บท 20: [20] A Different Kind of Shock
Chapter 20: A Different Kind of Shock
"Haha, that kid's finally stepping onto the mound."
"Just watch, I'm going to crush him so hard he won't leave the mound without crying and apologizing."
"Kid, you better be ready. If you think Miyuki's going to catch for you, you've got another thing coming!"
As Furuya Satoru, with his expressionless face, took the mound, the atmosphere in the second and third-year bench heated up instantly, as if someone had lit a fuse. Every single upperclassman had their eyes locked onto Furuya, filled with fierce determination, eager to teach the rookie a lesson. They looked like they were ready to tear him apart.
The night before, in the cafeteria, this arrogant kid had thoroughly gotten under their skin. Today, if they didn't put him in his place, where would their pride as seniors go?
The fierce aura of the upperclassmen made the first-year players on the field nervously swallow. It seemed like the upperclassmen were even more intimidating than before.
Still stationed in right field, Eijun couldn't help but shake his head with a wry smile.
Even though he had left the cafeteria early the night before, it was clear that Furuya Satoru, the naturally oblivious pitcher, had still managed to provoke the seniors. Otherwise, there wouldn't be such intense animosity towards him now.
In the original story, Eijun was often seen as a bit of an innocent fool.
Furuya, on the other hand, was the epitome of obliviousness. For the first six months or so, he was the type who only cared about his own baseball, completely ignoring everything else around him.
The saying "he neither hears the world outside his window nor cares for anything but his own game" perfectly described someone like Furuya.
Standing at home plate, Kariba glanced at Furuya, whose cold demeanor sent shivers down his spine. The pitcher was radiating a chilling aura, as if warning others to keep their distance.
Kariba hesitated, his initial plan to approach the mound and discuss the pitch selection halted in its tracks.
"I bet if I go over and try to talk about strategy, that guy won't say a word. Maybe it's best to just skip it..." Kariba thought to himself.
Coach Kataoka, observing Kariba's hesitation, nodded slightly but then shook his head. At times like these, a pitcher needs the catcher to take the lead. This catcher, however, seemed a bit too reserved.
Of course, the intense atmosphere on the field might also be a factor.
Lost in his thoughts for a moment, Coach Kataoka's attention snapped back as Furuya's expression on the mound grew increasingly severe. It was as if all his energy condensed at that moment, his eyes flashing with an intense blue light.
With a high leg kick and a swift arm motion...
"BOOM!!!"
A beam-like pitch shot out of Furuya's hand, tearing through the air with a fierce, almost tangible energy, roaring towards home plate at lightning speed.
The second-year batter in the box didn't even have time to react.
In that split second, while Coach Kataoka was momentarily distracted...
"Whoosh!"
The sound pierced the air like lightning, echoing in everyone's ears.
Coach Kataoka's pupils suddenly contracted.
"Bang!" A loud crash followed.
"Coach!!"
"Are you alright, Coach?!"
Furuya's pitch roared like a wild beast, rocketing toward home plate so fast that both the catcher and batter had no time to respond. The pitch, rising from low to high, struck Coach Kataoka's protective mask with such force that it knocked it clean off. The surrounding players, including Miyuki and Yuki, were visibly stunned by what they had just witnessed.
The power, the pressure, and the speed of that pitch...
This kid is something else.
As the second and third-year players, who had gathered around, shot angry glares at Furuya on the mound, they were caught off guard by something unexpected. A hearty laugh rang out, echoing through the field, accompanied by a satisfied and pleased expression on Coach Kataoka's normally stern face.
The words that followed left every upperclassman in stunned silence.
"Well done, Furuya Satoru. You're qualified. You can step down now. Starting tomorrow, you'll be training with the first string!"
"What?" Furuya blinked in surprise, taking a moment to process the coach's words. He then nodded quietly, his gaze shifting to Miyuki standing nearby.
In Furuya's normally calm eyes, a unique blue flame flickered—an embodiment of his determination and belief.
"Now, Miyuki-senpai can catch my pitches..."
Noticing Furuya's gaze, Miyuki's lips curled into a slight smile.
"Looks like we've got ourselves an interesting pitcher, huh? Heh..."
As Coach Kataoka finished speaking, it wasn't just the first-year students who were left in shock and disbelief; even the upperclassmen were utterly stunned. What? First string? This kid, who had only been at the school for less than a month, was already being promoted to the first string? This had to be some kind of joke!
"Coach, please let us continue the game! We'll definitely hit his pitches!!" one of the upperclassmen demanded.
"No. None of the first-year catchers can handle his pitches," Coach Kataoka responded coldly, waving his hand dismissively. His words caused Kariba Wataru, the catcher at home plate, to pale, and the other catchers on the bench looked equally uneasy.
As a catcher, failing to receive a pitch from a pitcher is akin to a slap in the face.
But none of them dared say anything, especially Kariba. He had thought that catching Eijun's pitches was challenging enough, but to think that there was another monster like Furuya Satoru among the first-years... it was beyond belief.
"Is this what they meant by that monster with a 120-meter throw during the tests?" Kariba thought to himself, feeling a bitter taste in his mouth.
"Tanba, you can step down as well. Your current condition is excellent. If you can maintain this level, you'll be more than capable of handling national-level competitions," Coach Kataoka said, his expression returning to its usual cold demeanor as he addressed Tanba Koichiro.
"Yes, sir!" Tanba responded, first surprised, but then a smile spread across his face as he answered with a steady voice.
"The first string... how nice..." Kominato Haruichi muttered quietly, his voice filled with envy as he watched Furuya pack up his gear to join the first string.
Meanwhile, out in right field, almost as soon as Furuya had pitched, Eijun felt the overwhelming presence that accompanied Furuya's fastball—the weight, the pressure, and that awe-inspiring sensation.
Furuya Satoru, with his blazing fastball and commanding presence on the mound, exuded the aura of a true ace. The visual spectacle of his pitch left everyone shaken in a way that was hard to describe.
"As expected, only someone like you can be my greatest rival... no, my lifelong nemesis!" Eijun's eyes gleamed with a unique light, his pupils shining with the unrestrained fire of determination.
Furuya Satoru, the battle between us...
At this moment, it has officially begun!
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