<45> So, Who’s Next?
Chapter 45: So, Who's Next?
"155 km/h!!!"
Such a terrifying pitch speed whipped up a storm across the entire field.
Even the fans who had come specifically to watch Furuya pitch were stunned.
"The speed has increased again?"
"I thought the previous speed was his peak, but I never expected…"
"This first-year rookie from Seidou High is like a cheat code!"
The fans gaped, expressing their shock.
Not only them.
Even the second and third-string players from Seidou High were wide-eyed at this moment.
Haruichi, who had always supported Sawamura, looked sympathetically at his new teammate.
"Chris-senpai once said that being on the same team as Furuya could be a kind of tragedy!"
Haruichi had previously taken that statement with a grain of salt.
But now, he was suddenly struck by the realization that maybe Chris had spoken a harsh truth.
"I understand now, this guy is as strong as a monster!!"
Looking at the incredible number on the giant electronic screen,
Sawamura's heart was also filled with shock.
Even his unwavering confidence was momentarily shaken.
But soon, that doubt was cast aside.
"I'm not fighting for myself alone. I carry the dreams of others. No matter how slim the hope, I will fight to the end. I need to prove on the field…"
What exactly he needed to prove,
Sawamura didn't fully articulate.
But Haruichi could still sense his friend's unwavering determination.
No matter how strong the opponent is,
He lacked neither the courage to face them nor the resolve to challenge them.
"I really am surrounded by amazing people!"
Watching Furuya on the field and Sawamura beside him…
From these two first-year teammates, Haruichi could clearly feel how exceptional the team he was part of was.
No wonder his older brother had joined without hesitation.
Although Haruichi himself had chosen to attend this high school, his brother's attitude hadn't been very enthusiastic.
But Haruichi had no regrets.
"One day, I'll make you acknowledge my strength!"
The game continued on the field.
But the Nada High players were already terrified.
They had attempted to hit 155 km/h pitches before the game…
And the results had been very discouraging.
None of the Nada High players could hit the fastballs.
If Furuya's pitches had varied speeds, perhaps they might have found a chance.
But now, the reality was that this first-year pitcher from Seidou High was pitching like a cheat code!
His slowest pitches were over 148 km/h.
There were no slower pitches.
And his fastest pitches soared to 155 km/h…
Facing such an opponent, the Nada High batters were like zombies, swinging their bats aimlessly.
They couldn't even come close to hitting the baseball.
The results were clear.
"Strike!"
"Strike!!"
"Strike out!"
"Strike out!!"
"Strike out!!!"
Without any hesitation, Nada High's top three batters were struck out in succession.
They didn't even have time to react.
They had to accept the humiliating outcome.
"Three outs, switching sides!"
The Nada High coach, who previously had a somewhat commanding presence, had completely lost his composure.
The tactical change from Coach Kataoka had left them dazed.
They were so confused that they didn't know how to compete against Seidou High.
In the bottom of the first inning, Seidou High took their turn at bat.
Coach Kataoka turned to his players and said, "The tactics I discussed with you should be fresh in your minds. Now, just relax! As long as you perform like you've practiced, we won't lose this game!"
It was rare for Coach Kataoka to speak like this.
But precisely because of this, the Seidou High players felt their coach's immense confidence.
Today's game was crucial for their coach.
In this regard, the rest of the Seidou High players were equally determined.
They watched their coach with intense focus, their eyes burning with fierce determination.
"Just leave it to us!"
Previously, the biggest uncertainty for Seidou High was their pitcher on the mound.
It was an extremely frustrating situation.
No matter how many runs they scored, it never seemed enough.
Take their previous game against Ichidaisan High, for example. Despite securing an early 5-run lead, they were still pressured by their opponents.
By the end of the game, even though they won, Seidou High's staunch supporters breathed a sigh of relief, as if they had narrowly escaped their opponents' chase.
But the current situation was different.
In addition to their ace pitcher, they now had additional support.
And this support was essentially game-changing.
It felt like they didn't have to worry about conceding runs anymore.
This feeling was incredible!
All the Seidou High players felt a sense of triumph.
In this atmosphere, as they stepped up to the plate, they felt a surge of power.
"Come on, bring it on!!"
Seidou High's lead-off batter, Kuramochi Yoichi, was full of enthusiasm. He stepped into the batter's box with a determined stance.
Nada High's ace and the rest of their team hadn't yet recovered from the previous batter's performance.
Their minds were still foggy.
When their ace pitcher threw the first pitch, it looked weak and unconvincing.
"Is this how you're going to challenge me?"
Seeing the lackluster pitch, Kuramochi snorted with disdain.
He swung his bat decisively.
"Ping!"
The baseball soared away, heading straight towards Nada High's third baseman.
"Unbelievable!!!"
Seidou High's loyal supporters in the stands instinctively cursed.
From their perspective, Kuramochi's luck seemed abysmally poor.
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