[147] The Call to Attack Against Inashiro

Chapter 147: The Call to Attack Against Inashiro

No wonder he was chosen as the cleanup hitter by Coach Kunitomo in the Autumn Tournament.

Eijun furrowed his brows as he glanced at Yamaoka, who had just stepped onto second base.

He thought to himself that it couldn't be helped. Even though that pitch wasn't easy to hit, with good timing and positioning, given his strength, it wasn't impossible for him to blast it out.

Luckily, the next batters were easier to handle than the top of the lineup. It was a small blessing.

"Sawamura, there are two outs!" Kuramochi shouted from behind.

"One more! Don't rush it; take it slow," Kominato Ryousuke said with a cheerful smile.

"Damn it, Sawamura! Just one more! Hurry up, it's hot out here!" came the booming voice of Jun Isashiki from center field.

"Sawamura, we've got your back."

"Stay sharp."

Standing on the mound, Eijun's lips curved into a smile. Such reliable but noisy seniors.

"Batting seventh, second baseman, Hirai!"

Watching Inashiro's seventh batter stepping into the box, Eijun took a slow breath, a determined gleam in his eyes.

The field is unforgiving. If you don't want to be left in defeat, then you have to fight and claim the one and only winner's spot!

Whoosh

Smack

"Strike! Batter out! Three outs! Switch!"

In that moment, Eijun radiated a fearless aura, the light of pure determination shining through. Fight, fight, fight—only through battle could he fully unleash the hot-blooded passion within him.

This game had now turned into a full-fledged pitchers' duel between Seidou High and Inashiro. Both sides were locked in a tense struggle, each pitcher standing strong.

But whichever starter gave in first would hand the game's rhythm and control to the other side.

Seidou's slim one-run lead wasn't much of a safety net.

"Top of the fifth inning, Seidou High's attack. Batting seventh, left fielder, Sakai."

Whoosh

Smack

"Strike!"

Whoosh

Crack

Bang

"Foul!"

Whoosh

Smack

"Ball!"

Whoosh

Smack

"Strike! Batter out!"

It was a simple overpowering—Sakai, a senior who'd secured a starting position even in powerhouse Seidou, seemed as powerless as a child against Narumiya. Four pitches, and Sakai was struck out again.

Watching his senior's gloomy face from the on-deck circle, Eijun let out a small sigh. Sakai was too reliant on brute strength. Against a pitcher like Narumiya, raw power alone wasn't enough.

If you can't even track the ball well, how can you aim for a clean hit?

"Batting eighth, pitcher, Sawamura!"

This was their fourth matchup, both being left-handed pitchers. Narumiya had completely shut down Eijun in the previous two at-bats.

It was Eijun's second turn at bat.

Narumiya's face was calm, but the simmering fire in his eyes was unmistakable. The prince was seething, and he wasn't about to let this first-year rookie off easy.

Harada signaled subtly with his fingers.

Narumiya gave a slight nod.

Whoosh

A streak of white flashed, shooting straight toward home plate.

On the batting field, Eijun's eyes sharpened with determination. Unexpectedly, he quickly crouched and signaled a bunt.

This move caught Harada and Narumiya off guard.

A safety bunt?!

Crack!

The ball and bat connected with a loud impact as Eijun tossed the bat and sprinted toward first base the instant the ball bounced.

"Third baseman!"

Harada was stunned. How did this guy manage to absorb the inside pitch so perfectly and send a precise bunt down the third base line?

Eijun's sudden move caused a momentary lapse for Inashiro's fielders.

"Safe!"

With flawless timing and the speed Eijun had honed through tire training, he reached first base just as Inashiro's third baseman, Yoshizawa, fielded the ball and threw to first.

"Great job, Sawamura!"

"The Bunt Prince!"

Eijun's brilliant bunt caused Seidou's bench and cheering section to burst into a round of applause after a moment of surprise.

Miyuki and Chris, watching from the dugout, could only shake their heads with a smile. This kid...

"Eijun..."

"Sawamura..."

The very moment Eijun touched first base, he became a shining figure in the eyes of two girls in the stands, even if it was just a simple bunt.

When the call for "safe" rang out, the crowd wore astonished expressions.

"A safety bunt? At that angle and on this pitch?"

"Wow, this Seidou first-year is something else."

"And he succeeded! That's the scary part."

"So precise!"

"Haha, Sawamura Eijun, this pitcher is getting more interesting by the day."

Damn brat, letting him get on base?! Unforgivable!!

Narumiya's eyes flared with frustration, even more irate than when Eijun had struck him out twice.

He glared fiercely at first base.

Eijun offered a slight smile, brushing the dust off his uniform and meeting Narumiya's gaze head-on, only fueling Narumiya's anger.

Despite Eijun staying close to first, Narumiya threw two or three pickoff attempts his way, clearly furious.

"Mei!"

From home plate, Harada frowned and called out, unable to watch any longer.

"Ugh..."

Hearing Harada's voice, Narumiya had no choice but to suppress his anger. And, more notably, the icy gaze from the bench was like a winter chill.

Narumiya shivered.

He didn't need to look to know it was their coach's silent warning. There was a limit to indulgence—a rule Coach Kunitomo strictly enforced with Narumiya.

Narumiya had always obeyed, limiting his outbursts. But today, for some reason, it felt like he and Eijun were natural rivals.

Eijun somehow managed to push Narumiya's buttons, igniting his fury every time.

And perhaps, this very fact could serve as an excellent opening for Seidou to exploit.

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