Chapter 264: Bold Declaration!
"It's outta here!!!"
Before the eyes of tens of thousands in the stadium,
the white baseball soared over the Koshien wall…
Furuya had just crushed a monster home run.
One by one, the runners on base rounded third and returned to home plate, gathering at the plate in celebration.
On the massive electronic scoreboard, the updated score lit up clearly for all to see—
4–0.
The game had only just begun, and Seidou High was already leading by four runs.
In the Seidou stands, their diehard fans were completely fired up.
Some even jumped to their feet, unable to contain themselves.
They shouted Seidou's name—
and Furuya's—over and over, their cheers shaking the stands.
They hadn't made it to Koshien for several years now,
but now that they were here—
They stood tall, like true kings.
Their strength—undeniable.
Meanwhile, the players and fans of Ichizen High looked pale and stunned.
This gamble—risking it all on one showdown—
they'd lost.
Completely, utterly, devastatingly.
They had already been at a disadvantage, but if they had won that battle, maybe—just maybe—there was still a slim hope.
But now?
That hope was gone.
Deep down, they knew it better than anyone—
It was over.
"Damn it…!!"
A few Ichizen fans let out helpless, bitter shouts.
Normally, seeing their team collapse like this would make them want to jump onto the field themselves.
But this was Seidou.
Their ace was a monster who could throw over 155 km/h…
Even the most devoted Ichizen fans weren't delusional.
They knew all too well—
Even if they were the ones playing, the result wouldn't change.
It might even be worse.
"How could a team this strong have missed Koshien for years?"
"I get the pitching… but how is his hitting this ridiculous too?!"
"Is he really… just a first-year?"
That question echoed not only among Ichizen's fans—
But even among their players.
And they had to admit—
They'd been utterly crushed by Seidou.
So much so, that not a shred of resistance remained in their hearts.
They'd already started reflecting.
But that—was the scary part.
At Seidou, reflection came after the final out.
But Ichizen's players and fans were reflecting in the middle of the game.
And that meant only one thing—
They had already, in their hearts…
Accepted defeat.
"I…"
Ichizen High's head coach stood on the edge of the dugout, looking like he wanted to say something—yet held back.
He could clearly sense something was wrong with the state of his players.
But the bigger problem was…
he didn't know what to say—or what he could even do.
For the first time, the usually composed female manager of Ichizen showed a flicker of despair on her face.
She, better than anyone, understood just how bleak their current situation was.
The players could despair.
The fans in the stands could despair.
Even the coaching staff could lose hope.
But not her.
She couldn't afford to despair.
Because if she did—if even she faltered—
Ichizen High's backbone would collapse.
Over in the other dugout—
Seidou's players weren't even celebrating all that loudly.
To the opposing team, it seemed as though that game-breaking grand slam—
that absolute bomb of a home run—
was nothing out of the ordinary for them.
"Is it because they have that much faith in their first-year? Or is it just that their belief in their team's overall strength runs that deep?"
Ichizen's manager felt an even deeper wave of hopelessness wash over her.
Because she knew all too well—
As long as Seidou's players carried this mindset—this unwavering confidence—
there was no way their performance would crumble.
And that meant one thing:
Trying to find a crack in Seidou's armor, a weakness to exploit—
was already a fantasy.
"Steady yourself… the game's not over yet. Let's focus on getting through this inning first."
Deep down, she knew it was over.
But the game still had to go on.
As regulars at Koshien—
as a nationally recognized powerhouse—
Ichizen High didn't just play for wins and losses.
They played for something just as important—
their pride.
Put plainly—
They could lose this game.
But they couldn't lose the identity of their team.
At the very least, they had to show their true strength on the field, even if it didn't change the outcome.
And the first step—
Was locking down this inning.
Now trailing by a wide margin, Ichizen's battery finally seemed to loosen up.
Up until now, they had clung tightly to their resolve, bearing heavy pressure.
But with the result nearly decided—
There was nothing left to stress over.
From here on, the game wasn't about the score.
It was about not bringing shame to their school, their team—
Or themselves.
And so, when the dangerous Masuko stepped up to the plate—
Wada didn't flinch.
He went right at him.
"Ping!"
After a two-pitch battle, the white baseball soared high into the air…
The players and fans of Seidou High were thrilled by what they'd just witnessed.
Could it be… their offensive onslaught wasn't over yet?
But the intensity of Ichizen High's resistance—
truth be told—had gone beyond what Seidou's players had expected.
And because of that, their mindset toward the game had subtly shifted.
At first, they'd thought a four-run lead was more than enough.
Even if Ichizen pushed back with all they had, how could they possibly overcome a gap that wide?
But the truth had become clear:
They'd underestimated what it meant to be a national powerhouse.
Even in a game they were clearly losing—
for teams like Ichizen, giving up simply wasn't an option.
No matter how grim the situation looked, they would fight to the very last pitch.
Losing the game—that, they could accept.
But losing their team's spirit?
That, they couldn't.
Still, as Ichizen began to push back, the momentum of the game started to shift.
The diehard supporters of Seidou were the first to sense it.
