Chapter 34: I Want To Play!

Breaking News! The big showdown between Seidou's master and apprentice is about to begin.]

[A fierce internal battle at Seidou High School, former Coach vs. current Coach.]

[Seidou's meritorious Coach Sakaki, leading a new team, challenges his old team!]

On mobile websites, this kind of news was everywhere.

"These journalists are really something. They can dig up everything!" Nishiyama said, playing with his phone in room number 5.

"Where? Where?" Kuramochi quickly leaned in to see the information on the screen.

There was nothing else on the phone—just news like this.

It felt like the entire baseball world was revolving around Seidou High School.

Any news about Seidou could immediately become a huge sensation.

"These guys are really impressive, where did they get this information from?" Kuramochi was amazed.

"For us, high school baseball lasts at most three years. But those media journalists are different; it's how they make a living."

Sawamura said casually.

Even though Seidou High School's baseball team was in the spotlight now, a few years ago, it was already one of the top national powerhouses. Journalists working in this field were certainly well-versed in the news about Seidou's baseball team.

Just like true football fans, who know everything about their favorite team—its history, players, coaches, etc.

The power of passion is infinite, especially when it's your livelihood.

At the same time, many members of the Seidou baseball team were also browsing information on their phones.

In today's digital age, mobile phones are essential.

Some people could skip a meal or even a piece of clothing but never leave their phones for even a moment.

Sawamura didn't pay much attention to the overwhelming news, as he thought it was only natural.

However, it must have been different for Coach Kataoka.

What if, one day, he encountered Chris-senpai on a professional baseball field?

How would he feel?

Sawamura couldn't really say, as it hadn't happened yet. But he imagined it would be a complex mix of emotions.

From this perspective, Kataoka's feelings were probably similar.

He must be feeling excited, nervous, and also a bit lost…

Time flew by, and soon, it was game day.

The quarterfinals were about to be held at Jingu Stadium.

The number of spectators was growing!

Most of them were fans of Seidou High School, but other than Sawamura's personal fan group, other fans were reacting strangely.

They didn't apply the usual overwhelming pressure on the opponents.

Their reactions were calm—they only clapped without chanting any slogans.

Coach Sakaki had once coached the Seidou High School baseball team for many years.

He stayed until retirement!

For such a meritorious Coach, Seidou's die-hard fans showed great respect.

"I didn't expect that Coach to have such a big influence at Seidou!" Kuramochi scratched his head.

The players didn't mind, as they had been coached by Kataoka. They had never really met the old Coach Sakaki, so they didn't have any special feelings about him.

But the fans were different!

Although Seidou High had grown in fame after dominating the nation, the core fans were still the old supporters who had followed the team for years. Many of them had even graduated from Seidou High.

Their passion for Seidou was no less than that of the players. Plus, many of them had been taught by Coach Sakaki.

Thus, this scene unfolded before them.

In the Yura Sougou team's dugout, Coach Sakaki was deeply moved by the fan's reactions.

He raised his hand and greeted the old fans in the stands.

The fans responded with enthusiastic applause.

However, they never cheered for Sakaki.

After all, they were still fans of the Seidou High School baseball team.

It was already showing respect by not booing Yura Sougou. There was no way they would cheer for them.

Sakaki didn't force it, focusing instead on analyzing the opposing team's lineup.

The starting pitcher was Furuya.

This wasn't surprising to Sakaki. Whether public or private, Kataoka would never let Sawamura start on the mound.

Publicly, Yura Sougou hadn't shown enough strength to warrant Seidou sending out their Ace pitcher. At least, they hadn't shown such strength.

Considering the challenge in the semifinals and finals, it was only logical to save their Ace pitcher for those crucial games.

So, from any angle, Kataoka could never start Sawamura—unless the situation was uncontrollable and the team's win became the top priority.

Otherwise, Sawamura had little chance of starting.

Aside from the Ace pitcher being Sawamura, there were no reservations about the other positions.

The team sent out their absolute core players.

#2: Catcher, Miyuki!

#3: First baseman, Maezono!

#4: Second baseman, Kominato Haruichi!

#5: Third baseman, Kanemaru!

#6: Shortstop, Kuramochi!

#7: Left fielder, Asou!

#8: Center fielder, Toujou!

#9: Right fielder, Shiratsu!

It almost looked like the lineup was set by their uniform numbers.

It seemed a bit rigid and inflexible.

But Coach Sakaki, who knew Seidou and Kataoka well, didn't think so.

In the previous two games, it was always the core players on the field.

These players could be considered Seidou's main starting lineup.

Using a fixed lineup carries the risk of being targeted.

For instance, if the batting order is always the same, the opponent can easily figure out who to walk, which matchups to avoid, or even who to target.

But still, for the lineup to remain fixed for the core players to stay consistent, it meant this team had been through many battles and had become very mature.

Even if they were targeted, they had the strength and confidence to beat any opponent.

That's why the lineup could remain unchanged.

From the games so far, Coach Sakaki was confident that Seidou's main lineup was set.

"The team's adjustments are great!" Sakaki looked enviously at Seidou's dugout.

Powerhouse! Seeded team! Talented players!

These three are complementary, and now that Seidou had them all, their team adjustments were great.

No wonder Seidou's baseball team had achieved such impressive results before!

'Tesshin, that brat, really knows his stuff.'

On the other hand, Yura Sougou, although they had a few good players, hadn't been able to adjust the team properly.

Now, they had to make a variety of changes, or else they wouldn't stand a chance against Seidou.

This adjustment had its advantages, such as making it harder for the opponent to read them or exploit obvious weaknesses.

But there were also disadvantages.

It wasn't just about adapting to the opponent, but also their own players.

"Alright, kids, it's all up to you now!" Coach Sakaki didn't waste any time before sending his players onto the field.

