<117> The Brilliant Skills of Furuya Satoru!

Chapter 117: The Brilliant Skills of Furuya Satoru!

One out, bases loaded.

In the stands, the devoted supporters of Seidou High School's baseball team noticeably quieted.

In Seidou's dugout, all around were the sounds of players' heavy breathing.

Even these substitutes, who weren't actually on the field, felt the overwhelming pressure bearing down on them.

It's worth noting that they were merely substitutes, nowhere near the field.

Moreover, they were all second- and third-year players, with far more experience in games.

Yet despite this, the pressure was so immense that it left them struggling to breathe.

"How could that first-year kid possibly withstand such terrifying pressure?"

One player muttered to himself.

Although others didn't speak, their eyes revealed the same confusion.

Yes, indeed!

The one on the mound, fiercely resisting their opponent, was merely a first-year rookie!

Though he had shown outstanding performances thus far, he still carried all the weaknesses and pressures that came with being a high school rookie.

Thinking of this, the players in Seidou's dugout couldn't help but feel a pang of empathy.

And perhaps, a slight tinge of worry.

The opponent was Inashiro Industrial High School, their fierce rival in West Tokyo.

Right now, they had finally taken the lead by one run!

Would they really let go of this hard-earned victory so easily?

"The greater the crisis in a game, the more it forges a person. This is a test for him!"

Coach Kataoka, who had been standing silently at the front of the group, suddenly spoke up.

He wasn't only speaking to the players around him but to himself as well.

It seemed he was trying to use this reasoning to convince himself.

The players on Seidou's bench were all taken aback, looking at their coach in surprise.

They had noticed long ago that their coach had high hopes for Furuya.

Having spent so much time under him, the players of Seidou's baseball team understood their coach's personality well.

Even if Coach Kataoka said nothing, they could still guess at least part of his intentions.

No one expected their coach to bring up this point at such a crucial moment.

After glancing at their coach, the players on Seidou's bench all turned their gaze back to the mound.

Watching the young pitcher sweating profusely, a sense of awe swept over them.

"Does our coach value this rookie that much?"

Now, only two outs separated them from winning today's game, with one out already on the board and bases loaded.

They wondered if Furuya could handle the pressure.

It wasn't just Seidou's players in the dugout watching anxiously; countless fans in the stands were staring intently.

Everyone understood that the game had reached its final, most critical stage.

Unconsciously, their breathing quickened.

Just then, the third batter from Inashiro Industrial High School stepped up to the plate.

As a third-year power hitter, he may not have the fame of some of Inashiro's star players, but there was no question about his skill.

"Hit it out!"

The batter's momentum was strong.

The three runners on base were also restless, ready to take a risk with two outs to go.

From his position behind the plate, catcher Miyuki sensed the intense tension in the air.

He could clearly feel the fierce determination of Inashiro's batter to hit the ball out of the park.

"You feel it, right? Power pitching won't work, and even your other breaking pitch might fail us here. We have to put all our hopes on the changeup."

Miyuki's face tightened as he glanced towards first base.

Standing there was Shirakawa, muttering something under his breath.

This guy had previously worn down Furuya, causing him to waste several pitches.

Their ideal strategy had been disrupted.

Miyuki couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration over another issue as well.

Because Furuya's fastball was so incredibly powerful, they had overlooked his previous performances in junior high.

It's important to remember—Furuya can throw two types of breaking balls.

They should have been managing his stamina from the start of the game.

Now, they wouldn't be in such a passive situation.

Miyuki knew that no matter how much he regretted it now, it wouldn't change anything.

Rather than regretting, it was better to focus on how to get through this immediate crisis.

"Let's go! Although it's a bit risky, the changing speeds will still trouble these hitters."

Seeing Miyuki's signal, Furuya on the mound didn't hesitate.

He took a stride forward, and with the shift in his body's center of gravity, the baseball left his hand.

Swoosh!

No matter how many times you watch it, Furuya's pitching motion on the mound is always the same.

Even with this changeup, it came out of his hand with full intensity.

The batter instinctively wanted to swing.

The third batter from Inashiro Industrial, however, understood the stakes well.

He held back his urge to swing, watching the ball fly past him.

Pop!

"Strike!"

The pitch speed was an astonishing 140 kilometers per hour.

The third batter, along with his teammates, was startled.

"That was close!"

"Even though his stamina's clearly drained, he can still throw like that?"

The players on Inashiro Industrial's team were less than thrilled.

After all, Furuya had only been with Seidou's baseball team for a short time.

And already, he could deliver such surprises on the field?

They could hardly imagine how much stronger Furuya might become in the future.

"We can't let that kid keep dominating; we've got to hit this ball!"

Narumiya, watching from the dugout, sensed the opportunity sharply.

Their chances to knock down Furuya's confidence were few and far between.

And right now was the best one.

They couldn't let it slip by!

The third batter from Inashiro clenched his teeth, gripping the bat tightly as he fixed his gaze on Furuya on the mound, like he was facing a mortal enemy.

As soon as the ball came his way, he was ready.

At that moment, the white baseball flew toward him. Compared to the last pitch, it looked significantly slower.

The batter gritted his teeth, his eyes locked on the ball.

As much as his anger surged, even he had to acknowledge Furuya's talent.

