Chapter 34: The Most Important Thing

In the top half of the fifth inning, Senku High School is on the attack!

The score gap has reached an unprecedented level. If they cannot unleash the flood-like power within them this time, Senku High School's journey in the Kanto Tournament may end here.

Despite the large score gap, the players of Senku High School are exceptionally motivated.

This is completely different from the dazed state they were in at the start of the game.

Except for the first inning, where they were stunned by Seidou High School's sudden burst of strength, they have actually found their usual rhythm in the subsequent innings.

They have been able to showcase their abilities well during the game.

As a result, the players are gaining more and more confidence.

Even though the current score is enough to make ordinary people feel despair, the players of Senku High School have not lost hope.

On the contrary, each one is filled with high fighting spirit.

They are holding back their strength, ready to inflict heavy damage on Seidou High School at the final moment.

The hearts of people can change with the shift in the situation.

At the start, with a 12-point lead, Seidou High School became very careless and replaced their main players with all substitutes.

This, while a display of their confidence, was also a glimmer of hope for Senku High School in the midst of despair.

As long as they can reduce the score gap to within ten this inning, they will truly have a chance to turn the game around.

In the stands.

Mima Soichiro, with his legs crossed, muttered.

"Too naive!"

He could vaguely guess the plan of Senku High School.

He really didn't know what was going on in the minds of Senku High School's players.

'Did they really think they still had a chance now?'

"Isn't that a joke?"

They are vastly underestimating the substitutes of Seidou High School.

Beside him, Kitaooji was completely the opposite of Soichiro Mima.

He cupped his hands over his mouth, forming a shape like a trumpet, and was loudly cheering for Senku High School!

Coach Sasaki frowned impatiently.

"No matter how hoarse you get, Senku High School has no hope of making a comeback."

"I'm not an idiot, I know there's no hope for Senku."

"Then why keep cheering?"

"Well, after all, Senku High School is the runner-up from our Gunma Prefecture. This score is too shameful!!!"

18:1

It's not that such a large score gap has never appeared in the Kanto Tournament, but the opportunities for this to happen are extremely rare.

The Kanto Tournament, because it features the strongest teams from the Kanto region, is just as prestigious as Koshien. It's not surprising to see a large score difference, but to see such a large gap in the score…

That's truly unusual.

It's likely that tomorrow, Gunma Prefecture will become the laughingstock of all the media.

Kitaooji certainly doesn't want such a thing to happen.

That's why he's cheering so loudly for Senku High School!

He truly hopes Senku High School can score a few more points on offense so that they don't look so humiliating.

It seems that the players of Senku High School felt Kitaooji's intentions, and in the final moments, they unleashed an unprecedented potential.

The batters who came up were full of energy, ready to hit Kawakami's pitches.

But they underestimated Seidou High School's third-year pitcher.

Although Kawakami was caught off guard at the beginning due to carelessness, once he found his rhythm, his strength was undeniably strong.

In fact, in a pitcher powerhouse like Seidou High School, his talent doesn't stand out.

But in other schools, Kawakami would definitely be the Ace.

At the very least, his ability is definitely not worse than that of Senku High School's Ace.

With his sidearm pitching form, he fully showcased his unique style.

He repeatedly threw the baseball to tricky corners.

The Senku High School batters, though gritting their teeth and holding on…

They just couldn't make contact with the ball!

The ball always went to the places they were least good at.

And the opponent's pitch speed was also very fast, plus 140 km/h. (87 mph)

With that speed and the tricky corners, they were already struggling just to make contact with the ball.

Let alone hitting it out.

Even when they occasionally made contact, the place the ball flew to was extremely disheartening.

Either Seidou High School's fielder was already waiting there, or the ball never even reached the field.

The eighth and ninth batters were both struck out, one after another.

Seidou High School was only one out away from final victory.

In the dugout, the Seidou High School baseball team was also very excited. Especially the third-year players, each of them glowing with excitement.

How could they not be thrilled?

Kawakami was truly outstanding.

Seidou High School is now known as a pitcher's kingdom, and since it's a pitcher's kingdom, how could there be no third-year players?

"Kawakami!"

"Kawakami!!!"

Amid the cheers, Kawakami faced his biggest challenger yet.

The first batter from Senku High School.

Not all of a school's best hitters are always placed in the fourth spot. Batting orders may be adjusted based on players' characteristics.

With two Outs, the lineup reached his turn.

At this point, all of Senku High School's hopes rested on him.

Bearing such a heavy responsibility, the first batter of Senku High School did not bend under the pressure.

On the contrary, his eyes were filled with an inexplicable fighting spirit.

The calmer the exterior, the more turbulent the heart.

At the crucial moment, Senku High School's first batter showed all his abilities.

Ping!

The ball was hit hard, flying out and landing in the gap in the field.

It seemed that Senku High School was about to get a hit.

A fast shadow leaped out and used his body to block the baseball.

After stopping the ball, he rolled to his feet and immediately threw the ball to first base without hesitation.

It was second baseman Kijima!

A substitute for Kominato Haruichi.

This third-year backup player stepped up when the team was facing a crisis.

He pulled the entire team out of danger and pushed the opponent to the edge.

"OUT!!"

Three Outs, the game is over.

"In the opening match of the Kanto Tournament, Seidou High School from West Tokyo faced off against Senku High School from Gunma Prefecture. The final score was 18:1, with five innings of effective play! Seidou High School advances to the quarterfinals!!!"

Seidou High School's first battle in the Kanto Tournament had come to an end.

