Bab 13: Chapter 13: Holding the Line
The crowd erupted as Eijun took his place on the mound. The roar of Seidou's fans reverberated through the stadium, a mix of excitement and hope. Eijun's heart pounded in sync with the cheers, but he shut out the noise, focusing solely on the task in front of him. The game was still close, with Seidou leading by a narrow margin. He was stepping into a tense situation with runners on base. One mistake could flip the momentum.
Miyuki crouched behind the plate, his eyes sharp as ever. "Sawamura," he called out, his voice cutting through the buzzing stadium. "No need to overthink. Focus on each pitch."
Eijun nodded, his determination hardening. He couldn't afford any mistakes, not with everything on the line. His hands felt slightly slick with sweat, but the ball in his grip was familiar, almost like an extension of his body. He took a deep breath, locking eyes with Miyuki, and then went into his windup.
The first pitch—a fastball—sizzled through the air, landing perfectly in Miyuki's glove with a resounding thunk.
"Strike!" the umpire called.
Eijun exhaled slowly. The weight of his nerves began to ease as the pitch settled in. He felt himself falling into his rhythm, his body moving on instinct. With each throw, he could sense his control tightening, the ball hitting Miyuki's glove with precision. He mixed his fastballs with the breaking balls he'd been working on, keeping the batters guessing.
The next batter swung and missed at a breaking ball that dipped just under the strike zone. The crowd roared in approval, and Eijun couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. He was controlling the game, bending it to his will.
"One more out, Sawamura!" Miyuki called out, tossing the ball back. "Don't let up."
The batter stepped up, his eyes narrowing as he prepared for what he assumed would be another fastball. Eijun, sensing the anticipation, decided to switch it up. He signaled to Miyuki, and they agreed—a changeup, low and outside.
Eijun wound up and released the ball with a subtle flick of his wrist. The pitch sailed toward the plate, slower than expected, and the batter swung early, the tip of his bat barely grazing the ball before it landed in Miyuki's mitt.
"Strike three!" the umpire shouted, raising his hand.
Eijun pumped his fist in triumph as the crowd's cheers grew even louder. The runners were stranded, and Seidou was still in control of the game. He jogged back to the dugout, his teammates slapping him on the back as he passed.
"Nice going, Sawamura!" Kuramochi grinned, ruffling his hair. "You've got ice in your veins!"
Eijun laughed, feeling a mix of relief and exhilaration. "I'm just getting started!"
The game progressed with both teams locked in a tight battle. Seidou's defense held strong, and Eijun continued to pitch through the late innings, keeping the opposing team's offense in check. With each inning, his confidence grew, and he felt more in control than ever before. Every time he glanced toward the dugout, he could see Furuya watching him intently, his expression unreadable.
By the eighth inning, Seidou was still ahead, but the opposing team was refusing to go down quietly. Eijun faced a tough lineup, and the tension in the air was palpable. He could feel the pressure building, but rather than shrinking from it, he embraced it. This was what he had worked so hard for—the moments when the game was on the line, and the team was counting on him.
Miyuki walked up to the mound during a break between batters, giving Eijun a hard look. "You're doing great, but stay sharp. These guys are starting to adjust to your rhythm. We need to keep them off balance."
Eijun nodded, wiping sweat from his forehead. "I've got this, Miyuki. I'm not letting them take this game from us."
Miyuki grinned. "That's what I like to hear."
The next batter stepped up, and Eijun could tell from the man's stance that he was ready to swing hard. He'd been waiting for a fastball. But Eijun wasn't going to make it easy. He signaled for a breaking ball, something off-speed to throw the batter off.
Eijun wound up, his muscles coiling with intensity, and released the pitch. The ball dipped just as it approached the plate, and the batter swung—too early. The bat cut through the air with nothing to connect to, and the crowd roared as the ball landed in Miyuki's glove.
"Strike!"
The batter's frustration was evident as he stepped out of the box and adjusted his gloves. He was preparing for the next pitch, and Eijun could feel the tension between them growing. It was a battle of wills, and neither side was backing down.
Eijun took a deep breath, calming his mind. He knew this was his moment, the chance to prove that he could carry Seidou in the toughest of situations. He wound up for the next pitch, his focus narrowing to the ball in his hand and Miyuki's glove behind the plate.
The pitch flew straight and fast, cutting through the air with precision. The batter swung—but the ball was just outside his reach. Another strike. The batter stepped back, gritting his teeth, clearly frustrated. But Eijun didn't waver. He was locked in, his confidence growing with every passing moment.
Miyuki flashed him a quick signal—another fastball, high and inside. Eijun nodded, winding up once more. His body moved with purpose, every muscle coiled as he released the ball. It sailed toward the plate, but just as it approached, it tailed slightly inside, too close for the batter to handle.
The batter swung, but the ball missed his bat, slamming into Miyuki's glove with a resounding thud.
"Strike three!"
Eijun's fist shot into the air, a burst of triumph surging through him as the crowd roared in approval. The opposing team was retired once again, and Seidou remained in control.
The ninth inning came, and Eijun found himself standing on the mound, the weight of the game now entirely on his shoulders. Seidou still held a slim lead, but the tension was at an all-time high. This was the final stretch, the moment that could make or break the game.
Miyuki approached the mound, his usual calm demeanor present, but there was an unmistakable edge to his voice. "This is it, Sawamura. You've done great so far, but now's not the time to relax. We need to close this out."
Eijun nodded, his jaw set in determination. "I know. I'm not letting this game slip away."
The first batter of the inning stepped up, and Eijun could feel the weight of every eye in the stadium on him. He took a deep breath, centering himself. He had come too far to falter now.
His first pitch flew fast and hard, catching the corner of the strike zone for a called strike. The batter, a heavy hitter from the opposing team, gritted his teeth and squared up again, determined to make contact.
But Eijun was in control. His next pitch was a breaking ball that fell just out of the batter's reach, earning a second strike. The tension in the stadium grew as the count reached two strikes and no balls.
Miyuki signaled for the final pitch—a fastball, low and inside. Eijun nodded, winding up with every ounce of energy he had left. The ball flew out of his hand like a bullet, and the batter swung, desperate to make contact.
But he missed.
"Strike three!"
The stadium erupted in cheers as Seidou secured the final out, and Eijun stood on the mound, his chest heaving with a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. They had won.
His teammates rushed the field, enveloping him in a sea of congratulations and slaps on the back. Eijun couldn't stop grinning, the weight of the game finally lifting from his shoulders.
As the celebration continued, Eijun caught sight of Furuya standing on the sidelines, watching quietly. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and though no words were exchanged, the message was clear.
This wasn't the end of their competition. Not by a long shot.
But for now, Eijun had proven that he belonged on the mound. And he was more determined than ever to keep fighting for the ace number.
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