Imai returned to the mound at the top of the seventh inning, and the first batter that Kasuga's ace would face was the sixth batter of Shoto Junior High, the young pitcher, playing in right field today, Sora Okamoto.
The Kasuga crowd continued making loud noise, even though the game was tied. With their ace, Imai, on the mound, they didn't feel they were going to lose.
Sora stepped determinedly into the batter's box, but it was clear that the boy could feel the pressure of the moment. Sora then looked at the mound, and when he saw the aura around Kasuga's ace, Imai, he couldn't help but tremble slightly.
Along with the noise of the crowd and with reliable defenders behind him, Imai exuded absolute confidence as he faced Sora. Imai then looked at his catcher's glove and nodded, beginning his pitch.
