Chapter 48 Quater-Final (6)

The commentator's voice rang, "The match is now tied! Seimei has a runner on third, and Kaito Nakashima is up to bat. Can they take the lead?"

Seimei's fans roared, chanting Kaito's name, the energy surging through the crowd like an electric current. A player in the Seimei dugout leaned over to his teammate, eyes glued to Kaito as he stepped into the batter's box. "You know, he swings his bat every single day."

The other player nodded, his voice quiet with awe. "Yeah, He's become one with it."

Kaito gripped his bat firmly, feeling the weight of the game on his shoulders. He had to make contact, had to drive Kenji home from third. Kaito thought. Ryoichi hasn't gotten back to his form since the injury, so it's up to us to get the runs we need. We'll make you a true ace, Ryoichi.

From the dugout, Coach Nakamura watched Kaito closely. That's it, he thought as he observed the fire in his eyes. That's the look we need. He knows this is his moment.

On the mound, Noboru could feel the pressure building. He stared down Kaito, his body tense. This team... they're on a different level. Noboru's thoughts raced as he tried to calm himself. Their swing speed.....it's like nothing we've faced all season.

But Noboru wasn't going to back down. He took a deep breath, narrowing his focus as he prepared for the pitch. I'm the ace. I have to show that here. I won't let them score. Not now.

He wound up, delivering a pitch toward the outside corner of the plate. Kaito tracked it all the way, his bat coiling like a snake ready to strike. Outside? he thought, then committed, swinging with everything he had. His bat connected with the ball, sending it sharply back toward the mound.

Noboru reacted instantly, his glove snapping up to snag the ball. In one fluid motion, he turned and fired it to first base. "Out!" the umpire yelled. As soon as the ball left the first baseman's glove, it was fired back to home plate, where Kenji was sprinting toward the catcher.

The entire stadium seemed to freeze as the ball arrived at the exact moment Kenji slid into home. The umpire hovered, his face tight with tension as he weighed the call.

Then his hand shot out dramatically, "Ooooooout!"

A double play! The Suma Tomogaoka fans erupted into cheers, their voices rising in a deafening wave that filled the stadium. "That's how you do it, Nobo!" a Suma fan yelled, pumping his fist into the air. "Nice play!"

In the stands, one fan leaned over to his friend, his face etched with amazement. "Did that pitch sink? What was that?"

"Yeah!" his friend shouted, shaking his head in disbelief. "It broke like a sinker. At that speed? Unbelievable!"

In the Seimei dugout, Shinjiro was wide-eyed. "He had another pitch like that?" he muttered to himself, watching Noboru closely. The intensity of the game was getting to him, even from the bench.

Kai, sitting beside Shinjiro, nodded with a solemn expression. "Yeah. That drop was insane. He's really, really good."

Shinjiro shook his head, leaning back in his seat. "We have to find a way to hit him."

But Seimei's momentum was slowing. Noboru's confidence was returning, and it showed as Yamashita (Kazuki), Seimei's next batter, approached the plate. Noboru mixed his pitches effortlessly, keeping Yamashita off-balance with a fastball here, a slider there. Yamashita never stood a chance.

The count was 1-2 when Noboru unleashed a devastating slider low and inside. Yamashita hesitated, not expecting the ball to break as sharply as it did. He swung late, the bat cutting through nothing but air.

"Strike three! Batter out!" the umpire called.

The commentator's voice echoed through the stadium. "Noboru's slider shuts down Seimei again! The game remains tied at 2-2!"

In the dugout, Noboru's teammates crowded around him, clapping him on the back. "Nice pitch, Nobo! Great pace!"

Masato caught Noboru's eye, giving him a firm nod. "Now you're back. Let's keep that energy going."

As Seimei's players jogged back to the dugout, Renjiro, the reporter, leaned back in his seat, his eyes never leaving the field. "The game is tied now, but I can sense a pitcher's duel coming. Both aces are starting to settle in."

Yamamoto, sitting beside him, nodded in agreement. "But the next time Kenji comes up to bat will be critical. He's already proven he can get the best of Noboru."

A few rows down, Hiroshi sat next to his wife, Yumi, his hand stroking his chin thoughtfully. "It's simple," he said, his voice carrying just enough for Renjiro and Yamamoto to hear. "If Suma avoids Kenji, they win this game."

Renjiro turned, curious. "But can Noboru be convinced to avoid Kenji? His pride might get in the way."

Hiroshi's eyes narrowed, a knowing smile playing at the corner of his lips. "That's up to Coach Fujimoto, isn't it? The pride of the ace, or the team's victory. What matters more?"

Renjiro's eyes flickered with intrigue, Hiroshi's words settling over him. Pride or victory? he thought, mulling it over. It wasn't just a question for the players on the field. It was the heart of the game.

Back in the dugout, Noboru wiped the sweat from his brow as he took a seat. His adrenaline was still pumping, his heart racing from the intensity of the last inning. He leaned back, staring up at the blue sky overhead, his mind wandering for a moment. But then his focus snapped back, his eyes locking onto the field. The game wasn't over yet.

On the other side, Ryoichi stood on the mound, ready to start the next inning. His control had been shaky early on, but now his mind was clear. He knew Noboru would be back soon, and their duel was far from finished.

In the stands, the fans buzzed with anticipation. The next inning would decide everything, and the air crackled with tension.

Coach Nakamura watched his players file into the dugout, his jaw set, his mind racing ahead to the next move. The game was locked in a stalemate, but he knew they couldn't rely on the pitching alone. They'd have to find a way to break through Suma's defense.

And as the fans cheered and the players returned to the field, both teams prepared for the inevitable clash to come. Every pitch, every swing, every step mattered now. This wasn't just about a game anymore. It was about who would stand victorious when the dust settled.

For now, though, the score remained 2-2. And the battle was just beginning.

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