Chapter 20 Redemption
The sun hung high in the sky, casting golden rays on the pristine field, reflecting the intense atmosphere surrounding the first round of the fall tournament. For Suma Tomogaoka High School, this wasn't just a game—it was the first step in their path to redemption. After last year's crushing defeat at the hands of Nehimon Seimei, the players were determined to reclaim their pride and fight their way back to face their bitter rivals.
Across from them stood Maya Hyogo High School, a scrappy underdog team known for their relentless energy and aggressive style of play. They weren't a powerhouse by reputation, but their ability to grind down even the toughest teams had earned them respect. Today, they aimed to pull off the upset of the tournament by toppling the favored Suma Tomogaoka. What they hadn't accounted for was Suma's weapon—their ace pitcher, Noboru Hayashi.
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As the game began, the stands were alive with an electric buzz. Both schools' supporters packed the bleachers, waving flags, blowing whistles, and shouting chants that echoed across the field. Suma's section, decked out in blue and white, roared in unison, "Tomogaoka! Tomogaoka!" while Maya Hyogo's fans, clad in bright red, responded with chants of their own, trying to drown out the opposition.
The tension was palpable as Noboru Hayashi took the mound for Suma Tomogaoka, his calm, stoic expression a stark contrast to the frenzy surrounding him. Noboru was no ordinary high school pitcher—he had a fastball that clocked faster than most had ever seen at this level, and a devastating changeup that left batters frozen. As he wound up for the first pitch, the crowd leaned forward in anticipation.
Ping! The ball exploded into the catcher's mitt with a loud pop, and Maya Hyogo's leadoff batter stood helpless, unable to react. The umpire's loud call of "Strike one!" was met with cheers from Suma's fans and groans from the Maya side. Noboru, unfazed, delivered the next two pitches in quick succession, each faster than the last, and before anyone knew it, the batter was struck out.
The crowd roared in approval as Noboru sent another batter back to the dugout with ease. Maya Hyogo's lineup, normally aggressive, looked timid in the face of his dominance. "He's on fire today," whispered one Suma fan in awe. "This is the Noboru we need if we're going to win it all."
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Despite Noboru's brilliance on the mound, Suma's own lineup struggled to gain momentum. Maya Hyogo's left-handed pitcher, a figure with a deceptive delivery, mixed in curveballs and sliders that kept Suma's hitters off balance. Time after time, Suma's batters swung early or watched helplessly as pitches dove into the strike zone. The first few innings saw no runs from either team, and with every failed attempt, the tension on Suma's bench grew.
By the third inning, both fan sections were locked in a battle of wills, chanting louder and louder to boost their respective teams. Suma's fans, led by their passionate student section, waved their flags and pounded on drums. "Noboru! Noboru!" they chanted, hoping to fuel their ace's fire. On the other side, Maya Hyogo's supporters danced in rhythm, their voices swelling in a rallying cry.
As the game progressed, Noboru settled into an unshakable groove. The top of the fourth inning saw Maya Hyogo get a runner on first base due to a rare fielding error by Endo, Suma's second baseman, who mishandled a sharp grounder. The crowd gasped as the runner safely reached first. It was a rare misstep for the usually flawless defense of Suma, and Maya Hyogo's fans sensed an opportunity.
"Noboru, come on! You've got this!" yelled a Suma supporter, his voice barely audible over the deafening chants of Maya Hyogo's fans who had leaped to their feet, urging their team to capitalize.
But Noboru was unflinching. With a calm that defied the pressure, he delivered a series of blistering fastballs, each one perfectly placed. The next three batters for Maya Hyogo didn't stand a chance, swinging helplessly as Noboru's pitches zoomed past them. With every strikeout, the Suma fans erupted into cheers, chanting his name louder and louder, "Hayashi! Hayashi!" The runner was left stranded on first, and Maya Hyogo's faint glimmer of hope was snuffed out as Noboru strolled back to the dugout, his expression unchanged, his confidence unshaken.
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The bottom of the fifth inning marked a turning point for Suma Tomogaoka. Their offense, which had been stalled until now, finally began to find cracks in Maya Hyogo's pitching. Their captain, Yamada, came to the plate, his face a mask of determination. The pressure was building—he knew his team needed a spark. The crowd fell silent, anticipation thick in the air.
Yamada let the first pitch go by for a strike, then fouled off the second. The third pitch, however, was a mistake—Maya Hyogo's pitcher left a fastball hanging over the middle of the plate. With a sharp crack of the bat, Yamada sent the ball sailing into left-center field. The stands erupted into a deafening roar as the ball bounced into the outfield, and Yamada sprinted around first, sliding safely into second for a double. The Suma bench exploded in cheers, and their fans screamed his name, "Ya-ma-da! Ya-ma-da!"
The momentum was shifting. The next batter, Kazuya, came to the plate. He was known for his speed and agility, and the crowd buzzed with excitement, knowing a well-placed hit could put Suma in a commanding position. Kazuya wasted no time—on the second pitch, he sent a sharp grounder between first and second base, allowing Yamada to race to third. The Suma fans were now on their feet, the air thick with anticipation.
But it was Masato, their cleanup hitter and catcher, who delivered the breakthrough. After watching two strikes pass him by, Masato dug in and waited for his pitch. When it came—a fastball, low and inside—he swung with all his might. The crack of the bat echoed through the stadium as the ball soared into the outfield, easily allowing Yamada to sprint home for the game's first run. The Suma fans erupted, their cheers shaking the stands, while Maya Hyogo's supporters groaned in disappointment.
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By the eighth inning, the score remained 1-0 in Suma's favor, but Maya Hyogo's hopes were dwindling. Noboru Hayashi continued his dominance on the mound, his fastball still blazing at top speed, and his curveball utterly unhittable. With each strikeout, the crowd roared louder, and Maya Hyogo's players grew more frustrated, shaking their heads as they returned to the dugout.
The top of the eighth inning saw Noboru strike out the side again, his fifteenth strikeout of the game. The Suma supporters could feel victory within their grasp, chanting his name over and over, "Ha-ya-shi! Ha-ya-shi!" Maya Hyogo's fans, once full of energy, were now deflated, their chants fading into the background.
The bottom of the eighth brought the final, decisive blow. With two outs and two runners on base, Noboru came to the plate. Though known primarily for his pitching, Noboru was no slouch with the bat. The crowd hushed as Maya Hyogo's pitcher, desperate to keep his team in the game, threw his best fastball.
Noboru waited, his eyes locked on the ball as it sped towards him. And then, with a powerful swing, he connected. The stadium fell silent as the ball shot into the sky, climbing higher and higher, arcing deep into left field. Maya Hyogo's outfielders sprinted back, but it was too late. The ball sailed over the fence, a monstrous three-run home run. For a moment, there was silence, then the Suma fans exploded into cheers, jumping to their feet in celebration.
"Noboru! Noboru!" The chant echoed through the stadium as his teammates rushed to greet him at home plate, their smiles wide and their spirits soaring. The scoreboard now read 4-0, and Maya Hyogo knew the game was over. Their fans fell silent, many hanging their heads in defeat as Suma's section roared with triumph.
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For Suma Tomogaoka, this was the perfect start, a statement that they were back and stronger than ever. But in the back of their minds, one goal remained: Seimei.
"I can't wait," said Yamada, glancing at his teammates as they walked off the field. "This was just the beginning."
Endo, their third baseman, nodded, his eyes sharp with focus. "We're not done until we face Seimei. That's what this is all about."
The team moved forward, unified in their mission. They had dominated the first round, but the real battle was still on the horizon—the rematch against that team.