Chapter 562: The King's Heavy Cannon — Tetsu's Brilliance
What terrifying concentration and pressure…
Even from left field, Eijun could feel it—the crushing aura radiating from Yuuki Tetsuya in the batter's box.
As expected of the cleanup captain we are most proud of…
Simply standing there, he carried an overwhelming intimidation.
At this moment, there were few batters in all of Japan who could project such presence.
The cleanup of the previous generation now faced the power pitcher of the present.
With Yuuki's appearance, the atmosphere of the stadium burned even hotter.
But in contrast, the audience grew quiet—every single spectator holding their breath, eyes fixed on the center of the field, not daring to move, not wanting to disturb this duel.
....
"Two outs already. On the scoreboard, we hold the advantage. Don't stiffen up, Furuya."
Behind the plate, Miyuki's fingers twitched, flashing the signal.
On the mound, Furuya nodded stiffly.
But the tense and heavy expression on his face wouldn't fade.
Drawn into Yuuki's overwhelming aura, he treated this practice game as if it were a decisive championship match.
No—at this moment, everyone in the stadium did.
The atmosphere was nothing like a casual scrimmage.
If anything, it felt more intense than most official matches.
....
"First pitch—low and outside. You know better than anyone what even the slightest mistake here will cost, Furuya."
"Mm!"
Beside him, Yuuki stood utterly still—a terrifying presence, as if his very breath had disappeared.
Even Miyuki, normally fearless, wouldn't risk calling anything flashy here.
The safest choice was best: test the waters with an outside pitch.
....
From the mound, Furuya drove forward.
Dust exploded upward with his stride.
Whizz!
His arm whipped through the air, a streak of light flashing toward the plate.
Precise location. Perfect angle. Explosive speed.
It was everything Furuya had learned in the past year, forged into one.
A fastball filled with his very essence.
....
At the plate, Yuuki's eyes narrowed, a sharp light flashing in his pupils.
Boom!
He stepped forward, bat whipping violently.
Clang!!!
The 150 km/h fastball collided with Yuki's heavy metal bat.
A searing wave of air burst through the diamond.
Whizz!
The ball shot like a bullet toward third base.
Kanemaru had no time to react—
Bang!!!
It tore past him, bouncing hard into left field.
Only then did Kanemaru and Kuramochi even move.
But the ball was already long gone.
So fast…?!
Their faces tightened.
They had thought Isashiki's batting terrifying—but this was on another level altogether.
On the mound, even Furuya's face showed shock.
....
"Home!!!"
As the ball landed, Kusunoki was already sprinting from second base.
His blazing run around third stunned the crowd.
Behind the plate, Miyuki shouted desperately toward left field.
Eijun charged with everything he had, scooping the ball.
But Kusunoki was already less than ten meters from the plate.
Eijun gritted his teeth, whipping his left arm—
Whizz!
The ball flashed into the infield—
Thud!
—but by the time it reached Miyuki's mitt, Kusunoki's foot had already slammed onto home plate.
"Safe!!!"
....
In left field, Eijun exhaled and shrugged helplessly.
So this is the strength of the man who once led this team…
His eyes glimmered with admiration.
And while the defense reeled, Yuuki Tetsuya didn't stop— rounding first, he slid powerfully into second base.
....
The third-years struck first.
A thunderous timely double from their captain,
drawing blood from the current ace.
....
"Hahaha, beautiful, Tetsuya!"
"Knew you could do it, Yuuki-kun!"
"First-pitch swing—perfect timing, a textbook double! Incredible, Captain!"
"Tetsuya!!!"
"YUUKI!!!"
From the seniors' dugout, the energy exploded.
....
This was the man who had once led Seidou to the summit.
The cleanup captain of the previous generation—
Yuuki Tetsuya.
No matter the stage, no matter the pitcher, his swing was always beautiful—and always overwhelming.
....
"First inning and already a run surrendered… Furuya still has room to grow."
"Well, it is the seniors' lineup."
"To open with this kind of high-level clash… dammit, I'm already fired up!!"
"HAHAHAHAHA!!!"
The stadium erupted in heat and laughter.
Outside the field, the spectators were wide-eyed with awe.
Every gaze fixed upon Yuuki Tetsuya standing firmly on second base brimmed with admiration and astonishment.
Because this man on the field—was worthy of it.
If even the audience felt that way, how much more so the first- and second-year Seidou players on the field and in the dugout.
Yuuki's swing—once again reminded them of what true batting meant.
What true strength really was.
We're not enough yet.
That realization burned through them.
Whether it was Kuramochi, Maezono, Haruichi, or others like Tojo and Kanemaru—each pair of eyes locked on Yuuki Tetsuya, their hearts ignited with a fiery passion.
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