recall the original story's semifinal matchup. His eyes darkened slightly.
That team…
"No matter how you look at it, they're dangerous," he muttered to himself.
...
"Player change for Seiko High: Pitcher Kojima will move to center field. Center fielder Jojima will take the mound. Replacing Jojima in the lineup is No. 7 batter and pitcher Ogawa."
As expected.
With a two-run lead and entering the endgame, Seiko was ready to stop holding back.
They kept their core lineup intact and brought out their first-year lefty pitcher—Ogawa Tsunematsu.
"Whoa, that guy's even bigger?" Haruichi said, surprised as the bulky Ogawa stomped toward the mound like a giant school kid.
"Damn, now the catcher looks tiny in comparison," Kuramochi said, clicking his tongue.
"Is everyone on Seiko built like this?" Kanemaru said, exasperated.
"A first-year lefty, huh…" Tojou's eyes narrowed as he cast a quick glance at Eijun, then murmured to himself.
Meanwhile, Furuya was off in his own world again.
And especially after Ogawa appeared, his eyes looked even more distant—like his thoughts were drifting elsewhere entirely.
While the rest of Seidou showed curiosity about Seiko's freshman lefty, only Eijun silently clenched his fists.
His gaze toward Ogawa turned razor-sharp.
That guy.
That damn fat bastard.
With that innocent-looking face...!!
It was him—he's the one who…!!
Eijun's heart surged like crashing waves and roaring flames.
His pupils shimmered with fierce intensity—and just the faintest glint of killing intent—as his fists unknowingly tightened.
Miyuki furrowed his brow slightly, glancing at Eijun.
"…Sawamura? Sawamura!"
"Huh? Ah—Miyuki-senpai? Something wrong?"
Eijun blinked, clearly just snapping back to reality. He had no idea why Miyuki was giving him such a serious look.
"You seemed… off just now."
Miyuki's eyes were searching, full of unspoken meaning.
Eijun flinched. He realized he'd lost control of his emotions for a second.
"Huh? Really? Nah, you're just overthinking, Miyuki-senpai," Eijun laughed, brushing it off.
"…Is that so? Good."
To Eijun's surprise, Miyuki didn't press further.
He just gave him a long, meaningful look—and dropped it.
That let Eijun finally breathe a little easier… but also left him puzzled.
Since when was Miyuki-senpai this easygoing?
Or maybe he just didn't want to interrupt the game's flow?
Eijun stole a glance at Miyuki, who had already shifted his focus back to the field, and thought to himself:
Well, whatever it is, it's good that he didn't press.
Otherwise, it would've been hard to come up with a decent excuse on the spot.
And really… this wasn't something he could explain.
Eijun made a mental note to himself:
Next time, control your emotions better.
Staying cool under pressure was essential for a pitcher.
A "poker face" wasn't just for card games—it was a powerful tool in sports, too.
In a future where he was bound for the pros, learning to mask his emotions was a must.
But still…
This guy.
This guy alone—
I just can't stay calm when it comes to him!!!
Eijun stared at Ogawa on the mound, wearing that stupidly innocent expression.
He almost lost control again.
This guy—
I'll never forgive him.
NEVER.
This had become Eijun's greatest mental block—his root of the problem.
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