Chapter 238: The Return of the King!
When Sawamura returned to the dugout, his face was pale.
Earlier, the young pitcher had believed that after the loss to Yakushi High School, he had forged an iron will. He thought that no matter what situation he faced, he wouldn't waver.
But today, against the formidable Inashiro Industrial High School and their players, who were utterly determined to win, he faltered…
"It's all my fault!"
The young pitcher lowered his head, tears streaming down his face. This blow was even heavier than the one he had suffered during the game against Yakushi.
In the dugout, Seido's players, seeing Sawamura in such a state, couldn't help but want to comfort him. They wanted to tell him that he had done an incredible job. From an outsider's perspective, if any of them had been in his position, they might not have performed as well as he had.
After all, they were second and third-year veterans, while Sawamura was just a first-year rookie.
"Don't disturb him."
Chris spoke up, stopping everyone. As Sawamura's mentor, he cared more about his disciple than anyone else. But as an outstanding baseball player, Chris also understood that now was not the time for softness.
After the collapse against Yakushi, Sawamura had managed to pull through thanks to the support of the coach and his teammates. The speed of his recovery had even amazed Seido's players.
But now, the situation was different.
The first time, he could rely on the strength of his teammates, but the second time, he couldn't. Some obstacles, some thorns, had to be overcome by the player himself for true growth to occur.
The setback Sawamura was experiencing now was, in essence, not something a first-year rookie pitcher should have to endure.
Most first-year players joining a national powerhouse like Seido High School wouldn't even make the first string.
Even if they did, it would mostly be for developmental purposes—they wouldn't get many opportunities to grow.
In comparison, Sawamura's experience was even more intense than that of some second-year pitchers. The reason he wasn't as dazzling was mainly because there was an even more dazzling presence on their team—Furuya.
If you set Furuya aside, Sawamura's journey was almost like that of a chosen one. And only such a chosen one would face setbacks like this on the field.
"Whether it's skill, luck, or coincidence, you've come this far. From here, you only have two choices: either overcome this obstacle and truly grow, or sink into despair."
Chris looked deeply at Sawamura, believing that his disciple would surely cross this hurdle. From the moment the young pitcher had first appeared, it was clear he was destined for greatness.
As for the rest of the game, whether it was Chris or the other players and supporters of Seido High School, they all firmly believed that from the moment *that man* returned to the mound, the outcome was already decided.
Two outs, runner on second base. Up to bat was Inashiro's cleanup hitter, Harada.
Although Inashiro's players and supporters were still cheering for their cleanup hitter…
But everyone could feel it—ever since that young pitcher, Furuya, returned to the mound, the atmosphere in the stadium had shifted.
The players and supporters of Seido High School seemed to have found their backbone, their morale soaring.
In contrast, the players and supporters of Inashiro Industrial High School grew more serious.
Even though they were still cheering for their batter, their momentum had noticeably weakened.
Standing in the batter's box, Harada could clearly sense this change.
As the cleanup hitter for Inashiro, Harada naturally felt uneasy. He was a third-year powerhouse, one of the top three sluggers in West Tokyo.
Yet now, facing a first-year rookie, the general sentiment was that he was unlikely to succeed.
This feeling was something only someone in his position could truly understand.
Harada felt uncomfortable, but as the captain of Inashiro, he understood why people felt this way. It was mainly because, in his previous confrontations with Furuya, he had been completely dominated. If he could just hit the ball, even once, people's perceptions would change.
Now, with two outs and a runner on second base, and the score tied at 2-2 after the previous run, if Harada could hit the ball out, they could instantly turn the game around.
The game had reached the bottom of the sixth inning, and if Inashiro took the lead at this point, the outcome of the game could very well be decided early.
"This is the moment for me, as the cleanup hitter, to fulfill my duty."
Harada's mind involuntarily recalled the words of their coach, Kunimoto.
"Among the top three sluggers in West Tokyo, your performance has always been slightly behind that of Yuuki and Omae. I don't believe this is because you're less skilled than them. It's just that, as the team's main catcher and captain, you think too much during the game. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it means you can't fully focus on the duel at hand."
Regarding this, Coach Kunimoto had offered his advice.
"When you're not batting, it's fine to maintain your usual habits. But when you step into the batter's box, you don't need to overthink. Just remember, you're a hitter."
I am a hitter!
At this moment, this was the only thought in Harada's mind. It wasn't that he didn't want to think more, but facing Furuya, Harada knew that if he didn't give it his all, he wouldn't stand a chance against this first-year phenom.
"Bring it on!"
With his bat held high and no hesitation or doubt in his eyes, Harada exuded a pure, overwhelming power.
Crouching behind home plate, Miyuki sensed the aura emanating from Harada and immediately frowned.
As a star catcher, Miyuki understood better than anyone what this meant.
Harada, as one of the top three sluggers in West Tokyo, was already a threat of the highest caliber. Now, he seemed even more terrifying.
"Be careful!"
But Miyuki didn't need to remind Furuya. The pitcher could feel the aggressive pressure radiating from Harada himself.
The cleanup hitter from Inashiro Industrial High School posed an even greater threat now!
But Furuya himself didn't seem particularly concerned. In fact, from his perspective, this was exactly how it should be!