Forget about Furuya's incredible fastball—just his changeup with its speed difference was a headache on its own.

The last pitch was 140; this one barely over 100.

The timing required to swing at each was vastly different.

The batter gritted his teeth and swung his bat.

Crack!

The ball made contact and shot toward an opening in Seidou's defense.

"Oh no!"

In the stands, many die-hard Seidou fans went pale.

The ball didn't need to go far—as long as it landed, the score would instantly change.

And Furuya was already exhausted, with no chance of making it through extra innings.

In this situation, Inashiro Industrial High School's baseball team didn't even need to fully turn the game around—if they could just tie the score, victory would be within their grasp.

Just as Seidou High's die-hard fans watched with hearts in their throats, a lithe figure dashed onto the field.

The white-and-blue figure shot forward like a cheetah, diving just as the baseball was about to hit the ground.

Pop!

He caught the ball securely.

"Out!"

The umpire was astonished by the young player's skillful play. Both pitchers were excellent, but the performance of the other players was crucial in making this game as thrilling as it was.

But the action didn't stop there.

The runner on third base, a determined hitter with a gap-toothed smile, saw Kuramochi on the ground and prepared to take a risk by bolting for home plate.

"Stop!" A sharp, commanding voice cut through the air, reaching the runner's ears.

He forced himself to stop, turning his head toward Kuramochi.

He carefully observed that Kuramochi would need some time to get up and throw. Despite being close to home plate, there should be enough time to make it before he could react, right?

Just as the runner had this thought, he noticed another figure.

At the moment Kuramochi made the dive, the third baseman had already abandoned his position and moved over to back him up.

With the strength of the third baseman, he'd be fully capable of throwing the ball to home plate in time.

"Damn! He may look like a baseball gorilla, but I didn't expect him to react so quickly."

Caught off guard, the runner felt a chill run down his spine.

Two outs, bases loaded.

He had come dangerously close to destroying Inashiro Industrial's chance to come back.

"Great job, Masuko-senpai!"

Fans in the stands and players in Seidou's dugout were bursting with excitement.

Now, they were just one out away from winning this game.

Though the situation was precarious, hope wasn't completely out of reach.

"Batting fourth, No. 2, catcher, Harada-kun!"

Two outs, bases loaded.

Now, it was Inashiro's fourth batter's turn at bat.

In the stands, Sawamura was still proudly introducing his teammates to those around him.

"Did you see those two senpais? They're both from Dorm Room No. 5!"

But his first-year friends were all focused on the intense showdown unfolding on the field, ignoring him entirely.

Everyone was fixated on the final batter's showdown.

If they could just get this last out, Seidou would be the Kanto Tournament champions.

However…

If Harada managed to get a hit—or worse, a powerful extra-base hit—they might just lose, with Inashiro turning the game around at the very end.

In the stands, fans were aware of Furuya's fatigued state, so even their cheers were subdued. But on the mound, Furuya seemed unfazed by the noise, focusing solely on his pitch.

Furuya had never felt so exhausted—every ounce of his energy drained. It wasn't pain, just pure fatigue, his strength thoroughly spent. He could even feel a slight tremor in his fingers as he gripped the ball.

"Didn't think it'd feel like this…"

Yet, despite the exhaustion, he still threw the pitch.

Pop!

"Strike!"

The pitch only clocked in at around 110 kilometers per hour, and Harada didn't swing. Behind the plate, Miyuki frowned, knowing that Harada could have easily hit that pitch but chose not to. He didn't want to hit it in that spot.

"This is trouble…"

Just as Miyuki anticipated, on Furuya's second pitch, Harada reacted. Without warning, he swung the bat, connecting perfectly with the ball.

Crack!

The ball shot up, soaring toward the left-field stands.

"Home run!!!" An excited Inashiro fan shouted, barely able to contain himself.

The score would soon shift from 1-0 in Seidou's favor…

But before he could finish his thought, a friend pulled him back, exclaiming, "You idiot!"

"What happened?"

"It went foul!"

The announcer's voice boomed over the field, "What a close call! That swing was almost a game-changer. Seidou's fans must be feeling incredibly lucky right now, as they're only one strike away from victory!"

The intensity was deafening. Everyone on both teams heard the announcement and understood its weight.

But in the batter's box, Harada remained unfazed. He lifted his bat high, exhaling deeply.

"No need to put too much pressure on myself; I've got this. I can hit it!"

This was the determination of a true powerhouse batter.

In the catcher's stance, Miyuki clenched his teeth. He sensed a powerful shift in Harada's resolve—a bad omen.

But no matter the situation, Furuya had to pitch. Summoning his last bit of strength, he wound up and delivered the final pitch.

As the ball hurtled toward him, Harada's eyes gleamed with fierce intent.

"Bring it on!"

In that instant, he wasn't just Inashiro's captain but one of West Tokyo's most formidable sluggers, standing shoulder to shoulder with stars like Omae Takahiro and Yuuki Tetsuya.

Whoosh!

As he swung, the air crackled with intensity. But just before the ball reached the strike zone, it suddenly dropped, curving sharply downward.

The ball hit the ground and bounced cleanly into Miyuki's glove.

Pop!

"Strike three! Batter out!"

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