Chapter 522: The So-Called Resolve in the Inashiro Game
A two-seam fastball—there could be no room for error in control.
If the movement didn't break sharply enough—if it wasn't fast or deceptive enough—then it would become an easy target for a powerful batter.
This pitch…would have to be thrown with everything he had.
...
Eijun's fingers tightened slightly around the ball in his left hand.
He took a deep breath, adjusting his focus.
This was the pitch he had to throw…to take down Narumiya Mei.
From the very beginning, Eijun had already made up his mind.
...
Tension built in his arm—he could feel the stinging pain and numbness creeping up again.
These weren't surface-level issues.
They were lingering, dangerous signs of deeper injury.
If he released his full strength again—it would spread like ants beneath the skin, gnawing into the very bone.
He might not even be able to stand it.
But he knew.
He had no choice.
The moment he chose this reckless path, he also accepted the price.
...
The resolve of an ace.
...
"Boom!"
His right leg lifted high—then slammed forward with force.
Dust burst beneath his cleats.
His tensed left arm surged with power—
In that instant, a sharp wave of pain stabbed through him.
Numbness lit up his nerves.
The pain sank deep into the marrow.
Even with all the resolve in the world, that piercing pain made his heart seize for a split second.
But—this pitch had to be thrown.
...
"Tap!"
As his foot hit the ground, the brilliance in his grip exploded at his fingertips—
"Whoosh!"
A beam of white light shot forward.
Like lightning, it tore through the air toward home plate.
Its sharpness.
Its speed.
The ball carved a perfect arc mid-flight.
...
As Narumiya braced himself in the batter's box, tense and ready to swing—
"Swoosh!"
The ball suddenly veered, slicing down and inward.
A two-seam fastball!!
Narumiya's eyes widened in an instant.
His center of gravity shifted forward.
He turned his body sharply—giving his arms enough room to launch a powerful swing.
"Swish!"
His metal bat flashed, cold and fast.
"Clang!"
He barely made contact.
The bat vibrated with explosive force, ringing through his palms and nerves.
...
"Damn it—this pitch…!!"
"Fly—fly out of here!!"
Narumiya growled, grinding his teeth, his whole body twisting as he tried to muscle the ball out.
...
"Whoosh!"
The ball shot skyward.
"Bang!"
Then slammed down into the dirt.
...
Narumiya threw his bat aside and bolted toward first base— but there was no way a pitch that Eijun had thrown with everything he had would let itself get crushed so easily.
Narumiya hadn't fully overpowered the pitch.
The ball didn't even make it out of the infield.
It landed between second and third base.
...
But crouched and ready was the cold-blooded panther of Seidou—
Kuramochi.
His agile body slid perfectly into position, intercepting the ball even though it had rebounded at a tough angle near the mound.
With sharp instincts, veteran vision, and fearless judgment—
Kuramochi scooped the ball cleanly into his glove.
With a fluid motion, he turned and fired it to first.
"Pop!"
"Out!"
Narumiya had only just passed a third of the way down the baseline when the first base umpire's voice rang out, along with a firm gesture—right hand raised.
Narumiya reluctantly stopped his sprint.
He gave one last deep look toward Eijun on the mound, then turned and walked off the field with heavy steps.
...
"What a pitch! No wasted effort—on the third pitch, Sawamura chose a two-seam fastball and successfully retired cleanup hitter Narumiya-kun!!"
"Nice one, Sawamura!"
"That's the rhythm! That's the condition, Ace!"
"Let's go, Ace! Bring them down with everything you've got!"
"You got this, Sawamura-kun!"
"Now's your time to shine!"
"Seidou! Seidou! Seidou!!"
The dugout and the Seidou stands erupted.
They weren't just cheering—they were celebrating the true form of their ace pitcher.
Their lefty—Sawamura Eijun—was the real No.1!
...
His pitches really are on another level…
Every one of them has its own unique movement.
This is what it means to be an ace!
From the stands, Okumura clenched his fists, eyes gleaming with fiery light.
I want to catch that pitch.
I want to be on that field.
I want to catch for him!
...
"Batting fifth, third baseman—Yabe-kun."
...
That pitch even overpowered Narumiya's swing…
Was that Sawamura telling us the run in the first inning was a fluke?
Just like in the summer… always full of surprises, this guy…
Yabe rolled his neck, then stepped steadily into the batter's box.
Perfect. Let's go, you bastard.
I'll send your pitch flying!!
...
First pitch — fastball down the middle.
Yabe was the type to swing aggressively at any pitch that was even slightly high.
Miyuki called for a subtle bait.
Behind the plate, he gave the signal with a slight motion of his fingers.
On the mound, Eijun nodded calmly.
But no one saw his left hand trembling—just like before.
A full-powered pitch, especially one as delicate as a two-seamer, was putting tremendous strain on his arm.
...
Still manageable…
Can't afford to make the same mistake again.
Ease up the power a bit.
If I can just throw this fastball clean and straight…
Eijun took a deep breath, repeating the thought in his mind.
...
"Whoosh!"
His body launched into motion—arm rising, then snapping down.
A flash of light shot from his fingers.
"Swish!"
"Clang!"
The crack of bat meeting ball—a fiery spark at the plate.
The sharp, whistling blast echoed in the air.
"Bang!"
"Foul!!"
...
So much late break… this guy's ball dances all over the bat.
Can't read the trajectory at all…
Yabe grinned with gritted teeth, an eerie smile stretching across his face.
That cold aura meant nothing to Eijun.
In this moment, he was simply fulfilling his duty as a pitcher:
To take down the batter.
...
"Whoosh!"
The blinding white streak roared toward the plate—
It carried all of Eijun's will.
...
"Clang!"
Damn it… this pitch is even harder to track than the last one!
Yabe's expression twisted.
Every pitch was nastier than expected.
"Bang!"
"Foul!!"
...
Two strikes.
Eijun had the upper hand.
Time to press the advantage.
No mercy when you've got momentum.
When the enemy's weak, finish them off.
...
A breaking ball—thrown at 80% power.
Though slightly reduced in speed and weight,
its movement was enough to deal with Yabe.
...
"Whoosh!"
"Pop!"
"Strike! Batter out!!"
A sharply angled change-up—and with it, Eijun retired Yabe.
...
His body may be limited—but his heart knew no limits.
To give his all, to create opportunities, to carry his team toward victory—
That…is the true resolve of an ace.
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