A strong opponent could bring greater pressure, and at the same time, such an opponent would also stimulate Furuya's nerves in a way that could make him even stronger.
"If that's what you want, then bring it on!"
With a high leg kick, one foot slammed down onto the mound. As Furuya's foot landed, a cloud of dust erupted from the pitcher's mound. Simultaneously, the baseball in his hand shot forward.
His pitching motion was fluid and seamless. The moment the ball left his hand, it erupted with a deafening roar.
"*Boom!!*"
The baseball flashed past.
Harada, despite his imposing presence, didn't swing at the pitch. He simply watched as the white baseball whizzed past him.
"*Snap!*"
"Strike!"
The ball landed firmly in Miyuki's mitt, producing a sharp sound.
The pitcher was ahead with one strike.
In the stands, Seido's die-hard supporters erupted in cheers. They knew that as long as this man was on the mound, no problem was insurmountable.
On the Inashiro side, the atmosphere grew even more tense. The balding manager of Inashiro's baseball team scratched his head in frustration. "No good?"
Furuya had been taken off the mound earlier but had now returned. The Inashiro manager had been hoping that Furuya's form might have dipped. But now, it seemed that was just wishful thinking.
Furuya, standing on the mound, showed no signs of being off his game. On the contrary, he seemed to be in peak condition. It appeared that being moved to the outfield had given him enough rest, and now he was back at full strength.
"That first-year kid…"
Just as the balding manager was about to say more, Coach Kunimoto suddenly tilted his head, and a cracking sound came from his neck.
"No, it's still too early to tell."
Although Furuya's performance was as dominant as ever, and it seemed like he had immediately regained his form upon returning to the mound, this wasn't necessarily good news for Inashiro.
But Coach Kunimoto had keenly noticed that the current situation was different from before. Furuya's pitching was indeed as powerful as ever, but Inashiro's players were no longer as helpless as they had been at the start.
Harada's gaze was steady, clearly unshaken by Furuya's speed. This meant that despite the pitcher's fastball, Harada was confident he could hit it.
"Let's see what our captain can do!"
With the coach saying this, what else could the balding manager do? He also turned his gaze to the mound, eagerly awaiting the outcome of the duel.
The confrontation continued, with tension thick in the air. Although the pitcher was formidable, his opponent seemed equally determined not to back down.
Noticing this, Miyuki quickly signaled to Furuya. He didn't give specific instructions but reminded Furuya to be cautious. At the same time, he conveyed his determination to his partner.
"Don't worry about me. Just pitch with everything you've got! No matter how fast you throw or where you aim, I'll definitely catch it."
Miyuki's attitude bolstered Furuya's confidence.
No matter what kind of pitch it was, his partner could catch it?
For other pitchers, this might be taken for granted. But for Furuya, these words carried an irresistible allure.
Back when he had traveled all the way to Tokyo to join Seido High School, a big part of the reason was that he couldn't find anyone who could catch his pitches. This had forced him to come to Tokyo and join Seido…
Now, he no longer had to hold back!
He could give it his all and fully unleash his power on the field.
"Then I'm free!"
His leg lifted higher than ever before. On the mound, Furuya Satoru seemed to have broken free from his chains. The baseball he threw was faster than ever.
"*Boom!*"
As the ball cut through the air, it produced a deafening sonic boom. The sound was so loud that even some of the fans sitting closer to the field could hear it.
Harada, standing in the batter's box, felt his heart pounding like a drum.
*So fast!! So strong!!*
Even though his opponent was just a first-year high school student, Harada could feel the overwhelming pressure radiating from Furuya. Truly a first-year monster!
While Harada was marveling at Furuya's power, his own movements were swift and precise. Gripping the bat tightly, he swung without hesitation as the ball approached.
"I won't lose!!"
Even if his opponent was a monster, Harada felt no fear. In that brief moment, he poured all his strength into the swing. His bat cut through the air with ferocious speed.
The ball was fast, but the bat wasn't slow either…
"*Ping!*"
Finally, the bat made solid contact with the ball. The ball flew past the batter, over the catcher's head, and past the home plate umpire, landing behind him.
"*Snap!*"
"Foul!!"
Harada, a powerhouse hitter, couldn't even hit the ball forward?
Not only were Inashiro's supporters stunned, but even Seido's own players and fans were deeply shocked.
They had considered the possibility of Furuya winning. In fact, up to this point, Furuya had already beaten Harada twice in their duels. That wasn't surprising…
But they never expected Furuya to suppress Harada to this extent. He had completely dominated Inashiro's captain, leaving him with no chance to fight back.
Of course, Harada himself didn't see it that way. Although he had missed this time, his eyes gleamed with determination.
"I can hit the ball!"
This realization was crucial for Harada. If he couldn't make contact, there was nothing he could do. But as long as he could touch the ball, he was confident he could send it flying.
Just as Harada was thinking this, Furuya's third pitch came.
"Now's the time! Fly away!"
Harada locked onto the ball and swung decisively. But even as his bat cut through the air, the white baseball was nowhere to be seen.
It took a moment before Harada finally heard the sound of the ball landing in the mitt.
"*Snap!*"
"Strike!"
"Strikeout!!!"
"Three outs, side retired!!"
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