Chapter 62: Thunder Beast

In the dugout, Todoroki Raizou sported dark bags under his eyes, he was giving the impression that he was suffering from a headache.

"I must have drunk too much last night; my head hurts!"

Sanada understood his Coach's duplicitous nature.

Claiming to have drunk too much was nonsense.

'He probably stayed up watching game footage until dawn, right?'

Yakushi's advancement to this stage was due to two main reasons.

First, their strength was genuinely impressive; they defeated opponents through sheer power.

Second, they benefited from the element of surprise; earlier opponents didn't fully understand Yakushi, which caught them off guard.

But such good fortune wouldn't last forever.

As they continued to climb higher, their opponents would begin to take them seriously.

Moreover, as the Koshien tournament progressed, no team would be easy to match.

The upcoming matches would only grow tougher.

'But that was fine.'

For Yakushi High to make it to Koshien had already fulfilled their primary objective.

To let everyone in the country know the names of the Todoroki Raizou and Raichi!

Their goal was 80% complete.

As for the rest, they simply needed to enjoy the games.

***

The game between Yakushi High School and Seihou High School is beginning.

For this match, the members of the Seidou High School baseball team expressed various opinions about the two teams.

"What do you think?"

Miyuki had approached Sawamura without anyone noticing, asking with genuine curiosity.

It seemed he really wanted to know Sawamura's opinion on this game.

Sawamura shook his head and replied with three words.

"I don't know who will win!"

If it were a simple matchup based on strength, Sawamura believed the two teams were evenly matched.

Both have their strengths and weaknesses.

Their strengths are at the very top level in the country, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they are the best.

Their weaknesses, however, are also quite rare among top teams.

It's a tight contest, no doubt about it.

"If I had to lean towards one, I'd favor Seihou!"

Seeing Miyuki refuse to leave, Sawamura spoke honestly.

"The type of the Ace pitcher largely determines the style of both teams. Although Sanada-senpai is a good pitcher, he lacks one thing."

"What?"

Miyuki asked with a smile.

'It seemed they were on the same wavelength.'

"Stability!"

Sanada's stability and stamina as a pitcher wouldn't allow him to stay in the field for long.

On the other hand, Akashi Seiya is much more stable and consistent.

Sawamura was confident about this.

In a direct matchup against Raichi, Sawamura didn't have high hopes for Akashi Seiya.

Raichi's prowess far exceeded that of an average high school student. He could wait until the ball was right in his zone before swinging.

In such a scenario, no fast or breaking ball would likely escape his swing.

Unless the game calling was incredibly sharp and tricky to support that.

But Seihou lacked that level of catchers.

If Akashi opted to face Raichi directly,

Sawamura would definitely side with Yakushi High School.

But judging by Seihou's Coach's approach to the games, he would not allow that.

Aside from Raichi, Yakushi High School also boasted strong batters like Mishima and Sanada.

However, even with their strength, it wouldn't be easy to take down Akashi solidly.

As long as he maintains strong pitching, it's possible to keep Yakushi's scoring at zero.

That's Sawamura's perspective on this game.

The next developments in the game mirrored Sawamura Eijun's expectations closely.

Sanada, who had just taken the mound, showcased extraordinary focus and skill.

Using his cutter, he managed to solve the top three batters from Seihou High School.

Then, Seiya quickly matched him, disposing of Yakushi's top three, including Akiba Kazuma and Mishima while showing his strong spirit and sharp and powerful pitching.

In terms of results, their first round was an even match.

Next came the second inning.

Against Seihou High School's core batters, Sanada inevitably allowed a hit.

But he perfectly suppressed the following batters, preventing any score.

In this match, his performance was quite mature; he already exhibited the demeanor of a top national pitcher.

In the stands, Miyuki smiled wryly.

"During this period, our rivals have made remarkable progress!"

This was no exaggeration; the two teams from the same area as Seidou High School, Inajitsu and Yakushi High School, had both shown incredible improvement, almost like their main players were unlocking their inner power.

"We haven't been idle either, have we?" Sawamura said casually.

He kept spinning the baseball in his left hand, a slightly strange expression on his face.

"It's good that the Ace has such confidence."

The game continued to escalate.

In the bottom of the second inning, Yakushi High School went on the attack.

