Chapter 22: After Your A*s

"SAFE!"

Maezono acted like a tank with incredible destructive power, crushing its way through.

It stopped at second base.

The teammates of the Seidou High School baseball team cheered passionately from the stands.

The fans in the bleachers seemed especially excited.

Although Seidou High School's baseball team had been leading the whole game, the feeling was not quite right. It wasn't as satisfying as it should have been.

How could a top-tier powerhouse struggle so much against this unknown small team that seemed to have popped out of nowhere? This was something no one had expected.

The more this was happening, the more they hoped that Seidou High School's baseball team would quickly finish off their opponent.

They didn't want the negative atmosphere to continue to spread. They needed to score and secure a decisive victory.

"Dream on!"

On the pitcher's mound, Hanayama was fighting to control his exhaustion while scanning his surroundings.

He could feel the pressure from everyone around him.

He knew exactly what they were expecting from him. The more they expected, the less he was willing to give in to their wishes.

Even if it meant he only had one breath left, Hanayama wouldn't allow the players of Seidou High School's baseball team to celebrate his dead body.

Whoosh!

When facing the sixth batter, Shiratsu, Hanayama showed a last burst of strength.

He threw a well-executed pitch right from the start.

With Shiratsu's skill, he couldn't even touch the ball.

Snap!

"STRIKE!"

In the Batter's Box, Shiratsu's expression darkened slightly.

Although he had anticipated something like this, he still found it hard to believe.

'He still has this much power?'

He had already thrown 130 pitches, but Hanayama didn't seem tired at all.

'Could this guy be a stamina monster?' Shiratsu thought to himself.

No wonder Shiratsu thought this way. Having thrown over 130 pitches, he could still throw such high-quality balls.

A Stamina Monster!

There was no other description for it.

Of course, Shiratsu wasn't going to back down because of this.

No matter how powerful the opponent was, he would continue to fight until the end.

That's what made Shiratsu stand out.

He even looked at the dugout, seeking advice from Coach Kataoka.

Should they go for a tactical attack?

Coach Kataoka decisively rejected the suggestion.

'A single or two runs won't mean anything. It's still not enough to cause any trouble! At this point, we should go all out and score more.'

Their opponent, Minori Shigeru, was no longer a threat.

Once the game was over, they would be a thing of the past.

What Seidou High School's baseball team faced now was how to intimidate the upcoming opponents.

How could they show their dignity as kings?

With Coach Kataoka's instructions, Shiratsu felt more confident.

He went after Hanayama, refusing to let him off the hook.

Ping!

Ping!

"FOUL!"

"FOUL!!"

"FOUL!!"

Snap!

"BALL!"

Hanayama, already on his last legs, was forced into an exhausting battle.

This kind of play, even the supporters of Seidou High School's baseball team couldn't watch any longer.

It was unfair!

Didn't they see that Minori Shigeru's players were almost falling?

How could they be so ruthless?

Facing the boos from his supporters, Shiratsu simply treated it as encouragement.

His eyes burned with determination as if they could shoot fire.

This calm-looking man had a burning heart.

If it weren't for his heart, he wouldn't have been promoted to a key player in his second year.

In this regard, he could be compared to Miyuki and Kuramochi.

Hanayama, who was already physically drained, threw seven or eight pitches but still couldn't get rid of Shiratsu.

The count was now two Strikes, three Balls, a full count.

Both players were pushed to their limits, ready for the final showdown.

'Just Get Out!'

Hanayama put all his remaining energy into the next pitch, hoping to end Shiratsu's turn.

As the baseball flew toward him, Shiratsu eagerly prepared to swing.

Just when Shiratsu was about to swing, he suddenly felt something strange about the ball.

No! Something's wrong!!!

Shiratsu quickly pulled back the bat that was about to swing.

The opposing forces twisted his body, and he looked quite awkward.

But fortunately, the bat remained steady in his hands.

The baseball flew past Shiratsu, landing straight into the catcher's mitt.