Although Sawamura and Miyuki were not completely satisfied, this result was sufficient to justify Seidou High School's performance.

By tomorrow, the media will undoubtedly go crazy reporting just how strong Seidou High School, the reigning king, truly is.

However, indirectly, a shortcoming of Seidou High School began to show itself.

That was the significant gap between the starting players and the substitutes.

For an average team, this may not make much difference, but for prestigious and powerful schools, it is a matter of great competition.

"Not perfect!"

Sawamura was filled with regret.

At the end of the match, both teams exchanged salutes, and Seidou High School thanked the audience before preparing to leave.

Before they departed, the players from Senku High School repeatedly urged them to go all the way.

Although Senku High School's strength was rather average, and they weren't taken seriously by Seidou High School, one had to admit that the overall quality of this school was quite high.

Their defense had its own style, their offense had its own strategies, and the players had a good mentality...

It was a shame they were defeated by such a large score in the first round of the Kanto Tournament.

But what could be done? They met the king, Seidou High School, in the first round.

In this day and age, if your team doesn't have a top-tier pitcher, you have no qualification to face Seidou High School.

That overwhelming offensive power was simply something that an average pitcher could not withstand.

After leaving the stadium, they rushed toward their bus.

There, in front of the bus, they saw Isashiki Jun in a suit.

Kuramochi and Maezono rushed forward in a few quick steps.

"Jun-san!!!"

Sawamura, a step behind, couldn't help but roll his eyes.

This drama.

It had only been two or three months since Isashiki Jun and generation left Seidou High School.

They still kept in touch privately.

Although sadness was inevitable, honestly, it wasn't to the extent of missing each other this much.

It felt as though they hadn't met in centuries.

Isashiki Jun was also very moved.

However, he had to maintain the dignity of a senior, so he smiled and ran to his Kohais and shouted like a child.

The three were roaring at each other, and the scene was as awkward as it was loud and embarrassing.

The third-year seniors also rushed over.

Compared to the first-year students who had just entered the school, or the second-year students who had only been with the seniors for half a year, Seidou High School's current third-year players had the longest connection with Isashiki.

After all, they had spent two years together, and such a bond was only natural.

Unlike the other second-year students, Sawamura had always stayed in the first string as a main player, so he had a good relationship with the seniors of his generation as well.

Naturally, he followed along at this point.

"You brat, you're still as dominant as ever. Even though you didn't play, the audience around you kept shouting your name."

Isashiki said, rare in his amiable tone.

Sawamura nodded and gave him a shoulder hug.

Then he directly asked, "By the way, Jun-san, aren't you hot?"

It was the end of May, almost June. Although it wasn't the hottest time of the year yet, the average temperature was already above 27°C. (80°F)

At this temperature, wearing a suit.

Looking at the boys and girls around in shorts and skirts.

How out of place must that scene have been?

Isashiki Jun immediately changed his expression.

When he left, he was only thinking about looking cool—he hadn't expected the weather to be this hot.

Damn, that was truly a miscalculation.

But since he was looking good, he had to go through with it.

He grabbed Sawamura's head and tucked it under his armpit, applying force.

"Has anyone told you that your mouth really stinks?"

"You just said so!"

Sawamura laughed and joked, messing around with Isashiki.

The first-year juniors behind them sighed as they watched.

Now, whenever they saw a Senpai, they would get nervous.

But unexpectedly, Sawamura-senpai was able to mingle so easily with his own Senpai.

And without any awkwardness.

No wonder he could become the Ace of the team.

"Is it still the season? Is the Lions team that free?" Miyuki asked curiously.

He had heard that Isashiki had been selected for the first squad. Wasn't he supposed to be in the season now?

How could he have the time to come all the way here to cheer for Seidou High School?

"Hey, I'm not like Tetsu! He's already become the main player of the team. I'm just a background character now, asking for leave for a drizzle," Isashiki said, a hint of bitterness flashing across his face.

In their generation, four people directly chose to enter professional baseball.

They were Tetsuya, Isashiki, Masuko. The three of them joined completely different teams.

And then there was Chris, who went to the other side of the world.

Mixing experiences in the Minor Leagues.

After entering professional baseball, the opportunities for the four of them have been quite different.

First, there's Tetsu!

With the halo of the strongest rookie, he entered professional baseball and immediately started running.

After joining the team, he became a main player right away. Initially batting ninth, he has now been promoted to seventh.

After two months of growth, he became an important player of the team, and the national stage was just around the corner.

If nothing unexpected happens, Tetsu will at least become a national baseball star.

Don't think being the top player in high school is that special—many people who enter professional baseball directly get squashed.

But Tetsu has managed to steadily showcase his skills and begin to display his value little by little.

It's been a perfect start.

Compared to him, the other three have had less smooth paths.

Masuko is still stuck in the second squad and hasn't even become a main player there.

Aside from his powerful dominating swing, he doesn't have many distinguishing characteristics.

In the professional baseball world, it's tough to make it.

On the other hand, Isashiki Jun, being more well-rounded in his defensive skills and with a strong long throw, was promoted to the first string.

It looks like he has a chance to enter the main stage.

Of course, becoming a regular starter isn't that easy.

It seems like a step away, but some people can't get there in their entire lives.

So recently, Isashiki's state hasn't been great.

It's not that entering a professional baseball team guarantees everything will be fine.

The waters there are waaaay deeper.

"When you join a team, you must make a good choice. Signing bonuses and such don't matter much; the most important thing is having the opportunity to play," Isashiki said, looking at Sawamura and Miyuki and giving them a piece of earnest advice.

…

T/N: That's it for now!

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