Chapter 38: To be Expected

"Keha-ha-ha! Keha-ha-haa!"

In the Batter's Box, Raichi let out a hearty, eerie laugh.

'Amazing!'

'Amazing!!!'

'The ball came over in an instant, like a bullet fired from a gun!'

'like, like this way...'

'Haha, Amazing!!!!'

"Baseball is Amazing!!"

His thought processes are hard for anyone but himself to comprehend.

As Raichi hit a home run, the rest area of Yakushi High School suddenly erupted like a boiling pot.

"Start running you idiot!"

"Don't forget to touch the base!!!"

They didn't cheer for Raichi right away; instead, the sound of complaints filled the air.

This scene made the audience in the stands chuckle—these players from Yakushi High School are so amusing.

It's hard to tell what they're really thinking, but they certainly have their own ideas...

Every time Raichi made an impressive play, they mostly complained more than they applauded, except on rare occasions.

In the rest area of Seidou High School.

Sawamura Eijun and Miyuki Kazuya, sitting on the bench, felt an indescribable aura as their team fell behind by two points right from the start.

Even in silence, their presence made others hesitate to look directly at them.

"Oi! What's up with those two guys?"

"They are probably angry!"

"The opponent is giving it their all, and we…"

A few friends whispered among themselves.

Coach Kataoka, wearing sunglasses, and Coach Ochiai, stroking his chin, remained noncommittal.

No one could guess what these two seasoned coaches were thinking.

While Sawamura and Miyuki were presumed to be angry, they were actually quite different from what others imagined.

The two were quietly exchanging information.

"Did you know about Nishiyama's Winning Shot?"

Miyuki asked with a complicated tone.

He had partnered with Nishiyama before, and after that guy was promoted to the first string, Miyuki also caught his pitches.

But Miyuki hadn't known until now that Nishiyama had such a powerful tiebreaker hidden up his sleeve.

Sawamura and Nishiyama were dorm mates and both pitchers.

Miyuki figured Sawamura must know something.

Sawamura shook his head with a wry smile.

Nishiyama hadn't made a name in professional baseball, so Sawamura didn't know anything about his skill in that area.

'And he this ball all of this time, even when he was ordered to pitch.'

'He truly hid it well.'

The score on the field had changed to 2:0.

With Raichi's home run, the mighty Seidou High School was now trailing by two points.

That powerful hit left even Seidou's supporters speechless.

For that last pitch, they couldn't pin all the blame on the pitcher.

If they had to find a reason for that home run, they could only blame the opponent for being too strong.

Todoroki Raichi…

Thanks to Sawamura's influence, Raichi was now much stronger than when Sawamura had faced him in his previous life.

His current strength was outrageously high.

Even Sawamura had to treat him with caution.

Not to mention a first-year rookie…

The total score was 2:0.

To the audience, this was a natural outcome.

In the dugout of Yakushi High School.

Todoroki Raizou, lazily lying on the bench, had a cold smile at the corner of his mouth.

He looked at Seidou with a confident smile.

'So Coach Kataoka, what are you planning to do next?'

He was genuinely curious about Seidou High School's strategy, uncertain how they would respond to the current situation.

Coach Kataoka quickly gave an answer.

He stood motionless in the rest area.

Raizou's expression darkened.

'As expected from the national Champions who had dominated the previous Summer and Spring Tournaments.'

No need to say more, just this kind of calmness is something other small team coaches can't match.

"Can you really remain unmoved by a two-point gap? Very well! Then we won't hold back…"

The Spring Tournament Championship is, of course, a trivial matter for top-tier teams like Seidou High School but regrettable to waste.

But for Yakushi High School, a team with no historical pedigree, winning the Spring Tournament would be enough for them to boast for a while.

Just as Todoroki Raizou was plotting in his mind, the situation on the field changed again.

Ping!

The fifth batter, Shunpei Sanada, hit the ball beautifully and then, as if it were a matter of course, sprinted straight to second base.

The ball drew a good arc and landed in the outfield.

A double!

On the pitcher's mound, Nishiyama felt increasingly clear-headed.

Nishiyama himself did not dislike challenges. Although the process is filled with various risks, it also leads to personal growth.

