Chapter 7
Kominato, determined, prepared to do his job. He stared at Narumiya, then looked briefly at Kuramochi, who was preparing to run towards third base. Narumiya got back into position, staring at Kominato intently. He threw the ball with lightning speed.
Kominato, keeping his composure, executed a perfect drop shot, sending the ball softly down the third base line. Kuramochi reacted immediately, darting toward third base with lightning speed.
Inashiro's third baseman, Yoshizawa, rushed to retrieve the ball, but it was too late. Kuramochi slid safely onto the base, hands outstretched to reach the bag. The referee declared "Safe!" as applause rang out from Seidou's side.
Kominato, meanwhile, was out at first base, but he had performed his role brilliantly. He stood up, brushing the dirt off his uniform, and returned to the bench to the cheers of his teammates.
Isashiki then stood up from the batting line, grabbing his bat with determination. He exchanged a look with Kuramochi, who waved encouragingly from third base. Isashiki knew his role was crucial now. He had to hit hard to allow Kuramochi to score.
[With a runner on 3rd base, Inashiro is in difficulty in this first inning. On top of that, they will face the drummers of Seidou's powerful lineup.]
Sawamura, taking advantage of the opportunity, quietly approached Isashiki before he took to the field. "Isashiki-senpai," he whispered, trying not to attract attention. "Narumiya's first pitch will be a slippery one. Be careful."
Isashiki raised an eyebrow, giving Sawamura a skeptical look. "Okay, Sawamura," he replied absently, not really taking the warning seriously. He was focused on his own strategy and had no intention of letting anyone else influence his approach.
Without paying further attention to Sawamura, Isashiki walked towards the batter's box, ready to hit the first ball. Narumiya, still on the mound, stared at him intently, determined to eliminate this formidable hitter. The excitement in the stadium reached a fever pitch as everyone held their breath, waiting for the next pitch.
[ 3rd batter, center field, Isashiki ]
Narumiya got into position, his grip firm on the ball. He took a deep breath, then threw the ball with impressive force. As expected, it was a slippery one, heading towards Isashiki with a deceptive trajectory.
"That little bastard was right. Even though I didn't take it seriously, I still positioned myself accordingly as a precaution. I don't know how he knew that bastard was going to pitch a slider but whatever." Isashiki thought as he saw the ball fall to home plate.
Isashiki, eyes glued to the ball, swung his stick with power. The sound of contact echoed throughout the stadium as the ball soared through the air, racing toward the outfield. Kuramochi, ready for any eventuality, stood ready to rush towards home plate.
"Fly Away !!!!!" Isashiki shouted as he went to first base.
The ball lands beyond the infield, far enough for Kuramochi to sprint home. Seidou's fans burst into applause and shouts of joy as Kuramochi crossed home plate, scoring the first run of the game. Isashiki, satisfied with his hit, reached first base without problem.
[Seidou High School opens the score!!! Against the ace who had not conceded a single point in this championship, they scored the first point easily!]
"Yeah !!!!" Isashiki raised his arm while shouting, savoring the moment of his success.
"Jun-san!!" several of his teammates shouted from the bench.
"Isashiki, well done!!!" they added, their enthusiasm palpable.
Isashiki, still on first base, looked for Sawamura. When he found it, he gave a thumbs up with a wide smile, discreetly acknowledging Sawamura's warning about Narumiya's slipperiness.
Sawamura, seeing this gesture, felt a wave of satisfaction wash over him. He responded by also giving a thumbs up, a bright smile lighting up his face. It was a small moment of complicity, a silent recognition of their collaboration and their shared victory.
Seidou's fans continued to cheer loudly, filling the stadium with electrifying energy. Seidou's bench was buzzing, with each player expressing excitement and determination. The tension of the match was palpable.
In the stands, journalists and reporters were in the front row. In this group there was a duo, a man and a woman. The man's name is Mine Fujio and the woman's name is Owada Akiko. They are journalists for the Monthly Baseball Kingdom. They notably produced an article on the talent of Miyuki Kazuya.
