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Ch: 7 Chance

"Is that good enough?" he asked thoughtfully.

Once again, a single stone sent ripples across the pond.

The players of Seidō's Second String, though not as skilled as the First String, were all highly capable.

As a nationally renowned baseball powerhouse, Seidō selected the best prospects when recruiting—one in ten.

Those who advanced to the First String were baseball prodigies, one in a hundred or even one in a thousand.

By this ratio, the players who made the Second String were naturally impressive as well.

They possessed not only skill but also keen insight.

Even without stepping into the batter's box or experiencing it firsthand, they could sense how formidable that pitcher, Manaka Kaname, was.

At the same time, they had rehearsed scenarios in their minds.

If they faced him, what chance would they have of winning?

The answer was undeniably bleak.

This was why the players of Seidō's Second String wore solemn expressions.

So much so that the atmosphere in the dugout was oppressively tense.

The Ace of the Second String was a third-year senior. Though his pitching was strong, his teammates still sensed his limitations.

Even if he managed two outs in a row, he couldn't instill a true sense of security.

Everyone knew that given enough time, they were bound to concede runs.

Yet, under such pressure, a first-year kid was boldly claiming Manaka Kaname's pitching was just "alright."

"A kid at the bottom of the Second String—what gave you the nerve to spout nonsense here?" one senior snapped.

"If you actually got sent to the field, you probably wouldn't even connect with the ball!" another scoffed.

"Yamamoto-san…" someone called out hesitantly, concern lacing their voice.

He hadn't expected his simple words to stir up such a commotion.

His seniors—the second- and third-year students before him—glared with eyes blazing red, as if someone had stepped on their tails.

"Alright, aren't you embarrassed enough already?" a cold voice snapped through the tension, and the seniors grudgingly sank back into their seats.

"I know Manaka's pitching isn't easy to handle. But what were you doing just now? Just because your junior said something, you acted like he poked you in a sore spot. Did he step on your pride?" Takashima Rei pressed sharply.

Confronted by her pointed question, the second- and third-year seniors shifted their gaze and muttered bitterly, "It's like he actually thinks he can hit the ball if he steps up to bat."

That was what infuriated these seniors the most.

If he truly had that skill, they wouldn't utter a word—they'd be offering their sincere support.

But the question was: did he really have that skill?

He didn't, yet there he was, babbling nonsense. Whose reputation was he dragging through the mud?

"Whether you can hit or not, if you don't even have the courage to step up to bat, how can you play the game? If you lack the guts, just quit the team. We, Seidō, don't keep cowards," Rei asserted firmly.

In that moment, she exuded the stern authority of a strict teacher, leaving him speechless.

He never expected their club's vice president to have such a side.

She herself was deep in thought. Judging by today's situation, their Second String players wouldn't just lose—they'd probably lose badly.

A big win for Ichidaisan would only boost Manaka's confidence.

Their side, meanwhile, would be crushed.

'To turn this around, we need a dark horse to shatter Manaka's confidence,' she mused.

Several names came to mind.

Seidō, famous for its strong hitters, never lacked talent. But the problem was, those players were all in the First String now, and she couldn't call anyone back.

Her choice was limited to the Second String.

Though the Second String players were decent, finding someone who could challenge Manaka Kaname's pitching and shake his confidence wasn't easy.

Her gaze settled on Takumi.

Could he do it?

She wasn't sure herself.

But at this moment, she had no other options.

Both uncertain, Takumi—who didn't take him seriously—felt more reliable than the others.

With her decision made, all that remained was to wait for the right moment

The moment arrived at the top of the fourth inning.

The score on the field was already 2-0.

No matter how much the Ace of Seidō's Second String gritted his teeth and persevered, he was still being exploited by Ichidaisan's batting lineup.

The players wanted to retaliate, to close the gap.

However, Manaka Kaname's pitching showed no sign of weakness.

By the start of the fourth inning, he had cleanly recorded another out.

One out, no runners on base.

Just as he prepared to retire the second batter of Seidō, his grip slipped.

The ball that left his hand suddenly lost velocity.

This unexpected change startled not only the Ichidaisan players but also caught Seidō's second batter off guard.

However, the batter's extensive experience allowed him to instantly seize the opportunity, and he swung without hesitation.

Ping!

The white ball was struck and flew into the field.

Two Ichidaisan players rushed after it.

The ball slipped between them and bounced into the outfield.

"It got through!"

"A hit!"

"Safe on base!!!"

The second batter of Seidō sprinted to first base.

One out, runner on first.

Facing the situation, Manaka Kaname casually raised a finger.

"That was my mistake just now. Everyone, don't worry. One out!" he stated coolly.

His calm demeanor made Takashima Rei feel a bit unsettled.

Though they were on the same team, their personalities were worlds apart.

If Tanba Kōichirō had that kind of mindset, their pitcher's position wouldn't have faced so much pressure.

"Don't take it to heart; accidents like that are inevitable. The key is to perform well in the next games. Let's go, boys!" the passionate coach of Ichidaisan's Second String urged energetically.

Sensing the perfect moment, Takashima Rei suddenly called for a substitution.

"Seidō is making a player change!"

The second batter, who had just secured a hit and made a significant contribution, was immediately replaced.

Taking his place on base was the first-year rookie, Kuramochi Yōichi.

"They have no information on you at all. Even if they know you're fast and on guard, it won't be enough," Rei assured him firmly.

"Hehe, don't worry. I'll definitely show them what I'm made of," Yōichi responded with a confident grin.

At such a crucial moment, stepping up to shoulder a heavy responsibility, he wasn't the least bit nervous—instead, he radiated fierce determination and fighting spirit.

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