Chapter 526: A Breakthrough in the Inashiro Game
It was as if their minds were in sync.
In that fleeting moment, behind the plate, Tadano made his decision.
Since Haruichi was able to stay on top of both fastballs and sliders, it was time to go with a changeup—something with a bigger speed differential to break the balance.
Tadano's pitch call perfectly matched Narumiya's intent.
Dragging things out wasn't Narumiya's style. Cutting things off cleanly with a decisive blow—that was the kind of pitching Narumiya believed in.
At least, that's how he saw himself.
This is how it should be.
This version of you—fearless and resolute—is worthy of calling yourself my partner.
BOOM!
A forceful stomp stirred up a cloud of dust.
An explosive surge of energy followed.
This was the aura of an ace—Narumiya's presence, overwhelming and absolute.
Whoosh!
The raised left arm snapped forward, fingers gripping the ball tightly.
Sparks danced at his fingertips.
The next instant—
The pitch exploded forward.
That streak of brilliance cut through the air like a flash of lightning.
As the heavy air pressure roared with intensity, Haruichi's eyes locked onto the approaching ball.
A straight pitch, shimmering as it came straight for the plate.
Haruichi immediately widened his stance, whipping his bat forward with sharp speed and explosive strength.
Whoosh!
The metallic bat caught the sun, flashing cold silver light.
But just as the ball neared the plate—
—it suddenly dropped.
Haruichi's pupils contracted.
A changeup!
The thought screamed through his mind in an instant.
A changeup? Now?!
Instinctively, he straightened his body.
His arms strained, as if wrestling a wild beast, forcing the metal bat down.
His weight shifted forward.
He delayed his swing by a fraction—just enough.
PING!!!
The ball, arriving late, met the bat in a desperate clash.
At the very last moment—
At the very last inch—
The bat met the ball.
BOOM!
It shot straight back toward the mound.
Whoosh!
Thud!
The ball bounced sharply toward the right side of the pitcher's mound.
Narumiya's expression changed.
He dove for it.
As the bat clattered behind him, Haruichi was already sprinting toward first base.
Thump!
Just half a ball's width.
That was all the difference.
Narumiya's glove just barely missed it.
The ball bounced off his glove and ricocheted off toward third base.
Shortstop Shirakawa, who had already been preparing to field the ball, was caught off guard.
He twisted his body to adjust, darting toward the redirected ball.
Thud!
He caught it in his glove.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Haruichi closing in on first base.
Without hesitation, Shirakawa grabbed the ball from his glove and fired it toward first.
Whoosh!
The ball flew.
The blue-and-white blur of Haruichi dashed.
A final clash in the final second.
SMACK!
THUD!
The ball landed in the first baseman's glove.
Haruichi's foot hit the base.
It was almost perfectly simultaneous.
For one breathless moment, everyone turned to look—
—all eyes locked on the first base umpire.
"Safe!"
Not even a full second—barely half of one.
But Haruichi had made it.
The base umpire swiftly stretched out both arms and shouted the call, prompting an eruption of cheers from the entire stadium.
"An incredible hit and a brilliant dash to first! With two outs, Seidou's number three batter, Kominato-kun, stayed composed and resolute, managing to blast Inashiro's changeup and reach first base with a gutsy infield single! That's Seidou's first hit of the game—two outs, runner on first!!"
"Nice one, Haruichi!"
"Haha! I knew you had it in you!"
"That was amazing, Haruichi!"
"Our number three is seriously dependable!"
Haruichi's first base hit instantly shifted the momentum in Seidou's favor.
The pressure that Narumiya had been exerting was immense.
Especially in the first three innings—he had mowed them down like autumn leaves, leading some on the Seidou side to feel that Narumiya was practically invincible.
Haruichi's clutch hit couldn't have come at a better time.
Not only did it keep the inning alive—
—it reignited Seidou's morale.
"Heh, that guy… this is the first time he didn't blush."
Eijun watched from the on-deck circle with a soft smile as Haruichi, standing on first base, struck a confident victory pose for the first time—without the usual flushed cheeks.
If my teammates are saying we need hits, runs, and victory…
Then as the ace, and the cleanup hitter, how could I not answer that call?!
"Batting fourth, pitcher, Sawamura-kun!"
A powerful air current surged through the stadium—a presence shaped like a true king.
The Prince of Tokyo vs. the Ace of Diamond.
Their fourth destined showdown—
The curtain rises again!!
Runner on first. Cleanup at the plate. Two outs.
Can Seidou capitalize on this chance?
All eyes were now on the man standing in the batter's box—
Seidou's Ace—Sawamura Eijun.
"Whooo…"
Eijun gripped his bat and stepped slowly into the box.
He locked eyes with Narumiya, who stood tall and proud on the mound.
He took a deep breath in—and exhaled slowly.
"I'm the cleanup hitter. My job is to bring in runs. Right now, I'm just a batter. And I'm here to score."
His narrowed eyes suddenly snapped open.
A fierce glint surged in his gaze, radiating a terrifying aura.
Behind the plate, Tadano felt a jolt of pressure tighten in his chest.
"He's already locked in," Chris murmured from the stands.
"Yeah," added captain Miyuki with a nod.
"I'm ready to steal whenever," Haruichi muttered, adjusting the brim of his helmet on first base.
On the bench, Coach Kataoka stroked his chin.
Let's play it by ear.
The home plate umpire raised his hand and loudly called the game back into motion.
Tadano glanced sideways at Eijun's stance—standard positioning, solid grip. Nothing unusual.
No signs of a trick play. Alright then—let's see how he handles this first pitch.
He signaled the pitch.
Whoosh.
A flash of white light burst from Narumiya's hand.
It streaked through the air toward home plate—a blazing straight line.
That gleaming white light cut into Eijun's field of vision.
Eijun's expression turned razor-sharp. He stepped in.
Outside fastball!
His read was perfect.
He swung the metal bat.
Swish!
Ping!
Thud!
Foul!
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