Chapter 150: The Clash of Wills Against Inashiro
"Seidou High School!!!"
On the pitcher's mound, Narumiya's eyes blazed with a fierce red, as the "Prince" finally unleashed his pent-up rage. At this moment, every fiber of his being was tense to the limit.
He had vowed not to give up a single run, yet here he was, in the sixth inning, facing the harsh reality of a bruised ego.
Narumiya could practically feel the sting of humiliation burning on his face.
"We got played..."
Behind home plate, Harada also sighed, his expression troubled.
They'd been too focused on guarding against power hits, caught off guard by the impact of Yuuki's perfectly timed bunt. As the heart of Seidou's lineup, Yuuki's ability to deliver with a bunt had left a deep impression, one they never saw coming.
But really, wasn't it the most logical choice?
Why shouldn't a cleanup batter use a bunt to secure a crucial run? For the sake of victory, any reasonable tactic is fair game. Inashiro had fallen into a trap of conventional thinking, boxing themselves into a corner.
In the dugout, Eijun watched Narumiya on the mound, the brim of his cap casting a shadow over his face. A flicker of intrigue crossed Eijun's gaze. This might just be enough to unsettle him, he thought.
Breaking him? Not likely. But rattling him, even a bit—that could shift things in Seidou's favor and open up more opportunities.
Would Narumiya lose his cool under pressure?
Eijun's gaze turned contemplative, fixed on Narumiya's figure as he mused inwardly.
At the Mound
At this critical moment, Inashiro's infielders gathered on the mound.
This was Inashiro's biggest threat yet. Mishandle it, and Seidou could further extend their lead. Even with three or four innings left, a widened score gap would mean slim chances of a comeback for Inashiro.
They were confident they could score, but getting multiple runs off Seidou's pitcher was unlikely.
"That bunt was impressive..." Narumiya finally broke the silence, his initial anger seemingly vanished. Calmly, he admitted, "Honestly, I didn't expect that guy to choose a bunt here. Credit where it's due—Seidou had the edge in this play."
"Mei..."
"Narumiya..."
Yamaoka, Shirakawa, Yoshizawa, and the others looked at him in awe, surprised that Narumiya, who valued his pride so highly, could acknowledge Seidou's tactical advantage.
Harada cast a long, appreciative look at his junior and partner on the field, his eyes gleaming with respect.
"This shows just how much they want this win. Their determination to reach Koshien is as fierce as ours," Harada said calmly.
"Yeah, you're right." Narumiya nodded, his expression serious.
"So, you know what to do next, don't you, Mei?"
"Yeah, I understand, Harada-san. I'll never let anyone surpass me in sheer willpower. There's no way we'll lose. I've got a score to settle at that stage, Koshien, where the stakes are far higher than here!" Narumiya's resolute words brought smiles to his teammates' faces.
If their ace said they wouldn't lose, then they were committed to winning.
"Fifth batter, third baseman, Masuko-kun!"
Narumiya took a deep breath on the mound, then slowly exhaled.
Who am I? I'm the ace, the strongest pitcher. Here, I'll never back down. Seidou, let's decide this!
Radiating confidence, embodying the essence of an ace, he was unstoppable.
With each throw, he overcame obstacles, his ace's light shining even brighter.
"Whoosh!"
With unwavering determination, Narumiya's pitch cut through the air, illuminating Jingu Stadium with its blazing trail across the sky.
Victory was the only outcome. Narumiya Mei would not yield!
....
"Whoosh!"
"Clang!"
"Whoosh!"
The bright white ball soared over left-center field. Carlos raced back, eyes fixed on the high-flying ball.
With a smooth sliding catch, he secured it.
"Out!!!"
"Three outs, side retired!" The announcer's voice echoed through the stadium. "Narumiya Mei, the unyielding ace of Inashiro Industrial, prevented Seidou from adding more runs. In this inning, he allowed only a single run, ending the inning with a score exchange!"
"Nice pitch, Mei!"
"Yes! Keep going, Narumiya!"
"Narumiya-senpai, you're the best!!!"
"That's it! There's still hope!"
"Let's go, champions!!!"
The tenacious pitching by Narumiya earned him thunderous applause from the Inashiro fans in the stands.
"Just one run? A bit of a missed opportunity…" murmured Chris, sighing softly. "If we'd managed to get one or two more, it would've made the game easier to control."
"Miyuki, Sawamura," Coach Kataoka suddenly spoke up.
"Yes!" Eijun and Miyuki responded, voices steady and strong.
"The opposition will likely mount a fierce counterattack next. But don't hesitate. Attack boldly! Right now, we hold the advantage. Offense is the best defense."
The kind of coach he was shaped the kind of players he led.
Coach Kataoka was, at his core, a fierce, relentless competitor. From his days as a player to now as a coach, his nature had never wavered.
"Yes, sir!!!" Miyuki and Eijun replied without hesitation, their eyes filled with unshakeable determination.
At this stage, how could they possibly back down?
This battery had never intended to play passively. As the coach said, Seidou held the advantage. There was no need to overthink it—just go for it!
"Sawamura, this is a crucial inning."
"We're counting on you, Sawamura."
"Hold the line! Four innings to go!"
"Go, Sawamura!"
"Seidou! Seidou! Seidou!"
The players' collective will clashed in the lefty pitchers' duel, as this match entered its most intense stage.
The final stretch had arrived, the decisive clash atop the mountain.
Now, no one would retreat!!!
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