Chapter 60: One of a Kind

All the teammates of Bunkyo gathered at the pitcher's mound.

Previously, when asking the third baseman why he had made an error, the third baseman had been stammering, unable to provide a clear answer.

The exchange students were seething with anger.

Clearly, this outcome was unsatisfactory to them.

With the team on the verge of collapse, Aoki couldn't help but recall when he first joined Bunkyo High School.

He had come with dreams of leading Bunkyo to Koshien.

Just like the protagonist in every sports anime, he arrived in a world where nobody knew anything about baseball.

In this school, everyone's focus was solely on academic performance.

For them, failing to get into a renowned university was a failure. In such an environment, who had the time to play baseball?

Although there was a so-called baseball club, they were merely a team eliminated in the first or second rounds.

Aoki Sugi had managed, almost single-handedly, to revive Bunkyo High School's team, leading them to the top 16 in Tokyo.

But that was about it.

To aim higher was to confront the formidable walls of private schools. To go even further was to face the towering walls of elite schools.

That world was beyond the reach of Bunkyo High School. It wasn't something he and his teammates could aspire to just by fighting hard.

In an era where even the Majors paid attention to Koshien, the real Powerhouse Schools were just a step away from professionalism.

Teams like Bunkyo High School had no chance of advancing further.

It wasn't until the arrival of the exchange students that everyone saw a glimmer of hope.

Maybe they could indeed create a miracle...

However, with every benefit comes a drawback.

Four exceptionally skilled exchange students arrived, each in crucial positions.

This undeniably strengthened Bunkyo High School.

Yet it also created another issue: the clear gap in team members' skill levels.

In such a situation, against weaker opponents, they could certainly dominate with the strength of the exchange students.

But once they faced tough opponents like Seidou High School, the problems immediately surfaced.

Pressure resistance, experience, skill...

The gaps were glaring.

As the team teetered on the brink of collapse, Aoki shut his eyes in focus.

'Don't we share any common ground?'

'No, we must have.'

Looking up at the Seidou batters and the group in the Seidou High School dugout.

Under the leadership of Sawamura and Miyuki, they stood there, eyes locked like predators preparing to pounce on their prey.

And Bunkyo was the helpless prey.

Since the internal conflict couldn't be suppressed, he decided to redirect the tension.

With a sense of resignation, Aoki Sugi spoke up.

"I know everyone has different values and there are significant skill gaps. For you guys, our skills have indeed held you back. But now, we are comrades fighting side by side, right? Our enemy is over there!"

As Aoki pointed towards the Seidou dugout, their focus was redirected.

Whether it was the original Bunkyo High School players or the newly arrived exchange students, they all stared fiercely at the Seidou High School dugout.

At that moment, the fractures within their team quickly mended.

The team's fighting spirit was restored.

In the Seidou High School dugout.

Miyuki scratched the back of his head in frustration.

"Do you think they're saying anything good about us?"

He turned to ask Sawamura.

"Definitely not nice things!"

Given the sharp glint in their eyes, Sawamura was convinced they weren't singing their praises.

"The opponent has taken action!"

After discussing their strategy on the mound, the players from Bunkyo High School quickly sprang into action.

Facing a precarious situation with no Outs and runners on first and third base, they decisively chose to confront Haruichi Kominato head-on.

At the same time, the infielders made significant adjustments to their defensive positions.

Both the first and third basemen moved forward, while the shortstop and second baseman stepped back a few paces.

The entire infield defense formed a massive "M" shape!

"Cross infield defense!"

In the dugout, Miyuki muttered under his breath.

"What?"

Maezono, sitting beside him, frowned in confusion.

"It's a defensive alignment centered around the bases. It looks like the opponent wants to aim for a double play..."

Ambitious!

But it's not surprising.

In such a dire situation, if the opponent remains passive, it's akin to digging their own grave.

Choosing to actively struggle, as they are now, makes perfect sense.

Even if this struggle carries great risk, as long as there is a struggle, there is hope.

Miyuki glanced thoughtfully at Kataoka, who was not far away.

Kataoka wore sunglasses that concealed his eyes.

Just as Miyuki hesitated, wondering if he should remind his Coach, Ochiai, who had been sitting in the dugout, approached and stroked his chin, saying,

"The opponent has begun to act!"

He didn't say anything more. However, he believed that Superintendent Kataoka would surely understand his meaning.

Kataoka did not disappoint him. After a barely perceptible nod, he decisively signaled the players on the field.

Now the opponent's intentions were crystal clear.

'They absolutely did not want us to score another point.'

What should be done in this situation?

'Of course, we can't let it go.'

'The more strictly the opponent guards, the more we must find a way to exploit their defense.'

'Nishiyama should seize the opportunity to steal a base directly.'

'If Kuramochi has a chance, he should run to second base; if not, he should create an opportunity while appearing poised to steal.'

Put pressure on the pitcher on the mound!

After instructing the base runners, Coach Kataoka signaled Kominato Haruichi in the Batter's Box.

'Hit It!'

'I don't care if it is a swing or a bunt, this point must be secured, no matter what!'

Once the three players received the signal, their faces turned serious. No one spoke; they simply nodded and focused on their tasks.

As the three of them moved in unison, the entire field was the fire before the explosion.

Even the supporters who had been cheering enthusiastically for Seidou quieted down.

It wasn't that they didn't want to cheer; the scene before them was so intense that they were genuinely afraid of missing a crucial moment.

"The moment that decides the game has arrived!"

In the stands, senior reporter Fujio from Baseball Kingdom Magazine made a decisive statement.

Owada Akiko beside him nodded vigorously in agreement, her head bobbing like a chick pecking at grains.

They could see it, and so could the scouts who had come specifically to watch the game.

