Chapter 61: The Heart of the Third Grade

"Don't underestimate your opponents! Although Seidou has always seemed to lack a strong pitcher. However, the strength of Tanpa and Kawakami is still good. Not to mention…"

Harada was preparing to teach his disobedient Kohai a lesson, but there were new changes on the field.

In the sixth inning, Seidou High School's lineup Exploded with a bang.

PANG!

Masuko, after a long time of being out of shape, announced his return with a Home run.

"Ugaah!"

"Yeah!"

"Nice batting, Masuko!"

"Show the hard work of the Senpais!"

And after him, using the momentum that he created the batters of Seidou started getting hits one after another.

In the first five innings, Seidou has already scored nine points.

Now in the sixth inning, they scored five points in one breath.

The opponent is not a rookie team, but the newly rising powerhouse in East Tokyo, Shuuhoku High School.

In the previous match between Inashiro and Shuuhoku, the ninth innings ended with a very easy victory.

Now that the game is only two-thirds into the game, Seidou's score has surpassed Inashiro's.

"This attack power, seriously man!"

Most of Inashiro's players are famous star players in middle school.

Compared with them, Seidou, a Famous high school, is no different from the poor. Yuuki Tetsuya, Isashiki Jun, and the others, when Inashiro's players were in middle school, could bully them to their hearts' content.

Unexpectedly, in three years of high school, they came from behind and stood at the same level as them.

Although Inashiro did not do their best when they faced Shuuhoku just now, so they scored less. Nevertheless, they have to admit that now that Seidou's lineup has surpassed them!

"Facing these guys is gonna be scary!"

"Once the lineup is connected like that, the power is multiplied."

Inashiro's players were all talking about Seidou's line, but Narumiya disagreed.

"Seidou's lineup is very strong, yes, but didn't we know this already? However, I still want to see that stinky boy's pitching! I want to know how far that stinky boy has improved now."

"Shuuhoku!! You can do it!"

Seeing that Shuuhoku was being squashed more and more miserably, Narumiya couldn't help but cheer for them.

Tanpa looked over with a ferocious look, which startled Narumiya. He hurriedly hid behind Harada like a shrunken tortoise.

"You are the Ace of our team, don't hide," Harada said dissatisfied.

On the field, Tanpa successfully scored three Outs with the Forkball as the core. Seidou's lineup broke out with all their strength, expanding the score to a desperate level.

At the end of the six innings, according to the previous arrangement, Chris and Miyuki exchanged.

Before going on stage, Tanpa, who had just formed a battery with Miyuki, suddenly said to him.

"For the remaining three innings, use the Forkball as the center to the Game calling."

It was the first time that Tanpa took the initiative to convey his thoughts to Miyuki. Miyuki was very surprised. He raised his head and looked at Tanpa in amazement. He did not understand what he wanted to do.

However, considering that the people from Inashiro were watching, Miyuki didn't want Tanpa to throw too many Forkballs. A few balls in the sixth inning would be enough.

Moreover, although Tanpa has only thrown 60 balls, his speed and power have begun to decline. Strange to say, Sawamura himself is the only pitcher who can really hold on peak power to his 100 balls.

"The Forkball is just a trick to trick the batter into swinging, and I think it's better to center the Calling on the Curve and Straight."

Miyuki persuaded.

"No, I want to go with the forkball. There aren't many practice games where you can practice the Forkball."

Tanpa shook his head and rejected Miyuki's suggestion.

The pitcher and catcher were deadlocked like this.

"Tanpa!"

Coach Kataoka, who was sitting on the bench, suddenly spoke up.

'Um!'

"Yes!"

Tanpa was taken aback for a moment and then answered respectfully

"Did you speak just now as the team's pitcher, or as a player? If it is your own ego talking, then I won't send you on the field in a critical situation in the summer games."

Kataoka's words were like a heavy hammer, hitting Tanpa's heart.

Not just Tanpa, but everyone else felt that too.

No one expected that Kataoka would give Tanpa exam questions at a time like this.

Tanpa pondered for a while, and his eyes became quiet.

"It is both!"

This answer shocked Ota.

"Hey, Tanpa-kun, what are you talking about? How can you be such a stubborn player?"

Tanpa ignored Ota's roundabout and said seriously.

"I know that the reason why Miyuki calls my Curve so much is because I tend to be exhausted in the second half of the game. Moreover, I consumed many balls in just the sixth inning, about a dozen balls.

If I cannot solve this weakness with my own hands, I will not be able to stand on the mound with confidence.

Although I know that, my current pitching may still be no better than that of Sawamura. However, I have never given up fighting for the Ace number. This is what I have to do in order to fight for the Ace number. That's what I truly thought in my heart."

Honesty is a terrifying force. Tanpa admits that his strength is not as good as Sawamura's and wants to overcome his weakness, which proves that he really is qualified to compete with Sawamura.

'He has grown and evolved!'

Such an Ace spirit makes Kataoka very happy.

'If you had such a spirit before, we would not have lost to Sankou high school in the last fall, and missed the opportunity to go to Koshien.'

Yet, Tanpa was able to grow to this point without giving up under the suppression of Sawamura. Which made Kataoka very proud.

"If that's the case, I'm willing to cooperate with you, Tanpa-senpai."

Miyuki is not Chris; Chris likes to keep the pitcher motivated. Miyuki prefers to oppress pitchers, and now that Tanpa has this kind of spirit, he naturally has no reason to disagree.

"Okay, let's go."

Once they agreed, Kataoka stopped saying anything and signaled them to play.

'Looks like there's no need to talk to Tanpa alone anymore. He's already made up his mind!'

Looking at the back of Tanpa playing, Kataoka thought.

The seventh inning begins.

Seidou's players changed equipment and prepared to go to the defense.

"If you lose points later, shave your head as an apology," Isashiki said with a laugh.

"I agree with this." Kominato Ryosuke agreed with a smile.

"I agree too." Tetsuya had a serious look on his face, but his tone was very gentle.

"If you lose two points, then shave your eyebrows too."

"Otherwise, if you still want to keep your hair, we have no problem."

The teammates keep making fun of Tanpa.

They are cheering Tanpa up in their own special way.

This scene made Takashima Rei extremely emotional.

Tanpa, who just joined the team, is just a shy tall boy. Because he is tall enough, the pitching was highly anticipated. It's just that because of his personality, Tanpa has never grown into the real Ace of Seidou.

Unexpectedly, the shy boy who looked like a wimp at the beginning has become a reliable man who dares to compete with Sawamura for the Ace number.

Seidou's feelings for Tanpa are different after all.

Sawamura is a natural Ace, and Tanpa is an Ace that Seidou has cultivated.

"Before the summer games, we had a lot of devolvement in our team. With Sawamura as the Ace and Tanpa's growth, it seems that there is no need to worry about this year's pitching mound."

…