Chapter 163: The King, Seidou!
"The finals of the National High School Baseball Championship, West Tokyo Regional Tournament. With Seidou High leading by just one run, the game is now down to its final attack in the bottom of the ninth inning. The crowd gives a resounding cheer for Seidou's defense."
"Let's go!!!" shouted the captain, with the fans echoing a booming roar.
"Stay sharp!" Kuramochi called out loudly.
"One out at a time, Sawamura!" The players on the bench, including Tanba, couldn't contain their excitement as they yelled their encouragement.
"Give it everything you've got!"
"This is the final inning!"
In the stands, the cheer sections were also shouting at the top of their lungs.
"Is it going to be that pitcher on the mound again?"
"Of course! It's the final inning. Who else but the ace would take the mound?"
"If he shuts them down, it's straight to Koshien."
"The winning team secures the only ticket to Koshien."
As the spectators saw that familiar blue and white figure take the field once more, any lingering worries dissipated. In their place surged a wave of intense emotion and anticipation.
"In the bottom of the ninth inning, it's no surprise the crucial pitching duties are handed to this first-year southpaw, Eijun Sawamura!"
Stepping onto the mound for the ninth time today, Eijun closed his eyes briefly before opening them again.
In this moment, his gaze was clear, and although his face was still pale from fatigue, his eyes shone with an extraordinary brightness.
"This is it, Inashiro Industrial. Let's settle this once and for all."
A strong and imposing presence filled the field. Only a king never admits defeat.
"The bottom of the ninth, Inashiro Industrial's turn to bat. Up next, the cleanup hitter, catcher Harada."
"Captain, we're counting on you!"
"Let's get a big hit here!"
"Senpai, it's all yours!"
"Go for it!!!"
"Inashiro! Inashiro! Inashiro!"
Steady and determined, this was the final show of strength from the reigning champions.
As the captain, Harada, took his stance, he knew there was no backing down now. Behind him in the on-deck circle, Narumiya, sat with a composed yet intense expression, his deep eyes filled with explosive energy waiting to be unleashed.
Backed into a corner, Inashiro Industrial had no other options left. Every pitch had to be thrown with more force, every play made with more precision.
"This last half-inning, it's up to us, Sawamura." Behind the plate, Miyuki's gaze was sharp and full of confidence, reflecting a fierce determination.
Eijun cracked a smile, his lips curling upwards in a matching grin.
"Whoosh!"
"Crack!"
"Bang!"
"Foul ball!"
"Whoosh!"
"Pop!"
"Strike!"
...
With an unwavering stance, a firm figure, and an unyielding belief that pushes ever forward, the king will inevitably claim the crown of victory.
"Whoosh!"
"Pop!"
"Strike! Batter out!!!"
A smile of pride, a look of defeat.
"Game over!"
"In the bottom of the ninth inning, Inashiro Industrial's final offense was decisively shut down. Seidou High's battery, Eijun Sawamura and Kazuya Miyuki, dominated with a clean three-up, three-down inning. With a one-run lead, Seidou High emerges victorious! After six long years, the kings are heading to Koshien! The champions have returned!!!"
"YEAHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
The commentator's voice rose to a high pitch, and at that moment, the quiet stadium erupted into a frenzy.
The stands on Seidou's side were filled with deafening cheers. The supporters in the cheering section could hardly hold back their tears of joy.
Standing tall on the pitcher's mound, Eijun looked around at his teammates, who were overwhelmed with a mix of laughter and tears.
Tears of excitement welled up in his eyes as well.
They had done it—they had won!
The crowd's cheers, the electrifying atmosphere—all of Eijun's efforts felt worthwhile at this moment.
On the other side, Inashiro Industrial's players fell into a stunned silence.
The entire first-string team wore expressions of disbelief. Even Narumiya, sitting on the bench, was frozen in place. His vacant eyes and blank face resembled an empty shell that had lost its soul.
"The summer is so hot this year," Narumiya murmured, looking up at the blazing sun with a bitter smile. "I don't want this to end... I don't want this summer to end... My summer, my Koshien."
The young ace stood alone in his world, tears streaming uncontrollably down his cheeks. Was it really over?
In the dugout, Inashiro's players were equally stunned, and tears began to streak down their faces.
One by one, they collapsed to the ground, sobbing in agony.
Harada gently patted the sobbing Narumiya on the shoulder, letting out a deep sigh.
His high school journey had come to an end in this way.
"We did it! We won!"
"Koshien, here we come!"
"We won, Sawamura! You pitched amazingly!"
Yuuki, Isashiki Jun, Masuko, and Tanba, the third-year seniors, were laughing like madmen.
Even the typically stern Yuuki showed his most genuine smile.
Everyone rushed towards the mound, surrounding Eijun.
The smiles, the cheers—they were all worth it. This victory was worth everything!
In the dugout, Coach Kataoka could not hold back his emotions.
Six years—it had been six long years since he came to Seidou, bearing immense pressure.
And these kids had given him the best answer.
Six years of hard work and dedication. In the end, he had not failed the school that had nurtured him.
"Line up!"
"Bow!"
"Thank you for the game!"
One side shed tears of joy, while the other cried in sorrow.
The same game led to different emotions and outcomes.
As the players from both teams bowed and exchanged shouts, the air raid siren signaling the end of the match blared once again.
Two groups of boys, both chasing the same dream—one group's summer had ended, while the other's was just beginning.
"Who are we?!"
"The Kings, Seidou!"
"Who worked the hardest?!"
"Seidou!"
"Who shed the most tears?!"
"Seidou!"
"Are we ready for battle?!"
"Yes, we are!!!"
"Engrave our school's honor in your hearts! Our only goal is to dominate the nation!"
"Let's go!"
"Yes!!!"
"King Seidou! King Seidou! King Seidou!"
Everyone was shouting at the top of their lungs. The entire Seidou side of the stands rose to their feet, cheering and clapping with all their might.
They were celebrating this hard-earned victory, roaring with joy.
This was the first step in the resurrection of the Kings.
This was Seidou's return to dominance after six years, a battle that washed away their past failures.
For the third-year players, this was the game where they finally grasped their dream.
The National High School Baseball Championship, West Tokyo Regional Finals, officially came to a close on July 31st.
Seidou High vs. Inashiro Industrial
After a grueling nine-inning duel between two southpaw pitchers, Seidou High broke the deadlock and claimed a narrow 4-3 victory in the West Tokyo finals, securing their spot in the Summer Koshien Tournament.
In the West Tokyo finals of the summer tournament, the defeat of the reigning champions marked the birth of a new king!
The King—Seidou!
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•Hays, The super typhoon will hit us later. :(
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