Although the players these scouts were interested in were not currently on the field, this did not diminish their appreciation for the match.

It was a thrilling moment!

This fierce confrontation even stirred long-time veterans like them who had been in the baseball industry for years.

"This is the charm of high school baseball!"

Because professional baseball is too mature, it inevitably lacks a bit of passion.

For example, a professional baseball team has around ten pitchers.

In such cases, if a pitcher is not performing well, they will immediately be replaced to minimize the chances of the team conceding runs.

In contrast, high school baseball is not like that.

Here, you can witness more intense collisions and more daring tactics.

While the skills may be less refined, the excitement is certainly not lacking.

Adding the aspiring youthful ambitions, it became a different story altogether.

This is the charm of high school baseball, and it embodies the most primal allure of the sport.

With tens of thousands of spectators watching, the tactical duel between the two teams began.

In the catcher's position, Aoki felt his palms grow damp with sweat.

Not only his teammates but also even he was incredibly nervous. In contrast, the exchange students, having experienced many such situations, remained relatively calm but not less thrilled.

Nervousness aside, Aoki's thoughts were steady from start to finish.

They had already discussed their strategy on the mound. Now, it was time to see how well the strategy would play out…

Would it revive the team, or would they be crushed by the opponent's overwhelming strength?

Aoki had no way of knowing.

But that didn't stop him from boldly going forward.

Bring it on!

He signaled the pitcher, then squatted down in the catcher's position.

Whoosh!

Without any hesitation, Jack April unleashed the ball from his hand.

His pitching rhythm seemed even faster than Sawamura's; in the blink of an eye, the ball was already in front of him.

'Fast!'

'The kind that takes you by surprise.'

Kominato Haruichi, who had initially intended to lay down a bunt, quickly changed his mind upon seeing the pitch and withdrew his bat.

The small ball zipped perfectly into Aoki Sugimoto's mitt, making a huge, jarring sound.

SNAP!

The weight of the pitch sent shivers down their spines.

"Kominato didn't go for the bunt?"

A wave of discussion erupted in Seidou's dugout.

Clearly, this outcome was difficult for everyone to accept.

Given that the opponent had already devised a countermeasure, and considering their firm resolve to not concede more runs by facing Seidou's players head-on, shouldn't Seidou High School take the opposite approach and score first?

As long as they managed to secure one more point, they could push the opponent into the depths of despair.

From a psychological standpoint, isn't it advantageous for one's own side to do what the opponent most dreads?

"He doesn't not want to; he simply can't."

Miyuki, hearing the chatter around him, spoke up.

"The last pitch couldn't be bunted. If he attempted a bunt, it would likely rebound higher."

"How do you know?" Maezono asked, confused.

"Kominato has strong judgment; I simply choose to trust his instincts."

Miyuki was right!

When Haruichi tried to make contact with the ball before him, he suddenly felt a strange sense of foreboding.

It felt heavier than any pitch he had faced before.

No reasoning behind it, just an instinct.

Trusting his gut, Kominato let the ball go.

'Did he notice?'

Aoki squinted at Kominato Haruichi from his catcher's position.

'No, he probably hadn't yet.'

'His stance and swing hadn't adjusted, so he should not have noticed.'

'Or maybe he was just suspicious.'

'His instincts are really sharp!'

Aoki thought to himself, but he decisively issued the previous signal again.

Because Seidou High School was pressing them so tightly, their options were limited.

However, this was not without its advantages.

Now, they could be more resolute in their choices.

After all, there was no way out; who cared about trying again?

Bring it on!

Aoki Sugimoto's unwavering spirit inspired Jack April on the mound.

"Sugi, that's how it should be."

Jack April preferred face-to-face duels.

With swords and guns out.

Whoosh!

The ball hurtled toward Haruichi faster than before.

This time, Kominato was clearly prepared.

He took a normal swing.

Paak!

The moment the bat made contact with the ball, Haruichi felt as though his arms had been run over by a truck.

It was incredibly heavy.

He struggled to keep the ball on course but couldn't manage it.

After hitting the bat, the ball shot out of bounds.

"FOUL!"

One Strike, one Foul.

Kominato Haruichi found himself down with two Strikes.

While there were many spectators in the stands unwaveringly supported him.

But most spectators weren't optimistic about his chances of hitting the ball.

April's pitch was simply too heavy.

When you think about it, aside from the home run and hit by Sawamura, Seidou High School rarely managed to get good hits.

In fact, there was just Nishiyama.

Kuramochi's base hit relied solely on his speed.

Not to mention, April's pitching was particularly effective against players like Kominato Haruichi.

The first two pitches were the best evidence.

The audience's keen eyes weren't mistaken.

With Kominato Haruichi's own strength, hitting the ball cleanly was truly challenging.

Especially since he was using a wooden bat.

'It's clear he has good talent, but he's so stubborn. If he were willing to use a metal bat now, the situation wouldn't be so grim.'

There was an undeniable sense of regret in Coach Ochiai's eyes.

It was true that Haruichi Kominato had an exceptional ball sense and miracle-like dynamic eyes; if only he were willing to take his advice.

Seidou High School's lineup would definitely perform better as a result.

Just when everyone seemed to lose hope.

In the Batter's Box, one person remained unwilling to give up.

That person was Kominato Haruichi.

The pitcher started pitching.

In the blink of an eye, the third pitch flew in.

'We will end it! With this ball!'

This was the very pitch that April claimed would Strike Out Kominato.

However, before his words had even finished, he was thoroughly proven wrong.

Paak!

The ball was struck, and it soared into the air.

Though it didn't go far, only about seven or eight meters, it did bounce after hitting the ground.

'But an opportunity had emerged...'

A smile finally appeared on Kominato Haruichi 's face.

…

T/N: He did it! The mad lad did it!

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