Chapter 97: His Will, His Resolve
The tranquil summer night brought an eerie calm.
After returning to Seidou High School following their game, the players didn't show much joy despite their victory.
Everyone wore serious expressions, burdened by the weight of the day's events. Ichidaisan's unexpected defeat wasn't something that could easily be brushed off.
Seidou had been caught off guard, but fortunately, they had a few days to prepare.
These next few days would be spent analyzing Yakushi's players and strategizing accordingly.
As soon as they returned to school, the coaching staff, led by Coach Kataoka, got to work.
The players either trained or watched footage, all preparing for the upcoming quarterfinal match.
At Seidou's secondary field, near home plate:
Whoosh
Pop
"Hmm, it's still a little too high. At this height, it won't be very effective." Miyuki caught the pitch cleanly, frowning as he threw the ball back to the mound.
Sweat dripped from Eijun's face as he stood on the pitcher's mound. "Though, it does have a bit of an intimidation factor," Miyuki added with a mischievous smile.
Those who knew Miyuki well, however, could sense a hint of awe behind his teasing words.
"Sawamura, pull your feet in a little, and lower your center of gravity. You need to feel like you're driving the ball down toward home plate," Chris advised softly from the side.
"Yes, sir!" Eijun wiped the sweat from his forehead and responded loudly.
"Keep the pitch low, and make sure there's a clear difference in speed. If you can get the ball to drop even slightly, this pitch could become your true finishing pitch."
"Remember Narumiya's pitch? If you can replicate that effect and combine it with your quirky delivery and movement, your pitch will surpass Narumiya's changeup and become your own definitive weapon!" Miyuki said seriously from behind home plate.
"Yes!" Eijun responded with determination.
Indeed, the pitch Eijun was practicing at this moment was the same one he would master in the fall tournament in the original story—a changeup that perfectly suited his style.
He learned it within a single night and could throw it in games within just three or four days.
For Eijun, the changeup wasn't just another pitch; it marked the beginning of his numbers series of pitches, incorporating the characteristics of his moving fastball.
This summer tournament had finally reached a point where Eijun could work on mastering the changeup, as his control had become more stable and he was proficient with the cutter.
After their third-round match and just before their game against Akikawa, Eijun sought out Chris and Miyuki to begin his changeup training.
This decision greatly surprised both of them but also filled them with excitement.
They knew all too well how adding a changeup to Eijun's already deceptive delivery could elevate him.
If he could master this pitch, it would mark his entry into the ranks of elite, national-level aces.
Although Eijun had initially mastered the changeup before the Akikawa game, he hadn't used it because the pitch wasn't yet low enough and, frankly, Seidou didn't need it to dominate Akikawa. But Yakushi would be different.
Yakushi had just defeated Ichidaisan in a commanding fashion, and their powerful lineup was a major threat.
Eijun was eager to bolster his arsenal, not just for Yakushi but also for the potential final against Inashiro.
Seeing Raichi's performance earlier that day had made Eijun acutely aware of the challenge ahead.
In the original story, Eijun had managed to get Raichi out in the first at-bat but gave up a home run in the second. The reality of that talent gap was clear.
Now, he knew he had to close that gap as quickly as possible.
This filled Eijun with a sense of urgency.
He had to ensure he possessed the strength to face Raichi head-on in a proper battle.
Only then could he rewrite his fate and fulfill the dream of what was left unfinished in the original story during his third year.
That's why mastering the changeup was a must. It wasn't just his responsibility, it was his ambition!
"Lower your center of gravity, use the rotation of your lower body, don't grip the ball too tightly, and try to keep the pitch low..."
Eijun moved slowly, his eyes locked onto Miyuki's glove at home plate.
The next second.
All his strength focused on his five fingers.
He took a powerful step forward, his arm whipping down as he released the ball.
Whoosh!
A flash of light shot through the air.
In that moment, it felt as if time had frozen.
As the ball neared home plate, from Miyuki's perspective, it slid downwards and to the left side of the batter's box.
Pop!
Miyuki's pupils contracted sharply.
It was a perfect pitch.
Miyuki and Chris, who was watching from the side, both showed a hint of amazement.
"Nice pitch!"
Miyuki couldn't hide his approval for that pitch.
It was sincere, a pitch with an exceptionally high level of execution.
Of course, there were still minor flaws—if the pitch's placement was just half a step further outside and the speed slightly slower, it would be perfect.
Right now, Eijun's pitch velocity was steadily increasing, but it was still only in the lower 130 km/h range, not even reaching 135 km/h.
The more significant the speed differential, the more likely a batter would swing and miss at a critical moment.
And if that gap in speed could leave a strong impression on the batter, it would also enhance the power of Eijun's fastball, making hitters more hesitant to swing at it.
Eijun seemed quite satisfied with that last pitch—whether it was the timing, the control of the speed, or the feel in his fingertips.
"So, the most important thing is to rely on lower body strength, huh?"
Eijun muttered to himself.
"Don't forget the feeling of that last pitch, Sawamura. You've seen Todoroki's swing—if there's even the slightest opening, he'll seize it. If you make a mistake, you know what'll happen."
"Yes, Miyuki-senpai!" Eijun replied loudly, a serious expression on his face.
He was right—just from a brief encounter, Eijun could deeply feel the overwhelming pressure Raichi brought.
Right now, Raichi might not be on par with Narumiya.
But Eijun believed that given time, Raichi would definitely surpass him. He was a prodigy, born with talent and a relentless work ethic.
More, more—he needed more.
It wasn't enough—he needed more strength, greater precision, and more perfect pitching.
Only then could he defeat those formidable opponents!
Under the moonlight.
The boy's fiery determination burned brightly.
This was the vow of a champion!
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