Two outs. Runners on first base and third base.
"Sixth batter, shortstop, Zhang Han."
As Zhang Han stepped into the batter's box, the atmosphere shifted instantly. It was not only the Osaka Kiryuu High School Baseball Team that felt uneasy. Even Seido's own players could not help but feel a trace of complicated emotion.
It was as if fate favored him.
Every time a crucial opportunity arose, the batting order seemed to rotate perfectly back to Zhang Han. The timing was almost unbelievable.
"Hit it out!"
"Another big one!"
"Wow!"
The cheers from the stands surged like waves crashing against the stadium walls. Among them were especially piercing screams from female fans. Zhang Han's appearance had earned him a following that far exceeded that of most players. The ratio of female supporters to male supporters was almost comical.
When so many girls screamed at once, the entire Koshien Stadium seemed to tremble faintly.
In Osaka Kiryuu's dugout, their assistant coach muttered sourly, "These shallow fans."
Matsumoto Takahiro shook his head calmly. "Do not speak like that. His appearance may attract attention, but it is his performance that truly earns support."
Three games. Three home runs.
Matsumoto understood the significance of that record better than anyone. Zhang Han was not merely lucky. His strength had reached a level that demanded respect, even from Osaka Kiryuu.
In fact, it was not only Zhang Han. The entire Seido lineup had proven its danger. Five consecutive hits had already been strung together in this inning. Now there were runners on first and third, and the batter was the same player who had previously blasted a home run.
The tension was palpable.
The scoreboard showed 4 to 4. The early advantage Osaka Kiryuu had built was gone. Completely erased.
They could only hope that Seido's offensive surge would finally stop here. A tie was still acceptable. If the score shifted again, it would mean that Osaka Kiryuu had lost control entirely.
And once Seido took the lead, the psychological balance of the game would flip.
Matsumoto knew that the plan they had crafted so carefully was already in ruins. The idea of wearing Seido down through calculated pitcher rotation was now laughable. Seido's lineup was nearly through its second rotation. The ace had already been forced onto the mound ahead of schedule.
This game would not end cleanly.
Whether they could win at all was now uncertain.
Unknowingly, Seido High School had grown into an opponent capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with Osaka Kiryuu. Facing such a rival required not only skill but resolve.
"This is a decisive battle," Matsumoto thought.
There was no room for restraint anymore.
He signaled decisively to the field.
Bring out the new pitch.
Komochi, as the ace, had concealed part of his arsenal. During practice games against Seido, he had never revealed everything. Osaka Kiryuu had anticipated that they might meet Seido again on the Koshien stage. Yesterday, Matsumoto had specifically instructed him not to use the new decisive pitch unless given the signal.
There were other strong opponents waiting, including Seihou High School. If they could defeat Seido without exposing their trump card, that would be ideal.
Even when Seido tied the game earlier, Komochi had restrained himself.
But now the situation had changed.
The score was tied. Zhang Han was at bat. The momentum was clearly shifting.
If Zhang delivered another key hit, Osaka Kiryuu could find themselves chasing the game for the first time. That scenario was unacceptable.
Matsumoto decided it was time.
Komochi received the signal and quietly exhaled.
His start today had been rough. He had surrendered consecutive hits after taking the mound, failing to halt Seido's charge immediately. The expectations placed upon him had weighed heavily.
He had long wanted to unleash his new pitch, to prove his dominance outright. But he obeyed orders.
Now the restriction was lifted.
A faint smile touched his lips.
He would settle this properly.
The energy around him shifted. His movements became smoother, more fluid. The tension that had once restricted him seemed to dissolve. His entire presence sharpened.
Here it comes.
"Whoosh!"
The white ball tore through the air, arriving before Zhang Han almost instantly.
Zhang did not hesitate. The moment he recognized the trajectory, he committed fully.
"Ping!"
The crack rang out as the bat met the ball.
The baseball shot toward the first base line.
"Foul!"
It landed just outside the line.
Zhang Han's expression grew serious.
Komochi's velocity was clearly superior to Nakata's. Even for him, forcing the ball cleanly into fair territory was not easy. Against such speed, timing had to be adjusted slightly earlier. He needed to generate explosive power to drive it properly.
He inhaled deeply and steadied himself.
The next pitch came.
"Whoosh!"
Zhang reacted immediately, swinging decisively.
But the moment the bat began its arc, he sensed something wrong.
He had judged the direction correctly. However, he failed to account for the change.
Just before entering the strike zone, the baseball dropped sharply. The sudden vertical movement was far more pronounced than before. Even though Zhang lowered his bat instinctively, he could not match the ball's accelerated downward path.
The bat sliced through empty air.
"Thwack!"
"Strike!"
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