The first to step into the Batter's Box was the cleanup hitter, Raichi-kun.

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

Accompanied by his shrill laughter, Raichi entered the Batter's Box.

The bat in his hands felt like a weapon of mass destruction.

It whipped through the air with a fierce whoosh.

'What will you do?'

Even though he already had an answer in mind, Sawamura Eijun looked at the man on the pitcher's mound and the old man in the dugout with anticipation.

He desperately wanted to know what choice Seihou would make right now.

From a game-winning perspective, he should have Walked Raichi the entire time.

The destructive power of this guy was truly incredible; no one could guarantee they could get him Out. And once he fully unleashed his strength, the consequences would be dire.

This is considering the game perspective.

If you look from the pitcher's viewpoint, with no outs and no one on base, would you dare to face a batter in such a situation?

Then you're not a true pitcher.

'What will you choose?'

Facing the Thunder Beast Raichi, Seihou's Coach did not give any sign.

Akashi grinned chose not to evade and started pitching.

"They are going to face Todoroki now!"

"Incredible."

"Go Akashi!"

The audience was amazed and excited.

In the corner of the stands, Sawamura wore a smile.

'Interesting, very interesting.'

'So Coach Nishidera will let his returning Ace face Raichi from the beginning of the game.'

'Could it be that in the past few months, Seiya-san has not just changed his style but honed a unique winning shot for this?'

As Sawamura pondered this, the duel on the field had already begun.

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

Raichi grinned wildly, lifting the bat in his hands high.

His eyes, like a monster ready to devour, were locked onto Akashi on the pitcher's mound.

With a single-minded focus, he didn't think much.

But he keenly sensed the opponent's determination to confront him.

In the dugout, Todoroki Raizou squinted at his beloved son.

"Raichi, you must hit it out!"

As the team's star, if you are easily resolved at this moment, the energy in Yakushi High will dissipate.

No matter how he shouted or encouraged the players to enjoy baseball,

If the game is destined to be lost, there's no way for the players to enjoy it.

So he must hit it out and completely swing the game in their favor.

Bring it on!

Not just Todoroki Raizou, but everyone from Yakushi High School was focused on this duel.

In fact, it wasn't just them; tens of thousands of eyes in the stands and millions watching on TV were also observing this confrontation.

In the arena filled with thousands, an unusual silence fell.

At this moment, even the cheerleaders seemed to forget their dancing.

They were all intently staring at this duel and its outcome.

On the pitcher's mound, Akashi Seiya, facing such a spotlight, remained incredibly calm.

He calmly took his stance and threw the small white ball in his hand.

This pitch seemed even more powerful than normal and the course it was taking was looking even sharper.

The defensive positions of the players were also being adjusted accordingly.

It appeared that Akashi Seiya regarded Raichi as an extraordinary opponent and was giving his all.

'This pitch is dangerous.'

Miyuki sitting beside Sawamura was a bit skeptical.

Sawamura felt the same way.

'There must be some hidden trick in this pitch.'

If it were the two of them standing in the Batter's Box at that moment,

With the count still zero, they might have let that pitch go.

The difference was too strong; they wouldn't force themselves to swing.

But Raichi was not them!

In Raichi's eyes, everything in this world had quietly disappeared.

All he could see was the incoming baseball.

At this moment, he was utterly focused.

At this moment, he was as calm as water.

At this moment, he swung the bat in his hand.

BUZZZZZZZZZ!!!!

Just as he had done countless times over the past few years.

He hit the flying baseball…

PAAAAAANNNNGGGG!!!!

The white ball started shifting as it approached the batter.

Nevertheless, this break was swept away by the swing of the bat like a lightning storm.

VIZZZZZZZZ!!!

After the small white ball faced the wrath of heaven, it flew like an anti-aircraft shell launched from a cannon.

It soared across the entire Koshien Stadium, flying out of the field.

Only when the baseball vanished from sight did everyone come to their senses.

"Wha-What the hell was that?"

One 40-year-old man exclaimed, his voice trembling.

"It was like a lightning bolt!"

"Amazing!"

"The fifth one!"

"it is the fifth one!!"

"Too bad, he was 6 months late or he would equal Sawamura's home run record at Koshien."

That was Todoroki Raichi.

This was a guy destined to become a baseball superstar.

…