<112> Furuya Never Fails to Impress!

Chapter 112: Furuya Never Fails to Impress!

When Narumiya Mei stepped up to the batter's box, neither the Seidou High supporters nor their players paid him much mind.

Although Narumiya was the ace of Inashiro Industrial's baseball team and a key hitter, known for his ability to clear the bases, he still didn't seem to match up to their cleanup hitter or even Carlos, their powerhouse.

Earlier, Furuya had successfully dealt with both Carlos and Harada from the pitcher's mound, already proving the effectiveness of his changeup.

Given this, neither Seidou's players nor their supporters expected anything out of the ordinary.

They were confident.

For them, Furuya dealing with Narumiya would be just a matter of time.

The fans in the stands began shouting even more fervently, eager to see the outcome now that the game had reached such a crucial moment.

It was in this moment that Narumiya stepped into the batter's box.

Normally carefree, he now wore a serious expression.

His gaze was firmly locked onto Furuya on the mound, as if he was determined to send the next pitch flying the moment it was thrown.

Could he actually pull it off? That remained to be seen. But Narumiya certainly looked like he could.

Miyuki glanced at Narumiya thoughtfully before crouching down, preparing to receive the pitch. On the mound, Furuya seemed to pick up on something, swiftly beginning his windup.

As Furuya shifted his weight, the ball flew from his hand. From the sheer movement of his arm, it seemed like the pitch was blazing fast.

Even the players in the Inashiro dugout widened their eyes in surprise.

Had Furuya returned to his dominant form from the start of the game? The thought alone made the hearts of the Inashiro players and supporters race faster.

At this stage, they couldn't afford any more surprises.

Although the score remained 0-0, the game had dragged on into the later innings, and Inashiro's resilience had been impressive.

Despite that, everyone in the stadium, including Inashiro's players, knew one thing deep down: they weren't in control.

Seidou High had the upper hand.

If Furuya truly regained his pitching rhythm, Inashiro would be in serious trouble.

But to everyone's shock, the pitch Furuya threw, despite his fluid delivery, wasn't fast at all. In fact, it was startlingly slow.

"Are you underestimating me, the great Narumiya?" Narumiya gritted his teeth, his expression tightening when he noticed the slower pitch.

Without hesitation, he swung his bat decisively, having already made up his mind to wait for the ball to reach him before taking his shot.

Miyuki, crouched behind the plate, felt a jolt of surprise as he watched Narumiya. It seemed like Inashiro had figured out a strategy.

Faced with Furuya's overpowering fastballs, Inashiro's players had no choice but to surrender. With no preparation and without ample practice against such velocity, there was nothing they could do. They were powerless.

Inashiro's players were never shy about admitting this reality.

But now, against Furuya's changeup, it was a different story.

While they acknowledged Furuya's incredible talent, which left them in awe, they weren't about to back down. Furuya wasn't just naturally gifted; he truly had the potential to become a superstar, shining brighter than anyone.

But so what? They were all baseball prodigies in their own right.

The players of Inashiro Industrial High's baseball team were no strangers to being scouted for their exceptional performances during their junior high years.

That's why they made it onto the prestigious team. Now, facing Furuya's changeup, were they really going to back down?

No way.

Crack!

The white baseball was hit, flying into a gap in Seidou's defense. Narumiya took advantage of the opening, sprinting to first base in one go.

"Safe!"

No outs, a runner on first base.

If it had been just a simple base hit, neither Seidou's bench nor their supporters in the stands would have been too concerned.

After all, mistakes happen. Even the best players can't guarantee a flawless performance every time. As long as they maintained their overall game plan, they were fine.

However, Narumiya was the first batter of the inning. He wasn't known for being an exceptionally powerful hitter, yet he managed to drive the ball into the outfield. This caught everyone's attention.

"What's going on?"

The Seidou players exchanged puzzled looks, unable to comprehend Furuya's pitch or how the Inashiro batter had managed to hit it. It was baffling.

In contrast, the mood in Inashiro's dugout had shifted dramatically.

Their energy had been reignited. Though they had been at a disadvantage earlier, they hadn't conceded any runs, and now, with no outs and a runner on base, it was a prime scoring opportunity.

What excited Inashiro's players even more was that Furuya's invincibility seemed to have been shattered.

Until now, Furuya's unpredictable pitching — alternating between blinding fastballs and deceptive off-speed pitches — had wreaked havoc on their mental composure.

Some of them had even contemplated giving up.

But now, Narumiya had managed to connect. Whether it was skill or luck, one thing was clear: Furuya's pitching wasn't unbeatable.

The question was how they would capitalize on this breakthrough.

Inashiro's players brimmed with confidence, and the supporters in the stands erupted in cheers. It felt as if Furuya was on the verge of being taken down.

Meanwhile, in a distant home in Hokkaido, a gentle voice suddenly spoke up.

"It seems Furuya-kun is facing some trouble, doesn't it?"

Anyone could see that Furuya's situation at the moment wasn't looking good.

