Bab 21: [21] He Will Not Yield
Chapter 21: He Will Not Yield
"Whoosh."
"Smack."
"Strike! Batter out! Three outs, switch sides!"
One pitch changed the momentum of the game. Even though the upperclassmen couldn't fully accept Furuya, the undeniable truth was that his pitch had stirred something deep within them.
In the top of the fourth inning, the upperclassmen's offense was halted at just one run. The new pitcher, seemingly confused, managed to secure three outs at the cost of just one run.
"Tsk tsk, that pitch was really something."
"After so many years, is a pitcher who will make waves at Koshien finally emerging from Seidou?"
"That pitch speed—I'd say it's around 150 km/h."
"Yeah, it's probably close. For a first-year to have that kind of speed, with the right training, 160 km/h isn't out of the question."
"Although it's a bit early to join the first string, considering Seidou's current state, it's understandable."
"Last year it was Miyuki; this year it's Furuya, huh? They're shaping up to be a perfect ace battery."
"Haha, it's about time Seidou showed its true power."
"Couldn't agree more."
Furuya's performance, especially that one pitch, had won over the spectators, including former players who understood why the team hadn't made it to Koshien in recent years. The absence of an absolute ace was the main reason. Furuya's arrival seemed to fill that void, something they were all eager to see.
Meanwhile, in the first-years' dugout during the bottom of the fourth inning:
"Huh? You're leaving?" A few first-year players noticed Furuya's movements and asked in confusion.
"Yeah, there's no point in staying. I'm going back to practice," Furuya replied coldly, nodding as he picked up his bag and left the field.
This move caught the first-years off guard. Even if the coach had taken him out of the game, the match wasn't over yet. As part of the first-year team, how could he just leave like that?
A few of them couldn't help but feel a surge of resentment at that moment.
Eijun, sitting in the dugout, also watched Furuya's departing figure with a slight frown. Furuya was still too self-centered. He was different from the fall season, when he understood more about what it meant to be a teammate, what it meant to be part of a team.
A baseball world centered on oneself?
Eijun muttered quietly to himself.
"Whoosh."
"Bang."
"Thud!"
The ball was fiercely struck into the ground. The upperclassman shortstop fielded it cleanly and, with a swift throw, sent it to first base.
"Smack."
"Out!"
"Three outs! Switch sides!"
In the top of the fourth inning, the shock caused by Furuya and the ensuing sense of imbalance lasted only a few minutes. The upperclassmen quickly adjusted, and by the bottom of the inning, the first-years found themselves unable to gain any advantage. The result was a quick three-up, three-down situation.
The first-years, who had only just begun to build some momentum, were once again plunged into despair. The upperclassmen were clearly not opponents they could handle easily.
As the game continued with the upperclassmen's turn to bat, the first-years wondered when this game would end.
"Clap, clap, clap! Don't hang your heads! We can lose the game, but we mustn't give up. The game isn't over yet. Are you going to just give up? Think about why you came here in the first place!" Eijun, unable to contain his frustration and dissatisfaction, urged his fellow first-years. Optimism, positivity, resilience—these were the qualities Eijun stood for.
In this regard, Eijun was no different from his original self. He wasn't afraid of failure, but he couldn't accept failing without putting up a fight. Such surrender was a disgrace and an unacceptable reality.
When Eijun's firm words echoed, Coach Kataoka's gaze drifted over to him from home plate.
"Hmm…" Miyuki, who was closer to first base, also heard Eijun's words and a faint smile appeared on his face. "This kid is indeed as interesting as I imagined," Miyuki murmured with a low laugh.
Most of the first-years, however, just looked away from Eijun. They had little to say and were focused on ending this grueling game as soon as possible. This was the prevailing sentiment among most of the new first-years.
As Eijun was about to continue speaking, his expression changed.
"Sawamura…" Recently substituted catcher, Kariba, tugged at Eijun's sleeve and shook his head. To Kariba, there was no point in saying more at this moment.
"No matter what you all think, I won't give up until the game is over. I'll prove myself on the mound!" Eijun declared firmly to the dejected group.
Kariba looked at Eijun with renewed respect. The bright, friendly boy he had seen before seemed to have changed, displaying a more determined and resolute side.
Pride? Self-esteem? Self-centeredness?
At this moment, Eijun wasn't concerned with how others viewed him. He just wanted to express his thoughts and prove himself on the field. On the field, let the baseball speak for itself.
"Fifth inning, player substitution. First baseman…"
"Second baseman, replaced by Kominato Haruichi."
"Eh? Yes!!" Haruichi, who had been in the corner, stood up quickly after a brief pause and responded loudly.
"Pitcher substitution, Sawamura Eijun."
As Coach Kataoka's voice rang out, his gaze settled on Eijun.
Eijun, momentarily stunned, felt a new light in his eyes as he gripped the ball tighter with his right hand.
"YES!!"
Eijun immediately responded loudly, while Kariba, standing beside him, showed a flicker of both joy and concern.
The joy came from the long-time partnership with Eijun, which had developed a unique synergy unmatched by other pitcher-catcher duos. The concern was about Eijun's peculiar pitches and stance, which were indeed secret weapons. However, having seen the upperclassmen's batting prowess, Kariba couldn't help but worry.
Of course, Eijun was unaware of Kariba's thoughts. Even if he did know, it wouldn't matter to him. At this moment, his focus was solely on the rising pitcher's mound.
It was his turn. Finally, his long-awaited stage—his true battlefield.
The pitcher's mound!
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