The game entered the bottom of the sixth inning, with Inashiro Industrial High School on offense.
There was one out and a runner on second.
The scoreboard showed 3–1 in favor of Seidou High.
Following Chris's injury, Miyuki Kazuya took over behind the plate.
Though Seidou's supporters were still shaken, they raised their voices to cheer for the team.
"Get one more out first—just hold them off!"
Inashiro's second batter stepped up to the plate.
Waiting behind him in the lineup were the third, fourth, and fifth batters—
the heart of Inashiro's offense.
Each one was a heavy hitter.
Even a grazing swing could send the ball flying.
And now, Miyuki—just newly subbed in—was staring down this nightmare stretch.
"A trial by fire."
If Seidou couldn't weather this inning, they'd be overtaken by a resurgent Inashiro.
Their reputation as the kings of West Tokyo wasn't for show.
Give them an opening, and they'd run with it—and possibly straight to Koshien.
We can't let them score again, Miyuki thought.
If we do, everything we worked for will unravel.
He looked toward the mound.
Yoshida's breathing was heavy, his shoulders tense.
No one could deny it—the pressure in this game was unlike anything they'd felt.
Yoshida had spent weeks preparing for this matchup against Inashiro.
But nothing compares to actually standing on the mound with the enemy staring back at you.
Every pitch matters.
"You can't keep pitching like this," Miyuki told him bluntly.
"If you're carrying all that baggage in your head, you won't pitch your best."
"Shut it all out. Just focus on one thing—getting the batter out."
Yoshida gave a firm nod.
He understood. Hesitation didn't win games.
He had to commit—to pitch like someone who truly believed they could defeat Inashiro.
Whoosh!
The pitch came flying in.
Inashiro's second batter watched carefully from the box.
This is different from the Yoshida we faced before...
Though his rhythm wasn't perfect, Yoshida's stuff was sharp—fast, controlled, and biting.
"I'll admit, you've gotten stronger," the batter muttered.
His eyes sharpened.
"But you're still not good enough to beat us!"
Wham!
He swung hard—air slicing with a loud whoosh.
From behind the plate, Miyuki frowned slightly.
The way these batters were swinging—it wasn't just timing.
They're confident now.
That one run they scored earlier had flipped a switch.
Never underestimate a single run.
For Inashiro, it was enough to ignite their fire.
The score was 3–1, still a lead for Seidou—but Inashiro's momentum was building.
Now their players believed—truly believed—that they would win.
That belief filled their swings with power.
Ping!
The ball was hit hard.
Everyone in the stadium held their breath as the ball rocketed off the bat.
But—
"Thwack!"
At first base, Yuki leapt straight up and snagged the ball mid-air!
"OUT!"
Two outs now, with a runner still on second.
Seidou's fans erupted in relief and joy.
"Yuki was perfect!"
"No chance given!"
"That's definitely going in the highlight reels!"
The commentators were just as excited.
It was a clean, elegant play—and cameras caught every frame.
This play would be shown again and again, and Yuki Tetsuya's name would rise with it.
Meanwhile, Miyuki had now helped secure the second out after coming in cold.
A promising start for Seidou's new catcher.
It had been close, but things were still going their way.
In the stands, Seidou fans slowly began to relax again.
If things continue like this, many of them thought, we've got a 90% chance of winning.
But then—Inashiro's third batter stepped into the box.
In his crouch behind the plate, Miyuki's expression hardened.
Gone was the playfulness he'd shown in the dugout.
Now that he was actually face-to-face with Inashiro's lineup, he could feel the weight of their power.
This pressure wasn't just constant—it was crushing.
Yoshida's condition wasn't ideal.
And it was still too early to bring in Zhou Hao.
This is a warzone.
Even with his mind swirling, Miyuki made an aggressive call.
"Throw it right here."
He signaled for Yoshida's best pitch—the one that had never been hit when thrown at full strength.
Yoshida saw the sign, and his eyes narrowed.
Let's do this.
Whoosh!
The ball sailed toward the zone… and just before crossing the plate, it sank sharply.
Inashiro's third batter saw it and grinned.
There it is!
He uncoiled and swung with all his strength.
Ping!
A clean, perfect connection.
The ball launched into the sky—soaring above the stadium.
Tens of thousands of eyes followed it.
Over 100 meters…
And then—into the stands.
"It's a home run!"
"A two-run homer!!"
The score was now 3–3.
The lead Seidou had fought so hard to protect was gone.
At the dugout, Coach Kataoka, usually composed, finally stepped forward.
The game had just taken another dramatic turn.
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