He'd already said everything that needed to be said before the match.

On the other side, Coach Kataoka stood solemnly, scanning his students.

"The necessary preparations are done, and the opponent's data is clearly in your mind. Now, don't rush—play steadily and show your true strength. The final victory will surely be ours!"

His words were powerful.

The team responded with enthusiasm.

"Yes, Sir!"

Coach Kataoka in the dugout saw Sawamura approach him.

"What's wrong?"

Sawamura stares directly into Kataoka's eyes, showing no intention of avoiding his gaze.

"I want to get on the field!"

His desire is unmistakable and unhidden.

"Why suddenly?"

Kataoka, the coach, certainly didn't think the opponent in front of him could trigger Sawamura's competitive drive.

In fact, after tying with the American Dream Team, Sawamura has found it difficult to get thrilled about ordinary opponents.

Unless the opponent has players worth his attention or possesses a certain level of skill, otherwise, it wouldn't make much of a difference to Sawamura whether he plays or not.

Right now, there are very few teams in high school baseball that could spark Sawamura's interest—he could count them on two hands.

Kataoka is sure that Yura Sougou isn't one of them.

Even if Yura Sougou is led by Coach Sakaki, it wouldn't change anything.

Sawamura himself doesn't have any connection with Coach Sakaki either.

So Kataoka can't understand why Sawamura wants to play.

"Chris-senpai will be in the stands later."

Sawamura didn't hide anything and told Kataoka about the message Chris had just sent him.

"I see!"

Kataoka nodded in understanding.

Chris has already started playing in the minor leagues, and during Seidou's time in America, he barely had the time to see the Dream Team game.

Now that there is a chance to see him playing, Sawamura probably wants to show off in front of him, and Kataoka can understand that.

"Did he say what he's here for?"

"Not in detail, but it seems like he's here for some paperwork."

"If you get the chance, I'll let you play."

Kataoka, for once, showed a rare moment of compassion.

For someone as stubborn as him, this was quite an achievement.

"Thank you, Boss!!"

Sawamura expressed his gratitude profusely.

Being able to perform well in front of Chris is very important to Sawamura.

Whether it was in the past or now.

This mindset of his has never changed.

Sawamura sits in the dugout, carefully observing the opponent.

Earlier, he wasn't particularly interested in this opponent.

He didn't even think that this team could push him to play.

Sawamura has a lot of confidence in his teammates.

But now, things are different. Coach Kataoka has promised to let him play if the opportunity arises.

So, to make the most of his time on the field, Sawamura has to observe the opponent carefully.

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.

Otherwise, if Sawamura went on the field without knowing anything about the opponent, there's a risk he could make a mistake.

Therefore, he focuses entirely on the opponent while mentally rehearsing.

If I were pitching, how would I deal with him?

If I were hitting, what kind of strategy should I use?

It's this focus that allows Sawamura to perform so well when he gets on the field.

Under everyone's gaze, Furuya coldly watches his first opponent.

Hakurai, Yura Sougou's original third batter, is now their lead-off hitter.

In Yura Sougou High School, his defining feature is his ability to quickly identify and exploit his opponent's weaknesses, clinging to them without letting go.

Once he gets a hold of you, it becomes a troublesome situation.

With his heart racing, Furuya's every cell is charged with excitement.

Finally, it's his turn to play.

He's been waiting for this chance for so long, so long that he almost forgot when he started eagerly anticipating his turn.

Nishiyama and Nori-senpai already had their turn.

Eijun will be up next…

Only Furuya doesn't know when he'll get his chance to play.

This makes him extremely anxious. If he doesn't get to play in this game, his chances of getting on the field during the entire West Tokyo tournament will be almost nonexistent.

In the semifinals and finals, considering the two opponents, it's likely that Eijun will take the mound.

After all, those two opponents can be considered Seidou High School's biggest rivals.

If Seidou doesn't give it their all, they could be overwhelmed.

So, for Furuya, his only chance is this game.

Only if he delivers an excellent performance in this game will he have a chance to play in future matches.

He must perform well!

He absolutely has to perform well!!!

On the pitcher's mound, Furuya made his stride, and at the same time, he swung his arm and pitched with all his might.

From the catcher's position, Miyuki watches the baseball fly toward him, and his brow instinctively furrows.

'Strange, Very strange!!'

The previously fearless Furuya, who could crush any opponent with his pitching, seems to have disappeared.

The pitcher now seems very standard, with no particular standout features.

This makes Miyuki nervous.

What kind of person is Coach Sakaki? The rest of the team may not be clear, but that doesn't mean Miyuki doesn't know.

Miyuki is a die-hard Seidou fan, having researched Seidou since the first year of middle school.

He knows Sakaki, who was once a rising star, very well.

If Furuya makes a mistake now, even though the team might overcome the crisis, this moment will not be easy.

Boom!

"BALL!!"

On the first pitch, Hakurai didn't swing, watching as the ball flew past him.

The pitch was slightly outside the strike zone, almost grazing Hakurai's body, but it landed in Miyuki's mitt.

Miyuki felt a chill down his spine.

Even though Furuya didn't throw the ball with much effort...

Simply put, his arm was too stiff, not relaxed.

But with his incredibly powerful nationwide number-one pitching speed, the ball must have exceeded 150 km/h.

Despite such a dangerous pitch, the batter didn't even show any sign of backing off.

'Was he scared stiff? Or did this pitch not affect the batter at all?'

Either way, Miyuki did not want to encounter such an opponent.

If the batter is scared stiff, Miyuki would be very disappointed.

If the batter had already seen through the pitch, then Seidou's chances of winning this game…

Might not be as simple as they thought.

…

T/N: Feel free to leave a Comment guys!

And Powerstones are much much welcomed!