Snap!

"BALL FOUR!"

"Walk To Base!!"

The final pitch had veered off the strike zone.

Having thrown 140 pitches, Hanayama was still able to pull off such a difficult pitch. It was impressive!

But Shiratsu, with his keen observation, didn't swing at it, getting himself walked to first base.

The fifth and sixth batters both successfully reached base.

Though their methods were different, both showed exceptional skill, leaving the onlookers in awe.

With no Outs and runners on first and second, it was now time for Toujou...

Toujou didn't disappoint. He swung at the first pitch.

Even if Hanayama was invincible, he was already at his limit. A dying flame couldn't keep burning forever.

And now, Hanayama's first pitch was weak and lacking.

Toujou seized the opportunity, swinging decisively at the pitch.

PING!

The ball soared after being hit, landing behind the third baseman, and continued bouncing with a fast speed.

Minori Shigeru's outfielder tried desperately to catch it.

But it was too far for him to reach.

The ball bypassed him to the back of the field result was a super long hit!

As the ball flew past the third baseman, Maezono ran passed it making it all the way home.

Not just him, but Shiratsu, with his outstanding speed, had also crossed two bases and made it back to home plate!

"SAFE!!!"

Two Runs in one go!

The score had dramatically shifted.

13:5.

Seidou High School's baseball team finally stretched their lead to over seven runs.

It was unfortunate that they didn't do this earlier.

If they had pulled ahead like this in the previous inning, the game would have been over.

Just thinking about it made the players of Seidou High School feel frustrated.

They were even more unwilling to accept it!

"I'm a main player too!"

PING!!

The eighth batter, Asou, gritted his teeth and hit the ball.

And it flew far, falling between the outfielders.

Toujou, who had been at third base, sprinted back to home plate.

And Asou reached the second base.

This was the third run of the inning!

The score changed to 14:5.

Seidou High School's baseball team is now led by nine runs.

Although the score gap wouldn't completely erase their past shame, they kept attacking!

Their hearts were filled with frustration. If they didn't let it out, they wouldn't be able to calm down.

"Ninth batter, third baseman, Kanemaru-kun!"

With no Outs and a runner on second base, it was Kanemaru's turn to bat.

Until now, he had only assisted in the attack and had never made a hit.

'He didn't seem very skilled.'

Such an opponent made Minori Shigeru's battery relax a bit.

To be honest, they were starting to feel overwhelmed.

After Seidou High School's consecutive attacks, they felt unstoppable.

Finally, they could relax a little.

Whoosh!

The baseball came in, and it didn't seem to be thrown with full strength.

'Are you looking down on me?'

Kanemaru, in the Batter's Box, felt his nose twitching with anger.

'You have only got this far because we underestimated you.'

'But now we are seriously going after your ass, and you are practically falling apart from exhaustion.'

'Where is this confidence coming from?'

Shuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!

A clean, sharp swing with no hesitation.

PING!

The bat hit the ball perfectly, sending it soaring into the outfield.

Kanemaru ran all the way to second base in one go.

And Asou on the second base returned home extending the score to 15:5!

The situation was now no Out, with a runner on second!

Hanayama was finished!

Though he wouldn't admit it, after throwing 147 pitches, his stamina had completely broken down.

Minori Shigeru had no choice but to replace the pitcher!

Kuramochi executed a bunt and reached base!

Kominato was walked on four balls!

Though Kawakami hit a pop fly that was caught, but the bases were now loaded!

One Out, bases loaded!

Now, it was Miyuki's turn to bat.

As the captain of Seidou High School, Miyuki delivered the final blow to Minori Shigeru!

PAAAAKKKKKK!!!!!!

The baseball flew high after being hit, soaring and soaring.

It finally landed in the middle of the outfield stands.

The ball had traveled about 140 meters, and Miyuki had hit a grand slam.

Seidou High School's baseball team scored four more runs in one go.

The score now is:

19:5!!

And the attack of Seidou still continued…

...