After all, towering trees cannot grow in a greenhouse.

Initially, he rejected invitations from other wealthy teams and chose to join Seidou High School precisely because it is the harshest environment for pitchers.

After watching Sawamura Eijun's pitching, he became even more determined to defeat the "Demon King" at Seidou High School!

He originally thought that, with his own strength, even if he couldn't defeat Sawamura in a short time, securing the position of Ace pitcher at Seidou High School wouldn't be a problem. He should at least become a rotation pitcher first.

'Throughout all of this, I truly didn't take high school baseball seriously.'

'My purpose from beginning to end was singular: Sawamura!'

'Unexpectedly, the level of high school baseball was terrifying.'

With the achievements he made in middle school, it was not surprising to have such thoughts.

World Runner-up Pitcher!

The top player among his peers.

If he didn't have this bit of pride, Nishiyama felt he would be letting down his contemporaries.

Little did he expect…

He raised his head to look at the sixth batter from Yakushi High School stepping onto the field.

Nishiyama's eyes filled with complex emotions.

He had already been hit with a home run by Raichi, and before he could react, he was hit by Sanada again.

The total score was 2-0, with two outs and a runner on second base.

Sanada, who was originally good at hitting straight balls, showed no intention of doing so in his last at-bat. He swung at the first pitch, aiming for Nishiyama's breaking ball.

Nishiyama's gaze deepened.

At this moment, he became more aware of what kind of team Yakushi High School was.

Who were the opponents standing before him?

'Each one of them was not to be underestimated.'

In the rest area, Superintendent Kataoka didn't give any sign for substitution, indicating that for now, he still hoped Nishiyama could hold on.

A trace of relief flashed in his heart as Nishiyama's blood surged with excitement.

'Challenge!'

'Challenge!!!'

Only challenges could accelerate his growth.

Although the scene before him was something Nishiyama had never anticipated, it didn't diminish his fighting spirit in the least.

He pulled back his stance and decisively threw the ball in his hand.

Getting hit with home runs and hits in succession should make any pitcher feel a twinge of doubt.

But Nishiyama felt none of that.

His pitching motion was smooth, showing no sign of hesitation.

Whoosh!

Like a bullet suddenly fired from a Desert Eagle, Nishiyama's pitch caught everyone off guard.

Yakushi's batter frowned, his expression a bit hesitant.

However, he resolutely swung the bat.

In the words of their coach, Todoroki Raizou, in situations like this, they really had no choice. As long as they didn't want to be annihilated, they could only fight.

There was still a chance to fight!

If they gave up, it would all be over.

'Hit it!'

Ping!

The ball was hit, soaring high.

Ono, the catcher, stood up and stepped forward, confidently catching the ball in his Mitt.

Snap!

"OUT!!!"

There was no doubt about that.

Three Outs, offense and defense exchange.

After conceding two runs, Nishiyama managed to hold on through the first inning.

Yet, Nishiyama, having successfully defended the first inning, showed no sign of relief.

'The strength of the opponent exceeded my expectations.'

The sixth batter of Yakushi had left no impression during the data summary Seidou had done beforehand.

No impression meant the opponent's strength shouldn't be particularly outstanding.

'Yet he had managed to hit a Gyro ball on his first swing'?

In the dugout of Seidou High School…

Coach Kataoka, wearing sunglasses, displayed no joy or anger on his face.

Nishiyama, who had given up two runs, looked guilty.

He opened his mouth to say something but ultimately said nothing.

"Being able to go head-to-head against the opponent's fourth batter without fear is impressive!"

Coach Kataoka did not reprimand him but instead said.

Nishiyama's eyes widened in surprise.

He had thought the coach would definitely be angry, especially since if he hadn't stubbornly head-dived into a showdown with Raichi, the outcome could have been very different…

"Walk your own path and don't worry about what others think," Kataoka said as if seeing through Nishiyama's heart.

"Superintendent!"

Nishiyama was nearly moved to tears.

Even his previous coach hadn't treated him this well. If he were willful, he would also be reprimanded.

To his surprise, Superintendent Kataoka was this kind of person.

