Chapter 65: Top 4

In the dugout of Komadai Fujimaki High School, their assistant coach nervously discussed strategy with Coach Nitta.

"Superintendent, should we make a change?" the assistant coach asked, glancing at Hongou, who was resting with his eyes closed.

The atmosphere of the game felt bizarre; their once-reliable defense was faltering.

The opponent was scoring effortlessly.

There was only one explanation for this: they had meticulously studied the substitute pitchers on the field and devised effective countermeasures.

Though the match against Seidou High School was looming, leaving Hongou on the bench now seemed unwise.

High school baseball is a knockout format, not a round-robin; losing this game would mean no future.

Critics often lament that high school baseball overexerts pitchers as if they lack humanity.

But those critics have no idea; sometimes, Coaches have no choice.

Nitta kept his silence, ignoring his assistant coach and not addressing Hongou.

The assistant coach hesitated, wanting to speak.

"We're not here just to play; we're here to win the championship."

After a tense half-minute, Coach Nitta finally spoke.

As expected, the following game results aligned with the assistant coach's prediction.

Nanami Haruka, batting fourth, added another point.

Ping!

He smashed the ball into the outfield.

The score flipped to 2-1.

In the wake of falling behind, the usually strict Nitta remained silent, coldly observing the field and his players.

In the subsequent innings, Komadai Fujimaki High School demonstrated the strength of a top-tier team.

They secured the final two Outs without conceding additional points.

The game continued in a back-and-forth battle.

When Hoshiryu's core batters came up in the second round, Komadai Fujimaki High School switched pitchers.

This new pitcher performed excellently, preventing Hoshiryu from capitalizing on any further scoring opportunities.

The score remained 2-1.

This score held steady until the sixth inning, with neither team managing to break through.

Now it was Komadai Fujimaki High School's turn to bat, facing their core lineup.

With Nanami fully energized, he swiftly retired Komadai's best batters without allowing a hit.

The atmosphere reached its peak.

Failing to score in the third inning was a heavy blow for Komadai Fujimaki High School.

With one more chance, if they couldn't score against Nanami…

This match for Komadai Fujimaki High School might very well come to an end.

"YEAAAAH!!!!!!!"

Nanami Haruka, who usually maintains a calm demeanor, unexpectedly lost control for once.

In today's match, he finally closed the gap between himself and Sawamura Eijun and Narumiya Mei. He officially showcased the performance of a top-tier national pitcher.

In the past, when people spoke of Nanami, they often praised him as a genius. However, looking back at previous records, he still fell short compared to Sawamura and Narumiya.

No matter how bad their condition in the day was, Sawamura and Narumiya could ensure they conceded very few points.

While their team's strong defense contributed to this, it was mainly due to their high level.

In contrast, although Nanami sometimes performed well, he often faltered against top-tier teams, conceding many runs.

When comparing the two, it was natural for Nanami to seem weaker.

Although he was considered one of the top star pitchers in high school, his reputation paled in comparison to the others.

But today, he surpassed himself. Against the formidable Komadai Fujimaki High School, he demonstrated the fighting spirit of a top-tier pitcher.

No one would question his strength in the future.

He will undoubtedly be recognized as the best pitcher in high school sooner or later.

In the dugout of Komadai Fujimaki High School.

Coach Nitta pondered for a while before firmly addressing Hongou on the bench.

"Enough rest. It's time to play!"

The current situation was beyond the capacity of the backup pitchers on their team.

Now, the pitchers on the field had a dual responsibility: not only to prevent runs but also to generate momentum and guide the team's batting lineup.

While Komadai Fujimaki had more than one good pitcher, only Hongou could fulfill that role.

The most crucial factor was the momentum.

Roaar!

Boom!!

Once Hongou took the mound, he showcased extraordinary power.

His first pitch clocked in at 153km/h. (95 mph)

"153!!"

"From the first pitch!"

"Incredible!"

"Go! Emperor!"

Such fierce velocity captivated the entire audience.

After the Jingu tournament, he had already faced nemeses like Sawamura and Narumiya.