If Ichizen got a lucky break—
or if Seidou let their guard down even a little—
The game could turn.
And with that in mind, Seidou's fans found themselves hoping for a safer cushion.
And the safest cushion?
More runs.
If four runs weren't enough to crush the opponent's spirit, then make it eight, or ten.
As long as they were still human—
as long as there was a psychological limit to how much they could endure—
Seidou's supporters believed they'd eventually break through.
Eventually, the opponent would fall into despair.
Eventually, they would give up the fight entirely.
"Keep going! Crush them all the way!!"
Some fans in the stands had already started yelling.
But no matter how loudly they shouted, none of that could change the game on the field.
The baseball soared into the sky, dropping toward the outfield.
An Ichizen outfielder sprinted with everything he had—
and just before the ball fell, he caught it cleanly.
"Pop!"
"Out!"
Ichizen finally secured their second out.
Their fans didn't hold back their applause, clapping fiercely to cheer on their players still giving their all.
And at that moment, even Seidou's most loyal fans began to truly realize—
The team they were up against was also a top-tier powerhouse.
Their players weren't just tough—
They were elite.
Two outs, no runners on base.
Now stepping up to bat—
Seidou's seventh batter, Miyuki Kazuya.
"You know what happens if we let them build momentum, right? Things could get messy fast!"
Before he stepped in, many of Seidou's players had high expectations for him.
He might've been batting seventh—
But Miyuki's performance at the plate had been nothing short of outstanding.
Especially this season—it felt like he was in god-mode.
Every at-bat was a threat.
If it weren't for Furuya's explosive rise—
Miyuki might have been Seidou's biggest star this year.
"Stop putting so much pressure on me. I know what I'm doing,"
Miyuki muttered with a smirk.
Even though Ichizen's pitcher and catcher had already shed their emotional burden—
Miyuki hadn't let go of his focus for a second.
Miyuki didn't believe for a second that the opposing battery had become invincible.
They might have shaken off the negative pressure for now—
but he was confident he could force it right back on them.
"If the first-years are putting on a show like that, there's no way I'm letting them outshine me."
He muttered under his breath as he stepped into the batter's box.
His voice was quiet—but his tone was firm and unwavering.
There was no doubt about it—Miyuki had made up his mind.
But just as that resolve set in—
"Whoosh!"
The white baseball came screaming in.
So fast?!
Miyuki was momentarily caught off guard by how effortlessly the pitch was thrown.
But the location—right in the zone—was perfect.
If he didn't swing now, he'd never live it down in the dugout.
"Perfect! Bring it on!!"
He locked in on the ball's trajectory and swung decisively.
"Ping!"
The bat connected—
but the ball barely traveled ten meters before it bounced off the ground.
"Infield chopper!"
The sight made Seidou's dugout grimace in unison.
For a powerhouse team like theirs, a weak grounder like that usually meant a guaranteed out.
Ichizen's fielders may not be better than Seidou's—
but they weren't far behind.
There was little hope of beating them on a play like this.
And Seidou's players knew it.
Sure enough, as the ball bounced toward the mound, Wada charged forward, scooped it cleanly into his glove, spun, and threw to first.
"Pop!"
"Out!"
"Three outs! Side retired!"
After all that momentum, the big lead, the crushing home run…
Even the fans—even Seidou's own players—had believed Ichizen was on the verge of total collapse.
No one expected them to bounce back so suddenly.
Least of all, Wada, who had just taken down two straight batters to close the inning.
Seidou's players stared in disbelief.
"What the… he came back to life?"
"He looked so fragile a moment ago… turns out he's this tough?"
They couldn't figure it out.
Yes, they still held a massive advantage.
Yes, the game had only just started. Yes, they were four runs up.
But games aren't won by score and inning alone—
They're won in the details—in the feel of the matchup.
And based on that first-inning clash?
Ichizen looked totally outmatched.
The gap between the two teams had been crystal clear.
Which was why, even now—
Seidou's players felt confident enough to bet everything on this game.
If their only goal was to win this game, then there wouldn't be a problem at all.
But—
They had to think ahead to the next one.
After all, Koshien isn't a one-round tournament.
It's not decided in a single match.
So now that they'd basically secured this win,
it made perfect sense to start thinking about the rounds to come.
Especially with how tight the Koshien schedule was—
They had no choice but to start preparing early.
"Let's finish this quickly. Don't leave any loose ends for later."
Just as Furuya was about to take the mound, Chris, pen in hand, looked up from his notes and said this calmly.
Though his official role was that of a team manager—
Chris's presence and skill were far beyond that.
Within Seidou, he was practically a second coach,
and when he spoke, he often echoed the will of the entire team.
And barring any surprises—
This would likely be Ichizen's final attempt to fight back.
If they could shut the door here, there'd be nothing to worry about for the rest of the game.
They could even start preparing for the next opponent.
One by one, all eyes on Seidou's bench turned to Furuya.
They trusted his pitching ability, completely and genuinely.
But still—
There are moments where a few simple words from the pitcher himself make all the difference.
"Don't worry. I won't let those guys touch my pitches."
Furuya said flatly.
And with that—
Everyone felt completely at ease.
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