"Bang!"
"Ball!"
Zhang Han had already put on his batting gloves and helmet, standing calmly in the on deck circle. Even though there were already two outs and Yuuki Tetsuya had not yet finished his at bat, Zhang was fully prepared. He did not allow himself even the slightest doubt. In his heart, he believed firmly that he would step into the batter's box this inning.
He trusted Yuuki completely.
Not only did he believe in Yuuki's strength, he believed in Yuuki's ability to rise in crucial moments. Power hitters like Yuuki were especially dangerous when runners were on base. Their focus sharpened, their instincts heightened, and their success rate often exceeded that of ordinary players. In this situation, unless Osaka Kiryuu intentionally chose to walk him, the probability of Yuuki getting a hit was extremely high.
Zhang Han was certain of it.
However, even he did not expect Yuuki to influence the game in such an unexpected way.
Yuuki did not even swing at the first pitch, yet his mere presence and stillness altered Komochi's rhythm. That alone was astonishing.
When Komochi delivered his first pitch, its quality was exceptional. The ball carried both velocity and weight. The trajectory was sharp and clean. The moment Zhang saw it from the on deck circle, his heart trembled.
He had faced many powerful pitchers before. Kameshima from Ichidai Third High School. Nishimonji. Narumiya Mei from Inashiro Industrial. Those pitchers possessed elite level quality. Even Seido's formidable batting lineup had struggled to produce consistent hits against them.
In fact, during matches against Ichidai Third and Inashiro Industrial, especially when Kameshima and Narumiya Mei were on the mound, Seido's scoring opportunities had been painfully limited.
Just now, in Komochi's pitch, Zhang saw something similar to those elite pitchers. It was like a polished diamond, dazzling and flawless.
If Komochi maintained that level of precision and force, Seido would have no answer. Even if Seido were leading by several runs, it would not matter. Osaka Kiryuu's own offense was powerful enough to overturn any deficit. Hidezawa had already thrown more than fifty pitches in three innings. His stamina would become a concern as the game progressed.
If Seido wanted to win, they would have to win through offense.
They had to outscore Osaka Kiryuu.
If Komochi suppressed them, their chances would diminish rapidly.
Yet something unexpected happened.
When Komochi delivered the second pitch, the sharpness was still present, but the perfection was not. Compared to the first pitch, the quality dropped slightly. The difference was subtle, but to someone like Zhang Han, it was obvious.
This was fascinating.
Yuuki had not swung, yet he had applied pressure. That silent confrontation forced a microscopic crack in Komochi's composure.
If Yuuki continued this mental exchange, perhaps Komochi's rhythm would unravel further.
The thought was dangerous, almost malicious, but Zhang could not deny his excitement. He found himself impatient to see how the duel would unfold.
Komochi, however, was the ace of Osaka Kiryuu. He adjusted quickly. By the third pitch, his form had stabilized significantly. If Yuuki continued to wait passively, Komochi would likely regain full control.
Aces of powerhouse teams were not only talented. Their mental strength was exceptional.
Yuuki clearly understood this as well.
He did not wait any longer.
Before Komochi could fully recover to peak rhythm, Yuuki made his move.
Shibata, crouched behind the plate, felt something blur past his vision. For a split second, he wondered if he had imagined it. Then he heard the unmistakable sound.
"Ping!"
The crack of the bat was explosive.
The white ball shot back from above home plate like a bolt of lightning. Komochi's incoming velocity had exceeded 140 kilometers per hour, already intimidating by any standard. Yet the return speed of Yuuki's swing made the original velocity seem insignificant.
The infielders of Osaka Kiryuu froze.
It was as if someone had pressed pause on the entire defense.
The ball streaked past them, slicing through the infield before anyone could react. It was not until the ball had already skipped into the outfield that the players seemed to awaken from their paralysis.
By then, it was too late.
The hit was clean and decisive.
For a brief moment, even Yamada at third base stood stunned. With two outs, he should have been running instinctively. Instead, he hesitated in disbelief. Only when he saw the ball land safely did he break into motion, sprinting toward home.
Fortunately for Seido, Yuuki's hit was so sharp that Osaka Kiryuu's fielders could not recover in time. Yamada crossed home plate comfortably.
Seido scored again.
The deficit that had once seemed overwhelming had been erased through relentless pursuit.
The scoreboard changed.
Four to four.
Seido High School Baseball Team had tied the game.
From Tanaka to Yuuki, with two outs already recorded, Seido strung together five consecutive hits and produced three runs in a single inning. The sequence was smooth, relentless, almost artistic.
The stadium erupted.
Such an offensive display felt like a perfectly executed highlight reel. It was comparable to a soccer team completing a dozen seamless passes before scoring a breathtaking goal. Every motion connected flawlessly.
The supporters of Seido could no longer remain seated. They stood, waving towels, banners, and anything else they could grab.
"Seido! Seido!"
Moments earlier, many had believed that facing the Cosmic Team meant inevitable defeat. The opening innings seemed to confirm that fear. Osaka Kiryuu's offense was indeed terrifying.
But Seido's batting lineup was no less formidable.
The outcome of the game was no longer predetermined.
Two outs.
Runners now stood on second and third base.
And at last, the player who had been waiting patiently in the on deck circle stepped forward.
"Sixth batter, shortstop, Zhang Han!"
Zhang adjusted his gloves one final time before walking toward the batter's box. His expression was calm, but his eyes burned with anticipation.
He had believed this opportunity would come.
Now it was his turn to seize it.
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