Chapter 25: Seidou’s Counterattack

The bottom of the sixth inning began with Seidou stepping up to bat, fired up after Eijun's incredible escape. The tension was still thick in the air, but the energy in Seidou's dugout had shifted. They had regained a sense of hope, an electric belief that they could take this game back. All they needed was one breakthrough, one chance to tip the balance in their favor.

First up was Kuramochi, Seidou's speedster. As he stepped into the batter's box, his usual grin was replaced by a look of fierce determination. He was quick, aggressive, and one of the most unpredictable hitters on the team—a perfect way to throw off Yakushi's ace.

Eijun watched from the dugout, still buzzing from his performance on the mound. He clenched his fists, silently willing Kuramochi to get on base. The game was hanging by a thread, and everyone knew it. Seidou needed to make the most of this inning, or risk giving Yakushi another chance to pounce.

Yakushi's pitcher threw his first pitch—a fastball right down the middle. But Kuramochi was ready. He swung with full force, sending the ball rocketing past the third baseman and into left field for a clean single. The Seidou crowd erupted in cheers as Kuramochi sprinted to first base, pumping his fist in victory.

"That's the way!" Miyuki shouted, clapping from the dugout. He turned to the next batter, giving a small nod of encouragement.

With Kuramochi on first, the pressure was on Yakushi's defense. Everyone knew what he was planning: a steal. And as soon as the pitcher wound up for his next pitch, Kuramochi took off. The catcher fired the ball to second, but Kuramochi was too fast, sliding in safely just ahead of the tag.

Now, with a runner in scoring position, the mood in Seidou's dugout became even more intense. They could sense the opportunity, and everyone was determined to seize it.

Next up to bat was Haruichi Kominato, the quiet but deadly hitter. His composure and accuracy had often made the difference in close games, and today, all eyes were on him. He stepped up to the plate, his bat held high, his gaze steady.

The pitcher threw a curveball, hoping to catch Haruichi off guard, but Haruichi didn't flinch. He swung, making perfect contact, and the ball shot into right-center field. Kuramochi took off from second, rounding third as the right fielder scrambled to retrieve the ball.

"Go, go, go!" the Seidou dugout roared as Kuramochi sprinted toward home. He slid in just as the throw reached the plate, narrowly beating the tag.

"Safe!" the umpire called, and Seidou took the lead once again, 2-1.

The Seidou stands erupted into cheers, the team pouring out of the dugout to congratulate Kuramochi and Haruichi. Eijun's voice was among the loudest, his excitement contagious as he cheered for his teammates. The game had shifted, and now Seidou had the advantage. But they knew better than to get complacent—Yakushi was still lurking, ready to retaliate.

With the lead back in their hands, the Seidou players returned to the dugout with renewed energy. Coach Kataoka glanced at Eijun, who was still bursting with energy and ready to take on the world.

"Good work out there, Sawamura," Coach said, giving him a rare, approving nod. "But stay sharp. I'm counting on you to keep us in the game."

Eijun's eyes lit up with determination. "You can count on me, Coach! I'll keep them scoreless!"

Miyuki stepped up beside him, adjusting his gear. "You heard him, Sawamura. Keep that focus. Yakushi's got hitters who can turn the game around in an instant, so we can't give them an inch."

Eijun nodded, clenching his glove tighter. He understood the stakes. With only a few innings left, every pitch mattered. His job was clear: to protect the lead and prevent Yakushi from gaining any ground.

As Eijun took the mound for the top of the seventh, he could feel the weight of the game bearing down on him, but he welcomed it. This was where he thrived, where he felt most alive.

Yakushi's batters didn't make things easy. They fought for every pitch, fouling off Eijun's fastballs and forcing him into long, grueling at-bats. But Eijun was relentless. With Miyuki's guidance, he mixed his pitches, keeping Yakushi off balance and working tirelessly to prevent them from gaining any momentum.

With two outs and a runner on second, Raichi Todoroki stepped up to the plate once again. The crowd fell silent, everyone aware of the showdown that was about to unfold. Eijun's heart raced as he met Raichi's gaze. This was it—the moment that could decide the game.

Miyuki signaled for a fastball, and Eijun nodded, winding up and throwing with everything he had. The ball streaked toward the plate, but Raichi was ready. He swung with all his might, making solid contact and sending the ball into deep left field.

Eijun held his breath as the ball sailed through the air, seeming to hang for an eternity. But just as it looked like it might clear the fence, the left fielder leapt, reaching up and snatching the ball out of the air.

The crowd erupted, Seidou's fans cheering in relief as the inning came to a close. Raichi's expression was one of disbelief as he walked back to the dugout, and Eijun let out a sigh of relief, his heart pounding with the realization of how close they had come.

In the bottom of the eighth, Seidou managed to score an insurance run, bringing the score to 3-1. Every player in the lineup contributed, either with clutch hits, strategic bunts, or aggressive baserunning. They were playing as a unit, each player giving everything they had to secure their lead.

By the time the ninth inning rolled around, Eijun knew this was his moment to seal the game. He could feel the weight of the championship bearing down on him, but he welcomed it. He had come too far to falter now.

The first batter grounded out to third, and the second struck out swinging. Just one more out, and the title would be theirs. But standing in his way was none other than Raichi Todoroki, the one player who had been a constant thorn in Seidou's side.

Miyuki crouched behind the plate, meeting Eijun's gaze with a determined smirk. "Let's finish this, Sawamura. Give him everything you've got."

Eijun nodded, his eyes blazing with intensity. This was it—the final showdown.

He wound up for the pitch, putting every ounce of strength, focus, and heart into his throw. The ball zipped toward the plate, and Raichi swung with full force. The two forces collided, but this time, it was Eijun who came out on top.

Raichi's swing missed, and the ball smacked into Miyuki's glove.

"Strike three!" the umpire called.

The stadium erupted as Eijun fell to his knees, overwhelmed by the emotion of the moment. Seidou had done it—they had won the championship. His teammates rushed the field, surrounding him in a whirlwind of cheers, laughter, and triumphant shouts.

Eijun felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Miyuki grinning down at him. "Nice job, ace. We couldn't have done it without you."

Tears pricked at the corners of Eijun's eyes as he looked around at his teammates, each of them beaming with pride. They had fought, struggled, and given everything they had—and now, they were champions.

As the team celebrated, Eijun knew that this was just the beginning. There would be more challenges, more battles, and more moments that would test him. But for now, he allowed himself to bask in the victory, surrounded by the team that had become his family.

New Fan-Fiction: Major Reset: Pitching for a New Future