This forced Hongou to evolve.

With his current ability, even the Seidou players watching felt a chill.

Though they weren't standing in the Batter's Box, they could sense the intensity emanating from his pitch.

"Just how far is this monster going to evolve?" Maezono said, his face grim.

Though he had never faced Hongou directly, his senior had.

Back then, Hongou had already been a monster.

Now, that monster seemed even more terrifying than they had imagined.

'It was a tough challenge!'

Even the third-year seniors had little opening against Hongou. If they faced Komadai the day after tomorrow, it certainly wouldn't be easy.

"Tch, he's even improved faster than that little monster Sawamura," Kuramochi complained.

Miyuki glanced thoughtfully at Hongou, then back at Sawamura.

At that moment, Sawamura was absentmindedly rubbing the middle finger of his left hand.

He didn't agree with Kuramochi's comment.

To be honest, he didn't believe that Hongou's progress during this period had truly surpassed Sawamura's.

The current situation stemmed from him seeing Sawamura's progress close enough.

While Miyuki didn't think Hongou's growth surpassed Sawamura's, he did share one sentiment with Kuramochi.

That was the concern of what would happen if they faced Komadai Fujimaki High School.

It was likely to be a very challenging game.

As the two pondered, the game approached its conclusion.

By the ninth inning, the score remained 2-1!

Aside from the opening hits and runs, it had been a solid seven innings since the second, during which Nanami only allowed two hits.

He had not conceded any runs.

He proved himself worthy of being a top high school pitcher.

On the other side, Komadai Fujimaki High School also performed admirably.

Aside from the initial run, thanks to timely pitcher changes, they hadn't allowed any hits either.

Despite their drastically different strategies, both teams delivered a thrilling pitching duel.

Before they knew it, it was the final inning.

As long as Nanami could secure three Outs in this inning, they would advance to the top four in the country.

Hoshiryu High School's performance was truly astounding, leaving many spectators in disbelief.

If any glasses were worn in the stands, they probably shattered from the tension!

Under these circumstances, the game reached its final act.

Komadai Fujimaki High School was up to bat.

The first batter was their second hitter.

He was quickly retired.

Next, the third batter hit a pop fly ball.

With two Outs and no one on base, Hoshiryu was just one out away from victory.

"Nanami! Nanami!!"

"Hoshiryu! Hoshiryu!!!"

The audience in the stands seemed to catch the excitement, wildly cheering for Hoshiryu!

Sawamura smiled, pleased that his advice had taken effect.

'If it hadn't been for the two early runs and Coach Nitta's strategic pitching changes, Hoshiryu would have had a much tougher time.'

'Now, they just needed one more Out.'

One more Out, and they would win!

But that final out was not easy to secure.

In the final moments of the game, Komadai Fujimaki's players displayed incredible focus.

First up was the fourth batter, Yanagi Midori.

Ping!

With two Outs already, he swung without hesitation.

The white ball flew cleanly, landing in the outfield.

"SAFE!!"

With two Outs, someone reached base.

Komadai Fujimaki's players seemed to grasp a lifeline as they teetered on the brink.

Next, Renji hit a timely single that tied the game.

Although Komadai tied the game that inning they couldn't continue the score.

Next, the game entered the extra innings.

Both teams fought hard, exchanging hits and Outs until the twelve innings.

As the game reached the twelfth inning, an exhausted Nanami, who had been the main pitcher, faced relentless pressure and lost runs at last.

"The game is over! After 12 innings, Komadai Fujimaki High School triumphed over Hoshiryu High School with a score of 4-2."

Although they ultimately didn't advance to the top four, it was a slight regret.

However, Hoshiryu High School officially secured its place among the nation's elite thanks to this Spring Koshien competition.

Everyone believed they would make a strong comeback in the summer.

Thus, the top four teams in the country were finalized.

They included Seidou High School from West Tokyo, Inajitsu High School from West Tokyo, Komadai Fujimaki High School from Hokkaido, and the prestigious Seihou High School.

The day after tomorrow, these four teams will battle it out for the final championship spot.

…