The girl seemed somewhat worried.

"I wonder if he can get through this?"

Hearing the girl's concerned muttering, Kameda, who had been watching the game intently, shook his head confidently.

"What? Did I say something wrong?" the girl asked, confused.

"You don't really understand Furuya! Although our team was the runner-up in Hokkaido, our strength is definitely not weak. Aside from that damned champion team, we crushed all other opponents. In those games, Furuya never let us down."

"But weren't you still only the runner-up?"

The girl's remark hit Kameda's weak spot directly.

Their team had undergone a massive transformation thanks to Furuya joining them.

But even so, they had to face a harsh reality: over the past two years, they had never beaten the team that stood above them.

"Although I hate to admit it, the truth is that during those games, if it weren't for us dragging him down, Furuya would have wiped the floor with them."

The reason they couldn't win wasn't because the other team was overwhelmingly strong but because the rest of their team was just too weak.

"Even in the finals, Furuya never disappointed us," Kameda murmured to himself.

At the same time, on the field at the Kanto Tournament finals, Seidou High School's baseball team was facing a significant test.

No outs, with a runner on first base.

It was now Inashiro Industrial's sixth batter, Yamaoka Riku's, turn at the plate. Seidou's supporters in the stands felt their hearts pounding in their chests, drumming incessantly.

No matter how nervous they were, though, the game had to continue.

In Seidou's dugout, Coach Kataoka stood with his arms crossed, exuding a calm and composed demeanor.

Meanwhile, the players on the bench, who had unwavering faith in Furuya, were becoming visibly anxious, stamping their feet and rubbing their hands red from nervousness.

Furuya's fatigue was becoming evident. Not only had his signature fastball been affected, but even his regular off-speed pitches were showing significant decline, leading to inconsistencies in the quality of his throws.

If Furuya were in peak condition or had better stamina, the team wouldn't be nearly as worried.

But now, a single mistake from Furuya could very well cost Seidou the championship that was within their grasp.

Every player on the bench was dying to ask their coach one question:

"Why not switch the pitcher?"

Wasn't there another pitcher available on the roster?

Though the alternative wasn't guaranteed to be perfect, and he might also run into issues, it still seemed better than leaving Furuya in his current state.

Yet, despite this thought crossing their minds, none of them dared to speak up. The burden of such a decision was too great.

Though Seidou's players harbored those thoughts internally, Kawakami's anxious expression was enough to show just how tense the situation was.

Just as the Seidou team members were starting to feel flustered, Furuya stood on the mound and confidently threw the baseball.

Standing in the batter's box, Yamaoka Riku watched as the ball flew toward him.

It was undeniable; Furuya's talent was evident to everyone. Even without relying on his terrifyingly fast pitches, he had a solid mastery of the ordinary off-speed ball. His velocity fluctuated, making it difficult for batters to pinpoint the perfect moment to swing.

At times, even Yamaoka and the others couldn't help but admire their ace.

"That kid can hit even these unpredictable pitches? He's really something!"

The "kid" Yamaoka was referring to wasn't Furuya but his own teammate, Narumiya Mei.

Narumiya's performance had certainly fired up the other Inashiro players, pushing them to swing with more power than ever.

"Ping!"

The white baseball was struck and flew foul.

From his position as catcher, Miyuki scrutinized Yamaoka carefully. The scenario he least wanted to see was unfolding before him.

If it were an average team's batter facing Furuya's sudden off-speed pitch, they would likely be caught off guard. But the players from Inashiro were no ordinary hitters.

Against Furuya's unpredictable pitches, they didn't even need to swing early.

They could wait until the ball was closer and still make contact with their bats. And with their impressive strength, even a poorly hit ball could still be sent flying.

Miyuki was thinking quickly, trying to devise a counter-strategy. He couldn't let the Inashiro players dictate the pace of the game; otherwise, by the end, Seidou might not even know how they lost.

But before he could formulate a plan, Furuya had already released the pitch!

"Whoosh!"

Too rushed.

Miyuki frowned. Just as he suspected, the Inashiro players seized the opportunity.

Narumiya, who had been on first base, sprinted toward second without hesitation.

Yamaoka decisively swung his bat.

"Hit and run?"

The fans in the stands were dumbfounded. At this moment, Inashiro hadn't recorded a single out yet...

Given the circumstances, employing such a risky tactic seemed unwise.

Yet Inashiro was committed to this all-or-nothing approach. Their fifth and sixth batters were in perfect sync.

However, that wasn't what Miyuki was most worried about; what he hadn't anticipated was the trajectory of Yamaoka's hit.

"Ping!"

The white baseball made contact and headed straight toward Furuya—right at his face!

In that instant, images of Tanba getting injured flashed through Miyuki's mind.

Could it be?

"Watch out! Get away!"

Yamaoka's hit was incredibly powerful, exceeding 180 kilometers per hour. If that ball struck Furuya in the head, the consequences would be catastrophic…

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