"It's huge what just happened, this strike was carefully calculated, as if he knew exactly that Narumiya was going to make a slide." Declara Akiko
"Yes, but Kuramochi's theft was the trigger. However, as you said earlier, he expected it. I would like to know who warned him." Fujio said.
On the field, Yuuki prepared to go near home plate. He stepped forward and the announcer spoke again to announce the next batter.
[One out, one runner on first base. The pillar of Seidou's lineup, the 4th drummer Yuuki at bat. ]
The atmosphere was electric, each movement of the players captured the attention of thousands of spectators. Yuuki adjusted his gloves, took a few practice swings, then prepared to set up in the batter's box.
At that moment, Sawamura quickly approached him, looking serious. Yuuki, curious, stopped his movements to listen to what his teammate had to say.
"Yuuki-senpai," Sawamura whispered, making sure the other players couldn't hear. "You need to know something about Narumiya. His change-up is special."
Yuuki raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "How special?"
"Just before reaching home plate, the ball suddenly drops," Sawamura explained emphatically. "If you swing too early, you risk missing the ball completely or making bad contact. You have to be patient and wait for the drop. Keep your eyes open and be prepared to react quickly."
Yuuki thought for a moment, absorbing the information. "A change-up that drops suddenly... Okay, I see. Thanks for the info, Sawamura."
He leaned a little closer, his eyes searching Sawamura's intently. "How do you know that? You seem really confident."
Sawamura gave a hint of a smile, but his eyes remained serious. "I...I've been watching Narumiya for a long time. I noticed this peculiarity. But now, focus on the match, that's what's most important."
Yuuki nodded, grateful. "I see. I will take this advice into consideration."
Sawamura nodded slightly before returning to his position, leaving Yuuki to focus on his duel with Narumiya.
Yuuki settled into the batter's box, his eyes fixed on Narumiya who was preparing to pitch. Sawamura's advice echoed in his mind, adding a layer of mental preparation to his approach.
Narumiya, on the mound, narrowed his eyes as he saw the exchange between Yuuki and Sawamura. He knew that every pitch counted, especially against a batter as formidable as Yuuki. He took a deep breath, then prepared to pitch.
Yuuki sat securely in the drummer's box, his eyes fixed on Narumiya. The silence in the stadium was almost palpable, with everyone's attention glued to this key clash. Narumiya gestured to Harada, and the latter responded with a nod, indicating the first pitch.
Narumiya threw his first ball, a fast one right in the middle of the strike zone. Yuuki, anticipating a pitch in the zone, swung with all his might. But the timing wasn't perfect. The ball went right under his bat.
"Strike!" shouted the referee.
Yuuki gritted his teeth, determined not to let himself be destabilized. He quickly remembered Sawamura's advice. He knew he had to stay patient and wait for the right pitch.
For the second pitch, Narumiya opted for an outside ball. Yuuki, vigilant, held back his swing at the last moment.
"Ball !" announced the referee.
The third pitch quickly followed, another outside ball, this time lower. Yuuki remained unfazed, maintaining his calm.
"Ball two!" declared the referee.
Narumiya, frustrated with Yuuki's control, decided to change his strategy. For the fourth pitch, he chose a quick one inside. Yuuki reacted quickly, hitting the ball with the tip of his bat. The ball flew toward the stands, but just out of bounds.
"Foul ball!" announced the referee.
The count was now at two balls and two strikes. Yuuki knew Narumiya was planning something special. The fifth pitch was crucial. Narumiya, deciding to try everything, prepared to launch his change-up.
Yuuki, remembering Sawamura's words, concentrated intently. He knew the ball would drop suddenly just before hitting home plate. Narumiya threw the ball with calculated precision. Yuuki waited, his muscles tense, his eyes fixed on the trajectory of the bullet.
At the last moment, the ball dropped suddenly, just as Sawamura had described. Yuuki, ready for this moment, adjusted his swing and hit the ball with all his strength.
The contact echoed throughout the stadium. The ball flew high into the sky, spectators following its trajectory with screams of excitement. She passed the outfield fence and disappeared into the stands.
"Homerun!" the announcer shouted, his voice drowned out by the frenzied cheers of Seidou's supporters.
—————
{ Next Update tommorow with 2-3 chapter ! Enjoy !! And comment please }