"Three runs in three innings. After three innings, if the situation turns unfavorable, I may also replace you, so be mentally prepared." Kataoka's tone was calm.

A flicker of unwillingness flashed in Nishiyama's eyes.

Instinctively, he was reluctant to give up the mound. Yet, he also understood the intention behind Kataoka's arrangement.

'Three runs!'

This margin was within Seidou High School's range. If the gap exceeded that, it would be more difficult for Seidou to recover.

Moreover, there was another point.

It would take time for Seidou High School to recover the score. It didn't mean they could defeat Yakushi in a blink.

That's why there was a three-inning limit.

"Yes!"

Nishiyama's gaze became resolute; he would not allow another run to score.

On the bench, Sawamura and Miyuki exchanged glances, both seeing a bit of surprise in each other's eyes.

Yakushi High School played a routine in today's game.

Coach Kataoka had been completely outmaneuvered by Raizou…

Unexpectedly, Kataoka was already planning a counterattack so quickly.

With two years of Koshien experience, it seemed that not only the players of Seidou High School's baseball club had made significant progress, but also Superintendent Kataoka had improved.

In baseball, opportunities are fleeting.

If you're unsure of the best timing and tactics, it's better to go all out from the start, giving the opponent no chance to react.

Coach Kataoka's current approach was similar.

He wasn't sure, so he didn't pick the best timing or tactics. Thus, he simply didn't think about it and didn't give Yakushi any chance to strike.

If it weren't for a bit of pride, he would have sent all the main players out directly.

Of course, that wouldn't be a good idea either!

It might actually be Yakushi High School's true sinister intent.

To expose Seidou completely to the spotlight.

One must remember that in the stands of Jingu Stadium, there were not just supporters and fans of the two teams.

There were also other prestigious schools there to gather intelligence…

As Coach Kataoka began to prepare for action, Todoroki Raizou was not idle in the Yakushi High School rest area.

"The lead is secured, now let's snowball it. Let's expand our advantage, everyone!"

Todoroki Raizou, like a bandit leader coming down from the mountains, encouraged his players.

"And remember to enjoy the game!"

Under Todoroki Raizou's earnest guidance, the players of Yakushi High School seemed to be on fire, going to the field highly motivated.

After taking their positions, they started to move forward a little.

It seemed they were giving no chance for Seidou High School players to bunt at all.

This was due, of course, to their opponents.

Kuramochi Youichi!

In today's game, five of Seidou High School's nine main players were on the field, and Kuramochi was one of them.

Before stepping onto the field, Kuramochi noticed Nishiyama's downcast expression and heavily patted his shoulder.

"Hey, don't be discouraged. Just think about how to deal with the next batter. As for the score, we'll get it back for you."

If the opponent were Sanada Shunpei, Kuramochi wouldn't dare to take such a bold stance.

Although Sanada's reputation isn't as high as Sawamura's, his strength is genuine.

Even though Kuramochi was no longer the same as before, he wouldn't dare to boast about recovering the score.

But the opponent is Mishima, which is different.

After stepping into the Batter's Box, Kuramochi eagerly adjusted his stance, pretending to be ready to bunt.

Even though Yakushi knew Kuramochi was bluffing, their infielders dared not pull back.

What if he was serious?

If Kuramochi actually tried to steal a base, who would take the responsibility then?

So even knowing this guy wouldn't actually attempt a bunt, Yakushi High School's infielders didn't dare to let their guard down.

"Haa-ha-ha!!"

On the pitcher's mound, Mishima laughed wildly.

His dream was to become Yakushi High School's Ace pitcher and fourth batter.

Though he was still some distance from the fourth batter position, he had already become a starting pitcher.

'It is a small step forward.'

'The next step is to take over and pull Raichi down from the fourth batter position.'

Imagining this scene in his mind made him a little excited.

Mishima's eyes sparkled with excitement, and he pitched with abandon.

Whoosh!

Mishima's pitching was rough but resilient.

Hitting it wasn't easy at all.

'He's got some skill over the past year!' Kuramochi recognized this.

The opponent's pitching has indeed improved; if it had been before, he would have found it annoying to hit.

But now.

"During that time, I certainly didn't stand still!"

…